Lovers Exes Soulmates: Poems

by Elison Alcovendaz

Embark on a journey through the poignant depths of heartbreak, where shattered dreams give way to the magic of love's embrace; this is a tale of resilience, hope, and the transformative power of taking chances.

Our entire lives are dictated by love. Love creates our brightest joys and our deepest aches. Love cures and love scars. It brings out both the best and the worst in us. Through the highs and lows, we learn and grow, preparing ourselves to find enduring love.

Lovers/Exes/Soulmate is a testament to those who take our hearts, break them, and make them whole again. From the intensity of our first loves, through the despair of heartbreak, and to finding 'the one' and beyond, this collection of poetry and prose captures the essence of to love, to lose, and to love again.

Genres: Poetry

128 pages, Paperback

Published June 3, 2025

Reviews

[greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

for the longest time i wanted to get more into poetry and netgalley provided me with one that sounded right up my alley. i'm not the best at reviewing them yet, but i can tell that this one was absolutely worth it.

if you're dealing with heartbreak, loss of your partner, low self-esteem or you just simply love someone completely - this poetry collection will be for you, i promise. the author put his thoughts and feelings into this book and i could tell that from the start!

this is the list of my personal favourite poems:

from lovers section: storytime, the purpose of a mouth, reading, three little words, dictionary, all you have to say, flavors of you

from exes section: 8:18, the medicine cabinet, ice cream, moving, reincarnation, auction

from self-love section: broken, be a child, the person of your dreams, lucky penny

from soulmates section: what the universe wants, the one, binge, why, forever, us, lightning and thunder

whether you love poetry or not, i still highly recommend picking this up if you wanna read about things i've mentioned above. you'll definitely find something relatable here. 🩷

[Katie ᥫ᭡. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection—𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘌𝘹𝘦𝘴, 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 by Elison Alcovendaz—is everything I never knew I needed. It’s 𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑦, 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒚 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑒𝑑𝑔𝑒, and 𝒗𝒖𝒍𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑦. ✨🥹💕

Elison writes like your favorite friend who’s been 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒊𝒕, healed a little, but still flinches when certain names pop up. The tone is 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍, and 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑦 𝒖𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅—like someone finally saying the things you’ve been trying to put into words. 😭🫶🏼

His poems are little love letters and breakup ballads wrapped in wit, longing, and perfectly timed punchlines. 🔥🙌🏼

This one’s for the girls who love hard, cry in the shower, romanticize everything, and still manage to laugh at the chaos.

𝒴𝑜𝓊’𝓁𝓁 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝒾𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝒶𝓎, “𝒪𝓂𝑔… 𝓈𝒶𝓂𝑒.”
Read it. Feel it. Screenshot it. Heal a little. ✨📖💕

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫, & 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰🥰

[Libbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5✨

Poetry is such a subjective medium and is a format I want to read more of. So when I saw this collection on NetGalley I was intrigued.

I enjoyed this book to an extent. I liked how it was split into 3 parts and that the poetry inside reflected each section.

Unfortunately, I feel like this collection lacks depth. It is very surface level and requires little if any interpretation. It also failed to really make me feel anything.

I don't think this is bad per se, just not for me and not what I want from poetry.

Thank you to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Eva Kovacs · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just plain bad, this was the last time I’m ever giving American poetry a chance!

[Jenny Radloff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dieser Gedichtband ist in 4 Kategorien aufgeteilt: "Lovers" erzählt von den schönen Gefühlen während des Verliebseins; "Exes" von den Schmerzen, wenn eine Beziehung scheitert oder man sich in einer ungesunden Beziehung befindet; "Interlude: Self Love" stellt die Erkenntnis in den Vordergrund, wie wichtig die eigene Wertschätzung und Selbstliebe ist und dass es nicht nötig ist, eine Beziehung zu haben, um glücklich zu sein; und "Soulmates" schließt mit Gedichten zu Beziehungen, in denen man sich gegenseitig wertschätzt, und mit Hoffnung auf neue Liebe.

Ich mochte an diesen Gedichten sehr, dass viele von ihnen reimende Verse hatten oder sich auf andere Weise wohl klingend lesen ließen. Zudem gab es viele schöne Metaphern, humorvolle Vergleiche oder sehr sanfte, tiefgründige Zeilen. Für mich war das Lesen dieser Gedichte ein wahrer Genuss und ich habe selten Gedichtbände gelesen, in denen mir jedes einzelne von ihnen gefiel. Ich habe mir sofort nach dem Lesen das Buch als Print bestellt und werde die weiteren Veröffentlichungen der Autorin definitiv im Blick behalten. Von mir gibt es hier eine absolute Leseempfehlung!


in English:

This poetry collection is divided into four categories: “Lovers” tells of the beautiful feelings of being in love; “Exes” tells of the pain when a relationship fails or when you find yourself in an unhealthy relationship; “Interlude: Self Love” focuses on the importance of self-esteem and self-love and that it is not necessary to be in a relationship to be happy; and “Soulmates” concludes with poems about relationships in which people value each other and with hope for new love.

I really liked that many of these poems had rhyming verses or were otherwise pleasant to read. There were also many beautiful metaphors, humorous comparisons, and very gentle, profound lines. Reading these poems was a real pleasure for me, and I have rarely read poetry collections in which I liked every single one of them. Immediately after reading it, I ordered the book in print and will definitely keep an eye out for the author's future publications. I highly recommend reading this book!

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The moment I saw the stunning cover art, I knew I wanted to read this collection. The imagery is both simple but heart wrenching which represents the emotional journey of life: bold, intimate, and profoundly human.

True to its title, the collection is structured as a chronological passage through separate sections: lovers, exes, and soulmates. I did appreciate the author’s willingness to bear their truth throughout each section. You sense the real-life experiences behind the words: broken hearts, complicated relationships, grief, and occasional joy. I do think everyone will be able to relate to something in this book whether you’ve endured a painful breakup or are in the midst of falling in love, you’ll find something that speaks directly to your heart.

However, the subject matter is well worn in contemporary poetry. While honest and heartfelt, the themes are familiar. In addition to the topics not being unique, I did not feel like the format was unique either leaving me wanting more from one or the other.

Overall, I did enjoy about four of the poems in entirety and highlighted a number of one off passages, but the remaining pieces, while good, didn’t leave as strong an impact. When comparing to the amount of content in this collection, I found myself wishing for a few more signature poems that would resonate louder. If you’re seeking relatable expressions of relationship-lifecycle emotions, this book is well worth exploring. Just don’t expect groundbreaking form or groundbreaking insight.

[Amara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

Lovers Exes Soulmates is a fairly lighthearted, at times emotional poetry and essay collection. Most poetry is fairly straightforward and simplistic in rhyme and style, especially those in the first section called Lovers. But the collection does evolve stylistically over the course of the book and what seems to be the life of the author. I appreciate how this collection is divided up into well defined, but connected parts. They all convey the feelings generally associated with these concepts and terms.

"Poetry is the act of making the unsaid, said."

This collection is funny at times, while occasionally dipping its toe into deeper emotional territory. I personally prefer my poetry to devastate me or make me look at the human experience in a new light. Sadly I didn't quite get that specific feeling from Lovers Exes Soulmates. It probably doesn't help that I'm not a big fan of the concept of 'the One' that is a big theme throughout.

Lovers Exes Soulmates might be your next favourite read if you enjoy the exploration of love in various stages of relationships, and specifically the concept of 'the One'.

Thank you Elison Alcovendaz and Central Avenue Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Amy (amysbooked) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: I thought that this was absolutely stunning. It was heart wrenching, beautiful, sad, and inspiring. I found myself annotating over and over again. Very early on there was part of a poem that really stood out to me: "You're acting like a word, when you're the whole story, sitting hidden on the shelf, when you deserve glory." I'll be thinking about this poetry collection for a long time to come and can already see myself rereading it over and over again.

Synopsis: Our entire lives are dictated by love. Love creates our brightest joys and our deepest aches. Love cures and love scars. It brings out both the best and the worst in us. Through the highs and lows, we learn and grow, preparing ourselves to find enduring love.

Lovers Exes Soulmates is a testament to those who take our hearts, break them, and make them whole again. From the intensity of our first loves, through the despair of heartbreak, and to finding 'the one' and beyond, this collection of poetry and prose captures the essence of humanity: to love, to lose, and to love again.

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of poems moves through the thrill of falling in love to the quiet ache of parting. While not every piece spoke to me, the ones that did—really did. I found myself most drawn to the quiet poems, the ones that didn’t shout but stirred something deeper.

One favorite was “The Space”:

“If someone were to ask me how I know you’re the one, I would tell them: there’s a space between my neck and shoulder where only your head fits.”

I mean—sigh, right?

Another standout was “In Unreported News, Things Happening at This Exact Moment” — so tender in its stillness. And the poem “This” broke my heart in all the right ways.

If you’re into love poems that explore both sweetness and sorrow, this collection is worth checking out.

[Anastey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley, Central Avenue Publishing, and Elison Alcovendaz for sending me this advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a really fun book of poetry to read. The little bits of sarcasm and humor were fantastic! It kept my attention the whole time, and I couldn't wait to read the next poem to see what it was going to be about.

This isn't a super deep emotional book, it's more for fun and exploring love without being all tears and soul searching. I'd honestly love to see some of these poems inside greeting cards with snarky cartoons on the front.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for providing me an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review. This poetry collection was really well put together. I liked how it was split into parts and how it explored the themes of love and grief intertwining together. This poetry is very much like "booktok" poetry like Rupi Kaur but from a different perspective of a male poet writing it. I did enjoy this and I would recommend. I would read more by this author.

[Annabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the way the collection is organised. Alcovendaz is experimental and playful with his formats. Admittedly, a good chunk are a little too simple in verse and format that it reads as 'minimalist Instagram poetry.' A few offer a nuanced but subtle take on each concept. Nothing groundbreaking here.

Thanks to Netgalley and Central Avenue Publishing for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy poetry about love and this book covered it from all aspects! The author did a great job at keeping some poems light and humorous, others were deep and thought provoking, some made me want to cry and rip my heart out. If you have been in and through love this book covers it. Sweet and sexy, sad and angry. Thank you to Netgalley, Elison Alcovendaz, Central Avenue Publishing and Central Avenue Poetry for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

[Jennifer Hampshire · Rating 1 out of 5]

This poetry collection is divided into predictable sections on love and romance: lovers, exes, and soulmates. Most of the poems are quite short, so it can easily be read in one sitting. It took me months to finish because I usually only read a poem or two at a time, but mostly because I truly did not enjoy this collection. It read like something written by a middle schooler with a crush, and parts of it honestly gave me the ick.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review.

This poetry is really good, there are such good poems in here.
This is a book I would buy, and just open some of the pages on days I would need them.
And there are so many that could help in some situations.
There is not much to say about the poems, you just have to read them.

4,5/5.

Thank you so much to everyone involved for this ARC copy!

[Claudette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elison Alcovendaz’s *Lovers Exes Soulmates* is a beautifully crafted collection that takes readers on an emotional journey through love’s triumphs and heartbreaks. The poetry and prose are deeply personal yet universally relatable, making this book a compelling read for anyone who has ever loved and lost.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced readers copy!

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first page this book made me feel all the feels some relatable and beautiful emotive poetry a really great collection that's heart-breaking and so cleverly written the way they're set out into three separate stages of life and romantic relations makes it easy to dip in to and get hooked reading them definitely worth a read!

[Caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the poems, especially the ones themed lovers and exes spoke to me. The plottwist on the last few broke my heart and came utterly suprising.
Elison writes about his love and lover in such a beautiful way, that I was actually suprised when the word "man" appeared, as I thought it written by another queer woman.

thank you to Netgalley and Central Avenue for the digital ARC.

[Nicole Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each poem in this was so heartfelt, emotions were felt throughout. Each page felt like a piece of life that had been lived and felt in some way shape or form! I found myself thinking of people in my past and experiences I’ve had while lost in the pages! If you’re looking for poetry that makes you feel something I highly recommend!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, there were some very catchy parts. I liked the set up, of having 3 sections and really discussing a large part of human affection. Some of the poems were clever in their construction, but felt derivative. Overall it was a pleasant reading experience.

Thanks for the ARC

[Shayla Payton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry has long been one of my favorite genres. I love how interpretive it is. Poetry is messy, it’s beautiful, it’s intellectual, it’s invasive, it makes you think and feel. I really loved this book, and I’m so thankful to have gotten the opportunity to have a signed copy from Elison!

[Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning

[Brianna Kinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little love letters that I didn’t know I needed 💓

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Dani · Rating 2 out of 5]

My favorite poem was October. But this style of stream of consciousness in poetry isn't my thing. I didn't feel much of an impact.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading it really sounds like a man wrote it.

[Este · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful ! If you like poetry, and you had lovers, exs and/or soulmates, you will find yourself on for sure !

[Courtney 💚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 ⭐️