Soft in the Middle - Sampler

by Shelby Eileen

Warning: these poems contain soft subject matter. About love, heartbreak, body image, how absolutely breathtaking girls are, flower blooms and starlight.

This is a small sampling of poems from the larger collection called 'soft in the middle', available for free download.

Genres: Poetry

30 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2017

Reviews

[laura (bbliophile) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so so so much!! Shelby is incredibly talented and I'd recommend this to anyone. It's perfect.

[Izza · Rating 5 out of 5]

HONESTLY THIS WAS SO AMAZING!!!!!! I'm saying this not just because the author is my friend, but also because this is so touching and moving in more ways than one. It actually got a reaction out of me in real life while I read it, and books rarely do that to me. HONESTLYYYY SO SO WORTH IT! I'D LOVE IF YA'LL CHECK IT OUT. IT'S AMAZING.

[Irina · Rating 4 out of 5]

"and I think telling people their worth is immeasurable
is one hell of a way
to feel alive"

Actual rating: 4,5 stars

Content warnings
- negative body image, esp. weight/shape (in "all the broken mirrors" and "the struggle to be")
- blood (mentioned in "no make up? you look tired")
- slightly sexual content (in "asexual")
- hints of emotional abuse (in "conversations with my parents" and "what you broke")

My opinion
A lovely poetry collection. Shelby Lafreniere put those words together so beautifully in a very personal, touching way I enjoyed a lot while reading the poems. Two or three of them seemed kind of empty to me (aka I couldn't make much of them, which doesn't mean they're bad, they just weren't for me), but most were the opposite – meaningful, deep, emotional. Words that will stay with me for a long time probably.

Bonus points for diversity. Poems about diverse bodies and body image, poems mentioning different sexualities and genders, written by a marginalized author. What's not to adore?

I only wish the content warnings would've been more explicit, there is some triggering stuff in there (which did not affect me luckily, but I would have liked to be warned about it). See content warnings above my review.

[Kerine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't been able to read a lot of poetry collections and to be quite honest I have been steering clear of them lately but I'm glad I found this one. One of the best things poetry can do is to connect people; not just to show different thoughts and experiences but to help us to empathize with one another. It is the best feeling to read something and feel chills for these words that speak volumes both on the page and inside your head.

My favs include (but aren't limited to):
- What you broke,
- A feast to be ignored,
- To bend is not to break,
- Hands dipped in dreams,
- caught,
- The struggle to be,
- Weight-bearing souls,
- She (Me),
- *Asexual,
- All broken mirrors
- No Makeup? You look tired.

This deserves to be properly published.

Get your copy here.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot of potential here, in the poems that are soft in the middle, with Shelby making her intent clear from the start, in lines 'I'm here
I am
I am right here in these words,'
In the titles there are meaningful lessons, take BEAUTY SPILLS FROM YOU AND NEVER RUNS OUT.
My favourites were To Bend is not to Break and Hands Dipped in Dreams.

[Libby (microbookologist) · Rating 5 out of 5]

my whole heart

[Karin Bergdahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall nice poems. "Curiosities" is my favourite by far!

[Sabrina Rourke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This chapbook/sampler is stunning, honest, and so sweetly full of love. I can’t wait for the full-length book!

[Athirah Salleh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2/5 ⭐️

Thank you to the author for this sample. I loved it so much. It is good, heart tugging and warm. I think I gonna get the book