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Poemsia

Lang Leav (Goodreads Author)

4.18 · Rating details · 152 ratings · 44 reviews

Award-winning author and poet Lang Leav presents a YA novel that is an absolute fan pleaser!

Verity Wolf dreams of being a poet—not that she’d ever admit it to anyone. Her best friend Jess thinks she’s definitely got what it takes, while her cat, Zorro is characteristically indifferent. As for the cute boy she’s just met, he’s about to discover her best kept sec ...more

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Paperback, 304 pages

Published October 1st 2019 by Andrews McMeel Publishing

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· 152 ratings · 44 reviews

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Oct 22, 2019 Elvina Zafril rated it really liked it

I'm so happy I received this book from the publisher. I almost cried at that time. I enjoyed reading this book as much as I enjoyed reading Sad Girls.

Poemsia is such an inspiring book. It's a gift. Well at least to me it is. Poemsia is a book that will make readers fall in love with it. It has a lot of lessons and good tips on how to survive as contemporary poets.

Verity Wolf likes poetry. She writes poetry. Her dream is to be a poet. She started an Instagram account to po I'm so happy I received this book from the publisher. I almost cried at that time. I enjoyed reading this book as much as I enjoyed reading Sad Girls.

Poemsia is such an inspiring book. It's a gift. Well at least to me it is. Poemsia is a book that will make readers fall in love with it. It has a lot of lessons and good tips on how to survive as contemporary poets.

Verity Wolf likes poetry. She writes poetry. Her dream is to be a poet. She started an Instagram account to post all of her work after being convinced by her best friend, Jess. One day, the famous celebrity regrammed one of her posts and all the fame, glamour and hatred started from there. She even got the chance to meet her favorite poet in New York.

I loved all the characters and their roles in this book. I felt like they are so real! All the characters fit perfectly in this book. I loved Jess, Sash, Tom and Teddy. Oh and Pop! He is very important and I love him so much. Jess is Verity's best friend and all I can say is I adore her and how good she is with Verity. Verity is so lucky to have her as a best friend. There is one character that I'm really angry at until now. Her name is Penelope and I hate her attitude. But her appearance is what made this book even more interesting. I can't deny that.

I can only imagine how bad the situation is for Verity and about the plagiarism that has been discussed in this book. I just can't believe there are people who have a group for hate reading. To me readers like this are just too much. So many new things and lessons I gained from this book. I liked the part where Verity's favorite poet, Mena Rhodes explained about the kind of haters that poet will be faced in their career. There are 3 kinds of haters. the Pseudo Intellectuals, the Fake Haters and the Hate Readers. All these 3 kinds of haters was well explained in the book.

The plot is consistent and it's well-written. The book is short and fast paced. Though, I was hoping that some of Verity's poems is written in this book or at least one poem when she's reciting it.

Overall, Poemsia inspires me to follow my dreams. Such a good book and genius! I highly recommend this book to all readers.

Thank you, Times Reads for sending me a copy of Poemsia in return for an honest review. This book is available in all good bookstores. ...more

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Sep 30, 2019 Jill McGill rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, author-review, fiction

Review to Come!

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Sep 25, 2019 Hristina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, 2019-faves, ya-and-na, comics-and-graphic, favorites, from-author, first-read-arcs, physical-copies, reviewed, physical-english

Poemsia is the kind of book that you'll start, it'll enchant you fully, but you'll still have to talk yourself into continuing to read because reading it leads to it ending, and you don't want it to end. At least it was that way for me.
I loved the story it had to offer, there was some magic to it - it focused on friendships and family, and with the romance included, it made for a heartfelt one. I loved the characters, they were well-developed and realistic, and the relationships set betwee ...more

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May 26, 2019 Michael Faudet rated it it was amazing

I love this book!

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Sep 10, 2019 Lindsey Thomas rated it it was amazing

Poemsia is like a love letter to everyone who has ever loved books or poetry and has ever wanted to know what it would be like to be a published author. Instead of focusing on the glitz and glamour, Poemsia explores what happens when a some-what introverted 19-year-old finds herself suddenly famous. We, the readers, get to live vicariously through Verity Wolf as her newfound fame begins to infiltrate every aspect of her life, and it is such a thrilling ride. The beauty of her story is that Verity is just a gi ...more

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Oct 27, 2019 legenbooksdary rated it really liked it

This is the story about hopes, passion and having all of that into a dream that becomes a reality. This book is so hopeful and wholesome because the main character, Verity Wolf goes through a life of normalcy and dare I say mediocre to being thrown into fame, success and adoring fans. She finally finds herself living a life that she would never have expected to be.

A part of me can really relate to Verity and her dream of seeing her books published next to her favourite authors there ...more

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Sep 10, 2019 Clara added it

Shelves: contemporary, young-adult, sent-by-the-author-or-publisher

This book was sent to me by the author, but no review nor post were promised.

(Not rating this one because I do not want to ruin someone’s launching campaign and I can’t come up with a proper rating anyeay.) Nothing was wrong per se with this book, it simply wasn’t for me. I thought everything went too fast and felt too big when it didn’t seem big to me, that the dialogues felt weird and so on. It all felt flat. On that note, tons of my friends love that author so it may just have not been the ri ...more

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Sep 27, 2019 Alda Dominguez rated it it was amazing

Due to work and school, it took me four days to finish. However, I’m glad I took my time with it. POEMSIA is a book that will make you curious about the title. What does it mean? For those of us who read the excerpt on her webpage....we needed more.

In a world filled with social media influencers who are more show than substance, Verity Wolf; our lovely narrator and main character, shows us what life is like for an up and coming author.

Many of us dream of being the next JK ...more

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Nov 02, 2019 Angela Magic Art rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, 2019-most-anticipated-releases

5/5 stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved every minute of this book! I love Lang Leav’s poetry, and I loved her writing in this as well. The story was so interesting and exciting, you could tell she has personal experience when writing about what Verity goes through in the publishing and internet famous world. This book has SO MUCH HEART! The relationship between Verity and her grandfather was the sweetest thing on earth. I love his character so much. I loved the romance as well. It felt genuine, and unique. ...more

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Sep 23, 2019 Nisha rated it it was amazing

I just finished reading Poemsia and I just love how Lang Leav infuses poetry in her prose and how her messages are timeless and universal 🙏🏽💜 Poemsia is a gift to all aspiring poets filled with wise tips and lessons on how to survive as a contemporary poet💖 Poemsia inspires you to put yourself out there and to follow your dreams. Poemsia also brilliantly exposes the dark side of fame and guides you to trust your intuition above everything else.

Thank you Lang Leav for yet another book that I wil ...more

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Oct 11, 2019 Janetine Aguila rated it it was amazing

Still at page 37 but im loving Jess already... #Vare is so lucky to have her...

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Oct 29, 2019 Steve Sarner rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star, ya

I’d just settle into my window seat for the flight from JFK back to SFO when a long time professional friend coincidentally sat next to me on the aisle. What are the odds!

We exchanged greetings and caught up on our lives and careers and then, after the first rounds of beverages were served, opened up our computers to work.

About halfway into the flight I closed my lap top and pulled Poemsia out of my backpack. I had started it on the flight to New York a day earlier and was about thr ...more

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Oct 22, 2019 Romee Darling rated it it was amazing

I wanted to write this book at 4.5 but the more I thought about this book the more I realized that for me it was a 5 star read.

Poemsia follows the story of Verity Wolf that becomes a very famous poet in the pop world with the help of her best friend. There is clearly so much more to the story, but I think the best way to go into it blindly. For me, this book did everything right. The depiction of Instafame, friendship, women supporting other women, cyberbullying... Everything was sim ...more

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Oct 11, 2019 Micah Beukelman rated it really liked it

I desperately want to give this book 5 stars. I adore Leav’s poetry and her first book, Sad Girl. I loved parts of this book but my biggest gripe was that the first part felt drawn out and the second part was so fast paced. Every plot point that was major and integral happened in basically the last 50 pages. It was well written, just a pacing issue for me.

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Oct 28, 2019 Charlynn Kah rated it it was amazing

I picked up this book, only because it was from my favourite author. The Matt silver cover, nonetheless, also caught my attention.

Love the simple plot, and though its a YA novel, it was such an easy read, that I finished it in a single seating. The first half of the novel was a bit slow-moving and I speed read a bit of it, especially the part with Sash, his sister Marcia and the whole fake`drug debacle that Penelope (Sash’s childhood bff and on again off again girl friend) instigated I picked up this book, only because it was from my favourite author. The Matt silver cover, nonetheless, also caught my attention.

Love the simple plot, and though its a YA novel, it was such an easy read, that I finished it in a single seating. The first half of the novel was a bit slow-moving and I speed read a bit of it, especially the part with Sash, his sister Marcia and the whole fake`drug debacle that Penelope (Sash’s childhood bff and on again off again girl friend) instigated. After Verity shot to fame, the novel went really fast, all the important bits were skimmed through, but interesting nonetheless; kinda like the same whirlwind of fame that Verity went through.

The part about Pop having a heart attack and Verity almost losing him brought tears to my eyes. It reminded me of the time that I lost my grandparents. My grandmother, like Verity, I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to.

“The only thing worse than saying goodbye, is not getting the chance to say it.”

Love Pop and his bookshop, many a times, I myself wish that I had a bookshop to run in the family. I love books and being around them comforts me. Going into bookshops is a thing I have to do wherever I am in the world, although the price of books really is something that holds me back. These days, it’s hard to find a decent, charming bookshop in Singapore. Hopefully, those indie bookstores overseas will have the power to survive.

The theme of friendship between Verity and Jess held strong throughout the novel. It’s easy to let the tsunami of fame sweep you away and all those that were with you in your past could be swept away. It’s a sad but true thing of life. How many times have one looked back to old school days and count the exact number of friends that still exist in one’s life today?

Mena Rhodes, Verity’s mentor/idol was a good character that Leav introduced. Charming and personable on social media (instagram) and on stage but realistic and egotistic by nature. Her character made it clear that people have a choice; to choose to conform and be what the world wants or stick to your roots and be who you are - which thankfully Verity did. Hate the Mena character but she was a pure necessity.

P.s. Really wish Lang Leav had posted the original poem from Poemsia that catapulted Verity Wolf to fame. Oh yes, and some of Verity’s poems too!

Some notable quotes I love:

“There’s no way to be a poet. You can’t choose it because it chooses you. Maybe your soul refracts the universe in all its complex beauty and you are a shard of light in its great hallway of mirrors. The universe calls and compels you to write poetry because with every ounce of its being, it yearns to know itself through you.” - Verity’s last answer to the brunette girl at her sell-out show at Sojourn Theatre in New York. Page 230

“ A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it” - Jean de La Fontaine. Page 24

“Then I thought about the poem from Poemsia, and all at once I understood what the poet meant when she wrote about the certainty of endings-how each goodbye had its own destiny to fulfill.”....”Poemsia is about coming to the end of the book and not wanting to say goodbye to your favourite characters. The struggle of parting ways, real and imaginary.” Page 285/27

“You should just read whatever resonates with you. What’s the point of suffering through a book just because the author is a literary star?’ Page 210 ...more

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Sep 21, 2019 Laura Altmann (laurabookish) rated it it was amazing

As a huge fan of Leav's poetry, I went into Poemsia with high expectations and I was not disappointed! The book tells the story of Verity Wolf, a young woman whose dreams of being a poet come to fruition after a celebrity re-shares one of her Instagram posts. Verity is immediately thrown into the spotlight and must decide whether to stay true to her humble roots in Australia or pursue a life of stardom in New York. Personally, I love modern poetry, and Poemsia feels like a secret backstage glimpse into what i ...more

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Oct 20, 2019 Cui Chuan rated it it was amazing

UTTERLY SPEECHLESS! Hands down to Lang Leav! A light read with a fast paced type storytelling. It kept me in my seat because I wanted to finish the book and know Verity’s life changes. It’s basically a reflection of the modern world that we live in and its positives and imperfections. Truly a wonderful read.

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Oct 25, 2019 Nadia Khaerunnisa rated it really liked it

Poemsia is a modern fairy tale. A light reading with beautiful word choices here and there. You won't fall into a killing downward, because turnarounds will catch you that fast.
Very enjoyable~

If you have ever wondered how it feels to be a poet or writer or musicians or anything that feels like reaching your dream, being famous and influential, this book will show you each of the flipside.

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Oct 14, 2019 Nikki rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

I’ve been in a book rut for awhile and Poemsia has taken me out of it. I’ve been a Lang leav fan for years and I was so excited to hear that she was coming out with her second novel. I’ve loved every single word I read from this book. The story just felt so genuine and sincere-I simply couldn’t get enough. It’s definitely one of my favorite novels 💕

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Oct 20, 2019 Suzanne rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this timely novel about a young poet who finds fame (and also deals with haters and inaccurate information) via Instagram. My only complaint is that we don't get to read any of Verity Wolf's poetry.

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Oct 27, 2019 Dana Al-Basha دانة الباشا marked it as to-buy

I can't wait to get a copy of this book!

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Sep 25, 2019 Rebecca DeFazio rated it it was amazing

"I promise you will not be able to put it down."

Read the full review here: https://morethanaflower.com/book-revi...

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Oct 16, 2019 Nia Davis rated it really liked it

I really liked this book. It was much lighter than I was anticipating but I still enjoyed it. I just had a very warm feeling whilst reading this one.

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Aug 31, 2019 Charlene Galea rated it it was amazing

Amazing story by Lang Leav and amazing book as always. Will always pick up a book by her and am very grateful to have had the privilege of reading this book early. Can guarantee that this book will make you tear up and also see yourself in the story

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Oct 28, 2019 The Bookish Faerie rated it really liked it

Poemsia is a fitting book title given that there was a poem in this book from a fictional poetry book called Poemsia about not wanting to finish a book to avoid saying goodbye to a character you love dearly. I believe that Lang Leav wants readers to love her protagonist Verity Wolf like the poem. After all, Verity Wolf is what I like to call a bookish Princess who got her fairytale happily ever after.

Let me start from the beginning as that’s how stories are told. Once upon a time, Verity Wolf r ...more

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Oct 27, 2019 Elia Anis rated it liked it

i was always a big fan of lang leav; i actually started loving poetries because of her and i owe the dream of becoming a poet to her too. it’s kind of the same way how Verity Wolf looks up to Mena Rhodes in this book, except for the fact that i was not as talented as Verity.

as in her previous novel Sad Girls, i especially love how Lang Leav fits her poetic words in between lines while she describes every scenes and scenarios.

but as much as i love her, i hv to say that poemsia isnt a ...more

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Oct 26, 2019 Haley rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 23, 2019 Camille rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 23, 2019 Grace rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, to-buy-books

Lang Leav never fails me, I love her all works!

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Oct 19, 2019 Denz rated it liked it

Gotta be honest! The reason why I bought this book was because I thought this was Lang Leav's first novel (Apparently there was one before this, plus this book is definitely a huge departure from the type of books I like to read. With that being said, this book was not bad. While there is nothing new with this book, Lang did a good job bringing Verity to life. Not only that, she made it realistic with the incorporation of friendship, romance, and social media. What I like about this book is that ...more

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About Lang Leav

Lang Leav

8,918 followers

Novelist and poet, Lang Leav is an international bestselling author and winner of a Qantas Spirit of Youth Award, Churchill Fellowship and Goodreads Choice Award. Often credited with popularizing poetry among a new generation of young readers, Lang’s poetry books, and hit novel, Sad Girls continue to top best seller charts around the world.

Lang has been featured on CNN, SBS Australia, ...more