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The She Book v.2

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Coming in 2020!

An intimate collection of prose, poems and quotes about surviving dark times. It’s about telling your story.

This is a resilient journey through a season of loneliness, a cycle of heartache and a year of depression. The author shares her darkest chapters, what she unexpectedly found within the depths of her emotional pain and how she emerged stronger.

As I wept
in the arms of darkness,
I heard the voice of my grandmother say,
Nothing stays the same, darling,
not even pain.
Life is a path of change.
Of ecstasy and ache.
So, no matter what the storm claims
let love light the way.

This book explores the healing of depression and the importance of self-care and being open to support from others, while giving a voice to emotional pain.

This is the second book in “The She Book” series.

This touching collection explores loneliness, heartache, depression, recovery, healing, inspiration and empowerment.

176 pages, Paperback

Published June 30, 2020

4 people are currently reading
180 people want to read

About the author

Tanya Markul

5 books75 followers
Tanya Markul started writing when she was six years old. She used to scribble lines on top of lines and called it ‘poetry’. Early in life she discovered emotional pain to be a sustainable resource for her work—and hasn’t stopped writing since. Her themes explore heartache, loss, abandonment, rejection and mental health. In her words, she writes for the ‘rejected ones’ and to ‘revolutionise pain’. Her quotes, stories, poems and prose have touched readers around the world. She hopes to be a source of inspiration and empowerment for years to come.

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5 stars
62 (42%)
4 stars
54 (36%)
3 stars
23 (15%)
2 stars
6 (4%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Dannii Elle.
2,339 reviews1,834 followers
September 22, 2022
"I love the ones
who are two parts crazy
and a portrait of poetry.
I love the ones
with an intention
covered in wild dreams.
I love the ones
who don’t always roar
but the quiet ones
who feel deeply,
are awkward at goodbyes,
and have secret talents
like walking through fire"


This is the second of the 'She' poetry anthologies and the contents derive from those presented in the first. Although they do not necessarily need to be experienced in this order I would highly recommend it, as there was an increased personal focus and shared process of inner-healing that featured here.

Despite this, there was also still much to relate to, and much to appeal to all readers. I found this a beautiful anthology to aid in healing and to return to in moments of grief, anger, sorrow, self-doubt, or self-sabotage.

"I don’t deserve
to remain on any hook
when my wings
belong to the sky."
Profile Image for Chapters And Sparkles.
66 reviews46 followers
May 1, 2020
First of all, thank you to #netgalley for sending me this ARC and this review contains only my own thoughts and criticism.

What an amazing book! It was a great experienc for me reading this book because it is so heartwarming and inspirational. The book is a real eye opener and it made me feel that I'm not alone in this world. Sometimes we just break, and that's okay. The author's word choice is beautiful and I honestly love it. The idea of women standing shoulder to shoulder, cherishing our powers is brilliant. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars only because I have a huge tbr list in this month, so I want to leave some space for other books.

To sum it up, I really liked this book and I recommend it to all the poetry lovers out there. You are going to love it.
Profile Image for Elsa Gomes (BookishAurora).
2,426 reviews302 followers
February 21, 2021
Rate:  5/ 5 stars

An uber inspiration and motivational collection of poetry. It’s exactly what you need to read even if you don’t know that you need it.

I loved how it portraited themes such as being a woman and a mother, immigration, growth, dealing with depression and so many more! There’s was this poem about immigration that just resonated with me because it’s so relevant. It was actually one of my fav poems in the entire collection.

The She Book 2 is a journey of self-love and healing. As Tanya tells us her story through the power of her words, she inspire us to keep fighting, to learn to love ourselves first and remind us that we’re never alone.

➳ Physical copy provided by the author in exchange for a honest review.

➳ Order at: Amazon US

➳ Follow me on: InstagramFacebook Twitter
Profile Image for Moto Z.
350 reviews24 followers
May 4, 2020
I would like to mention before this book, I hadn’t heard of this author or book one. Clearly that will change, As am intrigued and would like to see how book one was.
I think this book is beautiful and it does what it says in the title. It’s about about ‘She’ , it’s about one's self, healing and letting go. I like the way a small book can make a big impact through words. I must emphasis on practicing self-care as you read. Some poems might act as a trigger, if needed take a step back. When you can, continue to read. Some of the words were my favorite cause I could relate to them more than others. But overall this book will inspire feelings in you.
#VeryTadaReviews
Profile Image for Hannah.
76 reviews2 followers
April 17, 2020
The She Book v.2 is a conversation between a narrator and an addressee that is sometimes herself and sometimes another woman and sometimes the entire female gender. The poems are numbered in sequential order (though some have a postscript title as well), each working to address some mix of grief, trauma, and womanhood. The book closes with a poem to correspond with each month of the year.

I wanted so badly to like this book. Some of these poems are impactful and honest (in particular, I enjoyed 119, 138, and 171), but unfortunately the momentum of these few do not make up for the sludging high-school-counselor-office-poster-meets-Homegoods-quote-a-day-agenda-meets-Instagram-self-help-guru feel of the rest of the collection. The forced rhyming detracts from the sentiment of the poems and the organization of the overall collection is disjointed. I wish that it had been organized with a more visible structure, such as grouping all of the "sister," "woman," "girl," or "you" poems together to show a shift in interlocutor.

I am reminded of a memoir I read a few years ago that was lauded for its deep-dive into the author's history with eating disorders and poor body image. Rather than speaking about her experiences with any semblance of verisimilitude or reality, the author often opted for cliches. Doing so is not powerful or resonating. It is a cop-out. Similarly, THE SHE BOOK V.2 opts so often for cliches and absolute language that the message grows hollow, contradictory, and self-indulgent.

It is the sort of hopeful that spoils into saccharine. It is unconvincing.

Scattered throughout the collection are the recurring motifs of mermaids, midwives, the four elements, altars, scars, stars, and "blessed are"s (forgive the rhyming - the fact that many of these words rhyme may, quite frankly, be why they are used so frequently). I wanted to interrogate them: what is the significance of speaking to the sea and being a creature within it? being a mother versus a midwife? the relevance of religion and prayer?

It wasn't for me.

1 star out of a possible 5. I received this book electronically from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Dana.
253 reviews
August 1, 2020
Poet Tanya Markul comes back with a sequel to her first poetry book The She Book with V.2! She continues in this poetry series to use emotional pain to create powerful and inspiring imagery about surviving dark times and finding our place and strength in this world. Here’s one such poem:

“Hey, mermaid,
Life is either
a water drop
or an ocean
depending on
the depth of
your courage.”
- Tanya Markul (one hundred forty-two)

She seeks a common connection with the reader by pouring her heart and soul out with vulnerability onto the pages and showing that we don’t suffer alone, even in our darkest most seemingly imperfect moments. She shows through her words that we are all resilient. If she is able to heal and emerge stronger by embracing the power within, we can take this step to join her as well. Here is a poem from the book that illustrates this:

“She laughs.
She growls.
She dances outside the tent.
She’s a sip of moonlight
part wolf
and a whole lot of magic.”
- Tanya Markul (one hundred fifty-seven)

It’s a journey through darkness where the author valiantly leads us out to the other end with words to deeply move and encourage us and remind us she is walking right beside us through this crazy adventure we call life.

Thanks to Netgalley, publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
300 reviews8 followers
April 26, 2020
While I had never heard of this author or "The She Book," I suppose I have no choice but to read it ASAP. Some of this one just too darn good. Alluring and raw, "The She Book v.2" is a poetry and prose collection about one woman's process of dealing with shame and being reborn as a warrior. This is a tale of strength and a self-help book in the form of poetry.

The author is brutally honest about how she used to lie about herself. Grew up in a poor and abusive family among whom she is the only survivor. She was sexually assaulted, had an eating disorder and was stoned for four years straight. And even though dark thoughts still creep into her life, she now takes action and chases them away.

Although some of the poems and prose fell flat and I couldn't believe they made their way in, much of Markul's work is the much needed motivational tale of resilience and perseverance. She reminds you to "kick your own demon's ass" once you realize that what is suppressing you the most is the lack of faith in our own force.

"Do not believe
the things
you tell yourself
while possessed
by your inner shit."

But my absolute favorite verse is something I needed to hear more than ever:
"Draw a circle around you, woman.
Even the ocean has boundaries."

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Kate Jennings.
15 reviews2 followers
June 19, 2020
Firstly, thank you to NetGalley, Tanya Markul and Andrew McMeel Publishers for providing me with an electronic ARC in return for an honest review.

I absolutely adored the prequel, The She Book, for the fact that I could open it anywhere and find something profound that could be applied to a life situation. That said, I do find that The She Book, Vol. 2 is written quite differently. Although it's about loss and overcoming it, I find many of the poems a bit more difficult to connect to. They lack something of the rawness of their predecessors, focusing more on overcoming loss than on the emotions, thoughts and actions that loss brings out in us.

There are still a number of poems in this second collection that do speak to me, however, notably 255 and 151. I also like the end section where Markul goes through the flowers for each birth month and explains the woman they represent. Even if not wholly applicable, they allow for soul-searching and the recognition of positive traits in yourself that can be added to morning mantras or remembered when you are coming down hard on yourself.

Not a perfect collection (but then what is?), but definitely a book I want on my shelf to turn to at certain moments.
Profile Image for Autumn Sykes.
11 reviews1 follower
May 25, 2020
I was kindly gifted this eARC in return for an honest review from the publisher via NetGalley.

This collection of poetry and prose is the second in the collection from Markus, in a modern (even Instapoet) form. I have not read the first, yet this book has tempted me into buying volume 1. Like most good poetry, it portrays themes of loss, pain and heartbreak. However, it also shares themes of healing and moving on. Which most women may find empowering (I say women as most of the poems seem to mainly be aimed at females). One negative I had on the book was the constant mention of sharing your ‘story’. It ended up becoming quite tedious. Maybe using a synonym for the word ‘story’ would have made it slightly easier to get through. That being said, I enjoy how the book encourages you to share your life with the world and move on from what has hurt you in the past.
Profile Image for Venus Blancia.
277 reviews55 followers
June 27, 2020
To the discovery of the wisdom of your shadow self. And so it is.


I have been a fan of Tanya Markul for over the years. Her being badass thug unicorn had inspired me to survive my battles in life. This version 2 of her She Book has never failed to possess power and passion that women should know and embrace.

With Tanya's literary prowess of words, she was able to turn vulnerabilities to strengths, darkness to light, and mistakes to blessings. One poem that resonates with me is the poem one hundred forty-seven.

We are reborn from the weight of our scars.
Remember, unbearable pressure gives birth to stars.


Of such inspirations, Tanya is to women to become of themselves without limits.

Thank you for Tanya Markul, and the publisher, Andrews McMeel for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Krys.
393 reviews3 followers
June 20, 2020
The She Book v.2 is raw and powerful.
Tanya Markul shares her life while offering advice throughout. Embrace yourself, take care of yourself, support those around you, and allow yourself to be supported in return. A stunning, heartfelt collection full of emotion and admissions of failures but the strength to get back up and keep trying. Markul says “she writes for the ‘rejected ones’ and to ‘revolutionize pain’” and I think she did a stunning job of displaying that skill.
I have not read the first volume of The She Book but I’ll be sure to fix that soon enough.
***
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Lindsay Lock.
Author 1 book8 followers
May 17, 2020
This is the book my 2020 needed.

I read this hungering and found my appetite for connection, in this time of hurt detachment, satiated. The relation of human experience is delivered one breathtaking page after another.
I found myself crying healing tears.
I found myself writing healing inspired by Tanya's digging deep and not flinching.
This book is magical soulful.
I'll return many a time to it's wisdom.

#theshebooktwo @tanyamarkul #andrewsmcmeelpublishing #poetry #healing #bookrecommendations #writerssupportingwriters
Profile Image for Courtney R..
108 reviews10 followers
November 4, 2023
"The She Book v.2" by Tanya Markul is a poetic masterpiece that speaks directly to the soul. Markul's words are a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and beauty within every woman. Her prose is both empowering and tender, offering solace and inspiration in equal measure. This book is a sacred space for self-discovery, healing, and embracing one's true essence. Markul's writing is a gift that transcends pages, leaving a lasting impact on the heart of every reader.

I was provided an advanced copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Bea (beansbookshelves).
259 reviews
June 11, 2020
I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley.

The She Book v.2 written by Tanya Markul is one of the best poetry collections I've read in a long time, as expected from Andrews McMeel Publishing. It's just so raw, deep, and personal, I cannot put into words how much I've enjoyed reading this book. I'm almost graduating (and these have been such stressful times), yet I found an escape while reading this book. Rating: 4/5 stars.
Profile Image for Hobbitual Reader.
14 reviews
Read
June 25, 2020
Synopsis: A book of inspiring, motivating prose, poems and quotes for womanhood. This is a collection of feelings of all types a girl goes through in life at one point or the other to become a Women.
Personally, it was my first poetry pick which happened to disappoint me. I just don’t think this poetic take was right for me. But I recommend it to any girl who is shy and introvert as she will definitely find solace in it. It has some very touching and beautiful quotes that really touch you on many deeper levels.

Thank you #netgalley for the #arc in return for an honest review!!
Profile Image for Reedmylife .
609 reviews53 followers
June 30, 2020
I thought this was a great poetry collection about women finding their way out of the pain and creating a revolution. There was so much power in Tanya's words about the patriarchy and the past. Women must ban together to create a new life through the stories of their pain.

I enjoyed that Tanya talked about the painful stories and pushed the idea of the importance of banning together as women to become this powerhouse that has become anew after all the pain they have dealt with.
Profile Image for tris.
22 reviews
April 21, 2020
'The She Book v.2' is a beautifully written collection of poems that shows the various struggles faced by women. The book deals with a lot of subjects including addiction and abuse. This book portrays the strength of women and how she can come out of the darkness stronger than before. It tells the story of a fighter and how she not only survived the darkness but also fought against it.
Profile Image for Lexie ❤️‍.
569 reviews13 followers
June 25, 2020
"These pages describe how she survived the furthest depths of her personal darkness."

The tips for how to use the contents in this book was a nice beginning part of the book.

This was an okay read much like The Sheered Book v.1 was. Some of the poems felt choppy to me. It was like 2 different poems pasted together into 1 and it didn't flow properly.
Profile Image for Mandy Hazen.
1,399 reviews
April 22, 2020
This was a beautiful book of poetry. Bounced around quite a bit and found it a little hard to follow at times but otherwise was written well and was very touching. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Kali Bell.
Author 1 book3 followers
May 26, 2022
I absolutely loved and love both of Tanya's She Books - I read them both cover to cover and now love dipping into them for some inspiration and heart connection. Her way with words draw me into a world, a place, an emotion within seconds!
Profile Image for Courtney.
144 reviews
April 10, 2020
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful, evocative collection bursting full of potent prose and poetry.
546 reviews1 follower
October 19, 2020
Another great little book from Tanya...loved the flower signs at the end!
Profile Image for EIJANDOLUM.
310 reviews
March 12, 2025
She’ll walk you hand in hand, strong and proud, to the gates of the underworld and will leave you dancing.

Profile Image for Amy.
293 reviews59 followers
June 1, 2020
Powerful! Poignant! Strong! Passionate!
When I read, The She Book v. 2 by Tanya Markul, I found a new voice of empowerment. The strength of her words has the ability to lift up, to edify. Her words were steeped in reality, no holds barred.

I would reccomend this book to any woman that feels unheard. You are not alone.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Tanya Markul for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews

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