This Could be About Either of You

by Anna Leslie Long, Sarah Mocanu (Illustrator)

"I like to think that I’m well acquainted with running away"

Is highly-fictionalized-reality poetry a thing? I hope so.

This poetry collection is an exploration of the ways toxicity can appear in one’s life, told through the lens of a human struggling with unresolved childhood trauma and coming to terms with their own toxic choices & mistakes.

Genres: Poetry

57 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 19, 2021

About the author

Anna Leslie Long (you can just call her Anna) is a North Carolina native and long-time lover of the written word. When it comes to books, she’s often re-reading her favorites or researching upcoming botanical horror stories.

She’s enthusiastic about other things, too, such as: 80’s new wave, amphibians, a nice meal, and answering the call of the mountains. She hopes to one day find a goblin market or a portal to another realm.

Reviews

[Anna Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm biased...but YOU GUYS I WROTE A BOOK AND YOU CAN ADD IT ON HERE NOW!!!

[Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay here's the thing... In my first semester at uni my professor made it his personal mission for me to love poetry because I said I "hated" poetry. That's not true, I dont hate poetry. Hate is a strong word, but before this book the only full poetry collection I've ever read was for school. The thing I don't like about poetry is the, in my opinion, old and dated way that we analyse them. I dont care how well you make things rhyme or wether or not the author was some kind of lyrical genius. It just doesn't interest me that much. I care about the story, the message, what's in the words.

So with that in mind maybe I'm not the best person to be giving a poetry collection a review, yet here we are lol. First of all Anna is someone I've been following for a little while and look up to. I think there's something about the way she views the world that makes me want to borrow her eyes for a day. Is it a little biased to be giving this five stars then? absolutely! Should you still check it out? 100%!

And here's why:
One thing I really liked about this, (and I obviously couldn't tell you if this is unique or not, but regardless it impressed me), that this felt like it had a setting, a world build. I knew where this story took place and I recognised the characters. I felt immersed because it wasn't just pretty words that rhyme, but I felt like there was a bit of a story there for me to uncover and I wanted to know what happened.

Secondly this hit me unexpectedly. Another reason why poetry doesn't really slap that hard for me is that I often find people moaning over a four letter sentence like it holds the meaning to life and I'm standing there wondering what it must be like for these people to go through life when they can get so emotional over four letters. Reading a novel must be very emotionally exhausting then. Or perhaps I'm the one emotionally stunned. However this resonated with me in a way I did not see coming. I found little aspects of my own heartbreak and trauma in there that I did not expect to confront Saturday afternoon.

And lastly regardless of wether or not this is a lyrical masterpiece or not (I'll let someone more competent be the judge of that), it felt like this came from somewhere authentic and earnest. There are some words that just demands to be written because they take up so much space in you that you gotta get them out on paper and it doesn't matter if they're pretty or make sense, it's just raw emotion demanding to be expressed. Anna does however in my humble opinion manage to craft raw emotion in a way that it seems both pretty and logical.

If any of this peeked your curiosity just slightly I would recommend supporting a courageous independent artist.

[bringsolemnwarnings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing about how you want to bang your married boss with 4 kids and 4 grandchildren, all while using your friend to stalk his work schedule and show up at his job weekly is wild work. But 5/5 for persistence.

[Josi · Rating 5 out of 5]

~I rarely read poetry, but Anna has made me want to read more! Although I may not have experienced everything that is in this book, I still related to the emotions throughout the poems.
~Specifically: "Self-loathing is my native tongue and I let it lap up every inch of my skin because words of affirmation are my love language." I feel attacked lol
~There are many other instances I related to the emotions of the poems, but this one really struck me when I read it. I'd recommend this to people who have experienced yearning for something, or someone, but can't have it and those struggling with emotions and themselves in general.
~I feel like poetry hits different when you can actually relate to the topics or emotions and This Could Be About Either of You delivered that feeling. Also I love the book references, especially Call Me By Your Name :) Oh, and I love the illustrations added throughout! <3

Disclosure: I received This Could be About Either of You as an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Nina Test · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book of poetry at a free little library while on vacation in North Carolina. The mini artwork inside was just as beautiful as the stories portrayed.

I even reached out to the author on Instagram and loved the interaction. Wonderful job! I will be sharing this book with my peers and local library.

[Skylar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today my friend and I drove around Hilton head with the app little free library searching for books to swap. We came across one location and I found this book. I swapped it with one of mine and read the lovely note inside about a aspiring author and her poetry and said why not give it a shot I like poetry.

I took it back to the hotel and sat by the pool and read it in about 40 minutes. It was a incredible read and I have always loved poetry since I was a child but this was poetry I could relate too.

It was very real and very raw. It’s not just about the toxicity of our past and other people but also about ourselves and the damage we can cause ourselves. It was very touching and incredibly relatable for a teenager who is dealing with her first love and the toxic situation along the journey.

The art also brought a entertaining element and was a huge addition to the poems.

I love this poetry book and the perspective it gives you on life. Anna keep pursuing your dreams and writing poetry! Your work puts a smile on my face and is incredibly beautiful <3

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read; full of phrasing that will stick in your mind; my favorite is "from the back seat of the SUV and from under the crack of the bedroom door".

Reads like a series of short stories; highly recommend.

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A depth of well expressed feelings from a young author with a great future

[Emily Ashlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, OKAY- this book was so so SO good!!! I’ve been struggling mentally and dealing with a level 15 chronic migraine as I call it due to pain levels, this book had me in my feels and focusing on the raw emotions where nothing mattered around me but this book! This book is on my favorites list now XD

[Bailing Lue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hardest hitting one for me:

"I am my own dose of poison

Self-loathing is my native tongue
And I let it lap up every inch of my skin

Because words of affirmation
are my love language

The driving force of this
nail-biting, nervous-beyond-repair, fail-at-anything-I-try

sack of flesh I call myself"

😢 it hurts cause it's true to me...

[Ash Reads Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short collection with potential, I found that “This Could Be About Either Of You” was overall meandering and hazy. Though this was somewhat purposeful, the story lacked a complete or developed feeling and instead gave off the impression of an unfinished draft. The story it tells comes across as blurry. The only moments of the collection that make sense are full of cliches. Additionally, the art and graphics throughout the collection take away from the story it’s trying to tell, and make the piece feel less cohesive.

Despite this, I believe that the author has potential - if she continues to work at her craft and do a further study of poetry and fiction writing, I could see her producing some spectacular material. Her style seems well suited for a short story or novella format.

[Rita Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. I thought I would read a couple of pages to see what it was like. Did not put it down
Read the whole book. Highly Reccommend

[Hoyt Taylor]

Such an expressive glimpse of life-one in which most of us can identify. Each page revealed another sensitive look at memories.

[Poof · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful, beautiful, and authentic poetic journey from the white clover crowns of youth through the raw complexity of human relationships. This is a beautifully illustrated work by a fresh talent with an honest and purely relatable literary voice.

[Bill Lemmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happened upon this book by chance & devoured it. Many of the poems moved me to tears & left me wanting more poetry by Leslie!

[Anne M. Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the insightful poems. She is young and has a great talent.

[crybby · Rating 5 out of 5]

y’all..... one of my favorite poetry collections ever <33

[Katlyn Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 stars

Never have I had a debut poetry collection strike me as so deep and profound and yet the truths I found in it were the same truths I've always known about life. It may be a fictionalized collection, but the feelings it drums up are real and relatable. I would like to personally say a thank you to Anna for hosting the giveaway on goodreads that gave me the opportunity to read this masterpiece and Anna, you are going places. Your writing touches my soul and I hope to read more from you in the future.

[Debbie Scarborough]

Anna has the ability to recollect dark emotion and transfer it into tranquility. • Descriptive and vivid. I think we can all relate. Very profound for such a young writer!

Debbie Carpenter Scarborough

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

i’m not usually one for poetry but this hit so hard. i was able to connect with the words in so many different ways and just feel understood. this will definitely stick with me.

[Liana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatable, I enjoyed that it was the kind of poetry that I can actually follow and visualize, the writer has a lovely concise way of describing feelings and situations in just a simple short sentence.

[Sophie Edina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probs for being a poetry collection about bisexuality. There are some lines that gave me goosebumps and I will definitely revisit, but it mostly felt like a conversation with some strong images slipped into it. I usually prefer my poetry either more specific and poignant or more broad and dreamy.