Poetry

Title: Notes on Love: Poems and Photography

Author: F.S. Yousaf

Genre: Poetry

Publisher: Andrews McMeel

Release Date: June 2nd, 2026

Format: E-ARC

Pages: 192

Source: Digital ARC from Publisher

Description

Every heart longs to love and be loved. In Notes on Love , F.S. Yousaf pairs heartfelt poems with stunning street photography, celebrating the beauty and tenderness of everyday human connection.

In Notes on Love, celebrated and respected poet F.S. Yousaf—author of Serenity and Oaths— effortlessly intertwines two mediums he holds dear for the very first poetry and photography. With an eye for finding beauty in the ordinary, Yousaf’s poems and photographs explore the many shapes of love—romantic, platonic, familial, and self—creating a heartfelt journey through human connection and tenderness. This stunning hardcover collection features over 80 new poems and 100 never-before-seen photographs, offering a fresh, immersive experience for readers who cherish both poetry and visual art.Perfect for fans of F.S. Yousaf’s reflective writing, Notes on Love is a moving celebration of vulnerability, intimacy, and the quiet poetry of everyday life.

(Source: Goodreads)

Review

I went into this poetry collection excited to read poems about love and also see the photographs that would add depth to the poetry. I think that poetry is really subjective, and a few of the poems missed the mark for me. What I enjoyed the most about this collection was the photographs. In this book, there were many intimate photos that felt like they showed a variety of emotions that pertain to love, and they were tender and sweet. I also liked that some of the poems were written in handwriting, which made them feel more intimate. My favourite poems were towards the end of the book.

Content Warnings

This Book in Three Words

Quick, sweet read

Values/Themes

Love
Romance
Beauty

Favourite Part

The photos were very sweet.

Feelings

Emotional
Hopeful
Lighthearted

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 3 stars

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Andrews McMeel for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

QOTD: What’s your favourite poetry collection?

Title: seven years: poems on heartbreak and healing

Author: Alyssa Harmon

Genre: Poetry

Publisher: Alyssa Harmon Publishing

Release Date: 11 October 2022

Format: E-Book

Pages: 121 pages

Source: BookSirens
Date Started: September 23rd, 2022
Date Finished: September 23rd, 2022

Happy Publication Day!

Description

Some people say that each cell in your body replaces itself after seven years. At the end of the seven years, you are a physically and mentally new person. “seven years” is Alyssa Harmon’s debut collection of poems on heartbreak and healing. Each chapter represents a new stage in the relationship and healing process, and these poems tell the story of a failed relationship and the healing journey that resulted because of that. If your heart was broken in a way that you’re not sure can be healed, this book is for you.

(The Storygraph)

Review

This poetry book is an excellent collection. It spans over seven years in the healing process after heartbreak. While the themes deal with a failed relationship, I also feel that the poems can apply to loss or the hurdles one faces, though this may not be the intended motivation behind these works. Poetry is so personal and may be interpreted in different ways.

Many poems have intriguing titles inviting you to read them (e.g., kalopsia, calidris, and lacheism.) Others have more straight-forward titles, such as “a halloween nightmare,” and provide interesting stories, some of which I connected with quite a bit.

I recommend looking into the poetry collection, especially if the synopsis calls out to you. You may find it best to read this with a cup of tea and tissues by your side. I also recommend tabbing your kindle e-book or physical copy as you go along for future reference.

Thank you to BookSirens and Alyssa Harmon for a review copy. All opinions are my own.

Content Warnings

Values/Themes