Reviews - Poets Square: A Memoir in Thirty Cats

BOOK OF THE YEAR!!!!! Go read this book RIGHT NOW!

As a longtime follower and a huge cat lady and animal lover, I knew I’d enjoy this book, but I had no idea just how deeply it would affect me.

I’ve always been the person animals seem to find when they need help. My whole life, I’ve come across creatures, cats, birds, injured wildlife, right when they needed someone. I’ve always felt like I was meant to be there in those moments. This book spoke directly to that part of me.

From the moment I first stumbled upon Courtney’s Instagram, I was hooked, not just by her beautiful photos and the hilarious, perfect names she gave the cats, but by the heart behind each post. I felt a deep connection to Sad Boy and Lola. When Sad Boy passed, I grieved. I genuinely grieved his loss. I never met him, but somehow, I felt like I knew him. His presence was truly magical. I felt such a loss in this world, a loss for Courtney, a loss for Lola, and a loss for us all. I still get teared up when I even think about it, and that day my cat got so many treats in his honor.

Courtney’s dedication to caring for animals, even in the midst of her own personal struggles, was deeply inspiring to me. It’s made me ask myself: what more can I do in my own community? My own cat, Binx, is a rescue from the streets. He’s been my best friend for almost five years now, and thanks to love and safety, he gets to spend his days curled up in my lap, living the life he deserves.

What surprised me most about this book was how deep and thoughtful it is. The chapter about Desert Palms absolutely hit something in me. Watching Courtney show up, day after day, to feed and care for the cats, only to realize the humans there needed just as much care, was so moving. The way she slowly built trust with that community, and how their collective compassion grew from there (caring more for the cats, picking up trash, building relationships)… it was incredibly powerful.

The chapter about how men are taught to treat animals also hit me hard. As a woman, I’ve always noticed this. Since I was a child, I couldn’t understand how boys could be cruel to animals, putting salt on snails, squishing frogs, and not feel anything. I would cry over it, feeling a deep, instinctive protectiveness over every living thing. That part of the book made me feel so seen.

Courtney, thank you. Thank you for writing this book. Thank you for every post, every rescue, every story you’ve shared since the very beginning, every story you haven’t shared. I’m a lifelong follower, and I’m endlessly grateful for you. You deserve every good thing in the world. Thank you, thank you, thank you.