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achi1's review
4.0
Poetry isn’t my go-to so I am glad I decided to give this one a go. While these are poems, I can almost see a story and a healing journey. Some parts are particularly relatable as they touch on the essence of modern love. Wouldn’t mind reading more poetry of similar styles. I don’t mind the random line breaks or capitalisation, but that in the acknowledgment really bugged me.
Note - complimentary review copy.
Note - complimentary review copy.
donasbooks's review
5.0
"everyone says goodbye"
she cries a little when the tiny, old, blue, beat-up car that’s been driving next to her for seventeen miles gets off on exit 24. no warning, save for a blinker at the last minute as he swerves all the way from the left lane to the exit. loc. 414 Kindle ebook
Alyssa Harmon's SEVEN YEARS is what I consider an ideal contemporary poetry collection. It displays beauty, cleverness, and poetic self-awareness. Harmon's style is indeed beautiful, and she plays with form in creative ways, to often visually stunning result. See another of my favorite poems in the collection, "Morning Crossword" at loc. 426.
This collection is split into 7 sections--First Year, Second Year, Third Year, etc. The inspiration for the collection is the (seemingly dubious) scientific claim that the body completely turns over on a cellular level every 7 years. So no matter how terrible the heartbreak, eventually a body will rid itself of that trauma--in 7 years, to be exact.
In SEVEN YEARS, each year/section has its own tone, if not exactly dominant theme. I enjoyed all of them, especially Second Year and Third Year. My favorite poem came from Sixth Year, the final poem, "is this okay?" which is a remarkable poem about emotional labor and consent.
SEVEN YEARS is ultimately great breakup poetry, and sometimes love poetry, and maybe even self-love poetry. For any reader who has ever ripped a picture in half.
Rating 4.5 Stars
Finished October 2022
Recommended for fans of contemporary poetry, breakup poetry, contemporary love poetry
TW mental health concerns
she cries a little when the tiny, old, blue, beat-up car that’s been driving next to her for seventeen miles gets off on exit 24. no warning, save for a blinker at the last minute as he swerves all the way from the left lane to the exit. loc. 414 Kindle ebook
Alyssa Harmon's SEVEN YEARS is what I consider an ideal contemporary poetry collection. It displays beauty, cleverness, and poetic self-awareness. Harmon's style is indeed beautiful, and she plays with form in creative ways, to often visually stunning result. See another of my favorite poems in the collection, "Morning Crossword" at loc. 426.
This collection is split into 7 sections--First Year, Second Year, Third Year, etc. The inspiration for the collection is the (seemingly dubious) scientific claim that the body completely turns over on a cellular level every 7 years. So no matter how terrible the heartbreak, eventually a body will rid itself of that trauma--in 7 years, to be exact.
In SEVEN YEARS, each year/section has its own tone, if not exactly dominant theme. I enjoyed all of them, especially Second Year and Third Year. My favorite poem came from Sixth Year, the final poem, "is this okay?" which is a remarkable poem about emotional labor and consent.
SEVEN YEARS is ultimately great breakup poetry, and sometimes love poetry, and maybe even self-love poetry. For any reader who has ever ripped a picture in half.
Rating 4.5 Stars
Finished October 2022
Recommended for fans of contemporary poetry, breakup poetry, contemporary love poetry
TW mental health concerns
ashyourbookbestie's review
5.0
I don’t normally review poetry, I’ve always found it to be difficult to put a star rating on, because how can I leave you a review for some thing that I find to be such true deep emotions, that are now splayed out on paper, for other eyes to see. I was asked by the author if I would be interested in reviewing her debut collection Seven Years. And I’m glad I said yes, it was an amazing journey of heartache and healing. I found myself in several areas, from several times in my life, within the pages of Seven Years. I’m excited to see what the next seven years bring to her and to me.
genevarsmith's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
skavansieur's review
4.0
*A review copy was provided by BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
I really admire the metaphors the author used. It's clever, and common in the way that it's easily understood, but so rarely used and creative.
I liked a lot of the poems, but towards the end, I stopped thinking about whether I liked it, but followed along the poet through the years. I'm no longer the audience, but a bystander cheering her on.
It wasn't difficult to understand, yet it wasn't all at face value. It could easily be read by those who are new to poetry as it challenges you to consider the words used.
I really admire the metaphors the author used. It's clever, and common in the way that it's easily understood, but so rarely used and creative.
I liked a lot of the poems, but towards the end, I stopped thinking about whether I liked it, but followed along the poet through the years. I'm no longer the audience, but a bystander cheering her on.
It wasn't difficult to understand, yet it wasn't all at face value. It could easily be read by those who are new to poetry as it challenges you to consider the words used.
picka_book's review
5.0
Seven Years is the debut poetry collection of Alyssa Harmon. She sent me an ARC and I took my time to read it today. The chapters were well organized: she remarkably described the different stages of a relationship from its beginning to post-breakup phase. I appreciated her writing. It was as if she read my mind when I went through dark times. The very last poem of this book absolutely summed it up. Besides the message conveyed can help some of you getting over breakup. That's the beauty of poetry!
emma_bookaholic's review
5.0
Finished reading this ARC from @alyssa_harmon_ and it's brilliant! A poetry book based on heartbreak and healing. The idea that the body takes seven years to regenerate it's cells and possibly forget about a failed relationship.
I enjoyed reading this poetry book. Poetry is still relatively new to me so I'm on the look out for more to broaden my horizon. This book is sectioned into seven years, involving love and breakup. It is very heartfelt and you can feel the emotions as you read.
Very well written, will keep an eye out for more from Alyssa as I enjoyed reading this and would recommend. I also liked how the words and sections flowed. Very powerful.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book comes out on 11th October 2022, primarily on Amazon - keep an eye out!
I enjoyed reading this poetry book. Poetry is still relatively new to me so I'm on the look out for more to broaden my horizon. This book is sectioned into seven years, involving love and breakup. It is very heartfelt and you can feel the emotions as you read.
Very well written, will keep an eye out for more from Alyssa as I enjoyed reading this and would recommend. I also liked how the words and sections flowed. Very powerful.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book comes out on 11th October 2022, primarily on Amazon - keep an eye out!
brookeisbusyreading's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
5.0
“they all fall down”
hallelujah comes on
in the store; she
sinks to the
dirty ground and
cries like some-
one played jenga
with her feelings
and they just pulled
the wrong
block.
~
“why don’t you write happy poems?”
writing poetry is the first aid kit
i keep underneath the bathroom sink.
writing poetry is the emergency room
you don’t go to when you’re healthy.
writing poetry is the pen and paper inside
of the in-case-of-emergency-break-glass.
~
The separation of this book into different years is an interesting choice that I enjoyed, especially once I reaized the reference to the book’s title, “seven years”. (I’m surprised it’s not used more often for poetry books about love and heartbreak.)
Alyssa has a way of writing clearly and using imagery that surprises me. It’s definitely one of her strongest elements, but all of her poems are polished and well-worded. The structure of one poem, “the morning crossword puzzle” (set up like an actual crossword puzzle), was such a unique structure choice and it still maintained its poetic feel!
As far as the book’s message/storyline, I felt a little like it was geared more toward the act of not wanting to let go of a lost love than it was moving on and moving forward like most poetry books on love/heartbreak are…BUT it works and I enjoyed Alyssa’s style of poetry, which kept things fresh and interesting!
hallelujah comes on
in the store; she
sinks to the
dirty ground and
cries like some-
one played jenga
with her feelings
and they just pulled
the wrong
block.
~
“why don’t you write happy poems?”
writing poetry is the first aid kit
i keep underneath the bathroom sink.
writing poetry is the emergency room
you don’t go to when you’re healthy.
writing poetry is the pen and paper inside
of the in-case-of-emergency-break-glass.
~
The separation of this book into different years is an interesting choice that I enjoyed, especially once I reaized the reference to the book’s title, “seven years”. (I’m surprised it’s not used more often for poetry books about love and heartbreak.)
Alyssa has a way of writing clearly and using imagery that surprises me. It’s definitely one of her strongest elements, but all of her poems are polished and well-worded. The structure of one poem, “the morning crossword puzzle” (set up like an actual crossword puzzle), was such a unique structure choice and it still maintained its poetic feel!
As far as the book’s message/storyline, I felt a little like it was geared more toward the act of not wanting to let go of a lost love than it was moving on and moving forward like most poetry books on love/heartbreak are…BUT it works and I enjoyed Alyssa’s style of poetry, which kept things fresh and interesting!
travelsalongmybookshelf's review
4.0
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. This collection of poems is about 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.
I don’t often read and review poetry it has to be said, but I enjoyed this debut collection from Alyssa Harmon. There is a journey to be followed through a relationship, some things I recognised, some I didn’t, but that is relationships for you. I liked the flow of the poems and the connections between them, they clearly mean a lot to the writer. You can feel the power and force of the words lift from the page at times, at others I just smiled with recognition or gasped with the punch to the gut just knowing that feeling.
A great little debut collection, that if you’ve experienced heartbreak you will recognise so much, honest and truthful, a little gem.
Thank you to Alyssa and Booksirens for my copy of this poetry collection to review
I don’t often read and review poetry it has to be said, but I enjoyed this debut collection from Alyssa Harmon. There is a journey to be followed through a relationship, some things I recognised, some I didn’t, but that is relationships for you. I liked the flow of the poems and the connections between them, they clearly mean a lot to the writer. You can feel the power and force of the words lift from the page at times, at others I just smiled with recognition or gasped with the punch to the gut just knowing that feeling.
A great little debut collection, that if you’ve experienced heartbreak you will recognise so much, honest and truthful, a little gem.
Thank you to Alyssa and Booksirens for my copy of this poetry collection to review