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njdarkish's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book of poetry. I tend to like it when a collection follows a single narrative thread from beginning to end. This narrative thread, though not original (it's the story of getting together and then breaking up) is very relatable and is explored in a way that is modern, with the use of technology and cultural references (that are very Gen Y/Millenial) as both a point of reference and in the way the poetry is presented. This could easily be hokey, but I really enjoyed it here. An example that I absolutely loved was comparing the time with the lover to "a trip to Taco Bell/great in the moment/regretful the next day." I laughed out loud when I read it because it was extremely clever yet relatable. The references don't feel forced or awkward, they naturally fit the modern age, especially considering how often things like Netflix and the like now fit into modern relationships.
My only critique of the book is relative to the pages that show the layout of a phone screen. Some of these were used to great effect, such as showing an unsent text asking a question about whether the lover is seeing other people, but many of the pages were just the layout of a phone texting screen without any material. I'm hoping that this is just something unfinished in the ARC I read and that the official release will add to those, but if not many of them felt out-of-place and like they were a missed opportunity for more clever writing.
My only critique of the book is relative to the pages that show the layout of a phone screen. Some of these were used to great effect, such as showing an unsent text asking a question about whether the lover is seeing other people, but many of the pages were just the layout of a phone texting screen without any material. I'm hoping that this is just something unfinished in the ARC I read and that the official release will add to those, but if not many of them felt out-of-place and like they were a missed opportunity for more clever writing.
_kaysbookshelf_'s review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Unfollowing You is a collection of poetry all too relatable in this modern age. It felt all too familiar to me and my experiences, the experiences of texting, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook all the while falling in and out of love with someone. Interspersed with group texts and texts with "Desert Bae," this makes for a fun, multi-media-esque collection of all-too-real poems. This is also filled with fun, modern-day references such as Taco Bell and Beyonce, and allows for some humor in the midst of some very real, very harsh feelings. Overall, this is fun and entertaining as well as fresh, modern, and realistic.
Review cross-listed here!
Review cross-listed here!
whatshawnareads's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars. I liked the writing, but nothing really stuck with me when I put the book down. I enjoyed that the poems followed a narrative, but I feel that there were a few that could have been left out in order to make the story flow better.
I do think the blurb perfectly describes this book and that it's extremely relatable to "dating" in the social media age with and trying to figure out not only how you feel, but how another person feels when neither of you are saying it out loud. There were a lot of times I was reading and would think I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way, so I definitely recommend picking it up if you've ever been that person who overanalyzing every text and dreaming about the future.
Thanks to Andrew McMeel Publishing for the advance copy through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I do think the blurb perfectly describes this book and that it's extremely relatable to "dating" in the social media age with and trying to figure out not only how you feel, but how another person feels when neither of you are saying it out loud. There were a lot of times I was reading and would think I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way, so I definitely recommend picking it up if you've ever been that person who overanalyzing every text and dreaming about the future.
Thanks to Andrew McMeel Publishing for the advance copy through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
mckinlay's review against another edition
3.0
*I received this from netgalley, this does not affect my review.*
[2.5 stars]
This is exactly the poetry I would have wanted to read in my early twenties after dealing with the loss of my first love. But now as a jaded 35 year old, self-proclaimed spinster, it kind of made me wanna barf. Objectively I can say the poetry was decent, the social media aspect was interesting, though I think the digital ARC was missing some of the formatting so it was a bit lost on me. I would recommend this to people going through their first break up. Sadly(well, not THAT sad. I don't care to deal with those feelings again), that wasn't me.
[2.5 stars]
This is exactly the poetry I would have wanted to read in my early twenties after dealing with the loss of my first love. But now as a jaded 35 year old, self-proclaimed spinster, it kind of made me wanna barf. Objectively I can say the poetry was decent, the social media aspect was interesting, though I think the digital ARC was missing some of the formatting so it was a bit lost on me. I would recommend this to people going through their first break up. Sadly(well, not THAT sad. I don't care to deal with those feelings again), that wasn't me.
wheninapril's review against another edition
2.0
*I got this book from netgally in exchange of an honest review.
I don't know what happened.. but I really did not enjoy reading these poems. They neither felt poetic not emotional enough to stay with me... Thats all.
I don't know what happened.. but I really did not enjoy reading these poems. They neither felt poetic not emotional enough to stay with me... Thats all.
meggomyeggo1210's review against another edition
3.0
Inconsistent-that is the word that keeps popping into my mind when I try to assess my feelings about this book. Some of the poems I found to be really good, and I appreciated the broad story that was told; I think it is something everyone can relate to. However, while I found some of the poems to be nice, they were interspersed by many poems such as:
As some other reviewers have mentioned, this book reminded me of someone I was in high school and college. It felt juvenile. It felt like the author was trying too hard to be relatable. Everyone has to learn how to love themselves and get over someone that ultimately doesn't care about you, but I thought the poetry itself could have been much better and more consistent.
Time with you now feels
like a trip to Taco Bell:
great in the moment
regretful the next day.
As some other reviewers have mentioned, this book reminded me of someone I was in high school and college. It felt juvenile. It felt like the author was trying too hard to be relatable. Everyone has to learn how to love themselves and get over someone that ultimately doesn't care about you, but I thought the poetry itself could have been much better and more consistent.
thequeenreads's review against another edition
2.0
Saturday night dates
are easy to find
but I want only you
on Sunday mornings
are easy to find
but I want only you
on Sunday mornings
acp007's review against another edition
1.0
there was good poetry in there but too much cringe to make it good
mustbeinwantofawife's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0