i'm gonna start by saying i think this book has some really great one-liners and a really strong, needed message. If you’re going through heartbreak you will probably love this book, however as I am not maybe my perspective is harsh. Now, whilst I do feel this poet holds a substantial amount of potential with some of these poems holding a profound message, I do feel this poetry book left me with something to be desired.

This work didn’t feel cohesive, I found myself really resonating with a singular line, only for the rest of the poem to consist of what seemed like random words thrown together.

But it also makes you realise that if you think this person is truly worth it, then don't leave because you are scared. So my final thoughts are, if you need to something to help you cope with conflicting and complicated thoughts about your relationship, whether that me romantic or platonic, read this. As I mentioned previously, this was more frustrating than anything as I feel this poet has real considerable prospectives. The variety of form in these poems makes it really lovely to read and makes the emotions truly jump off the page. From the crushing pain of loss to the elation of new love to the struggle of forging your own path, the messages in this book are ubiquitous, but also distinctly personal to the reader.

One of the most fascinating things I found about this collection of poems was the ability he had to unlock emotional memory within me as the reader. Yet the way in which he discusses his past relationship suddenly does become understandable in a sense that the reader sympathises with his situation. What really hit home even more was that I was reading this through a tough time, which possibly affected me even more because it did hit me like a ton of bricks at certain lines.For my taste the writing style is a bit too literal and leaves almost nothing to interpretation, but after I started reading this with a bit of sad music in the background it hit different. in a way, it felt very elementary with similes that fell short and untitled poems––i craved a depth and complexity that these poems never quite delivered. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Ben's first book of poetry, ‘Intoxicated Heart’, was released in 2019 and his sophomore effort, 'Feeling This Way', was published in June 2022. It was so incredibly beautiful and relatable yet Esqueda speaks about a partially closeted-romance which at first I didn't completely connect with emotionally.