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abception's review
3.5
A really introspective and thought-provoking collection of poetry - a good choice to read at the end of the year; a reminder to be kinder to yourself and appreciate what we've all survived this year.
corianderwrites's review
5.0
This collection of poetry is a raw, and visceral work that comes from the heart. A bleeding heart. These poems work through heartbreak, loss, health problems and depression. Along with carrying the weight of gender roles, sexism and growing into womanhood, the author pointedly explores the harm and digression of these rules have on young girl and women everywhere. She makes the case for how womanhood has made her feel and how she now feels that she belongs upon getting her period. She declares how uncomfortable growing breasts and changing affected how boys. looked at her at a young age, and how it made her feel like an object instead of a person.
The themes here are not heavy handed but they are not light either. The poignant way in which Dawn Lanuza writes about her experiences is what creates just the right touch for these hard hitting sensitive topics. Even the way she talks about travel, and how traveling light has informed the way she lives is captivating and makes you recess the things that make you feel like yourself. This collection is near perfect to me, it makes you think without making you uncomfortable, it quietly unloads poignant thoughts in an effective way. This book gets five stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
The themes here are not heavy handed but they are not light either. The poignant way in which Dawn Lanuza writes about her experiences is what creates just the right touch for these hard hitting sensitive topics. Even the way she talks about travel, and how traveling light has informed the way she lives is captivating and makes you recess the things that make you feel like yourself. This collection is near perfect to me, it makes you think without making you uncomfortable, it quietly unloads poignant thoughts in an effective way. This book gets five stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
claudiaamteixeira's review
4.0
*4.5 stars
Trigger warning: This book contains discussions on death, suicide ideation, violence, bullying, injury, self-harm, body image, sexism, and mental health. As mentioned on the first page. I'm praising the author for inserting the trigger warnings.
This book is a powerful reflection on oneself's life in longing, displacement..., It is beautifully written and emotional. I think it is perfect for early teens looking back. The author shows her struggles and her journey with mental health and self-esteem.
Trigger warning: This book contains discussions on death, suicide ideation, violence, bullying, injury, self-harm, body image, sexism, and mental health. As mentioned on the first page. I'm praising the author for inserting the trigger warnings.
This book is a powerful reflection on oneself's life in longing, displacement..., It is beautifully written and emotional. I think it is perfect for early teens looking back. The author shows her struggles and her journey with mental health and self-esteem.
This is extremely raw which makes it all better, and it helps you to connect with the author on a deeper level. I found myself in some of her poems and prose. Excellent collection
beamasalunga's review
4.0
Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It's too early for me to write a review and I have to say I Must Belong Somewhere is by far Ms. Lanuza's best poetry collection...yet. The poems are personal and majority of them struck me. Some of us are finding the sense of belonging, there are moments we felt invisible in a crowd and it hurts not being seen for being yourself. Reading them is like a reflection of what I've experienced. It made me emotional at some point and I had to sit back and breathe. I may not be a fan of its structure but the way it made me feel is a plus.
This collection also talks about various topics which might triggered you such as depression, self-harm, suicide etc. Please keep this in mind before reading it.
It's too early for me to write a review and I have to say I Must Belong Somewhere is by far Ms. Lanuza's best poetry collection...yet. The poems are personal and majority of them struck me. Some of us are finding the sense of belonging, there are moments we felt invisible in a crowd and it hurts not being seen for being yourself. Reading them is like a reflection of what I've experienced. It made me emotional at some point and I had to sit back and breathe. I may not be a fan of its structure but the way it made me feel is a plus.
This collection also talks about various topics which might triggered you such as depression, self-harm, suicide etc. Please keep this in mind before reading it.
theresidentbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
I’m a big poetry reader, and I’m always excited to find a new, interesting poet to read. Dawn Lanuza is definitely a serious talent, and if this collection is any indication I will be reading more of her!
I like the entire vibe of I Must Belong Somewhere. It’s a collection that would perfectly pair with Taylor Swift’s folklore and evermore and a glass of wine. It’s an collection that reminds me of the Jo March champagne problems fan video I’ve been watching on YouTube on repeat. Lanuza’s poems perfectly capture the sense of messy 20s restlessness and experiences of love lost and love not right. I particularly loved the poems that focused on restlessness and figuring out where home was and how to find it.
The prose was a little less successful for me than the poems themselves. I felt like the collection could’ve been tighter structurally, but when it worked it really worked. I would definitely recommend this collection, and I can’t wait to read more of Lanuza’s work!
Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I like the entire vibe of I Must Belong Somewhere. It’s a collection that would perfectly pair with Taylor Swift’s folklore and evermore and a glass of wine. It’s an collection that reminds me of the Jo March champagne problems fan video I’ve been watching on YouTube on repeat. Lanuza’s poems perfectly capture the sense of messy 20s restlessness and experiences of love lost and love not right. I particularly loved the poems that focused on restlessness and figuring out where home was and how to find it.
The prose was a little less successful for me than the poems themselves. I felt like the collection could’ve been tighter structurally, but when it worked it really worked. I would definitely recommend this collection, and I can’t wait to read more of Lanuza’s work!
Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
emisbookish's review
5.0
“I didn’t want to just survive this life, I wanted to live”
Content Warnings (as listed at the start of the book): Death, Suicide Ideation, Self-Harm, Violence, Bullying, Injury, Body Image, Sexism, Mental Health
Dawn Luzana crafts a beautiful web of interwoven stories in the poetry collection “I must belong somewhere.” Telling the story of a girl (whether that is herself, you, or the girl next door) who is obviously just trying to get through life, the words will wash over you in a way that is soothing to the soul. The voice in this collection is strong, the poetry is captivating, and the flow was easy to follow.
Personally, I found her poetry in this book to be particularly raw and relatable. The way that Luzana describes mental health, in particular anxiety and depression, in this collection is done in a way that is so true and honest to the experience. The desire to simultaneously run away but also to have a home, the need for freedom but the yearning for steady love, it is all here. This book talks about moving on in all forms, from lost love, from broken families, and most importantly from your own demons.
If you love poetry collections, this is one you do not want to miss.
Thank you to NetGalley for this Arc
Content Warnings (as listed at the start of the book): Death, Suicide Ideation, Self-Harm, Violence, Bullying, Injury, Body Image, Sexism, Mental Health
Dawn Luzana crafts a beautiful web of interwoven stories in the poetry collection “I must belong somewhere.” Telling the story of a girl (whether that is herself, you, or the girl next door) who is obviously just trying to get through life, the words will wash over you in a way that is soothing to the soul. The voice in this collection is strong, the poetry is captivating, and the flow was easy to follow.
Personally, I found her poetry in this book to be particularly raw and relatable. The way that Luzana describes mental health, in particular anxiety and depression, in this collection is done in a way that is so true and honest to the experience. The desire to simultaneously run away but also to have a home, the need for freedom but the yearning for steady love, it is all here. This book talks about moving on in all forms, from lost love, from broken families, and most importantly from your own demons.
If you love poetry collections, this is one you do not want to miss.
Thank you to NetGalley for this Arc
a_lit_babe's review
3.0
3.5 stars.
This collection of prose and poems is a really beautiful one. I enjoyed reading it and some of these writings will stood out for me. It talks about journeying, finding solace and home and remembering amongst other things.
This collection of prose and poems is a really beautiful one. I enjoyed reading it and some of these writings will stood out for me. It talks about journeying, finding solace and home and remembering amongst other things.