This was a really beautiful collection of poetry and self help advice.

I think it would make a great gift for anyone going through heart break.

Thank you for the arc.

"and when time disappears
I want to believe in slowness again.
I want to believe that my heart does
not have to race to feel alive."

From Sand to Stars by Shelby Leigh is a poetry collection about the passing of time, healing, life, the world, and much more. I hadn't read any of Shelby Leigh's previous collections, but I was drawn to the title and cover, and I'm so happy I got to read it, because I enjoyed it a lot. I'll definitely go back to read the poet's previous works.

The book is divided into 3 sections - sand, soil, and stars. I really like when poetry collections do this because it makes it feel cohesive, and takes you on a gradual emotional journey. The poems mainly focus on self-love and healing, which are my favorite themes to read about, and they were inspiring, meaningful, and relatable.

I highly recommend this collection if you'd like to read poems that can help you feel less lonely, and accept your flaws and struggles.

The core of these poems is attention and love for oneself. A path to follow is not always the easiest because, like in all important relationships, there will be moments of discouragement, arguments, highs and lows, times when everything flows smoothly and seems simple and easy, and others when the situation becomes more complicated.

These are themes deeply explored in these poems, helping the reader not to feel alone on this journey. I found depth and care in expressing one's position moving, as if the author were a dear friend, always present and able to embrace the reader, making them feel understood and safe.

A less appreciated point, from my perspective, is that some poems are more explanatory. Let me explain. Some poems don't rely as much on emotions but rather explain what they want to convey, and for me, this creates a bit of a barrier in reading. Nonetheless, I still recommend reading this collection, which I find absolutely profound and capable of portraying our typical challenges in relating to ourselves.

I thought I was going to love this because of the theme (I do feel lost thinking about the future and sometimes I do feel like I'm running out of time). Unfortunately, the poems didn't resonnate with me.

A little disappointing, but it is what it is.

From Sand to Stars by Shelby Leigh 📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I go through phases where I love reading poetry and I’m currently in the midst of one of those 👏🏼

This was a really beautiful collection about living in the present moment and truly finding yourself.

The raw emotion of these poems was touching.

Thank you to NetGalley, Central Avenue Publishing & Shelby Leigh for this advanced reader copy 🫶🏻

This book will be published on October 1st and you should all check it out!

“Ever feel like you’re running out of time? Feel lost thinking about the future? From Sand to Starsprovides a reminder that every day is a new day to find joy and self-acceptance, no matter where you are in life’s journey.

Exploring the concept of time and how it affects our mental health, From Sand to Stars will make you feel heard and seen, while inspiring you to embrace all life has to offer.

Sand, section one, represents the hourglass—how time gets away from us and causes overthinking and anxiety. Soil, the second section, represents self-care, growth, and the joy that surrounds us when we look for it. Finally, Stars provides an uplifting final section on finding hope and healing around us.”

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ouch. my heart. 💔 this collection was beautiful. a handful of poems made me stop and think.

I felt the author's heart on every page. She was open. She was raw. She was loving. She was consistent.

great read. five stars.

4⭐ I want to start by saying a big thank you to Netgalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this book. I had heard of Shelby Leigh but hadn't read one of her books before. I'm now on the hunt for her other books.

I'm excited to have found someone new to read; this I'm hoping is only the start for me and Ms. Leigh. I enjoyed how I could relate to aspects of her writing, but I also appreciated how some parts weren't mine to understand.

It felt a bit basic and tumblr like for me, which I didn’t like but I can see mass market appeal for others

this book hit home like no other. some of these poems had me in literal tears within the first few sentences. it was deep enough that you felt connected to it without you feel as if it was bringing you down. i loved loved loved how empowering some of it was. thank you for this opportunity. i absolutely loved this and want a physical copy of it in the future.

This is the first time I’ve read a book written by Shelby. The way she puts the words I’ve only spoken, internally, down through paper and pen had me re-reading this. While reading this, I was able to heal. I was able to remind myself that I’m still growing, and if there’s set backs along the way, that it’s fine.

Thanks Netgalley, Central Avenue Publishing, and Shelby for allowing me the privilege of reading this arc.

This collection of poems is split into two categories: thinkers and feelers; rational thoughts, and emotional ones. This book is filled with affirmations, inspiration, advice, and encouragement to be yourself and prioritize self love, and to let go of the negativity that might be holding you back or making you feel stuck.

I related to a lot of the poems, and especially enjoyed the ones that made me feel validated and want to be true to myself; to take better care of myself.

I would definitely recommend giving this poetry book a read! It was well written and well thought out.

Bei dieser Gedichtsammlung handelt es sich um eine Zusammenstellung von Gedichten zum Thema Selbstwert und mentale Gesundheit. Es werden in verschiedenen Abschnitten negative Gefühle und Ängste beschrieben, der Kampf mit den eigenen Dämonen, der uns durch das ganze Leben begleitet. Dabei werden Selbstzweifel in verschiedenen Kontexten aufgegriffen, bspw. innerhalb einer Beziehung, bzgl. dem Älterwerden, dem eigenen Aussehen o.ä.

Ich mochte die Metaphern, welche in den Gedichten gezeichnet wurden, und einige Gedichte haben mich sehr berührt. Auch die hoffnungsgebenden Nuancen, die zum Ende des Buches hin immer stärker einflossen, empfand ich als sehr gelungen. Ohne zu beschönigen wurde hier Hoffnung gesät. Mir hat diese Kollektion gut gefallen und ich empfehle sie gerne weiter.


In English:

This collection of poems is a compilation of poems on the subject of self-esteem and mental health. Different sections describe negative feelings and fears, the battle with our own demons that accompanies us throughout our lives. Self-doubt is addressed in different contexts, for example within a relationship, regarding aging, our own appearance, etc.

I liked the metaphors that were used in the poems, and some of them touched me deeply. I also found the hopeful nuances that became more and more prominent towards the end of the book to be very successful. Hope was sown here without sugarcoating it. I liked this collection and recommend it happily to others.

Shelby Leigh’s “From Sand to Stars” explores themes of time, self-growth, and hope. Divided into three sections—Sand, Soil, and Stars—each part offers a unique perspective.
Sand captures the anxiety of time slipping away, Soil focuses on self-care and personal growth, and Stars brings a hopeful conclusion filled with healing and optimism. Leigh’s poetry resonates deeply, making this collection a comforting companion for anyone navigating life’s ups and downs.
“From Sand to Stars” is a must-read for both long-time fans and newcomers to Leigh’s work, leaving readers feeling seen, understood, and inspired.

Una colección de poemas muy preciosa, son temas de lidiar con nuestros problemas e intentar ver la luz en la oscuridad, me gustó muchísimo

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

I don’t know how describe this other than reassuring warm hug. It was beautifully written and I was eagerly swiping through the pages. Definitely worth a read and covers a lot of really important relatable topics

This is such a beautiful collection of poetry. I could relate to every verse. I wished there was more I could read here. Loved it!

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥: 𝐸-𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓀

ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: 𝟑.𝟓 ⭐️ 𝐀𝐧 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜, 𝐯𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦-𝐨𝐟-𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡, 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡. 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞’𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡.

𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝒮𝒽𝑒𝓁𝒷𝓎 𝐿𝑒𝒾𝑔𝒽, 𝒞𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓇𝒶𝓁 𝒜𝓋𝑒𝓃𝓊𝑒 𝒫𝓊𝒷𝓁𝒾𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔, & 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC!!!

Firstly, I want to say this cover is stunning, and I like the title. Overall, this short poetry collection was enjoyable, and I found parts relatable; however, a downside for me was how repetitive it felt. It seemed like I was being told the same message over and over in a slightly different way.

No podía decir si era solo el formato del borrador o si esta colección se publicará físicamente de esta manera, pero todos los poemas estaban amontonados y se leían más como una oración continua que como poemas individuales. Prefiero ver poemas individuales en una página, así que el diseño afectó negativamente mi experiencia de lectura. También sentí que era bastante repetitivo, ya que se transmitía el mismo mensaje una y otra vez de una manera ligeramente diferente. Sin embargo, disfruté mucho la nota del autor y la imaginería que evocó esta colección.

From the beginning this collection just wasn't for me. I don't know if I'm over poetry right now or it's been so long since I've found a collection that I like.