I understand the concept behind this book. I can relate to writing your young feelings and to watching your work grow as you age; as you learn to sit alongside your feelings, without immediately reacting.

However, I was not moved by many of these poems.

Personally, my favorite types of poetry are cloaked in one way or another…by words with multiple meanings, by mulling over multiple concepts at once. They are as specific as they are vague, so that any piece could relate to any person at a given time…or never at all.

That is exactly why poetry is so special because it is quite personal. So this is review is not to discourage anyone from reading this collection. I appreciated: Tested & Two Ships.

I will always respect feelings, regardless of my own, but there are some that swell from the stomach—like a pregnant rage or purged memory—that evoke a greater reaction from others, myself included. I want to feel hungry when I read another poet’s words.

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC.

Words, Words, Words is the kind of poetry collection that sneaks up on you and lingers long after you’ve closed the book. V.S. Woodraven weaves words like a spell, capturing those quiet moments of love, loss, and resilience in a way that feels deeply personal yet universal. Some poems hit like a whisper, others like a gut punch, but all of them make you feel something real. What I loved most was how effortlessly the emotions poured off the page—it’s like the author reached into my own thoughts and put them into poetry. A beautifully raw and moving collection.

Y’all. This book? It’s got FEELS. Big ones. The kind that sneak up on you and suddenly you’re staring at a single line like it just personally attacked your soul. 😭💥 Words, Words, Words isn’t just poetry—it’s a deep dive into life’s messy, beautiful chaos. Some poems will make you smile, some will break you a little, and ALL of them will make you think. It’s like Woodraven bottled up human emotions and poured them straight onto the page. If you love words that hit like a freight train wrapped in silk, grab this book ASAP. 📖✨

A very beautiful collection- more than a few passages left me thinking of how each of us never has a truly unique experience and yet we leave each other to suffer alone. The world could do so much better with more kindness and understanding- and yet I suppose poems like this also spring from hurt. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this!