Coffee Days Whiskey Nights

by Cyrus Parker, Parker Lee

coffee days, whiskey nights is a collection of poetry, prose, and aphorisms that juxtaposes the hopefulness a brand new day can bring with the lingering thoughts that often keep us up into the late-night hours. A lot can happen between the first sip of coffee and the last taste of whiskey, and this book takes a look at the way a single day can change our outlook on everything from relationships with others, to our relationships with ourselves, and everything in between. Ultimately, coffee days, whiskey nights illustrates that no matter how hopeless we may feel at the end of the day, a new one is only a few hours away.

Genres: Poetry, LGBT, Contemporary, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Romance, Ebooks

176 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2023

About the author

See Parker Lee

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, my favorite parts of this new poetry book are the fantastic cover and the clever, slightly gimmicky format -- more hopeful (sometimes) morning/coffee poems on white pages on one side and sadder night/whiskey poems in white text on black on the other side.

This author and publisher are apparently from the world of Tumblr and Instagram poetry. I realize that's immensely popular right now and many people love it, but it's not my kind of poetry. I keep hoping to find a popular modern poet who actually uses words really poetically (say something in a new way, add some rhythm or alliteration, stack some meaning, throw in a truly new metaphor...) but for the most part this is the standard "I am worthy/I'm so sad" kind of poetry that this genre is known for.

Example coffee/white side poem:

there are things i had expected from you that you
couldn't give me, so now i give them to myself.

Example whiskey/black side poem:

you ask me for more time
like your fingers aren't wrapped
around my throat, crushing
my windpipe, keeping me
from the air i need to live.
i can only give you so much
time before there isn't any left.

I really feel for the author, though, who writes very honestly about issues like gender dysphoria and depression. Folks who enjoy this sort of poetry will find lots to like, and will root for Parker.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Albert Moreno · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do feel bad giving it a low review. This is their way of expressing their emotions and who am I to judge them for that. But this is for me and how it affected me! It didn’t at all inspire me and I’m honestly glad it only took me about an hour to read. I feel bad but there’s just something about poetry now a days that just doesn’t hit the same!

And example of one of the poems in this collection:

“There are things I expected from you that you
Couldn’t give me, so now I give them to myself.”

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's difficult to write a review for a poetry collection. I really liked it and found some of the things talked about to be relatable. I'm not sure who to recommend this to though. I guess if you typically like poetry and maybe want/need something about anxiety or depression that has an ultimately positive message, then you should read this.

[Jacinta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stars: 3/5

Thank you for a free copy in return for an honest review.

I was able to zoom through this in about 20 minutes and it really freaking hit the nail on the head about how I feel/ felt about my body. I've made a lot of improvements and rather than making me return to such a hard time, I found it somewhat reflective. I forgot where I came from. I now realise my progress and for that, and how much it touched me, I thank Parker and give the stars.

That said, occasionally I didn't understand or I was slightly underwhelmed/ indifferent... which happens - y'know, you have to really connect with a poet to understand their poetry.

RECOMMEND: for those interested in a quick poetry read on body image, self confidence and mental health

WARNINGS: discussion of depressive feelings and body dysmorphia

[Léa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

TW / TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Anxiety, depression, alcohol use, death, eating disorders, gender dysmorphia, toxic relationships.

This collection of poetry and the way it discussed themes of hope, was beautiful.. Some of the words resonated with me deeply and I often had to put the book down just to collect my thoughts. Cyrus Parker has an eloquent way with words and the delicacy with the topics they discuss. I wish this collection was longer.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book of poetry from Cyrus Parker that I have read and found it relatable and from the heart, however I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book of poems I read previous to this one.

This book is a quick read with most of the poems being very short. I loved how the book separated the poems between daytime and night time by using black pages for the night (whiskey nights) and white for the day (coffee days) and found this clever and effective.

This book has a focus on mental health, body consciousness and depression.

[Atiya Irvin-mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been following Amanda Lovelace's work for years and the only way I can describe reading Coffee Days, Whiskey Nights was that it was like watching Yu Yu Hakusho and realizing the creator of Sailor Moon's spouse is every bit as talented.

[Reb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick two day poetry read.
The title and cover alone got me hooked. 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[⭒ sandy ⭒ · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars

[Trea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m testing the waters of a new genre to me. I always thought poetry books were full of cheesy rhymes and sappy romance. To those thoughts I bid adieu.

Whatever you feel, you won’t feel alone after this quick read. Poetry for the damned? I’ll take it and probably read more. I’m enjoying the view on this melancholy ride.

[Saylor Rains · Rating 2 out of 5]

Coffee Days Whiskey Nights has a very unique concept in that on all the pages on the left side you have the "coffee days" which typically contain the more hopeful, happy poems and the "whiskey nights" which are the more insecure, unhappy poems. I loved this way of publishing the poetry, and I really think having some kind of organizational method in a poetry collection helps readers digest the words.

Unfortunately some of this collection seemed like rambling, unorganized thoughts that weren't relatable. The poems that were relatable or inspirational seemed to only be so in a vague "anyone could have said it way," that's similar to inspirational tweets that go viral, for example. Good words but unspecific, and you aren't sure where it really came from because they aren't incredibly profound. This was disappointing for me because I had been really looking forward to this collection.

Thank you to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for this advanced review copy.

[Shiffali Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zipped through this book literally while I was at the bookstore, and I resonated so much with it! Definitely recommend for a 20 something figuring things out. Excited to be read more from this author!

[Fabulous Book Fiend · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love some Cyrus Parker poetry. I adored Dropkick Romance but this new collection has quickly become my favourite. I read this copy thanks to netgalley but have pre-ordered a physical copy because I love those illustrations and being able to revisit favourite poems easily. Having said that I did still get to experience the beauty of having the morning/coffee poems on white pages and night/whiskey poems in white text on black.

I also have a fondness for this collection because of the title and the format. I really feel what this writer was going for with the day and night concept but also I love coffee and whiskey and also consume a lot of it so I can appreciate these poems on that level too.

Some of the poems that I connected with most were those concerning anxiety and also those concerning the little pleasures in life. I really felt those poems in my soul and I loved the way they were worded. Cyrus Parker reminds us to ‘post that photo of your pumpkin spice latte, do all of the things that make you happy and share each one of them with the world because we could all use a little more joy in our lives’ and I love that.

I really recommend this book and I can’t wait to fully explore the physical copy soon!

[WTF Are You Reading? · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coffee Days, Whiskey Nights is a beautiful collection of life.
Experience, thought, utterance, and struggle.
Both lived and and not. Pondered and not. Conscious and not.
Day versus night. Friend versus foe.
Win versus loss.
In a war where one is never really sure which side is the right one.
Though there are very somber and sometimes triggering topics discussed among this book's pages.
Their treatment is one of honesty, clarity, ownership, and hope.

This is a book that allows one to see that while we may want to run from the darker aspects of life.
To the light, sound, and noise of distraction.
There is yet something to be said for having the bravery.to explore the pain, uncertainty, even the destruction found in those shadowed places.
In order that one might gather the broken shards of expectation, disappointment, betrayal, and hurt.
Sit with them in the darkness.
And after a time.
Integrating them into one's self and daring to refashion that brokenness into a solid and shining promise of self acceptance and love.
On which one can build a foundation for a better and more stable tomorrow.

Thank you to Netgalley and author, Cyrus Parker for their provision of the review copy of the aforementioned work. Upon which this unbiased critique is based.

[Jessica Haider · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I'll admit it...I was drawn in by the cover of this book. I love the design. I am not a big poetry reader, but I do read a handful of poetry collections each year. This new collection by non-binary poet, Cyrus Parker highlights the yin and yang of life. We see the juxtaposition of day and night; happy and sad; coffee and whiskey. On opposing pages we have 2 poems with similar themes but different moods. The poems are personal and introspective and the poet shares their experiences with things such as gender, substance abuse, eating disorders and toxic people.

The book is a pretty quick, but deep read. I liked the gimmick of the opposing poems. I wanted to connect a bit more emotionally with some of the poems, but perhaps that's on me.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This rating reflects that this was simply not to my taste; I respect the themes and emotions that went into this collection, but the style of poetry was just not for me.

[Karley Essington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow I really enjoyed this book. It was unlike other poetry books I've read. I loved how the pages changed color to go along with the day/night concept. The words were inspiring. I love this author.

[Amelia (Taylors Version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVE

[Julia Sapphire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided with this e-ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

TW: This collection discusses anxiety, depression, alcohol use, death, disordered eating, gender dysphoria, and toxic relationships.

Cyrus Parker is such a talented poet who I will continue to read and support.
They have such a way with words that is beautiful yet simplistic in a sense. This collection was no different and was such a strong collection. Overall I will be picking up whatever Parker writes in the future!

[Muskan | The Quirky Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry, in its true form, is something that finds its place in your heart and stays with you for a while. This is it. This is the truest, rawest form of poetry that I’ve come across in a long time.
Fair warning: the book gets dark. Very dark. And it hits you in the gut. Hard.
The entire book shows two contradictions in one’s life; the morning coffee which brings in a brand new day and positivity and opportunity, and the late night glass of whiskey which makes you ponder over failures and remorse and anxiety. The same is shown through the black and white alternate pages.
The writing style is very flowy and smooth and puts forth a vulnerable front. It shows one’s daily struggles and self-confessions of what we tend to think of ourselves.
The book pokes on some very hefty topics of body image, sexuality, remorse, eating disorders and so much more. Things we all go through but are afraid to talk about out loud. It also shows healing and growth and self-acceptance. It is an entire journey in verse.
And okay, okay, I will accept this. It made me cry. Like, silent tears and then bawling and then the happy ones.
As for the author; it takes a whole lot of courage to pen down the innermost complex emotions, especially ones of the haunting past, and they have done it brilliantly!
I loved this one and I will cherish this book for a long time. And of course, I highly recommend this one.

[meghana. s · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firstly, thanks to the publisher for letting me read this.
I finished this and have some thoughts:

I loved the concept and it felt like a beautiful way of depicting a rough mental health moment in a person's life. It wasn't a linear journey and there were equal moments of good and bad days and I loved that.

however

I think it's overall just a mediocre collection. Nothing really stood out to me and I could not tell you a single poem on it. It's a good quick read or palette cleanser but overall it didn't leave an impact on me and just felt average.

[Cid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cyrus Parker is a non-binary author. Thank you to Central Park Publishing for granting me a wished ARC of this poetry book.

Coffee Days and Whiskey Nights is a very interesting set of poetry. One of the things I appreciated the most about this collection is that there are trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. I am very pro-CW (or TW) in books and seeing the normalization of it is great!

This collection of poetry explores multiple topics such as gender dysphoria, alcoholism, and body issues. There were day and night poems that were differentiated by white and black pages. Occasionally, there is so prose mixed in. I should have loved this entire collection but unfortunately, I feel as if these great ideas that feel so reminiscent of struggles many of us face are still in its first draft.

The diction used is very straight forward and concise. I personally feel as if Parker's writing style was too polished and robotic. I can feel the authenticity of their experiences and resonate with them. However, the poetry and prose never felt elevated. I never felt as if I truly heard their voice through their works for a majority of the pieces. Such heavy topics as discussed with care but I feel as if they could have dug deeper and really sing.

This book is by no means bad but the writing style was a great disconnect that made me want more. I will be keeping my eye out on Parker and look forward to their poetry growing more passionately.

3.5/ 5 Stars

[D. Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

they say a picture is worth a thousand words,
but sometimes the clearest pictures are painted by the words
that go unsaid

This is a collection of poems and prose / aphorisms and I think the title is quite self- explanatory.
It's nicely crafted.
Coffee-days poems - the more hopeful ones- are on white pages, while the darker, whiskey-nights ones -on black pages.
Not my most favorite type of poetry, more in the style of " Instagram poems" / if there's such a term at all / and it took me less than half an hour to finish the entire book,

It deals with a specter of topics topics- from mental health and depression to hope and self-care.

I'm sure each reader will have a different favorite part, as poetry interpretation is subjective and resonates differently with each reader. Mine is below.

what happens when
you think you've hit rock bottom but the bottom
keeps falling out.

2,5 Stars

*Copy provided by NetGalley in change for an honest review*

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Coffee Days Whiskey Nights by Cyrus Parker from Netgalley and Central Avenue Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:

Coffee Days, Whiskey Nights is a collection of poetry, prose, and aphorisms that juxtaposes the hopefulness a brand new day can bring with the lingering thoughts that keep us up into the late-night hours. This book takes a look at the way a single day can change our outlook on everything from relationships with others, to our relationships with ourselves, and everything in between.

‘living can be a burdensome thing that even the strongest people may struggle to carry. it is when i find myself crumbling underneath the weight of it all and am ready to call it quits that i remind myself that real strength lies in the having courage to ask for a helping hand.’

‘i’m learning to forgive myself in these situations, but more importantly, i’m learning the difference between those who deserve to be let inside, and those who are lucky enough that i answered the door.’

‘the heart is as much a mirror as a window, but if you aren’t willing to accept what is right before your eyes, it is just as easily a wall.’

‘i am not afraid to fly.’

‘just because something is broken doesn’t mean it can’t be fixed. realizing there’s a problem is half the battle but knowing when to hold yourself accountable is the most important part of the equation.’

‘i spend an awful lot of time thinking about writing and not actually doing it. it’s not that i don’t want to— sometimes, i just can’t find the strength. the strength to stand up, to walk to wherever i’ve last stuffed my laptop, to pick it up, to carry it to my desk, to lift open the screen and power it on, to open the word document i’ve been burying my feelings in. sometimes i feel like i don’t write enough to call myself a writer. sometimes i don’t think i’m poetic enough to call myself a poet. sometimes i don’t think i feel enough to call myself human, but i’m here—breathing—so that must count for something.’

‘how much better it must feel to be nothing at all than to be everything i can’t stand.’

‘tear open the night sky, bottle up all the starlight your fingertips can reach and tuck it away deep beneath your ribcage where no one can ever take it away.’

‘i will survive despite you. i will thrive to spite you.’

I love modern poetry. Love it with a passion and with passion. Coffee Days Whiskey Night highlighted some important things that we, as human beings, suffer and go through with.

4/5 Stars!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

“there is so much life to be lived, but we must find the will to live it.”

It’s pretty hard to review poetry, but I’m gonna do the best I can with this one.
I don’t read poetry very often but when I do, I usually tend to enjoy them; so I’m glad requested this.

This deals with a lot of sensitive topics such as anxiety, depression, alcohol use, toxic relationships, body dysphoria and disordered eating to name a few. I thought these issues were handled well and I appreciated the content warning it had in the beginning.

The poems were well written and there were a ton of quotes I felt impacted by (such as the one above).

I will definitely be buying a physical copy when this comes out.

This was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

[Bea (beansbookshelves) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley.

This poetry collection is extremely well written. I could relate to the poems in such a deep level that it is "insane". The writing is so inspiring that it made me want to write a book myself! However, the design was a poor choice. I can't read white text in a black background and since the colours skip so often between pages, it became nearly impossible to read those poems. In terms of poetry: 4.5 stars. Overall rating: 3 stars.

[Cait Carney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful collection of poetry. I especially loved that it alternated between “day” poems and “night” poems. I really loved all the topics they covered in this collection and now am determined to read more of their work. I highly recommend this poetry book to anyone who feels alone sometimes, anyone desperately trying to find themselves and their purpose in this world, anyone who has gone through hard times, anyone who is determined to have a better life than they have had thus far.

[♡Sophie♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compilation of poems that are divided between the "coffee days" ones and "whiskey nights" ones.
I read this in an hour or two, it was truly addictive and beautiful.
I'm not a poetry-person so I'm not used to read any kind of poetry, but this one gave me peace and a time to reflection.
Thanks NetGalley for letting me read this book.

[Elizabeth Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The juxtaposition of the pages and the ink make my heart happy. Of course I had to pick up this book. Coffee days. Whiskey nights? The title spoke to my soul. I love the alternate theme as day and night are in constant cycle of one another and the poems flow beautifully. Not surprised at all Parker is married to Lovelace. You can see bits of them in the writing if you pay close attention

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"How much better it must feel to be nothing at all than to be everything I can't stand."

I really enjoyed the flow and the cohesiveness of the authors life and message. Dark and light. The struggle for happiness and power.

Arc provided by Netgalley for honest review.