Bubblegum Heart

by Quazaye Konkel

bubblegum heart is a raw and luminous debut poetry collection by Quazaye Konkel that explores the sticky-sweet ache of first love, heartbreak, and the resilience of soft-hearted survival. These poems hum with vulnerability, sensuality, and quiet rebellion—offering readers a tender autopsy of what it means to love deeply, lose fiercely, and keep believing in something soft anyway.

From bedroom sighs and sapphire earrings to moonlit promises and emotional armor, bubblegum heart captures the bittersweet beauty of being young, tender, and entirely undone. With striking imagery and a confessional voice, Konkel speaks directly to the girls who loved too hard, the hearts that refused to harden, and the softness that somehow still survives.

Perfect for fans of Rupi Kaur, Blythe Baird, and Courtney Peppernell, this collection is a celebration of softness as strength—and a love letter to the ones who feel too much.

Genres: Poetry

48 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 4, 2023

Reviews

[Rachel Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never tried to read a book of poetry before, but I’m glad I read this one. These poems really reminded me of the way I felt about the first person I ever fell in love with, and how awful I felt when it ended. Those feelings are hard to put into words, but I think this book did it beautifully. The transition from first being in love, to being scared something bad is going to happen, to finally having your heart broken was expressed so well and so thoughtfully. I absolutely loved this.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Sam’s Sapphic Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite poem (a little sneak peek):

“bring to me your battered limbs, your crushed spirit, your splintered bones ; give to me all your weary sighs, your weathered hands, your worn-out clothes ; leave with me your heavy heart, your tired mind, your tattered soul ; bring to me your broken things and i’ll repair their cracks with gold.”

The loss of someone you thought you were going to spend the rest of your life with can hit hard, and these poems spoke on it beautifully.

Multiple times I found myself having chills while reading, and I enjoyed the way these poems were wrote. Often times poem books are just words thrown into the paper, but these fit my definition of poems.

Although there were multiple sections to this poem book, Loving, Losing, Letting Go, and Learning, it felt like the main focus was the loving and losing. It was definitely a pull at the heart strings.

Please note: I received an arc copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily and honestly. Thank you NetGalley and author for a copy!

[Gennifer Tetreault · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed this collection of poetry from Quazaye Konkel.

This collection dives into the topics of falling in love and then also dealing with heartbreak. The poems ultimately all really tied together to tell a complete story.

Thank you to Quazaye Konkel, Spellbound Publishing House & NetGalley for this ARC 🫶🏻

[Abantika(hiltonjenkin) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bubblegum Heart & other elastic things by Quazaye Konkel is a poetry collection that took me on the complete journey of love - from falling hard to heartbreak to healing. Konkel's metaphors are absolutely stunning (the title poem comparing a heart to bubblegum that gets chewed up and spit out? DEVASTATING).

The raw honesty hits different. No sugar-coating here - just beautiful, messy truth about loving someone who doesn't love you back the same way.

Standout poems: yellow paint, kintsugi, and the entire Learning section that gave me hope after being wrecked.

Perfect for fans of rupi kaur and Amanda Lovelace.

[Hedaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookbuzz, and the author for an E-Arc of Bubblegum Heart in exchange for an honest review!💕

This Poetry and Prose collection started off strong with its dedication.
“Dedicated to my first real love. I’m grateful for our time together and all the lessons I learned along the way. Loving you was my greatest pride, my biggest passion, and a part of me will always wish things were different. Also dedicated to the girl I was when I loved you, because she deserved a lot more.”
That last sentence really stuck with me, and set the tone for the rest of this book.

Quazaye Konkel artfully pieced together their collection in four parts. Loving, Losing, Letting Go, and Learning. Throughout each collection, I could feel the emotions that the author poured into each piece. We’ve all experienced heartache in some capacity, and there were pieces in this collection that I found myself really relating to. That is the beauty of Poetry and Prose. You get to put your heart and soul and hurt onto the pages and there’s people out there that will connect with it also.

4 Stars☺️

[Ilika Motani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never really read a book of poetry in full, and I think "Bubblegum Heart & Other Elastic Things" was a good introduction.

This book, though relatively short, put across its point concisely and without unnecessary filler. All of the poems weren't bad, though only several poems really stood out to me. I feel like the thing about these poems is that none of them really put forth a complete story on their own, and only make sense when read in sequence.

However, I do love the way the poems tell a story. They begin by talking about love, the sweet, oblivious kind of early love. From there, the change is gradual. Like a relationship. The poems slowly begin weaving in threads of pain, insecurity and hurt. I can't identify a point where the relationship falls apart; the line is blurred. And then, in the same slow way, the poems begin to heal.

I should read more poetry books.

I want to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Final rating: 3.5/5

[Kristina Hylton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delicate recanting of a love story lost. It’s nostalgic at times, and somehow the lines breathe new life into the feeling of losing so much precisely because you loved so much.

[Alyssa Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet, and special. A peek into the complexity of emotions that roil, bubble, and form exquisite love. Sometimes the most wonderful part of poetry is feeling like we aren't alone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Spellbound Publishing for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

[readingcactuss · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5
Love and loss.
This poetry collection is about love, loss, heartbreak from your first loves.
The book has 4 parts: Loving, Losing, Letting Go and Learning. Many of the poems focus on the heartbreak. They’re relatable and visceral. I loved the author’s style.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

[Lindita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern-day epic. The hero of Bubblegum Hearts and other Elastic Things guides the reader through her tale of falling in love. She plunges in heart-first both enjoying and explaining the deep majesty of being in love. However, when her partner leaves, she is left to swim back to shore or risk drowning in her own grief. How our heroine chooses to deal with and reflect on her heartbreak is not only admirable but beautiful. Quazaye’s poetry creates a striking contrast. She’s bursting with love, light, and warm memories in one line and snaps us back to her heart-wrenching reality in the next line. Her journey is one of triumph and sympathy as she finds love for herself and forgiveness for her partner.

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not one for poetry, I usually read romance or dark romance so I’m grateful that I got a shot at arc reading this collection of poetry so thank you netgalley and Quazaye for my first poetry read! However, being in love and seeing if I would connect with any of the poems intrigued me. And guess what… I definitely resonated with one of the poems. When I started to read line after line I could absolutely just picture my life with my partner. After that I was hooked and binged the whole book. The book is as much about love as heartbreak.
“we exist imperfectly together fallible yet completely whole in spite of completing each other.” This line here made me insanely giddy with love. I can’t wait to see more from Quazaye!

#netgalley#lovelove#firstpoetryread#bubblegumheart&otherelasticthings#quazayekonkel

[AEB Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penned by the biracial, bipolar and bisexual poet Quazaye Konkel, Bubblegum heart & other elastic things is a collection that take readers on a story of love won and lost. Beginning with the initial feelings of passion and lust that come with any fledging relationship, Konkel moves through the lines of the opening poem "venus de milwaukee" with ease. These joyful moments are shown in subsequent poems, perhaps peaking with "bubblegum heart", a midpoint piece where the narrator declares their love for an unnamed individual. By the time readers reach "jinx" there is already a sense that something is going wrong, that the relationship is unravelling and spiralling out of control.

I didn’t mean to jinx it
when I asked if you were
okay…
I only meant
to kiss it
better

But even in the lows there is much to be grateful for. In "seasons of loving", readers are presented with an individual reflecting on the positives of a failed relationship as much as the negatives that ultimately led to its deterioration. It is beautifully written and fitting closing poem for this charming collection.

There is a lot to like with Konkel's collection, particularly in the strength of the narrator's voice which follows through all of the poems. The reader is transported on a journey and in doing so builds a strong relationship with the narrator, almost as much as the narrator does with its unnamed love interest. The pacing is good and the varied use of poetic forms keeps the mood and tempo engaging.

It is not often a collection of poetry focuses on one narrative voice working through a linear journey but Bubblegum heart & other elastic things succeeds in captivating readers in a story of joy and struggle. Whether poetry is based on true events or is the work of utter fiction is irrelevant when it is as captivating as this.


AEB Reviews

[undeadtears · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been you, my love--Since the first of our firsts, Until the last of my lasts- It will always be you.
screaming crying and throwing up this is the fist book i’ve read by Quazaye Konkel and I LOVED IT!! it’s 3am and i’m currently crying while writing this. i haven’t really reviewed poetry before but i was so intrigued by this book when i saw so instantly requested and was surprised i was actually able to get it. a lot of the poems really hit too close to home when it talks about being someone who loves so much that they give all of themselves just to not have it returned. even to this day i still think about/ am still friends with people who have hurt me so badly but i love them so much that i still want the best for them Konkel perfectly describes this feeling and as much as this book hurts to read it also has a comfort to it knowing someone else understands how you feel. if you want to cry/are someone who loves books that make you cry you should totally add this to your tbr definitely feels like poems you would find on tumblr (in a good way like ones that get lots of reblogs lololol) looking forward to what Konkel writes in the future!!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, folks, I've got to tell you about Bubblegum Heart & Other Elastic Things. This book of poems is like a journey through all the feels of love - the good, the bad, and everything in between! It's like getting a hug when your heart is aching and a high-five when you're on cloud nine.

The poems in this chapbook are so beautifully written, and they just hit you right in the heart. You know when you read something, and you're like, "That's exactly how I feel!" That's what this book is all about. It's like the author took all our heartbreaks and healing moments and turned them into pure magic on paper. So, if you've ever loved, lost, or found yourself on the path to healing, grab a copy of Bubblegum Heart & Other Elastic Things and let these poems work their poetic charm on you. It's a little book of big emotions, and you don't want to miss it!

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poetry collection is set across four parts, Loving, Losing, Letting Go and Learning.

Memory Box was a touching poem about remembering your shared times and memories that mean so much or meant so much looking back.

Bubblegum Heart, the titular poem of the collection was built on such a simple but much felt concept about when love falls apart and the feelings you endure.

The Hardest Goodbye, was a stunning poem summing up how a break up can leave you feeling changed from the person you were before and how it's hard to let a version of you go too that you became foe better or worse.

It was a beautiful collection of poetry tellign the story of falling in and out of love the effects and emottions felt and you have to deal with in the aftermath of it falling apart.

A deep feeling collection of poetry.

[Cait's Reading Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bubblegum Heart by Quazaye Konkel is a collection that shares personal experiences and reflections from first love, navigating a broken heart, and charting a way forward.

The collection is honest, heartfelt, bittersweet, and emotional and has elements of nostalgia in thinking about past relationships. The poems bring up memories of that time, reminding the reader about how to move forward; they also offer comfort and support in showing that the path to healing from heartbreak is not linear.

The poems show the power of love. The collection resonates to those who love hard with Konkel reaching out to them, reminding them they are not alone. The poems show us how we evolve not only after relationships but throughout life.

The poems are linked across the four chapters, showing the journey of the relationship. Across the four chapters of the collection, Bubblegum Heart shows what we can learn from relationships, how we grow, and why these relationships happen in our lives.

I enjoyed the variety of structures of the poems in the collection. I enjoyed the variety of structures of the poems in the collection. It’s structured in a way that we see the narrator sharing feelings and thoughts on the page as they happen. It’s similar to a journal.

There were many poems in the collection that resonated with me, including “winter heart,” “what stays,” “hygge,” and “seasons of loving.”

Thank you to NetGalley, Quazaye Konkel, Spellbound Publishing House, and BookBuzz.net for the opportunity to read and review the collection! I was provided a copy of this book for free and am leaving an honest review.

[Abigail L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully crafted chapbook that takes readers on an emotional journey through love, heartbreak, and healing. The collection of poems eloquently captures the rollercoaster of emotions in a romantic relationship, from the blissful beginning to the poignant end.

The author skillfully weaves together themes of joy, uncertainty, loss, and acceptance, making each poem a heartfelt and relatable experience. As I read through the pages, I found myself immersed in the rawness of human emotions, and the poems left a lasting impact on my heart.

[Seher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalleg for the chance to read and review this book!

I actually really liked this collection, with healing being one of my favourite poems. A different take on scars which are often reviled and not looked at as a good thing; that you’re alive.

I also really appreciated the Van Gogh yellow paint reference in the first chapter, loving; it’s beautiful and blissful and happy, but the poison is the third person in the room with them.

Other poems I liked were;

venus de milwaukee
Kintsugi
Vulnerable
She doesn’t know
What stays

3.5 stars

[Beth Younge · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always have a mixed reaction to poetry collections and i fear this is on the weaker end of the spectrum. There were a few nice poems in this collection but for the most part, the majority didn't do much for me. I thought the title poem was okay but it didn't really stand out for me. I think Quazaye Konkel has potential to be an amazing writer but i think there needs to be more editing and cohesion between style and stubstance as there is an inbalance between them currently.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

[Laura A. Miscione · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟 - 4 heart-breaking stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quazaye Konkel for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful look into the beginning and end of love. How everything shines when it starts and how alone one feels when it's taken away.

Each poem is a little piece the author gives us into her feelings, her soul and her love. I felt really privileged to be allowed to read this lines and I'm in awe of the bravery it takes to be this vulnerable.

Read this one! You'll find a poem for each stage of any relationship and you're sure to find pages and lines you can lean on.

[Catherine Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good read. I loved the poems and how rhey.were written. You can tell how much love was put into the book and the love of the person Who the author was writer g poems for. I loved the bubblegum reference in the poems because its almost exact to the feelings of the poem. It is a good read and makes you think of your better half.

I received a copy of the book and is voluntarily writing a review

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love pierces our hearts and fills us with joy, but sometimes love lost is even more painful to bare and leave behind when ripped away. The words and imagery of these poems sears through these two emotional extremes exposed in Quazaye’s personal experience. Thank you to BookBuzz.net and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Zachary Hatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quazaye tells the story of life, love and pursuit of a happy ending through heart-wrenching poetry. Her writing is beautifully haunting and deeply evocative. 5 stars isn’t enough, but sadly that is all Goodreads allows.

[Paige Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sticky, Sweet & Softly Savage

bubblegum heart is a sugar-rush of poetry—sweet, messy, and heartbreakingly addictive, with lines that stick to your ribs long after the last page.