F*ck You Haiku: Little Breakup Poems to Help You Vent, Heal, and Move On

by Kristina Grish

Get through any relationship split with this collection of relatable, impassioned, and irreverent breakup haikus.

When her marriage came to a sudden and infuriating end, celebrated relationship columnist Kristina Grish found solace in a unique outlet—penning fiery breakup haikus. Now, she shares her cathartic creations in a compilation designed to guide you through the wreckage of your split.

In F*ck You Haiku , Kristina has compiled more than 100 breakup haikus— drawing inspiration from her own tumultuous love affairs and universal experiences that strike a chord with us all. These poetic gems serve as a lifeline for anyone grappling with heartbreak, providing a cathartic path to healing.

Representing a range of emotions and clever ways to vent about your ex, these haikus are entertaining and enraging, as well as enlightening and empowering. So, if you’re currently going through a breakup—whether you did the deed or are on the receiving end of it—let this collection of inventive poems help you say “f*ck you” to that special someone and eventually “love you” to yourself.

Genres: Poetry, Self Help, Nonfiction, Humor

192 pages, Paperback

Published January 16, 2024

Reviews

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristina Grish's haiku book all about the frustrations of relationships is a must read. I honestly loved it!

With lockdown and all the fun of being alone, this book was much needed. Are you looking for a way to vent and heal from your problems? Read a book that brings stress to the forefront (in a good way!). Emotions of all kinds relating to breakups and awful times in relationships are expressed in such an incredible way. Poetry is amazing, isn't it?

The introduction and backstory made me so frustrated for Kristina, but I'm glad she was able to overcome the darker times and write this book to get her feelings out. I'm proud of her. People absolutely suck and books like this can connect us to have to deal with some of the sucky times. There's so many good haikus in here - the one about glasses, Seth Meyers, and more. They were all relatable and fantastic!

I really liked this book as someone who dabbles into poetry once in a while. I am definitely not the be all end all of poetry lovers, but I think this book did breakups justice. This is a great healing book! If you love poetry or just want to read the odd poem, this book is for you! It's relatable, well written and just all around awesome.

Five out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tiller Press for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

[Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have ever been through a break up, then this book is for you. The book is broken down into sections of the breakup and healing process, and the author provides a brief introduction to each section. You can really tell that the author of this book took time curating each of these haikus. There are haikus that will make you laugh and some that might make you cry. You will be reading and stumble across haikus that make you think “yes girl” or “relatable.” At the end of the book there is a section where you can write your own haikus, which is an excellent touch. Overall, I think it’s a great book that I would gift to friends or family experiencing a break up.

*Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the author says in the preface, a freshly cut heart can be a tricky bastard. This little book aims to help the newly heartbroken navigate their messy breakup journey, which is not unlike the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

The book is divided into sections and each one begins with a short essay containing advice on topics like Memories, Grief, Coping, Sex, and Next. The essays are followed by a selection of haiku. The haikus range from silly to cutting to poignant.

This book would make a cute gift for someone who has recently been in a breakup. There’s a section at the end where you can write your own breakup haiku, which is a fun touch.

Here are my quick contributions:

Solitude scared me
But now everything’s mine
Turns out I’m just fine

Now I drink solo
But I’m not really alone
I’m keeping the dog

My only criticism of this book is that it is too short! I wanted MORE HAIKU and BETTER HAIKU! The author says she gathered the haikus from an assortment of friends, which probably explains the range in quality. Some, frankly, are just not that good. But the ones that were, were great.

Thank you #NetGalley for the #ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw the title, I knew I wanted to read it IMMEDIATELY! This is a book of haiku's dealing with heartbreak and all the stages that come with it. Some were sad, some hit close to home, some made me snort laugh. A nice range of emotions. The back even has a section where you can write your own haiku's, which sounds super fun! Will have to dabble in writing my own. A fun, quick read!



Thank you to Kristina Grish, Tiller Press, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mandy Hazen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was HILARIOUS, sad and beautiful all at once. When you go through a break up a lot of stuff is going down. This book very eloquently lays out the steps of grief. Highly recommend. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute little book of poems to help you heal from a break-up. The haikus are funny, clever, thoughtful, and sometimes very poignant. It's a quick read but can help you feel a little better after going through a break-up.

* I got an advanced copy of this book from a Goodreads Giveaway *

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short, quick read of haikus that the author wrote after her husband divorced her. They are divided into chapters with the premise that they'll help the reader through stages like grief and being on your own. She says that none of the haikus that she originally wrote about her ex ended up in the book but they feel very personal and specific. Most of these are not great poetry, just three lines about one topic or another. Some are insulting, some somber, some have a thumb-nosing "I'm better off now" tone. Each section offers a few paragraphs at the start of advice for dealing with that topic, and then a few pages at the end let you write your own haikus. It might be a good gift for someone newly ditched or could be a fun, short library read for folks looking for a little poetic commiserating.

I read a digital ARC of this book for review.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ha! Really funny! I think it will be a good laugh for anyone who has ever been "dumped"!.And there's blank pages to write your own at the end. Particularly enjoyed the baby bird reference in one Haiku, and "You" tv series in an other. I'd say the ex was skewered pretty good by these. Make a great gift for a bud who is getting through a tough breakup. It's awful to be blindsided the way the author was. I hope Kristina Grish fares well! Fun book!

I received a Kindle arc from Edelweiss above the treeline in exchange for a fair review.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed this. I used to write little haikus a long time ago and text them back and forth to a friend. This book makes me want to do that again and rekindle the haiku love.

As far as this book, you can fly through it, revisit some haikus/sections, or mull over each one. I liked that it was divided into different sections with a small commentary for each one.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Rather.be.reading1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. The dedication was awesome! Although titled "F you Haiku" it is indeed written in Haiku form. I enjoyed it better that way because some "breakup" poetry needs to run on and get lost. Really enjoyed this one.

[Mina Hong · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick and unexpected read during my visit to the Strand! Although I don’t share such strong sentiments of the title (perhaps a “yet” is to come), I enjoyed how the book is organized into the stages of grief and additional themes, followed by pertinent haikus in each section.

The haiku that made me go “Oooh, let me keep reading this.”

It's clear to me now
Our love never stood a chance
Under your mom's thumb

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
I just recently got divorced and this book of haikus spoke to me so hard. I laughed and cried and saw myself in each poem. I'm inspired and feel understood.

[Kerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, short book. It's the perfect read if you need a quick escape from the everyday.

Kristina Grish and her husband split up, but she didn't see it coming. To cope she started writing haiku. The book is divided into different sections with haiku that go with each one. Sections include: Memories, Fights, Coping and Solo, among others. There were haiku that made me laugh out loud, and others that were contemplative.

I really enjoyed this book and think it would make the perfect gift book for someone going through a breakup or just someone that loves haiku!

Thanks NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this eGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great book!

This is a short and sweet read with beautiful haikus that capture the pain and absurdity of relationships and breakups. There's thoughtful and funny poems than span the feelings we have during hard times.

Wonderful collection!

[Alexis Stankewitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thank you to the Publisher, author and Netgalley for an ARC of "F*ck You Haiku" in exchange for an honest reveiw* This was a short, but good book up haikus. As a poet myself, I always feel like Haiku's are one of the hardest to write. But Kristina did it masterfully. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone going through a breakup, along with a bar of choclare.

[Katy McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grish fearlessly shares her divorce grief with the world, in the form of Haiku. Some of these made me absolutely laugh out loud, and others I related to so much. Divorce is dirty, painful, and utterly exhausting. Everyone who has ever gone through a painful separation needs a little F*ck You Haiku.

[Angelina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like if I had a friend be heartbroken by a fuckboy or gal, I'd get this book and slide it under her door. I'd hope it'd give her peace in the same way it did the author. This first learned rhyme scheme, paired with heartbreak, makes the latter tangible.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Tiller Press for allowing me to read this galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Seher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely a fun creative exercise, but after a while it starts to drag on.

[Vanessa Genis · Rating 2 out of 5]

maybe it’s just me, but this was a waste of time to read.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the concept behind this book. And that's about it. I am not sure if haikus are just not my thing, but the parts I enjoyed the most were the pages that opened each section.

[AlexH Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't usually rate any type of nonfiction but this is also poetry so yeah. It's what I needed right now.

[Chelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed, I cried, I healed. A relaxed read for reconciling new and old breakups and definitely one that I’d recommend to my friends.

[Amisha Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eloquent and witty, this collection of haikus was a short but satisfying read. I admire the poet's decision to convert their emotions following the end of her relationship into art, and the creativity and healing come through powerfully. This is the perfect pick-me-up book to turn to after a breakup and I highly recommend it to anyone in such a position!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

[Amanda Karsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was not what I expected. Many of the Haikus were so personal that they made no sense but some were relatable and a few memorable in a good way. Not full of swear words but you can really feel the hate for the ex-husband.

[Deirdre Lohrmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this through Goodreads Giveaways, and I am glad because I needed the giggle. Well worth the read.

[Brandi Pearl Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative and entertaining. I would definitely recommend this book (except maybe to those easily offended by profanity). I will definitely be re-reading it.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect gift for a friend going through a rough breakup.
It will cause little giggles that are helpful when mourning the loss of a relationship.
I was thoroughly entertained!

[Sara Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

F*ck You Haiku by Kristina Grish was a very interesting collection of poetry.

I love haikus and poems about break ups so I was very interested in reading this. I also love writing and reading haikus because they are short and straight forward.

First of all, I loved the set up of the book. I appreciated the introduction as to how this collection came to be. I liked how each of the sections was very well thought out and organized. Five stars for the set up.

The poems to me were mostly okay. There were a few that really made me chuckle or laugh. A handful I found relatable, but overall, I just found them so so. I give the poetry three stars overall.

I think this is a collection that I would check out from the library on occasion, but I probably would not buy it.

I received an eARC from Tiller Press through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

[Lisa Konet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was easy to read in 2 sittings and I can empathize with her feelings about bad breakups. Some of the haikus were super personal but most were funny. A nicer way to wish ill-will on your ex boyfriends. Some of these really had me laughing and a few had me scratching my head like. "what is the point of this one" Still a good collection of haikus. I felt this was a creative way for the author to deal with the anger, resentment and pain she must be feeling after a breakup, no matter how long ago it occurred.

Recommended for those going through bad breakups and needing a laugh. You are not alone in your feelings.

Thanks to Netgalley, Kristina Grish and Tiller Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available: 1/26/21

[Jeff Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book really helps to visualize my feelings and express them through art! I love to draw and the visualization of heartache really allows me to open up and find sensibility in all sides of the situation. We are all human and do everything differently in a sense! What I mean is in some way, we are all alike and in everyway, we chose to say & do things differently! The poems help to spell out the pain in us and the beauty of it is the love invested still prevails IN US!!! The HAIKU helps to heal the layer that holds our inner love together!! It's a great book to give us tools to for sure vent which is a way for me to express it through my art which brings healing, a smile, laughter and then I get to share it and it's a great way to help me move on!! Thank you Ms. Grish :)