Words of a Goat Princess

by Jessie Reyez

A moving poetic debut from a talented artist, USA TODAY bestseller Words of a Goat Princess is everything you love about singer/songwriter Jessie Reyez—her rawness, her love affair with the ugly truths of humanity, and so much more.
Words of a Goat Princess is the USA TODAY bestselling debut poetry collection about life’s struggle and triumphs from Grammy-nominated and JUNO-award winning songwriter Jessie Reyez.
 
With the authenticity and heartbreaking relatability that her fans know and love her for, Reyez brings the breadth of her lived experience to the page as few recording artists can. At times ethereal and visceral, these 43 poems are carefully painted moments that expertly explore love, loss, and identity with an artistry that leaps off the page with every turn.

Through this collection of poems and stories, Jessie Reyez shows that she is more than a pop performer, she is a true artist whose star knows no limits.

Genres: Poetry, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Canada, Adult

106 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2025

Reviews

[Katie Colson]

dnf @50%

I have nothing bad to say about this book. I simply don't understand poetry. Never have.

For me, the art style is the allure. I gravitate toward this 'Lana Del Ray directed by Tim Burton' type sh*t. It feeds my middle school heart.

There were poems in the beginning that I tried and semi-succeeded in understanding. For which I am proud. But as it went on, I followed the rhythm less and less. It became nonsense to me after a while and I don't want to degrade this poet's work by trying to decipher it with my amateur's-gaze.

I'll tell you the quotes that stood out to me...

And when my head is fully gray
And I hear them say
"She would've been a beautiful bride"
I'll smile
Cause yeah fucking right
There's a really good chance
that I'm going to die a child

This spoke to my asexual heart so fking deeply. This quote made me want to invest the time it took to really understand poetry on it's deep level. Unfortunately, it turned out to be too deep for me after all....

The most 'I get it' I was, was with this quote...

If I blossomed in the dark
Am I really all that I can be when I'm happy?
Am I really me when I'm happy?

[Vali Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a forever fan of our queen Jessie Reyez, this poetry book was pure gold and exactly what we needed. 😌

[Sofía · Rating 4 out of 5]

El nivel de vulnerabilidad que esta mujer expresa con sus palabras es tan impresionante especialmente siendo famosa, le tengo mucho respeto por eso

[Mariela Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite poetry books this year. Such raw unique perspectives on love and heartbreak. I loved Jessie’s take on concepts, humanizing and relatable.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of Jessie’s so I put this book on preorder the second she announced it (my only mistake was waiting til the end of my workday and missing the chance at the signed copies. I should’ve pulled out my wallet then and there).

As always, she wows me with the honesty and vulnerability of her writing. This is a short poetry collection, but for its length it really packs a punch. Reyez’s power lies in her ability to relay her experiences to others. Her quest for personal growth shines through, and throughout the collection she makes references to some of her songs, allowing her audience to draw connections between the different works.

Honestly, it added another layer of depth to an already powerful opus, and I can’t wait to see how her next project builds on this.

Also, thank you for making me practice my Spanish.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this cover, so I had to read it! I'm not a big poetry fan because sometimes they can get corny, but this was far from that. The illustrations were gorgeous, and the poetry felt raw and empowering.

[Casey Kiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this excerpt from the 'About the Author' section describes this collection best:

"Words of a Goat Princess is not a blueprint in how to get over a broken heart, but rather an extension of Jessie's ongoing dialogue with the self and her latest attempt to reconcile idealism and experience." (written by Gavin Sheppard)

This sums it up for me. Jessie is quickly becoming one of my favorite modern day songwriters and her poetry is super straightforward. Jessie's no-nonsense style is a quick read and without having to figure anything out, you can just relate and move on with your life. That can be so nice sometimes. There is no confusion over wtf did I just read... I mean that can be good too. Just depends on your mood and circumstance. For a debut collection, this does capture what I love about Jessie- her drive for sharing unzipped, raw emotion. My favorites are 'Woods', 'Peace', 'Bitch', 'Acid Whisper', 'Pink Skies' and 'Icarus'. The artwork is fun and fitting (by Braktosaure) and I feel like it's a collection that can easily appeal to all ages. I do recommend it.

"And truth and society are enemies
If you see me in a white dress
send help"

-from 'Rebels' pg. 48

[alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessie is such a skillful writer! You hear it her music and now I got to read it in her poems. Walking through the book section at target and the bright red of the spine caught my eye. When I saw her name on it, I just had to read it.

She is so authentic in her lyrical story telling. The topics she covered were spot on with the human experiences in our 20s. I felt I was reading this with hindsight and related so much, but I kind of wish I read her words earlier in life. The way she shared her stories they seemed like cautionary tales or sisterly advice. I also loved the illustrations.

Was always a fan of her, but this book really like set in stone my love.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the most relatable poetry I’ve ever read. Simply beautiful and brutal and hit me in all my feels. I thought the artwork was very beautiful and complimentary to every word within these pages. I feel like I should keep these affirmations on a post it note for future use!! ‘Footprints’ and ‘Rebels’ were some I enjoyed more… but the whole selection was amazing.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved loved loved the first half (4 stars), the second half not so much (2 stars).
Loved the art, though it definitely won’t be for everyone.
There were a few Spanish only poems, which I did not like. I couldn’t read them and it made no sense to me having those random few in there without at the very least translating them, when all of the other poems were in English.

[Casually Bookish Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book of poetry from Jessie Reyez and I thoroughly enjoyed her writing.

I liked how raw and emotional this felt, the theme of human experiences, and especially women’s experiences in the world resonate deeply with me.

I connected more with the first person pieces than the third person. I adored the artwork.

[Alana DeAndra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love!!!!! If you are already a fan of the mesmerizing songstress Jessie Reyez then you already know you're in for a deep soul releasing ride. For those who don't know who this woman is I urge you to immediately check out both her music and this book of poetry. As always our Columbian Candian Queen has included some of her most precious feelings written in Spanish. While I did have to Google translate those pieces (Still working diligently with DuoLingo on fluency for myself) it was worth every second as I feel she may express herself even more deeply in those words. Just like her songs that have been written in Spanish. Thank you Jessie for sharing your beautiful soul with us.

[Chari · Rating 3 out of 5]

very raw and personal.
been following Jessie's music for quite a while and have always admired her honesty & vulnerability. this was no different

[Guami Mommy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I was so starved for love I didn't see the mold"

.


My Nina >

[Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This hit hard

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think any author has so accurately portrayed the betrayal of a friend so well before, while different expirences to how that occurred how raw the pain feels and trivial the cause is the same.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this because the title made me think it might be light a fluffy, very rarely is poetry light and fluffy, it was deep and beautiful and shook me.

[Zé Leite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minha Jessie 🥹

[Talia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will forever be a fan of Jessie Reyez. Love her poetry just like I love her music! Raw, emotionally deep and resilient.

[Natalie:) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessie Reyez, aka Yessie, is one of my all time favorite songwriters. It's not only because her voice sounds beautiful as she sings, but because of the sheer honesty of her words. She doesn't hold back in her writing, and this collection of poems was no exception.

I found myself relating immensely to several of these poems. They made me feel seen and more confident about the kind of woman I am. I'm not everyone's cup of tea, and I'm not the type of woman to conform or be quiet, or settle down. I've always known that about me, and it was comforting to read poems from a woman who feels similar feelings. It was empowering, and I am very appreciative of Jessie for writing it and sharing her words with the world. I definitely benefited from reading them, and I think that a lot of other people will.

It's honest, it's emotional, and it's feminist as fuck. So naturally, I love it🫶🏼

[Camila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessie’s way with words its incredible. When she writes either poetry or music it’s so raw. I do not how to put it into words, but I will try.
I felt like I was being stripped bare and she was making me look at myself through her. It’s like my heart was being grabbed and squeezed (in a good way) as I was reading some of the poems. She puts perfectly the feeling of being hurt by people who we thought were EVErything.
Mi alma sintió tus palabras de una manera que no puedo explicar. Idk if it might a little bit too much lol but this book was amazing.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessie Reyez is a well known singer and this is her first poetry book! I really enjoyed these poems. They ranged from themes of breakups to racism to being Latina. Some were exclusively written in Spanish which I appreciated diciphering. Overall these poems are creative and easy to understand. Great for entry level poetry readers.

[Rachel Igo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessie Reyez has always been one of those very special artists to me, whose music I can always go back to, like I’m going home again. She’s real and she’s raw and she’s honest and her poetry reflects all of that and more. The voice of a music artist is a voice I have continually connected to my whole life (ie Halsey, Demi, etc). Jessie does not mince her words, she does not sugar coat her experiences, and for that, I thank her. I wholly loved this book of poetry, and I know I will find myself picking it back up when I need it.

I’d like to share the poem that was most special to me, in case you’re not convinced yet to drown yourself in the deeply meaningful and hopeful yet sad words of Jessie Reyez.

Peace
I am not breathing
That’s just the trees taking what is owed to them
I am not dancing
That’s just the wind taking over my limbs
I am not crying
That’s just the rain falling on my face
I am not angry
That’s just the eternal flame being fanned by the winds of untamed emotions within my heart
I am not standing
That’s just my soul rooting down through the soft blades of green grass
I am not smiling
That’s just the sun caressing my face from the inside of my soul
I am not peace
That’s just the oneness and it’s recognition
I am not aging
That’s just time painting beautiful thin pathways of memories on my skin
And I am not dying
That’s just my spirit going home

[Nathalie Kati · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite poems from Words of a Goat Princess:

1: Portals
8: Surprise
11: Left Out
16: Waste
21: Billboard
23: Peace
25: Good
27: Pelada
34: Ghost
39: M-Section
48: Rebels
54: Some Nights
56: A Trying Failure
76: Atoms
82: Indifference
83: Vida





My favourite quotes:

your memories make my healing drag its feet.

am i really all that i can be when i’m happy?
am i really me when i’m happy?

although i am drowning, i am also the ocean.

sometimes i feel like the past is who i am.

i wink, for i know men are afraid of women who are not afraid of them.

i am not aging, that’s just time painting beautiful thin pathways of memories on my skin.
i am not dying, that’s just my spirit going home.

what good is patience if the time has run out?

old age teaches you that sometimes being right isn’t worth the fight.

if you see me in a white dress, send help.

forgiving can still be forgiveness without having to feign a smile.

unless it is painful, i cannot bear it.

i wear indifference like a fur coat in the arctic, but i am barefoot.

[chantel nouseforaname · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that she opens up this collection with: "Dedicated to my motherfucking self." I couldn't have put it better and I felt that in my chest. That's some real Toronto girl shit. There's something about coming from the cold that really hits like that. That's really what it is under all the smiles and niceties. I really enjoy Ms. Reyez's music and her poetry is quite beautiful. It highlights the deeply intimate life of a Toronto baddie well-lived! I will be checking out Part 2, I'm on hold for it from the TPL.

The art was beautiful. I love how petty and thoughtful she is. It sits well in my spirit. I love the lessons she's learned and shared from family, life experiences, and friends and lovers lost. I love that she made me pull out my translator app for the Spanish-language pieces. Some of my favourite poems in this collection were: PINK Skies, Surprise, Days, Indifference... oh girl there's so many great poems in her collection. It was swell!

[Althea Cathwulf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this 3.5, but you know...Goodreads. Overall I felt the book was thematic, well-structured, and not of the more typical contemporary insta-poems so frequently published these days which I greatly appreciated. The major arch is about the loss of a romantic relationship and the internal struggle with this, but it also dips it's toes into other topics. My favorite poems were "Topanga Canyon", "Waste", and "Bitch"; I found these to be particularly provocative, thought-provoking and relatable. In my personal opinion, the writing was a bit too straightforward, less rhythmic than I prefer and some poems didn't hit the mark. Here is an excerpt I enjoyed from "Waste":

What a waste of a good man
To have found me drowning
To have built me a lifeboat
To have thrown me a life jacket
Just to watch me turn around
And swim deeper into the water.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love her music and when I heard she was releasing a SECOND poetry book, I had to find out about the first one.

Words of a Goat Princess is a collection of raw poetry. Plenty of the themes coincide with her music. There are several pieces that make me wish I knew the entire story behind it. Some stories I was able to resonate with. Overall, it’s 43 poems that express the darkest and highest feelings. But all of them are about Love. Love for family, lovers, but mostly, yourself.

The final poem is a love note to us, the reader. And Jessie made sure to really explain how thankful she is for us. A short yet serious book, read Words of a GOAT Princess if you don’t want to feel like the only one.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book on a shelf at a local chain store and the cover alone made me curious. I had (and still don't really have) no idea who the author is but once I realized it was a poetry book, I did what I usually do. I turned to a random page and came across the poem "Rebels" which won me over before I even finished it. I did scan through the rest of the pages and followed my gut instinct telling me to buy this book. A few poems in Spanish (very few, but they're there). I also liked how some poems makes you think of all the life-related debris we all have to deal with from time to time. I'm happy it was a chance encounter and even happier I took it home.

[Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book on preorder because I’m a Jessie stan. Truthfully forgot about it until I saw she released an audiobook! Holy moly. Listening to Jessie read her poetry and share her thoughts and feelings with me was so beautiful. I’m convinced we all have similar lives, and listening to Jessie’s words proved that to me. I related to a lot of the poems, I didn’t relate to others, but overall I felt excited to catch a glimpse of someone else’s soul and their heartbreak and fears. We really are all out here just trying our best in this difficult and painful world. All love for Jessie m*therf*cking Reyez!!!!

[Ophelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words of a Goat Princess by Jessie Reyez is a stunning debut poetry collection! The 43 poems are raw, heartfelt, and beautifully crafted, exploring love, loss, and identity with vivid imagery and emotional depth. Each piece feels like a glimpse into Jessie’s soul, blending her Colombian-Canadian roots with universal truths. Favorites like “Peace” and “Portals” shine with hope, while “Waste” and “Indifference” hit hard with honesty. The gorgeous illustrations enhance the experience, making this a visually and emotionally captivating read. A powerful, moving journey that lingers—five stars for this masterpiece!