Until It Is True

by Katy Luxem

Like Kate Baer and Sharon Olds before her, Katy Luxem takes scenes from motherhood and family life, and makes them into beautiful, magical things we can each hold in our hands and hearts. Her poems “blossom into their abundant selves,” like the children she cares for so tenderly, offering us all immense comfort at the same time. Luxem knows from years of hard-won “Love is a body that mothers in the dark, a salve for any painful thing.” Every poem in this book is a balm for the weary soul.

—James Crews, Author of Kindness Will Save the World


Every now and then you come across writing that stops you in your tracks and moves you simultaneously. These poems are progressive, yet timeless, with lines that will unearth you and have you revisiting over and over again. I found myself coming back to her words in certain poems often and letting them settle with their sharp and meaningful imagery. Every word has a place and has carefully been crafted in a way that feels like a deep exhale. A voice for women’s triumphs, heartaches, and hopes. Honest and powerful.

—Jessica Urlichs, Author of You Hung the Moon


In her debut collection, Katy Luxem holds a magnifying glass to the small, beautiful moments that constitute a life. These poems are rich with imagery and soft with tenderness, inviting you to step inside their world and look around. Within its pages, you’ll be greeted by vibrant snapshots of joy, grief, love, and family, sure to resonate with anyone that’s walked the unsteady path of this world. Until It Is True is a book that you’ll want to read, reread, dog-ear, and then share with absolutely everyone you know. I guarantee it.

—Caitlin Conlon, Author of The Surrender Theory


Until It Is True brilliantly captures how it feels to love, to grieve, and to parent. This work weaves together the mundane with the extraordinary, the routine with the transcendental. A stunning collection.

—Lisa Bush, Creator of Stories Within Us and Author of Teaching Well

96 pages, Paperback

Published August 28, 2023

Reviews

[Laurel Crufts · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like relatable poetry that is beautiful and much deeper than it seems, I highly recommend Katy Luxem's book Until It Is True. For fans of Kate Baer, Billy Collins, and Ada Limon, these poems tug at the heart as they address womanhood, motherhood, growing up, parenting, love, loss, and more with startling ease and relevancy. I will be returning to this one and gifting copies to my friends.

[Steph Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entirely delightful. Moved to both tears and laughter.

[titanicroro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Would make a great gift for new mothers or those in thick or early motherhood.

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually read poetry, but I loved this! The author used beautiful imagery to express feelings that I have felt, but would never be able to articulate. I loved the structure of the book, building from early family life with babies and small children to life with curious adolescents. This was delightful and moving and incredibly relatable for me as a woman and mother.

[Jithendra Jithu · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚✨ Book Review: "Until It Is True" by Katy Luxem ✨📚

Rating:5/5

Review:

Prepare to be swept away on a poetic journey that bursts with colors and emotions! 🌈📖

🌟 Katy Luxem's "Until It Is True" is a kaleidoscope of literary brilliance, where words dance in hues of joy, sorrow, and everything in between. This book is like an artist's palette, painting the exquisite moments of motherhood and family life. 🎨💖

🌼 Luxem's verses are like flowers in full bloom, each one a masterpiece of its own. They gently cradle your heart with phrases like "Love is a body that mothers in the dark, a salve for any painful thing." 🌸💕

📜 This debut collection is a timeless symphony. Its progressive yet eternal themes strike a chord deep within your soul. Luxem's craft is a breathtaking exhale, a voice echoing women's triumphs, heartaches, and dreams. It's a vivid, honest, and potent journey. 🌟🌟

🌟 In every poem, Luxem paints vibrant portraits of life's intricate tapestry—joy, grief, love, and family. It's a literary sanctuary, one you'll revisit, treasure, and share with the world. This book is an emotional treasure chest waiting to be discovered! 🎁🔒

🌈 "Until It Is True" is a masterpiece that captures the essence of love, grief, and parenthood. It skillfully intertwines the ordinary with the extraordinary, all while addressing the struggles of parenting during COVID and the changing world. Luxem's words tug at your heartstrings and lead you through a vivid emotional landscape. 🚀📖

If you're in search of a soul-stirring collection that speaks to the very core of human experiences, "Until It Is True" is a must-read. Get ready to be inspired, moved, and enchanted by this literary gem! ✨📚 #

BookReview #KatyLuxem #PoetryMagic #ColorfulReads

[Alecia Gabrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Until it is True" by Katy Luxem is a poetry collection that effortlessly weaves together themes of family, grief, and unwavering admiration with rich, gentle writing. Luxem's words hit you like a rush of emotion, forging an immediate connection to both your head and heart. The poems in this collection are bittersweet, leaving a savory aftertaste that lingers with the reader, much like the profound moments in life that are often cruel and unfair. Throughout the book, there's an abundance of nature-inspired imagery, enhancing the overarching theme of the duality between "mother" nature and human nature.
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Luxem masterfully delves into the complexities of family dynamics, exploring unresolved pasts while sprinkling optimism amidst the lines. Her poetry exudes a sense of youthfulness while also offering reflective insights into the world through the eyes of her children, crafting exquisite verses from these perspectives. Among the many gems in this collection, "No Girl Has All Five," "Late August," and "Home Alone" stand out as personal favorites, showcasing Luxem's talent for evoking powerful emotions through her words. "Until it is True" is a must-read for poetry enthusiasts seeking profound insights into the human experience and the enduring beauty of the natural world.

[Nicole Zwolinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until it is true by Katy Luxem is collection stuffed full of compassionate poems that tackle motherhood and parenting with delight and a bit of humor. “Field Guide for the Western Mom” gently observes mothering “Look how she saves art and fact of it, the first haircut tousled feathers in a clear baggie.” From postpartum to the first moment her son walks into the men’s bathroom “and he goes alone now, off to all the places I cannot follow” to the rumor of gun violence in her daughter’s school… Luxem tackles the whole package of motherhood in this impressive collection that should be on every mom’s bookshelf.

[Caitlin Conlon]

In her debut collection, Katy Luxem holds a magnifying glass to the small, beautiful moments that constitute a life. These poems are rich with imagery and soft with tenderness, inviting you to step inside their world and take a look around. Within its pages you’ll be greeted by vibrant snapshots of joy, grief, love, and family, sure to resonate with anyone that’s walked the unsteady path of this world. “Until It Is True” is a book that you’ll want to read, reread, dog-ear, and then share with absolutely everyone you know. I guarantee it.

[Beth Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luxem's resplendent work of poetry from the motherhood eye captures these hearty, rich times. As a mother myself, I was excited to purchase her wealth of work in one book after following her clips of poetry in Rattle.

Like Kate Baer, Rupi Kaur, Katy helps me grasp life and motherhood into tactile handfuls that I recognize full well.

Thank you Katy for this work! As you capture our children's firsts, the holiday feels, the fleeting stages of growing up, I am thankful.

[Genekahane · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long time reader of Katy's poetry on Instagram, I was thrilled to get a copy of her first book. What i most adore about her writing is the wonderful ability she has to take the ordinary and familiar and, with but a few beautiful words, transport the story and experience to something lofty and heartfelt and glorious.

[Emily Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A seamless collection that explores womanhood, motherhood, and marriage with candor and tenderness. Katy Luxem mines the everyday, the specifics of a particular life, to speak to universal truths. Her imagery is precise and vivid, and her insights are sharp. A wise and beautiful book that I look forward to revisiting.

[Katy Luxem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid read.