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Julia Hungry
Winner of the eighteenth Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize
Linda Gregerson, Judge
Julia Hungry is a communion and reckoning with form—a female poet’s apprenticeship to the male-dominated canon of twentieth century verse, part love-affair and part fencing match with its forebears. Inherited forms are intact almost to a fault but flooded with femininity as if in an attempt to rinse them out; in kind, the poems are laced with uneasy domesticity—a current of tension which begins inside the home and expands over the course of the book, eventually reaching a global scale. There, fully haunted by the music of the past, Julia Hungry peers into the future, asking questions about reclamation and survival.
Linda Gregerson, Judge
Julia Hungry is a communion and reckoning with form—a female poet’s apprenticeship to the male-dominated canon of twentieth century verse, part love-affair and part fencing match with its forebears. Inherited forms are intact almost to a fault but flooded with femininity as if in an attempt to rinse them out; in kind, the poems are laced with uneasy domesticity—a current of tension which begins inside the home and expands over the course of the book, eventually reaching a global scale. There, fully haunted by the music of the past, Julia Hungry peers into the future, asking questions about reclamation and survival.
60 pages, Paperback
Published March 12, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
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November 29, 2023I may have purchased 4 copies...no regrets. Hannah Louise Poston is one of my most favorite people on the planet. Her words have greatly impacted my life and I cannot wait to have this book in my hands. I am following her future!! poetry!! career!! with GREAT INTEREST!!!!
March 5, 2024
This is a book to come back to and sip thoughtfully.
March 11, 2024
As someone with a Bachelor’s in English and a continued, intense reading habit, I consider myself to be relatively well-read and pretty “good at” reading. That being said, I struggle mightily with poetry and always have. There’s something slippery about it that doesn’t stick to my brain; I don’t feel wired for it the way I feel wired for prose writing. I find it intimidating and even at times, off-putting.
Julia Hungry, though, feels different. Friendlier, safer. Whip-smart and above my pay grade, certainly, but like I can get to its level if I really try, which is all I ever really want from poetry. JH challenges me while validating me and somehow still meeting me where I’m at as a 29 year-old woman.
I might feel this way because I’ve been watching HLP on YouTube for years and my brain understands how she thinks and speaks. If that’s the case, I’m okay with it. It felt like reading a friend’s work.
Visceral, female-centered, evocative and with a cadence that I feel in my bones. I loved it. Great work, HLP.
Favorite poems: Julia and the Hydra, Grand Central Station, Letter to Portland, Words Sonnet, Serenade, Commerce, Julia Hungry, The News
Julia Hungry, though, feels different. Friendlier, safer. Whip-smart and above my pay grade, certainly, but like I can get to its level if I really try, which is all I ever really want from poetry. JH challenges me while validating me and somehow still meeting me where I’m at as a 29 year-old woman.
I might feel this way because I’ve been watching HLP on YouTube for years and my brain understands how she thinks and speaks. If that’s the case, I’m okay with it. It felt like reading a friend’s work.
Visceral, female-centered, evocative and with a cadence that I feel in my bones. I loved it. Great work, HLP.
Favorite poems: Julia and the Hydra, Grand Central Station, Letter to Portland, Words Sonnet, Serenade, Commerce, Julia Hungry, The News
March 5, 2024
I’m not a regular reader of poetry, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Maybe I connected more with it because I feel like I know the author through her work on YouTube- I felt like I was hearing each poem in her voice, and I was imagining people in her life as I read through. I can see how writing poetry is an incredibly difficult thing, where each word has to be carefully chosen.
So impressive! So beautiful!
So impressive! So beautiful!
July 27, 2024
I admit a certain bias against YouTube influencers, an assumed vapidity. So when I was gently sucked into this particular influencers videos a part of me felt almost embarrassed. And then to find out she is a poet…?! And then to get the book and find every single poem is so damn good! Like -cut to perfection, wondrous imagery, scalpel like precision, elegant use of rhyme…good.
I could eat up a poem about Britney Spears?!
Sob uncontrollably at “The News”.
And consider putting the line “Being dead had completed her” on my tombstone.
P.s. Also was turned onto some great makeup tips via the author’s videos.
I could eat up a poem about Britney Spears?!
Sob uncontrollably at “The News”.
And consider putting the line “Being dead had completed her” on my tombstone.
P.s. Also was turned onto some great makeup tips via the author’s videos.
April 9, 2024
I am not a stranger to reading poetry, but despite this I still often find it intimidating; Reading “Julia Hungry” was fun and inviting. Do I feel a little underqualified to be writing a review of a poetry book? Yes. However, the accessibility of these poems (by that I mean the body of work does not feel like it was intended only for the eyes of other poets, but for everyone) emboldens me to do so.
My only critique is that some of the subject matter, such as those surrounding beauty standards and womanhood, feels a little exhausted. I still really liked those poems, in fact my favorite poem in the book is such a poem, but I must recognize that the poems didn’t tackle the subject in an unexpected way. I really wish I could rate this book 4.5 stars, because there is a lot going for it, but it undermines itself.
The poems are an absolute delight to read aloud and have this musical quality to them. Hannah created this character, Julia, who isn’t as much of a character as she is an embodiment of womanhood; I hope she continues to develop more poems featuring her. My favorite poem out of the collection is Julia and the Hydra, it is playful and I keep coming back to it. Orpheus. Eurydice. Hermes. is a very close second, as the poem and its thematic placement in the collection is clever and near perfection.
My only critique is that some of the subject matter, such as those surrounding beauty standards and womanhood, feels a little exhausted. I still really liked those poems, in fact my favorite poem in the book is such a poem, but I must recognize that the poems didn’t tackle the subject in an unexpected way. I really wish I could rate this book 4.5 stars, because there is a lot going for it, but it undermines itself.
The poems are an absolute delight to read aloud and have this musical quality to them. Hannah created this character, Julia, who isn’t as much of a character as she is an embodiment of womanhood; I hope she continues to develop more poems featuring her. My favorite poem out of the collection is Julia and the Hydra, it is playful and I keep coming back to it. Orpheus. Eurydice. Hermes. is a very close second, as the poem and its thematic placement in the collection is clever and near perfection.
April 3, 2024
After watching Hannah Louise Piston’s YT channel for a bit, I had high expectations for Julia Hungry. Perhaps life would have been better not reading it.
Poems I enjoyed are Peony, I Knew a Man, Doubt, and Aubade. The rest either started well, ended not as well, or just didn’t make me feel one way or another. Some didn’t seem worth being written, akin to the filler songs on an album.
She likes to utilize ash, fruit (plums, pears), beets, and sex frequently in her writing.
If this is exalted modern poetry, I would prefer to go back to reading Rainer Maria Rilke and Emily Dickinson.
Poems I enjoyed are Peony, I Knew a Man, Doubt, and Aubade. The rest either started well, ended not as well, or just didn’t make me feel one way or another. Some didn’t seem worth being written, akin to the filler songs on an album.
She likes to utilize ash, fruit (plums, pears), beets, and sex frequently in her writing.
If this is exalted modern poetry, I would prefer to go back to reading Rainer Maria Rilke and Emily Dickinson.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2024
This book is like… chocolate.
Meant to be consumed meaningfully one piece at a time, but also, all at once after a long hard day.
Meant to be a bit of a comfort and a bit of a stomach ache. (But the best kind of stomach ache, like the full one you get before the beginning of a tattoo)
Meant to ignite all of the parts of the brain. Will read and reread over and over
Meant to be consumed meaningfully one piece at a time, but also, all at once after a long hard day.
Meant to be a bit of a comfort and a bit of a stomach ache. (But the best kind of stomach ache, like the full one you get before the beginning of a tattoo)
Meant to ignite all of the parts of the brain. Will read and reread over and over
February 19, 2024
Brilliant!
June 4, 2024
Brava, HLP! 5 ⭐, well and truly worth the wait.
I have kept Julia Hungry at my bedside, in my backpack, with me, with a pencil always attached, for many months. I have read and reread and annotated and questioned and queried and puzzled and expanded my vocabulary and exhaled deeply for long moments before turning right back to the beginning for another go at these poems and their predecessors and I have had the most delightful time.
This collection is deeply approachable, for poetry newcomers and old hands alike. Particularly tasty when read aloud, these poems are a rich, delicious, carefully considered and constructed, scrumptious, surprising, (shocking?), and supremely relatable examination of womanhood, filled to bursting with all the deictic despair and delight one could wish for. Nature, environment, economy, myth, art and love in all their forms weave tendrils throughout the collection, which stares the male gaze, and all of its standards, expectations and controlling impulses squarely back into its eyes and lift its chin.
Present favourites from the collection include Fear Of Horses, which is delightful well beyond being made in my favourite form; The News, dog eared for repeated rereading and extended exhaling; and The Husband, which dogs me but which I remain determined to unravel.
I have kept Julia Hungry at my bedside, in my backpack, with me, with a pencil always attached, for many months. I have read and reread and annotated and questioned and queried and puzzled and expanded my vocabulary and exhaled deeply for long moments before turning right back to the beginning for another go at these poems and their predecessors and I have had the most delightful time.
This collection is deeply approachable, for poetry newcomers and old hands alike. Particularly tasty when read aloud, these poems are a rich, delicious, carefully considered and constructed, scrumptious, surprising, (shocking?), and supremely relatable examination of womanhood, filled to bursting with all the deictic despair and delight one could wish for. Nature, environment, economy, myth, art and love in all their forms weave tendrils throughout the collection, which stares the male gaze, and all of its standards, expectations and controlling impulses squarely back into its eyes and lift its chin.
Present favourites from the collection include Fear Of Horses, which is delightful well beyond being made in my favourite form; The News, dog eared for repeated rereading and extended exhaling; and The Husband, which dogs me but which I remain determined to unravel.
August 21, 2024
Generally, I request books I first learn of through tiktok/instagram, youtube, etc. from the library before making the leap to purchase myself a copy—if the work merits a place in my personal collection.
This is one such case where, after reading a copy from my local library, I can 100% justify a purchase. Poston’s poetry is objectively good and intellectually and emotionally stimulating.
I am excited to see Poston’s literary career progress further, perhaps more-so than her youtube endeavours.
This is one such case where, after reading a copy from my local library, I can 100% justify a purchase. Poston’s poetry is objectively good and intellectually and emotionally stimulating.
I am excited to see Poston’s literary career progress further, perhaps more-so than her youtube endeavours.
May 10, 2024
Beautiful yet concise poetry pieces that focus on the mundane and make it pretty
March 12, 2024
Lovely, thought-provoking collection of poems. I really enjoyed reading this book over coffee the past few days. Some poems feel like more “classic” poetry and others focus on modern issues, but all have beautiful language and somewhat of a feminist lean which I appreciate. I had to look up many unfamiliar words while reading (ha, my vocabulary has certainly expanded!)
I’d love if the author discussed some of the poems on her YouTube channel. It would be great to understand them from her point of view. I look forward to reading more from Hannah Louise Poston, and this better not be the last book we get from her!
I’d love if the author discussed some of the poems on her YouTube channel. It would be great to understand them from her point of view. I look forward to reading more from Hannah Louise Poston, and this better not be the last book we get from her!
May 2, 2024
Equal parts delicious and disgusting; I had such a good time with this.
I know next to nothing about poetry so I definitely feel like I didn’t get as much out of this as if I did know more, but it was still so enjoyable. Every word flowed into the next with such precise deliberation, there’s no better way to describe it other than utter mastery and adoration of language.
I know next to nothing about poetry so I definitely feel like I didn’t get as much out of this as if I did know more, but it was still so enjoyable. Every word flowed into the next with such precise deliberation, there’s no better way to describe it other than utter mastery and adoration of language.
February 24, 2024
An absolutely magnificent collection. Each poem feels alive and heaving. Themes are so thoroughly and thoughtfully explored, no stone is left unturned. The use of imagery is unlike any poetry I've read before, full and bloody and raw. I'm so impressed.
July 5, 2025
A must-read ❤️
I've dabbled in reading poetry before, but often don't know quite where to start. Wow, was this collection of poetry a great jumping off point. In the past I've found some poems very difficult to understand, and the metaphors are too far beyond me for me to fully grasp. Not so with Julia Hungry! The poems feel deeply rooted to human experience (and especially experiencing the world as a woman), and make it so easy to connect with the content. It was clear that the poems were written to give you a foothold so that you had enough context not to slip and drown in a sea of words, all while avoiding over explaining. Some of my favourites were:
The Princess, Fear of Horses, Words Sonnet, A Clean House, and Serenade.
I was surprised by how some of my favourite poetry from this book was about the experience of food - I love that Posten chose such a mundane thing and wrote about it in a transcendent way.
I could read this 100x over and get something new out of it everytime. Absolutely expectional.
I've dabbled in reading poetry before, but often don't know quite where to start. Wow, was this collection of poetry a great jumping off point. In the past I've found some poems very difficult to understand, and the metaphors are too far beyond me for me to fully grasp. Not so with Julia Hungry! The poems feel deeply rooted to human experience (and especially experiencing the world as a woman), and make it so easy to connect with the content. It was clear that the poems were written to give you a foothold so that you had enough context not to slip and drown in a sea of words, all while avoiding over explaining. Some of my favourites were:
The Princess, Fear of Horses, Words Sonnet, A Clean House, and Serenade.
I was surprised by how some of my favourite poetry from this book was about the experience of food - I love that Posten chose such a mundane thing and wrote about it in a transcendent way.
I could read this 100x over and get something new out of it everytime. Absolutely expectional.
August 27, 2024
I went into this year really hoping to get into poetry. It’s always been something that peaks my interest, but very intimidating and kind of “how does one ever get into this”.
However, one of my favorite people on the internet Hannah Louise Peston released Julia Hungry, her poetry collection, and I got lucky enough to order it and get it all the way into Peru.
Ni siquiera estaba segura de que esperar, pero Julia Hungry me agarro por los bordes y me atrajo dentro con un impetu y sensualidad totalmente inesperados.
Me gusto que es una mezcla de poemas inspirados en poemas existentes de poetas muy reconocidos, y poemas nuevos por la autora, perfecto como para mojarte los pies en el mundo de la poesia.
Son poemas muy sensoriales, agiles y liricos, por momentos estas rimando y saltando y por otros peleandote a muerte contra la mirada masculina.
Es genial. Si sabes ingles, te gustaria leer poesia en ingles, te lo recomiendo.
However, one of my favorite people on the internet Hannah Louise Peston released Julia Hungry, her poetry collection, and I got lucky enough to order it and get it all the way into Peru.
Ni siquiera estaba segura de que esperar, pero Julia Hungry me agarro por los bordes y me atrajo dentro con un impetu y sensualidad totalmente inesperados.
Me gusto que es una mezcla de poemas inspirados en poemas existentes de poetas muy reconocidos, y poemas nuevos por la autora, perfecto como para mojarte los pies en el mundo de la poesia.
Son poemas muy sensoriales, agiles y liricos, por momentos estas rimando y saltando y por otros peleandote a muerte contra la mirada masculina.
Es genial. Si sabes ingles, te gustaria leer poesia en ingles, te lo recomiendo.
March 21, 2025
I love a collection of poetry that is in conversation with other poets AND lets you in on that conversation. I kept running back and forth between the poems acknowledged in the notes and Poston's work, and that definitely deepened my reading experience.
This is a collection that builds formal verse and language around the mundane, the trivial, and the feminized. Poston writes about Britney Spears and Eurydice and sex with her husband and shaving. It's not that every female-centered consumerist impulse is glorified, but rather that is everything is treated as worthy of careful attention and deconstruction.
This collection is both very sexual and very sensual, and it left me realizing that most collections I read are either one or other. Poston manages to be romantic and vulgar at the same time, and that trick alone made me realize why she is winning awards.
This is a collection that builds formal verse and language around the mundane, the trivial, and the feminized. Poston writes about Britney Spears and Eurydice and sex with her husband and shaving. It's not that every female-centered consumerist impulse is glorified, but rather that is everything is treated as worthy of careful attention and deconstruction.
This collection is both very sexual and very sensual, and it left me realizing that most collections I read are either one or other. Poston manages to be romantic and vulgar at the same time, and that trick alone made me realize why she is winning awards.
December 27, 2025
The writer clearly loves words, and poetry, and turns them skillfully. Many of the poems in this book refer to the work of other poets, much as an individual's appearance or mannerisms may remind one of their close family from time to time - there is a structural ghost of those who have gone before, whilst also being uniquely their self.
Some of the poems in this book appeal to me more than others, but, as with music, sometimes repeat visits to poetry uncover new favourites. I look forward to discovering new responses to these works over time, and I hope this poet publishes more in the future.
Some of the poems in this book appeal to me more than others, but, as with music, sometimes repeat visits to poetry uncover new favourites. I look forward to discovering new responses to these works over time, and I hope this poet publishes more in the future.
April 12, 2024
I'm still not really into poetry, but I enjoyed this! I got it because I watch the author's YouTube videos, which turned out to be a good thing because I could hear her voice reading the poems in my head.
This is a very short collection, but some of my favorites include:
The Princess
Julia and the Hydra
Britney
Grand Central Station
Sorry Song
The News
A Clean House
How the View Alters
This is a very short collection, but some of my favorites include:
The Princess
Julia and the Hydra
Britney
Grand Central Station
Sorry Song
The News
A Clean House
How the View Alters
May 5, 2024
4.5 stars.
I am a fan of Hannah's on YouTube, but honestly I was pleasantly surprised by this collection! I enjoyed the sensuality of several of the poems, the climate anxiety (did not know you were about that life, Hannah, good for you), and the allusions (and more specific references) to pop culture.
I am a fan of Hannah's on YouTube, but honestly I was pleasantly surprised by this collection! I enjoyed the sensuality of several of the poems, the climate anxiety (did not know you were about that life, Hannah, good for you), and the allusions (and more specific references) to pop culture.
December 31, 2024
It is no surprise to me that HLP wrote a stunning collection of poems. I’m not much of a poetry reader but I will definitely be revisiting this collection over and over again. I can definitely see myself reciting some of these beautiful words by heart in the near future.
January 30, 2025
I don’t think this book is for me. I found this book of poetry both inaccessible without real effort and also the ones that felt accessible were just not for me. Not all books are for all people and this one isn’t for me. Maybe this isn’t the kind of poetry I enjoy.
December 30, 2025
I think this is good poetry? With nothing else I've read to compare to, this seemed immensely clever. I can't speak to the lyricism or rhythm because I'm not sure if I read each line on beat, but the language itself was indulgent and spot-on.
Still not a poetry fan, but this was good.
Still not a poetry fan, but this was good.
January 22, 2026
I love Hannah!! One of my favorite YouTubers, was so excited to read this!! I even bought it double the price from someone in Germany. However… idk how i feel.. i guess it was meant to be consumed slowly and over a long period of time, i read it in one sitting and it didn’t do much for me
April 9, 2024
This has been fun to chew on, and I'm continue to do so. Having finished this poetry collection I look forward to reading the poems referenced. I hope she writes more.
April 29, 2024
I snacked on this like it was a grand Christmas gift snack basket
July 9, 2024
unfortunately not for me, I didn't find the poems really compelling, and the poem about Britney Spears' mental health struggles gave me the ick
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews