Clumsy Beauty: Poems for Hearing the "I Love You" in Everything

by J.K. Kennedy

Filled with warmth, wit, and a dash of irreverence, Clumsy Beauty is a celebration of life in all its messiness. This exquisitely illustrated collection of bite-size poems from J. K. Kennedy invites you to hear the "I love you" in every little moment.An enchantingly illustrated collection of poems designed to inspire and empower, Clumsy Beauty invites you to hear the "I love you" in every little moment. In an age of constant pressure to meet unattainable standards of beauty and perfection, Clumsy Beauty proclaims the joy of imperfection. Embrace your quirks, your stumbles, and your unique path. J. K. Kennedy’s poetry reveals vulnerability and showcases her personal voice, yet remains refreshingly resonant. With each turn of the page, you'll find inspiration, solace, and a renewed sense of self-acceptance. Whether you're seeking motivation during challenging times or simply looking for a reminder that you are enough just as you are, Clumsy Beauty is here to lift you up. The best part about a mistake is deciding if it will be an anchor or a sail BITE-SIZE Each of J. K.’s poems is thought-provoking, yet brief enough to quickly read before bed, during breakfast, or on the train. Every delectable morsel will leave you hankering for the next. Savor each bite or devour them all at once. Clumsy Beauty is a celebration of life in all its messiness. J. K. Kennedy illuminates the beauty in mistakes, imperfections, and unfiltered reality. Themes include navigating uncertainty, embracing your unique self, and living life on your own terms. THOUGHTFUL Beautifully designed and with illustrations throughout, Clumsy Beauty is an inspirational gift for anyone looking for a poetic dose of hope and encouragement.

Genres: Poetry

144 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Jessica (Odd and Bookish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher for promotional purposes.

This was such a lovely collection of poems!

The books starts off with an Author’s Note that gives some background into how the poems and book came together. I always appreciate these in poetry books because poetry is deeply personal so it’s nice to have some context.

The book is divided up into 4 sections: Behold, Unravel, Reveal, and Amplify. I always like when poetry collections are organized into sections. It helps keeps it cohesive and conveys the messages better.

The poetry itself was beautiful and I could tell it came from the heart. Some of my favorite poems were the untitled “From the Thought Pile” poems. Those poems were often so relatable and spoke volumes despite being very brief. My other favorite poems were:

-The Destination (pg. 14)
-Italic Life (pg. 15)
-Poetry (pg. 23)
-What’s Happening (pg. 25)
-My Favorite Burglars (pg. 27)
-Catapults (pg. 28)
-Memorizing Moments (pg. 40)
-Houseplants (pg. 42)
-Clumsy Beauty (pg. 47)
-Unpack (pg. 50)
-Automatic (pg. 60)
-Purple Parts (pg. 73)
-Panic (pg. 74)
-Destiny (pg. 82)
-Lily Pads (pg. 85)
-Curiosity (pg. 91)
-Inhibitions (pg. 93)
-Plenty of Time (pg. 98)
-Moments of Clarity (pg. 103)
-Last Meal (pg. 104)
-What I Know To Want Won’t Do (pg. 107)
-Landmark With A Lean (pg. 113)
-Bad Prayer (pg. 121)
-Slow Down (pg. 125)
-I Have Come Loose (pg. 128)
-Refuse To Negotiate (pg. 131)
-Believing (pg. 136)
-Capture It (pg. 139)

Lastly, the book is a gorgeous hardcover with a ribbon bookmark. The pages are thick and there are color illustrations throughout. This book is stunning in both content and appearance.

Overall, if you love contemporary reflective poetry, consider checking this book out!

[McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

This is a collection of bite sized poems that capture life in all its messiness and chaos. It is designed to inspire you to find the “I love you” in everything.

These beautiful poems are easy to resonate with and will lift you up and provide some motivation and encouragement. I loved the themes throughout.

Also can we take a moment to appreciate the beauty of this cover?!😍

Thank you @KayePublicity & @jkkennedywrites for this #gifted copy!🫶🏼

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The poems are as beautiful as the cover. They resonate with me so much. I cannot wait to pass this book on to my fellow clumsy beautiful friends.

[Bonny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clumsy Beauty is a sweet and uplifting collection, full of warmth and encouragement. Kennedy’s poems are short, hopeful, and often accompanied by charming illustrations that match the book’s spirit of self-acceptance. The focus on imperfection as a form of beauty is timely and encouraging, and I appreciated the overall positivity of the collection.

That said, many of the poems felt very closely tied to the author’s own emotions and experiences. While this makes them heartfelt, it also limited their resonance for me. I was hoping for a broader, more universal appeal—something that would invite me in more fully rather than feeling like I was overhearing someone else’s private reflections.

As a result, this is a nice book to dip into for a quick dose of positivity, but it didn’t quite leave a lasting impact. Readers looking for a gentle reminder of self-worth and a celebration of quirks will likely enjoy it more than those seeking depth or universality in poetry.

[Sarah Dressler · Rating 4 out of 5]

CLUMSY BEAUTY is a beautiful, hardback book of first release poetry by J. K. Kennedy. Thank you @kayepublicity for my early gifted copy.

Each poem has its own page, often with an illustration and think colorful print paper. The collection is broken into 4 parts that make sense as mini-collections. The poems’ contents vary greatly from topic to topic, all of which are part of our daily lives.

If you are looking for a thoughtful gift for a friend that loves poetry, this is on you might want to add to your list!

[Kristens.reading.nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry

A lot of people think
poetry has to be
long or sad or about love,
but it can just be
how you smiled
at yourself
for yourself
in the mirror today.
Poetry is absolutely
that too.

What a beautiful book of poetry! From the authors note at the beginning where she talks about seeing the “I Love You” in everything, to the short, bite-sized poems, this is an easy collection to dip in and out of or to read straight through as I did. The poem above is the perfect example of what you will find in Clumsy Beauty. This is a collection I will continue to re-read.

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
Simple, but beautiful poetry
Finding the beauty in every day life


Thank you Kaye Publicity for the gifted copy.

[Heather Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful read. I think this will be the perfect gift this year.

[Manon · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some great poems in this collection, but most of these didn't really resonate with me. They were still enjoyable to read, though, but they didn't really wow me.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love a good lil bite-sized poetry collection

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely little insights, a la Brian Andreas. I don’t love the illustrations, but the poems make up for it.

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat relatable poetry. It was nice however it didn't invoke any real emotions from me which I think is the point of poetry..

[Alexis Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a lot of poetry books that don’t speak to me or are too dark, but this one was so real and so full of love for your mind body and soul. Loved every page

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is the Seinfeld of poetry. A tiny slice of life is noted in a surprisingly sweet and at times quirky way. I loved the book and it's so easy to go back to it again and again.

[Boo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
beautiful little poems

[Sydney Landrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved loved this poetry book!!!

[Katra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short poems with uplifting messages.

p-n, s-n, v-n, a-n

[Christina Karvounis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found her on instagram, her book is a collection of her posts and some new work. Simple and lovely.

[Tilly Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily one of my fav books now


maybe I should write a poetry book?

[Axl Loverock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just what I needed right now

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! I’ll reread it at a slower pace to really let the words sink in!

[Megan McCarthy-Biank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kennedy definitely got me thinking and reconsidering my own outlook on life in Clumsy Beauty. Each poem was short and sweet, yet poignant and insightful. A few of them resonated with me in the sense that I could consider an alternative way to look at my experiences, while reminding me that these thoughts and feelings are so common among human beings. I highly recommend that readers keep this collection close by for whenever they might need a reminder to find beauty in everything.

In-depth book review: https://cantinabookclub.com/review/cl...

Podcast interview with J. K. Kennedy coming soon!
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6TzCN0H...
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