In Meet Me Halfway—her first solo venture since 2019's Don't Tell Me Not to Ask Why—Samantha King Holmes is ready to dive even deeper into the dynamics of love and relationships with an earnestness all her own.
Samantha King Holmes is back with Meet Me Halfway, a new collection of poetry that explores the journey back to yourself after earth-shattering disappointment. A fervent cry in the dark, these poems are a reminder that even after the harshest winter, springtime blooms await us all.
Feels like the right book at the right time. I try to add one to two books of poetry into my reading list every year and this was one that I really enjoyed it did give me a lot of flashbacks to the serious relationships I’ve had in my life and the disillusion of those relationships. But I did see a lot of myself reflected in her beautiful words. I ear marked several pages throughout the book to go back to when I need a good cry.
It felt very redundant. I’ve loved before but I also have other thoughts than being consumed by love so I think I was burned out half way through. It felt obsessive.
Meet Me Halfway is raw and personal. The poetry is nice but didn’t resonate with me despite the relatable themes of heartbreak, loss and yearning that Samantha King Holmes explores. I was intrigued by the use of “scenes” and longed for more clarity on their non-linearity but perhaps their mystery is part of their interest. Overall it is a moving overcast afternoon read, but did not have as profound an effect on me as I had anticipated I would from its first few pages.
“Everyone seeks the light, but who loves the dark?”
Some of the pages are memorable, many healed parts of me and I relate to the rest. Bought this at Kinokuniya last year after reading few pages and I can say it’s been a good read. I even subscribed to the author’s newsletter and followed her Instagram after because I truly admire her work!
BOOK RATING: 🩶🩶🩶/5 -It’s all about heartbreak and healing, written in a soft, relatable way. -Some poems echoed the same emotions throughout. Reflective but at times repetitive in theme and phrasing. -Still, there were lines that made me pause and think. -Simple, emotional, and easy to get through in one go. Highly recommend if you’re diving into poetry for the first time.
📖 Would I reread? No, but it reminded me how relaxing it feels to just sit down with poetry again.