All the Love Under the Vast Sky

by Kip Wilson (Editor), Kip Wilson, David Bowles

Twelve short stories in verse by bestselling and award-winning authors that explore the highs and lows of love – romantic, platonic, familial, and self-love.

Love can be many things – all-consuming, fleeting, vengeful, selfless, toxic, uplifting, and always, a core part of the teen experience that leaves an indelible mark. This enchanting, genre-crossing anthology delivers something for every reader with unique characters, global settings, and a dazzling mixture of myth, historical, speculative, and contemporary fiction.

With the turn of a page, get swept away by unexpected love blooming between two princes from enemy Mesoamerican nations in the 15th century, who'd rather make music rather than war; cheer for a timid bearded lady who was shunned by her family and runs away to find belonging and safety at the circus during the 1800s experience the heartbreak of saying goodbye to a beloved pet; breathlessly watch a myth unfold as a siren bound to the water falls in love with a winged forest spirit, their love seemingly impossible from the start. Root for a girl who emerges from grief and battles with chronic pain to discover how to love herself and life again.

Love is complicated, and this anthology embraces the messiness and the joy of all kinds of love. Contributors include:

• Alexandra Alessandri
• David Bowles
• Melanie Crowder
• Margarita Engle
• Eric Gansworth
• Robin Gow
• Mariama Lockington
• Laura Ruby
• Padma Venkatraman
• Jasmine Warga
• Charles Waters
• Kip Wilson

Genres: Short Stories, Poetry, Young Adult, Anthologies, Contemporary, Fiction, Romance

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 14, 2025

About the author

Kip Wilson is the critically acclaimed YA author of verse novels White Rose (Versify, 2019), The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin (Versify, 2022), and One Last Shot (Versify, 2023). Awards for her books include the Malka Penn Award and the Julia Ward Howe Award, and her books have been named a Massachusetts Book Honor title, an Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award finalist, and a Los Angeles Times Book Award finalist. Her next project, All the Love Under the Vast Sky, is a YA anthology of stories in verse (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2025). Kip holds a Ph.D. in German Literature and is an enthusiastic high school library worker. Find her online at kipwilsonwrites.com and on Instagram @kipwilsonwrites.

Reviews

[Courtney N · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 💫


Collections typically fall in middle territory for me because I always love some and feel meh about others.

Overall this was entertaining to move through, it was a diverse collection and great to have for in between reads. There is truly some beautiful writing in this one.

I would not recommended sitting and reading continuously unless you are a huge fan of (or in the mood for) short stories / verse.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection did what it set out to do and then some! I loved the diversity of the stories and that the stories were about all different ways people can love and be loved. My favorite stories were All for Annie, We are the Briar, The Bridegroom’s Oak, Rock Steady, The Water Clock, Kaleidoscope, and The First, and the Last, and All the In-Betweens. I love a good story told in verse so this collection was right up my alley and did not disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!!

this was such a beautiful written & well-crafted anthology! like i genuinely mean it when i say this is one of the best i’ve read in such a long time. i managed to connect with every single story & liked them all as well—not an easy feat to do!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A broad collection of twelve short stories.

[cara! · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down to 3

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC!

I don’t read poetry often, so I was a bit hesitant to pick up this collection. Some of these were amazing, and others I struggled to get through. I probably won’t be reading from some of these authors again but it was nice to give them a try!

★ = favorite

Love-Bomb - Mariama J. Lockington (5) ★
- The narrator felt so real, her conflicting feelings felt so raw, so emotional even in this short of a text. The only thing I didn’t like was that I didn’t really see the purpose of the weird spacing between some words, though maybe if I was a little more analytical of the poem I could figure it out.

All for Annie - Robin Gow (4)
- This was a nice found family story where the main character grew more confident in her abilities of running the circus. The romance portion was unnecessary for me.

We Are the Briar - Laura Ruby (1)
- This was just a Cinderella retelling with some twists that I didn’t even enjoy. For being in a love anthology, there wasn’t a lot of love. It didn’t evoke any emotions from me at all.

Not So Sweet (an Anti-Cupid Story) - Melanie Crowder (3)
- So this was intriguing at the beginning, but I honestly didn’t really understand the point of it. I think in longer form with more of a backstory and this scene being the ending would have been cool.

The Bridegroom’s Oak - Kip Wilson (2)
- I liked the message of celebrating friendships in this, but I didn’t really like the whole anti-romance theme going on, like there can be both friends and romance and you don’t necessarily have to choose ?!?

La sirena y el zemi - Margarita Engle (4)
- The writing and the imagery in this was beautiful. I wish it was a little bit longer, it felt like it was over as soon as I started reading.

Borrowed Blossoms - David Bowles (2.5)
- Towards the end it got a lot better but honestly I was confused for most of it. I feel like this would work better as prose than poetry and it was practically prose anyways.

Rock Steady - Charles Waters (4.5) ★
- This story was so wholesome. I really liked the family and friend relationships that were developed throughout.

The Water Clock - Padma Venkatraman (5) ★
- This was absolutely perfect. I loved all of the math references, and how in the end math was her true love.

America Through Mistranslation: A Heart Map of Scars - Eric Gansworth (1)
- Towards the end I was just skimming this because I didn’t really feel any connection to the story.

Kaleidoscope - Alexandra Alessandrini (5) ★
- This was beautifully written, there were quite a few standout lines to me. I really like how the author handled the topic of grief and I just wanted to keep reading this.

The First, and the Last, and All the In-Betweens - Jasmine Warga (5) ★
- If I could give this 6 stars I would. The writing was the best out of everything here. It was filled with emotions, both happy and sad packed into this short text.

[kim baccellia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging collection of diverse short stories told in free verse. I'm a huge fan of Kip Wilson, the editor of this captivating anthology. The theme is love, and each author does a great job showing their take with stories with strong, diverse protagonists. Love isn't just romantic, but is shown in different ways.

Some of my favorites:

All For Annie by Robin Gow. How a group of circus players in the late 1800s comes together after the death of the ring master. But mostly it's the story of Annie, the bearded lady, and the sweet romance between her and a fellow player.

We are the Briar-by Laura Ruby. This is a twist on the Cinderella tale.

Love-Bomb by Mariama J. Lockington. Where a teen gains the strength to leave her overpowering mother. This one shows the complexity of the love/hate relationship between a mother and her daughter. In this case, the mother's mental illness-I'm thinking bipolar-is overwhelming at times.

The First, and the Last, and All the In-Betweens by Jasmine Warga is a love story of the family pet dog and the protagonist's bittersweet memories of all the joy they had together. This one resonated with me so much with my fond memories of my boxer dog.

And finally, there is The Bridegroom's Oak, in which a young girl is at the crossroads of a possible relationship with someone and the fear of losing a close relationship with a friend.

There's stories set in Mesoamerica with two rival princes; a teen who tries to get back at ex-friends by being the anti-Cupid; the love of a teen for his beloved grandmother; and much more.

Beautifully written, diverse short stories show that love comes in many different forms. There's sure to be a tale to appeal to all.

[Meredith L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice anthology of verse stories that explores the theme of love from varying angles. Romantic love is examined, of course, but there are also stories about found family, the loss of a pet, friendship and other aspects of love. Favorite stories include:

Love Bomb. A young woman struggles to help her narcissistic mother while also seeking her own independence. Very sad with a glimmer of hope at the end.
We Are the Briar. Laura Ruby is a wonderful author, (Bone Gap is a book that literally changed my life). This short story is a retelling of Cinderella that focuses more on the theme of discovering family than on romance, although the twist on the romantic couple is excellent. A bonus to this story that I loved was the fact that the Cinderella character is Jewish.
Love Oak. A young girl in Germany during the 1890's must confront her feelings for a young chocolatier even as she and her best friend want to move to Paris and become dress designers. A very poignant story with an emphasis on true friendship and familial reconciliation.
Borrowed Blossoms. Set in the 1500's in Mezzo-America, this story is about two princes from rival clans who discover a shared love of music and a forbidden love for each other. A bit too explicit in places but gently and beautifully told in dual voices.

An added story I love was the one by Jasmine Warga about the loss of a pet.

Recommended for those who enjoy anthologies with variations on a common theme. God bless you all.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just in time for Valentine's Day! ALL THE LOVE UNDER THE VAST SKY is an anthology composed of 12 short stories full of diverse-driven plots all about love, and not just the romantic type. There's a boy who loves his grandmother. A girl who loves her best friend. The diversity isn't just in the different types of love either. These authors bring together stories of different races, different cultures, LGBT, and more. I liked that some of the stories take place in a different time or a different country. A couple of authors even based their stories off historical legends and places, which they explain in a short author's note.

Some of the writing is lyrical, others feel more classical. The formatting is verse style, so sometimes it can feel a little choppy. I have to say my favorite stories were We are the Briar and La Sirena y el Zemi. Both of these were enthralling. "Do you see the Briar or does the Briar see you?" Another one I really enjoyed was Not So Sweet because it was focused on heartbreak and revenge, so it was a nice break between the lovey stories.


Final Verdict: I would recommend this to those aged 14 and older who want a break from lengthy series and it's perfect for fans of romance, both contemporary and fantasy.

[Melissa Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

The entire time I was reading this book I kept thinking it was only "Okay." I didn't love it. It was nice to have a short story to read here or there to break up activities. I found it hard at times to relate to some of the stories as they were packed with historical meaning in India, Pacific Islander, and Chinese culture. A story about chronic illness was a little more accessible for me as someone who works in healthcare, but the very last story "The First, and the Last, and All the In-Betweens' by Jasmine Warga broke me, I cried until snot came out my nose. Naturally the story about saying goodbye to your dog broke me and caused me to cuddle next to my own dog for 30 minutes while she tries to understand why I'm bothering her so close to midnight when she is clearly trying to sleep under the blanket. None the less the book was decent! Worth reading or taking around so you can read a short story when you find yourself with 15-20min to spare. I enjoyed each story and could appreciate the meaning in each.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I snagged this at the school library to read during a class assignment.

All the Love Under the Vast Sky is a collection of stories told in verse about teenagers and love. Built like a short story collection, each "chapter" has a unique author, which means unique stories, characters, tones, and styles. It's a neat concept, especially that many of the sections are historical fiction.

The first set of verse was by far my favorite. It explored the relationship between a mother and daughter and I have never seen my own experience so accurately reflect my own experience. I was extremely moved by this, and if I could give it alone five stars, I would.

I found the rest of the book to be lackluster, although I can fully admit that I am not a fan of historical fiction, less a fan of teenage historical fiction, and I found that I liked it less in verse. That said, the stories were rich and the verse well done. Just wasn't my cup of tea.

Warnings:
Drugs: No
Violence: Some references, nothing egregious
Language: Some
Sex: Suggested, not egregious

[Jessica Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 What’s it about?
This anthology is a collection of YA stories in verse about all forms of love: romantic, but also friendship, parental, community, etc. They span cultures and time periods, realistic and fantastical.

☁️ My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book, and read through it in a day. Each story was enjoyable, if sometimes sad, and the writing in verse is always something that makes me feel a little nostalgic. I don’t know how else to explain it.

I felt like I fell into different people’s lives while reading.

My favorites were:
🎪 “All forms Annie” which was a circus girl-power story

🐦 “We Are the Briar” which was a wicked spin on Cinderella

🌳 “The Bridegroom’s Oak” which was a take on not losing girl friendships over boys

🐕 “The First, and the Last, and All the In-Betweens” which is a tear-jerking ode to dogs.

[Wajiha (Jiya) ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of 'All the Love Under the Vast Sky'!

This anthology has truly warmed my heart! It features a beautiful collection of young adult short stories, exploring love in all its forms. Every story is unique, offering something different for every reader. While some were absolute standouts, a few didn't hold my attention as much, but that's the beauty of an anthology—there's something for everyone! The variety and quality of the stories make this an excellent showcase of short fiction, perfect for young readers.

I especially loved how relatable and heartfelt the themes were. If you’re looking for an engaging collection that celebrates the many facets of love, this book is a must-read!

[Breana Bowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was an interesting collection. 3.5 stars
Love-bomb by Mariama J. Lockington: 3.5 stars
All for Annie by Robin Gow: 3 stars
We Are the Briar by Laura Ruby: 3 stars
Not So Sweet (an Anti-Cupid Story) by Melanie Crowder: 4 stars
The Bridegroom’s Oak by Kip Wilson: 3.5 stars
La sirena y el zemi by Margarita Engle: 3 stars
Borrowed Blossoms by David Bowles: 2.5 stars
Rock Steady by Charles Waters: 5 stars
The Water Clock by Padma Venkatraman: 3 stars
America Through Mistranslation by Eric Gansworth: 3 stars
Kaleidoscope by Alexandra Alessandri: 4.5 stars
The First, and the Last, and All the In-Betweens by Jasmine Warga: 4 stars

[piper monarchsandmyths]

Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an eARC!

This was a fun and very readable anthology! There are some really great stories in here (Mariama J. Lockington’s comes to mind), although I wouldn’t say that a lot of them were super memorable for me at the time of writing this review (about a month after reading the book). Still, I enjoyed reading it and I appreciated how it didn’t focus just on romantic love or even just one type of romantic love but looked at platonic and familial love, as well as the absence of love. It was also a pretty quick read, and pretty easy to be immersed in after setting it down after a few stories. I’m a huge anthology fan and so I’d recommend checking it out if you are too or want something a little shorter and pretty even-keeled throughout!

[Bailey Wildman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good collection of short stories that helped me get out of my funk. I feel like I haven't been as into reading lately and now I've got my groove back.

The stories are diverse and interesting and showcase love in all of its different forms. First love, falling in love, and grief are all ways to love not only others but yourself. Love can both lift you up and break you and I really enjoyed seeing it from all these different perspectives. Of course some stories were stronger and I was drawn to some writing styles over others, but overall the collection is solid.

Because we have a senior dog in our home right now... The First, and the Last, and All the In-Betweens had me bawling while at work. NOT OKAY.

[Amy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew halfway in that I was going to give this book four stars, but the last story did me in. And I couldn’t breathe from crying. So, it’s an automatic five star. lol.

This was a really cool collection of stories in verse. I adore this medium, and I’m glad I spontaneously picked this up at the library.

My favorite stories were All for Annie (who doesn’t love a sapphic circus tale?!), We are the Briar (Cinderella-esque!), Rock Steady (Grandma made the whole story), The Water Clock, and The Firsts, The Lasts, and All the In-Betweens (even if it ruined my night and tore my heart into tiny pieces).

[cad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This diverse verse anthology explores multiple facets of love through twelve stories. While some shine - like Ruby's Jewish Cinderella retelling and the tale of two Mesoamerican princes finding love through music - others fall flat. The mix of historical, contemporary, and speculative pieces offers varied perspectives on romantic, familial, and self-love, but uneven quality makes it a 3-star read.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice palate cleanser of poetry in between the typical novel I read. A few of the poems I didn't really like but ones that really stood out to me were We Are the Briar, Rock Steady, The Water Clock, Kaleidoscope, and The First, and the Last, and All the In-Betweens. All of the poems were about love, whether it be romantic, friendship, familial, or even love between a girl and her dog. For the most part, enjoyed for a quick easy read!

[Chandler Hedgehog · Rating 2 out of 5]

I 50% liked this book. A few of the stories were good, but only the very first one actually made me feel anything. I think the problem with this book is that the stories are too diverse making it feel a bit all over the place. I also don’t love the way it’s edited. Magical, fantastical stories feel flat and boring. And the sad stories are just lacking….. something. I guess mostly this book is not what I expected. I was wanting more stories like the lemon blueberry pancake one.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the Love Under the Vast Sky is an anthology of YA short stories in verse sharing the theme of love. Four stars--the entries were generally solid throughout!

--Stories included (in book order):
Love-Bomb
All for Annie
We Are the Briar
Not So Sweet (an Anti-Cupid Story)
The Bridegroom's Oak
La sirena y el zemí
Borrowed Blossoms
Rock Steady
The Water Clock
America Through Mistranslation: A Heart Map of Scars
Kaleidoscope
The First, and the Last, and All the In-Betweens

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthology of short stories in verse, with the very loose theme of love. There's an admirable variety of approaches here. Some stories are true romances, while others are about family or friends, loving a career, even loving yourself. Like all collections of short stories, they aren't all equally great. However, the highs were really high in this collection, and there wasn't a single story that I didn't at least like.

[Haney Hayes Promotions · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a captivating anthology that will resonate deeply with readers who crave stories that celebrate the complexities and beauty of love in all its forms, particularly those who appreciate diverse voices, global settings, and the exploration of themes such as self-love, acceptance, and the human experience.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of narrative poems that share love in a wide variety of manners. Readers see poems from various times in history and about different types of love. Some touched me more than others. The final two captured my heart though dealing with very different topics. I appreciated Wilson assembling this group of writers to share their gifts.

[Steve S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't for everyone. My wife didn't enjoy it very much.

I really liked a couple of stories - like Jasmine Warga's about the MC's love for her dog (I likely had bias here in that I got this book because I have liked Warga's other writing and was likely predisposed to liking this one) and the one whose love was for his grandma. Some were thought provoking. A few were just meh.

[Jasmine Shouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful, diverse collection of stories that explores different kinds of love. From the adoration of a crush to the generational trauma of colonization to the grief of losing a beloved animal, there are many incredible stories. I loved that every one was diverse in some way. 

[Jeanne]

Consider the final poem in this book for Speech Team: The First, and the Last, and All the In-Betweens by Jasmine Warga. One long poem about having to go to put down the pet dog that would work as an entire 8 minute selection.

[Shonna BE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love in so many shapes and colors, and so many of them which touched a special piece of my heart. I loved the diversity, heart, and all the pulling of the emotional strings. A great pallet cleanser of a read 💞

[Brad Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Kip Wilson's story ("The Bridegroom's Oak)! She's always delivers with whatever subject and theme she wishes to write! The other story that was devastatingly beautiful and written so well was Jasmine Warga's "The First, and the Last, and All the In-Betweens".

[Cassandra Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these poems on different stories of love. They were all vastly different which made it an interesting read.

[Michele · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought it would be a nice idea to read short stories. It was not.