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where lost & hopeless things go: poems

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where lost & hopeless things go is rosehurst's second poetry collection, focusing on the life and emotions of a disabled, queer, autistic twenty-something with the motif of elements and landscapes throughout. interspersed with photography, rosehurst documents human experiences of love, grief, illness, inequality, masking, and depression.this one is for those
who were not made soft
by struggle /
who were not taught to smile
in the dark /
who were never told

it will be okay
so now they expect the worst.

92 pages, Paperback

Published May 20, 2024

12 people are currently reading
45 people want to read

About the author

Bryony Rosehurst

17 books43 followers
Bryony Rosehurst is a British romance author and poet dedicated to telling diverse stories of love and happily ever afters — and perhaps a little bit of angst sprinkled in for good measure. You can usually find her painting (badly), photographing new cities (occasionally), or wishing for autumn (always).

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5 stars
32 (38%)
4 stars
28 (33%)
3 stars
13 (15%)
2 stars
9 (10%)
1 star
2 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Rebecca Crunden.
Author 29 books809 followers
Read
June 2, 2024
outsides yellow
insides gone,
waiting for the ribbon
to finally weather away
but one thread holds on even in the rain.


This is the second collection of poetry and prose I've read by Rosehurst and I can't wait to see what she pens next! I love the rawness of each poem. How personal and relatable and emotional they are. Each one is so poignant and impactful. Definitely worth a read!

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Profile Image for Hayley Anderton.
Author 35 books148 followers
April 10, 2024
Anyone who knows me knows I love indie books, and no writer draws me in quite like Bryony Rosehurst. When it comes to matters of the heart, her writing is always so perfect, and I find myself in everything she writes. I was fortunate enough to beta read this poetry collection and it had me in tears because while not every poem applied to my life, I felt like I stood in the writer’s shoes through every single one. She writes about the darker side of life juxtaposed with brief moments of sunshine, lifting the heart for a moment before taking us back down to earth. To anyone who lives their life this way, you’ll understand this collection better than anyone. While I wish this wonderful author more time in the sun, I’ll always be first in line to read her poetry. Easy five stars as per! And if you’d like to start somewhere with Bryony’s work, I suggest reading her first poetry collection, while the rest of the world dances!
Profile Image for M.E. Aster.
Author 4 books50 followers
August 14, 2024
This is the second book of poetry I’ve ready by Rosehurst and she is officially one of my favorite poets!

I could hardly put this book down. I loved every poem in this and the inclusion of pictures among the poems was a lovely touch.

I could feel all the author’s emotions and feelings poured into every word. I related to many of the poems and I will gladly pick up the next book Rosehurst releases!
Profile Image for Abbie Louise.
108 reviews4 followers
December 4, 2024
“The ocean doesn’t hold back its waves. The thunder is not silenced. The rain does not apologise for the floods. Why must I?”

This was such a poignant poetry collection that I devoured it in less than an afternoon. It was chaotic and deliberately unorganised in a way that so perfectly depicts the fragmented and chaotic thoughts of the mind when battling our inner selves. This captures beautifully the battle between sense of self, child trauma as an adult, change, beliefs and mental health: the beautiful, the difficult, the hope and the hopeless.

It was incredibly real. It was raw and relatable. It was deep and difficult. It is honestly one of the most truthful, purposeful poetry collections I’ve ever read, and Bryony Rosehurst is incredibly brave for sharing this reflection of her thoughts.
Profile Image for Vicky Chapman.
301 reviews14 followers
May 19, 2024
Heart shatteringly raw and real, each beautifully crafted set of words will kick you in the feels.
These poems give a voice to those often unheard.
For those who have shared any of these thoughts or experiences, this book is like a digital hug, and I hope for those fortunate enough not to have, this book will help you understand someone you may know.
Huge thanks to Bryony Rosehurst for letting me be part of the arc team for such a powerful and personal piece.
Profile Image for Lacrima Mundi.
225 reviews43 followers
February 13, 2025
Somewhere between poetry and literary (non-)fiction sits this little collection of raw, honest, and heartfelt - and heartbreaking - poems written with a lot of soul, pain, struggle, and tears (I wager).

I would not exactly describe it as an 'enjoyable' read, but it's a read worth your time if you're willing to reflect, or find yourself - or find a friend between pages, accoutred in words.

It's not a poetry collection for the faint of heart and not one where you can read along and hide from yourself. Take that as a warning - or as in invitation. Which of those it shall be depends entirely on your personality, mindset, and current place in the world.

I found what I was looking for and can recommend this little book to everybody who loves modern poetry on the edge of existence and personal struggles.
Profile Image for Xyvah.
Author 5 books21 followers
May 20, 2024
Humorously Melancholic

These poems are quite deep and insightful. Rosehurst has a good way with words. The structure of the collection, the individual poems, and the addition of photographs were all really nice touches. I read this collection in one sitting.

I'm not one to do this, but would highly recommend reading the content warnings before diving in. The words are piercing, vivid, evocative; touching on and almost romanticising some dark topics in a near-disturbing way, like abuse, self depricarion, depression.
In many ways, I honestly felt seen. Heard. Like someone had finally put words to feelings I could not express.

Would recommend to anyone who likes their poems a little bit on the melancholy side with lots of British dark humour.
Profile Image for Kerry.
27 reviews
July 18, 2024
To be fair I'm not normally the intended target audience for poetry, but wanted to give it a try and it was free on amazon so thought why not

It felt very wattpad esc, like what I'd write when I was 14 but worded better 😂

I feel like if you like deep poetry then this would be perfect, but I felt myself cringing as I read this 🥲

I also hope the author is able to get the help they need (not about the writing, the poems just seemed like a cry for help)
Profile Image for Nathan.
148 reviews
October 28, 2024
*SYK book*

i am a poor critic
of poetry;
often times my opinions boil down to
one of two words,
either good
or bad.
this collection falls into
the latter.
every poem was just *very* literal,
like a textbook
written in verse.
but eh,
it was free
and it took all of a half hour
to get through.
:)
9 reviews1 follower
May 14, 2024
It's been so long since I've gotten to enjoy a poetry collection in one sitting like this. Raw, relatable but filled with tentative hope and an interrogation of what it means to feel at your lowest and how your surroundings and people around you can help pull you from that or deeper in. Rosehurst weaves it all beautifully into a narrative while never not doing it through lovely and cutting lines. The line "There is nothing ugly about change" especially got to me and feels like author and readers hearing that could be the purpose of this work. Loved it.
Profile Image for Bethany.
569 reviews7 followers
April 19, 2024
Thank you for sending me this ARC Bryony! The book is out on 20th May and is perfect for those who love meaningful poetry.

I read this in one blurry eyed sitting. Bryony is the most beautiful poet. Her words can be so heartbreaking, but also so comforting... to know we are not alone in some of these thoughts / situations is something close to magic. Like a hand reaching out, a hug in the form of a book, the simple words, "you are not alone".

It feels like there is no "is it only me?" in poetry like this. So even though it might make you cry, remind you of something dark from your own life, there is still that comfort within it.

I love Byrony's poems, some feel like poems, some feel like stories, some feel rather lyrical. Some you want to sit with for just a moment longer... Some make you wish you could jump into the book and ask the poet to go for coffee with you because perhaps this person who lives somewhere far away from you might be the only person to ever get you?

I highly recommend this collection of poems, as I do with anything written by Byrony!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Profile Image for Amy B Garratt.
167 reviews7 followers
April 16, 2024
A heartbreakingly beautiful collection of living through struggles with familial trauma, the self/neurodivergence, and learning to cope with the challenges of relationships. I particularly was taken aback by ‘Generational Curses’ and ‘Just Imagine’ in terms of longer pieces/the imagery involved. Also re-read ‘Tears on my yoga mat’, ‘I’ll never float away’, and ‘News’ a few times before I could move on to the next poem along, just to take it in. Really fantastic work!
Profile Image for Darcy Bea.
90 reviews2 followers
April 16, 2024
A bittersweet and powerful collection of poems that get right to the heart of mental illness, nostalgia, neurodivergence, painful family dynamics and yearning for something more.

Really talented writing that brings both vivid imagery and raw emotion with every page.
Profile Image for Rose English.
Author 23 books183 followers
May 31, 2024
Sensetive souls check the content warnings before delving into the elements.

This dark moving collection was inspired by a visit to Cornwall in 2023 where Bryony tells us

'Sitting by the ocean is both euphoric and devastating, a little bit like sitting with your feelings'

Poetry is something often very personal, this collection certainly is. I feel that each poem read will be interpreted differently by different individuals.

Each person will take away something possibly personal to themselves, be it joy or heartache. We may not even interpret it the way the author had envisioned. Sadly for some readers they will find themselves in the very shoes this beautiful creative person wears herself.

I had mixed emotions reading this collection even the dark cover hints at the sadness held within the pages. Highly recommended but sensetive souls should take note of the content warnings before delving into the elements.
Profile Image for Vanelis Diaz.
65 reviews
December 14, 2024
Le doy cuatro estrellas por que desearía darle 4 y media, ya que hubiese deseado un poco más. Se me hace muy corto para lo buena que es la autora para escribir poemas. Especialmente con aquellos con los cuales me identifique bastante. Por obligación le daré una releída próximamente para analizarlo mejor… Pero aun así para ser la primera vez que la autora escriba esos poemas de los temas que toca me parece muy interesante. Espero que esta autora siga escribiendo sobre estos temas por que le va muy bien. Además de que no se quedó estancada en la poesía típica sino que incluye diferentes tipos de poemas en este libro.
Profile Image for Merlina Garance.
Author 9 books25 followers
April 10, 2024
This beautiful collection manages to make the reader emotional about those small, daily life things that usually go overlooked but can matter so much to someone who is neurodiverse or disabled. Someone whose home can be both a prison and a shrine. There is something wonderfully real about Bryony Rosehurst's poetry, it's so relatable and at the same time it makes you want to reach through the pages to give the narrator a big hug.
It's uplifting and achey, painful and hopeful, in general a perfect balance of all human emotions.
Profile Image for Magnolia.
Author 3 books15 followers
Read
May 29, 2024
because I could never feel lonely with that sunset-stained jar of sand on your windowsill or the sound of your parents rusling up to bed long after we were supposed to be asleep.

Visceral yet polished, dark, but with luminous hope threads woven through. This book is gorgeous and deep, and the stunning photography enhances the atmospheres that it paints so vividly in words. I have highlighted so much, and it boasts my first ever bookmark on Kindle, something I never do. The poem 'the ache of nostalgia' just got to me so much, every line. A beautiful book.

Profile Image for Sophia Turner.
Author 2 books13 followers
May 29, 2024
Brutally honest and beautiful, this collection takes you through formative years and how they impact living day to day. It's immediately relatable, especially as a fellow autist.

As the TWs will warn, there are some tough topics that the poems cover. Those I found also all-too-easy to relate to.

The collection is short enough to read in a sitting, though I found that it's too potent for that.

I'm also wondering if anyone reading this had the thought "I swear, if I ever meet her mother...". Or is that just me?

There's a lot here to feel through, and I'm glad I took the journey.
Profile Image for fireheart.
348 reviews16 followers
July 15, 2024
This is my first book by Bryony and oh my!!! Her poetry is jaw-dropping, I truly found myself loving each poem which doesn't always happen for some collections. I was taken aback by how beautiful her words were and how brilliantly she explained a feeling in such a short verse. I found myself relating to her words, putting myself in her shoes and becoming the person in her poems. The photography was also a beautiful touch. I desperately need to read more from her because I don't know if I've ever felt this way about a poetry collection before. I'd strongly recommend this!!
320 reviews6 followers
March 13, 2025
This poetry collection was so enjoyable and relatable. It felt like thinking back over some of my past. Not everything was the same, but some things felt the same.

And it really made me feel the emotions conveyed. The words evoked feelings of loneliness, isolation, and hopelessness that I've definitely felt in my life.

It was really, very beautiful.
580 reviews3 followers
May 15, 2024
This had me hooked right from the first poem. The writing is exquisite and is chosen carefully to make the reader fully immersed in the poetry. as someone with disabilities, I found that I recognised some of myself in the poems. There will be times when some of the poems break your heart and other times when you realise how strong the person who wrote them must be.

Every word is perfectly chosen to create a beautiful collection of poems that will make you think and most importantly, make you feel.
225 reviews3 followers
November 20, 2024


Oh man. This one was h e a v y. Heavy and light at the same time. It’s vulnerable in a way that makes me want to cry, and hug someone to tell them I love them. It makes me feel seen in some ways, and wishing I wasn’t. The photography was a nice addition. I loved all of this.
Profile Image for C.L. Adams.
Author 4 books6 followers
December 25, 2024
Took my breath away

Honestly, after reading these poems, my heart aches in sympathy and empathy - i found myself highlighting lines in every other poem that really resonated with me. Thanks for sharing your work!
Profile Image for Ellie Lieberman.
Author 36 books55 followers
April 3, 2025
Really resonates!

Immediately resonates and incredibly powerful! So many amazing lines that just stick with you long after you turn that final page!

The photography and the formatting compliment the words, as well!
Profile Image for Ivy Marikova.
Author 1 book25 followers
May 7, 2024
Absolute perfection that made me cry once again
Profile Image for Mauro.
153 reviews1 follower
December 16, 2024
3.5 ⭐

touching, stunning photography included, and poetry that touches on real feelings and makes you feel not so alone.
Profile Image for Fresca.
17 reviews
January 5, 2025
I think I'm just not big on poems but I liked a few of them
Profile Image for Lea Ann.
66 reviews3 followers
April 7, 2025
Author has a unique voice. Interesting line “the ones who do not paint rouge and lipstick on their grief to make it more charming.”
Profile Image for Rachel.
304 reviews6 followers
Read
November 1, 2024
Beautifully written and relatable!

"I was put into shoes and told to walk, I was put into a chair and told to work, I was put into a gown and told to prosper, I was put into this house and told to rot... I have never been given a choice."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews