The Starlight She Becomes: Poems

by Parker Lee

Experience a powerful journey of transformation and self-love, told through the evocative words of a trans woman reclaiming her identity and joy.

Trans poet Parker Lee (author of the bestselling coffee days whiskey nights) returns with an all new collection of poetry, prose, and aphorisms. This is a journey from hopelessness through to self-discovery, self-love, and romantic love presented in three sections: moonrise, sunrise, and stardust.

In moonrise, you’ll follow Parker as she copes with various struggles, including alcohol abuse, disordered eating, gender dysphoria, and mental health. In sunrise, Parker finds herself coming to terms with and accepting her identity as a woman, and everything that comes with being trans in today’s current political and social climate. Through that struggle, Parker comes out on the other side in stardust, dedicated to self-love, sapphic love, and trans joy.

With raw vulnerability and unwavering strength, The Starlight She Becomes is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the beauty found in embracing one’s true self.

Genres: Poetry, Queer, LGBT, Transgender

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 29, 2025

About the author

Parker Lee [she/her] is a trans woman poet and storyteller, as well as author of coffee days whiskey nights and espresso shots & forget-me-nots. A midwestern transplant, Parker resides in a coastal New Jersey town alongside wife and poetess amanda lovelace (and their three cats), where she can almost always be found not writing when she should be, drinking way too much coffee, and waxing autumnal every single day of the year.

Reviews

[Sam’s Sapphic Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Say goodbye to who you were to make space for who you are meant to be”

The reasoning behind 3 stars is because the poems didn’t feel like poems and instead were more-so notes.

Let me add in by saying that didn’t take away from the messages behind the poems. I quite literally got chills multiple times when I read them.

Most of the poems focused on the author finding herself, accepting herself, and then allowing herself to BE herself.

The main focus is coming to terms with being transgender and the struggles of transitioning. Not only internally but as well as with everyone around.

I do think that it was a beautifully told story and pulled at my heart strings more than once, but I do wish I got more of the “poem” feeling behind them.

Please note: I received an arc copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you NetGalley and the author Parker Lee for a copy!

[Daffodils_and_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Central Avenue Publishing for gifted copy of the ebook to read and review.

I read The Starlight She Becomes in one whole sitting, and then I read it again because once was not enough. It can be hard to write a review for contemporary poetry because new poets are paving new ways. The highest commendation I can give to a poetry book is that it made me. Parker Lee’s poems are emotional, vulnerable, and powerful. Some of the topics she writes about touch me and my family deeply. I am grateful she has shared her words with the world.

[Liv Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really heartfelt, insightful and inspiring. Made me feel all kinds of things.

My favourite poems were: “hate”, “do as i say not as i do”, “i dream about a version of me that still has friends”, “dysphoria iii”, “always becoming, never being”, “Lake Michigan”, “see me”, “conservative views hypocrisy”, “eradicate”, “pride 2023”, “regular”, “don’t wanna live, don’t wanna die” and “a letter to my past selves”

Thanks to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for this ARC!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful poetry collection from Parker Lee! This heartfelt and triumphant work showcases Lee’s unmatched honesty about sobriety, identity, and self-love. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

[Bea (beansbookshelves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley.

A deeply personal and emotional collection of poems and prose, showcasing the author's deepest emotions, whether they're brighter or darker ones, just like life.

A powerful queer book with strong and inspiring message. Definitely worth reading.

"You are so much more than they could ever comprehend."

[Quilted.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not have chosen a better poem for national poetry month. The raw and beauty of these poems written by a wonderful trans woman reclaiming her identity and joy.
Magnum opus
“ Sometimes I wonder if anyone would miss me if I just disappeared. Deleted all my social media accounts and ran off to live in the woods. I wonder if I unplugged myself from reality and let the poems I’ve written exist to my place, if I let my art be my legacy, would that be enough for me if my last poem is my last poem, would I be content with my final words? At one point, I might’ve said yes, but now, I’m not sure I’ve written my best line, let alone my best poem. In 2018, I thought I completed my Magnum OPS but now I asked myself can your great work be your great work if nobody sees it?”
Just wow
Everything about these pieces struck a cord in me. Thank you for these. Highly recommend for any poetry fan.

[Danielle | daniellereadslikealot · Rating 4 out of 5]

No surprise here, but I loved this collection of poetry. Full of reclaiming identity, embracing softness and self love, The Starlight She Becomes told such a powerful and beautiful story. I always think poets are so incredibly brave making their experiences, especially the difficult ones, into works of art and Parker Lee is no exception. I found myself drawn to several of the poems, but repetition, i dream about a version of me that still has friends and a letter to my past selves. One of the things I loved most was seeing the way Parker writes about Amanda and their relationship. As a longtime Amanda Lovelace reader, I’ve read her beautiful poems about Parker and so it was such a cool experience reading Parker’s point of view and how she sees her. I’m so happy I got to read these poems and I highly recommend them if you’re looking for new poetry to enjoy!
CW: transphobia, homophobia, suicidal ideation, alcohol abuse, mental illness, death, pandemic disordered eating

Thank you to Central Avenue Poetry for the digital reader’s copy!

[Hollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Parker Lee, and Central Avenue Poetry for this opportunity.
Starlight She Becomes is a beautiful book of poetry that takes us on a powerful journey. Parker Lee's experience with transformation and self-love is told through her words of a trans woman who reclaimed her identity and found herself along the way.
The poems contained on these pages are from all stages of her journey, from beginning to where she is now. The words are beautifully written and while reading them, it takes you along for the journey and gives you a glimpse in her life.
From stardust to starlight, Parker Lee shone brightly with Starlight She Becomes.

[Morgan Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a hard hitter. There was so many relatable poems in this one about self loathing and body image that really hit for me. This is this authors self journey on growing to love herself as who she really is. This one is written for people transition and in the trans community so it wasn’t necessarily targeted for me but it really opened my eyes to what the trans community has to deal with and how much it can impact a person. A lot of these poems really hit me in the feels because Parker is so good at written so much detail in so few words. This might be my favorite poem book, please check this out and learn more about the trans community and get educated because the lgbtq+ community really need all the support they can get right now 🤍

[andrea ✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting reflection of being at odds with yourself, written by a trans woman, which really gives you an insight into her journey. I really loved how it's separated into moonrise, sunrise, and stardust to represent the different stages of her life.

I related to moonrise, but stardust is full of hope and I really appreciate ending on that note.

"There is an emptiness inside I cannot explain - a longing for something I cannot give a name"

[Antonia Waggoner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful collection of poetry and thoughts. Parker's work in this book was so beautifully raw and authentic about being a trans woman and also dealing with alcohol abuse. This book gave me a lot of comfort whilst reading it. Hope for a better tomorrow.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

[Bridgette Hoshont'omba · Rating 5 out of 5]

⋆｡°✩ 5/5 Stars ✩°｡⋆

Starting with the cover, Lee has gone with a design that will catch your eye as you pass the book shop after picking up your coffee or while going up the escalator at Barnes and Noble. It's gorgeous. One of my goals for 2025 was to seek writing by 2SLGBTQ+ more intentionally both while buying new books and choosing books to review – it's very rare that I buy physical copies once I get an ARC, but for this, I have to make an exception! (Especially if I can get my hands on a signed copy, whew.)

It's no secret that many people don't read something they don't immediately feel they can relate to, so forgive me if this sounds poor, but I'm not trans and I found this collection relatable so I think you will too. We changed our names for completely different reasons and yet I found a home in name change: granted and again in dead names stay dead.

"i think about reopening the scars i have from the last time i bled myself dry in the name of 'art', but that's not me anymore."

-from it's me, but better

Poetry has evolved through the years and is, in my opinion, the type of writing where things are more subjective than objective. For this reason, I most typically give poetry collections 5 stars due to the subjectivity. I would've given this 5 stars either way.

This collection is split into three parts: Moonrise, Sunrise, and Stardust. As a night owl myself, I love that it opens with Moonrise. Immediately, it's relatable and Lee pulls us right into her thoughts with a staggered and prose-like string of poems where thoughts flow freely. There are so many parts I want to quote but they'd overtake the review and what's considered acceptable use. These read like slam poetry, and any repetition feels like emphasis coming straight from the diaphragm. These read like they were written by someone that lives and breathes poetry, simply thinking in poetry while moving through the day. Even in the darker parts, there is light, and we see transformation in real time.

"THERE IS AN EMPTINESS INSIDE I CANNOT EXPLAIN– A LONGING FOR SOMETHING I CANNOT GIVE A NAME."

-from what is 2021 if not 2019 persevering?

At first, in Moonrise, nothing seems frantic. There is a flow that's gentle, and then maybe not so much, before it flows right back again. There's sadness but it's the kind that just comes with girlhood. (Right?) The focus on perfection from one poem to the next despite the changing of topics becomes part of this artwork itself. As I read I find relation – "Parker and I could've been great friends" – and I wonder how many other readers are having this same thought. writer's block is easily a favorite poem of mine. The whole collection is, really. But writer's block feels almost as if it's come from my Threads drafts and I realize that I needed Lee's version of these things to know I'm not alone in them. I find some of the best poetry to be that which you can lose yourself in, unable to find where your thoughts begin and the author's end. Lee captures that with an open grace that's only achievable by being honest. The pandemic focus is both jarring and perfectly in place, as well.

"dead soil can only grow other dead things, and i'm tired of being a graveyard."

-from social distance–

Sunrise is a bit louder, not frantic, but changed in a way I can't describe. Where I worry that describing it this way is wrong because somehow it's still quiet. I can't say it's more raw because Moonrise was raw, too. The change is subtle. But we continue to see the transformations present throughout the first section – initially a transformation as the poems continued, now a transformation as the sections change. There is a magic in the way Lee presents everything to us that I don't want to spoil by interpreting incorrectly or assigning emotions or value incorrectly. And I think that's the magic of poetry. What it means to me it won't mean to you and maybe to Lee it meant something entirely different.

Despite all of the ways I related during Moonrise, I find myself tearing up at the parts of Sunrise that I can't relate to. Of course, there's some joy too; happy moments in the overlap of popular culture references. There is power in each of these pages and how Lee formats everything. The repetition in existential is so masterfully done I'd say this is akin to a title track or single on an album. Perhaps the change I observe is the focus shifting from those inner thoughts to how the cruel the world is and the impact it has on those inner thoughts.

"when professor oak first asked me that question back in 2001, there wasn't a doubt in my mind."

-from "are you a boy? or are you a girl?"

The final section, Stardust, comes out the gate exuding power. It pulls the entire collection together with a sharp focus on the past that allows the present to shine. This was the section where each poem fit together with the rest like a puzzle for me. The final poem of the collection, a letter to my future self, felt like it was a letter written just for me. The Starlight She Becomes is a collection of poetry for the trans girls, yes, but also just for all the girls. For everyone. For those that struggle with anxiety, those working toward sobriety, those looking for a sign in the stars, those trying to stop counting calories, the people the feel things too deeply to give them a name.

This is a book of poetry that I already have a to-gift list written up for.

"and i realize that this right here is my magnum opus. not a poem, not a masterpiece, not my body of work, but me.
i am the poem.
i am the masterpiece. ii am my greatest work."

-from hrt is alchemy

If you or someone you know is/might be struggling with mental health, substance use, or disordered eating, know that help is available. The Crisis Text Line has amazing information and you can also text CONNECT to 741741 to get help or call/text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 in the U.S. and Canada.

Yakoke, thank you, to thank Parker Lee and NetGalley for providing an ARC to review. Also, I want to offer an apology. After a family emergency in the second half of 2025, things with my schedule quickly got out of hand and as a student my education has to be my top priority so all reviews were shelved. (No pun intended.)

[Valerie Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

"is the poet still a poet when their pen has run dry"

through reading this, I kept thinking the writing was like a softer Amanda Lovelace and to find out this is her wife made so much sense and made me smile so big because that is such a loving marriage, good for them. This is definitely a poetry book needed, especially in current times, and it was lovely seeing the slow explosion into the person Parker was always meant to be and how they embrace it now

[KateJoanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to thank the author for sharing this work, although it’s written without fancy poetic techniques it does have exactly the vulnerability and emotion that poetry is all about.
A lot of these really spoke to me, with some stunning pieces on body image, eating disorders and queerness.
Trans and sapphic love and acceptance.

I’m personally not a fan of how these were structured, and would love an editor to tweak the layouts of each piece, but the content of the actual writing is good.
I did love the titles and sestet/end lines.

For such a heavy themed collection it’s surprisingly hopeful and heartwarming, with great tone, flow and prose. It also has some lovely honesties and metaphors.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC copy

**********

‘inspiration isn't always easy to come by when you've stopped being your own worst enemy.’

‘i needed to acknowledge my shadow instead of pretending it doesn't exist.
i needed to understand it to understand myself.—//
because try as you might, there's no outrunning the very thing that lives inside of you.’

‘IS THE POET STILL A POET WHEN THEIR PEN HAS RUN DRY?’

‘dead soil can only grow other dead things, and i'm tired of being a graveyard.’

‘this isn't who she wanted to become when she grew up, so add my name to the list of people i've let down. i just hope my battery lasts long enough to keep the darkness at bay until i find redemption.’

‘existence is an exhausting thing— it's hard, and it's ugly, and it hurts, but it's also fragile, magical, and beautiful, and the fear of leaving you behind or worse, losing you, is infinitely
more frightening than anything
that has made me so apathetic to living. when i awake the next morning
i pause. i listen for your breath, i look for the rise and fall of your chest. i let out a sigh of relief knowing our tomorrows haven't yet run out. it is a part of my morning ritual now. before brushing my teeth, before the first sip of coffee, i allow myself to be grateful that we are here, breathing, because that's all that really matters.’

[Nicole Field · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book makes some amazing observations and details an awe inspiring experience. More than one, in fact. So much so that it makes me sad that I didn't love it more than I did.

I'm also hesitant to call this a collection of poems. I'm not the first to note it, but this is definitely written more in a memoir style. The lack of capital letters does not make something poetry for me.

Still, there were definitely aspects of this collection that were achingly, devastatingly poetic. There were parts of it where I was hopeful. Other times that were difficult to read through their intensity (this isn't actually a bad thing, it means that it was evocative in those middle parts) and then, finally, there was the catharsis.

While I don't believe this was the author's best work, I definitely understand how it is the most important, and I love that for her. I love that Parker was able to find a home that would celebrate and keep this book in the format that it was created in, rather than trying to twist it out of its original shape.

But I feel that was more important for the author's experience, than for the reader's. This was a heartfelt memoir / journal style piece of writing that lacked cohesion at times to the outside viewer. It's a very private piece of literature that I feel will be incredibly important to those who walk a similar journey. I love that it introduced me to a new trans poet in Joshua Jennifer Espinoza.

But, though I own the other collections by this author and have loved reading them, I sadly don't think this one is one I'll personally be returning to.

[Bebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A brutally honest and beautiful poetry collection. I loved how this was set into three parts: Moonrise, Sunrise, and Stardust, each reflecting a particular mood/era of the author's journey.

Moonrise had more pessimistic/dark poems, written about more difficult topics like alcoholism, eating disorders, body image, and dysphoria. While heavy, these were excellent pieces that depicted bad experiences with tact and honesty. Some personal favorites in this section include, "don't call it an exorcism," "astral," "hate," "writer's block," dysphoria iii," "always becoming, never being," and "this isn't even my final form."

Sunrise had poems that contained both dark and light subject matter. They focused more on the process of healing and becoming more yourself, filling the reader with the sense of getting to a good place but not being there quite yet. Favorites in this section include: "you have new memories to look back on today," "when poems are closets," and "let kids be kids."

Finally, Stardust had poems that shone with self-love and acceptance. They revealed to the reader what it is like to be happily and joyfully queer and to celebrate your existence. This section felt the strongest to me and contained my favorite poems in the whole collection, "hrt is alchemy" and "lavender haze." Other favorites include: "transmute," "we are the jack-o-lanterns in July," "queer love," and "forget-me-nots."

Overall a gorgeous collection full of vulnerability and queer beauty.

[Alan D.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review: https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/20...

This was a book that opens your eyes to the reality of many people, trans people, to be more specific. With an honest and direct style, without ever losing her artistic flair, Parker Lee shares her experiences, from the most euphoric to the most devastating. Moments that would be familiar to anyone take on a different meaning through the author's pen.

There are many styles combined, and although prose is the most present, the most constant, there is a descriptive style in all the poems that serves as a common thread. Although there is a bit of everything, it is with her short prose that Parker shines most. While it is true that there are short sentences that seem like simple thoughts, these complement the longer segments.

While I certainly have no complaints about this book, I do have to say that it is quite experimental at times. It is not something one would normally expect unless one is already familiar with the author's style. For that reason alone, I would recommend reading at least one previous book to fully appreciate her writing style.

Overall, it's a beautiful read that explores identity and mental health from an honest and direct perspective. It's an especially important book given the times we live in, where LGBTQ+ identities, especially trans identities, have been under attack. With The Starlight She Becomes, Parker Lee speaks volumes and celebrates her femininity above all else.

[Summer Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an amazing collection! I loved the voice and writing style. I also loved reading about Parker’s experience being a trans woman. The other themes of homophobia, disordered eating, and alcoholism, while not comfortable to read about, were important and moving. There were many poems that I could empathize with and learn from, and others that I could directly relate to. It was a very well rounded collection that made me both smile and tear up. It was a perfect collection in my opinion.

If I highlighted every poem that I loved, every poem in the book would have been marked, so here are a few of my top favorites:

Pocket Sized Rebellion
Groundhog Day
Binge
Repetition
Name change: granted
When the poems are closets
Expectations
“Are you a boy? Or are you a girl?”
Let kids be be kids
Pride 2023
Transmute
Text me when ur sober
She says she not a perfect partner
Lavender haze
Manhattan
Queer love
Like mother
Some kind of magic
Hrt is alchemy
Sunset

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

“i press my hand against my stomach like i’m tamping down espresso grounds”
- repetition

“i try to convince myself that there is at least one person out there who needs my version of it, even if that person is just myself.”
- Writers block

“SHE IS MY OCTOBER SOULMATE, MY LAVENDER LOVE”
- lavender haze

[K.C. Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled a bit here, because the style is so informal, and reads more like voice memos or diary entries than poetry to my eye. Someone else's review suggests that readers of Amanda Lovelace and Rupi Kaur will enjoy this, and I think that's quite likely. I do feel like the writing style is very accessible and sincere. I personally prefer poetry that exhibits a greater interest in language, phrasing, and wordplay. I also found a lot of the musings in these pages to be fairly surface-level and, at times, trite.

That said, trans experiences are often very isolating, and I believe that trans readers in particular will find elements of Lee's work to be familiar and comforting. Lee's exploration of what it means to be a trans woman in 2020s America is earnest and direct. I know a number of people who find poetry to be intimidating as a concept, and Lee's work makes no moves toward pretension. For me, that's almost a complaint, which I mention in part because for some people that will be a point in this collection's favor.

In terms of the content/messages, this would be a good fit for reader who enjoyed Sara Soler's "US." While there's pain here, there's also a lot of affirmation and joy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy.

[Oceans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parker's words are so impactful and poignant, even in the slightly less weighty pieces. The words are picked and placed perfectly to have the desired emotional effect on the reader, even when discussing choosing a character in Pokémon. Of course the depth of that decision ran so much deeper than just what pixels on a screen represented her over time. I loved how she took us through a journey from being closeted and dysphoric to openly trans and euphoric and loved, with a section dedicated to self discovery in the middle. Prose is woven throughout the book between pieces of poetry as well. As a non-binary human myself who has been through similar struggles and moments, I found her stories haunting, comforting, and familiar all at once. Also, bonus points for the breakdown of some of the poems titles at the end of the book. If you're a lover of (mostly) modern free-form poetry, I'd absolutely give "The Starlight She Becomes" a read. I'll leave you with my favorite stanza from the entire book.

"and even when my sunset comes and i drift to sleep
for the very last time, there will be no casket to close,
no grave to bury me in, because who i am cannot be
contained by anything less than the universe herself."

[Madyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book of poetry has a good mix of lineated free-verse poetry with proper stanza breaks and prose poetry. I liked the various sentence lengths, use of enjambment, and overall tone of the book. I especially enjoyed the notes at the end of the book to explain some of the references that I for sure did not get on the first pass. I did enjoy the Pokémon mention every once in a while. I personally would've liked more capitalization to be used but I get the stylistic choice. Sometimes there wasn't a clarification of the pronoun/subject that Lee was speaking about so I was confused who the poem was referring to. But overall, I liked the emotional exploration and journey that the structure set up. Some poems I enjoyed:
- i dream about a version of me that still has friends
- pocket-seized rebellion
- this isn't even my final form
- lake michigan
- when the poems are closets
- "are you a boy? or are you a girl?"
- conservative v̶a̶l̶u̶e̶s̶ hypocrisy
- text me when ur sober
- purple aster
- forget-me-nots
- on titling my poetry
- a letter to my past selves
- a letter to my future self

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of poetry goes on a journey of self-discovery, particularly as Parker grows confident in her queer identity. There are poems of depression, self-doubt, and loneliness. There are also poems of strength, defiance, and hope.

Overall, this collection was deeply emotional and thoughtfully crafted. I didn't feel deeply as I was hoping to, but I might just not be in the right place for these poems. There's a healthy mix of lovely wordplay alongside Instagram-friendly declarations. I like the former much more than the latter, but I realize which is more popular right now. Speaking of popular but inexplicable choices, Parker ... why aren't there any capital letters in this book? I've seen poets do interesting things with capitalization. But if you're not using it because it's trendy, you're really missing out on a way to connect with your readers. Punctuation and capitalization are tools for clarity. Please use them. Please.

Thank you to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Serina’s Stories wolfganghollows · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a totally different style of book than I’m used to reading, but the synopsis sounded good so I wanted to support the author.
This is a deeply personal book for Lee, and read more like a series of diary entries to me rather than actual poems. Albeit it’s very poetic with beautiful word choices. As it read more like diary entries, it can seem a little flawed as diary entries are, and also very emotional. Another persons review says that they felt it was too depressing and seemed like at the end where it should be full of self love it read as barely self acceptance. I agree it doesn’t read as self love at the end, but I believe Lee has only really started coming in to herself as a woman, and is really only at the self acceptance stage, she’s been sober only a year by the end of this book, which means there is still scope for self acceptance to become self love. And I hope she finds that.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the author and this is my honest review.

[Amelia (Taylors Version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*thank you netgalley for the e arc*

"im still the same me, no matter how much ive grown, and ill never forget who ive been as ive perfected the art of becoming" - Forget Me Nots

I think so much of this collection especially right now is so beyond important. the theming of queer love and transitioning was haunting and beautiful and for that if you're sapphic or trans I think you would highly enjoy this collection!
I wish my rating was so much higher. When I read coffee days and whisky nights I absolutely adored it. So much of this collection was so beautifully written however so much of it didn't feel like poetry but rather short rambles and paragraphs. This collection slightly suffers from Tumbler/TikTok poetry syndrome. Do not misunderstand what I'm saying, Parker's writing is so beautiful. The topics she touches on are important and I appreciate how open and candid she is but I feel as if this collection needed more time and editing.

[Jordana Raine-Spak · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

As a collection of poetry, I really enjoyed this book. And I think it’s an important read for people. I wanted to read more works, book and poetry written by trans writers and I saw this in one of my local bookshops (shout out to Edmonton’s Daisy Chain Bookstore in High Street!) and knew I needed to buy this collection.

There’s some difficult themes, substance abuse, suicidal ideation and gender dysphoria but it’s clear from the cover that the themes will move toward hope and acceptance, which they do. I particularly love the last couple of poems. The letters Parker writes to her future and past selves are beautiful and worth reading through the hard and difficult ones.

This collection will stay with me and is definitely one I want to reread and lend out to friends. There’s so much more that could be said but I hope others get to have the pleasure of reading this collection.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley. This does not influence my opinion.

The best way, I can describe this poetry collection, is emotional. Not only from the way the poems talk about emotions, but also in the way it made me feel.
I cried multiple times throughout the book, sometimes from happiness or because the poems were just that beautiful, but just as often because it made me ache. For the author, for myself, for all of us trans and queer people, for the whole world.
There are many lines and entire poems that I would love to quote, but one that really stuck with me was this part from “hrt is alchemy”:
“i am the poem.
i am the masterpiece.
i am my greatest work.”
So, I highly recommend this poetry collection and am looking forward to reading more from the author.

[Erica Baxter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited about this book, but it just didn't hit the way I hoped. Many of the poems felt more like stream of consciousness journalling than actual poetry. And the overall vibe was dark, broody, angsty, and depressing. It never really felt like the celebration of self that I was hoping for.

I will say that I enjoyed getting to see the world through a trans perspective. But the poetry just didn't click for me. Too much self-loathing. Not enough self-love. Even the last section, “Stardust,” only felt like a nod towards self-acceptance, not an actual embracing of self.

Sad and dispiriting. This book reads like a cry for help.

[Kami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this ARC from Netgalley. Thank you.

A beautiful book of poetry, sometimes brutal, emotional, and poignant. It's about becoming, living, and thriving as your authentic self. Parker Lee is an amazing person and poet to just bleed all over the page like this and allow us to peer into her soul.

"...there is at least one person out there who needs my version of it, even if that person is just myself," Writer's Block.

Parker Lee's words are so fantastic. I'm in awe of her. Such beautiful words Parker Lee spins. I am in awe of her power. In the words of Margaret Atwood, "Don't let the bastards grind you down". Be you, Parker Lee.

[Anastey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley, Central Avenue Publishing, and Parker Lee for sending me this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a variety of poems, and also just some sections that were pure streams of thoughts. It was an interesting mix

There were a ton of deep emotions, especially about how the world has changed the last 5 years, and especially dealing with the vulnerability of being Trans. There are a lot of hard things to read here, but the struggles are common ones we all share. Everything is so exhausting, and we are all struggling to keep going while the world around us keeps getting worse.

[Mandy Minis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so desperately wish I could hand this book to the young woman I used to be. To let her be cradled in the care of her own love, enveloped in the comfort of knowing that she is allowed to exist exactly as she is. I have never felt such a strong kinship with the woman I used to hide within the shell of other's expectations, now cast off regardless of judgement.

It takes more than a mirror to see yourself and these poems have given me the opportunity to see the woman staring back and regard her with the grace she has always deserved.

This book is a necessary addition to my collection of adoringly annotated and well-loved poetry books.