I Hope You Remember: Poems on Loving, Longing, and Living

by Josie Balka

For fans of Rupi Kaur and Cleo Wade, this first collection of poetry from the viral TikTok poet Josie Balka, evokes themes of nostalgia, love, envy, and hope, speaking to the universal longings that live deep in our souls.

I’ve never seen anyone at a public pool with a memorable enough body, good or bad, that I think about it ever again.

If this line sounds familiar, it’s because you’ve heard it in the background of thousands of videos on social media—a humbling reminder from poet and radio personality Josie Balka that what’s important in our lives now isn’t necessarily what’s important to us in the long run.

I Hope You Remember, Josie’s first book of poetry, includes this poem and over eighty others, some previously published and others never shared before. Every page in this collection hits home, rhapsodizing on universal experiences like jealousy, family relationships, complex body image, falling in and out of love (with others and yourself), and the everchanging lens of nostalgia. With sparse, clear prose, Josie’s poetry looks to bring forth deep feelings like grief, envy, apathy, joy, and, most importantly, hope.

Evocative and full of force, these poems will hit you in the gut, pull your heartstrings, and make you long for moments past.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Book Club, Canada, Self Help, Short Stories

176 pages, Hardcover

First published May 13, 2025

Reviews

[Delaney]

Phenomenal

[Noi (in & out) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You are the source of some of your favorite feelings in the people you love People who only know what any of it feels like Because you made them feel that way"

"Every version of you that has been and every version that will be Is a good version Because everything you were has made you everything you are And everything you are will lead you to everything you will become"

"You are perfectly you and the right people will make you feel exactly that While you in turn make them feel perfectly them"
-------------------------------------------
The fact I'm reading a poetry book is irrefutable proof of me evolving

[TracyGH · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I found this Canadian author a year ago on Instagram, and I have been a loyal fan; although admittedly not a lover of poetry.

I bought this book of poems a while ago and also gifted a copy to my good friend. Reading this book, at the end of a year was perfect timing. We have regrets, goals that were not realized; the list is endless. The good news - there is a new year ahead, and I am thankful for these poems that truly spoke to me.

The stories were nostalgic and reflective. From heartbreak to grief, to life, friendships in childhood to meeting a friend later in life whom is a soulmate. I can attest to much of this. (I am sure many of us can.)
They made me reminisce about my carefree 80s and my childhood best friend; to whom I remain very close. I often speak to the amazing simplicity we grew up in.

This book will stay with me and reminded me that “ageing is literally many heartbeats gifted.”

Quote: “The bad will be outlived by the better.
Just you wait and see.” 💌

[Madeleine Berges · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who feels so deeply about ✨everything ✨ this book spoke right to my heart.

I have always loved Josie’s online videos and the way she makes so many people feel connected and seen is beautiful and stunning.

This book was a collection of some writing I had heard online and some that was new to me, but each one was beautiful and spoke to my soul.

I would encourage anyone who feels deeply, loves hard, and contemplates life a lot to pick this book up! They will feel seen within the pages of poetry!

Thank you to the author and Simon Element for the eARC! 🩵

[Margaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful poems, each one felt better than the next. Wrote down a couple to keep handy, as I really appreciated the thoughts they provoked. This one feels like reading someone's soul and I think reading someone's writing is the closest we can get to really knowing someone. Josie gave us a special gift with this collection, and anyone who appreciates themes of love, loss, beauty in imperfection, identity, friendship, etc. will find something to stick in their brain. All of the poems felt critical to the collection and the order of the poems also felt well-planned. The whole book is an experience, and each poem is a glimpse at the scars life imposes. I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves poetry collections, and even those just getting into poetry, as these felt really accessible and relatable. A big thank you to Josie Balka, Simon & Schuster, and Goodreads for the opportunity to win a kindle copy of I Hope You Remember: Poems on Loving, Longing, and Living.

[Jill (readinginpjs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw this audiobook was read the by author, I immediately had to grab it! 😍

🎧 Thank you Simon and Schuster audio for the ALC - all opinions are my own.

I’ve been following Josie for a bit on instagram, and I just love her voice and her words 🥰
(I was also happy to find out she’s Canadian 🇨🇦)

I rarely read or am drawn to poetry, but many of these poems spoke to me 🥹
so much of this was very relatable, and had me thinking.

some were not, but that’s okay
not every poem will connect with every person, I think that’s expected 💜

📖 I Hope You Remember by Josie Balka
🕊️: poetry - poems on loving, longing & living
🎙 narrated by: Josie Balka (the author)
⭐️: 5/5

💭 the poems that stood out for me:
- “it has always been you”
- about soulmates - in friends, family, lovers & pets
- “you are the love of your life”
- about growing old, about loss, missing people, about comparison, about how we feel about ourselves & others
- nostalgia - about the time before more modern technology, a simpler time, being younger and having less responsibilities

the only bits that didn’t really resonate with me were about breakups, being hurt by romantic partners.

This is available in print as well, but I’d definitely recommend the audio since it’s read by Josie herself, and in tone she intended - her voice is also incredibly soothing 🥰

*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished I Hope You Remember by @josiebalka and... I’m honestly sitting here with tears in my eyes and my heart cracked wide open in the best way.

This book felt like flipping through pages of my own inner monologue—only way more honest, more gentle, and somehow more brave. Josie writes about love, loss, shame, memory, healing, body image, and longing in a way that feels like your best friend is holding your hand through it all.

There were so many moments I had to stop, take a breath, reread, and whisper “how did she know?”

One that hit me hard:
“I hope you remember how much it hurt... and how much it taught you.”

Like… yeah. That’s it. That’s the post.

Reading this felt like being seen—completely. It’s tender. It’s raw. It’s validating in a way I didn’t know I needed. I think this is going to be one of those books I keep nearby, especially on the days where I forget how far I’ve come.
If you’ve ever felt a little too much, or not enough, or like your memories are heavier than you'd like to admit—please read this. It’s gentle medicine.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 forever.

Thank you for this, Josie.

#IHYRemember #JosieBalka #PoetryThatHeals #Bookstagram #SoftGirlReads #PoetryCommunity #ReadThisBook

[Alanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️🎧 I was soooo excited for this collection of poems because I’ve been following Josie on social media since she originally pivoted to posting poems from her closet in 2023.

Sadly, the execution of the audiobook fell flat. There weren’t titles or quite enough space between poems; the book felt like a flow of disjointed tangents, making it hard to reflect on and really appreciate each idea. There were parts I resonated with, like the nostalgia for life before a cell phone and the poignant reminders of how much time we waste worrying about our appearance. However, some of the poems (and the audiobook more generally at only 2 hours) were very short. Also, I found myself imagining how much more impactful her words would have felt with the piano instrumental she adds to her poems on social media.

Even though the execution of the audiobook was disappointing, I still can’t wait to see what’s next to come from that tiny little guest room closet in Calgary. Josie has an unmatched talent for articulating the everyday memories that connect us all. I’m so grateful for the content she shares!

[Samantha Colon · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 - A book for people who feel every emotion intensely and deeply. Josie manages to put every complex feeling a human has into simplified yet still beautiful, heartbreaking, and relatable poems.

[Tina Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had these poems when I was 24 ❤️‍🩹

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like there was a lack of depth with the poetry that was very literal and juvenile.
I resonated with “Living” the most bookmarking some of the words that left a sense of reflection, wonder, and relatability.

[Cait Herdman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I disliked this book because I love Josie Balka.

I have had the opportunity of hearing Josie’s voice on my morning commute and on my Instagram feed for lord knows how long - to read her poetry without hearing her voice leaves something to be desired for me.

It’s not the words - they’re perfect. It’s the lack of powerful delivery that I’m so accustomed to.

This format was not for me, however it excites me knowing there are people here who LOVED this book and perhaps didn’t know Josie’s poetry exists in any form - be ready to fall more in love with her words.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw this book I immediately pre-ordered it. This book of poems speaks to my soul in a way I could never put into words myself.
This is absolute perfection 🥹🤍

[Zoey Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart!!! Josie said the words that we all think and feel.

[Lindsay Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one. I’m convinced there is a poem for everyone in this book!

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Without the audio book. I would’ve never finished this book. If I tried to read it without it was like I was staring at the same word for 10 minutes. OOOF.

Sucks, because I love this girls reels on Instagram. But this… man I don’t get it.

18 days to finish 170 pages… ooofta.

[Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This debut poetry collection by Canadian broadcaster, Josie Balka, is organized into three thematic sections: loving, longing, and living. Of these, the loving and longing sections resonated with me the most. They offered moments of emotional reflection that felt sincere and relatable. In contrast, while there were a few strong pieces in the living section, I found it less compelling overall. The experimental shifts in poetic form and structure throughout this section often felt disjointed rather than dynamic, and the reflective content veered at times into territory that echoed the language of familiar self-help rather than fresh or insightful.

The collection's format also presented some challenges. The absence of formal breaks between poems gave the impression of a continuous stream of verse, which blurred the boundaries between individual pieces. While this may have been an intentional stylistic choice, it made it difficult at times to fully appreciate each poem on its own terms. Stylistically, the poet experiments with a wide range of forms and voices, a choice that both highlighted their versatility and revealed the unevenness of a writer still discovering their creative identity. The collection feels very much like a first book—ambitious and heartfelt, but occasionally disjointed. That said, there are definite gems scattered throughout, and moments where the poet's potential shines through.

Overall, this is a debut that shows promise, even as it grapples with questions of form, tone, and cohesion. I believe newer readers to poetry would greatly enjoy this collection as it offers an opportunity to explore familiar themes of love, nostalgia, and anxiety while also showcasing a variety of poetry styles. For longtime poetry readers though, this collection may leave you wanting more cohesion.

Thank you to the publisher, Simon Element, for an e-ARC of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own!

[Katie Seehusen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon Josie’s Instagram and fell in love. I love the messages in her poems. I love hearing her words in her voice, but wanted the actual book to be able to reread the different poems. I wouldn’t normally call myself a poetry lover, but I love Josie’s poetry. This is a book that I’d love to buy for all my friends and one I’d love to put in my middle school classroom, so people can begin the difficult process of being comfortable in your own skin and loving it.

[Victoria Nguyen]

There’s something so beautiful about Josie writing poetry that is close to her heart and so personal but that is relatable to any reader. I think there’s a poem in here for everyone that is going to be like reading your inner monologue on a page.

[Megan Lambie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not normally a big poetry gal, but I follow Josie on Instagram and have found so many of her poems really resonate with me. I will be rereading this book over and over again and recommending it to everyone I know.

[Deanna Nielson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful poetry about life and love and those feelings you often can’t quite put into words - yet Balka finds a way.

Like most books of poetry - some you may just appreciate for the beautiful words that they are, read them, and move on because they just don’t quite nail your experience of the world, and then you flip the page and one will hit you in the gut like a sack of bricks - nostalgia, love, grief, pain, happiness. Some are so relatable it hurts - bringing tears to my eyes and pain in my gut. And some made me smile so big thinking about how incredible it is that someone so far away that I don’t know has felt some of the exact same feelings that I have felt.

What an incredible way to connect to the people in the world around you - to be able to write about feelings that most people don’t have words for, but wish that they did.

What a gift.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely resonated with some poems and sections more than others, but what was kind of remarkable about this book is it felt like each section was written for a different decade of my life. had I read this book in my early 20s and then again in my early 30s no doubt I would have had very different favourites from within this collection. overall really beautiful.

[Meah Cote · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of poems hit me right in the feels! It was a beautiful collection of emotions and pure nostalgia, and all those mental thoughts you have but can’t quite explain during significant moments in your life with friends, family and lovers. I loved every second, and can’t wait to see what else Josie Balka does!!

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love listening to Josie Balka read her poetry on Tik Tok.

As someone who has always had big emotions, I related to many poems she wrote in this book. I'm so happy I purchased it!

[Day Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

It feels odd to review a book of poetry for it is so very personal. I'd seen Balka's content and in an attempt to be more of a ✨cultured ✨ person in terms of one who regularly enjoys poetry, I picked this up. Many of the poems I thoroughly enjoyed, some less so, but I suppose that is how the medium works. 

"theres so many things to celebrate in life, and you should celebrate all of them"

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5🌟 lovely, the last section "Living" was my favorite 🫶

[Anubha (BooksFullOfLife, LifeFullOfBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very relatable poems about relationships, friendships, own identity, etc

[Talia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some lovely reminders :)

[Madison Zohr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josie, you are simply the BEST. 🤍 Every word that flows out of you has a unique way of grabbing ahold of a readers heart and pulling you in. You connect words and poems to real life so perfectly and have such a beautiful way of connecting to any chapter of life.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read; life changing