Eggshells

by Parm K.C.

Eggshells is a powerful collection of poetry and prose that brings to life the experience of being in, and leaving, a toxic relationship. This is a collection centered around themes of love, heartbreak, abuse, self-image, growth, healing, and the reclaiming of self. This poetry collection captures the complex emotions that cause confusion in toxic relationships, and untangles them without judgement to help you see clearly. Eggshells will be the validation that your cracked heart is desperate for, and the hope that will remind you of everything you can be once you walk away.

Genres: Poetry, Love, Self Help

147 pages, Paperback

Published November 5, 2024

Reviews

[brittany]

wow wow wow // everyone should read this

[Amber Holmes]

I wish I could tattoo the entire contents of this book on my body.

[Kylie Taylor]

This made me so sad but was beautifully written

[Nele Maier]

I think the book will be good for people who actually have been through it. While there are some things I can relate to (feel like most people can relate to), most of them I can’t. Which I’m thankful for haha.
Don’t really know how to rate it so I won’t rate it. Thank you 🙂‍↕️

[Hattie Hall]

Not typically someone who will read poetry, but this was amazing. Anyone who has ever been in a toxic relationship, this is a must read.

[dominique]

saw this book on tiktok and decided to read it as i was slightly behind on my book goal. i knew beforehand that i was not the exact target audience, however it was enlightening/ empowering. a lot of the lines did feel rather forced and was bordering on cringe, but who am i to discount someone’s experience. i am sure this does resonate with some and others may have found it relatable.

a few quotes that hit:

• “i colored his red flags green, but i’m almost out of paint.”
• “he declares his love for me, but i don’t feel it. words alone mean nothing.”

• “i fall for the ones who show me the slightest bit of affection and i fall for the ones who snatch it away just as quickly. i fall for a single compliment because i don’t think i’m worthy of it, and i fall for the same one who puts me down with a harshness you couldn’t imagine.”

• “i can take flight and soar away - i so desperately want to. i’m just not sure i trust my wings.”

• “if he wanted to he would” takes on a whole new meaning when you realize that he hurts you because he wants to.

• “i had to coax the bare minimum out of him, and yet i thought it was love. my, how foolish i was.”

• “i remember the precise instant i looked straight at him and the thought hit me like a freight train - he is not my person. but i shoved that thought into a box, and stayed with him anyway.”

‘cycle breakers,’ took on a whole new meaning

[HWaltz]

he was making me sick.

the anxiety,
the headaches,
the stomach pain,
the inability to sleep–

I was a shell of myself.

nobody tells you how the wrong relationship can leave your body screaming.
how a rotten love
will eat you alive slowly
from the inside out.

I left,
and the color returned to my face.
my hair stopped shedding from my scalp.
I started feeling human.

I left,
and I was like a neglected flower
being watered
and springing back into bloom.

I left,
and realized something
that should have been obvious earlier–

he was sucking the life out of me.

[Emmi]

Ich hab das Gefühl, jede und jeder müsste es lesen. So furchtbar aber so wahr und deswegen so schön. Wobei ich mich scheue, irgendwas von all dem zu romantisieren. Vielleicht bleiben wir bei wahr und furchtbar. Nur das Gefühl der Identifikation, das ist irgendwie schön. Und heilsam. Die Validierung. Die Anerkennung dieser absoluten Abgründe. Die Erkenntnis, dass diese Dinge passieren und Menschen diese Gefühle doch auch fühlen und überleben. Wie auch immer das geht.

[Cherie Cole]

This is so healing

For anyone that has been in or is coming out of a toxic relationship, give yourself grace. Read this out loud. Read it to yourself with conviction. Feel the words as you read them. I know it made me feel strong and I hope it makes you feel strong too.

[Amanda Daly]

The author's story isn't the same as mine, but some of those feelings could have been printed directly from my heart. This was a beautiful read for anyone who has struggled to know when enough is enough and when to focus on loving themself before pouring their love into someone else. 5 stars.

[Audreezy]

That shit absolutely hurt my soul in the worst yet best way possible

[Louise Robertson]

If I could give more than 5 stars I would. Utterly amazing words 💜

[Kelsey]

Such a beautifully written collection of a traumatic relationship experience and the healing process that comes with it. While our stories are not exactly the same they are very similar, and I hope every person who has dealt with narcissistic behavior from a partner can find this book and read it. This has truly helped me with healing.

[Bihter V.]

I thought I would be able to finish this in one go, like a bedtime read. And I was exceptionally wrong.

After almost every single page, I needed to put it down and pull myself together before continuing. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said I literally had panic attacks while reading, because it felt like reading my inner self without the walls I’ve put up in front of her.

I knew what I was going through, but this book was a slap in the face—forcing me to look at everything I ignore and try to sweep under the carpet.

I don't think I will ever be the same after reading this. And thanks to this book, my eyes are slightly more open to seeing my very own breakdown...

[CourtneyGG ✨]

Wow! I loved this book! It’s filled with poetry related to toxic relationships and healing.

Quotes:

I refuse to walk on eggshells anymore-
I don’t stay around those that require me to.
I go where I am wanted,
leaving when I am not.
Let my footsteps be heavy,
let my voice be heard.
I refuse to walk on eggshells anymore-
and for once,
I’m not cracked into a million pieces.

The realization that we have the power to release…
It allows us to let go when letting go is what serves us
It allows us to love without drowning in the waves of someone else’s ocean

[Emily Keesee]

“The problem with being insecure is that when a toxic partner says you aren’t good enough, you believe them.”

Wow. 19 year old me would’ve loved to read this. 23 year old me, cried the whole time. Reading this felt like everything coming to light, every feeling I once felt, written into words. It was spectacular, and awe-inspiring. Thank you to the poet for writing these words, and sharing your story with us.

To the ones who loved someone who was horrible to us.
Thank you for making us feel seen, and not crazy.

[Kei]

This will probably be me being repetitive, but I've talked about how I don't know how to rate poetry collections because they're so personal, I always finally saw having to explain how this is not about the author's story, this rating is more about the writing and the poems themselves. I found some of the poems in this collection very heartfelt, very raw and beautiful. However, the collection was overall very repetitive, even though it was divided in parts, I found that there was blurring between the parts where the poems were kind of in the same line of theme.

[Miri M.]

its been almost a year ago since i broke up with my partner of 5 years. I am very hesitant to call it abusive, but I think I can call it unhealthy. I have seen segments of this poetry collection online, and the words resonated with me. I finally ordered a copy, so i could read the whole thing. I think this has added a layer to how I view that time in my life. I think this reflects the anger, the sadness, the desire for things to be different. I think it captures the messiness of missing a partner, but also about missing yourself.

[K.B. reads]

“I refuse to walk on eggshells anymore – I don’t stay around those who require me to. I go where I’m wanted, leave when I’m not, let my footsteps be heavy, let my voice be heard. I refuse to walk on eggshells anymore – and for once, I’m not cracked into a million pieces.”

I highlighted so many quotes and found this book to be beautifully written and poignant. I plan to read more from this author.

4 stars

[Gary Browe]

I can relate but I’m a guy and I’m not supposed to

First off, I loved this book. I don’t think I necessarily fit who this book is for, but I do love poetry about relationships. Even though this is mainly for women, I think you can switch the pronouns, and it is relatable to men, too. Women can be toxic, too. I loved the simplicity and how direct the book felt reading it. Highly recommend.

[Kimberley Oyler]

I've never NEEDED a book more than this

The raw emotion that eveloped me while reading this....just wow. I just got out of a long toxic relationship....and this is the book I needed to help me heal and realize my worth again. It helped me Recognize the truths and pills I didn't want to swallow....but the ending....the ending helped save me.

[Hannah Mickle]

Honestly, better than the other poetry book I read earlier. This book had a lot of really good reminders from not so great times, but the content was relatable and well written. Don’t settle to be anyone’s consolation prize.
•
***pg. 43, 49, 56, 57!, 67, 78!, 79!, 97, 98, 102, 105, 114, 115, 123, 134, 138

[Katie Stephens]

I started this and thought yeah me 13 years ago really needed to hear this. I don’t think this is going to hit for me. Now I sit here at the end proud of my journey and that I walked away. I not only walked away but did so without closing myself off. I have a love that cherishes and warms. This was a soft reminder of the past with a lens of gratefulness for my present.

[Lola Hill]

"when I fell out of love with him, he fell off the pedestal and the crown fell off his head. it turns out he was very ordinary."

"he said all his exes were crazy. but didn’t he make them that way? people don’t arrive at crazy all on their own. someone drives them there."

iconic.

[Reader]

Every poem in this book describes exactly how being in a toxic relationship feels. The struggles, internal battles but also the strength in walking away and choosing yourself. Every word makes you feel seen and understood. A phenomenal read from beginning to end!!

[Macy Cox]

This was such a small book yet so so so hard for me to finish, worked so hard not to DNF it.
I read this book on my kindle and it was….interesting.
All books just talk about heartbreak…like can we have smth else in the book…?

Glad I didn’t pay for this tbh.

Don’t recommend…👎🏻👎🏻

[Edith]

This was heartbreakingly accurate, the thoughts while dealing with a heartbreaking toxic relationship. The loss of yourself, the uncertainty of the future. And mostly the anxiety of everyday life while living with someone who’s not good for you.

[Jennifer]

Beautifully written, but some of these poems could have been cut. So many in the first half were repeating the same thing over and over.

But overall, it captures the reality of toxic relationships very well.

[Julia Ann]

I’m a survivor of emotional abuse, and this book meant a lot to me. The poems are very beautifully written. Even though I have moved on and I’m learning how to love myself and live my best life, it was a reminder I am not alone in my journey.

[Kayla Good]

Must read

Just amazing! Being able to relate to this book made me feel heard. Knowing you’re not alone and there’s hope in the long run is what I needed. Love this book and would honestly read it again and again.