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thunder and daisy
thunder and daisy is mercedes paradiso's debut poetry collection, a journey through the storms of life toward the beauty that follows. From heartbreak and adversity to self-empowerment and resilience, this collection speaks to the transformative power of pain and love. With each poem, paradiso invites readers to explore the raw intensity of love, the strength found in vulnerability, and the growth that comes from overcoming life's challenges.
In thunder and daisy, paradiso blends the timeless themes of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery with the modern realities of our digital age. The verses celebrate the beauty of growth, urging readers to embrace their struggles, find inspiration in their pain, and reclaim their power. Drawing on the emotional depth of contemporary poetry, paradiso crafts a space where vulnerability meets empowerment and where pain turns into power.
Whether you're seeking comfort, inspiration, or a way to navigate your own storms, this collection offers a heartfelt guide to finding beauty in adversity. With its heartfelt verses, thunder and daisy is for those who believe that even in the darkest of times, love, passion, and resilience can bloom.
In thunder and daisy, paradiso blends the timeless themes of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery with the modern realities of our digital age. The verses celebrate the beauty of growth, urging readers to embrace their struggles, find inspiration in their pain, and reclaim their power. Drawing on the emotional depth of contemporary poetry, paradiso crafts a space where vulnerability meets empowerment and where pain turns into power.
Whether you're seeking comfort, inspiration, or a way to navigate your own storms, this collection offers a heartfelt guide to finding beauty in adversity. With its heartfelt verses, thunder and daisy is for those who believe that even in the darkest of times, love, passion, and resilience can bloom.
- GenresPoetry
162 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2025
6 people are currently reading
1808 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Paradiso
2 books32 followersMercedes Paradiso is the author of thunder and daisy, a poetry collection, and Estella and the Dream Traveler, a witchy time-travel love story. Though she has a background as an attorney, Mercedes feels most herself when writing poems and novels that explore the struggles and beauty of the human condition.
She earned her bachelor's degree from USC and her law degree from Seattle University School of Law. Mercedes was born in New York City, grew up in Southern California, and now lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area.
If you enjoy exploring deeper existential questions and themes of self-discovery, strength, hope, love, heartbreak, and a touch of magic, you'll find her work compelling.
She earned her bachelor's degree from USC and her law degree from Seattle University School of Law. Mercedes was born in New York City, grew up in Southern California, and now lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area.
If you enjoy exploring deeper existential questions and themes of self-discovery, strength, hope, love, heartbreak, and a touch of magic, you'll find her work compelling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
January 15, 2025
Thunder and daisy is a soothing collection of soul-stirring poetry that makes your soul embark on a journey filled with a symphony of emotional vulnerabilities and calming moments after a raging stormy night.
This book explores the themes of love, longing, heartbeat, uncertainties, and more. The poems convey the emotions and sentiments that often have eluded the thoughts. Heart's desire ruling over the brain's pragmatic explanations. The book is segmented into two parts namely thunder and daisy. The first part focuses on heartbreaks, loss, grief and regrets while the second part highlights the strength and resilience to bounce back from fall, rising like a phenomenal phoenix from the ashes of the past.
I was thoroughly impressed with the author's writing style. It's extraordinary and immensely immersive. Each poem builds up a crescendo of resonating feelings. While overthinking and uncertainties are tortuous, being broken and dissociated with one's own self can truly rattle your perception of life and reality. However the choice to let it all go and reinvent yourselves is completely in your hands. You have the power of turning those strike down as blocks stacked up to walk to your happiness. In other words, turn your tragedy into strength that no one can dismantle. Your energy is precious so protect it. The message for the section titled as "Daisy" is clear; love yourself and prioritise your happiness.
I love the simple illustrations that profoundly went well with poems. I'd highly recommend this book to all the poetry enthusiasts. It's a must read.
This book explores the themes of love, longing, heartbeat, uncertainties, and more. The poems convey the emotions and sentiments that often have eluded the thoughts. Heart's desire ruling over the brain's pragmatic explanations. The book is segmented into two parts namely thunder and daisy. The first part focuses on heartbreaks, loss, grief and regrets while the second part highlights the strength and resilience to bounce back from fall, rising like a phenomenal phoenix from the ashes of the past.
I was thoroughly impressed with the author's writing style. It's extraordinary and immensely immersive. Each poem builds up a crescendo of resonating feelings. While overthinking and uncertainties are tortuous, being broken and dissociated with one's own self can truly rattle your perception of life and reality. However the choice to let it all go and reinvent yourselves is completely in your hands. You have the power of turning those strike down as blocks stacked up to walk to your happiness. In other words, turn your tragedy into strength that no one can dismantle. Your energy is precious so protect it. The message for the section titled as "Daisy" is clear; love yourself and prioritise your happiness.
I love the simple illustrations that profoundly went well with poems. I'd highly recommend this book to all the poetry enthusiasts. It's a must read.
April 23, 2025
Thunder and Daisy is great for fans of RH Sin and Lang Leav. I think that teens and new adults will resonate most with the topics of relationships, self exploration, and social media. The messages in the collection are personal but I think that the structure leaves room for improvement. I love the artwork that is included because it adds a special touch to the poems. Overall, I think it is a solid start for a debut collection with potential for growth.
Thank you to Mercedes Paradiso for this gifted copy of thunder and daisy to read and review.
Thank you to Mercedes Paradiso for this gifted copy of thunder and daisy to read and review.
February 11, 2025
Thank you to Mercedes and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of Thunder and Daisy in exchange for review.
I loved this. In my head if I were to write poetry it would be exactly like this… but I’m not a poetry writer. Simply meaning this is the exact kind of poetry I love to read so I’m very happy to have been able to read this before launch!
Ocean and the owl was my favorite but they’re all so similarly beautiful, making me feel seen as they can relate to my own personal life even though the author is telling their own story. I also loved not only the imagery within the words but the actual art in between poems. It was a lovely touch!
Thank you so much, this is probably my favorite book of poems I’ve yet to read!
I loved this. In my head if I were to write poetry it would be exactly like this… but I’m not a poetry writer. Simply meaning this is the exact kind of poetry I love to read so I’m very happy to have been able to read this before launch!
Ocean and the owl was my favorite but they’re all so similarly beautiful, making me feel seen as they can relate to my own personal life even though the author is telling their own story. I also loved not only the imagery within the words but the actual art in between poems. It was a lovely touch!
Thank you so much, this is probably my favorite book of poems I’ve yet to read!
January 5, 2025
5/5⭐️
“There will always be some version of you lost in me.”
“You’re more of a stranger than when we first met.”
“Love hurts
But it feels too good
Not to love again.”
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC! It in no way impacts my review 🩷
I haven’t picked up a poetry book since probably highschool and wow am I so glad I saw this one.
Ocean and the owl, the dealer, unrequited, big love, bouquet, power in feeling, reclamation, masterful are all so beautifully writing that those poems alone are worth reading this.
Always the poet struck something in me I think about often and made me self reflect in a way that actually brought tears to my eyes.
Time of them poems being name delulu made me giggle out loud lmao.
Literally the only negative I have is that a handful of the poems had slightly off/weird rhyming schemes and it took me out of the book, particularly Ghost,
Denial, Dosnt matter where.
Overall- these 150ish poems were gorgeous and beautifully written and I’d 100% reccomend
“There will always be some version of you lost in me.”
“You’re more of a stranger than when we first met.”
“Love hurts
But it feels too good
Not to love again.”
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC! It in no way impacts my review 🩷
I haven’t picked up a poetry book since probably highschool and wow am I so glad I saw this one.
Ocean and the owl, the dealer, unrequited, big love, bouquet, power in feeling, reclamation, masterful are all so beautifully writing that those poems alone are worth reading this.
Always the poet struck something in me I think about often and made me self reflect in a way that actually brought tears to my eyes.
Time of them poems being name delulu made me giggle out loud lmao.
Literally the only negative I have is that a handful of the poems had slightly off/weird rhyming schemes and it took me out of the book, particularly Ghost,
Denial, Dosnt matter where.
Overall- these 150ish poems were gorgeous and beautifully written and I’d 100% reccomend
April 9, 2025
Thunder and Daisy* weaves a captivating story against the backdrop of themes like resilience, connection, and transformation. Mercedes Paradiso's narrative style is both elegant and engaging, drawing readers into an intricate exploration of human relationships and emotional landscapes.
The floral and nature-inspired motifs on the cover hint at the delicate balance between beauty and chaos within the story, which resonates deeply with readers. While the book has received high praise for its thought-provoking ideas and evocative prose, a few critiques may mention pacing as a point for reflection. Nevertheless, *Thunder and Daisy* stands out as a richly imaginative and worthwhile read.
The floral and nature-inspired motifs on the cover hint at the delicate balance between beauty and chaos within the story, which resonates deeply with readers. While the book has received high praise for its thought-provoking ideas and evocative prose, a few critiques may mention pacing as a point for reflection. Nevertheless, *Thunder and Daisy* stands out as a richly imaginative and worthwhile read.
February 25, 2025
I received “Thunder and Daisy” from the author via NetGalley for the purpose of being an ARC reader. This is my honest review.
Thunder and Daisy is a beautiful collection of poems. While some are lighthearted and playful, others are deep, dark, and emotional. It was the latter that resonated with me the most. Reading this book was like reading about my own thoughts and feelings in ways I had never found to verbalize. Without knowing the details of the author’s experiences, you can still relate to the emotion in her words, demonstrating the universal experiences of love and heartbreak.
Thunder and Daisy is a beautiful collection of poems. While some are lighthearted and playful, others are deep, dark, and emotional. It was the latter that resonated with me the most. Reading this book was like reading about my own thoughts and feelings in ways I had never found to verbalize. Without knowing the details of the author’s experiences, you can still relate to the emotion in her words, demonstrating the universal experiences of love and heartbreak.
March 3, 2025
I’m a big fan of R.H. Sin and Rupi Kaur and I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who is also a fan.
A beautiful collection of poems that spoke to my soul in ways I don’t even know how to. The cadence and flow of some verses had me very surprised this was the author’s debut. Magical use of language that painted powerfully beautiful visuals in my head at some points and then heartbreaking ones at others. The illustrations were cute.
Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
A beautiful collection of poems that spoke to my soul in ways I don’t even know how to. The cadence and flow of some verses had me very surprised this was the author’s debut. Magical use of language that painted powerfully beautiful visuals in my head at some points and then heartbreaking ones at others. The illustrations were cute.
Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
March 22, 2025
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A bunch of poems about heartache and loss. More of an emo vibe than a country-western or R&B type of feeling.
Got a bit repetitive.
A bunch of poems about heartache and loss. More of an emo vibe than a country-western or R&B type of feeling.
Got a bit repetitive.
April 17, 2025
Thank you Mercedes Paradiso for the ARC read!
This book was beautifully written and the line drawings between the poems really brought the book together. I feel like whilst this collection of poems were amazing, it wasn't a collection of poems meant for me as most of the poems failed to resonate with me. I personally believe that maybe later down the line in my life, this collection will have more of an impact on me whereas right now, I haven't really experienced enough, if at all, to truly understand what the poems are about.
This book was beautifully written and the line drawings between the poems really brought the book together. I feel like whilst this collection of poems were amazing, it wasn't a collection of poems meant for me as most of the poems failed to resonate with me. I personally believe that maybe later down the line in my life, this collection will have more of an impact on me whereas right now, I haven't really experienced enough, if at all, to truly understand what the poems are about.
February 5, 2025
These poems are a calming and authentic breath of fresh air and a warm hug for the soul during a time when the world feels confused and disconnected. The author’s beautiful spirit and talent for the craft of writing shines through each piece.
April 11, 2025
This collection feels raw and authentic in the best way. The poems are open and grounded, shaped by a quiet kind of vulnerability that sticks. They explore struggle, heartache, and the everyday pain of being human with language that feels approachable and deeply felt.
There is clarity in the metaphors, often drawn from nature and everyday life. They’re simple without being simplistic, making them easy to connect with. The free verse style flows effortlessly, like someone thinking on the page, which adds to the emotional impact.
As the collection progresses, it feels like it moves through different stages of reckoning, healing, and change. There’s a sense of rising from adversity, finding strength, and stepping into something more self-assured. You feel the shift. It echoes the call to keep going, to listen inward, and to claim space.
The structure reads as intentional. The poems feel well-placed and thoughtfully arranged, which gives the collection quiet momentum. The line art woven throughout adds a soft, final touch that complements the tone without overwhelming it.
This collection seeps in. It’s emotionally resonant without demanding attention, quietly powerful, and beautifully composed.
I appreciate NetGalley and Mercedes Paradiso for the opportunity to read and review this book!
There is clarity in the metaphors, often drawn from nature and everyday life. They’re simple without being simplistic, making them easy to connect with. The free verse style flows effortlessly, like someone thinking on the page, which adds to the emotional impact.
As the collection progresses, it feels like it moves through different stages of reckoning, healing, and change. There’s a sense of rising from adversity, finding strength, and stepping into something more self-assured. You feel the shift. It echoes the call to keep going, to listen inward, and to claim space.
The structure reads as intentional. The poems feel well-placed and thoughtfully arranged, which gives the collection quiet momentum. The line art woven throughout adds a soft, final touch that complements the tone without overwhelming it.
This collection seeps in. It’s emotionally resonant without demanding attention, quietly powerful, and beautifully composed.
I appreciate NetGalley and Mercedes Paradiso for the opportunity to read and review this book!
May 8, 2025
***I won this book in a GoodReads giveaway***
I absolutely devoured and enjoyed this poetry collection. Exactly the poetry books I like to read. I especially loved Not Yours, Regret, and I Hear You. I feel this would resonate with teens and younger adults as the captive audience. Just several beautiful poems. The artwork after some of the poems was a nice touch and surprise. Looking forward to more work of this author.
Thanks for the chance to read and review your poems! ❤️
I absolutely devoured and enjoyed this poetry collection. Exactly the poetry books I like to read. I especially loved Not Yours, Regret, and I Hear You. I feel this would resonate with teens and younger adults as the captive audience. Just several beautiful poems. The artwork after some of the poems was a nice touch and surprise. Looking forward to more work of this author.
Thanks for the chance to read and review your poems! ❤️
April 14, 2025
I loved this collection of poetry. There’s just something about the way the author writes and phrases words that makes you feel seen and heard. It takes you on a journey through loving and healing and sadness and hurt and all the other feelings. I always think great poetry is poetry that makes you think and dig deep and that’s exactly what this collection did for me.
January 10, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I really enjoyed this collection of poetry. I really resonated with a few of them and many brought tears to my eyes. I also really enjoyed the illustrations as well. Fuck you-flowers , note to self, and beautiful souls were some of my absolute favorites.
April 13, 2025
I loved this book! One of my favourite poetry books I have read. Each poem was so well written and I loved the added detail of having a picture after each poem that connects to the poem. Beautiful book- love the name and cover too. I highly recommend anyone who loves poetry to read.
February 13, 2025
Heartfelt
This is a book of heartfelt words that were poetically woven together to give the reader a touch of Thunder and Daisys. Easy to read, enjoyable and heartfelt.
This is a book of heartfelt words that were poetically woven together to give the reader a touch of Thunder and Daisys. Easy to read, enjoyable and heartfelt.
May 8, 2025
The poems are very inspiring and helpful when looking for inspiration for new works of art.
January 11, 2025
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 4 stars ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
"you’re more of a stranger
than when we first met"
"i turned the pain you gave me into beauty
you couldn’t break me
i proved i have the strength and energy
to move on to a bigger destiny
i think i’m ready"
"never stop looking for the flowers
thunderstorms leave behind
trade your tears for flowers
they turn your sorrow into power"
"love hurts
but it feels too good
to not love again"
"there will always be some version of you lost within me"
it's been a while since i read some poetry so i am really glad i noticed this arc and requested it! these poems were beautifully written and they have so much emotion in them. whether you already like poetry, or want to try reading something new, i totally recommend checking this out. i think this is a great debut poetry book and i hope to read more of the author's work in the future. there are also illustrations throughout the book and although they are simple, they add so much to the book!
˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley and Mercedes Paradiso for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗
"you’re more of a stranger
than when we first met"
"i turned the pain you gave me into beauty
you couldn’t break me
i proved i have the strength and energy
to move on to a bigger destiny
i think i’m ready"
"never stop looking for the flowers
thunderstorms leave behind
trade your tears for flowers
they turn your sorrow into power"
"love hurts
but it feels too good
to not love again"
"there will always be some version of you lost within me"
it's been a while since i read some poetry so i am really glad i noticed this arc and requested it! these poems were beautifully written and they have so much emotion in them. whether you already like poetry, or want to try reading something new, i totally recommend checking this out. i think this is a great debut poetry book and i hope to read more of the author's work in the future. there are also illustrations throughout the book and although they are simple, they add so much to the book!
˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley and Mercedes Paradiso for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗
March 2, 2025
Thunder and Daisy by Mercedes Paradiso is a collection of poetry. Split into two chapters –Thunder and Daisy- the poems contained within focus mainly on love and hearbreak.
Thunder and Daisy is a specific type of poetry called instapoetry. This is fairly obvious when reading the book. The poems are intersected with pictures to represent the poem that precedes it. I feel that the pictures aren’t necessary and the poems speak for themselves. The poems in Daisy broke away from the more simplistic ones in Thunder. Seeing the difference between the two chapters was a great way to not have the poetry seem repetitive.
I’m glad I read Thunder and Daisy. I didn’t enjoy every poem included but I could feel the emotions that were put into the entire book. If you’re a fan of poetry, I definitely recommend checking out Thunder and Daisy. Since Mercedes Paradiso includes her plan for releasing a book in the future that will be linked to Thunder and Daisy, I plan on looking into her other works.
Thunder and Daisy is a specific type of poetry called instapoetry. This is fairly obvious when reading the book. The poems are intersected with pictures to represent the poem that precedes it. I feel that the pictures aren’t necessary and the poems speak for themselves. The poems in Daisy broke away from the more simplistic ones in Thunder. Seeing the difference between the two chapters was a great way to not have the poetry seem repetitive.
I’m glad I read Thunder and Daisy. I didn’t enjoy every poem included but I could feel the emotions that were put into the entire book. If you’re a fan of poetry, I definitely recommend checking out Thunder and Daisy. Since Mercedes Paradiso includes her plan for releasing a book in the future that will be linked to Thunder and Daisy, I plan on looking into her other works.
January 5, 2025
Full transparency this is my first time reading a poetry book. I have a goal for this new year of expanding my reading outside of my norm. This book was an absolutely beautiful collection of poems that were written straight from raw emotion. This collection is modern, real, and very enjoyable to read. Though I did not connect with each poem I did connect with quite a few and it was lovely to know that emotions I have felt in the past are the same emotions felt by someone else in a different walk of life. If you are a poetry lover or looking for something new to add to your collection I highly recommend you check this out when it released. As an added bonus there are illustrations throughout and they are simple yet lovely.🤍
March 5, 2025
This was such a beautiful book of poetry and I felt every word of it. The way the author was able to make me feel all of the emotions is truly amazing.
The poems were very relatable because they dealt with heartbreak and healing. I think so many others can relate to these feelings and I highly recommend this book to anyone dealing with these emotions.
I look forward to more from this author! Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book!
The poems were very relatable because they dealt with heartbreak and healing. I think so many others can relate to these feelings and I highly recommend this book to anyone dealing with these emotions.
I look forward to more from this author! Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book!
May 12, 2025
This book of poems was exactly what i needed to read at this time in my life. It took me back to all my damaged hopeless romantic memories and reminded me how i healed and how i am still healing from things everyday. Absolutely beautiful. Whoever this person is could be my best friend, at least thats how this authors writing made me feel. I would read more of this persona work any day.
February 6, 2025
The author’s passion and energy are palpable throughout this extraordinary work. Truly a delightful experience to read through and ponder. The illustrations help bring each poem to life in a beautiful way.
March 3, 2025
A beautiful collection of poems that are incredibly heartfelt, deep from the soul, and mostly, vulnerable. The contrast between the two sections, “thunder” and “daisy,” is very well done. You can feel the darkness of “thunder” drifting away as you sink into the light of “daisy.” I personally really enjoyed the first part of the book! It was giving major TTPD vibes, which was magnificent! Thank you so much to NetGalley and mostly Mercedes Paradiso for this phenomenal debut novel!✨
March 20, 2025
This book takes you through the rawest stages of emotional turmoil, where pain feels inescapable but also makes you move forward to the transformative power of love and self-discovery.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 21, 2025
I loved this book! So happy to have gotten the ARC
February 2, 2025
I can’t recall the last time I actually read a poetry collection—aside from the occasional poem I come across on Instagram. Mercedes, I’m so glad I started with yours, Thunder and Daisy. It felt like stepping into your past and future, your experiences, dreams, and hopes, yet somehow they intertwined with my own. Your poems are effortless to read and even easier to remember long after the book is put down. I can’t wait for your novel to see how it all connects.
April 10, 2025
all of the feels, the author is amazing and the writing makes you feel every emotion. i cried during this
February 11, 2025
“i won’t dim my light for yours to shine brighter”
thunder and daisy is a beautiful collection of poetry about everything from heartbreak to self-empowerment. Not only is it full of relatable poetry but it is accompanied by beautiful illustrations relevant to the poems. The poetry itself is very soothing and envelopes you in a big hug. My personal favorites were wasted time, bedtime and swimmer.
I’d highly recommend this collection of poetry to lovers of modern poetry, particularly what has been known as “Instagram poetry” (also happens to be my favorite kind), also to those just staring to read poetry.
Big thanks to Netgalley and Mercedes Paradiso for allowing me to read an E-Arc of this collection.
thunder and daisy is a beautiful collection of poetry about everything from heartbreak to self-empowerment. Not only is it full of relatable poetry but it is accompanied by beautiful illustrations relevant to the poems. The poetry itself is very soothing and envelopes you in a big hug. My personal favorites were wasted time, bedtime and swimmer.
I’d highly recommend this collection of poetry to lovers of modern poetry, particularly what has been known as “Instagram poetry” (also happens to be my favorite kind), also to those just staring to read poetry.
Big thanks to Netgalley and Mercedes Paradiso for allowing me to read an E-Arc of this collection.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews