Lighthouse Hearts

by Jenni Sauer

"If life isn't meant to be lived in comfort zones
Where does that leave the safe, steady hearts?"With a focus on a deep love of friendship, abandonment, and healing this debut poetry collection from Jenni Sauer explores the experience of being the dependable serotonin friend in a world of adventurous hearts chasing dopamine. Lighthouse Hearts invites you to sit with the pain and joy that comes with being a lighthouse who loves her sailors—and their wandering hearts—but who sometimes gets a little lonely on the shore.

Genres: Poetry

78 pages, Paperback

Published February 11, 2025

About the author

Jenni Sauer writes fairy tale retellings for soft, angry hearts. She didn’t go to college, but she has a degree of mental health and has her masters in optimism from the school of life. Her proudest achievements include staying soft despite the trauma she’s lived through and holding on when life tried its hardest to take her out

If you’re looking for her, she’s probably bent over her laptop plotting treason—er, her latest story idea—or procrastinating on that by making another playlist or cute aesthetic. Or you can find her on Instagram @ivorypalaceprincess

Reviews

[Nathaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect way to start off my 2025.

Jenni Sauer really took my hands, sat me down, and said 'you're going to be okay'.

This collection is about friendships, relationships, the complicatedness of living, emotions, healing, the ways we do things for each other...and it is absolute perfection. It's so honest and real. I can't imagine someone not relating to these poems.

If you're adding poetry to your 2025 TBR, throw this one on there.

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

At this point in my life, I've accepted that poetry is not my thing and I'm okay with that. HOWEVER I'll always make an exception for Jenni, and I'm really glad I did 🫶 Jenni Sauer books are where I go when I want to be welcomed with a cup of tea (or cocoa, because she loves me 😘) and a warm blanket and have my heart held gently for awhile, and I'm happy to report that her poetry gave me the same feelings. "Lighthouse Hearts" is beautiful, relatable, and so achingly true with messages of platonic and familial love that resonated with me. I'm glad I read it, and I'd recommend it to you! 5 stars!

[Kate Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't consider myself a poetry girlie in the least, but I am a fan of this author and the concept of this collection sounded really, really good so I decided to give it a try.

I stayed up late reading this and loved every moment. In fact, probably a third of it is highlighted on my Kindle. 😂😇

Warm, welcoming, and strong Hufflepuff vibes. 🤍

[Brigitte Cromey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t often read poetry, but I settled in with this book and a cup of coffee.

The coffee got cold, and I cried most of the way through the collection.

To someone who greatly dislikes the seas but goes out time and time again to retrieve those it’s trying to pull under, lighthouses are things of worth beyond measure. <3

[R.C.Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenni Sauer's debut poetry collection is so so beautiful. Her words wash between lighthouse hearts and sailor hearts, showing the tensions and pain of loving those who live like the sea. She invites you to wrap yourself in a shawl and stand by the sea with her, whether you'll stay for a while or a brief moment.

[Mikayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good for my soul. I soaked up the whole book in one sitting, and look forward to re-reading it.
I didn't get all of the poems, but I think that's just the way poetry works, some of it speaks to us more than others.

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world of chaos, this book is a warm hug, a snuggly blanket, and a comforting cup of tea wrapped in one. I’ve never been great lover of poetry, but Jenni’s words speak to my soul. This precious collection is lighthouse, a resting place, the last Homely House for weary hearts. Bring tissues and be cheered. 💛

[Mariella Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meaningfully gentle

Lighthouse hearts is a beautifully written set of poems about friendship, comfort in reality, and hope for ourselves and our future. Gentle, meaningful, magnificent in its own simplicity. I look forward to reading more of Sauer’s collections in the future.

[Matt & AmyLaura Duraski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been working on adding poetry back into my life and this was so, warming. It was so relatable and felt like a big fluffy blanket.

[Amelia E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of the Hope and Heartwaves omnibus, but that still counts! So I get to review this book separately as well! Lighthouse Hearts is my favorite of the three (although they're all amazing). Loved it!

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one made my heart ache just a little and at the same time feel like a hug.

[Payton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing poetry collection. Very heart-felt and touching. I was highlighting and underlining and annotating almost every other page.

[Rachael N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little poetry collection! Jenni has a way of writing her heart out that speaks to other people's experiences as well. Loved it!

[Ireen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is for the soft girls left behind 😭🫶