Sad Boy

by Chris Schneider, Steven Bentley (Illustrator), DeQuan Wren (Introduction)

Olmsted Park. Bedsheet noose. Seventeen years old.

This is where Sad Boy begins.

Chris Schneider's debut poetry collection plunges into a brutal coming-of-age: suicide attempts, psychiatric wards with confiscated shoelaces, romantic implosions, and a graduation ceremony that plays out like a mock execution.

This is not healing poetry. It is defiance written in cultural wreckage, where ancient history collides with teenage destruction.

Illustrated by Steven Bentley and introduced by poet DeQuan Wren, Sad Boy refuses to look away.

Content warning: Suicide attempts, self-harm, and psychiatric crisis.

Genres: Poetry

64 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2025

About the author

“Sadness,” writes the author of these brutally frank revelations, “is not just a habit. It is a way of life.” A way of life in which “crisis” is king, and where mentally exhausted starvelings float in a half-lighted world of debased values, overpowering hungers and sudden-flaring violence. There has never been a criminal confession better calculated to discourage imitation by thrill-hungry teen-agers. This is the unadulterated, unglamorous, unthrilling life of the SAD BOY.

Reviews

[Ricardo Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Modern Horror Poem Book

I borrowed this book thanks to my Kindle Unlimited subscription, and I read it on my tablet using the Kindle app.

Honestly, if you are looking for a happy read with good vibes, flowers, and such, you must be warned to skip this one. However, if you are looking for an original bunch of poems based on a lot of modern influences (be it manga, comic books, movies, or books like Harry Potter or even star wars), this might be for you.

Be aware of the trigger warnings this book has, but apart from that, I enjoyed every single one of the poems in this short (only thirty-three pages) poem book.

Apart from the poems, you will find another great set of illustrations that are outstanding if you are into blood-like and horror-themed art. I must admit that they are all impressive.

[Avid Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad Boy is a concise, intense, and thought-provoking poem book

I would recommend Sad Boy by Chris Schneider. But first, a heads-up: the book carries a trigger warning for self-harm and suicide. There is a clear disclaimer up front, with details for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, so readers are properly warned before diving in.

The book starts with an introduction by another author that really sets the tone. From there, Chris shares snapshots of his life, using a language that is dark, sarcastic, crude and sometimes chaotic. That is where I believe the book’s beauty lies. The poems themselves are short but hit hard, and each one is paired with an illustration that looks surprisingly crisp on Kindle.

Even though you can breeze through the poems and artwork in minutes, I found myself pausing to appreciate the wordplay, the deeper meanings, and how those illustrations echo the text. I re-read some poems simply because I loved them, and others because they kept replaying in my mind long after I turned the page. My favourites poems were “Black Room,” “October Revolution,” and “Cowboy.”

Chris uses references from history and pop culture in his poems. And if you are not into poems with references to pop culture (writers, musicians, TV shows, movies…), you may not enjoy this book. For me, these references added to the experience. I did not understand all the references, but Google searches helped me find meaning in most cases. Personally, I enjoyed hunting down unfamiliar references and uncovering their meaning, though I recognise not everyone will.

In short, Sad Boy is concise, intense, and thought-provoking. Just be mindful of the trigger content and abundance of pop-culture references, as I feel they are integral to the experience.

[Lubov Leonova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry that sheds light on relevant issues

"Sad Boy" is a poetry collection that delves into the dark side of our culture, exploring themes of depression, anxiety, and isolation. The author skillfully connects these mental health issues to the pressures of modern society, shedding light on the struggles we might face.

As someone who has experienced depression, I found some of the poems in this collection to be quite heavy and dark. While I appreciated the raw and honest portrayal of these issues, I was hoping for more of a sense of hope or redemption throughout the book. The author's use of grotesque and sometimes humorous imagery added an interesting twist to the poems, but at times it felt a bit overwhelming.

One aspect of the book that I did enjoy was the illustrations that accompanied each poem. They added an extra layer of depth and emotion to the words on the page, enhancing the overall reading experience.

"Sad Boy" wasn’t my cup of tea, but for readers who enjoy exploring the darker side of life, this collection will certainly resonate.

[Kayla Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

young and aspiring

[D. Bui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Schneider’s Sad Boy is a raw and deeply personal collection of poetry that delves into the pain of adolescence, touching on themes of love, rejection, depression, and the search for belonging. With a sharp wit and an unfiltered perspective, Schneider captures the complexities of teenage emotions, weaving together humor and pop culture references—from comics and TV shows to music and movies—as tools to process the chaos of growing up. His words carry an unmistakable intensity, each poem short yet bursting with emotion, like fleeting thoughts scribbled down in a moment of reflection.

One of the standout elements of this collection is its striking illustrations. They are beautifully intricate, though undeniably eerie, leaning toward the macabre. The unsettling, almost grotesque details serve to enhance the mood of the poetry, reinforcing the dark themes of isolation, struggle, and survival. These visuals don’t simply complement the text—they deepen its meaning, pulling the reader further into Schneider’s world of shadows and uncertainty.

Schneider’s poetry doesn’t shy away from difficult realities. He writes about rejection and the feeling of not fitting the mold society expects, confronting the idea of survival as something painful yet necessary, sometimes even finding peace in the thought of an ending. His work challenges conventional narratives, pushing toward a countercultural movement that refuses to sugarcoat the harsh truths of mental health struggles. By intertwining references to nostalgic TV shows like That’s So Raven, How I Met Your Mother, and Pretty in Pink, Schneider takes familiar, comforting cultural touchstones and twists them into something darker, reshaping them into reflections of his own inner turmoil.

While Sad Boy is not a lighthearted read, it offers catharsis for those in the depths of personal hardship. It does not aim to be comforting in the traditional sense, but for those who feel lost or trapped in their own battles, Schneider’s words may serve as a lifeline. He does not write about pain for the sake of dwelling in it; rather, he explores it to acknowledge the struggle and, ultimately, offer hope. By bravely shedding light on topics such as suicide, self-harm, loneliness, and toxic relationships, Sad Boy does not glorify suffering—it encourages resilience.

For anyone willing to dive into the raw, unfiltered depths of human emotion, Schneider’s poetry is as unsettling as it is honest. It is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is the potential for survival and, eventually, renewal.

[Ultimate World · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: Sad Boy by Chris Schneider

Sad Boy is a fearless and unflinching debut poetry collection that plunges readers into the raw interior world of a troubled adolescent mind. With sharp satire and emotional intensity, Chris Schneider captures the chaos of coming of age while carrying the weight of trauma, mental illness, and fractured identity.

The collection unfolds like a series of emotional flashpoints, each poem marking a defining moment in the speaker’s life. From the harrowing vulnerability of “Sad Boy,” which confronts a suicide attempt and its aftermath, to the disorienting confinement of “Hellraiser,” Schneider writes with brutal honesty that never feels performative. His language is jagged, sometimes confrontational, yet deeply human—reflecting the instability and urgency of a mind fighting to survive itself.

Moments of tenderness and longing surface in poems like
“Black Room,”
where the rush of first love offers brief relief from despair, only to be followed by the sharp ache of loss in *“Darkest Dungeon.”
By the time readers reach “Charles I,” the collection closes on a bittersweet note, capturing graduation not as triumph, but as a quiet, uncertain farewell to youth.

What makes Sad Boy especially compelling is its tonal balance. Schneider’s use of dark humor and satire prevents the work from becoming overwhelming, allowing moments of clarity and resilience to emerge organically. The poems do not seek easy redemption, but they do offer recognition—an acknowledgment of pain that feels honest and earned.

Steven Bentley’s stark ink illustrations amplify the collection’s emotional impact, visually echoing the themes of isolation, fracture, and defiance. DeQuan Wren’s introduction provides thoughtful context, framing the work as both deeply personal and universally resonant.

Sad Boy is not a comfortable read—but it is a necessary one. Schneider’s debut stands as a powerful testament to survival, giving voice to experiences often hidden or dismissed. For readers drawn to confessional poetry that challenges, unsettles, and ultimately resonates, *Sad Boy* leaves a lasting impression.

[Bruce Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't looking for a light read, and Chris Schneider’s debut poetry collection, Sad Boy, certainly isn't it. This book grabbed me right away, not with comfort, but with a raw, unsettling honesty about the chaos of growing up troubled. It’s divided into four "Acts," which feel less like structured sections and more like different phases of a highly turbulent coming-of-age, beginning with the darkest moments of a suicide attempt and a hospital stay. The collection really felt like reading the diary of a cynical, intelligent, and deeply hurt teenager.
Schneider doesn't hold back. His language is often sharp, crude, and deeply sarcastic—it’s the unfiltered voice of someone genuinely struggling with depression, anxiety, and the suffocating feeling of alienation. This is where the collection's power lies: it felt intensely personal and visceral, charting a journey through heartbreak, trauma, and the slow, reluctant movement toward resilience. The poems are packed with pop culture and historical references, which, for me, added a fascinating layer of ironic, intellectual commentary on modern life and its pressures. I even found myself Googling a few to get the full meaning, which only enhanced the experience of piecing together the author’s complex world.
While the prevailing tone is undeniably bleak, it's not without a kind of subversive, dark humor. The unexpected references to 90s cartoons or obscure historical figures serve as a cynical wink, a way for the poet to process tragedy through a lens of the absurd. This blend of profound anguish and irreverent wit keeps the work from sinking into a purely miserable read. Instead, it feels like a desperate, creative act of survival. Reading it wasn't about finding comfort; it was about bearing witness to a fierce struggle and recognizing the flicker of hope—the instinct for self-preservation—that remains even in the deepest shadow. It’s an intense, thought-provoking journey, and while it won't be for everyone, I found it to be a compelling and important piece of raw contemporary poetry.

[Kevin Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books that aim to entertain, and there are books that aim to explain. Sad Boy does neither. It simply is—a fragment torn from the flesh of life, raw and unadorned, as if the author wrote not with a pen but with a scalpel.

From the first line to the epilogue, this collection is art not because it declares itself so, but because it demands nothing of the reader—except to feel. And perhaps that is the truest definition of art: to awaken a response so deeply personal that it escapes explanation. The tone is macabre, yes—delicately walking the tightrope between despair and beauty—but in that shadow there is illumination. There are triggers here, and wounds, and ghosts, but none are treated cheaply. They are rendered like old photographs—blurred, intimate, half-vanished into memory.

The poem that clung to me most was “October Revolution.” Not because of what it says, but because of what it suggests. Here, I saw a boy—young, unsure, achingly sincere—discovering love in its most tragic incarnation: not the kind sung about in cafés, but the kind whispered through scars. His beloved is addicted to harm, to absence, to silence. It would be easy to turn away from such a story. And yet the author approaches it not with judgment, but with an emotional precision that reminded me of how people write when they have no other choice.

What makes Sad Boy linger is not just its darkness, but the light that breaks through it. The epilogue, a small lantern at the end of a long corridor, is vital. It tells us not what happened, but what became of the author. It transforms the work from confession into catharsis. One cannot fully understand this book by skimming its surface. Like life, it must be lived through—title to end.

In the end, this was not simply a book of poems. It was a portrait. And like all true portraits, it reveals as much about the observer as it does about the observed.

[Perry Zenon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Schneider’s debut poetry collection, *Sad Boy*, powerfully captures the tumultuous mental landscape of adolescence, exploring profound themes such as suicide, love, heartbreak, loss, and the bittersweet transition through the final days of school. Schneider’s voice resonates deeply, reflecting the chaotic emotions that often accompany the teenage experience.

Each poem in this collection employs free verse, allowing for a raw and unfiltered expression of emotion. Schneider adeptly navigates contemporary issues, including mental health and societal expectations, while blending personal narratives with broader cultural reflections. The inclusion of humor, pop culture references, and literary allusions enriches the reading experience, making it both engaging and relatable.

Notably, Steven Bentley’s illustrations complement the poetry beautifully, offering visual clarity and enhancing the emotional weight of Schneider’s words. The synergy between text and imagery creates a multi-layered exploration of the issues at hand.

Among the standout pieces, **“Hellraiser”** captures a chaotic, nightmarish journey through mental anguish. The tone oscillates between dark humor and deep reflection, vividly portraying the speaker's internal struggles with striking imagery.

In **“New Fatalism,”** Schneider delves into despair and resignation, blending personal insights with social commentary. This poem confronts feelings of alienation and the burdens of history, encouraging readers to reflect on the futility of certain societal constructs.

**“Black Room”** explores identity and desire against a backdrop of pop culture influences. The juxtaposition of inner turmoil with references to iconic figures creates a rich tapestry of modern angst, resonating with anyone grappling with their sense of self.

Overall, *Sad Boy* is a poignant and thought-provoking collection that captures the complexities of youth, making it a must-read for anyone navigating the tumult of adolescence.

[Juan Becerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Schneider's Sad Boy is the kind of poetry collection that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go until you've confronted every uncomfortable truth it has to offer. This isn't poetry designed to comfort—it's poetry designed to bear witness to the chaos of adolescence in its most unfiltered form.
What makes this collection remarkable is Schneider's refusal to romanticize suffering. These poems chronicle a brutal coming-of-age journey through mental illness, hospitalization, toxic relationships, and the desperate search for meaning in the wreckage. The structure itself—divided into acts like a theatrical tragedy—reinforces the sense that we're watching a life unfold in real time, complete with all its false starts and devastating plot twists.
The pop culture references scattered throughout aren't just window dressing. They're the survival mechanisms of a generation raised on screens, using movie quotes and song lyrics as a language for emotions too overwhelming to express otherwise. Schneider weaves everything from classical history to horror films into his work, creating a unique voice that's simultaneously scholarly and street-level raw.
Steven Bentley's illustrations deserve equal billing. These stark, macabre ink drawings don't just complement the poems—they amplify them, adding visual weight to the psychological horror Schneider describes. The combination creates an immersive experience that's part poetry collection, part graphic memoir.
At just over thirty pages, Sad Boy doesn't waste a single word. It's intense, occasionally difficult, and absolutely necessary reading for anyone who wants to understand what it means to survive when your own mind feels like enemy territory. Schneider has emerged from his "Sad Boy era" to create something genuinely meaningful—a testament that the darkness doesn't have to be the end of the story.

[B.R. Doughtry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad Boy, a poetry collection by Chris Schneider, features a diverse and unapologetic display of short poems. It’s a fairly small collection that can be read within an hour. The poems are accompanied by ink drawings that seem to echo their content. All of these ink drawings are impressive and stylistically imaginative. Together, this collection packs a spiky-fisted punch.

The poems deal with some material that some might find disturbing, but they are spun in such a way that they are cleverly delivered, often with an absurd twist or contradiction. In a way, they can be similar to Nirvana lyrics, which is a compliment. The poems could strike a chord of appeal in a morbid or tenebrous way with an estranged, or open-minded kind of person. A comical wrapping of some unsettling themes produces an interesting and curious effect. Thus, these poems don’t land as ‘sadly’ as they might. Considering the title and the cover art, I was expecting something perhaps darker. Most of the pop culture references and topics I’m familiar with, but someone with drastically different experiences might get different mileage out of it. For me, I’m reminded that art or writing can be a powerful form of sublimation. Creativity subsumes many destructive impulses.

All in all, this is a mordant and incisively packaged short collection of poetry that people of a certain bent are bound to enjoy. In addition to the stellar art, the deft use of language and prose can conjure evocative imagery and curious impressions.

[Melody Gilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading "Sad Boy" felt like finding an old mixtape in a box of childhood things - immediately familiar, moving, but also somehow not quite complete. Schneider and Wren, with Bentley's haunting illustrations, crafted something that speaks directly to those of us who grew up with Saturday morning cartoons as our babysitters and later discovered that the same screen glow couldn't quite fill the hollow spaces that depression carved out. The collection gets it - that particular brand of sadness that comes wrapped in childhood nostalgia and song lyrics, the way our generation learned to name our pain through the things we consumed.

But here's where I found myself pulling back from a full five-star embrace: sometimes the poems feel like they're reaching for a cultural reference when what they really need is to sit with the raw ache underneath. I understand the impulse. I've been there, using familiar touchstones as stepping stones when the feelings were too big to face head-on. The references work as emotional shorthand, triggering instant recognition and feeling, but they sometimes replace the harder work of creating new language for old wounds. When the collection does break through to that raw, individual territory, it's devastating and beautiful. A gentle note for anyone currently in the thick of their own dark season - this collection sits deep in that melancholy space and might not be the best companion if you're looking to lift your spirits. Save it for when you're feeling steadier and can appreciate the artistry without it weighing you down further.

[G.C. McKay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chris Schneider’s SAD BOY is not my typical kind of read. Whenever I see 'poetry' attached to any given piece, I'm prone to wincing, but I was intrigued by the illustration on the cover (and throughout, they are excellent) so I decided to give it a shot.

Overall, I believe Schneider has some natural flair and talent for word play and prose. To my surprise, I almost felt reacquainted with a non-existent friend, seeing plentiful references to bands and music of groups of my younger years, from Every Time I Die to Mudvayne, Kurt Cobain, etc, interspersed with some lesser known, though cult-status movies. This made it pretty fun to read and digest, but I couldn't help but feel the book should've been a work of short stories or a novella made up of vignettes, rather than an assortment of poems.

Maybe I'm missing the mark here, but there's a story hidden beneath all the clever word dancing, alluded to by the odd introduction to the piece, where a young man discovers a box of old items and the ghost of his past comes into play. Couple that with the odd set of photographs in the back matter, and there's most definitely a story of some sort here. As it stands, Sad Boy is a little like 'the book within a book' trope utilised by movies like The Babadook, as just one example.

It still works on its own, but like a helpless child, it feels like it could do with a parental figure holding the reigns. I wouldn't be surprised to see it pop up in a Schneider novel at some point, and I for one, would quite like to read it.

[Gloria Oforka · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book, “Sad Boy” is more than a survival narrative it reads like a love letter to the world, written in the ink of lived experience. The voice is raw and unguarded, inviting us to sit with struggle rather than rush past it. What lingers is the book’s unflinching honesty: the way it names fear, shame, and grief, then patiently threads them to resilience without ever pretending the journey is easy.

One of the most affecting motifs is the “yearbook haunted” those pages scrawled with friends forever and the ache that comes when promises age faster than people. The past isn’t romanticized here; it’s interrogated, held up to the light, and allowed to keep some of its shadows. Throughout, sadness is treated not as a flaw to be fixed but as a terrain to be crossed the author’s metaphor of a “darkest dungeon” is apt: claustrophobic, disorienting, yet navigable with courage and a flicker of hope.

There’s a scene that crystallizes the book’s emotional core: he’s crying while driving home from Vermont, the highway blurring into a confession booth. It’s intimate and cinematic, emblematic of how ordinary moments can carry extraordinary weight.

What elevates “Sad Boy” is its refusal to posture. The prose is clear, tender, and exacting; the empathy is earned. This is a book for anyone who has ever felt swallowed by their own feelings and wondered if there’s a path back. It doesn’t promise easy answers, but it offers something braver: companionship, and the steady reminder that survival, too, can be a kind of love.
Gloria

[Nikki Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need therapy; it's misery business
Hospital stays: I'm down with the sickness


What a sharp, satirical, and surprisingly tender debut this was. Sad Boy by Chris Schneider is a fascinating whirlwind through the fractured psyche of adolescence, all told via rhythm and prose. Schneider has crafted a short collection of poems that is as dark as it is engaging; raw in subject matter, yet carefully balanced with humor, cultural references, and a natural beat that makes the poems stick.

I especially loved that these poems rhyme. That musicality threads through even the heaviest subjects and makes the collection compulsively readable. The modern pop culture nods, from Sleeping With Sirens to Rogue One and Teen Titans Go, add a layer of accessibility and youthfulness that makes this feel both personal and universal. Paired with fascinating illustrations, each poem lands as punchy and memorable. The photos at the end made it even more memorable, as they took the book from feeling like a faceless collection of thoughts to feeling like a conversation between friends.

I felt that the dark themes were thoughtfully handled, neither glamorized nor flattened, and the arc from despair to resilience as told via IRL pictures is surprisingly cathartic. If you like your poetry collections brief, brash, and unafraid to tackle life’s raw edges, this is an easy recommendation.

P.S. Bonus callout since I'm an Ohioan and have to hype the locals, too -- the intro poem is from an Akron native!

[Amara Konneh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad Boy is a sharp, sarcastic look at suffering, grief, and the disordered inner world of someone who has experienced a lot. It does not hold back from taking the darkness head-on from the very first page. I was curious about the emotional impact of rap-inspired poetry, so I picked this up. What I discovered was a very personal poem that was also full of wit and irony. Given the themes of trauma and mental illness, it becomes fitting that the poems read like emotional snapshots—fragmented, intense, and occasionally ridiculous. Because Chris Schneider does not hold back, the verse is more candid than conventional. Steven Bentley's drawings, which are understated, creepy, and evocative in a way that heightens the dread, are the ideal complement to the atmosphere. Although it was occasionally difficult to follow due to its unpredictable style, the poems' emotional content felt accurate. For readers who are already knowledgeable, the extensive use of cultural references adds depth; but, if you are unfamiliar with American music and media, you may need to research a few things. Nevertheless, the chaos has strength. This book of poetry is neither polished or traditional; it is emotionally jumbled and rough-edged, but that is part of its allure. Although it will not appeal to everyone, it is worth your time if you are willing to experience something unvarnished, unconventional, and very human. It forced me to face hard realities, which is precisely what great art ought to do.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Schneider’s SAD BOY is definitely one of the weirdest books I’ve read in a long time, but that’s exactly what makes it so good. Right from the first chapter, you’re sucked into this oddly compelling world that feels like a fever dream wrapped in poetry. The story doesn’t play by any of the usual rules – it’s like the author took a bunch of vibes, crammed them into a blender, and hit pulse until something new and wonderful splattered out.

I love how SAD BOY manages to be both hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. There are these random, absurd moments that made me laugh out loud, but then just as quickly, Schneider drops a line that punches you right in the gut. It’s a real trip watching the main character sort of spiral and grow, sometimes in the same paragraph. It’s messy, it’s raw, and it’s unlike anything else.

The writing is super sharp, too. There’s a rhythm to it that keeps you hooked, even when you’re not quite sure what’s going on. Some of the scenes feel like they’re floating just out of reach, which somehow makes them even more interesting. I can’t say I totally understood everything (not sure anyone can), but that’s part of the fun.

If you’re into books that break the mold and leave you feeling a little dazed and a lot inspired, SAD BOY is definitely worth checking out. It’s a weird ride – but a really good one.

[Lucy Brighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad Boy is an uncompromising collection that interrogates the shadowed spaces of contemporary life through verse both visceral and unguarded. Schneider entwines the language of grief, depression, rejection, and survival with the cultural detritus of a media-saturated age, creating poems that flicker between irony and sincerity, despair and wit. Each piece, brief yet potent, feels like a fragment torn from the margins of lived experience, raw and unpolished, but urgent in its authenticity.
The accompanying illustrations heighten the sense of unease—grotesque, macabre, and intricate, they expand the poems into something more immersive, a dialogue between text and image that lingers uneasily in the mind. While the collection can overwhelm in its intensity, it never strays into gratuitousness; rather, it insists on bearing witness to the fractures of mental health with candour and vulnerability.
This is not a work that offers comfort or redemption in conventional terms. Instead, it unsettles, resists neat conclusions, and compels the reader to dwell in its unease. Its originality lies in the weaving of pop-cultural nostalgia with personal anguish, reframing familiar symbols into something strange and disquieting. For those willing to confront the dark corridors of the psyche, Sad Boy is a haunting and memorable achievement.

[Lucifer LeGivorden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This hit me harder than I expected. The author doesn't sugarcoat anything, so I’ll do him the courtesy of not pulling punches either. The poems are raw and emotionally intense in a way that perfectly captures teenage angst. What I appreciated most was how he used an inner darkness with sardonic humor balanced with references from the 90s and early 2000s culture. It made everything feel more relatable and somehow overwhelming in a good (or bad, depending on your view) way.

I liked how the illustrations also perfectly complemented each poem, it worked in a way that I felt few others have ever managed to accomplish. I found myself re-reading certain poems because they just kept coming back to me. I felt like some of the poems were more like a snapshot rather than complete thoughts, but that actually worked for the painfully fractured teenage experience the author was conveying.

So here's the thing, this isn't light reading by any means. If you're looking for fluffy, nice, and well-polished poetry, Sad Boy will not be for you. This is like reading someone's private journal of pain and anger, and there's something cathartic about seeing that kind of vulnerability. It says to the world what so many of us wanted to say in our youth but didn’t dare. Hats off to this author. Good job.

[Kindle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant and Thought-provoking


IMHO, Sad Boy by Chris Schneider is a poignant and thought-provoking collection of poems that left a strong impression on me. I borrowed it using my Kindle Unlimited account, and I’m glad I did. Each poem is short but emotionally intense, and I appreciated how the author conveyed such powerful feelings in so few words.

I felt that the use of pop culture references added depth and relatability to the poetry. Even though some references were a bit niche, they made the reading experience unique and engaging for me. The illustrations accompanying the poems were striking and enhanced the overall mood of the book.

I liked the dark humor in the collection. It provided a necessary counterbalance to the heavy themes of depression, alienation, and difficult experiences. I found myself reflecting on the raw honesty in each piece, which made it even more impactful.

For anyone who enjoys introspective poetry with a mix of sadness and humor, I think this book is a must-read. It’s not overly long, but it’s packed with meaning. I’m looking forward to seeing more work from Chris Schneider in the future. Borrowing this through Kindle Unlimited was absolutely worth it for me.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting collection of short poems that blends dark themes with pop culture references. It offers a raw exploration of depression, alienation, and life's struggles through cleverly woven verses that speak directly to your heart. The subject matter is heavy, dealing with themes of mental health and isolation, but the author has managed to balance the darkness with touches of humor and wit. The book includes references to TV shows, movies, and music, making complex emotions more relatable through familiar cultural touchstones. Each poem, though brief, delivers a powerful punch of emotional intensity. The black and white illustrations complement the mood of the verses. This is not a collection for those seeking light, uplifting poetry. On the opposite, it offers a mirror to those who have experienced similar struggles, providing a sense of understanding and connection. The merge of personal pain with cultural references creates an accessible way to explore difficult topics. Some readers might find certain references challenging to grasp, but the raw emotion and authenticity shine through consistently. If you are someone who appreciates dark humor and isn't afraid to confront life's harder truths through the lens of contemporary poetry, this book is a great choice.

[François G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of poems packs a brutal punch with its raw language and no-excuse attitude.

Each line feels like a snapshot of modern misery and dark humor. The word choice is stark—phrases like "Hellraiser nightmares" and "need therapy. It's misery business" hit hard and instantly remind me of those rough days when everything seems to crumble.

The symbolic references, from nods to pop culture like Chucky, Wes Craven, and Harley Quinn, tie the abstract feelings of despair into a familiar, modern landscape. Pop culture? Kind of...

The idea of “eternal sunshine, no sunscreen” paints a picture of burning through life without protection, both literally and metaphorically. These poems capture the chaos of everyday struggles and the cynicism we sometimes hide behind a laugh. They echo the moods of a hectic, unpredictable life... my life in a way. Yours maybe. This is how the 21th century goes...

The style might not be everyone’s cup of tea but I enjoyed its raw authenticity. Even on my roughest days, these verses remind me that feeling broken can also be strangely "beautiful". This is the paradox of my life. Feeling broken and unique and finding inspiration in your own sufferings.

[Jonathan Pohl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection delivers a powerful punch that lingers long after reading. The poet masterfully weaves pop culture references—from Transformers to Rogue One—into deeply personal narratives of pain, trauma, and survival. What could have been gimmicky instead becomes profound, using familiar touchstones to make raw emotional experiences universally accessible.
The voice is unflinchingly honest without being self-indulgent. Lines like "Hurts so much, I know the pain / I'm sure next time will feel the same" capture genuine anguish with devastating simplicity. The juxtaposition of cultural references with personal trauma creates unexpected resonances—"Brookline kid gets brain in Dallas like Kennedy" brilliantly connects individual breakdown to collective memory.
The stark black-and-white illustrations perfectly complement the poetry's gothic sensibility, creating a cohesive artistic vision. This isn't just clever wordplay; it's authentic contemporary poetry that transforms personal darkness into something beautiful and shared.
A remarkable debut that establishes a unique voice in modern poetry. Highly recommended for readers seeking honest, innovative work that speaks to our cultural moment.

[Avery Ambrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sad Boy" is a short innovative anthology of tragic poems that delves into our id and shadow self, lurign readers into depths of depression staring the persona hard in the face throughout this journey. What was also a pleasant surprise with this book is the epistolary nature, favouring a screenplay form for the prologue before lapsing into free verse. The fragmented verses and free form nature of the poems serve the poetry best when it includes a plethora of pop-culture devices, with some famous ones that range from Poe, star Wars to metal acts such as Slipknot and Disturbed. What also works with this collections is the intricate digital art which accompanies the piece which ranges from at times insightful to also disturbing as it tackles themes related to depression, suicide and trauma in general.
While not perfect, the collection could do with a lot more insight and depth into each of the persona/s and show off more stylistic devices to engage the reader. it could also do with a more cohesive threadline between each, like the way poets use seasons or recurring motifs to bind their anthologies together, with clarity. Still, an otherwise excellent effort, short and to the point and a feast of pop-culture anthems to stimulate most readers.

[Harriet S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

SAD BOY is a slim collection of 15 free-verse poems that balance bleak humor with genuine emotional weight. The writing is concise but layered, moving between dark, introspective moments and flashes of pop-culture wit. It captures themes of alienation, youth, and self-awareness without ever feeling heavy-handed.

The tone shifts from satirical to unsettling, often within a single poem, and the mix works surprisingly well. Many of the references and turns of phrase feel like they could only have come from someone who lived the experiences being described. The high-school yearbook inspiration gives the whole book an authentic, confessional edge.

Illustrations by Steven Bentley add another dimension, amplifying the mood and making the book feel like more than just a poetry collection. The visuals and text together create a distinctive, slightly surreal atmosphere that lingers after reading.

If there’s a drawback, it’s that the book is over quickly—you can read it in a single sitting—but it’s the kind of work you might find yourself flipping back through later. For readers who appreciate poetry that’s dark but not joyless, satirical yet sincere, SAD BOY stands out as something genuinely different.

[Book Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad Boy isn't poetry in the sense of Byron or Tennyson. The poems have raw emotion and I experienced both sorrow and a level of anger in the words. At the start, the author issues a warning that the book contains references to suicide and self-harm, so the emotions are to be expected.

The poems contain allusions and images from Donny Darko to Caligula.
Phrases that especially caught my attention:
Society the economic exploitation of humanity
Postcard from Jonestown: murder-suicide
Darkest dungeon: prisoner in Azkaban. (For those who've read the popular series from which this comes, or have seen the films, this would have particular meaning--the same is no doubt true of the widely varied images in Sad Boy).

In reading the book a second time, different images speak, such as;
Voted Most Likely to Disappear Tragically

This is poetry, so there aren't explanations, mostly experience. The images conveyed are vivid. These words aren't joyful, they aren't beautiful, but they are worthwhile.

One note: I appreciate how the author provides information at the beginning for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Schneider encourages people to use it if struggling with mental health. What a positive way to begin.

[JM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A jarring collection that doesn't shy away from hot-button topics, and also relies on pop culture knowledge from TV to writers to music, Sad Boy is a quick and yet potent smash of poems that feel almost breathless. Many of these, especially when paired with the illustrations, will leave you feeling a bit loose and blurry. Divided into acts, this almost read like a play itself, where we're working up to a denouement that doesn't disappoint.

Guy Fawkes, high school, fashion, politics: these poems are short but cover a lot of ground. My favorites were "New Fatalism," (the Larry David reference in the end!), "Gutter phenomenon" and "Charles I." The language is punchy, and deliberately so, but I also felt like the structure Schneider creates sometimes lends itself to leaving a lot between the lines. For the poems I mentioned and many others, this works well. For some, it left me wanting more.

The illustrations were haunting, and an excellent addition. The most haunting of these was for the titular "Sad Boy," with an illustration of a face that is morphing into something almost bug-like or alien, with a grotesque finger growing out of its head. I always appreciate when poets pair their works with something visual, so that was a standout aspect of this collection.

[Ray Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

If You’re in the Mood and Are Culturally Attuned

Sad Boy (by Chris Schneider) is a short book of ten short poems that do its title proud, and that’s “sad” in its full gloomy spectrum. The stark and eerie fine-line drawings that accompany the poems fit them well. Besides being permeated with all things dark, the poems revel in myriad cultural references, mostly from popular American TV, movies, and music — and thank God for Kindle’s handy Wikipedia look-up feature if the reader happens not to be up on many of them (this reviewer couldn’t pinpoint a few things even with that convenience). As with a lot of modern poetry, the average reader may also find some things unintelligible, so “absurdist” might deserve a starring role in the book’s description. While the words are understandable, their relationship to each other isn’t always (but admittedly, this reviewer has often found himself the getting-it odd man out when hanging around the poetry crowd). Even so, the fascinatingly creepy gloom of Sad Boy prevails throughout. So an interesting and fun read, even as an exercise in decryption.

[Melissa Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed most the generational sadness that is expressed. Each short poem is filled with a sense of moodiness as if Kurt Cobain had raised himself from the dead and possessed Chris Schneider to write this. Like Cobain the writing is a brainstorm of disconnected thoughts from "black room: Edgar Allen Poe" to "Postcard from Jonestown: murder-suicide." The melancholy expressed in this book transparently reflects humanity. The poetry could be lyrical at times, referencing everyday items and how they are perceived. It's about not fitting the bill and being rejected. It's about surviving only to find peace in death. The way I perceive it is poetry that starts its own counter cultural revolution. References are to TV shows like "That's so Raven," "How I Met Your Mother," and "Pretty in Pink," for example and then Schneider twists it into his own dark world.

The other part I truly enjoyed were the illustrations by Steven Bentley. They were dark, sword through a hand, a hand holding a tarot card, a man with a head of a pig. Between the poems and the art, it was a rain of creativity. It's a short book loaded with scenery that will make you think.

[CP · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly a work of art that is written from the heart. Reading each poem you feel the life and reality of the writer's own life experiences and feelings coming through. Sometimes the sadness, confusion and the absurdity that he looks at the world. Each piece is brilliantly crafted and although each one is relatively short each word it feels counts.

I have recently been reading a lot of poetry and sometimes I have struggled with it being just words with no life experience or true appreciation of the subject they are writing about. With each Chris Schneider poem that is not the case the feeling and emotion come across in bundles.

The subject matter this book touches on is focused on perhaps the darker side of life, but I would like to add that this book never brought me down. In fact, the tactful humour that is incorporated I found to be uplifting.

A final word that must be said is a big appreciation of the illustration within this book by Stephen Bentley. They are exceptional, they alone make this book worth buying which gives it two great reasons to invest your time in this wonderful piece of work.