Remnants: A Journey through Grief, Love and Becoming

by Aarti Upadhyay

Remnants is a deeply moving and evocative collection of poetry that explores the intricate emotions of grief, love, loss, and healing. The poems are raw, intimate, and profoundly introspective, weaving together personal experiences with universal emotions that resonate deeply with the reader. It is not just about loss—it’s about survival. It’s about the pieces of ourselves we leave behind, the ones we cling to, and the ones we rebuild. For anyone who has ever lost, loved, or searched for meaning in their pain, this collection is a quiet, companion.

102 pages, Paperback

Published April 8, 2025

Reviews

[⭐Toonasa⭐ •Romance Book Lovers' Haven• · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Remnant" is a poetry book with themes of loss, grief, love, a journey of moving forward & of moving on. I like poems for how they can convey so much in so little, this one definitely accomplished that.

This was beautifully written, with easy to understand language. Some prose with a flowery song-like rhythm while some had a story like quality. These words told me a story of losses, of various individuals in the author's (I think) life from her perspective. This was the 1st poetry book that actually succeeded in making my heart feel heavy with emotions 🥺.

But not only of loss, it tells of the grief that clings to the survivor. How they move on, how hope should stay with you even in the darkest of nights. For yourself, because people come & go, but memories remain. I read this book (technically #ARC) easily in 25min in one-seating. Here's my fav lines from it:

But the weight stays. The scream stays. And no one hears it but me.

Now I see, through tears and through pain, That love shouldn't hurt, shouldn't strain.

"To heal, you must sit with despair."

This emptiness, this silent sorrow, this profound loss, Teaches me the depth of love, the cost of its absence.

The life I built in my mind with you. But where do I put it now?

I’ll move forward, one feeling at a time, To a future unburdened, a life that’s mine.

** #arcHonestReview #AllViewsAreMyOwn **

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[Pori Goswami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remnants is not just a poetry book, it’s a gentle companion for anyone carrying grief, heartbreak, or loss. Aarti Upadhyay writes with breathtaking honesty and tenderness, offering verses that feel like a quiet hand holding yours in the silence.

Each poem flows with raw emotions that is never trying to fix your pain, but sitting beside it, letting it breathe. Whether she’s writing about aching memories, shared meals, or the echo of laughter, her words feel deeply personal yet universally relatable.

This book doesn’t just explore loss; it speaks of survival, slow healing, and the quiet beauty of becoming whole again. It’s comforting, intimate, and full of heart. A must-read for anyone who’s ever loved and lost. ❤️‍🩹

[Sameer Gudhate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever sat in silence, scrolling through your thoughts at 2 AM, trying to make sense of everything you’ve lost, loved, and outgrown? That’s the space Remnants lives in—those quiet, aching, deeply human corners of our lives. It doesn’t shout for your attention. It gently walks in, sits beside you, and says, “Me too.”

Aarti Upadhyay’s Remnants isn’t just a collection of poems—it’s an experience. This book is her poetic debut, and yet, it carries the depth and emotional maturity of someone who has lived through every word she pens. There’s an honesty in her voice that doesn’t try to impress; it just is—raw, unfiltered, and deeply relatable.

At its core, Remnants is a poetic chronicle of grief and healing. But calling it just that would be an injustice. It’s about what remains after life breaks us open—the pieces we hold onto, the ones we’re forced to let go of, and the parts we rebuild, slowly, gently, with trembling hands and cautious hope.

There’s no chronological plot here—this is poetry, after all—but what binds these verses together is the emotional journey. Whether it’s the echo of a love lost, the hollow silence after a goodbye, or the flicker of hope that peeks through a tear-stained page, each poem contributes to a larger mosaic of becoming.

Reading Aarti’s poetry feels like reading someone’s diary—except it’s not awkward or intrusive. It’s brave. Her writing is refreshingly free of literary pretense. There’s no forced rhyme, no overworked metaphor. Instead, there’s rhythm in vulnerability and music in the silence between her words.

She writes like she’s speaking directly to you. There’s intimacy here, a softness even in the pain. And when she chooses to leave things unsaid, that silence is just as powerful.

One of the most beautiful aspects of Remnants is how it never tries to ‘fix’ grief. It lets it breathe. Aarti explores love—not just romantic, but familial, platonic, even self-love—through the lens of loss. She doesn’t offer tidy resolutions. Instead, she gives us space to sit with our own emotions.

The themes of self-discovery, survival, and resilience are intricately woven throughout. And somewhere between the lines, you start seeing your own story mirrored back at you.

There’s a deliberate lack of rigid structure here, which mirrors the very nature of grief—nonlinear, unpredictable, messy. The pacing is gentle; you can read it all in one sitting or return to it over days. Either way, it lingers with you.


I didn’t expect to cry, but I did. Not the loud, dramatic kind—more like tears that slip out quietly while reading a line that hits too close to home. This book has a way of wrapping itself around your memories, pulling out things you thought you’d buried.

Some lines stayed with me long after I’d put the book down. Others made me stop mid-sentence and just feel. And honestly, how often does that happen with poetry?

The real strength of Remnants lies in its sincerity. Aarti doesn’t try to be profound—she just is. There’s courage in her simplicity. The emotional clarity of her words, the way she balances heaviness with hope, and the consistent tone of compassion make this collection unforgettable.

If I had to nitpick, I’d say I wanted more. Not because anything felt incomplete, but because I wasn’t ready to let go. A few poems could have benefited from slightly more polish, but even their rawness feels intentional—like an unhealed wound you’re not supposed to cover up.

This book felt personal. Like someone else finally put into words the things I hadn’t been able to say. As someone who’s experienced both quiet heartbreak and loud grief, Remnants didn’t just resonate—it comforted. It reminded me that healing isn’t linear, and that sometimes, simply surviving is a form of grace.

Aarti Upadhyay’s Remnants is one of those rare poetry collections that doesn’t demand your attention—it earns it. With its unflinching honesty and quiet strength, it becomes a companion for anyone navigating grief, growth, or just the simple act of feeling deeply.

If you’ve ever loved, lost, or stood at the edge of your own becoming, this book is for you.

Have you ever read something that felt like it was written for you? What poetry collection has left a mark on your heart? Let me know—I’d love to hear your story.

[Rahul Vishnoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

-A Streak of Words Blazing With Loss & Survival-
Review of 'Remnants'

Quote Alert
"𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞,
𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐤,
𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐲, 𝐧𝐨 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞,
𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭.
𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝,
𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫, 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧,
𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲,
𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧."

Aarti Upadhyay, winner of the 21st Emily Dickinson Award, has etched grief into words. Her poems are an ode to the knife of grief andnhow it cuts through flesh, seen and unseen, how it tears us into pieces. But she talks about survival and healing also, about picking up those pieces, stitching them back with the glue of survival and moving on.
Have a look:
"Now I see, through tears and through pain,
That love shouldn't hurt, shouldn't strain.
I'm learning to heal, to let go, to mend,
From the trauma bond, to find my own end."

In a way, the poems are less about grief but more about what it leads to: kindness and resilience. Isn't that amazing? Something so dark giving rise to something so beautiful.
Have a look-
'For in the shadows, maybe then,
this aching emptiness would end.
Or maybe, just maybe, I could find,
a flicker of strength left behind.'

The poet has let her thoughts flow sans restraint or artifice. She lets her emotions tinge her ink, and the poems that erupt out from this merger are raw yet polished. She has covered myriad topics for her collection. Nothing escapes her sharp lens. Nothing is sacred or beyond appraisal. Art should comfort the distressed and distress the comforted ones. That's what these poems achieve.

All these poems contain a little part of poet's heart. And the reader can feel the longing she must have felt while putting her quill to the paper. The poems, although they are of past, they don't just stay there. Like a time machine, they take you back, pulling you not to Upadhyay's past but your own. And this is actually the poet's victory- the ability of her words to evoke nostalgia in us.
Don't miss the chance to read this collection of memories and nostalgia.

Leaving you with my most favourite lines:
'Today, I invited Shame for a cup of coffee,
She arrived draped in shades of indigo-
A hue so deep, it echoed sorrow,
I asked her gently,"Why so blue?"
She sighed, her voice a trembling stream,
"Because I must be true,
A mirror to the things you hide
A keeper of all you fear inside."'

[Rounak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aarti Upadhyay’s Remnants is not merely a poetry collection; it is an elegiac tapestry woven with sinews of anguish, longing, and tentative hope. With unflinching candor, Upadhyay transmutes personal suffering into visceral art, navigating grief’s jagged topography with linguistic precision and emotional ferocity. Her verses are not ornamental; they are autopsies of the soul—incisive, scarring, and unrelenting.

What distinguishes Remnants from pedestrian confessional poetry is its refusal to aestheticize pain for the sake of palatability. Instead, Upadhyay revels in the discomfort, wrenching the reader into the disquieting abyss of human vulnerability. There is an austere brutality in her diction—words feel cauterized, as if forged in the heat of loss and then cooled in silence. This lends her poems a paradoxical luminosity: they are simultaneously bleak and redemptive.

Themes of love, loss, and identity are rendered with a kind of lyrical asceticism. Upadhyay’s strength lies in her restraint; she resists indulgence, allowing space for the ineffable. Her grief is not performative but intimate—cloistered in metaphor, draped in nuance. Each line feels like a relic, a fragment of an inner cataclysm. This fragmentation mirrors the titular “remnants,” evoking both the debris and the dignity of what remains after devastation.

However, Remnants occasionally falters in its emotional pacing. Some poems lean too heavily on abstraction, bordering on obfuscation rather than transcendence. In these moments, the work risks alienating the reader, privileging interiority over resonance. Yet even these lapses seem intentional, as if mirroring the very nature of trauma: erratic, elusive, and cyclical.

Ultimately, Remnants is a testament to survival—not triumphant or linear, but ragged, recursive, and real. Upadhyay does not offer closure; she offers companionship in the murk. This is a book not meant to be consumed but confronted. It will not soothe you. It will sit beside your wounds and whisper that you are not alone in them.

[Dr. Prashant Pawar · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖💔 Book Review: Remnants by Aarti Upadhyay 💔📖

Some books don’t just speak to you — they sit with you in your silence. Remnants by Aarti Upadhyay is one such hauntingly beautiful poetry collection — a quiet companion for the brokenhearted, the lost, and the healing.

🌫️ Remnants is a deeply reminiscent collection of poems that tenderly explore the tangled emotions of grief, love, heartbreak, loss, and healing. Aarti's words are raw, intimate, and brutally honest, like pages torn straight from a heart that has known pain, betrayal, and solitude.

🖤 This is not just a book about loss — it’s about survival. It’s about:

the pieces of ourselves we lose,

the fragments we cling to,

and the versions we slowly rebuild.

Every verse in this collection feels like a soft confession. It doesn't try to fix you — instead, it validates your sadness, sits beside your sorrow, and holds your hand through the healing.

😢 The emotions after heartbreak are captured with heartbreaking clarity:

sleepless nights

loss of appetite

uncontrollable crying

the shame of being left

the loneliness that swells in quiet hours

the hesitation in seeking therapy, yet finding solace in it

Aarti also pays tribute to the silent pillars of strength — her mother, father, and brother — whose emotional support helped her navigate the storm. That vulnerability, that gratitude, and that strength make the collection even more human and relatable.

☕ And yes, tucked amidst the sadness is also a warm, personal ode to chai — a reminder that even in grief, the small comforts of life can anchor us.

💭 After finishing this book, one lingering feeling remains: for the author, love seemed more like a mirage than reality. And yet, in her pain, she offers readers profound reflections and poetic healing.

🌸 If you’ve ever loved deeply, lost painfully, or found yourself searching for meaning in the midst of sorrow — Remnants will speak directly to your soul.

📚 Highly recommended for those who resonate with poetry rooted in love, heartbreak, grief, and emotional recovery.

[Megha Bhatia · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚙𝚘𝚎𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗’𝚝 𝚜𝚊𝚢 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚍.

Books like these arrive like rain after a long drought - not loud, but necessary. This delicate collection of poetry doesn’t beg to be read; it patiently waits, knowing you’ll find it when you need it most. It doesn’t rush to heal you, either. Instead, it sits with your silence and your sorrow and gently places its hand in yours.

This isn’t just a collection of poems. It’s an offering - a raw, honest journey through the aching corridors of grief, the fragile beauty of love, and the silent art of becoming whole again. The author’s writing feels more like shared breath than literature. There’s no pretension, no attempt to dazzle with complexity, only deeply human truths wrapped in simple, striking verses.

Each poem flows like a whisper, sometimes trembling, sometimes steady, but always full of feeling. Whether she’s writing about silent dinners that feel too loud, or laughter that echoes long after someone’s gone, the emotions feel deeply personal yet universally familiar.

One of the book’s most powerful aspects is its refusal to “fix” pain. It allows sadness to exist, to breathe, to be witnessed. The author gently holds space for heartbreak while planting quiet seeds of healing. Themes of mental health, vulnerability, self-love, and emotional rebirth are beautifully explored without being overwhelming.

The emotional resonance is striking, with lines that sneak up on you, tug at your heart, and leave you still. You don’t just read this book; you feel it, carry it, and come back to it when life gets heavy.

For anyone who’s ever mourned, loved, or simply felt deeply, this book is your mirror and your balm.

[Rajendra Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Remnants: A Journey through Grief, Love and Becoming" written by author Aarti Upadhyay is a profoundly moving collection of poetry that delves into the complex emotions surrounding grief, love, loss, and healing. This evocative work captures the rawness of human experience, inviting readers to connect with their own feelings of sorrow and resilience. 

             Through her poignant verses, Aarti Upadhyay navigates the complexities of emotional turmoil, revealing the resilience that often emerges from grief☹️. There is a recognition of the small acts of kindness—both to ourselves and from others—that sustain us through our darkest moments.

          Among the many poignant verses, the lines:
    "We shun the shadows👥, fear the night🌃,  
     Emotions dark, that dim the light💡.  
     We label them as foes unkind,  
     And seek a happiness😊 defined,  
     By constant joy, a sunlit sky🌤️,  
     Ignoring whispers passing by."
stand out for their profound reflection on how we often perceive our darker emotions.

              In "Remnants," Aarti Upadhyay offers solace to anyone who has ever loved deeply or grappled with loss. Its profound insights and tender reflections make it a must-read for those seeking meaning in their own experiences of love and loss💖✨

[Komal Kumari · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖 Book Review 📖

Reading Remnants felt like quietly sitting beside someone in their most vulnerable moments, holding space for their pain and transformation. This collection is tender, raw, and full of quiet strength. Aarti Upadhyay’s words don’t just describe grief—they embody it. She doesn’t try to dress it up; she shows it as it is—messy, aching, yet slowly healing.

What moved me most was how she writes about love that still lingers even after loss, and how becoming whole again is not about forgetting but learning to carry the emptiness differently. I found myself pausing often, breathing with the lines, as if they gave shape to emotions I hadn’t found words for yet.

This isn’t just poetry—it’s presence. It sits with you, gently. If you've ever loved deeply, lost heavily, or tried to find meaning in that in-between space, this book will find you.

Favorite lines that stayed with me:
“Sleep was the first to leave, slipping away like a tide at dusk...”
“Your absence is in every breath, every step…”
“Grief had made a home in me, filled my bones, my breath, my skin…”

A beautiful, aching, and ultimately hopeful read.

Rating: 5/5
Happy Reading 📚

[Booklover_rimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review :
"Remnants" by Aarti Upadhyay is a collection of poems that fills with the emotions of the poet's own journey through love, loss, grief, and finally the process of healing.

The book is very short, only 38 pages, and has 21 short poems, but these are enough to take you on a long, relatable journey if you have also felt the loss of love and dreams. The very first poem, "Crossroads of Silence," will be enough to hook you with the book, as the verses echo the pain of the author so deeply, you can feel them too.

My favorite poems are 'The Night Walk' and 'Chai and Samosa—A Promise'. These two poems touch my heart more than others. But apart from these, I also love the poem "A Cosmic Truth," where the poet accepts the concept of letting go: "No looking back, no vain regret; the lessons learned, we can't forget." And then the journey of healing, which is filled with darkness but yet a journey towards light to recover.

I love reading the poems. I love it because through the poems the poet takes the readers on her life journey; it feels like reading a story, not just some verses.

[BookNomad · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Remnants” is not just a poetry book, it’s an experience. It gently walks you through the messy emotions of grief, heartbreak, and healing without ever rushing you. Each poem feels like a whisper to your soul, especially if you’ve ever gone through a personal loss or emotional struggle.

The author Mrs. Aarti Upadhyay writes with such honesty and tenderness that it feels like you're sitting with a close friend who truly understands. There’s no dramatic flair or forced optimism just raw emotion, vulnerability, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going.

I would like to share a few verses from the poem ‘Echoes of Hope’ -
“I’m learning to heal, to let go, to mend,
From the trauma bond, to find my own end.
The joy was fleeting, the pain was real,
But from this darkness, I’ll surely heal.
For I am more than the sum of your cold,
I am warmth, I am love, I am whole.”

This book doesn’t offer solutions. Instead, it offers presence. It holds space for your pain, your love, your memories and in that, it becomes a kind of healing.

[Maneka Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aarti Upadhyay's Remnants is not simply a body of poetry, but a journey through the experience of poetry and the essence of poetry. The poems are sincere, with the poet surprising you with examples of what grief means and what healing means, stillness and chaos - a glimpse of life in all its vitality. There is nothing glam or pretentious about this reflection - only honesty, even when it's couched in layers of lyricism. It's possible to feel poems, immersed in them. Words can feel like a breath being held deep in your chest, or in their own respective places, trapped screams. Poetry is solid and ontological. It is easy to see that Remnants is a book of poems that engages with metaphor and symbol, and for this reason meanings disclose themselves and will stay with you long after you have experienced them. I could enthusiastically recommend this reading to anyone interested in notions of brutality and catharsis or anyone who just wants to feel the comfort that someone else feels and understands them!

[Leotolstoyyy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remnants: A Journey through Grief, Love, and Becoming by Aarti Upadhyay is a heartfelt poetry anthology. Each poem expresses deep emotions of love, loss, and healing in a loving, honest manner. One of the poems, "The Night Walk," is about a lonely walk in the rain, full with grief and memories. It concludes with a dreamlike period of consolation before returning to the harsh realities of bereavement. The words feel genuine and relatable, especially to those who have lost a loved one.

In "Chai and Samosa - A Promise" and "Where Do I Put This Love?", Aarti demonstrates how simple acts, such as sharing food or remembering calm moments, can retain immense importance when someone has passed away. Her poetry do not attempt to alleviate the suffering, but rather help you sit with it and feel less alone. They remind you that love endures even when the person is no longer present. This book is a comforting, emotional companion for anybody who has profoundly loved and lost. It's simple, lovely, and full of heart.

[Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading “Remnants” felt like reading someone’s heart laid bare. The poems are unfiltered and full of truth, touching on grief in its rawest form but also on the quiet power of love and survival.

What I loved most is how personal yet universal the poems feel. Whether you've lost a loved one, gone through a heartbreak, or simply questioned your place in the world, you’ll see parts of yourself in these pages.

Sharing a stanza from one of the poems titled ‘The Mind Remembers, The Forgets’ —
“I wanted to argue, to insist that my grief was different,
That it could not be moved, that it was too much, too heavy, too real.
But somewhere between breaths, between showing up, between holding on,
I realized — I had already let go without meaning to.”

There were moments I had to pause, breathe, and sit with a line for a while it hit that deep. This isn’t light reading, but it’s the kind that changes you a little. Makes you feel seen. And maybe even a little more whole.

[Uzma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently finished reading this poetry book, and I honestly liked it a lot. The poems are written in a very simple way, but they still manage to make you feel so much. Each one talks about emotions we all go through—like pain, love, loss, and healing.

What I truly enjoyed was how authentic everything was. It felt like the author just said what she truly felt, without trying too hard. I caught myself stopping a couple of times while reading just to absorb it all.

Two poems that I really loved were The Pace of Healing and Love, Despite It All. They were both stunningly written and felt very close to my heart.

Some poems reminded me of things I’ve been through, and others gave me a sense of calm. The book isn’t long, but it leaves a deep impact. You can feel the honesty in every word.

If you enjoy reading emotional and heartfelt poetry, then I think this book is worth reading. It’s one of those books you quietly keep close because of how it makes you feel.

[vivid_serenity__ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aarti Upadhyay’s Remnants is more than just a poetry collection, it’s a deeply personal journey through loss, love, and transformation. It is a poetic hug for every soul who has ever loved, lost, and found themselves again. Each page has evidence of grief, courage, and hope. There is no overdramatization here, simply real emotion captured in beautiful poetry. The way she manages to mix sadness with hope is just amazing. This book helped me reflect on the unsaid part of my own heart. The transition from one to the next reads like a personal conversation. Every page feels like a breath, a stop, a time to remember who you are while everyone else forgets. Aarti’s use of language is minimal but magnetic. These poems are not just pieces of writing—they are live experience. My favourite part from this book is "The Mind Remembers, Then Forgets" & "A Cosmic Truth". Highly recommended for everyone.

[Madhura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remnants is not merely a poetry collection—it is an elegy sewn with hope, stitched from the frayed edges of love, loss, and healing. The poetess leads us through the cold corridors of grief, where loneliness echoes and memories burn like quiet candles in the dark. Each poem is a mirror, fogged with tears yet reflecting raw, vulnerable beauty. The journey begins in aching emptiness, through sleepless nights and echoing silence, until she stumbles upon the first breath of healing—a fragile truth whispered in therapy rooms and steeped in cups of hot chai. Her verses carry the scent of mourning, but also the warmth of resilience. These 21 poems do not promise restoration but offer something more sacred—a gentle rebirth, a becoming. For anyone who has ever crumbled under loss, this book is a hand held out in the dark. A tender, brave companion that reminds you: even broken things can bloom.

[Maitreyee Sarma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and empowering poetry book, Remnants brilliantly portrays how grief can let us undergo a powerful personal transformation if we let our willpower do so.

The author has brought alive grief in its vivid types and numerous forms through soulful poetic melodies whether it be in the sweet rhythm of rhyming format or the easy flow of free verse.

The author unabashedly penned down her painful tragic episodes, opens up about her vulnerabilities and how she saw a massive shift in her mental health after seeking professional help.

Readers like me can resonate deeply with this book as it speaks of the unpredictable episodes of sadness that breaks in our lives every now and then. The author has creatively and concisely voiced out the ways in which these emotions let us feel and shape us overall.

This book tells us that it is okay to feel sad, seek help so that we can change our perception and move on happily towards a better tomorrow.

[mithi._.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

What should I even say about this for such a emotional roller coaster from starting to end? The book is a very short book of minimum 30-35 pages, but still each page holds so many emotions which will lead to warm up your heart. My heart was so full, I had wet eyes. I couldn't read because I was crying. I felt so sad and so helpless. Because somehow I don't know why my past grieves and past sadness came up to me in my mind. I was in my past recalling all those memories yet I wanted to complete this book because this felt so real so relatable and I was so overwhelmed with this book a special thanks to author for writing such a beautiful book and I am telling you this that I am going to write word by word each poem into my personal diary, and I will keep it cherished forever.

[Vanshi ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remnants by Aarti Upadhyay isn't just a book you read; it's a feeling you sink into. It's like finding a handwritten note left just for you in the quiet moments of your own life. Upadhyay pours her soul into these poems, not with grand pronouncements, but with the gentle, unwavering honesty of someone who truly understands.

It’s about grief, yes, but more so, it’s about the stubborn, beautiful resilience of the human spirit. She doesn't offer solutions, but rather, a shared space for the ache of what’s lost and the quiet hope of what remains. Each line feels earned, a true remnant of living and loving deeply. This isn't poetry that demands your attention; it simply earns your trust, one heartfelt word at a time.

[Souvik Ghosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading *Remnants* feels like listening to a close friend unravel the knots of their heart, and in doing so, you begin to untangle your own. It doesn’t try to solve grief—it lets it breathe. These poems stay with you long after,
offering comfort, companionship, and quiet strength. A must-read for anyone who has ever loved deeply or lost quietly.
You don't read Remnants so much as listen to a close friend unpick the tangles of her heart and, through the process, begin unwinding yours. It doesn’t aim to solve grief — it lets it breathe. These poems are the ones that stick with you long after, providing comfort, company, quiet power. Recommended for anyone who’s ever loved hard or lost soft.

[Asmita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poetry collection doesn’t whisper—it speaks in a clear, unwavering voice that refuses to be ignored. Stripped of artifice, the poems delve straight into the marrow of emotion, laying bare the author’s personal truths with striking clarity.

Rather than hiding behind metaphor or polish, the writer leans into vulnerability, offering verse that feels more like confession than performance. It’s this openness that makes each page resonate so deeply—there’s no mask here, only the pulse of real experience.

For readers who crave poetry that isn’t afraid to feel everything all at once—grief, longing, love, rage—this book delivers in full. It doesn’t just ask you to read; it dares you to feel. Prepare to come away changed.

[Readwithsohi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some books don’t just tell stories they quietly sit with you, hold your hand through your pain, and make you feel seen. Remnants by Aarti Upadhyay is exactly that kind of book. It’s not merely a collection of poems; it’s an emotional experience, a raw, beautiful, and unflinchingly honest exploration of grief, love, loss, and what it means to become whole again.

Right from the opening pages, there’s an aching vulnerability in Upadhyay’s words. The poems are deeply personal, yet there’s something profoundly universal about them. Whether you’ve experienced heartbreak, lost a loved one, or simply struggled to find yourself in the aftermath of life’s storms, you’ll likely see parts of your own story reflected in these pages.

[Sneha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remnants hits like a whisper and a scream all at once. Aarti Upadhyay pours grief, love, and healing into poems that feel like they were written in the dark corners of your heart.

It’s raw, real, and quietly powerful. No fluff, just the kind of words that sit with you when everything else feels too loud.

This isn’t just about loss, it’s about survival. About the pieces we lose, the ones we protect, and the ones we grow back. If you’ve ever hurt, healed, or had to find meaning in the mess, this one will hold your hand through it.

Short, soulful, and unforgettable, Remnants doesn’t ask for your attention. It earns it.

[Sanchita Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remnants is a hauntingly beautiful collection of poetry that delves into the raw depths of grief, love, and healing. Each poem feels like a whispered confession—intimate, honest, and deeply human. The poet masterfully captures the ache of loss and the quiet resilience of survival, offering readers a mirror to their own pain and strength. This collection isn’t just about mourning what’s gone, but about reclaiming what remains and rebuilding from the fragments. With its emotional depth and lyrical power, *Remnants* serves as a tender companion for anyone navigating sorrow, reminding us that healing often begins in the broken places.

[Aakriti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of my favorite poems from the collection are the ones where Upadhyay speaks about the quiet moments sitting in silence, holding onto memories, learning to live alongside loss. Her words are unassuming but linger long after you finish reading. There’s a strong sense of resilience threaded through the book, as if she’s telling the reader, “Yes, it hurts—but you’re still here, and that matters.”

Another remarkable thing about Remnants is how accessible it is. You don’t need to be an avid poetry reader to appreciate this book. The emotions are laid bare in a way that anyone can connect with, whether you’re a poetry lover or someone simply looking for comfort during a hard time.

[Pingyolla Mondal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so listen. I thought I was just buying Remnants for the aesthetic cover and maybe a few sad-girl quotes to put on my story, right? WRONG. This book ambushed me. I was three poems in and suddenly I’m revisiting every heartbreak since the 8th grade, texting people I had no business texting, and eating ice cream straight from the tub like I’m in a 2000s rom-com.

It’s like Aarti Upadhyay crawled into my ribcage, lit a candle, and started redecorating the entire emotional interior of my soul. At one point I laughed, then cried, then said “oh hell no” and kept reading anyway. The emotional whiplash is elite.

[Avni Ahuja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This stunning poetry collection is a heart-wrenching and soul-stirring read that speaks directly to the soul.

With raw, honest, and deeply personal poems, the author shares her innermost thoughts and emotions without pretence or polish.

The courage and vulnerability that shine through on every page make this book a powerful and unforgettable experience. For anyone who appreciates authentic and unapologetic poetry, this collection is an absolute must-read.

Get ready to be moved, inspired, and touched by the unflinching honesty and emotional depth that radiates from every line.

[Swapna Peri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grief doesn’t hide in Remnants—it dances, barefoot and unashamed, across every page Aarti Upadhyay pens. From the stillness of sorrow bloom verses that cradle silence and scatter light into the darkest corners. Pain doesn’t speak here—it breathes, gentle and raw, through the hush of each stanza. Love, loss, and healing don’t wait to be named; they arrive like old friends, quietly sitting beside you. Not poems, but pulse. Not words, but echoes. What Remnants offers isn’t poetry alone—it’s the feeling of being found in the middle of your own unraveling.

[Shipra Arora · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Remnants" by Aarti Upadhyay is a really touching book about going through tough times. It talks about the deep pain of grief when you lose someone or something important. But it also shows how love can be a strong comfort, helping you heal and feel better. The book is all about becoming a new version of yourself, stronger and more hopeful, even after sadness. It's a great read if you've faced hard stuff and want to find hope again. ❤️‍🩹🌱🌟 It gives you comfort and reminds you that good things can still grow, even in the darkest moments.