Why I Am Not a Bus Driver

by Ashley Hickson-Lovence

Why I Am Not a Bus Driver is a moving and musical debut collection exploring grief, love and the power of community, from the author of The 392, Your Show and Wild East (Mal Peet Award, Carnegie Medal for Writing Nomination). The heart of this book beats in sync with that of the poet's late grandfather, as, sonnet after unconventional sonnet, Hickson-Lovence uncovers the micro-histories woven into the streets and journeys that shape us. These poems speak with Frank O'Hara, in their stream-of-consciousness lyricism, in meditations that dance like winding roads, both immediate and nostalgic. Committed to honouring the authentic and everyday, the real and true, human connection is the destination in this stirring collection, and every reader has a priority seat.

Genres: Poetry

102 pages, Hardcover

Published April 24, 2025

About the author

Ashley Hickson-Lovence is the author of the novels The 392, Your Show and Wild East — overall winner of the East Anglian Book Awards 2024 and the YA winner of the Diverse Book Awards 2025. His poetry collection Why I Am Not a Bus Driver released with Bad Betty Press in 2025 includes the poem “Munster Road,” which was highly commended for Best Single Poem by the Forward Prize and was featured in the Forward Prize Book of Poetry 2026. Ashley has a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing from the University of East Anglia, and his nominations include the Black Excellence Award for Outstanding Contribution to Literature 2023. His new novel About To Fall Apart will be published by Faber in April 2026, and his next YA verse novel Dead Ends will be released in August 2026.

Reviews

[Jeremy Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the entire book in less than an hour on the train. It’s wonderful, personal, humorous and emotional. Pure genius.

[Bukola Akinyemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why I Am Not a Bus Driver
Ashley Hickson-Lovence

Through a series of unconventional sonnets, Ashley weaves heartfelt words with images of his grandfather, creating a powerful emotional resonance. His writing invites readers to immerse themselves in the narrative, and I couldn’t help but feel as though this story was my own family’s tale.

Poetry lover or not, everyone needs to read this collection. It is so beautifully written and touching, you should experience it.

Ashley poured out his heart on the pages of this book, allowing readers process their own thoughts and emotions.

[Jackie Carreira · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a haunting nature to this collection of poetry that left me wistful and moved by the honesty and simplicity of the words. Wonderful to have the photographs in there. I felt like I knew those people by the end.

[Rob Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very personal collection of poems that come in very different forms but are immensely readable.

[Tracy Stephens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love it but poetry just really isn't my cup of tea. nothing to do with the author just not my thing. read for book group. quick and easy. if poetry is for you give this a go.

[Giuliano Piacentini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy the variations on a theme and structure, more like a concept album on grief and sentimentality. Will be looking into more of his writing and the Frank O'Hara works he references

[Ailsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty monument to grief, busses and grief for busses. The different writing styles are interesting, but with such overlapping messages these poems may work better alone than in an anthology.

[Gretel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute gem.