Inherited Hunger

by Rose Brik

from the bestselling author of my father's eyes, my mother's rage comes a haunting new collection by rose brik about the hunger we inherit.

inherited hunger explores the ripple effects of generational trauma— how a mother’s rage, a father’s absence, and a childhood filled with trauma shape the way we live, love, and lose ourselves.

these poems dive deep into the mother wound, daddy issues, toxic relationships, and the aching journey of trying to become someone whole.

"I have an inherited hunger,
passed down from generation to generation,
waiting to be satiated. we've reached for men,
alcohol, food, and drugs, but nothing could ever fill us up.
a child will always be hungry until they are fed with love"

-inherited hunger

Genres: Poetry

158 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2025

About the author

Rose Brik is a Canadian writer and poet. She has been writing since a young age and professionally as a freelance writer, since 2012. Rose's writing resonates with readers on a profoundly relatable level, becoming a mirror of shared emotions and universal truths, creating an intimate connection between her and her readers. When she isn't writing, she can be found with the people she loves; cherishing each moment she has with them.

connect on all social media platforms @rosebrikpoet

Reviews

[Olivia J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep breath in. Slow breath out. Wow did that hit me right in the gut. I read Rose’s other book as I was dealing with my alcoholic Mother’s health failing. Dealing with my anger and resentment over how it all came to this. Well shortly afterwards she died, and things changed. Kinda.

Inherited Hunger speaks to the raging teenager inside of me, while My Fathers Eyes My Mothers Rage was more so spoke to my hurt inner child and resonated with the strange pain felt when your mother dies. When they are gone you are left here to pick up the mess they left. I am working through how to do that and this book definitely helps for those moments when I want nothing more than to be able to rage and let her know how much she affected me, but I can’t. I will never forgive her but her not being here puts things in a new perspective, and I need to learn to live with that.

[Rani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe I shouldn’t have read this in one sitting while listening to Joji… some poems actually made me tear up.
Breaking generational trauma one step at a time « I am the change »

[Samantha Gage · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have so many sticky notes and post-it flags with this book. Everything that stuck a nerve, something that hit home, it got flagged. There are aspects of my life where I feel stunted in growth because I was never really allowed to be a kid. This collection was made for the kids who were raised as miniature adults, for the ‘old souls’ who were always told they were mature for their age. We weren’t mature for our ages, we were put through situations no one our age should’ve had to go through so young. It’s not the child’s responsibility to heal the relationship that the adult broke. It took me until I was 25ish to learn that. Now relationships with certain family members are on my terms, not theirs.

[Taylor Dawicke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like reading about my own childhood. It’s heartbreaking and portrays the real grief of feeling like you were never enough. Born to parents who didn’t care the way parents should, and having to learn to care enough for yourself to survive. I have loved everything I’ve read by Rose Brik, they just resonate so much with me.

[Liv Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

Made me feel all sorts of things so, that’s good.

A bit repetitive at times.

[Jazzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

TRAUMATIZED!!! but actually i already was (that’s kinda WHY the book hit so hard actually).

i will NEVER stop thinking about this book. this was such a hard read, i stared at the wall and contemplated EVERYTHING, questioned my will to live, rethought my existence and purpose.

the pages are warped from my tears. 10/10 recommend tho😜😘💞

(mommy issues final boss)

[Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who typically doesn't pick up poetry books, this has to be my new favorite. First seen on Tiktok, I knew these poems were going to rip my heart out.

Every poem, I could relate to one way or another. The way these poems were written was so beautifully done.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the last one…she’s written it for me. It’s unbelievable how many similarities we share. 🩷

[Sarah Heitkemper · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW- abuse, SA, DV, ED

heartbreakingly beautiful and affirming. forever grateful for RB for sharing her thoughts even when i’m sure it’s really hard.

[Cassie Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

It appears that I am in the minority. About a quarter of these poems were ones I wanted to read. Ones I thought, "Oh. This is..." Those poems bumped the rating from a 2 to 3.
The ideas were there. I just wanted to see more than a diary entry on repeat. There's nothing inherently wrong with it. It just felt like I was reading their notes....

[Alicia Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose Brik does it again. Inherited Hunger is a gut-punch of a collection, cementing her as the poet of parental trauma, as far as I am concerned. Split into three sections, the book moves through childhood, teen-hold, and adulthood, each piece layering memory, pain, and resilience in Brik’s signature style.

I felt more connected to the first two sections, which chronicle youth and the teen years—maybe because I saw my younger self in some of those pages more than I saw my adult self in the third. I tabbed A LOT of pages and lines in the first two sections. While the book flows beautifully, the way I read it, I would have preferred titles for the poems (I think I am showing my age LOL). At times (though not often), it was a bit confusing to know if a new poem had begun or if I was still inside the last one.

That said, Brik’s words hit where they need to. I would recommend this book as much as I recommended her first (in the order). Inherited Hunger is a solid and necessary follow-up to My Father’s Eyes, My Mother’s Rage.

Thank you for the copy, Rose! I loved reading it. Can't wait to see what you do next.

[Sarah Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh. So raw and emotional in the best ways. Rose Brik writes of the pain so many of us walk around with everyday, in a way that makes you feel seen and less alone. Immediately want to reread and add annotations/mark my favorite parts 🖤

[Andrea Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose Brik I am so sorry :( to everyone that resonates with this I am so sorry :( to have so many of your experiences captured and presented is simultaneously so validating and so unbelievably devastating to know others have lived the same thing and have come out feeling the same way :(

[Katlynn Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose ALWAYS hits home with her work. Painstakingly beautiful as always. Keep doing what you do girl, you’re healing generations by letting them know they are not alone.

[Lindsey Law · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow

[Sherilyn Slagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am the change

[Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘no one tells you how surviving feels a lot like suffering’

[Jara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes a bit too relatable but that makes it so powerfull

[Chelsea Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

real & honest healing

[Theresa Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally read the book in one sitting in maybe 30mins or less but I liked it a lot.