Don't Wait to Light the Candles: Poems

by Allie Michelle

From viral spoken word poet and author of The Rose That Blooms in the Night, a luminous new collection for fans of Rupi Kaur and Cleo Wade that explores themes of mindfulness, love, grief, and the strength it takes to be soft.

“Allie's poetry doesn’t just speak, it holds up a mirror. With raw truth and quiet grace, her words cut through the noise and pull you home to yourself.”—Jay Shetty, #1 New York Times bestselling author and host of On Purpose

Keep your defiant joy. Keep your stubborn hope. Keep those childlike eyes—they are not childish, but a rebellion against despair. 

In a world obsessed with productivity and perfection, Allie Michelle’s poetry is a radical invitation to slow down, soften, and come alive. With a voice both fierce and tender, she reminds us that beauty is a birthright.

Her newest collection, Don't Wait to Light the Candles, is a poetic call to a celebration of small sacred moments, a reckoning with pain, and a spark for anyone learning to rediscover their joy and live with their whole heart.

This book is both balm and blaze—a place to land, and a push to rise.

Genres: Poetry

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2026

Reviews

[Amber (ambersmagicallibrary) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful beautiful beautiful!!!! So many powerful poems that resonated with me so much!!!!! This is one to keep on you and pull out a random page to read every once in a while. So perfect!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This is one of my favorite poetry collections of the year thus far. It was beautifully written and the collection flowed well.

The author has a way with words and imagery and I am really glad I came across this as a poetry collection on Netgalley. I hadn't heard anything about it, but had remembered a spoken word video by someone who I thought shared the same name.

I plan on purchasing a physical copy to reread once it releases and it's one that will go on my permanent poetry collection shelf. It's beautiful captivating and I honestly can't wait to reread this collection.

[Daffodils_and_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review. I loved the experience of reading Don’t Wait to Light the Candles. I always say that poetry is really subjective and that star ratings can’t do a poetry collection justice. So, I mean it when I say this collection is a “5 star” read. I can tell how much work and attention that Allie Michelle put into her work. I appreciate her diction, imagery, and structure. I really connected with this collection and found it cathartic and inspirational. I found myself wanting to share the poems with my best friend and I think that is such an important part of reading poetry. It’s an experience that creates connection.

Thank you to Park Row for a gifted copy of the ebook.

[Critter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC.

I feel like this book was what I needed to listen to today. It's gentle and reflective. It made my thoughts slow down a little and think a bit more in the present and space and people around me. There are many topics covered in this book and frequently looks at today's world. I enjoyed listening to this book, which is narrated by the author who does a great job and is quite lovely to listen to.

[When Books Speak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't Wait to Light the Candles by Allie Michelle is everything I love about a poetry collection and then some. This was a breathtakingly beautiful and deeply soul-stirring five-star read that had me completely swept up from the very first poem to the last.

The premise at the heart of this collection is so meaningful and unlike anything I have experienced in a while. Allie Michelle writes with such tenderness and intention, weaving together themes of love, grief, hope, courage, presence, and the quiet beauty of everyday life in a way that feels both universal and deeply personal. It makes you feel seen in the most profound and comforting way, as though someone has reached into your chest and given words to the things you never quite knew how to say.

What I loved most was how the collection flows so effortlessly from one poem to the next. Each piece carries its own weight, and yet they all build together into something that feels complete and deeply satisfying. There were so many lines that stopped me in my tracks and had me sitting quietly with my own thoughts for a long moment afterward.

A very special mention must go to Allie Michelle herself as the narrator, and what an extraordinary gift it is to hear a poet give voice to her own words. Her narration is nothing short of magical. There is an intimacy and authenticity to hearing the author speak her own poetry that no other narrator could ever replicate, and Allie delivers every single line with such warmth, vulnerability, and quiet power that it transforms the listening experience into something truly special. Her voice is gentle yet commanding, soothing yet deeply moving, and it wraps around every poem as if it were always meant to be heard exactly this way. The beautiful musical accompaniment and subtle sound design woven throughout the audiobook elevated everything further, with small details like the wind chimes adding a dreamy, immersive quality to the whole experience. This is audiobook production at its absolute finest, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

A tender, radiant, and profoundly moving collection that lingers in your heart long after the final poem. Highly recommend!

Pub Day: May 5, 2026
Categories: Poetry & Verse

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this ALC.

[Ciara Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎧 Audio Review: The author narrated this collection of poems and she has a lovely voice! That being said, I think I need to stick to reading poetry versus listening to it. It makes more of an impact / I understand it better when reading the actual words off a page. When listening to poetry, I find I have to keep going back and replaying it to get the gist, although it definitely helped when I slowed down the reading speed for the audio!

📝 Story Review: This was a really beautiful collection of poetry.

A variety of topics/feelings are covered… including humanity and loss of it, love, grief, family, finding joy in the small/simple things, being true to yourself, etc. Some of these poems were a miss for me, while others resonated deeply, but all of them were beautifully written and meaningful in their own way.

Fave Quotes 👇

“The best lives are the ones worth disapproving of.”

“What are you rebelling against? … There’s only one honest answer… The way our world has forgotten how to fight for love.”

“The greatest warriors in life rarely wield swords, they fight an invisible battle in themselves.”

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.5/5

Vibes: Honesty with multiple aspects of reality and life.

Audio Release Date: May 4, 2026
Audio Run Time: 2 hrs, 27 mins
Narrated By: Allie Michelle (the author)
Genre: Poetry

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this ALC in return for my honest review.

[Laur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excerpt: “There is an old saying, “Don’t wait to light the candles”, meaning, don’t wait to seize the beauty in front of you. When a miracle knocks and you find yourself standing in the doorway of an answered prayer, cross the threshold and light the candles. Maybe skepticism and hope fight for the last word in your mind as you try to wrap your arms around the possibility of a dream come true, but the fear of loss cannot stop us from discovering just how brightly we can burn.”

The overall themes of this collection of Allie Michelle’s poetry permeate with the deepest thoughts of love, friendship, courage, bravery, hope, family, and nature. What an exquisite flow of the most heartfelt and candidly profound poetry I have ever been privileged to listen to.
WOW….just wow.

Allie narrates her own sentimental words with the same deep feeling as she writes.

If I had to pick a favorite in this this collection, I couldn’t. But I would like to share just two lines from two very different poems.
“Don’t slay the dragon, ride it.”
‘This wrecked my heart - you’ll love it.”

As regards that last line, it did mine and I think you’ll love it too when you feel the deepest of emotions and love.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My thanks to NetGalley, Allie Michelle, and Harlequin Audio for an AAC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Don’t Wait to Light the Candles” was such a stunning collection of poetry. This collection reminded me so much of the work of one of my favorite poets, Mary Oliver (specifically thinking of the emotions I experience whenever I return back to “Wild Geese” - poems that stop you in your tracks and make you think so deeply about your choices and existence within the world and interrogating how we ask for and receive love. This collection of poems is a love letter to those whose hearts and minds are tired and weary from the demands of our society and our daily lives. We put off celebrating the things that bring us joy, our wins, and successes. We diminish our light and contributions to the world out of fear of being seen as too much. This collection captures all of this and more. This was such an enjoyable read!

I loved that Allie narrated this because her inflection and cadence added so much depth and beauty to her already stunning work.

Disclaimer: I received a free review copy of this audiobook from Harlequin Audio and a copy of the ebook from Harlequin Trade Publishing and Park Row. All views are my own.

[Noelle Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, Allie Michelle, and Harlequin Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC! I received this book for free from HarperCollins in exchange for my review 🤍

Marketed as a collection of poems great for fans of Rupi Kaur and Cleo Stone, Don’t Wait to Light the Candles explores themes of grief, love, and the strength it takes to be soft in a hard word. “In a world obsessed with productivity and perfection, Allie Michelle's poetry is a radical invitation to slow down, soften, and come alive.”

This book sounded exactly like the type of poetry that I love, and I definitely wasn’t let down! Allie Michelle writes so eloquently. It was a gorgeously thought-provoking collection of poems. If you are looking to feel empowered and gain a sense of community + understanding, then this is the book for you. It took me longer than usual to read this poetry book because the poems carry so much depth that I wanted to appreciate each one.

I definitely recommend checking Don’t Wait to Light the Candles when it’s released on May 5th! 🎂

[Kaycee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Park Row books and HTP Audio for the ARC and ALC.

I am not a poetry critic. I enjoy poetry for the feelings it invokes in me, and I didn’t know I needed this collection of poems, but I did If you enjoy spoken word poetry, I think you’ll really enjoy this collection. There were several lines that I highlighted because they just felt like reminders I needed. Balm for my over stimulated and overwhelmed life.

Now, let’s talk about the audiobook read by the author. Not only was Allie Michelle’s voice soothing, the musical accompaniment and other sounds in the background made this such a great listen. Especially the wind chimes. They are not on every track which I think makes it stand out even more, but they were so soothing. I thought the audio production was fantastic and really elevated the poetry.

[Lilli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't Wait to Light the Candles
by Allie Michelle
Narrated by Allie Michelle


ARC REVIEW

I absolutely loved it…it was what I needed when I needed. Definitely uplifting and inspiring… while acceptance and loving oneself without guilt or contempt… are aghh… but those very things are what help make us!! Author Allie Michelle wrote it beautifully… out loud in a sweet hit you in the heart and mind kinda way… I lost my love at a young age…I didn’t know who I was without him… I’d reinvent myself a lot…to see who I was without him… The particular morning I was listening to these poems…it’s as if she knew like I heard him speak to me…silly as it may be! Honestly, moments like those I don’t take for granted…

I loved the personal touch by author Allie Michelle!!

Thank you @Harlequin Audio @NetGalley

[Sharon M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley, Park Row, and Harlequin Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this beautiful collection of poems by Allie Michelle, narrated by the author. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

I'm not always one to pick up a poetry collection, but I've now added Allie Michelle to my list of those poets that I will gladly read anything they write. This is a slow, soft collection of poems that give a much-needed reminder in this fast-paced world to appreciate all the people, opportunities, and joys that surround us. So many of them touched me personally, that I am going to order a physical copy of this book to keep on my shelf along with my other favorite poetry collections. The author did a wonderful job bringing life to her words on the audiobook. Highly recommended!

[Helen Wu ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t Wait to Light the Candle is a collection of gentle truths about love, loss, forgiveness, and becoming whole without pretending the pain never happened. The writing is soft but steady. It keeps returning to the idea that our wounds shape our compassion, that presence matters more than perfection, and that a good life is often built from small, unglamorous choices. I found myself underlining thoughts about choosing forgiveness, standing on your own feet, letting go without bitterness, and learning to stay instead of always looking for greener grass. It is reflective without being preachy. Sad in places, but never hopeless.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!

[Alexandra G · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Don’t Wait to Light The Candles: Poems ” is a captivating collection of soul-stirring, tender, and lived-in moments that resonate deeply with all readers. From the complexities of love to personal and social challenges, this collection offers a comprehensive exploration of human experiences in the most profound manner. It not only inspires introspection and contemplation about oneself and the essence of life but also prompts readers to question the world as they perceive it. Allie’s exceptional literary prowess is consistently evident throughout this collection, making it a standout addition to her poetry repertoire. I wholeheartedly recommend this collection to anyone seeking a profound and thought-provoking reading experience.

[Kaitlin Randall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own :)

(DNF @ 90%)

This book was a quick read, but I did not enjoy it. I found it largely cliche. I didn’t feel like I was reading anything I hadn’t read before. For me, poetry is about conveying what prose cannot, and requires a certain level of “work” from the reader in order to ascertain its meaning. This work did a lot of telling, not showing. I knew exactly what the author wanted to say, because she just said it point blank. There was not a lot of metaphor, lack of basic rhetorical devices, etc.

Maybe for a younger audience this would work pretty well, but I didn’t glean anything from it.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this collection. There is something so special about an author narrating their own work, and Allie Michelle’s voice really brought the poems to life. These poems were incredibly intentional and reflective. I found myself snapping after so many lines because they just hit home.

The production of the audiobook was so good too. Small details like the sound of the bees were a beautiful touch and made the whole experience feel really immersive. It’s a great reminder to stay present and find the magic in the middle of everything else. If you’re a fan of poetry that feels like a soulful conversation with a bestie, I highly recommend this collection.

Thank you to HTP/Park Row for an ARC and ALC!

[Madeleine Berges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever just breeze through a book so quickly?!

Thank you so much to @htp_hive @htpbooks and @htpbooks_audio for Don’t Wait to Light the Candles by @alliemichellel

This book was beautifully written and narrated by the author of herself! As a deep thinker so much of this book resonated with me! I felt seen and grateful that others feel a lot of the same feelings I do! I love anything that makes me think about holding onto humanity, slowing down, and cherishing what we have right in front of us! This book did all of that anymore!

if you are a fan of poetry! I would highly recommend this book for you! If you haven’t read poetry, I would highly recommend it anyway if you are a deep feeler and try to find beauty in the ordinary!

[Hungry Book Club · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice, gentle poetry collection with a really comforting overall message about slowing down and appreciating your life as it is instead of always waiting for the next milestone. There were definitely a few poems and lines that stood out and felt very relatable, especially about time passing, relationships, and being present.
That said, a lot of the poems started to feel very similar after a while, both in structure and message. The themes are good, but they’re repeated quite a bit, and I found myself wishing some of the poems went a little deeper or were more varied stylistically.
Overall, I’m glad I read it, and it’s the kind of book you can pick up, flip to any page, and read a few poems when you want something calming and reflective.

[Alesa Bernat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading Allie Michelle's poetry. Her writing style evokes a calm spoken word quality with themes of self-love, mindfulness, presence, and purpose. The style reminded me of Morgan Harper Nichols or Whitney Hanson. The audiobook is read by the poet and her voice is very soothing, so it was an enjoyable listen. It was a quick and rejuvenating read. I read it during my Easter vacation so it felt like a nice time to ponder growth, love, and the ways we "show up" for our people. I am now following this poet on Instagram and look forward to seeing her journey. Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Harper Collins for the advanced copy of this audiobook. I appreciate your willingness to share poetry with the world.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Don't Wait to Light the Candles: Poems by Allie Michelle - 4 Stars

This book of poetry really spoke to me; I have many bookmarks throughout the collection for ones that I want to be able to find quickly to read again and again.

I recommend this collection of poems but must admit that I reduced my rating to 4 stars because I became annoyed by the number of times that the poet felt it necessary to remind readers that she's a poet. It automatically diminished my enjoyment of the poems where that was done. I hope not to see that in her future work.

My thanks to Harlequin Trade for granting me access to a DRC of the book via NetGalley. Publication is 5/5/26. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

[Danelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a woman in mid-life, this collection of poems really spoke to me. It was full of reminders to embrace every moment, love fully (even when it's painful), hang on to childlike curiosity, and never stop creating. There were so many phrases I highlighted and want to share with others. This is the kind of book I would gift to all of my women friends! It gave me so much to think about and ponder, and it's a book I'll return to often when I need to escape from the pressures of the world.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Park Row for the advanced digital copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

4 stars

[Ambi · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some real gems in this collection, but the majority veered on too saccharine for my taste. The type of poetry as well varied quite a bit—lengthy prose poetry sometimes followed by a single sentence poem. There’s nothing wrong with either of those things, but I did find myself searching for a little more structure and cohesion in the collection as a whole. If you enjoy the cadence and themes of poets like Rupi Kaur or Amanda Lovelace, I think this collection will appeal to you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC!

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t Wait to Light the Candles is a reflective poetry collection by Allie Michelle. I love listening to poets read their own work on audiobooks; it brings the poems to life for me in a way I don’t get by reading it on a page. The author did an excellent job of reading her poems. Her feelings and imagery really come through. If you like poetry, I recommend checking this book out when it releases on 5/5/2026!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this book.

[Jessica Milliner · Rating 5 out of 5]

These collections of poems show a bit of something. Something that represents a moment when words were spoken. The poems written by Allie in this book demonstrate many things in her own words. Discovering her own voice through a poetic call. It also shows the meaning of joy, slowing down, finding a place for something, and everything else. It’s a well-written read.

[Soledad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love! My first time reading Michelle's work and I loved it. She writes so eloquently, makes you want to reflect on life. The writing flows perfectly to the title and the meaning behind it. Thank you HarperCollins for the eARC!

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of poems. They evoked a strong sense of beautiful emotion and reflection. I especially appreciated the diversity within the collection. I’m looking forward to rereading them and sharing them with others.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this ARC! ✨📚

[Dee's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Then how will I live?
Slow and bright as a summer day,
Without fear."

This was a beautiful collection. My intro to this author, and I will be reading more!
Lots of reflection with this collection.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc!

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A zillion thanks to Park Row and NetGalley for the advanced review copy of this absolute gem of a poetry collection. My heart exploded ten thousand times and I highlighted every other line. Can’t wait to buy a hardcover so I can more easily revisit my favorites.

[HereThereBeBookDragons | Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of poems, generally uplifting in tone and all about finding the wild magic in the wild mess of life. Several had me actually needing to catch my breath.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Park Row for the chance to read an advance copy!

[Andrea (Hammock and Read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very modern/instagram poetry but very fun to listen to. The author read the audiobook and did a great job. I enjoy many of these poems- Florence was a favorite. It’s a mix of family, love, womanhood, art, poems and daily life.

thanks to net galley and harlequin audio