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How About Now: Poems
The third full length poetry collection from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of What Kind of Woman.
Renowned poet Kate Baer returns with a bold and compassionate collection that confronts the march of time in a shifting world.
With her trademark candor and curiosity, Baer explores what it means to grow older, to release children into the wildness of their own lives, and to reclaim the ever evolving self. Raw, luminous, and urgent, this collection channels Baer’s own journey to middle age into poems that are profoundly intimate yet resound universally, identifying the beauty, resilience, and fragility that arrive in every stage of life.
How About Now is a striking declaration of ongoing transformation and self-discovery. From the poet who has captured the heartbeat of the modern woman, this collection reaffirms Kate Baer’s place among the most vital voices of our era.
Renowned poet Kate Baer returns with a bold and compassionate collection that confronts the march of time in a shifting world.
With her trademark candor and curiosity, Baer explores what it means to grow older, to release children into the wildness of their own lives, and to reclaim the ever evolving self. Raw, luminous, and urgent, this collection channels Baer’s own journey to middle age into poems that are profoundly intimate yet resound universally, identifying the beauty, resilience, and fragility that arrive in every stage of life.
How About Now is a striking declaration of ongoing transformation and self-discovery. From the poet who has captured the heartbeat of the modern woman, this collection reaffirms Kate Baer’s place among the most vital voices of our era.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published November 4, 2025
227 people are currently reading
11786 people want to read
About the author
Kate Baer
5 books1,607 followersKate Baer is the 3x New York Times bestselling author of What Kind Of Woman, I Hope This Finds You Well, & And Yet. Her work has also been published in The New Yorker, Literary Hub, Huffington Post and The New York Times.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews
November 12, 2025
Midlife, midnight. In love and out of it. Kids, cats, the ominous pulse of time, time, time. Every Kate Baer poem in How About Now is a lifeline, tethering one woman to herself.
April 19, 2025
To be honest this wasn't my favorite collection of poems by the author. I've enjoyed her previous two volumes much more than this one. A few resonated but I didn't feel the style/content of many of the poems. They felt a little like the author was trying too hard to be high-brow than authentic and relatable. I wouldn't recommend this for people who enjoy more accessible and easy to connect with poetry. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 31, 2025
Devastatingly Raw and Beautifully Vulnerable
How about Now forces one to look in the mirror, shatter the glass, pick up the pieces, and then create a mosaic with her own bloodied hands.
I am no stranger to Kate Baer poetry. She is, easily, my favorite poet. Reading her poems feels like a punch to the gut, a slap across the face, and a therapy session followed by a spa day. I'm probably not marketing this well. I'm still reeling from the last page.
If you've read Baer's "And Yet", some of the poems will hold a familiar style.
My favorite titles are:
🖤 marriage poem
🖤 After
🖤 Gynecology Intake Form
🖤 The Bridesmaids Speech
🖤 Birth of a Mother
🖤 The Cure
🖤 One Day
🖤 Box Breathing
🖤 How About Now
...okay, I love most of them. I chose to mention the poems with the most annotations on my Kindle. 🤌
✨If you have ever felt as if no one understands you, embarrassed by your dark thoughts, guilty for feeling ungrateful, Kate Baer's "How About Now" will be your next favorite read--and it's cheaper than therapy. ✨
Thank you to Kate Baer and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, for an e-arc on Netgalley.
How about Now forces one to look in the mirror, shatter the glass, pick up the pieces, and then create a mosaic with her own bloodied hands.
I am no stranger to Kate Baer poetry. She is, easily, my favorite poet. Reading her poems feels like a punch to the gut, a slap across the face, and a therapy session followed by a spa day. I'm probably not marketing this well. I'm still reeling from the last page.
If you've read Baer's "And Yet", some of the poems will hold a familiar style.
My favorite titles are:
🖤 marriage poem
🖤 After
🖤 Gynecology Intake Form
🖤 The Bridesmaids Speech
🖤 Birth of a Mother
🖤 The Cure
🖤 One Day
🖤 Box Breathing
🖤 How About Now
...okay, I love most of them. I chose to mention the poems with the most annotations on my Kindle. 🤌
✨If you have ever felt as if no one understands you, embarrassed by your dark thoughts, guilty for feeling ungrateful, Kate Baer's "How About Now" will be your next favorite read--and it's cheaper than therapy. ✨
Thank you to Kate Baer and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, for an e-arc on Netgalley.
August 1, 2025
I LOVED this. I have never read a collection of poems before, so this was most definitely outside of my comfort zone. However, I was surprised by how much was said in such short works and how much I had to think about after each poem. A beautiful yet relatable take on motherhood, insecurity, life and love.
November 11, 2025
I am typically not a poetry reader, but this author has changed that! I originally found her on social media from her elimination poetry, which I highly recommend you look up. It’s impactful.
Now in her 40s, and as a mom and woman of similar age, as I was reading this I kept thinking “omg she just gets it”. I wanted to bookmark just about every page. I will pick this up again and again.
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this copy!
Now in her 40s, and as a mom and woman of similar age, as I was reading this I kept thinking “omg she just gets it”. I wanted to bookmark just about every page. I will pick this up again and again.
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this copy!
October 22, 2025
Funny, relatable, brutally honest, accessible. I mean this as a compliment—sometimes Baer's poetry doesn't feel like poetry at all. It's like her words seep into your brain, get comfortable, then become your own? It doesn't feel like you're reading about someone else's life, it feels like Kate took a look at your life & wrote accordingly. 𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙮, 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮.
I found Kate's poetry in April of last year, blew thru it all rapid fire & have since been patiently waiting for more 😇
Admittedly, 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙉𝙤𝙬 was more difficult to find myself in. Considering mine & Kate's ages (our kids' age discrepancy) this time around, the minor disconnect makes sense. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣, 𝙄 𝙃𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡 & 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙔𝙚𝙩 hit so hard bc I'd experienced ✨️all the things✨️. I anticipate the same will happen when I'm closer to/in the stage of life she was while writing 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙉𝙤𝙬, but for now some of it felt a little out of reach. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 110% 𝘢 "𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮", & 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐲—𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡, 𝙞𝙛 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 ❣️
TYSM to Kate Baer & Harper Perennial for the stunning #gifted copy ❣️
I found Kate's poetry in April of last year, blew thru it all rapid fire & have since been patiently waiting for more 😇
Admittedly, 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙉𝙤𝙬 was more difficult to find myself in. Considering mine & Kate's ages (our kids' age discrepancy) this time around, the minor disconnect makes sense. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣, 𝙄 𝙃𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡 & 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙔𝙚𝙩 hit so hard bc I'd experienced ✨️all the things✨️. I anticipate the same will happen when I'm closer to/in the stage of life she was while writing 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙉𝙤𝙬, but for now some of it felt a little out of reach. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 110% 𝘢 "𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮", & 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐲—𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡, 𝙞𝙛 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 ❣️
TYSM to Kate Baer & Harper Perennial for the stunning #gifted copy ❣️
November 7, 2025
What a gift it is to live in the same universe at Kate Baer.
Her work is so important and personal to me, and I know that many other readers will feel seen, and their thoughts and feelings articulated through Kate’s work, as I did. I deeply love this collection of poems and I can’t wait to own my own physical copy to mark and explore, digging into and feasting on the rich flesh of this collection.
I especially loved the poems “Alice at Sixteen,” “Age of the Internet,” “Interview with a Male Moderator at a Decorated Literary Event,” “Creation Song,” and “I’m Going to Eat it.”
Lovely, gut-wrenching, and thought-provoking. Love, love, love.
Thank you to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. HOW ABOUT NOW is out now.
Her work is so important and personal to me, and I know that many other readers will feel seen, and their thoughts and feelings articulated through Kate’s work, as I did. I deeply love this collection of poems and I can’t wait to own my own physical copy to mark and explore, digging into and feasting on the rich flesh of this collection.
I especially loved the poems “Alice at Sixteen,” “Age of the Internet,” “Interview with a Male Moderator at a Decorated Literary Event,” “Creation Song,” and “I’m Going to Eat it.”
Lovely, gut-wrenching, and thought-provoking. Love, love, love.
Thank you to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. HOW ABOUT NOW is out now.
September 17, 2025
Heartwarming, realistic, and hopeful. I went into How About Now with predisposed notions that Baer's work was for millennial women (married and/or with kids) and had no appeal to other groups of people, but I was pleasantly surprised by the work put in here to observe everyday life in creative ways and meticulous detail. I am so happy to have been awoken to Baer's poetry. It went down like an herbal tonic, providing some momentary relief from my life and the world whilst also offering some homegrown wisdom for day-to-day existence.
My favorite poems include: "Say Less", "None of This is True", "The Romantic Marries a Tree", "The Bridesmaid's Speech", "April", "White Sabbath", "June", "yes", "Meanwhile", "Second Coming", and "How About Now".
Like 4.5
(thank you to Harper Perennial for the e-arc for review)
My favorite poems include: "Say Less", "None of This is True", "The Romantic Marries a Tree", "The Bridesmaid's Speech", "April", "White Sabbath", "June", "yes", "Meanwhile", "Second Coming", and "How About Now".
Like 4.5
(thank you to Harper Perennial for the e-arc for review)
November 4, 2025
Kate Baer has been with me the whole time I’ve been a mother—almost thirteen years now, starting with blog posts and continuing tonight, sitting in a recliner, reading her poems about the preteen stage and our bizarre and messed-up digital world and the hunger for incongruous things. These poems are in the tradition of Baer’s previous work—brief poems with a few sharp images and observations. She does play with form a bit, hearkening back to her erasure poems with longer texts, some written by Baer herself (anyone else dying to read the “failed novel” she references in the notes), as well as several poems hermit-crabbed in intake forms. I love Baer’s poetry, and I am always thrilled to have more of it in my hands—it’s comforting and familiar, yet somehow also surprising to see some of my quiet thoughts stark on the page.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 13, 2025
As I read this collection, I was so consistently drawn to individual poems that I started a list of favorites – and it grew rapidly, almost pulling me away from the immersive reading experience. Kate Baer has once again proven her mastery. This is a powerful collection brimming with insightful explorations of authenticity, hope, connection, the passage of time, the nuances of marriage and parenting, and so many other relatable themes. If you haven't yet discovered the brilliance of Kate Baer, now is the perfect time. This collection is an excellent entry point. And if you're already a fan, consider adding this work to your shelves! Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read it early.
April 17, 2025
Will there ever be a time when Kate Baer doesn’t make me cry? I’m 23 and feel like a wrinkly newborn baby but also like I’ve lived a thousand lifetimes. This collection speaks to that.
P.S. I too am just a frog with tiny buttons.
P.S. I too am just a frog with tiny buttons.
November 28, 2025
Respectfully, this poetry collection is devoid of any depth and impact. Its a series of thoughts sparked by viral tiktok taglines. It had a few gems, sandwiched between internet jargon and brainrot.
December 16, 2025
Libby Kindle.
Daughter
“To love you here, in this forever,
is the only true thing I know.”
The Invisible Hand
“Time dripped from the faucet until, late thirties, an invisible hand reached down and turned the tap to a steady stream. I couldn’t begin to understand it, the sudden brevity of seasons. One minute cutting a watermelon, the next a Christmas tree. I stood at the sink and wondered how to spend my life. There was no answer. Instead a voice from behind the curtain: We only have so many summers with our children. Like a good mother, I made plans.”
One Day
“One day your baby sits
in a bright red stroller
making wild mammalian sounds,
and the next they’re saying
they never liked Dog Man and
no one their age takes bubble baths. Christmas without a Santa.
Tooth Fairies without a tiny baby tooth.
Now they want this sort of haircut,
to take them to the mall
with other post-pubescent children.
It’s not so bad—
but if you’re waiting for a hug
or gentle conversation,
I suggest not looking very desperate.
Lie on the floor, get out your book. Eventually they come.”
For My Son on His Thirteenth Birthday
“I never wanted anything more than you,
so when they placed you in my arms,
26 hours of labor, I thought—
I’ll die without him,
and I took a breath and held it…
Time has a way of softening the deadliest of dragons, and though I walk daily
through the shadow of fear and hesitation— I am watching you grow into yourself.
The front seat by the stage is worn.
My darling boy, give me your drama
and delight. I’ll clutch my roses,
wave from behind the orchestra,
and try not to ruin you.”
Daughter
“To love you here, in this forever,
is the only true thing I know.”
The Invisible Hand
“Time dripped from the faucet until, late thirties, an invisible hand reached down and turned the tap to a steady stream. I couldn’t begin to understand it, the sudden brevity of seasons. One minute cutting a watermelon, the next a Christmas tree. I stood at the sink and wondered how to spend my life. There was no answer. Instead a voice from behind the curtain: We only have so many summers with our children. Like a good mother, I made plans.”
One Day
“One day your baby sits
in a bright red stroller
making wild mammalian sounds,
and the next they’re saying
they never liked Dog Man and
no one their age takes bubble baths. Christmas without a Santa.
Tooth Fairies without a tiny baby tooth.
Now they want this sort of haircut,
to take them to the mall
with other post-pubescent children.
It’s not so bad—
but if you’re waiting for a hug
or gentle conversation,
I suggest not looking very desperate.
Lie on the floor, get out your book. Eventually they come.”
For My Son on His Thirteenth Birthday
“I never wanted anything more than you,
so when they placed you in my arms,
26 hours of labor, I thought—
I’ll die without him,
and I took a breath and held it…
Time has a way of softening the deadliest of dragons, and though I walk daily
through the shadow of fear and hesitation— I am watching you grow into yourself.
The front seat by the stage is worn.
My darling boy, give me your drama
and delight. I’ll clutch my roses,
wave from behind the orchestra,
and try not to ruin you.”
November 14, 2025
I am always happy to sit down with Kate Baer's poetry. This collection felt more serious and even skirted darkness more so than her previous books. Baer seems to be stepping into deeper reflection and writing with the kind of confidence that comes from age and experience. Many of the poems felt raw or almost uncomfortable to read -- in a good way that forces you to grapple with your own experiences or what you observe in the world. Baer uniquely captures emotion and the experience of being a woman, mother, and person right now in a way that is both literary and relatable. For readers familiar with her work, I would recommend this book. For reader unfamiliar with her, I would recommend they first read What Kind of Woman and then How About Now.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an ARC of this book.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an ARC of this book.
September 9, 2025
I loved this.
It was the biggest breath of fresh air.
I think I had something to highlight in each poem that resonated with my life and heart.
I will come back and read these often and I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy.
Thank you Kate Baer for writing these.
And thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for my e-arc.
It was the biggest breath of fresh air.
I think I had something to highlight in each poem that resonated with my life and heart.
I will come back and read these often and I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy.
Thank you Kate Baer for writing these.
And thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for my e-arc.
January 12, 2026
3.5 - I think I liked her other poems better because of the clever way she used source material. 1/2 of these I loved and 1/2 I just didn’t give a shit about. Maybe the polarizing view is part of the point…. As someone who is 42, like her, but without children, I appreciate reading her perspective on life and how real it is :) I also love how much she loves water bc me too !
January 26, 2026
This poetry is easy to read, and I love the girlhood represented in each of them. I especially love the bridesmaids speech (I had seen on Instagram before reading 🥲)
I think if I was a mom I would’ve liked the first half more. I also think it could make a great gift for certain people in my life.
I think if I was a mom I would’ve liked the first half more. I also think it could make a great gift for certain people in my life.
December 19, 2025
Kate Baer writes the poetry of my life.
November 28, 2025
I loved this book so much I bought it as a gift and decided not to give it away. Many of the poems are still rattling around my mind. Because Kate Baer is about my age, her musings about what could have been, the choices she made, the life she has, her children growing up- they all really resonate.
November 4, 2025
3.5 stars - I really enjoyed the majority of this collection! I love how experimental Baer was with different poem formats (using a patient intake form, emergency drill record sheet, panic attack worksheet etc) and also how relatable and relevant her poetry is. As a whole, I feel like it wasn’t as strong as her other collections, but I still had a lot of favorites!
Favorite poems:
- Would you rather be stuck in the woods with a man or bear?
- Creation Song
- Kitty
- Today
- I Came to This Earth for Pleasure
- New Soul
- Grown Alice
- I'm Going to Eat It
- The Bridesmaid's Speech
- The Invisible Hand
- The Cure
- What Do You Want?
- Interview with a Male Moderator at a Decorated Literary Event
- Before the Guests
- How About Now
I also loved the quote:
“I only know men come from women and women come from ourselves.”
- Listening to My Friend Worry About Childcare While Her Husband Scrolls for Updates on the Big Game
Favorite poems:
- Would you rather be stuck in the woods with a man or bear?
- Creation Song
- Kitty
- Today
- I Came to This Earth for Pleasure
- New Soul
- Grown Alice
- I'm Going to Eat It
- The Bridesmaid's Speech
- The Invisible Hand
- The Cure
- What Do You Want?
- Interview with a Male Moderator at a Decorated Literary Event
- Before the Guests
- How About Now
I also loved the quote:
“I only know men come from women and women come from ourselves.”
- Listening to My Friend Worry About Childcare While Her Husband Scrolls for Updates on the Big Game
January 23, 2026
The way she describes the depth of friendship between women is gorgeous. And so much more than that, too. 💛
- - -
Take my hand.
This is the world.
Apologies dressed as turkey sandwiches.
My children ask why I make
so many mistakes
and I don't have the heart to tell them
this is my first rodeo
just as much as it is theirs.
I had to go to every city
just to find out how
we take ourselves
everywhere we go.
If I stay thankful for my life,
nothing bad will happen to me.
The Bridesmaid’s Speech
I have known her all her life.
And by that I mean I've seen her
in the impossible light of girlhood.
The spaces in between-the car
on the way to the birthday dinner,
the moment before the photograph.
I have stood outside the bathroom stall,
held tight while her shoulders shook
with sorrow. I've watched joy arrive,
midnight and unexpected, repeated
stories until they were my own. It's
true there is a cost to this devotion,
but I'll let you in on a little secret:
there is very little women choose
to keep from one another. How
lucky are we to know a love like this.
dancing
we are dancing
I can’t remember when we stop
I don’t want to die, imagine the inconvenience.
Do you ever feel that men are missing out on the richest parts of humanity? Women learn from an early age to sit with one another in great discomfort. Bad parents, broken hearts, throbbing menstrual cramps. Have you ever stepped onto a playground, peeked inside our bathroom, walked through villages or coffee shops and noticed women talking? Once you look, your eye will always find us.
It's our oldest comfort and our greatest power.
To be able to sit without agenda and let suffering know she is not alone
Yes, you can
build whole kingdoms of picture-perfect
laundry rooms and remodeled kitchen walls,
but when the light comes from every direction,
ready to carry you to the great unknown,
there is only one thing I'll care to remember:
August nights, September mornings,
entire seasons spent loving you.
- - -
Take my hand.
This is the world.
Apologies dressed as turkey sandwiches.
My children ask why I make
so many mistakes
and I don't have the heart to tell them
this is my first rodeo
just as much as it is theirs.
I had to go to every city
just to find out how
we take ourselves
everywhere we go.
If I stay thankful for my life,
nothing bad will happen to me.
The Bridesmaid’s Speech
I have known her all her life.
And by that I mean I've seen her
in the impossible light of girlhood.
The spaces in between-the car
on the way to the birthday dinner,
the moment before the photograph.
I have stood outside the bathroom stall,
held tight while her shoulders shook
with sorrow. I've watched joy arrive,
midnight and unexpected, repeated
stories until they were my own. It's
true there is a cost to this devotion,
but I'll let you in on a little secret:
there is very little women choose
to keep from one another. How
lucky are we to know a love like this.
dancing
we are dancing
I can’t remember when we stop
I don’t want to die, imagine the inconvenience.
Do you ever feel that men are missing out on the richest parts of humanity? Women learn from an early age to sit with one another in great discomfort. Bad parents, broken hearts, throbbing menstrual cramps. Have you ever stepped onto a playground, peeked inside our bathroom, walked through villages or coffee shops and noticed women talking? Once you look, your eye will always find us.
It's our oldest comfort and our greatest power.
To be able to sit without agenda and let suffering know she is not alone
Yes, you can
build whole kingdoms of picture-perfect
laundry rooms and remodeled kitchen walls,
but when the light comes from every direction,
ready to carry you to the great unknown,
there is only one thing I'll care to remember:
August nights, September mornings,
entire seasons spent loving you.
November 4, 2025
(4.5 stars)
Thanks to Harper Perennial for the gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.
I jumped at the chance to read an advance copy of Kate Baer's latest poetry collection because of how much I've loved the work she has shared online over the past few years. It's not often that I sit down and read poetry but I'm so glad I read this collection. Topics covered include motherhood, female friendship, marriage, and aging just to name a few.
Each poem in this book provided a chance for reflection and interpretation. I let them wash over me, taking extra time to reread several. I'm sure I will return to them in the future and notice new angles and meanings.
One thing that struck me was how much meaning and emotion Kate's poems can evoke with so few words. In a lot of moments here, less is more and the reader can fill in the rest with their own background and experiences. Several of my favorites related to motherhood, but not all of them.
Overall this was a lovely - and different - reading experience for me. Thanks to Kate for sharing so much of herself through this collection!
Thanks to Harper Perennial for the gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.
I jumped at the chance to read an advance copy of Kate Baer's latest poetry collection because of how much I've loved the work she has shared online over the past few years. It's not often that I sit down and read poetry but I'm so glad I read this collection. Topics covered include motherhood, female friendship, marriage, and aging just to name a few.
Each poem in this book provided a chance for reflection and interpretation. I let them wash over me, taking extra time to reread several. I'm sure I will return to them in the future and notice new angles and meanings.
One thing that struck me was how much meaning and emotion Kate's poems can evoke with so few words. In a lot of moments here, less is more and the reader can fill in the rest with their own background and experiences. Several of my favorites related to motherhood, but not all of them.
Overall this was a lovely - and different - reading experience for me. Thanks to Kate for sharing so much of herself through this collection!
December 10, 2025
Thank you to @bibliolifestyle and @harperperennial for the gifted copy of @katejbaer’s new book of poetry How About Now, which was published on November 4th.
I have been a fan and a follower on Instagram of Kate’s for years, while poetry is not my main reading genre, I always jump at the chance to read Baer’s.
Her poetry manages to encapsulate so many aspects of the experience of being a woman in the United States during many stages of life. Her poetry is feminist, political, and profound. Her work is vulnerable, direct, and relatable. Her elimination poetry is a personal favorite.
I devoured this volume in an afternoon, but love to have a copy on my shelf to revisit my favorites. I included a few here for a sample. I cannot recommend all 3 volumes of her poetry enough.
I have been a fan and a follower on Instagram of Kate’s for years, while poetry is not my main reading genre, I always jump at the chance to read Baer’s.
Her poetry manages to encapsulate so many aspects of the experience of being a woman in the United States during many stages of life. Her poetry is feminist, political, and profound. Her work is vulnerable, direct, and relatable. Her elimination poetry is a personal favorite.
I devoured this volume in an afternoon, but love to have a copy on my shelf to revisit my favorites. I included a few here for a sample. I cannot recommend all 3 volumes of her poetry enough.
December 31, 2025
Poetry is such a mixed bag. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it. Sometimes the same book can get completely different reactions out of me when read twice. It's with this recognition that I say I really didn't care for this collection. "Didn't care" being the key words here... I just didn't care. But I wanted to care! She's my age and battling all the same battles I am! Despite these similarities, I felt very disconnected from the writing. I wanted to feel all of it, but I just didn't care. I would have stopped reading early on had it not been so short, and had I not desperately wanted to feel something, anything. But I'm glad I stuck it out, because there are a few gems in here. I'm glad I got to them, and I'm glad I felt something. But for 95% of it, I just didn't care.
December 19, 2025
How About Now was another wonderful collection of poems by Kate Baer.
I loved reading through this poetry book a few poems at a time and contemplating the author’s words. While there were several I felt I could not relate to personally, I could feel empathy for the author as she poetically shared her feelings and experiences. There were also a handful that I related to more personally and really loved.
All in all this is a great collection of poems that I’d recommend checking out, even if you think you’re not into poetry.
I loved reading through this poetry book a few poems at a time and contemplating the author’s words. While there were several I felt I could not relate to personally, I could feel empathy for the author as she poetically shared her feelings and experiences. There were also a handful that I related to more personally and really loved.
All in all this is a great collection of poems that I’d recommend checking out, even if you think you’re not into poetry.
October 27, 2025
Many thanks to @harperperennial for the physical copy of @katejbaer 's poetry.
I related to so many of these poems. I even sent some friends voice notes of me reading ones I thought were powerful. I think every woman can relate somewhere in this collection.
"Harvest Moon" & "Marriage Poem" spoke the loudest to me. ❤️
❓️Do you typically enjoy poetry? I always have! Actually a little known fact about me!
#poetry #katebaer
I related to so many of these poems. I even sent some friends voice notes of me reading ones I thought were powerful. I think every woman can relate somewhere in this collection.
"Harvest Moon" & "Marriage Poem" spoke the loudest to me. ❤️
❓️Do you typically enjoy poetry? I always have! Actually a little known fact about me!
#poetry #katebaer
January 27, 2026
It’s been so long since I’ve read poetry and oh, how I missed it! I was completely unfamiliar with Kate Baer’s work and now I fear I may have to read all her previous work! I think my favorite poems in this book were New Soul, Undivided Attention, No Matter What, By the Way, Bingo and At What Moment Do We Fail? Phenomenal collection of poems on girl/womanhood, life as a whole and how our world is constantly changing.
August 22, 2025
3.5 stars
I follow Kate Baer on Instagram and love the snippets of writing she posts, the DM’s she redacts, the captions on her stories so I was excited to get an advanced copy.
For the first third I felt like maybe I wasn’t the target? But then there were a bunch that hit closer to home – that I wanted to write down, a couple that I did. I also was surprised by the unexpected format that she used in some of the poems, though I shouldn't have been since I follow her.
I haven’t read any of her bestsellers, but think I might now.
I follow Kate Baer on Instagram and love the snippets of writing she posts, the DM’s she redacts, the captions on her stories so I was excited to get an advanced copy.
For the first third I felt like maybe I wasn’t the target? But then there were a bunch that hit closer to home – that I wanted to write down, a couple that I did. I also was surprised by the unexpected format that she used in some of the poems, though I shouldn't have been since I follow her.
I haven’t read any of her bestsellers, but think I might now.
November 4, 2025
“What a privilege to, even for a moment,
revel in the reminder that no matter its failing,
there is something to be gained from the celebration
of a tender and ordinary love”
Thank you to Harper Perennial for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I’ve always enjoyed poetry, but I rarely remember to include it in my yearly reading. I was excited to get this and explore poetry by a new-to-me author.
This collection of poems has a wide range from motherhood to love to children to body image. Some of them have a deeper emotional tone than others, making this a fascinating collection to read. The poems are sometimes brutally honest, but also full of curiosity and hope.
It encapsulates what I’ve always loved about poetry and poets. They’re alway able to pack in so much thought and feeling into few words. It’s a beautiful collection and I can’t wait to read her other poetry books.
revel in the reminder that no matter its failing,
there is something to be gained from the celebration
of a tender and ordinary love”
Thank you to Harper Perennial for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I’ve always enjoyed poetry, but I rarely remember to include it in my yearly reading. I was excited to get this and explore poetry by a new-to-me author.
This collection of poems has a wide range from motherhood to love to children to body image. Some of them have a deeper emotional tone than others, making this a fascinating collection to read. The poems are sometimes brutally honest, but also full of curiosity and hope.
It encapsulates what I’ve always loved about poetry and poets. They’re alway able to pack in so much thought and feeling into few words. It’s a beautiful collection and I can’t wait to read her other poetry books.
November 4, 2025
On reflection, I’m bumping this to 5 stars because I haven’t been able to get some of these out of my head. Kate Baer, how do you always manage to peer directly into my soul before writing your poetry? This was a beautiful collection that explores themes of marriage, motherhood, nostalgia, and the ever-present passage of time. In midlife, we are mature and yet we still feel, in so many ways, young. We watch our kids grow up and away from us, day by day. We yearn for the past while also understanding its imperfections. We love our partners but recognize their flaws. We settle in to a life that used to feel new and exciting but is now worn and comfortable, no longer perfect, but still gloriously ours. I can’t say enough good things.
Pub Date: 11/4/2025
Review Published: 11/4/2025
eARC provided at no cost by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 11/4/2025
Review Published: 11/4/2025
eARC provided at no cost by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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