The Free Verse Society

by Delali Adjoa

A tender hate-to-love YA romance about two teens who connect through their high school poetry club, where the power of the written word tears down the walls they've built around their hearts.

No one in Delray knows Jae Aƒenyo's story—that she's a teen mom who placed her baby for adoption—and she intends to keep it that way. After moving in with her uncle, Jae is looking for a fresh start. But an accidental run-in with the school's delinquent, Derek Patel, is not exactly what she had in mind. She soon finds a haven in the poetry club—at least, until Derek joins.

Derek Patel is desperately clinging to his old life—where his dad was alive, his mom was healthy, and they lived in an oceanfront estate instead of a run-down pink bungalow. He'll do anything to hide his problems from his friends, including breaking into his old house to keep up the charade that he still lives there. But the house now belongs to the school's lit teacher, who offers him the chance to join the poetry club as a penance.

As the newest members of the club, Jae and Derek are tasked with planning the end-of-semester poetry reading. While Derek is hell-bent on keeping his broken family a secret, Jae is desperate to prove to her uncle that she's more than a walking statistic—which means guarding her heart against Derek, who her uncle thinks is no good.

A poignant exploration of love, loss, and the power of words to draw people together, The Free Verse Society announces the arrival of an important new voice in YA romance.

Perfect for readers who love Forced Proximity, Forbidden Love, Opposites Attract, Hate to Love, the Misunderstood Bad Boy, Opposite Sides of the Tracks, and Reading/Literature Club Bonding!

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Poetry, Young Adult Romance, Friendship, Fiction

333 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 24, 2026

About the author

Delali Adjoa was born in Togo to Ghanaian parents but grew up in Canada, where she traded sunny cottons for wool tuques and snowsuits. She has been chasing warmer weather ever since.
Delali writes fiction centered on identity, freedom, and family, and loves the American South for the stories it has buried. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and Georgetown University. Instagram: @DelaliWrites.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. 💜

[Aparajita Majumdar · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a debut author, Delali Adjoa has outdone herself. I am a sucker for enemies to lovers stories. Even though it's not your regular enemies to lovers, I quite got the feeling like that. Jae and Derek, both suffering from their own traumas and trying to survive in their present situation have been portrayed beautifully. It was hurting at a point in the book how much people can suffer at such a young age.

Jae, an ordinary girl, a straight-A student has a lot to deal with because of the painful past she has and now living with her uncle. She's just trying to prove that she belongs somewhere.

Derek Patel, a half Indian boy, whose life suddenly changed when his father left and his mother almost became an addict. His family lost all the money they had but he doesn't want anybody else to know about that. His friends are not good people, they are bullies but despite knowing that he needs those friends because they are the only normal which is left of his old times.

Jae and Derek met in the school under a very unwanted situation but the moment they met, they felt a kind of attraction towards each other. Jae wanted to hate Derek from the beginning but little did she know that both their daily lives would be intertwined. Both of them became a part of a poetry club, named Free Verse Society. The purpose of this club was creating free verse poetry which reflects life, love and loss.

I have to say, the glimpses of poetry in the book were a cherry on top of the cake. They are sweet, sad and overwhelming. I thoroughly enjoyed the development of Jae and Derek's relationship and how their pain of the past started feeling less heavy after they started knowing each other.

[Quilted.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely obsessed with this book. Truly a hidden gem and an easy must read.This story follows Jae Afenyo and Derek Patel two teenagers who couldn’t be more different brought together through their high school poetry club. Jae is trying to start over after placing her baby up for adoption a part of her life no one at her new school knows about. She’s living with her uncle determined to prove she’s more than the label everyone wants to stick on her and poetry becomes the one place she feels safe enough to breathe.Derek on the other hand is clinging desperately to the version of his life before everything fell apart before his father died, before his mother got sick, before they lost their oceanfront home. To keep up appearances, he’s literally breaking into his old house just to pretend things haven’t changed. When he’s caught, he’s forced to join the poetry club as punishment which is where everything collides.What starts as tension and resistance slowly turns into something softer, deeper, and incredibly real. As Jae and Derek are tasked with planning the end of semester poetry reading together, their walls start to crack. Both are guarding huge secrets, both are hurting, and neither wants to admit how much they need to be seen and understood.And the poetry oh wow. The poems scattered throughout the book were such a beautiful surprise. Every poem felt raw like you were being trusted with something deeply personal.This book explores love, loss, grief, class differences, teen pregnancy, family pressure, and the power of words in such a gentle yet devastating way. It’s emotional and incredibly powerful. I found myself rereading lines just letting it sink in.One of the most beautiful stories I’ve read in a long time. Don’t sleep on this one.

[shatterinseconds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly beautiful

[Jill (readinginpjs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Peachtree Teen, Penguin Teen CA, & PRH Audio for the ARC & ALC, all opinions are my own.

I loved the depth to this story, I was so drawn to both Jae & Derek, and everything they had to deal with in their young lives.
This book tackles some really tough topics, & I believe the author handled them with so much care.

The poetry element was so great too, it added to the story and gave the characters such a positive outlet for their feelings.

🎧 I truly loved both narrators! I love Joniece Abbott-Pratt (from voicing the Legendborn series), and she truly captured Jae’s emotions SO well. This was my first time hearing Shahjehan Khan, and he was the perfect Derek.

✦ tropes & stuff:
💫 YA - high school
💫 strangers to friends to lovers
💫 poetry club
💫 coming of age
💫 forbidden
💫 hurt to healing
💫 grief rep
💫 forced proximity
💫 found family
💫 dual 1st person pov

🎧 audio + ebook + paperback | ⭐️: 5 |

📖 The Free Verse Society by author
💜: YA romance (mf)
🎙 narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Prat? & Shahjehan Khan

*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍

[Maddalena ☆]

on of the most beautiful covers i've seen

[Kennedy Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOOOOOOOOOOW. This is one of my favorite books of all time!! I can’t remember the last time I was giggling and kicking my feet while reading. And I’m literally dead serious, I’m adding this to my Favorites shelf and I’ll be buying a physical copy ASAP. This story moved my SOUL and I would’ve read it in one day if I didn’t get so sleepy, so it took me two. I inhaled this story and I absolutely LOVE Jae and Derek, I hope they’re together forever. I need more about them PLEASE!!! If you’re reading this, read this book. You will not regret it. I’m definitely going to read it again 😌

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for giving me a free early copy!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first thought on reading the blurb at the back was, " Oh, great. Another angsty teen romance," - and I did not expect much. However, a few pages in, I was proved wrong and how. Yes, there was angst. Yes, there was romance. But what pulled in deeper was the honesty and grit of the protagonists to be better. Every single time.

Jae has been through a lot - and it has changed her in many ways. She was more than just a statistic - and found her strive to be better, so wholesome. She put herself back bit by bit and accepted every part of her and blossomed before my eyes. Towards the end, the climax scene did bring tears to my eyes - and that's why I know her story will stay with me.

Derek is a sweetie after my heart - and I especially related to his search for his Indian identity - and how he stood up for himself through the novel. I also appreciated that he wasn't mean for the sake of it, unlike most YA protagonists these days.

The overall themes of identity, interracial families, how much your parents truly shape you and all this is set against a backdrop of free verse - and it goes to show how words matter. And why they are so powerful.

Overall, a poignant read to start the year!

Review of advance copy received from Author

[Bethany Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you thank you thank you endlessly to @delaliwrites for sending me an advanced copy of her positively *exquisite* debut.

I read this in two sittings, and I don’t read a lot of physical books during the winter months. This one hooked me immediately. And the POETRY in this book my god, it was stunning.

We follow Jae and Derek, two teens who are dealing with so much. They are unlikely friends who catch feelings and it’s gorgeous to watch.

Jae’s story *moved* me. I cried several times. The friendships built, the love and care she receives from her chosen family, and the ending of this book for her absolutely are wrecked me.

Derek’s situation made my heart hurt for him. He had so much on his plate and his worry for his mom made it harder. He was doing his best and so overwhelmed. His heart is so good under his tough exterior.

The friends in this book are amazing. Some of the people I the school suck, but damn. This chosen family. I want a Swan, CJ, and William for myself. They *showed up* and it was everything.

Anyway the end of this book had me wiping away tears in public because it was so stunningly beautiful. An incredible debut from an incredible author. I cannot wait to read more from Delali.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I’ve read a YA novel that wormed its way into my heart like this one did. As a high school teacher this hit hard- we truly don’t know what these babies are dealing with. The way that Adjoa writes about Jae and Derek’s respective traumas is done with care and the last 25% of the book had me with tears just rolling down my face. This book deserves all the hype.

Thank you to Peachtree Teen for the advanced review copy! Immediately telling our librarian we need a physical copy.

[Sydne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book broke me open. Yes, there are dark themes, but the story is a welcome breeze, a breath held and released, a scab falling off to reveal the healed skin beneath.
What I thought was a story about two troubled kids in a poetry group turned into so much more. I cried too many times to count and instead of feeling empty, I feel full.
This is an amazing novel.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beautiful prose in this one, mixed with the absolutely gorgeous free-verse poems sprinkled throughout, stopped me in my tracks. THE FREE VERSE SOCIETY is equal parts gorgeous, heart wrenching, and introspective. I loved every minute of it, and Delali Adjoa is absolutely a debut writer to watch!

[Chloski_binoski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book it exceeded my expectations. As soon as I started reading it I couldn't stop I got sucked in. This story follows Jae Aƒenyo who has moved in with her uncle and is looking for a fresh start after becoming a teen mother and placing her baby up for adoption, and Derek Patel who is trying to keep up a facade to his friends of the old life that he use to have before his father died. Things happen they both end up in this poetry club for different reasons and as the newest members of the club they have to plan the end of semester poetry reading together. This book was so much more emotional than I expected it to be it was so raw and realistic, and for this to not be the longest book I really cared about everything such as the characters, Jae was such an easy character to care about and like, she was realistic and I couldn't help but always want the best for her she was just very likeable and I enjoyed following her. Derek was also very likable although at times he might not have made the best decision or the right one I could always understand why, he was truly just a teenager going through it but he never did something that was extremely unlikable he was also like jae very realistic especially for a teenage boy. They both were flawed characters but never unnecessary in their actions you could always see where both of them were coming from. I loved them and their relationship their was so much chemistry between them I was rooting for them the whole time. Another thing that I loved about this book was the writing. I just found the writing so beautiful and poetic at times (of course) even outside of the poetry, I'm not a person who consumes poetry like that but the poems in this book were really good. I can only imagine that having to write multiple poems for multiple different characters and having to make sure that each of those poems actually fits each character and their personality and background must be a little hard but the author did a great job at writing each poem. It's safe to say that I loved this book and will be getting a Physical copy of it when it comes out. I definitely recommend I know that so many people would love this even if you don't know a lot about poetry, you can use me as a living example of that.

[taketwolu]

Jae’s ready to start fresh at a new school but soon finds her world flipped after meeting Derek. Through duo povs, we see the two connect through the school’s poetry club as they unravel their stories and guard their secrets.

Adoja writes in a way that is moody, mature, and each sentence feels perfectly carved and packed with emotions that I'm still processing. We explore different themes of grief, family dynamics, motherhood, love, the innate want to hold onto something you no longer can, and deeply craving what you can’t have. The themes are dark and the prose is beautiful. I loved lingering on the words, the unspoken thoughts between Jae and Derek, and all that happens in the past, present, and future for the characters in this book.

Both Derek and Jae have their own histories which are riddled with happy moments but also shadowed by the fallout and trauma of things they lost. Even with the rest of the poetry club members (William, Swan, and CJ) we see how different everyone's life experiences are. Despite the hurt in their lives, things aren't black and white. Heavy topics are humanized, “bad situations” are spun in different lights showing other sides, and everyone is twined together through the poetry club.

Heaviness aside, here's some moments I loved:
- all the small things Jae and Derek noticed about each other
- the poetry sessions under the banyan trees + the poems
- Uncle Rowan's kind side and Ms. Rosette’s mischievous side
- Swan’s unapologetic self and the overall vibe between the whole club
- Jae’s love for June
- Mrs. Aldana’s warmth
- the overall found family and unconventional dynamics of this group 🤧

This is such a breathtaking debut and I can’t wait to read more by Adjoa!

Thanks Netgalley and Peach Tree Teen for the arc!

[Angela's Booked · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was really cute and I liked the realness each of characters brought; however, I wanted more from each of them and more from their backstories. The book was shorter than most of this kind (at least it felt that way page wise), so it would have benefited from more fleshed out backstories to highlight each of the characters’ complexities. Adding length would have also made this not feel as insta-lovey as it was. Regardless of the description, this was NOT a hate-to-love romance. There was no hating of any sorts. It was instant attraction accompanied by the shock of being instantly attracted to each other and figuring out what to do moving awkwardly forward. I still enjoyed it, though, and I would read more from this author.

[Anneka Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️- an eARC read

Thank you Delali Adjora and Peachtree Teen for this eARC!

Delali Adjora’s The Free Verse Society is a poetic debut about grief and how the arts can be a beautiful way to communicate our emotions and feelings when the spoken word cannot.

Our main characters, Jae and Derek, are both reeling from their separate losses and pain. Adjora gives depth to both of them and the space for them to write and express themselves. The poems from all the characters are beautiful in their own way. I loved the poet group and how they all came together to support one another.

This is a coming of age story and discusses teen pregnancy, a topic that I haven’t seen in other YA novels, and addiction. It’s a story of grief, found family, community, and healing. They each discover who they have in their corner rooting for them and the own power of their voice. One of the ending scenes was beautiful. This book is romance-focused, but I would keep in mind the heavier themes and somber tones.

I would have loved to see the ending chapter explored more as much of Derek’s personal journey felt like it was done “off-screen” especially with the overall fast-pacing of this novel. (Was his screen writing interest ever explored aside from its introduction?)

[Diamonde Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is gorgeous, like beautifully plated dessert gorgeous, like sunset over water beautiful, I will love this book forever. I finished reading this book feeling complete. The pacing is perfect. The characters, oh I would have dreamt to be this seen and loved at such a young age.

[Tiina S · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely beautiful read. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time, I loved it so much.

[Gabbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so beautiful omg 😭😭

[Hana ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for this to come out!!

[Medha Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, let’s crank up the quirk and dive deeper into The Free Verse Society by Delali Adjoa, because if my first take was the coffee-shop ugly-cry version, this one’s the late-night journal-entry remix with all the themes and feels laid bare.

At its core, this is a hate-to-love YA romance that’s so much more than swoony glances over metaphor notebooks. Jae Afenyo shows up in Delray Beach hauling the heaviest invisible luggage, desperate for a clean slate away from Atlanta, her mom, and the whispers that still echo in her head. She’s guarded, prickly, and poetry is her only safe exhale. Then there’s Derek Patel—soccer-star-gone-rogue, still ghost-haunted by his dad’s death, his family’s financial freefall, and a mom who’s struggling. He’s breaking into his old fancy house just to pretend life didn’t shatter. (Talk about a metaphor that hurts to read.) Forced proximity? Check. Poetry club punishment? Double check. Sparks? They practically set the page on fire.

Themes that hit like quiet lightning:

- Grief and loss: Not the dramatic, cinematic kind, but the slow-bleed version that seeps into every choice. Parental death, fractured families, cultural disconnection (both have dads who didn’t fully pass down their heritage), and the grief of futures that never happened.

- Secrets and shame: Jae’s adoption decision, Derek’s crumbling façade. The book asks: What happens when you stop hiding the messy parts of yourself?

- Healing through words: Free verse isn’t decoration here; it’s oxygen. The interspersed poems (raw, jagged, vulnerable) let characters say what prose can’t. Addiction shadows, domestic abuse echoes, financial insecurity, teen pregnancy aftermath—they’re handled with such gentle honesty it never feels exploitative.

- Found family in the misfits: The poetry club crew starts as awkward strangers and ends up as the soft place to land. Opposites attract, class divides, cultural threads, it’s all woven in without preaching.

- Redemption and vulnerability: No magic fixes, just two teens accidentally showing each other it’s okay to crack open.

Emotionally? This book is a rollercoaster disguised as a slow-burn. I started smirking at the snarky banter, then got quietly angry at how unfair life is to these kids, then full-on heart-squeezed when the walls finally crumble. There’s rage at circumstances, tenderness in small gestures (late-night poem edits, shared silences), gut-punch moments of recognition (“same” to the grief, the shame, the what-ifs), and this warm, tentative hope that sneaks up on you. I laughed at the absurd beauty of a poem about expired yogurt turning profound. I teared up when trust finally clicks—not in fireworks, but in the simple act of being seen. By the end, I felt cathartic, like I’d been holding my breath and someone finally said, “It’s okay to exhale.”

It’s not all sunshine; the heavy stuff lingers. But Adjoa balances it with so much care… realism without despair, romance without clichés, poetry without pretension, that you walk away lighter. Changed, even.

If you’ve ever clutched a notebook like a lifeline, or loved someone who was hurting and didn’t know how to say it, or just needed proof that words can rebuild what’s broken, this one’s for you. Tear-stained pages and half-finished poems you’ll wish were yours. Join the society. Bring tissues. And maybe a spare heart. You’ll need it.

[Pine Reads Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In the sky you can already see a few bold stars, and the moon spreading its Cheshire cat smile. The wind is soft like velvet, and warm. It’s the kind of wind that wraps around memories and brings them back to you again and again in different seasons. This day will come back when I least expect it. The smell of it, the taste of it. The air.”

Janelle “Jae” Aƒenyo desperately needs a fresh start, and she hopes that moving in with her Uncle Rowan in Delray will provide an escape from her truth—that she placed her baby up for adoption after an accidental teen pregnancy. Jae hopes to fly under the radar, but after accidentally running into Derek Patel, the school’s bully, she’s suddenly the topic of everyone’s conversation. Derek wasn’t always a bully, but after his dad passed away and his mom grew more absent, he tried everything he could to keep up his perfect-life act, stopping anyone who got in his way. When Derek breaks into the literature teacher Mrs. Aldana’s house, she tells him that he can join the school’s poetry club, The Free Verse Society, as punishment. Jae finds solace in the club, until she realizes that Derek has joined as well. Both Jae and Derek have walls built miles high, but will their proximity reveal the secrets they’ve spent so long trying to hide?

The Free Verse Society was a very heavy book, and one that I know will stick with me for a long time. Adjoa’s writing is incredible, and it’s easy to get lost in her words. I’m not a big poetry fan, but each of the characters’ love for the genre made me much more invested in their stories. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where the main character was a pregnant teen who had to place the baby up for adoption, and I thought that Adjoa handled the topic really well. However, I was surprised at how many people in Jae’s life were unsupportive of her, and I spent the entire book wishing that she was real just so I could give her a hug. Both Jae and Derek’s stories were very tragic, and I was frequently frustrated with the lack of support they were receiving from their caregivers. Even though Derek was a bit rebellious at the beginning of the book, he and Jae were both very mature, and I was shocked at how they were treated because of their previous experiences—not with respect but with judgement. This made Mrs. Aldana’s character much stronger because she was able to be an outlet for the club members when they had nobody listening to them. Overall, I loved how the story progressed, and I’m so glad Jae and Derek learned to forgive themselves for their past mistakes and move towards a better future.

The Free Verse Society releases on March 24th, 2026.

Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!

[Jamie Steinberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Free Verse Society is a mixture of love, loss, heartbreak and healing with a beautiful sprinkling of free verse poetry delicately added by author Delali Adjoa. Jae Afenyo and Derek Patel meet at just the wrong (right?) time and soon find themselves intertwined in a friendship divided by secrets and feelings neither of them are equipped to deal with at the moment. This YA romance is powerful, poignant and inspiring in so many ways. 

Jae Afenyo has recently moved to Delray to live with her uncle after having given birth as a teen mom and placing her baby up for adoption. She’s eager to put that behind her and start fresh in a school that knows nothing about her past. Derek Patel is a popular jock who is struggling with his own demons as his father died in a car crash and his mother is addicted to pills and alcohol. Add in a no-good boyfriend, having to move out of his family’s nice home and a dash of annoyance at having to look after Derek and this kid has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Things get complicated when a classmate discovers Derek’s new residence and finds himself in the bathroom being threatened to stay quiet. That’s where Jae accidentally meets Derek and their “star-crossed lovers” tale begins and Derek’s downfall rises. Trying to hide his new home from his friends, Derek breaks into his former residence which now belongs to the school’s lit teacher. In order to avoid community service, his teacher offers him the chance to join the school’s poetry club - where he reunites with Jae. Neither party wants to talk about their inner demons, but find they both excel at writing down what is bottled up within them when in this club and a new set of friends that could be the tribe they both need. When the two are tasked with finding a place to host the end of the semester poetry reading, they become a lot closer - which doesn’t sit too well with Derek’s pals, his former love interest Valeria and Jae’s uncle. Can Jae and Derek lower their walls long enough to let each other in on their secrets or will Jae’s Uncle Rowan keep them apart as he thinks the boy isn’t good enough for his niece. 

For those that love free form poetry, you will certainly appreciate Adjoa’s writing. She weaves heart and heartbreak so well into Jae and Derek that you just want to protect them at all costs and also encourage them to put pen to paper and let everything they have bottled up out to one another and even their new found pals in the poetry club. And as a reminder, Adjoa is darn good at free verse poetry. I expect her to have at least one of her own poetry books published at some point and I will be in line to snag a copy for myself. 

To tell you if Derek and Jae find a path to one another and reconcile their pasts would be too much of a spoiler, but what I can say is the ending of the book is satisfying for those who want these two to find the love they are missing in their lives. For those that are fans of “Romeo and Juliet” or are even pro-poetry, grab yourself a copy of The Free Verse Society.

[thefriendlybibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Free Verse Society is a sharply, lyrical meditation on motherhood, friendship, self-confidence, and young love.

This review is not very structured because I'm still chewing on this read, which is how I know it was a great one.

This book hit me in all of my feelings. I laughed, I cried, I shouted don't do that, and everything in between. The story is such a complicated mix of heartbreaking and cute. I repeatedly thought, "Give those poor babies a hug" and also they did the silliest and cutest things despite going through things adults don't even know how to process. Thanks to Mrs. Aldana for being the supportive adult they all needed.

The poetry club itself was a strong aspect of the book. The precious group of young poets grew in different ways from sharing their poetry, being in community, and honing their craft. They learned to rely on each other and to support each other, and eventually became true friends despite their varying pasts and life experiences. The text is incorporates poetry in multiple forms: embedded poetry, borrowing from the form of free verse in the writing, poetry as a form communication, and our the club geeking out. I appreciated all of those elements and how they all flowed into each other to create a beautiful read.

I also learned some things such as the fact that the v-day kiss picture from Times Square and the related statue in San Diego are actually not very romantic at all and come from a very cringy situation. My idealism of that situation was just as dashed as Derek's was in the book.

Finally, The Free Verse Society reminded me of why I enjoy reading YA. I really believe that as we get older we are often growing alongside the internal younger versions of ourselves and those parts of us need feeding and attention too. Teens process this such a deeply emotional way and sometimes we need to tap into our teen selves to heal from the past or to stop overcomplicating things and just feel. There were so many moments where the teens in this book had to take care of themselves or challenge the adults in our lives and its good to be reminded that we are all still growing and feeling and learning. Getting older doesn't mean you have all and the answers and we can learn from those who are younger. YA can be just as deep and thought provoking as any other piece of literature and this book certainly was. I highly recommend!

[Little Batties · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Free Verse Society is a lyrical story filled with love, hurt, heartbreak, and secrets that leaves you wanting more in the best possible way. Delali created poetry with her words, building beautiful imagery to immerse the readers into her novel. I could feel the sea breeze, smell the flowers and rainy nights, and so many other natural wonders you see out in the world. It was poetic and I loved it.

The story follows two main characters, Jae and Derek, who have secrets they are both trying to keep from everyone. So when life lands them in the same poetry club, they both have to navigate the awkward feelings and growing connection to work together on their club's open mic night. It is a slow burn, will they won't they, filled with the drama and judgement high school and undesirable family life can bring. Will they figure it out or are they doomed to be "just friends"?

It has alternating perspectives, allowing us to see both sides of the story. The author approached this in a way that went surprisingly well. She was able to develop both of these characters in a way I was not expecting. They grow throughout the story, showing a glimpse at the maturity that can happen over the course of a school year. Yes, there were eye roll inducing moments for me but that was because there were moments that were so sweet and heartwarming that it was a little off-putting for me on a personal level.

This being said, they author balanced these sweet moments with heart wrenching ones, making it .ore believable as a whole. We have antagonist in each of the main characters loves, and the way they each struggle to confront these people out on the very real reality of the helplessness you can feel when facing friends or family that are doing the wrong thing. It was done really well, and I had mental where my heart broke for these characters.

I would recommend this book to those that want a touching romance that has a heavy dose of reality, or if you are looking for a story written in a poetic manner. It truly didn't feel like your typical novel because of the way it was written, which added to the level of beauty to the story as a whole. I only there was a little more to the ending because I want to know what happens next.

Thank you NetGalley and Peachtree Publishers for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ilana Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of The Free Verse Society and after finishing it, it's going to take a while to get over the experience. Not that I want to get over it. It's been a while since I've read such a beautiful, moving, meaningful story, and I'm enjoying soaking in all the beauty and emotion.

Jae has moved to live with her uncle after placing her baby with a loving family. Despite knowing her daughter is in good hands, Jae misses her desperately and is unsure about whether she was allowed to really make a free choice about letting her go. The other teens at her new school know nothing about Jae's past and she carries her secret closely.

Derek is recovering from his father's sudden death in a car crash which left his mother addicted to painkillers. His life has changed radically: no more big house, no more loving, intact family. Instead, he's hiding the uniform he's forced to wear at his job in a restaurant from his friends. After going so far as to break into his old house to hide his new life, he's caught and charged with becoming part of The Free Verse Society—a poetry club—to make up for it.

Jae and Derek, both members of the club, clash at first, despite the powerful attraction they both feel upon first meeting. As the story progresses, they grow closer, secrets fall away, and something rare and beautiful develops between them.

This book had me from page one. Delali Adoja's writing is gorgeous, descriptive, and immersive. I fell in love with both Jae and Derek—and all the secondary characters—almost instantly. They're both realistically realised young people who are trying their best, dealing with life circumstances no one should have to carry at such young ages. The story kept me involved, brought me up and down and back up again, and left me feeling warm and so happy I'd been allowed to experience it.

The Free Verse society has wonderful things to say about grief and how we face life's challenges. It demonstrates how love gives us the strength to navigate through pain and difficulty. It's a gorgeously written novel with wonderful characters, and I can't recommend it enough.

[Lyn Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is incredibly wholesome. The Free Verse Society is a wholesome hate-to-love YA romance about two teens who connect through their high school poetry club. Through the written word, they begin to unravel the walls guarding their hearts. With a thoughtful blend of sweetness and trauma, the story unfolds with quiet emotional power.

The story unfolds through both Jae’s and Derek’s POVs, which I truly appreciated because it allowed for a deeper understanding of their thoughts and emotions. Despite each of them hiding their darkest secrets, the characters never felt frustrating. Instead, their inner worlds were written with such clarity and care that I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning.

The supporting characters were all so lovable that I wished I knew them in real life (minus the mean ones, but they’re necessary in the story). I also loved seeing how, when parents weren’t there for their troubled teens, other adults chose to show up.

The poems, especially the ones read at the open mic poetry night, were incredibly moving. Their words brought me to tears and took me back to the days when I truly loved poetry.

If you’re a fan of YA romance, I highly recommend this one. It’s not cringey, beautifully paced, and the plot rises and falls at just the right moments.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Publishers for the e-ARC. And my biggest thanks to the author, Delali Adjoa, for writing such a beautiful novel.

[Ariella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so ready for this book to be one of my favourites of 2026. It seemed to want to take on a very challenging story and turn it into something beautiful.
However, it completely failed in that regard. It wasn’t an awful book, it certainly wasn’t the worst I’ve ever read. But it wasn’t a good book.

The idea was phenomenal, a very unique one and it was what first drew me to this novel. The execution was rather atrocious honestly, the writing wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great; somewhere in between. It wasn’t deep enough for the kind of story that the writer was trying to tell. It was very surface level. The pacing was absolutely HORRENDOUS!! I really want authors to calendar out the pace at which their books go in real life because that kept annoying me. It’s been one week yet the whole world has already happened in that one week.

The characters were decent, I liked them both. I just wish that they had been given more depth of character; which I think could have been achieved by proper pacing.
The romantic relationship was okay, I just didn’t like how unrealistic it was for everything to happen so quickly and that ruined my immersion into the story. THERE WAS NO HATE TO LOVE in this book, why was I being lied to?
The ending was cute and I love that they hosted an entrustment ceremony for her, brought the book full circle properly.

2.5/5

[Komal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quietly beautiful story of two people finding healing in poetry and each other. The Free Verse Society follows Jae, who’s moved in with her uncle for a fresh start and Derek, the school’s delinquent, who finds himself drawn to her. Both hold their own share of secrets yet both slowly start finding comfort in one another after joining the school’s poetry club.

Even though this is young adult, I rarely found myself thinking of that aside from some dialogue here and there. There are beautifully written poems sprinkled throughout with moments of character introspection. Jae in particular really stood out to me - she has this love for poetry and writing that you can tell is the author’s love shining through, and her complicated past made her chapters both engaging and emotional. Derek too felt fleshed out as his own character. His voice was just as distinct as Jae’s and he has his own share of problems that leave him lying to his friends and putting up a front with everyone around him.

The novel deals with an array of themes from teen pregnancy to addiction, but above all it’s a story about healing and connecting through writing.

Thank you to the author for the advanced copy :)

[Jan Raspen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think high schoolers will enjoy this book about two teens going through some hard times who connect at their school's poetry club meetings. Jae and Derek feel an instant connection, but they both hide their truths from each other for a long time. I'm not sure why this book is being marketed as hate-to-love YA, because it absolutely is not that. There was no hate between these two characters ever.
Jae, a new student at school, is hiding an unplanned pregnancy and subsequent adoption of her daughter, and Derek is hiding his mom's addiction and a huge change in his living conditions after his dad's sudden death.
They both had a lot to work through and learn about themselves, but they came together in the end. As an adult reader, I am a little worried about Jae's eagerness to jump back into a physical relationship so quickly after placing her daughter for adoption... I would've liked a little more hesitancy on her part in that regard, and maybe even some discussion about safe sex (since that's definitely where it seemed their relationship was headed) at the end.
Derek was the hero in this book, and Jae didn't have enough character growth for me.