Star Power: Poems

by Nicholas Goodly

A celebration and testament to the tenacity of life on the margins, brilliantly illuminating Black and queer experience.

In this collection, a jubilant testimony to the joys and hardships of the Black queer experience, poet Nicholas Goodly explores language that venerates the saints of their life—those people in cultures and communities who are not often seen as the powerful, brave, and heroic figures that they are. An ode to endurance, love, and play, Star Power carves out a place of pleasure and solace, a personal pantheon of legends from the Wonder Twins, Thundercat, and Tiffany Pollard to Venus Xtravaganza, the Olsen Twins, and Grace Jones.

Defiant and unapologetic, Star Power charts a path of joy and wonder, cutting through caustic history and an oppressive present to speak directly to these vibrant lives, which have long been overlooked.

Genres: Poetry, Queer

112 pages, Paperback

Published June 2, 2026

About the author

Nicholas Goodly is a writer and artist living in Atlanta. They are the writing editor of Wussy Magazine, a Cave Canem fellow, and team member of the performing arts platform Fly on a Wall.

Reviews

[Jillian B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely and very grounded book of poetry about the Black queer experience. My favourite poem, “This is everything,” has such a cool and inventive structure and absolutely took my breath away.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me access to an eARC of this book!

[Annotations&Air · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is everything. I am the house we quietly unpack."

Nicolas Goodly has brought forth a stunning collection of work that illuminates his experience moving through the world as a queer Black man in America. He has beautifully woven together themes of artistic and creative process, transformation, building and restructuring:

"I was born with a blue
marble seething at the back of my throat,
I could write a poem that dances near
the fire or a poem that stands in it"

"I evoke the past to repair it
play with the pieces of my origins
until the head pops off
I can mend the suit be patient
I can make a path for all of us"

The poet delicately prods the tensions of found and blood family alongside community, and what that represents (survival) to a person living in his identity in "Thicker Than Water":

"A world like this, once created, cannot 'end,' cannot be so easily deleted. It
exists, just beyond the screen, for those in need of a
place where anyone is welcome to stay, connect, and
remember each other."

In "Medicine" and "Portrait of a Lady" we read explorations of generational trauma and hope for reconciliation:

"I was the house I remembered living becoming conscious I couldn't get out...it was the dream of reality the reason for right now is change...my entire existence is drastically this."

"trauma is a baton
you place in my hands...
like you never happened
I am not helpless
you are not the problem
we do this to each other
you know exactly who I am"

Thank you to NetGalley, Scribner and the poet for the early copy for review.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing makes me feel less equipped to share my opinions than reviewing poetry collections. It all feels so subjective. But I will try: this is a slim collection that pulls Goodly's experience of Blackness, queerness, and the pains of realizing one's self through verse onto the page. Goodly deftly weaves in pop culture, lived experience, and lush imagery to create poems that play with form and expression.

As someone who enjoys poetry but often feels intimidated by it, I very much enjoyed this collection, and I'm still thinking bout several of the poems. If that's also you, I enourage you to pick it up and see how you feel reading along with Goodly's inner thoughts so graciously shared with the world.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lindsey]

✨ Review ✨ Star Power by Nicholas Goodly

Thanks to Scribner for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

"A haunting is a spiritual intervention. Hauntings are a political necessity, a way for the soul to set the record straight."

In this short collection of poems, Goodly explore what it means to be Black and queer. With frequent pop culture references and really melodic writing, this was a lot of fun to read. Some of my favorites in this collection were: Anatomy, Olsen Twin, Communication Breakdown, and Twenty Names for the Same Painting. Some of the poems are definitely more metaphorical and take some thought and delving into the words.

Genre: poetry
Pub Date: June 2, 2026

[Rhiley Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for the physical ARC! Wasn't sent with any agreements on reviewing it, but I loved this collection so much that I wanted to!
5/5 STARS! Please read this ASAP!
Queer love, breaking gender binaries, mental health realities, black joy, lots of references-There's a LOT packed into only 100 pages, and every bit of it is breathtaking. I took two hours to read it simply to digest each poem carefully. I wanted to fully understand what I was reading. It made the experience even sweeter.
If you don't have the time to read this right this moment, add it to your immediate TBR! It's a perfect read for pride month (Or any month, really).

[Kim Novak (The Reading Rx) · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I am not likely the intended audience of this book of poems, I appreciated the artistic diversity of how they were constructed. Billed as poetry about the Black Queer experience, I wasn't sure what I expected to read. I was randomly surprised to encounter two poems about Vertigo, the movie. I so rarely encounter a reference to Kim Novak (ironic since that is also my name) in the wild these days, let alone 4 times! It basically made my week.

Read on Juneteenth for Pride Month.

Thank you to Scribner for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

“the world is so hideous
we’re lucky to be here”

Big thanks to Scribner Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is such an incredible collection of poems. It’s this beautiful celebration of Black and queer experience that can be funny and heart-wrenching, drawing on pop culture and overlooked figures to bring their vibrant lives to the forefront.

I flew through this is one sitting because each poem was better than the last. There is a raw vulnerability throughout as it’s clear they draw heavily on Goodly’s experiences. The figures they reference are portrayed as brave and powerful, and some are often not seen as such in history. Some poems have a bit of snark that made me laugh, and then there are be poems that speak directly to the queer experience that are so emotional. The balance is extraordinary and makes this such a compelling poetry collection.

If you’re looking for a poetry collection, I highly recommend this one. It’s a quick read, and the subject matter holds a unique honesty.

[Hollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Scribner and Netgalley for this ARC. This review is my honest opinion.

This poetry collection was very well rounded. I’ll be the first to admit that I can struggle with poetry and don’t always “get” every poem but I found these very approachable. Goodly’s command on rhythm was my favorite part of their writing. I recommend this collection to anyone who is nervous about poetry but wants to dip their toe in and celebrate queer and black experiences.

[Jackie Paiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Scribner Poetry for providing me with the ARC of this book! 
Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I haven’t picked up a poetry collection yet this year so when this was sent to me I was so excited to get to return to the genre! Nicholas Goodly so beautifully explores Blackness, queerness, and self-discovery. I felt like there was so much to reflect on and discuss from such a short collection that I hope many people pick this up (especially during pride month!).
Release Date: June 2nd, 2026

[kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

goodly is a new-to-me poet that i won’t soon forget. his voice is equal parts melodic and precise. he has no problem leading you through fun pop culture references one moment and heartbreaking vulnerability the next. this collection is unapologetically black and queer and felt like a precious gift to appreciate and love.

thank you to scribner books for the advanced release copy in exchange for an honest review!!

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Power: Poems (Paperback)
by Nicholas Goodly
A collection of point of view poetry, showing pride in his racial background, family history, and personal identity. It shows the nature of personal growth, and pride in its self. A good resource of personal growth for Black history month.

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We moonwalk into hell in order to master it
We are powerless to articulate exactly who we are
The muse is a god without judgment…
Meaning is a stack of loose bricks
Making sense is kaleidoscopic
Vocabulary is the ability to both conjure and alleviate trouble.”

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

A radiant, unforgettable collection of poems that echoes the raw vulnerability of Andrea Gibson, while weaving in a powerful, distinct layer of Black queer experience.

[Wyrd Witch · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Power is a poetry collection that explores what it means to be Black and queer with honesty, vulnerability, and creativity.

What stood out to me most was how personal these poems felt. Nicholas Goodly’s writing often reads like an open window into his lived experiences. At the same time, his work is filled striking lines that just sparkle bright like rhinestones.

While many of the poems resonated with me, a few stood out in particular. Medicine and The Spirit and Craft were especially memorable, while How Rhinestones Were Invented showed Goodly’s creativity and unique voice. The poem that affected me most, however, was Braid. It moved me in such an emotional way, wanting to reach through the page and offer a hug.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.