What do you think?
Rate this book
Staying Still
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26Stegner and NEA Fellow Hieu Minh Nguyen’s visionary poetry collection about generational loneliness, desire, and longing
The highly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning poetry collection Not Here, Hieu Minh Nguyen’s Staying Still centers on the question of how: How do our anxieties around the idea of belonging estrange us from the very world we seek to belong in? How impossible does it feel to stay still and face ourselves? From the intimate longing of queer boyhood to the collective expectations imposed upon children of refugees, these poems face head-on the rejections, grief, and violence we fear in fractured family dynamics, love, and desire as we search for our place in this world.
The highly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning poetry collection Not Here, Hieu Minh Nguyen’s Staying Still centers on the question of how: How do our anxieties around the idea of belonging estrange us from the very world we seek to belong in? How impossible does it feel to stay still and face ourselves? From the intimate longing of queer boyhood to the collective expectations imposed upon children of refugees, these poems face head-on the rejections, grief, and violence we fear in fractured family dynamics, love, and desire as we search for our place in this world.
- GenresPoetry
112 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 1, 2026
About the author
Hieu Minh Nguyen
15 books139 followersMeet Hieu Minh Nguyen, a young individual with a deep fascination for the mystical and mysterious world of occultism. Growing up in a family that had a connection to the occult, Hieu started delving into the arts of Zi Wei Dou Shu and Feng Shui at the tender age of 19. As the years passed, at the age of 22, Hieu's exploration expanded to embrace other aspects of the occult realm, including the law of attraction, ho'oponopono, advanced meditation techniques, past life regression, and more.
An extraordinary turning point occurred in 2022 when the author came to realize that the heart of all occult knowledge didn't solely rest within a single discipline. Instead, it encompassed the entire world – both scientific and mystical – with the human mind at its core. This revelation sparked a transformative change in the way Hieu approached the mystical and metaphysical world.
An extraordinary turning point occurred in 2022 when the author came to realize that the heart of all occult knowledge didn't solely rest within a single discipline. Instead, it encompassed the entire world – both scientific and mystical – with the human mind at its core. This revelation sparked a transformative change in the way Hieu approached the mystical and metaphysical world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 20, 2026
thank you netgalley & zando publishing for approving me for approving me for this arc!!
i very much LOVE a poetry book & this one was great. i loved the writing & wording of these. i could feel the emotion in it & that’s what i loved
i very much LOVE a poetry book & this one was great. i loved the writing & wording of these. i could feel the emotion in it & that’s what i loved
Read
April 18, 2026This was my attempt at trying something new and outside of my comfort zone and it just didn't resonate with me at all. I didn't really understand the concept or story or what was going on.
I received an advanced copy for which I am grateful for, and the cover, once updated, is stunning (hence my initial attraction).
Not fair to rate this as I don't even know where or how to begin doing that or explaining what I felt reading that..
I received an advanced copy for which I am grateful for, and the cover, once updated, is stunning (hence my initial attraction).
Not fair to rate this as I don't even know where or how to begin doing that or explaining what I felt reading that..
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
How was I to know beauty/was a something I could ruin/for others by trying it on? from The Dress by Hieu Minh Nguyen
In 1980 I worked with a multiply talented, brilliant young man with a biting wit. I was a decade older and he sometimes used his wit against me…until he discovered I had read Catullus as a teenager. We bonded over books. And over time he told me his story.
He was struggling with his sexual orientation at a time when AIDS had unleashed hate and fear against gays. He told me that he used to secretly dress in his mother’s clothes. He told me his lover had stolen his tuition money and his parents were pressuring him into the army.
He moved on with his life and after a decade I received several letters from him. He was in law school after his time in the army. And then, a decade ago, through mutual friends on social media, I discovered he was teaching in a high school and was a Drag Queen. He could finally be who he was.
I would never say my mother hated me/just that we wanted me to hate myself/enough to change. from Every Time I Change My Mind About Dying, I Have to Convince My Body
Reading “The Dress,” Hieu Minh Nguyen’s memory of his mother’s beautiful dress and the punishment brought by loving it, brought back my friend’s story.
The poems in this volume are revelatory, the poet’s confessions reminding us of how many yearn to be who they are, to be loved, to be in this world and beloved by it.
We Lived
on nothing but gooseberries
for days, taking turns vanishing
mid-sentence, emerged with a shirt
upturned, toting another batch
of those sour-bright darlings to scatter
on the blanket between us. To keep him
with me when the quiet wandered in, I’d point
to the distance & ask him to name it.
Osprey. Deer rub. Poison oak. He tells me
about anything I ask as long as
it’s not about her. He tells me
he’s gonna try praying.
For what? I ask. I know how much is left
of summer by licking my fingers.
He tells me, Lake Superior never give us
its dead. That layer deep beneath the surface
where bodies are suspended in cold time,
he tells me, is called the dance floor.
It’s almost sweet, isn’t it?
Thanks to Tin House for a free book.
In 1980 I worked with a multiply talented, brilliant young man with a biting wit. I was a decade older and he sometimes used his wit against me…until he discovered I had read Catullus as a teenager. We bonded over books. And over time he told me his story.
He was struggling with his sexual orientation at a time when AIDS had unleashed hate and fear against gays. He told me that he used to secretly dress in his mother’s clothes. He told me his lover had stolen his tuition money and his parents were pressuring him into the army.
He moved on with his life and after a decade I received several letters from him. He was in law school after his time in the army. And then, a decade ago, through mutual friends on social media, I discovered he was teaching in a high school and was a Drag Queen. He could finally be who he was.
I would never say my mother hated me/just that we wanted me to hate myself/enough to change. from Every Time I Change My Mind About Dying, I Have to Convince My Body
Reading “The Dress,” Hieu Minh Nguyen’s memory of his mother’s beautiful dress and the punishment brought by loving it, brought back my friend’s story.
The poems in this volume are revelatory, the poet’s confessions reminding us of how many yearn to be who they are, to be loved, to be in this world and beloved by it.
We Lived
on nothing but gooseberries
for days, taking turns vanishing
mid-sentence, emerged with a shirt
upturned, toting another batch
of those sour-bright darlings to scatter
on the blanket between us. To keep him
with me when the quiet wandered in, I’d point
to the distance & ask him to name it.
Osprey. Deer rub. Poison oak. He tells me
about anything I ask as long as
it’s not about her. He tells me
he’s gonna try praying.
For what? I ask. I know how much is left
of summer by licking my fingers.
He tells me, Lake Superior never give us
its dead. That layer deep beneath the surface
where bodies are suspended in cold time,
he tells me, is called the dance floor.
It’s almost sweet, isn’t it?
Thanks to Tin House for a free book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 stars
I love Hieu Minh Nguyen's work for a number of reasons, and this collection encompasses all of them.
First, Nguyen writes accessibly. I've taught several of his poems to early college students, and they consistently want to write on his works (i.e., spend more time with his content over other writers on purpose) because of how relatable his themes are. "Outbound," the first poem in this collection, is an ongoing favorite of this group, for example.
Nguyen also balances the explicit and implicit in ways that fascinate me. He can subtly reveal something huge in just a few lines of a short poem. He can also expand and build a discrete idea that hits almost insidiously through longer efforts. I love the ebb and flow of these choices.
My favorite aspect of Nguyen's work is the set of motifs he explores. The speakers frequently come out feeling authentic, vulnerable, and laid bare. It's easy to connect with them, even when they are inhabiting identities and experiences that are quite disparate from readers' own adventures.
I came into this collection hoping to find some new poems I'd not yet encountered that I'd see as great possibilities for future courses, and I got not only that but also a whole group of poems that I just truly enjoyed digging into, and some of them are really sitting with me now (in a good way). For obvious reasons, I'm looking forward to sharing this collection with my students and digging into this again, along with whatever Nguyen produces next.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Tin House for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I love Hieu Minh Nguyen's work for a number of reasons, and this collection encompasses all of them.
First, Nguyen writes accessibly. I've taught several of his poems to early college students, and they consistently want to write on his works (i.e., spend more time with his content over other writers on purpose) because of how relatable his themes are. "Outbound," the first poem in this collection, is an ongoing favorite of this group, for example.
Nguyen also balances the explicit and implicit in ways that fascinate me. He can subtly reveal something huge in just a few lines of a short poem. He can also expand and build a discrete idea that hits almost insidiously through longer efforts. I love the ebb and flow of these choices.
My favorite aspect of Nguyen's work is the set of motifs he explores. The speakers frequently come out feeling authentic, vulnerable, and laid bare. It's easy to connect with them, even when they are inhabiting identities and experiences that are quite disparate from readers' own adventures.
I came into this collection hoping to find some new poems I'd not yet encountered that I'd see as great possibilities for future courses, and I got not only that but also a whole group of poems that I just truly enjoyed digging into, and some of them are really sitting with me now (in a good way). For obvious reasons, I'm looking forward to sharing this collection with my students and digging into this again, along with whatever Nguyen produces next.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Tin House for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don’t think anyone writes better about generational trauma, the pain of living, and the attempt to belong to two worlds at the same time than the children of emigrants. We are the product of a different culture and society that tries to mix as little as possible, to preserve its roots while creating new ones — giving its descendants the privilege of never fully belonging anywhere and of feeling that neither side truly wants them. This creates people who are poetically inclined, melancholic, and gifted with the ability to put into beautiful words everything life brings, both good and bad. An adoxography of life.
I feel melancholic now that I’ve finished it, as if the weight of the world were resting on my fingertips, pressing me to act and to better myself. Yet my thoughts are light, almost ethereal, as if a sense of “rest a little, the world will stay where it is” has taken over my always-tired brain (anxiety — there’s not much to be done).
I’ve never read anything by Nguyen before; this is my first book of his and certainly not my last. I’m eagerly awaiting its official release so I can hold it in my hands.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Hieun Minh Nguyen, if you ever read this review, I hope you feel my virtual hug. I love you from the comfort of my home and screen, and I hope your poems remain beautiful — but that one day their existence may also carry a certain happiness with it. May our traumas find rest, and allow us to rest too.
Once again, thank you.
I don’t think anyone writes better about generational trauma, the pain of living, and the attempt to belong to two worlds at the same time than the children of emigrants. We are the product of a different culture and society that tries to mix as little as possible, to preserve its roots while creating new ones — giving its descendants the privilege of never fully belonging anywhere and of feeling that neither side truly wants them. This creates people who are poetically inclined, melancholic, and gifted with the ability to put into beautiful words everything life brings, both good and bad. An adoxography of life.
I feel melancholic now that I’ve finished it, as if the weight of the world were resting on my fingertips, pressing me to act and to better myself. Yet my thoughts are light, almost ethereal, as if a sense of “rest a little, the world will stay where it is” has taken over my always-tired brain (anxiety — there’s not much to be done).
I’ve never read anything by Nguyen before; this is my first book of his and certainly not my last. I’m eagerly awaiting its official release so I can hold it in my hands.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Hieun Minh Nguyen, if you ever read this review, I hope you feel my virtual hug. I love you from the comfort of my home and screen, and I hope your poems remain beautiful — but that one day their existence may also carry a certain happiness with it. May our traumas find rest, and allow us to rest too.
Once again, thank you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Staying Still" is my first experience reading anything by Hieu Minh Nguyen, and I immediately went looking for his other published works to read because I felt bereft that I had finished this book so quickly. I will absolutely be picking up a physical copy so that I can go back and read each poem again and again.
What to expect:
✒️Accessible language, absolutely beautiful collection (each poem individually, and as a whole)
📜Themes of rejection, grief, violence, love, family dynamics and desire
✒️Central question of "how" throughout the collection
📜How do you search for your place in the world?
✒️A collection you won't want to put down once you start reading
📜Queer experience central to many of the poems
This collection of poems resonates with a clear, precise voice and is full of the little moments as well as monumental revelations, often set down so matter-of-factly that it takes your breath away. Each poem is accessible, relatable, and the rhythm and voice in this collection is something you have to read to fully appreciate. It draws you in and holds you close all the way from the beginning to the end. An outstanding book and collection of poems! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Zando, Netgalley, and the author for the gifted eARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What to expect:
✒️Accessible language, absolutely beautiful collection (each poem individually, and as a whole)
📜Themes of rejection, grief, violence, love, family dynamics and desire
✒️Central question of "how" throughout the collection
📜How do you search for your place in the world?
✒️A collection you won't want to put down once you start reading
📜Queer experience central to many of the poems
This collection of poems resonates with a clear, precise voice and is full of the little moments as well as monumental revelations, often set down so matter-of-factly that it takes your breath away. Each poem is accessible, relatable, and the rhythm and voice in this collection is something you have to read to fully appreciate. It draws you in and holds you close all the way from the beginning to the end. An outstanding book and collection of poems! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Zando, Netgalley, and the author for the gifted eARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Tin House and NetGalley for the ARC.
"I was never fast enough to catch a still life," writes Hieu Minh Nguyen in his stunning new collection of poems. For someone who has spent their whole life running towards or away, the thought of stillness can be almost unbearable, especially when the thing you've been trying to outrun is your own body. In Staying Still, Nguyen moves through the depths of loneliness and alienation as well as the ecstasy of pleasure and desire. Nguyen's poetic voice is mesmerizing and more precise and assured than it's ever been, and even on my first read through this book I found myself coming back to certain poems (like "Come On Over" and "Staying Quiet") again and again. These poems are for anyone who has ever felt estranged from themselves, who has been consumed by longing, who has felt unseen by those who are supposed to see us most clearly, and who has been saved by sweaty queer bodies moving together on a dance floor and by the grace of friendship.
"I was never fast enough to catch a still life," writes Hieu Minh Nguyen in his stunning new collection of poems. For someone who has spent their whole life running towards or away, the thought of stillness can be almost unbearable, especially when the thing you've been trying to outrun is your own body. In Staying Still, Nguyen moves through the depths of loneliness and alienation as well as the ecstasy of pleasure and desire. Nguyen's poetic voice is mesmerizing and more precise and assured than it's ever been, and even on my first read through this book I found myself coming back to certain poems (like "Come On Over" and "Staying Quiet") again and again. These poems are for anyone who has ever felt estranged from themselves, who has been consumed by longing, who has felt unseen by those who are supposed to see us most clearly, and who has been saved by sweaty queer bodies moving together on a dance floor and by the grace of friendship.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Staying Still is one of those all-time collections for me, I fear. The first half does feel significantly stronger, whereas the latter half meanders a bit more. I particularly resonated with the experiences of gender and beauty as a gay boy and the mother dynamic (there is a particular poem I'm alluding to here) and the experiences and reflections on discovering/navigating sex. I feel a bit inadequate to review this collection until I pick up a final copy when it comes out in September and deeply annotate these poems. I immediately am starting Not Here to see this poet's other work... then I will hopefully get my hands on This Way to the Sugar and I will be able to make more conclusive statements on this poet's work. On first impression, I'm impressed.
*Thank you Tin House, btw. Y'all always deliver high quality poetry collections for us avid readers of poetry to enjoy.
*Thank you Tin House, btw. Y'all always deliver high quality poetry collections for us avid readers of poetry to enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hieu Minh Nguyen's Not Here is one of my all-time favorite poetry collections and I was thrilled to see this newest collection listed on Net Galley, eager to indulge of more his incredible writing. Staying Still does not disappoint, fans of his prior work will immediately find a new favorite poem amidst the many shining gems. The standout feature of Hieu's writing is always the stunning clarity he summons when delivering the point of a poem. Cutting sentences and precise lines are delivered at exactly the right times, making the arduous task of writing good poetry seem so effortless. This is a beautifully crafted collection. A standout new book by one of our best contemporary poets.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This poem collection tells the story of a man looking for comfort in a world that doesn’t provide enough. It’s a story of longing, desire, and generational trauma. Each poem, loosely connected to the last, is short and bittersweet.
I enjoyed this collection, although this was the first book of Nguyen i’ve read, so I may be missing some context clues from his previous work.
I did find myself getting lost on occasion, unsure what was happening but the simplicity of the writing tended to keep my interest peaked.
It was a bittersweet read. 3/5 stars for me :)
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC!
I enjoyed this collection, although this was the first book of Nguyen i’ve read, so I may be missing some context clues from his previous work.
I did find myself getting lost on occasion, unsure what was happening but the simplicity of the writing tended to keep my interest peaked.
It was a bittersweet read. 3/5 stars for me :)
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Staying Still is a beautiful, reflective poetry collection exploring loneliness, belonging, desire, and identity.
I really enjoyed the mix of styles throughout, from shorter poems to longer pieces, and found the collection surprisingly accessible. Some of the poems are surprisingly direct, tackling huge emotions and questions of belonging, grief, and loneliness with real clarity.
The poems around feeling different and desire to be seen were particularly powerful, and Lucky was probably my favourite. It felt incredibly emotional while also being so clear and honest.
Thoughtful, moving, and full of longing!
I really enjoyed the mix of styles throughout, from shorter poems to longer pieces, and found the collection surprisingly accessible. Some of the poems are surprisingly direct, tackling huge emotions and questions of belonging, grief, and loneliness with real clarity.
The poems around feeling different and desire to be seen were particularly powerful, and Lucky was probably my favourite. It felt incredibly emotional while also being so clear and honest.
Thoughtful, moving, and full of longing!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Tin House and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!
Available Sept 2026.
Hieu Minh Nguygen's second collection, Staying Still, is an exploration of what we can learn through observation. The collection moves around the poet's past and present moments, between cities and landscapes, between lovers and familial loves. Though there is much company and community in these poems, there is also a pervasive sense of loneliness and uncomfortability within one's self. That both can exist at the same time so beautifully balanced is a testament to Nguygen's skill!
Available Sept 2026.
Hieu Minh Nguygen's second collection, Staying Still, is an exploration of what we can learn through observation. The collection moves around the poet's past and present moments, between cities and landscapes, between lovers and familial loves. Though there is much company and community in these poems, there is also a pervasive sense of loneliness and uncomfortability within one's self. That both can exist at the same time so beautifully balanced is a testament to Nguygen's skill!
July 11, 2026
I am always really happy when I am able to read a collection of poems, so Staying Still by Hieu Minh Nguyen really hit the spot. There were so many lines of poems that stood out to me and that I had to highlight because the way the words came together were just beautiful. The way Nguyen writes is just so gutting, but subtle. Out of all the poems Three Dollar Bill, Brooklyn and Notes on Beauty were my favorites of the collection and I nearly highlighted the entire poem of each one.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
Read
April 19, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for an eARC in exchange for an honest review
Before this, I hadn't read any of Minh Nguyen's other works and went into this almost completely blind. It was a short, impactful work that seemed to draw on a lot from his childhood and from memories of family. There are clearly some really deep feelings here: around identity and love and grief, all components that make for some sucker-punch poetry. Will keep an eye out for more of this!
Before this, I hadn't read any of Minh Nguyen's other works and went into this almost completely blind. It was a short, impactful work that seemed to draw on a lot from his childhood and from memories of family. There are clearly some really deep feelings here: around identity and love and grief, all components that make for some sucker-punch poetry. Will keep an eye out for more of this!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc!
this was my first experience with the authors work. I really enjoyed the varying lengths of the poems. the author writes broadly of their life and experiences, which allowed myself to identify with many of the thoughts and feelings they were expressing. the author writes of childhood, the quest for beauty, death, and the relationship with our body. I really enjoyed the overarching theme of: what are the things we want, what directions can we travel (physically and metaphorically), and the distance we inevitably gain from the two. excited to read more by the author!
this was my first experience with the authors work. I really enjoyed the varying lengths of the poems. the author writes broadly of their life and experiences, which allowed myself to identify with many of the thoughts and feelings they were expressing. the author writes of childhood, the quest for beauty, death, and the relationship with our body. I really enjoyed the overarching theme of: what are the things we want, what directions can we travel (physically and metaphorically), and the distance we inevitably gain from the two. excited to read more by the author!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is beautiful, poignant, and relatable. Very relatable, in fact. I found myself looking forward to every single poem, every single line; it was all so strong. I'm going to need to buy a physical copy of this book because I want it to join my small poetry collection, which only consists of poetry books that really resonate with me. I think Nguyen's word choices were rhythmic, setting a pace and setting the stage for what comes next. I can't wait to read more poetry by them.
May 7, 2026
ARC REVIEW
Staying Still is a beautifully well-written, poignant and relatable collection. Flowing perfectly into one another, the poems walk the reader through the topics of loneliness, generational trauma and belonging. The pain of living is writhe within Nguyen’s writing and the melancholy seeps into the reader and I connected with some of his words so deeply and painfully.
Truly incredible work.
Thank you to Tin House, Zando and Netgalley for the ARC!
Staying Still is a beautifully well-written, poignant and relatable collection. Flowing perfectly into one another, the poems walk the reader through the topics of loneliness, generational trauma and belonging. The pain of living is writhe within Nguyen’s writing and the melancholy seeps into the reader and I connected with some of his words so deeply and painfully.
Truly incredible work.
Thank you to Tin House, Zando and Netgalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a collection that rewards slow reading. Nguyen writes about family, grief, desire, and identity with remarkable honesty, often finding beauty in ordinary moments. I found many of the poems deceptively simple at first glance, only to realize later how much emotional weight they carried. The collection feels deeply personal without ever becoming inaccessible, and several poems lingered in my mind long after I finished the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This collection of poems showed raw emotions, realism and some really deep and meaningful ideas about our world. My favourite was Outbound, but there are many different poems about different things and the author has the ability to bring a vulnerability to them all. Thank you for this beautiful collection!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A cohesive collection of poetry about wanting for something more and wanting to find connection. Loved the writing style as well. Reads like a journal. Thank you to Netgalley and Zando publishing for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Beautiful poems from a skilled poet. These poems bring you in. I felt like I was reading them at night, even while I was reading them during the day, if that makes sense. I look forward to reading more from this writer in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
You know the phrase when something is like a warm hug? This book is like a cold hug or a cold hand. It will leave you aching, with goosebumps, but it's still gentle, still beautiful, still necessary.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a beautiful book of poetry, quite accessible even though outside my normal comfort zone. Even so, there were lines that reverberated, "Though I am often, I am bad at being alone." Nguyen is well regarded in their field, understandably so.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i enjoyed this overall! these poems are very accessible and i really liked the simplicity of the language. not everything resonated with me and i definitely got a little lost at times. that’s not unusual for me with poetry though and i did find something to connect with in many of them!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was deeply moved by the power of Nguyen's use of language. He leaves powerful images that linger.
April 16, 2026
Nguyen has always written poetry that hits hard in the best ways for me, and the new and exciting ways he finds to twist the knife in here are incredibly well done. Highly recommended poetry read for your fall.
Read
June 25, 2026A lithe body of lyrical and narrative writing, pressed close in the dark. With contours dissolving, Nguyen turns stillness into a form of hunger, intimacy into a way of being seen.
Full review available here.
Full review available here.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews