The Morning After Relapse

by Christina Hopp

The Morning After Relapse is a collection of poems from my first two years as a poet. It is my story of being won over by an encounter with God.

Genres: Poetry, Christianity

83 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 14, 2016

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Christina, for being one of the few writers I read during my reading slump. Her writing always cut to my emotional core in a good way. She writes about religion in a way that many modern Christians can relate to--somewhere between skepticism, grief, anger, and loneliness she finds the hope and faith we cling to. I only wish it was longer, but that’s why I follow her on Instagram and Tumblr.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading and reviewing this is years overdue (sorry Christina 😅) but after finally reading it … I’m not sure I would have been ready for this. This poetry is what I needed to read a few years back but I know I wasn’t ready to really feel any of it - now I am. And it is a wonderful tangled mix of beauty and awe and curiosity and disappointment. It doesn’t hide from the good or the bad of life. I think it’s entirely truthful in whatever way the reader needs.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reminder that we are seen. A reminder that we are loved :)

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not much of a poetry person, but I'm trying to broaden my horizons lately. I'm glad I picked up this collection of poetry. Christina's poems are very accessible to poetry-illiterate little ol' me. Her use of imagery in regards to her faith and salvation is stunning, and oh-so-relateable. I was trying to space out the poems to a couple a day, but I found myself reading them in great bunches because I wanted more. That's a good sign for someone like me!

Anyway, I loved these poems, and I think Christina Hopp has quite a deft ability to turn a phrase.

[Franky Thomson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel the need to add an explanation for my rating.
My 2 stars by NO means is a representation of the quality of writing Christina Hopp displays in this collection.
Instead my 2 stars is a reflection of my own inability to grasp such a strong connection with God and religion.
These pieces were wonderfully written, just not for me.


Unless you have a good knowledge of significant religious figures and events you will find it difficult to get your head around most poems in this book.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an amazing experience from start to finish. It caught me up in it's beautifully spun narrative of the struggle between flesh and joy, God and self, sorrow and eternal peace. It brought me through the lowest low emotions: sadness, despair, self loathing, hatred, and the list goes on. But it also brought me to new heights: joy, peace, and ultimately and above all, hope.

Maybe it's just where I am at this moment in my walk with my savior, but, boy, if this didn't hit home for me. It hurt, quite painfully so, to read words that I'd never really dared to think. But it was a good hurt. As my dear friend would say, it wasn't what I wanted to hear but it was certainly what I needed all the same. It's given me inspiration to carry on in this moment, and I am grateful to Miss Hopp for being vulnerable enough to place her feelings onto paper, and share them with others. I hope to see more works by her in the future, and I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to get real where they are and start picking at the scabs on their hearts. Even if you don't feel like your struggles are very big, this book is still for you. It will remind you of your human condition, and of God's great and powerful grace towards you. Really, no matter your circumstances, pick this book up and give it a read. You won't regret it.