What do you think?
Rate this book
Stripped: A Collection of Inspired Writings for the Evolving Woman
STRIPPED is a collection of poetry and inspired writings that celebrate the power of vulnerability and the magic that occurs when we decide to live authentically, commit to our own personal evolution, and bare it all.
Known for her work uplifting and empowering women around the world, best selling self-help author and master life coach Cara Alwill Leyba is thrilled to share her words of inspiration in this brand new format that she's coined "Poetic Personal Development." She hopes STRIPPED will encourage women to peel back the layers, remove their masks, and live inside their truth. Because life gets a hell of a lot better when we drop heaviness and take off the things we don't want to carry anymore.
Known for her work uplifting and empowering women around the world, best selling self-help author and master life coach Cara Alwill Leyba is thrilled to share her words of inspiration in this brand new format that she's coined "Poetic Personal Development." She hopes STRIPPED will encourage women to peel back the layers, remove their masks, and live inside their truth. Because life gets a hell of a lot better when we drop heaviness and take off the things we don't want to carry anymore.
124 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2016
187 people are currently reading
1179 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
February 6, 2017
"No one is coming to save you/ to give you permission/ to choose you./ That has always been your job./ You must love yourself so fiercely,/ and fully/ that you have no other choice/ but to be strong/ for yourself/ to fight for yourself/ to be yourself/ and to build yourself."
^ If you read that and you're still not interested in checking out this book, well, you're wrong lol.
Great little collection. I received it at, oh about... 3:15 this afternoon and sat and read it and re-read it twice already (it's 4:15 now).
^ If you read that and you're still not interested in checking out this book, well, you're wrong lol.
Great little collection. I received it at, oh about... 3:15 this afternoon and sat and read it and re-read it twice already (it's 4:15 now).
May 14, 2017
This collection is a more refined (and a little clichéd) version of milk and honey. While I found the poems to be a little 'surfacy' when I prefer a little more raw and personal to the author, I did appreciate Leyba's central messages; avoid toxicity, don't apologize, and never stop evolving.
December 9, 2017
This was outstanding, and I usually can't stand reading poetry. A few poems were definite misses for me, but I would say most of them were outstanding. This is a book I'd like to own so I can pull it out every time I get upset and read over a poem or two to myself.
November 18, 2016
Head on over to my Instagram at instagram.com/samanthaivyyyy for reviews
October 10, 2017
Absolutely devoured this book! Definitely going to keep in hand for those reminders of what an adorable badass I am!
December 9, 2018
This isn't poetry - it's just words.
June 24, 2025
This book, to me, felt a lot like milk and honey but the theme bases itself on promoting self love. I get what the author was trying to do, but I did not like the poems at all. I thought it was amazing that the author made a poetry book to promote self love and I admire that very much, so kudos for that. But it is hard to take a collection seriously when one of the poems goes like this
“And it is only
When your heart goes blind
That you will know
The strength
Of your own mad mind.”
Like what the hell, sure.
“And it is only
When your heart goes blind
That you will know
The strength
Of your own mad mind.”
Like what the hell, sure.
May 29, 2020
Liked for the message, but two stars for the writing. The author is an Instagram influencer and it shows - her poetry reads like captions for a post, not that there's anything wrong with that. Just not my preference for poetry.
July 5, 2018
These beautiful poems are so inspiring and full of love and empowerment!! Definitely a much read!!
July 22, 2018
A collection of poetry I actually LOVED and connected with. Such an inspiring piece of work, something all women should read
February 19, 2020
I don't understand how this is so highly rated?
June 17, 2021
I enjoyed really this poetry collection! I loved that it focused on self love, self acceptance, and self care. My favourite poem was Sidewalks.
November 25, 2018
Beautiful and empowering words.
July 27, 2018
A short and sweet read. So simple, yet so powerful <3
April 30, 2024
Overall I really liked this book of poetry & think it is a powerful tool that every women should read. I did have an issue with a couple of lines, mainly; “happiness is a choice”, because as we know with mental health that is not always the case, and “happy women don’t gossip” because I feel women just talking to each other about life could be seen as gossip which I feel is dangerous to shame, especially in our current society & climate. But again overall, really enjoyed & hope more women read!
February 28, 2017
A beautifully written collections on developing a growing love for the universe and self...the kind of book that can be picked up and put down and picked up again...sample....better things...
"That was the thing about her.
She had this gift of seeing only possibility.
An undying reverie for better things.
Her eyes drenched in silver linings..
Living a life as though everything
was made up of magic
and every star was her won.
But the most enchanting thing about her
was that she made you feel
that you were worth
of that same kind of charmed universe.
Her hope was contagious.
"That was the thing about her.
She had this gift of seeing only possibility.
An undying reverie for better things.
Her eyes drenched in silver linings..
Living a life as though everything
was made up of magic
and every star was her won.
But the most enchanting thing about her
was that she made you feel
that you were worth
of that same kind of charmed universe.
Her hope was contagious.
August 3, 2020
Book 14 of 2020: Stripped by Cara Alwill Leyba
I needed a poetry collection for my summer reading program book bingo, and remembered that I had this in my nightstand drawer. It was a nice little break from some of the heavier and more emotional reading I’ve been doing. I loved the poetry in this book. It aligns with my desire to be my true, authentic self; someone who lives life with passion and does good in the world. But it also reminds me that it’s a journey. There will be a lot of days I don’t have it all figured out. But as long as I’m doing my best and being true to myself, that is ok.
I looked up this author and her other work and it was not what I expected based on this book. Not surprisingly, Cara is a life coach. Since I have a more simple and earthy personality and worldview, that’s the lens through which I viewed the book. I keyed in on mentions of starry skies and simplicity. Cara’s brand is actually one of glamour, though…champagne, fur coats, Chanel handbags. It was a little jarring because it was more materialistic than I expected and that’s not my style. So, I’ll just take this poetry as a stand-alone experience and find my own kind of inspiration from it.
I needed a poetry collection for my summer reading program book bingo, and remembered that I had this in my nightstand drawer. It was a nice little break from some of the heavier and more emotional reading I’ve been doing. I loved the poetry in this book. It aligns with my desire to be my true, authentic self; someone who lives life with passion and does good in the world. But it also reminds me that it’s a journey. There will be a lot of days I don’t have it all figured out. But as long as I’m doing my best and being true to myself, that is ok.
I looked up this author and her other work and it was not what I expected based on this book. Not surprisingly, Cara is a life coach. Since I have a more simple and earthy personality and worldview, that’s the lens through which I viewed the book. I keyed in on mentions of starry skies and simplicity. Cara’s brand is actually one of glamour, though…champagne, fur coats, Chanel handbags. It was a little jarring because it was more materialistic than I expected and that’s not my style. So, I’ll just take this poetry as a stand-alone experience and find my own kind of inspiration from it.
March 7, 2018
Poetry is not my 'go-to' genre. There are poems I absolutely LOVE and adore; but I'm definitely not someone who wants to read something, sit back, mull the words over in my mind, and let them sink and settle and change me. There are some reviewers who I believe are a lot more into that type of reading who were disappointed with some of the simplicity in these works. For me, these poems were exactly what I needed at exactly the right time in my life. While there is some simplicity, there is also some complexity and I believe it's a good balance. Each poem is a little bite you can take with you through the day to help remind you to be YOU. The poems help empower and uplift the reader while supporting their independence as well as the need for love and acceptance. If you're looking for little empowering bites, check it out. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
January 21, 2018
Instagram/tumblr poetry...not for me. I don't like all the unnecessary line breaks and most poems had way too many adjectives. The author was trying to create a type of popular flow with this writing style and I just wasn't a fan. It made some of the poems seem disingenuous and surface level.
I did like the theme of the "evolving woman". While I rolled my eyes at a few of the more cliched ones, overall the message of most of the poems were empowering and there were some inspirational messages to take away. Overall, nothing groundbreaking and even though this book wasn't for me, I can see why it would resonate with some and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to a reader who is more into this type of poetry than I am.
I did like the theme of the "evolving woman". While I rolled my eyes at a few of the more cliched ones, overall the message of most of the poems were empowering and there were some inspirational messages to take away. Overall, nothing groundbreaking and even though this book wasn't for me, I can see why it would resonate with some and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to a reader who is more into this type of poetry than I am.
January 12, 2023
I read this collection of poems at the perfect time, as I am trying to learn to love myself more and care for my mind, body, and soul. Once I finished, I wanted to turn back to the beginning and read it all over again. I decided to keep tabs on pages that I enjoyed and wanted to share with others, but I almost ran out of tabs as they are stuck to almost every single page. I borrowed this book from my local library, but in the future, I will be buying this book to keep on my shelf and return to when I need encouragement and strength. If you get your hands on this unique book, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
January 20, 2020
Be you
The awkward you.
The giddy you.
The strange you.
The overjoyed you.
The terrified you.
The proud you.
The hurt you.
The you that saya things and sometimes cringes.
The you that follows her heart.
The you that gets lost.
The you that tests and tries new things.
The you that openly trusts.
Again and again and again.
Just be you.
All of you.
Because all of you is absolutely perfect, and someone needs you exactly as you are.
The awkward you.
The giddy you.
The strange you.
The overjoyed you.
The terrified you.
The proud you.
The hurt you.
The you that saya things and sometimes cringes.
The you that follows her heart.
The you that gets lost.
The you that tests and tries new things.
The you that openly trusts.
Again and again and again.
Just be you.
All of you.
Because all of you is absolutely perfect, and someone needs you exactly as you are.
November 7, 2021
You know, without know who Cara Alwill Leyba is, I really appreciated her poetry. Her work is relatable, inspiring, and feeds the self-confidence of any basic human. After learning about her #ChampagneDiet ideas, I’m a little less enthused. I’m glad I picked this book up off a random shelf of a bookstore and I definitely enjoyed it for what it was. A simple collection of self motivating thoughts. Nothing too deep or shocking and would recommend for a nice simple introspective moment.
August 13, 2024
this book can be defined as “what teenage/young adult me needed to hear.” it is not earth shattering shakespearean sonnets, but it is the poets raw emotions about self love and empowerment.
poems are not meant to just be read. if you don’t find one intoxicating, it wasn’t written for you.
*also keep in mind this author published this in 2016, at the height of the “milk & honey” by rupi kaur era. & before she was really BIG on instagram. this poetry style reflects that.*
poems are not meant to just be read. if you don’t find one intoxicating, it wasn’t written for you.
*also keep in mind this author published this in 2016, at the height of the “milk & honey” by rupi kaur era. & before she was really BIG on instagram. this poetry style reflects that.*
August 16, 2017
This is such a beautiful book every poem within in had me fallen more and more in love with it. I saw myself taken pictures of every page (keep in mind this book was borrowed by an amazing friend of mine who thought I would enjoy this read) and I did. I'll be ordering my own copy of this amazing piece. I just want to frame the quote everywhere in my room. <3
June 5, 2019
Finishing STRIPPED in one sitting and it definitely had some hidden jewels within the pages. A mix of writings and poetry I was inspired by more then a few within the pages. A few in the middle started to fall alittle flat but picked up in the end again. If definitely recommend if your going through changes, wanting a change.. or just accomplished a change
August 9, 2019
Gorgeous collection of poetry.
Absolutely beautiful. Although all were poignant, several of these poems (specifically time, rise, and the work of you) actually took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes. This will be my go to when I’m feeling less than and need to be reminded of who I really am.
Absolutely beautiful. Although all were poignant, several of these poems (specifically time, rise, and the work of you) actually took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes. This will be my go to when I’m feeling less than and need to be reminded of who I really am.
August 9, 2019
*sighhhhhh*
Why do I do this to myself?
I really wanted to give up 20% in but stuck it out.
There is literally nothing inspired about these writings.
Everyone and their mama is jumping on this Instagram "poetry" bandwagon and my god people, just stahhhhhp.
This is amateur writing at it's finest.
Why do I do this to myself?
I really wanted to give up 20% in but stuck it out.
There is literally nothing inspired about these writings.
Everyone and their mama is jumping on this Instagram "poetry" bandwagon and my god people, just stahhhhhp.
This is amateur writing at it's finest.
January 3, 2021
I enjoyed the lessons of this book, but as far as poetry goes... I don’t consider it good poetry. I like my poems to be much tighter. If I read it as self-help, which is what it is intended to be, I enjoyed it and found myself reading a few entries repeatedly. Women should definitely read this and keep it on hand for quick personal pep talks.
February 20, 2023
i honestly don’t like poetry and i’ve never understood it my entire life BUT my friend bought me this book for christmas not knowing i hated poetry so i gave it a read anyway LMAO. honestly the poems were very cheesy and you can honestly find one of her poems in a millenial’s pinterest inspo board, but i’m going to give it a decent rating anyway for my friend THANKS JULIA <333
December 28, 2017
This book is absolutely beautiful and every woman should read it. It teaches you that you are enough to be whatever you want just choose happiness and kindness every day. Choose passion, love and know nothing happens as a coincidence. "Burn down your walls. It is breathtaking inside."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews