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bare roots
From readers of bare roots:
"bare roots is the one book I read constantly and never get sick of."
"I cried reading most of it. I even had to take some breaks. It's just so incredibly relatable."
"Absolutely obsessed and inspired."
"I feel so seen reading her work; it's very powerful."
"WOW. Her writing truly heals."
bare roots has consistently been a bestseller in women's poetry since its debut in April of 2017. Readers were originally captivated by Hillery's fiesty, feminine style of poetry and her ability to bear her soul [and trauma] to the world. Published six months before the rise and height of the "Me Too" Movement, Hillery echoes sentiments bravely expressed by many women who decided that enough was enough. She hopes that by sharing her story of trauma and mental illness, she will empower other women to continue to speak up and rise above.
[Original description]: "bare roots is a collection of poetry written for anyone that has ever buried parts of themselves away from the world. The book is divided into six parts— Pruning the Damage, Battling the Weeds, The Roses [and the Thorns], The Seedling Shall Blossom, Cultivating Wisdom, and Buds of Hope are delicately crafted segments that touch on the subjects of femininity, love and loss, trauma, mental illness, the search for meaning, and ultimately, how to grow from it all."
Some portions of this book contain mature content and may be triggering to some readers.
"bare roots is the one book I read constantly and never get sick of."
"I cried reading most of it. I even had to take some breaks. It's just so incredibly relatable."
"Absolutely obsessed and inspired."
"I feel so seen reading her work; it's very powerful."
"WOW. Her writing truly heals."
bare roots has consistently been a bestseller in women's poetry since its debut in April of 2017. Readers were originally captivated by Hillery's fiesty, feminine style of poetry and her ability to bear her soul [and trauma] to the world. Published six months before the rise and height of the "Me Too" Movement, Hillery echoes sentiments bravely expressed by many women who decided that enough was enough. She hopes that by sharing her story of trauma and mental illness, she will empower other women to continue to speak up and rise above.
[Original description]: "bare roots is a collection of poetry written for anyone that has ever buried parts of themselves away from the world. The book is divided into six parts— Pruning the Damage, Battling the Weeds, The Roses [and the Thorns], The Seedling Shall Blossom, Cultivating Wisdom, and Buds of Hope are delicately crafted segments that touch on the subjects of femininity, love and loss, trauma, mental illness, the search for meaning, and ultimately, how to grow from it all."
Some portions of this book contain mature content and may be triggering to some readers.
- GenresPoetryMental Health
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2017
12 people are currently reading
581 people want to read
About the author
Molly S. Hillery
2 books18 followersMolly S. Hillery is a trauma survivor and mental health advocate, widely known for her bestselling poetry book bare roots, published in 2017. She started publicly blogging in 2015 and has had work featured in Huffington Post, USA Today, Upworthy, The Mighty, and various other recovery websites.
Molly's work is raw, vulnerable, and deeply descriptive. She writes about trauma and mental illness with openness, and uses vivid imagery to help readers connect to parts of themselves that need tending to. Her intention is to provide relatablity and healing to anyone who engages with her poetry. Her second collection The Medicine That Burns, provides a painfully honest narrative surrounding the ups and downs of healing.
One of Molly’s favorite aspects of sharing her journey through writing is the ability to connect with others and hear their stories. To connect with Molly, visit her Instagram @molly_hillery_poetry, or stop by her official website www.mollyhillery.com.
Molly's work is raw, vulnerable, and deeply descriptive. She writes about trauma and mental illness with openness, and uses vivid imagery to help readers connect to parts of themselves that need tending to. Her intention is to provide relatablity and healing to anyone who engages with her poetry. Her second collection The Medicine That Burns, provides a painfully honest narrative surrounding the ups and downs of healing.
One of Molly’s favorite aspects of sharing her journey through writing is the ability to connect with others and hear their stories. To connect with Molly, visit her Instagram @molly_hillery_poetry, or stop by her official website www.mollyhillery.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
December 21, 2017
Raw, Real & Lovely
As I read the words of this collection of poetry, I felt the weight of each word, the pain, hurt, sorrow and grief. By the end of the book, I also felt hope, light, love and happiness. But what I felt most throughout this reading was authenticity. And that, my dear, is what I am always longing and looking for in books. Humanity. And I find that here. Thank you for your bravery, authenticity and humanity, Molly. I look forward to reading your future works.
xo,
Rach
As I read the words of this collection of poetry, I felt the weight of each word, the pain, hurt, sorrow and grief. By the end of the book, I also felt hope, light, love and happiness. But what I felt most throughout this reading was authenticity. And that, my dear, is what I am always longing and looking for in books. Humanity. And I find that here. Thank you for your bravery, authenticity and humanity, Molly. I look forward to reading your future works.
xo,
Rach
September 13, 2017
"I will not falter."
November 11, 2019
One of the most powerful and heartbreaking collections of poetry I’ve read thus far.
October 8, 2017
"So many women's stories
are exactly the same
And we sit here
thinking we are to blame
That it's perfectly okay
to be treated this way
When it comes to our bodies
we don't have a say
How about teaching a man
something new
When a woman says no,
she's telling the truth
She's not being flirty, mysterious, funny
Her name is not "sweetie"
not "Baby", or "Honey"
Just because she's a woman
doesn't make her incomplete
We are human beings
We're not pieces of meat.
are exactly the same
And we sit here
thinking we are to blame
That it's perfectly okay
to be treated this way
When it comes to our bodies
we don't have a say
How about teaching a man
something new
When a woman says no,
she's telling the truth
She's not being flirty, mysterious, funny
Her name is not "sweetie"
not "Baby", or "Honey"
Just because she's a woman
doesn't make her incomplete
We are human beings
We're not pieces of meat.
Read
April 18, 2018I don't feel entirely comfortable reviewing this. It was clearly deeply personal to the author - I feel that commenting on something so raw would be in poor taste.
September 24, 2017
I found comfort in this abuse
because
I didn’t think
I deserved any better
because
I didn’t think
I deserved any better
October 30, 2017
I can see myself coming back to read this many more times in the future.
March 13, 2018
tw: suicide, self harm, eating disorders, rape, mental health institutions
July 4, 2017
even from the "dear reader" section I knew this book was going to be powerful. I want to thank the author for being brave enough to share her story with us in such an empowering and beautiful way. this is an absolutely stunning collection. (please know that this collection does cover serious/heavy topics so please be careful!)
January 1, 2018
Full review to follow.
Emotional, deals with sexual harassment, eating disorder, self harm, depression, suicidal. Definitely not for teens nor, recommending it with depressed or emotional people, it could be triggering.
Reading it felt, my happiness was sucked into void.
There are parts about women empowerment. And some encouraging messages on copping up with these serious problems.
But kudos to molly for being brave to share it to the world. Thank you for sharing your feelings, your work broaden my understanding of people and their current situation.
#enlightening
March 21, 2018
In truth, I'd rate this a 2.5 star.
This has such a beautiful cover and evocative title that suggests truth, groth, evolution, and change....and yet the poems remain static. The topics covered here--depression, anxiety, rape, eating disorders, femenism--are greatly important to shed light on and properly discuss, but these poems blended together. They hold the same sentiment, the same tone, across the pages. When I read poetry, I want movement and growth--something to show that the poet is human and capable of change. These topics are so important, but they're naturally different emotions. I'd like to have seen each topic treated with the level of passion and detail they deserve.
This has such a beautiful cover and evocative title that suggests truth, groth, evolution, and change....and yet the poems remain static. The topics covered here--depression, anxiety, rape, eating disorders, femenism--are greatly important to shed light on and properly discuss, but these poems blended together. They hold the same sentiment, the same tone, across the pages. When I read poetry, I want movement and growth--something to show that the poet is human and capable of change. These topics are so important, but they're naturally different emotions. I'd like to have seen each topic treated with the level of passion and detail they deserve.
February 1, 2019
*1.5
I know bare roots is Molly S. Hillery’s heart splayed across these pages. I mean no disrespect to her Truth or art. I hope bare roots allowed her to profit from her trauma, and maybe even get a little bit better in the process. But as a reader, I am disappointed in these poems. I feel like I’m visiting a foreign country—a culture separate to my own. I’m not able to grasp onto an entire community’s suffering in a mere 217 predominantly blank pages. And then there’s the language barrier. Her prose is... unpoetic. Reading this felt more like a gift of time than a receivance of wisdom. The illustrations are blurry and simple. I guess that sums up the poetry, too.
Simple.
Blurry.
I know bare roots is Molly S. Hillery’s heart splayed across these pages. I mean no disrespect to her Truth or art. I hope bare roots allowed her to profit from her trauma, and maybe even get a little bit better in the process. But as a reader, I am disappointed in these poems. I feel like I’m visiting a foreign country—a culture separate to my own. I’m not able to grasp onto an entire community’s suffering in a mere 217 predominantly blank pages. And then there’s the language barrier. Her prose is... unpoetic. Reading this felt more like a gift of time than a receivance of wisdom. The illustrations are blurry and simple. I guess that sums up the poetry, too.
Simple.
Blurry.
November 8, 2019
3/5
Holy crap, the ending was so beautiful. I connected with more of the poems towards the middle and mainly at the end, but she puts her soul into this book with such raw emotion that I want to go up to her and give her a hug. There were quite a few poems that I personally couldn't connect with, but could understand how they could make a person feel. Such an underrated book and wish more people would read this!
Holy crap, the ending was so beautiful. I connected with more of the poems towards the middle and mainly at the end, but she puts her soul into this book with such raw emotion that I want to go up to her and give her a hug. There were quite a few poems that I personally couldn't connect with, but could understand how they could make a person feel. Such an underrated book and wish more people would read this!
May 11, 2017
From page one my heart shattered but in a good way. To see a woman courageously opening her heart with pain she experienced but put back together beautifully. It shows the power in pain and each page personified this. Wonderful read!
September 25, 2023
Very heart breaking
I feel like I need to give this author a hug.
Also I feel like I need a hug 😞
I feel like I need to give this author a hug.
Also I feel like I need a hug 😞
June 29, 2018
I was honestly blown away by this poetry collection. I related to so much of Molly's struggles and she exemplified trauma, eating disorders and the struggle with ongoing mental health and getting onto the road of healing so so well. I went through this book particularly slowly, over the course of many many months but I wanted it to last. I hadn't known this book existed until I went to order some other poetry books and this one was advertised as a similar one. And I am so so glad that it was! I loved it and I annotated the heck out of this one! A good sign in my book for a poetry book! You can really feel the raw intensity of emotions as Molly wrote this all and thats what really makes amazing poetry.
April 13, 2021
Poetry for me is an eye-opening experience. You step into the soles of the shoes of another but ironically enough because the human experience is mirrored through triumphs and pain, you will find some of ‘you’ in the pages of Bare Roots.
No matter whether you’ve gone through similar traumatic experiences as Hillery:
sexual assault and rape
anorexia, addictions, and self-harm
depression and suicidal thoughts
suicide attempts
or overall just feeling like a burden to the people you love.
My favorite piece in this collection was a piece called What They Don’t Tell You In College which poignantly pens the struggle between feeding on the lies they sell you about growing up and adulthood and the reality as painful as it may be, as it is.
Bare Roots will act as new soil and help you water the roots of the trauma so you can start anew, flourish and thrive.
No matter whether you’ve gone through similar traumatic experiences as Hillery:
sexual assault and rape
anorexia, addictions, and self-harm
depression and suicidal thoughts
suicide attempts
or overall just feeling like a burden to the people you love.
My favorite piece in this collection was a piece called What They Don’t Tell You In College which poignantly pens the struggle between feeding on the lies they sell you about growing up and adulthood and the reality as painful as it may be, as it is.
Bare Roots will act as new soil and help you water the roots of the trauma so you can start anew, flourish and thrive.
November 11, 2017
This book is a hauntingly beautiful story that will break you into a million pieces and gently put you back together. It is truly relatable on so many levels, even if you haven’t gone through the exact same things as Molly. she says things with a type of boldness that others couldn’t bear to whisper. I couldn’t put this book down. Addicting, brilliant, and raw, I absolutely loved reading this. The book does contain mature content, so I would not recommend for a younger audience, but otherwise, I highly suggest it to any poetry lover (plus, it’s an amazing price for the amount of content you get!!)
December 27, 2017
A book to change minds and views
TW The themes in this poetry book include rape and self harm.
Bare roots is necessary. It gives a voice to women who were never taught to speak up against their abusers. It is a self help book, therapeutic to the author and probably to readers suffering from similar traumas or negative thoughts around their self worth.
It is not always sophisticated in imagery and some ideas are repeated, but this is a well considered book with a view to change the world.
TW The themes in this poetry book include rape and self harm.
Bare roots is necessary. It gives a voice to women who were never taught to speak up against their abusers. It is a self help book, therapeutic to the author and probably to readers suffering from similar traumas or negative thoughts around their self worth.
It is not always sophisticated in imagery and some ideas are repeated, but this is a well considered book with a view to change the world.
June 11, 2018
Out of all the poetry books, I read this is my favorite. At the beginning there's a message from the author, Molly, that explains why she choose to name the book bare roots. There are six chapters all about different subjects but they all come together and make sense. This is a very deep book and can be a lot to take in at once. I did cry while reading it. At the end of the book, the last chapter is all about overcoming all her struggles and how you can keep going and it's very moving and I liked the fact that the chapters before were very deep subject matter but she ended it on a good note.
November 27, 2017
Wow
This book was one if the best poetry books I have ever read. Especially because it talk a lot aboiut serious issues. I do believe It can be triggering for some but comforting for others. I really needed to read this and i am so glad I did. I can't wait to read more from this author.
This book was one if the best poetry books I have ever read. Especially because it talk a lot aboiut serious issues. I do believe It can be triggering for some but comforting for others. I really needed to read this and i am so glad I did. I can't wait to read more from this author.
May 11, 2018
A blessing read
Thank God for Molly Hillery and her resilience and compassion to a suffering world! This is without a doubt a resource for anyone who feels alone and as if they don't belong. You do belong and Hillary does a phenomenal job at revealing just how well she gets you and me.
Thank God for Molly Hillery and her resilience and compassion to a suffering world! This is without a doubt a resource for anyone who feels alone and as if they don't belong. You do belong and Hillary does a phenomenal job at revealing just how well she gets you and me.
June 20, 2017
Amazing
This collection is breathtaking. It's beautiful and heartbreaking in the way only good poetry is. The imagery, phrasing, and rhythm are all beautiful. It's a heavy read, but so worth it.
This collection is breathtaking. It's beautiful and heartbreaking in the way only good poetry is. The imagery, phrasing, and rhythm are all beautiful. It's a heavy read, but so worth it.
August 23, 2017
Great book
Wow. Wow. Wow. Stunning. This was really beautiful, I enjoyed reading every bit of it. Though I didn't experience some of the things the author talks about, the emotion behind every word still resonates with the soul. Such good work.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Stunning. This was really beautiful, I enjoyed reading every bit of it. Though I didn't experience some of the things the author talks about, the emotion behind every word still resonates with the soul. Such good work.
October 7, 2017
2.5 stars!
None of these poems really stood out to me, and a lot of them I couldn’t resonate with. But, some of these poems were just so tough to read, and I could feel the author’s pain.
I commend the author for putting her story out there and pouring her heart into this collection.
None of these poems really stood out to me, and a lot of them I couldn’t resonate with. But, some of these poems were just so tough to read, and I could feel the author’s pain.
I commend the author for putting her story out there and pouring her heart into this collection.
June 1, 2018
Really lovely
Really lovely book I gave it five stars because it kept me here from beginning to end thank you I would recommend this to people who need to know that they aren't alone because everyone at times
Really lovely book I gave it five stars because it kept me here from beginning to end thank you I would recommend this to people who need to know that they aren't alone because everyone at times
October 6, 2018
I enjoyed this a lot and would love to buy a physical copy of it to have. These poems were very powerful and in light of everything happening over the past weeks and months, incredibly relevant too. Pure raw emotion and I loved it!
November 23, 2018
Oooo
I really like empowering messages that the author has written. I really enjoyed reading the last arc about recovery through a heartache. Makes me feel less alone and it encourages me to keep fighting
I really like empowering messages that the author has written. I really enjoyed reading the last arc about recovery through a heartache. Makes me feel less alone and it encourages me to keep fighting
January 9, 2024
Molly's words gripped at my being as if she had a first row seat to my life. I wholeheartedly recommend Bare Roots to anyone who is struggling with self love and acceptance. Thank you Molly for baring your soul to those of us who need to know we're not alone.
December 1, 2025
I was gifted this by a counselor I was working with. The absolute beauty and depth of Hillery's writing is incredible. It helped me work through my issues and also be more empathetic to other people who I care about and couldn't relate to (i.e. addiction recovery).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews