I Hope You Find Me: The Love Poems of craigslist's Missed Connections

by Alan Feuer

Journalist Alan Feuer has been collecting and composing craigslist love poetry for more than five years, amassing hundreds of sweet, raunchy, and just plain odd odes (like “10 Reasons We Won’t Be Having a Second Date”). The poems compiled inside this often hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking volume are reprinted verbatim from the Missed Connections section of craigslist, with only line and stanza breaks added.

-Knock Knock books: fun gifts for internet friends, IRL friends, or missed connections
-Paperback; 4 x 6 inches; 136 pages
-Written by Alan Feuer and published by Knock Knock

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Romance, Humor, Contemporary

136 pages, Paperback

First published July 19, 2017

Reviews

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so freaking precious and breaks my heart and gives me faith all at the same time. A really fun, touching read that will toy with your heart, make you laugh and go “aw” at every turn

[gage sugden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughtful and frivolous in equal measures, this compact codex of messages entertains and fascinates for daaays (or rather about 45 minutes, the amount of time it takes to read the whole thing). Be warned, every single page is a cliffhanger.

[Ilvesekerli]

Meenutas mulle midagi:

dear guy
wearing Naruto socks
on the flight from Edinburgh to Tallinn
quite some years ago
it was the socks
that never makes me forget you
but messy golden hair
and sparkling eyes behind the glasses
also helped a lot
hope you're having the time of your life
and still have at least a pair of Naruto socks!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, I go HAM for some unrequited longing/passing ships in the night nonsense

[Lauryn Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

i don’t tend to love poetry, but this book called to me after a particularly brutal breakup. it’s short, witty, ingenious, and raw, and made me fall in love with love again.

[Caleb Isaacs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hilarious collection

[Katey Bassett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this Christmas gift, as I am a huge fan of missed connections. Wish there were some more knee slappers in this, I've seen a lot crazier stories from my own searches. Great quick read though.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really lovely concept. These words are taken verbatim from Craigslist with only formatting added and they’re hilarious, bittersweet, and full of longing and loneliness. The preface is also beautifully written:

“Missed Connections are something like the Id of the places they emerge from: the craving, aching, aroused, embittered, angry, and invariably collective expression of a crowd of lonely people all jammed together, but unable in the moment to connect.
Because that’s the thing: seeing something then immediately saying something doesn’t lead to a poem; it leads to a pick-up line. It’s only when a painful slice of time is introduced between the two - see, silence, say - that the poetry arrives.”

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Packed with heartfelt messages from people trying to get their frustrations, lust, love, happiness out there in the world to others. To form a connection and to let others know that "hey, I saw how you were jerking on that leash, Meanie" or "I noticed your beautiful smile and eyes but I didn't have the confidence to say hi or ask your name/number". This little book made me smile, laugh, and want to cry.

[cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely in love with this collection. Missed connections are fascinating, and I loved this take. Humorous, no doubt. Suggested for anyone seeking sonder, as these poems fit perfectly to that category. One of my favorite Christmas gifts to date :)

[whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

love a bit of 21st century longing on a Wednesday night

[Poet’s Pulpit · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a fun read.

[Nikole Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to pick up for some comic relief in your life!

[Jess Loven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book just left me deeply pondering. I'm fascinated, although it's essentially just a collection, it's a fascinating window into a world of fleeting connections and thwarted hopes. This series of poems takes us to the heart of Craigslist postings, where strangers briefly encounter each other in cyberspace, sharing fleeting moments of connection and desire.

What I liked the most was the raw honesty and palpable vulnerability in each poem. The author manages to capture the very essence of the search for love in an increasingly digitized and disconnected world. His words remind us of the depth of loneliness and the longing for human connection in an era where technology often seems to alienate us more than unite us.

I'm fascinated by how the collection immerses us in the lives and longings of ordinary people seeking something more, something that often slips through the blank spaces of an online post. This book is something that goes beyond simple poetry; it's a poignant testament to the eternal quest for love and connection in an increasingly fragmented world.

[Stefano Sotgia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quante volte ci è capitato di innamorarci di sconosciuti visti in metro? O con cui abbiamo condiviso un taxi? E come rintracciarli, se non ne conosciamo nemmeno il nome?

In America questi romanticoni pieni di speranza scrivono su Missed Connections, una rubrica di Craiglist - il principale sito di annunci americano. Alan Feuer del New York Times ne ha raccolto alcuni, rivelandone una singolare qualità poetica. Di volta in volta tenere, bizzarre, divertenti, surreali, queste "poesie" ti fanno dimenticare per un attimo l'orrore quotidiano del vivere in una città caotica. E ti sciolgono il cuore, al pensiero "di tutte le belle passanti che non siamo riusciti a trattenere".

[Erik Antonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolute pleasure to read. It just opens your eyes to the joys of a random meeting. Having said that, the poems are all bittersweet for obvious reason, they all conclude the same way with one person wishing that they could talk to the other person again. In this way, you never really do get a resolution to any poem, but I personally like to believe that there are more chance encounters in those people’s lives.

Maybe in those future occasions they follow up and ask for a name or number before the elevator doors close.

[Kris Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a great novelty book. I love unique books like this one, so it was a fun (and quick) read. I originally got it from urban outfitters where they historically have unique books. I wouldn’t necessarily read it again ( I’m donating it). Though I think it’s fun to pass the time. I think it would have made it 5 stars if there were more sections that were just bizarre. I also would’ve liked a section where if some people met back up, we knew or something. Maybe that’s not possible; just a thought.

[whittney elmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing like a poetic collection of Craiglist's Missed Connections to make you believe in love. This short collection is real, raw, romantic, and let's not forget--comedic. It's a nice little reminder that humans and human connection, in general, are often beautiful, tragic, and ??? Regardless, this is my new favorite pocketbook. It's very much like Modern Love but shorter, less neatly written, and with strangers.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compilation of Craigslist poems compiled from the “Missed Connections” section of Craigslist. The poems read much like the brief collections in the New York Times “metropolitan Diary” feature. The poems are sometimes funny, sad. Romantic, sweet, raunchy and weird (sometimes all in one poem). Loved the sentiment of the poem about the unworthy person who took a newsstand’s next to last Sunday New Your Times by jumping in front or the poet, leaving them to the incomplete, dirty last one!

[Wesley Ballesteros · Rating 3 out of 5]

These poems are the culmination of the impractical but wonderfully romantic idea of love at first sight. Though not exactly poetic in the general sense, the pieces here still manage to make you think and consider humans in all our confused, anxious, hopeful glory. Definitely worth picking up if you’re looking for a quick read but, of course, don’t expect any ground breaking prose.

[Lilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was really cute and also quite funny. There’s a few poems that were really touching and I know I’ll go back to and reread. One of my favorites was ‘We Were A Pretend Couple For A Night’, it seemed like the plot of some indie movie. My only compliant is that I wish it was longer.

[Courtney Franchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

missed connections were my favorite piece of craigslist, I would scroll for hours reading every listing. I was stoked to find this book, but it left me a little bummed not knowing if they reconnected. definitely read this book!

[Maria Lotfi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great idea from the author to compile poems from Craigslist and put them in a book. You realize anyone can write a poem. All you need is something to happen, a unforgettable emotion, and love. Et le tour est joué! It makes you feel less alone.

[Christine Andersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. The idea was adorable and very well executed. I know it’s a small book but I have never read a book so fast and with so much longing! I loved the way everyday experiences and moments were romanticized.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this little book of poems. It was little short tid bits crafted from others thoughts. Gave me many smiles.

[Loralie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is so good, I find often with poetry books that I can't enjoy them or get through them because the writing always feels forced or fake, but this book was funny, it was sweet, it was sad, but above all of that it was genuine

[bethaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic. every one of these broke my heart and made me believe in humans again. so beautiful and a great concept!!!

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly poems but still entertaining.

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what you'd think it is