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Bloom
Beautifully designed with several pieces to a page, Bloom offers a unique twist on age-old topics: love, grief, and learning from them.
80 pages, ebook
First published February 6, 2018
64 people are currently reading
2830 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
July 2, 2018
Bloom
contains 140 interesting poems written by
Beau Taplin
that people, notably the millennials, can be able to relate to. The contemporary poems and prose in this anthology will make readers reminisce some of the not-so-good memories of the past while reading this. The book sets to motivate readers to move on, to stay strong and be a better person instead; it is a good companion to those who currently handles a lost love.
February 24, 2018
Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There was something in Beau Taplin's words touched my soul. I discovered him years ago on Instagram and I enjoyed reading his poems. I'm glad I had a chance to read his latest collection because some of the poems were relevant to my life. I enjoyed it a lot especially about life lessons. It brings positivity and drive to face new challenges. Overall, this is a great collection.
There was something in Beau Taplin's words touched my soul. I discovered him years ago on Instagram and I enjoyed reading his poems. I'm glad I had a chance to read his latest collection because some of the poems were relevant to my life. I enjoyed it a lot especially about life lessons. It brings positivity and drive to face new challenges. Overall, this is a great collection.
August 19, 2020
This was excellent.
December 10, 2022
i needed that
— 3.5 —
— 3.5 —
November 1, 2024
Recommendation:
If you generally enjoy poetry, this collection is worth your time. If you’re on the fence about it, consider borrowing it to see if it resonates with you.
Would you read another book by this author?
Absolutely!
Who might enjoy this book?
This collection will appeal to those who enjoy poetry and appreciate when others articulate their inner turmoil. If you find solace in reading works that reflect shared emotional experiences, this book is for you.
Overview:
Rating poetry can be a challenging task, as it often feels akin to interpreting a painting—each reader brings their own perspective and emotions to the table. For most poetry collections, I typically settle around a 3-star rating, but this book earned a 4-star rating for the profound impact of the poem “Espresso,” which truly struck a chord with me.
Many of the poems in this collection resonated deeply, allowing me to see my own experiences reflected in the words. The author’s growth is evident throughout the pages, showcasing a journey from their earlier years to the present, filled with lessons learned and insights gained. This evolution adds a rich layer of depth to the reading experience, making it feel personal and relatable.
Overall, it’s a great, quick read that invites contemplation and connection. Each poem offers a glimpse into the author’s soul, making it easy to get lost in the emotions expressed. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to explore the nuances of human experience through poetry.
Special Thanks:
A heartfelt thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley.
My review is fair and honest, and it’s important to note that my opinions are not influenced by the fact that I received this book at no cost. This review reflects my immediate feelings after finishing the book and is not intended to be compared to other titles I’ve read.
If you generally enjoy poetry, this collection is worth your time. If you’re on the fence about it, consider borrowing it to see if it resonates with you.
Would you read another book by this author?
Absolutely!
Who might enjoy this book?
This collection will appeal to those who enjoy poetry and appreciate when others articulate their inner turmoil. If you find solace in reading works that reflect shared emotional experiences, this book is for you.
Overview:
Rating poetry can be a challenging task, as it often feels akin to interpreting a painting—each reader brings their own perspective and emotions to the table. For most poetry collections, I typically settle around a 3-star rating, but this book earned a 4-star rating for the profound impact of the poem “Espresso,” which truly struck a chord with me.
Many of the poems in this collection resonated deeply, allowing me to see my own experiences reflected in the words. The author’s growth is evident throughout the pages, showcasing a journey from their earlier years to the present, filled with lessons learned and insights gained. This evolution adds a rich layer of depth to the reading experience, making it feel personal and relatable.
Overall, it’s a great, quick read that invites contemplation and connection. Each poem offers a glimpse into the author’s soul, making it easy to get lost in the emotions expressed. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to explore the nuances of human experience through poetry.
Special Thanks:
A heartfelt thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley.
My review is fair and honest, and it’s important to note that my opinions are not influenced by the fact that I received this book at no cost. This review reflects my immediate feelings after finishing the book and is not intended to be compared to other titles I’ve read.
August 16, 2019
Even though a lot of the poems from this collection are about the loss of love I think there's a silver lining to be found: even if that love is lost, for a time it was there and it was yours and it was something beautiful that, no matter what, you're going to cherish forever. I think it's a very nice message to put out into this world. I found a lot of the poems were very relatable and sincere, which is something I truly appreciated. This is definitely a nice poetry collection.
September 9, 2021
I'm still waiting for the day I'll find that one good poetry book that's..just gonna be The One
This one... I loved the designed pages, the quoted ones...
"Sad is something I can deal with when
I’m aware of its source."
The one thing I liked about this book was that it was light. The book as not something that will ruin you for anything else. IT WAS OKAY
"It is the not knowing that kills
me. The miseries unknown. A vague
air of joylessness I cannot understand,
escape, or destroy."
At this point in just talking rubbish so I'll shout up
-H❤
This one... I loved the designed pages, the quoted ones...
"Sad is something I can deal with when
I’m aware of its source."
The one thing I liked about this book was that it was light. The book as not something that will ruin you for anything else. IT WAS OKAY
"It is the not knowing that kills
me. The miseries unknown. A vague
air of joylessness I cannot understand,
escape, or destroy."
At this point in just talking rubbish so I'll shout up
-H❤
October 25, 2019
Kind of a lacklustre collection, for me at least. Some were quite lovely but as a whole they felt a little generic and all over the place.
November 28, 2017
Another stunning book of poetry from Beau. He is absolutely my all time favorite poet. I wish I could crawl inside his brain and just camp for a while. The way he puts so simply some of the most complex feelings in life is astounding. I always feel a combination of things when reading his work -- heartache, brokenness, a renewed sense of faith, hope, love. At the end of it all, I feel human, and to me, that's what poetry is all about. 5 stars.
September 4, 2016
Beau Taplin will hopefully continue writing his beautiful, haunted, passionate, daring, wild, thriving, perhaps even slightly terrified poetry for decades to come.
He doesn't just write about soul mates and the despair of heartbreak, there are reminders of self-honesty, humility, respect and the many millions of small good things that give pleasure. This book is filled with his signature short and deeply hard hitting lyrics, far too many for me to ever select a mere one or few favorites, as all resound with me heavily. But if it's a mere taste that will suffice . . .
"I want you, you're bones, your body heat, the bite marks your teeth leave, to see how bad and beautiful those eyes look beneath me."
"Immediately leave behind those who use manipulative behavior to convince you to change or lose your identity. You are not putty to be played with or a project to be perfected, but a magnificent and unique manifestation of the universe. you have the right and responsibility to be yourself."
And so, so many striking short-liners about perhaps-soul-mates that its a little shattering. The entire book feels like the author is trying to deliver a message or a wish into the universe out of hope for this girl he seems to be writing to that he lost somewhere along the way that someday, their paths align and throughout the wars he seems to suffer within, as all deeply feeling souls do, they don't let each other slip away. He is a poet in the truest sense--bravely mindless about his own hearts well being when it comes to absorbing every single moment and experience to its fullest in this world while having the capacity to shape his every thought and takeaway from these profound times into just a few short but far reaching notes.
Beau Taplin writes books far too short, as short as his soul-scratched poems, but books so deeply impacting, bravely vulnerable, reverent reminders of how short it all is, how terrifyingly close that dreaded 'its too late' moment always is if you're not aware of its approach, and honest about his own faults that forever keep him learning and growing as all our natures are guilty of but must be our teacher instead of our breaker, I may keep this one under my pillow at night when I need something that resides somewhere between an answer in my heart that my brain hasn't the words to form and the comfort of a fellow soul who journey's for what consumes them, welcomes them, revives them, and they can lose themselves forever in.
He doesn't just write about soul mates and the despair of heartbreak, there are reminders of self-honesty, humility, respect and the many millions of small good things that give pleasure. This book is filled with his signature short and deeply hard hitting lyrics, far too many for me to ever select a mere one or few favorites, as all resound with me heavily. But if it's a mere taste that will suffice . . .
"I want you, you're bones, your body heat, the bite marks your teeth leave, to see how bad and beautiful those eyes look beneath me."
"Immediately leave behind those who use manipulative behavior to convince you to change or lose your identity. You are not putty to be played with or a project to be perfected, but a magnificent and unique manifestation of the universe. you have the right and responsibility to be yourself."
And so, so many striking short-liners about perhaps-soul-mates that its a little shattering. The entire book feels like the author is trying to deliver a message or a wish into the universe out of hope for this girl he seems to be writing to that he lost somewhere along the way that someday, their paths align and throughout the wars he seems to suffer within, as all deeply feeling souls do, they don't let each other slip away. He is a poet in the truest sense--bravely mindless about his own hearts well being when it comes to absorbing every single moment and experience to its fullest in this world while having the capacity to shape his every thought and takeaway from these profound times into just a few short but far reaching notes.
Beau Taplin writes books far too short, as short as his soul-scratched poems, but books so deeply impacting, bravely vulnerable, reverent reminders of how short it all is, how terrifyingly close that dreaded 'its too late' moment always is if you're not aware of its approach, and honest about his own faults that forever keep him learning and growing as all our natures are guilty of but must be our teacher instead of our breaker, I may keep this one under my pillow at night when I need something that resides somewhere between an answer in my heart that my brain hasn't the words to form and the comfort of a fellow soul who journey's for what consumes them, welcomes them, revives them, and they can lose themselves forever in.
January 27, 2018
➷ARC provided by Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing in exchange for an honest review➹
This book is beautiful and I especially love the visuals inside but I can't really relate much to the "poems" inside. They're definitely different than the trend nowadays and although it's a plus point for me, I still don't think they're my cup of tea. They're not terrible, but they could have been better.
I do recommend this for people who love reading about inner turmoil and personal growth more than romantic poems.
This book is beautiful and I especially love the visuals inside but I can't really relate much to the "poems" inside. They're definitely different than the trend nowadays and although it's a plus point for me, I still don't think they're my cup of tea. They're not terrible, but they could have been better.
I do recommend this for people who love reading about inner turmoil and personal growth more than romantic poems.
August 25, 2019
I'm conflicted on what rating to give this.
Were the poems horrible? No.
Was I left underwhelmed? Yes.
Honestly, the writing was not bad. I feel like a lot of people would enjoy reading this collection. However, I felt underwhelmed and bored at times. This might just be a case of it's me not you.
Were the poems horrible? No.
Was I left underwhelmed? Yes.
Honestly, the writing was not bad. I feel like a lot of people would enjoy reading this collection. However, I felt underwhelmed and bored at times. This might just be a case of it's me not you.
Read
May 12, 2025I'm positively surprised by how impacted I was by this collection!
It's definitely not for everyone, I can totally see that. It's more in the style of advice poems, focusing more on the message and imagery than rhythm or sound patterns. I used to not really enjoy these but ever since I opened up more to different styles introduced by contemporary poets, I appreciate them more and more.
It definitely had some conflicting message sometimes, but overall it really resonated with me.
It's carefully and very nicely put together, you see a structure throughout the collection, the poems follow a structure themselves too and are similar in format which is something I especially appreciate in contemporary poetry.
I will definitely look out for the poets other works.
Some of the poems that especially resonated with me:
-Isolation
-A Good Book
-A Meaningful Life
-Illuminate
-Matters of the Heart
-Quality Time
It's definitely not for everyone, I can totally see that. It's more in the style of advice poems, focusing more on the message and imagery than rhythm or sound patterns. I used to not really enjoy these but ever since I opened up more to different styles introduced by contemporary poets, I appreciate them more and more.
It definitely had some conflicting message sometimes, but overall it really resonated with me.
It's carefully and very nicely put together, you see a structure throughout the collection, the poems follow a structure themselves too and are similar in format which is something I especially appreciate in contemporary poetry.
I will definitely look out for the poets other works.
Some of the poems that especially resonated with me:
-Isolation
-A Good Book
-A Meaningful Life
-Illuminate
-Matters of the Heart
-Quality Time
June 6, 2020
To hell with happy endings
you are here for the story
I love poetry, I just don’t read it very much and I’ve been reading it less and less since I joined Goodreads. One of the reasons is I’m usually disappointed by the hyped collections that never seem to touch me or move me in any shape or form.
Bloom is quite different from what I expected and I enjoyed it much more than other collections I picked up before. With that being said, I don’t read Poetry because I want to be thought a lesson, I read poetry because I want to feel something and I want to feel it deep. Bloom made me feel but it didn’t even scratch the surface.
Bloom is a collection about love and growth and the beauty of finding ourselves by our own and losing ourselves with another. It felt like a cycle of love lost and found with all the conflicting feelings that comes with loving and losing and hating and longing and feeling worthy and feeling worthless.
Is this a collection that will leave its mark on my heart and soul, I highly doubt it. Will I look back at it more fondly than I do to other poetry collection, absolutely. Is it going to rekindle my thirst for this genre, definitely maybe?
July 23, 2025
"Always remember it is never too late to return to the root of your heart and begin again" ❤️
Loved this book a lot
—
« Look, in this life you won't always find
peace and closure. Some losses bury
themselves into the heart too deeply to
ever be entirely resolved or forgotten.
Sometimes the most you can
really do is persevere until the pain is
too small or familiar to harm you. »
🤍
Loved this book a lot
—
« Look, in this life you won't always find
peace and closure. Some losses bury
themselves into the heart too deeply to
ever be entirely resolved or forgotten.
Sometimes the most you can
really do is persevere until the pain is
too small or familiar to harm you. »
🤍
August 7, 2018
This is probably one of the greatest collections I’ve ever read... I’m literally speechless.
May 8, 2021
Taplin is still one of my favorite modern poets but Bloom doesn't hold a light to Here at Dawn
January 13, 2019
I enjoyed reading this collection even though for me, these were not classified as poetry. A typical collection of love, loss, and growth. I loved most of the poems and this book is much better than World of You. The poems are short and the layout is nice.
Would recommend for a light and quick read.
Would recommend for a light and quick read.
January 8, 2018
super cute and just straight up lovely to read! this is probably blasphemy but i thought it was better than milk and honey
March 27, 2018
Brilliant. Didn’t love this one quite as much as Worlds Of You, but was still so good.
March 29, 2018
Another stunning masterpiece from my favourite poet 🌻
April 24, 2018
The author’s words touched my soul. I really enjoyed reading all the poems. Stunning and beautiful.
January 24, 2021
“I think that’s the most difficult
thing about losing someone you’ve
loved—the way you feel never really
dies all at once.”
thing about losing someone you’ve
loved—the way you feel never really
dies all at once.”
March 31, 2021
I loved this a lot, so many great poems!
June 24, 2022
I'm starting to think I just don't like Poetry
April 1, 2018
Disclaimer: Received a free digital copy of the book through Netgalley.
I think if this wasn't marketed as a poetry collection, I would've liked it more. The 'poetry' was more like a self-help advice column on self-love, grief and how to improve your relationship styled as poetry by manipulating the line length. I liked the aesthetically pleasing layout of the book like the millennium trash I am, full with the short poems, pictures, the coloured black/pink pages in between, the quotes, the attractive colour scheme, but other than that this was just a disappointing and bland read.
Admittedly, some 'poetry' (yes, I'm going to use quotation marks every time I write the word poetry because this was far from it) evoked emotions and wasn't bad in its general advice as I could see how some people could actually be benefit from reading this book. Unfortunately, there was just scarce content I found relatable, most of it was very focused on love and relationships and that might help and ring with someone actually facing challenges in their relationship but was plain eye-roll-ish stuff for me. Moreover, I noticed frequently that the same advice was rehashed again and again using different words which made this a repetitive concoction of similar themed 'poetry'. To be honest, I feel betrayed because I signed up for quality poetry not for this advice on how to make your relationship better 101 'poetry' guide.
Towards the end 'poetry' didn't get similar themed but literally repetitive COMPLETELY e.g.
"I'll go to parties and mingle,
and even feign interest in the
conversation, but on the inside my heart is endlessly elsewhere."
- Excerpt from "Elsewhere".
"I can be in a room full of friendly faces, surrounded by laughter and celebration, but to me, it's all just light and noise. I will smile and make small talk, but it's all a performance.
The truth is, I'm someplace else with you."
- Excerpt from "The performance".
As always, I do appreciate how some poems radiated private stories in all that they were and how reading them I felt like they were an ode to the person the author was writing about. Basically, I like that the author stayed true to his emotions which gave that personal feel to the 'poetry'. But everything else just trumped the few good things about this 'poetry' collection and this wasn't my cup of tea. I'm pissed even more because I requested his second collection based on the assumption that I would like this one and the cover and now I have to read and review that too! GREAT!
Advice to future self: Stop falling for beautiful covers, idiot.
I think if this wasn't marketed as a poetry collection, I would've liked it more. The 'poetry' was more like a self-help advice column on self-love, grief and how to improve your relationship styled as poetry by manipulating the line length. I liked the aesthetically pleasing layout of the book like the millennium trash I am, full with the short poems, pictures, the coloured black/pink pages in between, the quotes, the attractive colour scheme, but other than that this was just a disappointing and bland read.
Admittedly, some 'poetry' (yes, I'm going to use quotation marks every time I write the word poetry because this was far from it) evoked emotions and wasn't bad in its general advice as I could see how some people could actually be benefit from reading this book. Unfortunately, there was just scarce content I found relatable, most of it was very focused on love and relationships and that might help and ring with someone actually facing challenges in their relationship but was plain eye-roll-ish stuff for me. Moreover, I noticed frequently that the same advice was rehashed again and again using different words which made this a repetitive concoction of similar themed 'poetry'. To be honest, I feel betrayed because I signed up for quality poetry not for this advice on how to make your relationship better 101 'poetry' guide.
Towards the end 'poetry' didn't get similar themed but literally repetitive COMPLETELY e.g.
"I'll go to parties and mingle,
and even feign interest in the
conversation, but on the inside my heart is endlessly elsewhere."
- Excerpt from "Elsewhere".
"I can be in a room full of friendly faces, surrounded by laughter and celebration, but to me, it's all just light and noise. I will smile and make small talk, but it's all a performance.
The truth is, I'm someplace else with you."
- Excerpt from "The performance".
As always, I do appreciate how some poems radiated private stories in all that they were and how reading them I felt like they were an ode to the person the author was writing about. Basically, I like that the author stayed true to his emotions which gave that personal feel to the 'poetry'. But everything else just trumped the few good things about this 'poetry' collection and this wasn't my cup of tea. I'm pissed even more because I requested his second collection based on the assumption that I would like this one and the cover and now I have to read and review that too! GREAT!
Advice to future self: Stop falling for beautiful covers, idiot.
February 12, 2018
This isn't poetry. It's more like snippets of self-care advice and some feelings written in prose. Altering line-length does not a poem make... But the self-care is nice and for the most part this book is an enjoyable read. It does give me a quandary on which shelf to shelve it, though. I think I'm going to shelve it on "Poetry" for now, but I'm still very skeptical about its categorization.
Anyway, if you like poetry, I kind of recommend you don't read this; but if you like the currently popular style of self-care and truisms that seem to be saturating the contemporary poetry shelves, then, sure, pick this one up.
Anyway, if you like poetry, I kind of recommend you don't read this; but if you like the currently popular style of self-care and truisms that seem to be saturating the contemporary poetry shelves, then, sure, pick this one up.
December 1, 2017
This is another book in the recent genre I'm calling "Platitudes, NOT POETRY." Poetry is art made with language; this book, and other recent books like it, are cliches recycled with boring sentences. There were a few glimpses of what Taplin could do - "The Boxer," for instance - but for the most part, I just find this type of writing lazy and uninspired.
*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, provided by the author and/or the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, provided by the author and/or the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2024
Isolation
Be aware and understanding of all
people regardless of their standing
and circumstances. Even the most
privileged life can be miserable and
isolating when the mind is sick.
We do not get to decide how
happy someone should feel by how
seemingly wonderful the world is
around them.
......
A Good Book
Books do not dictate or teach so much
as they reveal truths you have always
carried within you.
Like a streetlamp shining on a
bare, dark road, a book only illuminates
the path; it does not create one.
That is what makes them so potent
and necessary. In an increasingly external
world, a good book is a journey inward.
..
The Softest Blue
I know you’re not supposed to look
to other people to save you, but
whenever I’m around you, the world
becomes simple. My moods lift and
the skies shift from smoke and smog
to the softest blue.
I know I’m meant to save myself,
but the fact is, with you, I don’t have to.
Be aware and understanding of all
people regardless of their standing
and circumstances. Even the most
privileged life can be miserable and
isolating when the mind is sick.
We do not get to decide how
happy someone should feel by how
seemingly wonderful the world is
around them.
......
A Good Book
Books do not dictate or teach so much
as they reveal truths you have always
carried within you.
Like a streetlamp shining on a
bare, dark road, a book only illuminates
the path; it does not create one.
That is what makes them so potent
and necessary. In an increasingly external
world, a good book is a journey inward.
..
The Softest Blue
I know you’re not supposed to look
to other people to save you, but
whenever I’m around you, the world
becomes simple. My moods lift and
the skies shift from smoke and smog
to the softest blue.
I know I’m meant to save myself,
but the fact is, with you, I don’t have to.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews