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Almost Home: Poems
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Poetry (2019)From the Instagram poet and author of the exquisite Please Don’t Go Before I Get Better comes a gorgeous poetry and prose collection that explores the meaning of “home” and the profound discovery of finding it within oneself—perfect for fans of Rupi Kaur and Amanda Lovelace.
In this stunning third collection from Madisen Kuhn, Madisen eloquently analyzes some of life’s universal themes within the framework of a house. Whether it’s the garden, the bedroom, or the front porch, Madisen takes you into her own “home,” sharing some of the most intimate parts of her life so that you might also, someday, feel free to share some of yours.
Filled with beautiful hand-drawn illustrations from Melody Hansen, this boldly intimate, preternaturally wise, and emotionally candid collection encourages you to consider what home means to you—whether it’s in the lush, green-lawned suburbs or a city apartment—and, more importantly, explores how you can find it even when home feels like it’s on the far-off horizon.
In this stunning third collection from Madisen Kuhn, Madisen eloquently analyzes some of life’s universal themes within the framework of a house. Whether it’s the garden, the bedroom, or the front porch, Madisen takes you into her own “home,” sharing some of the most intimate parts of her life so that you might also, someday, feel free to share some of yours.
Filled with beautiful hand-drawn illustrations from Melody Hansen, this boldly intimate, preternaturally wise, and emotionally candid collection encourages you to consider what home means to you—whether it’s in the lush, green-lawned suburbs or a city apartment—and, more importantly, explores how you can find it even when home feels like it’s on the far-off horizon.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
56 people are currently reading
4025 people want to read
About the author
Madisen Kuhn
5 books773 followersMadisen Kuhn is a poet from Charlottesville, Virginia. She likes to explore topics of identity, belonging, sexuality, and mental illness in her work.
At 19, Madisen self-published her first poetry collection, Eighteen Years, after gaining a following on Tumblr and Instagram. She went on to publish Please Don't Go Before I Get Better in 2018 with Gallery Books. Her third book, Almost Home, was a semi-finalist in the Goodreads Choice Awards — Best Poetry Books of 2019.
Her fourth collection of poetry, Bad At Existing, explores the complexities of identity, self-expression, longing, and hope—capturing the duality of wanting to be seen by the world while wanting to hide from it. It is set to be released on October 4, 2022.
At 19, Madisen self-published her first poetry collection, Eighteen Years, after gaining a following on Tumblr and Instagram. She went on to publish Please Don't Go Before I Get Better in 2018 with Gallery Books. Her third book, Almost Home, was a semi-finalist in the Goodreads Choice Awards — Best Poetry Books of 2019.
Her fourth collection of poetry, Bad At Existing, explores the complexities of identity, self-expression, longing, and hope—capturing the duality of wanting to be seen by the world while wanting to hide from it. It is set to be released on October 4, 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
May 24, 2020
Many thanks to Sydney at Gallery Books for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
2.5 stars.
I tried to
enjoy this
I rea
lly
did
but i simply
cannot continue
to read slightly
symbolic paragraphs that
are just divided
randomly into
lines
I won't be
completely
shirking all
poetry forever
but i have
accepted that
poetry just isn't
my thing
overall,
this
book
was
such
a
pain
to
read
--------------
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March 5, 2020
i suppose someday
i will find the courage
to not fear
my own humanness.
what i was born from.
what i will inevitably make.
what will hopefully
turn out beautiful.
Almost Home is a tough poetry collection to rate. First of all, I personally am a big fan of this poetry style: the capitalization-free, minimal-punctuation storytelling is easy for me to relate to, and the stream-of-consciousness narrative works really well with my brain in particular.
i have always been soft
when i should've been hard
and hard when i should've been soft.
I say all of this to tell you: I'm not sure why I didn't love this collection. Honestly, it's the sort of thing I "should" have really adored, and I did LOVE many poems in the collection (with these that I've quoted being my favorites). It's just that so many of the poems in between fell flat for me due to repetition, or more often than not, simply being too long. One of the reasons this style works so well is because the poems are typically done in short bursts, but many of these are 3 solid pages long, and I feel like the "punch" of the story she's telling begins to feel watered down once you've spent that many paragraphs re-wording the same emotion.
i am happy and lucky
to be here.
it makes my heart heavy
to know that i must
remind myself of that
so often.
That said, if you like this style, too, it's definitely worth giving a shot, because there are some real gems in the collection. The last section of the book is about self-love and appreciating the world around us, and after 150+ pages of discussing trauma, mental illnesses, and (I mean this kindly, not to throw shade) self-pity parties, it was a huge breath of fresh air to hit the poems like this last one I've quoted. Those alone were enough to make me feel like, despite this not firing on all cylinders for me, Almost Home is still the sort of collection I could happily recommend to other readers.
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
April 3, 2023
This was an easy read. Poems of the modern free verse style. Easy to read, understand, connect with. This helped me through a very sad time, when I lost my dog due to careless veterinary care and a nightmarish euthanasia process that has left me questioning if I'll ever euthanize another pet. Her poems aren't really about animals, but rather disappointment, parents, being young and confused, looking for home. The spare, but direct language she uses really helps you feel connected to her perspective. It's comforting to remember when I was young, a teenager who was completely and utterly alone in my large family. Two parents and eight other siblings and yet I felt completely alone in my struggles. This is one of the best books of poetry I've ever read. Highly recommended.
December 13, 2021
4 stars.
Another nice collection of poetry! Lots of the poems are very easy to relate to. A quick and intimate read. I liked the tone throughout the book. All of the poems were beautifully written.
Another nice collection of poetry! Lots of the poems are very easy to relate to. A quick and intimate read. I liked the tone throughout the book. All of the poems were beautifully written.
September 24, 2019
I really enjoyed this collection. It was really well written and I loved the idea of "home" throughout it. I have always loved Madisen's writing, and she constantly inspires me.
I think her writing really has improved from her first collection, and it is so cool to watch that happen.
I'm not a harsh critic when it comes to poetry, so take this review with a grain of salt, but I thought it was really well done.
I think her writing really has improved from her first collection, and it is so cool to watch that happen.
I'm not a harsh critic when it comes to poetry, so take this review with a grain of salt, but I thought it was really well done.
December 31, 2020
Let's be honest: I picked up this book now because I just wanted to get to a nice round full 100 before the year ended, and this seemed plausible enough for me to get through in the time I had left to read 🙈 And also the fact that I had access to the ebook.
I'd marked this as Want to Read a while ago based on the title and what I read about it on Goodreads, and as I skimmed the first couple of pages I thought that it seemed intriguing. But it turns out the bit I read was actually the foreword written by Orion Carloto and not Kuhn herself. Anyway. I didn't know anything about Kuhn or her Tumblr stuff prior to this third poetry book of hers, nor do I feel like I know much about poetry in general, objectively. I just like what I like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ So anyway. Kept on reading.
The word I constantly though of was youth. I by no means feel like I am more of an "adult" than Kuhn or anyone for that matter, I mean, that I'd have anything figured out, but still. I found some bits here and there that resonated with me. I liked the art. But mostly I just felt like ... I don't know. Like I didn't feel all that much at all. I don't want to be too critical because I do kind of feel for Kuhn, even though my past experiences and how I draw on them are surely somewhat different from hers, but still, the truth is that most of the time I found the poems kind of prosaic and lacking deeper insight. I wanted more original wording or metaphors or something .. novel. I mean it was nice. But that was it. I didn't gain very much from it, and like I said, it didn't make me FEEL like I'd have wanted it to. I didn't hate it, is all I can say, but still just 2 stars.
I'd marked this as Want to Read a while ago based on the title and what I read about it on Goodreads, and as I skimmed the first couple of pages I thought that it seemed intriguing. But it turns out the bit I read was actually the foreword written by Orion Carloto and not Kuhn herself. Anyway. I didn't know anything about Kuhn or her Tumblr stuff prior to this third poetry book of hers, nor do I feel like I know much about poetry in general, objectively. I just like what I like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ So anyway. Kept on reading.
The word I constantly though of was youth. I by no means feel like I am more of an "adult" than Kuhn or anyone for that matter, I mean, that I'd have anything figured out, but still. I found some bits here and there that resonated with me. I liked the art. But mostly I just felt like ... I don't know. Like I didn't feel all that much at all. I don't want to be too critical because I do kind of feel for Kuhn, even though my past experiences and how I draw on them are surely somewhat different from hers, but still, the truth is that most of the time I found the poems kind of prosaic and lacking deeper insight. I wanted more original wording or metaphors or something .. novel. I mean it was nice. But that was it. I didn't gain very much from it, and like I said, it didn't make me FEEL like I'd have wanted it to. I didn't hate it, is all I can say, but still just 2 stars.
January 29, 2026
Update:
I just read this for a second time just a couple days after finishing it. Not just a poem here or there, but I reread the whole thing. That’s how much I loved it. I connected with so many of these poems to the point where I feel like some of them could have come straight from my own head. And written in a way that brings home the introspection and the connection between all things from singular moments and feelings. You know that feeling when you’re reading a really good poem and it’s flowing along nicely and then you get to the end and it just hits you hard. Or you get it the middle and it keeps hitting you hard until the very end? Yep.
It was also fun rereading because I picked up on new pieces and connections the second time around. Will definitely be reading more from this poet! Also if you like this poetry, I do find it similar in particular to Andrea Gibson’s poetry in some of the style and subject matters. I’d also recommend Ada Limon.
Original Post:
Beautiful. One of the greatest things about poetry to me is the ability to capture those things we want to ignore, like in a soft morning light, where we can look at them with some tenderness and understanding while still feeling the bitterness. And in observing that piece of duality in ourselves, we become more accepting.
I just read this for a second time just a couple days after finishing it. Not just a poem here or there, but I reread the whole thing. That’s how much I loved it. I connected with so many of these poems to the point where I feel like some of them could have come straight from my own head. And written in a way that brings home the introspection and the connection between all things from singular moments and feelings. You know that feeling when you’re reading a really good poem and it’s flowing along nicely and then you get to the end and it just hits you hard. Or you get it the middle and it keeps hitting you hard until the very end? Yep.
It was also fun rereading because I picked up on new pieces and connections the second time around. Will definitely be reading more from this poet! Also if you like this poetry, I do find it similar in particular to Andrea Gibson’s poetry in some of the style and subject matters. I’d also recommend Ada Limon.
Original Post:
Beautiful. One of the greatest things about poetry to me is the ability to capture those things we want to ignore, like in a soft morning light, where we can look at them with some tenderness and understanding while still feeling the bitterness. And in observing that piece of duality in ourselves, we become more accepting.
December 31, 2019
I’m so happy I decided to pick this up the other day because Madisen BROUGHT IT HOME (literally) with this third book. Her vocabulary got so much better & in my last review (of her first book), I mentioned how I wish she stayed to more intricate rhyme schemes & she did that almost throughout the entire collection. This is hands down her best work & I am SO happy to have read it. I love that this collection was themed because it made the book very interesting to follow. She spoke on growing up in a broken home, looking for home in others, fantasies about having a better childhood, & eventually, spoke a lot about being your own home. I loved how this progressed. I loved her word choice. I loved the flow. It was intricately woven together & I feel like she really paid close attention to detail with this one. Sometimes I feel like poetry collections have a lot of “filler” poems, but I didn’t feel that way for a SECOND with this. It was simply marvelous.
February 5, 2021
First of all, I had to type in the ISBN to find this book on Goodreads? (Or, more accurately, my housemate had to, because I couldn't find the book and went whining to her and she managed to find it using the ISBN). I'm not sure what's up with the Goodreads search engine today, but this book did not pop up.
Anyway.
I think there were two poems in this that I really liked, a bunch that I thought were good but didn't really resonate with me, and a fair amount that felt forgettable. I think Kuhn has some good things to say, and she had some interesting imagery and metaphors at work, but she had just as many awkward phrases and irritatingly mixed metaphors happening too. I'm super interested to see her continue to write and grow, but this book didn't do much for me.
Anyway.
I think there were two poems in this that I really liked, a bunch that I thought were good but didn't really resonate with me, and a fair amount that felt forgettable. I think Kuhn has some good things to say, and she had some interesting imagery and metaphors at work, but she had just as many awkward phrases and irritatingly mixed metaphors happening too. I'm super interested to see her continue to write and grow, but this book didn't do much for me.
January 3, 2020
A lot of modern poetry novels are similar in their themes, but this one takes a different approach to the subjects. It was the way the poet wrote and described things that made the book worth reading to me. Her voice is unique and I enjoyed reading her words and finding metaphors in them.
Almost Home is the first book I've read of hers and it was such a great experience that I think I'll keep reading her work.
Almost Home is the first book I've read of hers and it was such a great experience that I think I'll keep reading her work.
January 10, 2020
“One day, it’ll hurt less. It’ll feel more like a good memory and less like being stuck in a bad dream.”
Almost Home is captivating! This collection of poetry really resonated with me. I love the lyrical and vulnerable nature of Madisen’s writing. These poems are unique in that it provides a sense of hope while also allowing you to reminisce and feel understood.
Almost Home is captivating! This collection of poetry really resonated with me. I love the lyrical and vulnerable nature of Madisen’s writing. These poems are unique in that it provides a sense of hope while also allowing you to reminisce and feel understood.
April 6, 2025
It was okay. There are some in here I really resonated with and are beautifully written but for the most part it reads like the lost diary of a depressed girl wandering from city to city.
August 11, 2022
this was just another cheesy poetry book that i bought from dollar tree so i could fill my bookshelf and add it to my goodreads goal😭 it had some good moments and the section at the end was really good but poetry is lowkey super cringe sometimes so idk what i was expecting
December 7, 2020
these poems are more similar to tweets or tumblr posts than poetry, but that's unsurprising considering madisen's history with tumblr. i used to follow her on a few social media platforms back in high school and her first book eighteen years spoke to me when i was 16. that residual curiosity is what propelled me to check out her third poetry collection, to see if her writing had improved, if her ideas and execution had matured beyond her teenage self. in my opinion, they haven't. this poetry collection is supposed to be about finding yourself and loving yourself and learning contentment, but it just made me feel empty and disappointed. on a technical level, her poetry is structured very strangely with mostly short one to two word lines that descend down the page and are a pain to read because of it. the cadence is awkward and stilted. madisen's ideas contradict themselves almost in the same breath. there is a facade of an overarching message, but it's bullshit. that illusion is part of being human and in madisen's case it seems to be so rooted in capitalism and the persistent insatiability that capitalism creates in us. it makes me sad for her because she is so close to realizing that it doesn't have to be an illusion, that there is a direction for the future of the world and its inhabitants when you lean into anti-capitalism, when you peer behind the curtain and find something actually fulfilling and hopeful and solid and beautiful.
on a personal level, i related to madisen's melancholy about religion and abusive parents and ocd. i think she could excel if she were to write prose and expand her ideas into fully fledged essays about the experiences she has had throughout life and how they have affected her in the long term.
on a personal level, i related to madisen's melancholy about religion and abusive parents and ocd. i think she could excel if she were to write prose and expand her ideas into fully fledged essays about the experiences she has had throughout life and how they have affected her in the long term.
February 23, 2020
"and despite my fear
every time i am up in the air
no matter how panicked
or trapped i feel
in those unchanging vinyl seats
when i look out the window
and see the miniature cars
passing slowly below me
i am reminded if the magic of existing
i feel small
in the best kind of way."
"something beautiful:
me."
"and then i noticed
the birds
and my heart laughed at me
because i finally realized
i'd just been living
too far
from the window"
I enjoyed reading this! I loved a few, but definitely felt like a lot of them were trying to say the same thing/had the same meaning. Overall I didn't personally find most of the poetry to be relatable, but it makes sense because I've lived in the same home for my entire life with a close family and a lot of this book was about not having a permanent home. Her second book is definitely my favourite but I still liked this one!
every time i am up in the air
no matter how panicked
or trapped i feel
in those unchanging vinyl seats
when i look out the window
and see the miniature cars
passing slowly below me
i am reminded if the magic of existing
i feel small
in the best kind of way."
"something beautiful:
me."
"and then i noticed
the birds
and my heart laughed at me
because i finally realized
i'd just been living
too far
from the window"
I enjoyed reading this! I loved a few, but definitely felt like a lot of them were trying to say the same thing/had the same meaning. Overall I didn't personally find most of the poetry to be relatable, but it makes sense because I've lived in the same home for my entire life with a close family and a lot of this book was about not having a permanent home. Her second book is definitely my favourite but I still liked this one!
October 1, 2019
I loved this book of poems by Madisen Kuhn. A collection of starkly personal poems that seek the meaning of home. What she wants a home to be and what she doesn't want a home to be. What it means to be at home in relationships and what it means to be at home in your own skin. How to be at home with your past and how to establish a home for your future. Finding home is a struggle, not only because of past experiences of not being home, but also because she does not yet know what home is. Her use of language is immediate and accessible and vivid. Highly recommend you grab this book and explore the meaning of home with Kuhn! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 26, 2022
Instagram poetry ruined a generation of poets…
March 2, 2021
4, 4.5 stars?
Almost Home dives deep into what the meaning of home is, inside the body and mind of a person, inside the relationships that built them and the environments they’ve been in. Home is not just one thing, but a kaleidoscope of different colors of who a person is. This poetry collection travels through the many facets of what home is through the rooms of a house, through the kitchen of family and nostalgia, ending at the front porch of hope and encouragement. The way that the book was formatted, the reader gets to travel through various rooms of a house, covering different themes and exploring different parts of Madisen and her world. It was a cool idea and it was well-executed. I admire Madisen for writing about things that are difficult and raw and real, to put herself out there into the world through poetry, to let out things that are difficult and hard to talk about, I will forever admire Madisen and thank her for writing these poems. These poems are open doors for people to walk into and feel less alone, finding their own beating hearts and emotions in her words. Madisen’s writing keeps growing with every single collection. I’ve read all of her collections so far, to see her grow and change, not only as a person, but as a writer as well makes me happy for her. She is continuing to evolve and I am proud of her. Her writing style is really enjoyable to read and easy to get into, her emotional words hit right at home. Even though I’ve never experience much of what Madisen has been through or felt some of the things that she has felt, I found myself crying or in tears, feeling for Madisen. The power that her words have. Her writing is vivid and her metaphors are unmatched, the way she plays with words and creates beauty. Some of the metaphors went over my head, but they were so well-crafted. Though her writing is gorgeous and vivid, her poetry is something that everyone can access and enjoy.
The forward and afterward also gave context to the poems, they were enjoyable additions to the poetry. This poetry collection had illustrations by Melody Hansen. I really liked the simplicity of Melody's illustrations and how they supplement some of the poems. I honestly didn't feel any strong way towards them, but I did like them.
I did find myself struggling to read this at times and there were poems that I felt were undeveloped, but overall, I enjoyed reading this collection and I look forward to reading the next collection by her.
Almost Home dives deep into what the meaning of home is, inside the body and mind of a person, inside the relationships that built them and the environments they’ve been in. Home is not just one thing, but a kaleidoscope of different colors of who a person is. This poetry collection travels through the many facets of what home is through the rooms of a house, through the kitchen of family and nostalgia, ending at the front porch of hope and encouragement. The way that the book was formatted, the reader gets to travel through various rooms of a house, covering different themes and exploring different parts of Madisen and her world. It was a cool idea and it was well-executed. I admire Madisen for writing about things that are difficult and raw and real, to put herself out there into the world through poetry, to let out things that are difficult and hard to talk about, I will forever admire Madisen and thank her for writing these poems. These poems are open doors for people to walk into and feel less alone, finding their own beating hearts and emotions in her words. Madisen’s writing keeps growing with every single collection. I’ve read all of her collections so far, to see her grow and change, not only as a person, but as a writer as well makes me happy for her. She is continuing to evolve and I am proud of her. Her writing style is really enjoyable to read and easy to get into, her emotional words hit right at home. Even though I’ve never experience much of what Madisen has been through or felt some of the things that she has felt, I found myself crying or in tears, feeling for Madisen. The power that her words have. Her writing is vivid and her metaphors are unmatched, the way she plays with words and creates beauty. Some of the metaphors went over my head, but they were so well-crafted. Though her writing is gorgeous and vivid, her poetry is something that everyone can access and enjoy.
The forward and afterward also gave context to the poems, they were enjoyable additions to the poetry. This poetry collection had illustrations by Melody Hansen. I really liked the simplicity of Melody's illustrations and how they supplement some of the poems. I honestly didn't feel any strong way towards them, but I did like them.
I did find myself struggling to read this at times and there were poems that I felt were undeveloped, but overall, I enjoyed reading this collection and I look forward to reading the next collection by her.
January 1, 2025
Rating: Over five stars. Broke my scale.
I have a few favorite books for 2024, and I'm so pleased to say that this beautiful poetry collection of Madison Kuhn's has just made it to my favorite's list! :') I'm so happy to have ended the year with this beautiful collection. I dog-eared many of my favorite pieces and I surely will be going back to be highlighting my favorite lines. ♡
With that being said, I'm not sure where to begin on writing my review for this book. What can I say? How do I even explain how much my heart has found a home within these pages? I wasn't just reading this poetry collection, I was breathing it. :') And I can admit I have lived several of these poems, only to be left astonished that someone else has lived through similar adventures and memories too. I feel like I have so much in common with the author despite how different our lives in youth were. How can I review this masterpiece? How does one even review poetry when poetry is an art all on its own? That's what I always think to myself when I read poetry. You cannot criticize it, you cannot review it in regards to constructive criticism because poetry is an art all on its own. Poetry is a lyrical art that a writer must be gifted with, not taught in school. And truly, Madison has the gift. One cannot criticize art for it simply must be enjoyed for what it truly is. We accept it in its form of indescribable beauty, tormented pain, and brutal truth. Madison Kuhn grants all three of these within her poems and much, much more. To breathe in her poetry makes me want to read more works of hers in the new year.
May she keep gardening her soul, may she continue to find healing in a home she creates for herself.
I have a few favorite books for 2024, and I'm so pleased to say that this beautiful poetry collection of Madison Kuhn's has just made it to my favorite's list! :') I'm so happy to have ended the year with this beautiful collection. I dog-eared many of my favorite pieces and I surely will be going back to be highlighting my favorite lines. ♡
With that being said, I'm not sure where to begin on writing my review for this book. What can I say? How do I even explain how much my heart has found a home within these pages? I wasn't just reading this poetry collection, I was breathing it. :') And I can admit I have lived several of these poems, only to be left astonished that someone else has lived through similar adventures and memories too. I feel like I have so much in common with the author despite how different our lives in youth were. How can I review this masterpiece? How does one even review poetry when poetry is an art all on its own? That's what I always think to myself when I read poetry. You cannot criticize it, you cannot review it in regards to constructive criticism because poetry is an art all on its own. Poetry is a lyrical art that a writer must be gifted with, not taught in school. And truly, Madison has the gift. One cannot criticize art for it simply must be enjoyed for what it truly is. We accept it in its form of indescribable beauty, tormented pain, and brutal truth. Madison Kuhn grants all three of these within her poems and much, much more. To breathe in her poetry makes me want to read more works of hers in the new year.
May she keep gardening her soul, may she continue to find healing in a home she creates for herself.
January 4, 2024
I have never read poetry, but I received as a gift and the title itself made me cry a little. I moved away from 2 out of 3 girls in 2010. They were married (older). I have never felt like home in almost 14 years, so I thought I was going to read something about that. It was more then that
I bookmarked a couple of the poems but after reading reviews I will go back to read more.
I could relate to a few of the poems which made me cry and think. I can't remember much of my childhood and I really tried hard for my girls to have more, but there is so much more then material things, there are connections. Yes, its hard for mother and daughter to have those connections while in their teens. Just don't give up
"Give yourself a break" was one that I bookmarked and will share with my girls.
Along with "it's not too late " and Madison's words at the end, which again hit me!
"it takes acceptance. I did not have the childhood I wanted, and I do not have the perfect family, but I cannot spend my life wishing things were different "
I could keep writing but y'all should read this short book to find out the meaning of home and finding it within yourself!
"let yourself breathe. let yourself break. let yourself piece things back together. you are alive. forever changing. still growing"
I bookmarked a couple of the poems but after reading reviews I will go back to read more.
I could relate to a few of the poems which made me cry and think. I can't remember much of my childhood and I really tried hard for my girls to have more, but there is so much more then material things, there are connections. Yes, its hard for mother and daughter to have those connections while in their teens. Just don't give up
"Give yourself a break" was one that I bookmarked and will share with my girls.
Along with "it's not too late " and Madison's words at the end, which again hit me!
"it takes acceptance. I did not have the childhood I wanted, and I do not have the perfect family, but I cannot spend my life wishing things were different "
I could keep writing but y'all should read this short book to find out the meaning of home and finding it within yourself!
"let yourself breathe. let yourself break. let yourself piece things back together. you are alive. forever changing. still growing"
August 20, 2020
it’s always bittersweet reading a book that applies so perfectly to the season of life that you currently find yourself in. a place where you’re learning what home is. a place where you’re navigating the bruises, whether purposeful or accidental, left by your loved ones. a place where you have a lot of questions about where you came from, and also where you’re going.
madisen kuhn’s writing is ever so delicate, and continually hits a soft spot for me. reading this felt like the warm sunlight coming through the window ( the one that she describes a few times. ) i’ve always found solace in madisen’s poetry, ever since she was just an account on Instagram and i was an anxious little middle schooler — i always identified with her vocalization of her panic disorder, and that vocalization probably saved my 7th grade self from falling deep into a pit of anxiety and fear. i don’t have much else to say besides this will probably be a collection of poetry that i will come back to like a boomerang.
madisen kuhn’s writing is ever so delicate, and continually hits a soft spot for me. reading this felt like the warm sunlight coming through the window ( the one that she describes a few times. ) i’ve always found solace in madisen’s poetry, ever since she was just an account on Instagram and i was an anxious little middle schooler — i always identified with her vocalization of her panic disorder, and that vocalization probably saved my 7th grade self from falling deep into a pit of anxiety and fear. i don’t have much else to say besides this will probably be a collection of poetry that i will come back to like a boomerang.
October 15, 2019
A lesser-known fact about me, in undergrad I minored in Creative Writing, and put together a portfolio of poems, and creative fiction. I don't write much anymore, but I still love poetry, so I was over the moon to receive a copy of this book. I loved it. So many lovely poems that really get into the heart of what home is, how we choose our home, and the feelings of losing that sense of home. For me, the best poetry comes with a side of heartbreak, and you can't write unless you've felt that pain and Madison Kuhn has. I cannot recommend this collection highly enough, it's well done, and really transports you, and you get a sense that "home" is just one of those concepts we're all working on trying to nail down. This is one that I'll keep pulling out to re-read because these poems just resonate. Grab a copy for your shelf!
August 24, 2019
#NetGalley #Almost Home
5��️’s
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advance readers copy of this poetry collection. Let me first start off by saying this is my favorite collection of poems I’ve ever read. I could feel the pain and suffering through the pages. And the struggles it takes to look at life differently each and every day. I fell in love with this collection. Everyone should read this. Whether you like poetry or not. We all can take something from this. So thank you for making me feel a deep connection with each poem.
5��️’s
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advance readers copy of this poetry collection. Let me first start off by saying this is my favorite collection of poems I’ve ever read. I could feel the pain and suffering through the pages. And the struggles it takes to look at life differently each and every day. I fell in love with this collection. Everyone should read this. Whether you like poetry or not. We all can take something from this. So thank you for making me feel a deep connection with each poem.
November 3, 2019
Loved it! I love Madisen’s writing, and this one made me feel a bunch of emotions. Awesome work.
August 14, 2021
a reread
July 12, 2019
I had a hard time deciding how to rate this book. It's in the same vein as Rupi Kaur and Amanda Lovelace. Madisen Kuhn is an Instagram poet (the blurb even describes her that way) so you know what you're expecting with no capitalization and fairly simple free verse. That's my favorite kind of poetry, though, because it's so accessible and easy to read.
The poems didn't blow me away...and the thing about Instagram-style poetry is that the writing style isn't always remarkable. I know that sounds harsh, but that's the great thing about it. There isn't much fancy writing so that it's easy for the reader to digest and for the emotion to come across clearly. So if the emotion or subject doesn't touch the reader, the poem isn't going to have much effect. I would say that maybe a third of them struck me as especially meaningful, and that's why I didn't give it higher than 3 stars.
I'm certainly not diminishing the realness of the poet's emotions and experiences. Many of these poems were truly lovely and made me stop and bookmark them. Here's a list of my favorite ones:
panic/overcome
undying
how should i define these smudged edges
i do what i'm supposed to
float away
thirties
soft
how to love
my dog is my role model
give yourself a break
july will be better than june
i hope you live (a letter to my future self)
so it goes
i don't hate february anymore
This was an honest and revealing look at the author's life, and if you're a fan of this style of poetry then I encourage you to give this collection a try.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
The poems didn't blow me away...and the thing about Instagram-style poetry is that the writing style isn't always remarkable. I know that sounds harsh, but that's the great thing about it. There isn't much fancy writing so that it's easy for the reader to digest and for the emotion to come across clearly. So if the emotion or subject doesn't touch the reader, the poem isn't going to have much effect. I would say that maybe a third of them struck me as especially meaningful, and that's why I didn't give it higher than 3 stars.
I'm certainly not diminishing the realness of the poet's emotions and experiences. Many of these poems were truly lovely and made me stop and bookmark them. Here's a list of my favorite ones:
panic/overcome
undying
how should i define these smudged edges
i do what i'm supposed to
float away
thirties
soft
how to love
my dog is my role model
give yourself a break
july will be better than june
i hope you live (a letter to my future self)
so it goes
i don't hate february anymore
This was an honest and revealing look at the author's life, and if you're a fan of this style of poetry then I encourage you to give this collection a try.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
February 15, 2022
“too soon// it doesn’t make any sense to me/ that some lines just run out of ink/ before getting to the good part”
nothing beats “eighteen years” imo but this collection i loved. loved the words and every poem. loved the concept of it all.
but, as i always say after reading kuhn’s prose: i need more. i need short stories, journey entries, i need her prose!!
nothing beats “eighteen years” imo but this collection i loved. loved the words and every poem. loved the concept of it all.
but, as i always say after reading kuhn’s prose: i need more. i need short stories, journey entries, i need her prose!!
November 26, 2023
As someone who has never felt like I had a home mentally or physically, this resonated a lot with me. This is a new favorite. 💕
January 13, 2020
“let yourself breathe. let yourself break. let yourself piece things back together. you are alive. forever changing. still growing.” — madisen kuhn, almost home
*
book 4 of 30 — this book was amazing. madisen really lets her words drip like honey. her previous two, please don’t go before i get better & eighteen years, were so good, but this one was just outstanding. i recommend her books. if you like amanda lovelace & orion carloto, you’ll love madisen kuhn. five stars.
*
book 4 of 30 — this book was amazing. madisen really lets her words drip like honey. her previous two, please don’t go before i get better & eighteen years, were so good, but this one was just outstanding. i recommend her books. if you like amanda lovelace & orion carloto, you’ll love madisen kuhn. five stars.
November 15, 2019
For as long as I can remember, I have searched for a home within others. Madisen Kuhn has taken that feeling, turned it into a collection of poetry, and exposed all of her skeletons to the world. This book discusses mental illness, body image, romance, family issues, and so much more. Kuhn rips your soul to shreds then threads it back together over and over again with Almost Home.
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