changing with the tides

by Shelby Leigh

in shelby leigh's second poetry collection, she tackles themes of insecurity, emotional abuse, anxiety, self-esteem, and empowerment. broken into two parts, the anchor and the sail, "changing with the tides" is a reminder to focus on yourself, embrace change, and trust your heart and mind to take you where you need to go.

to the
my head is still
above water,
though you wanted
me to drown.
even your weight
around my ankles
cannot drag
me
down.

Genres: Poetry, Mental Health, Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook, Contemporary, Adult

122 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 17, 2019

About the author

Shelby Leigh is a mental health poet writing about self-love, insecurities, anxiety, relationships and more. Her third poetry book, girl made of glass, released a #1 bestseller in women's poetry in 2023. Her longest collection yet, the book uncovers how our past - past relationships, memories, and ourselves - can haunt us.

Her second poetry book, changing with the tides, is a #1 amazon bestseller, originally released in 2019. The new edition was released by Gallery Books in July 2022.

In addition to writing, Shelby runs an online poetry community with workshops and edits poetry books.

Connect with her on Instagram and TikTok @shelbyleighpoetry, Twitter @shelbyleighpoet, and on her website www.shelbyleigh.co.

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

"to the person i was yesterday:
i believe in change,
the change that people don't often notice
until it's already happened
like
petals wilting,
eyes reddening,
raindrops evaporating.
i believe in change
that is slow and careful,
patiently lingering
like
flowers blooming,
pearls forming,
hearts healing."


Ahg, I miss poetry! Like so freaking much!

And I came across this collection today (I still cannot remember how!).

The cover caught my eyes and I checked the description and I had to just read it.

This collection handles various themes of mental health including self-harm and suicidal tendencies, anxiety, body image; toxic relationships; romance and yearning; self doubt vs self worth; writing and speaking up for oneself; change, courage, hope, healing and acceptance.

Yes to new beginnings!

Love it 💌

[Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?] · Rating 5 out of 5]

to my enemy:

how bravely you stood across from me
when you didn't stand a chance.
we raised our swords defiantly
for our battle to commence.
i knew all of your weaknesses
and defeated you with glee
but when you removed your helmet
my reflection stared back at me.

[Mirelleisreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straight in the feels!

“you underestimate the strength
it takes to be delicate,

to bare your soul
like a rose eager to bloom,

to sacrifice your petals
as they wilt and fall.

do not mistake
fragility for weakness.

your stem can withstand
even the strongest of winds.”

[laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book felt like a hug but i need another one

[Shaylee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this poetry collection, however, I did prefer the second half more than the first.
Although these poems were quite blunt they would be very accessible for new poetry readers.

[Dorothy Wise · Rating 2 out of 5]

arra jó volt, hogy ne unatkozzak annyira drámatörténet órán, de mikor jönnek rá az instaköltők, hogy azért egy homályos koncepció nem igazán elég ahhoz, hogy maradandó lírát alkoss? azt meg is kell dolgozni. vagy legyen stílusod. vagy legyen egy egyedi látásmódod. vagy nem tudom.

[dalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
"happiness lives in a little room in my heart and some days it prefers the curtains drawn shut.

(and i’ve learned that’s okay.)"

[BookForAHeart · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 Stars!

First, I must thank the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review. I am so happy that I was one of the chosen few. Especially with this book, I feel like I needed to read it when it got to me. I needed to hear what it had to say.

Shelby Leigh is one of my new favorite poets.

Off the bat, this poetry collection is calling me out.

I felt I was reading a reflection of my anxieties and fears.

I feel my body and mind are disconnected, except when my worries wage against me and I stay up all night concerned over past transgressions and burden with future bad decisions that have not happened yet.

With every new page, I wonder if the author somehow has followed me through life and narrated my thoughts and clumsy and awkward conversations. I wonder if she is speaking to me directly. I am picky with poetry, but I cannot ignore it when it is a direct mirror of myself looking back at me. I wish I could have seen my life from this perspective earlier.

The line that stuck with me:

I have rid my body of your grip-
I am completely untouched by you

It felt like I went through shock therapy. I viewed feelings and past toxic relationships as something I needed to be immediately done with. To be strong, I act like nothing ever happened. I was never touched with a filthy, lying hand.

I was wrong, and I needed to read those lines.

Night after night, my insecurities rise to the surface. One of the many ways a very evil individual who would touch without consent and who manipulated me into being my ‘friend.’ There was no friendship in the disgusting glances. There was no welcome into backing me into a corner.

I realize this poem targets relationships’, but it made me feel better regardless.

I am grateful for the opportunity to read this book. I needed to read it and I can easily say that I am into poetry now. Before, I dipped my toes into it. Now, I want to dive like a scuba diver into the ocean and find more and more beautiful reefs thriving with life.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a new fan of poetry, I came across this writer purely by chance and fell in love with her writing immediately. I thought this collection would be a good place to start. It is formatted into two sections; the anchor and the sail, and covers issues such as insecurity, anxiety, loneliness, hope, freedom and evolution. Many of the poems 'spoke' to me personally, to the point I was brought to tears by the words and had to take several moments to let the words fully sink in. I'm frustrated I have up until this point, been ignorant of the beauty in the simplicity of collections like this. I will be continuing to devour anything this talented writer-poet publishes in the future.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

meh sea tiene sus buenos good poems pero después de eso, a la autora le falto algo.
pd: mi clase de globa esta aburrido y este poema también.

[Livia · Rating 4 out of 5]

to the perfectionists: there is not a soul on
this earth that is perfect.
there are no feet that have not stumbled
and no eyes that have not cried.
there are no lights that have not flickered
and no flowers that have not dried.
there is not a soul on this earth that is
perfect.
(please don't be so hard on yourself.)

[Saeda Marwan · Rating 2 out of 5]

you were radiant
long before the first sunray
landed upon your skin.
you are radiant because of
the glow you emit,
and though you feel like
only one person,
the world would be dimmer
without you in it.

[sar … · Rating 2 out of 5]

if you like self help affirmations and heartbreak poetry, this is for you

[b1s3ra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"if the sun can wake up
every morning and
warm the earth,
so can
i."

[Doha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐ rounded up

"to the person i am today:
i promise i will start loving you again.
i just need to remember
how it feels to be proud of you,
to look in the mirror and be in awe of you.
i just need to remember what it was like
before i told you
you weren’t good enough.
i buried you alive, piling
doubt and loathing
onto your body like soil,
so only i can bring you back to life.
(and i will.
i promise.)"

[grimple ᵔᴥᵔ · Rating 1 out of 5]

i’m done pretending like these type of poetry books are good let alone should even fall under the category of poetry

[Shubham Roy Choudhury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartfelt and nurturing collection of poetry that feels like a warm embrace for the soul.

[Emily Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it! there's at least one poem in here that everyone can relate to!

[lucia ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

"i whisper my wishes to the sky
and watch the stars grow bright.
maybe the earth is listening
when i speak my dreams into the night."

[hyacinthuss · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5
this felt like a hug, but also where r the tissues cause i need some asap

[Karina (shedreamsinwords) · Rating 5 out of 5]

to my enemy:

how bravely you stood across from me
when you didn’t stand a chance
we raised our swords defiantly
for our battle to commence.
I knew all of your weaknesses
and defeated you with glee
but when you removed your helmet
my reflection stared back at me.

I had to reread this immediately after finishing to really savor every bit.

A stunning collection of poems✨

[Shelby Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed this collection of poetry a lot! It’s an especially nice collection to read a few poems from at a time. It’s soothing and intense but didn’t overwhelm me which... I guess could sometimes be a positive and a negative thing.

I absolutely love how well sequenced the poems are. There was such good flow throughout the whole collection. I love how many of the poems are addressed “to the person who...” and a lot of the times it’s to the same person but said in different ways. I do think it was a quieter, less impactful (to me, personally) collection, but that’s not to say that some poems didn’t hit me very deeply. Because they did.

There were some really special gems that expressed self love and moving on from heartbreak and I feel like I will ALWAYS gravitate towards, and relate to poems like that. Overall, this is a lovely collection that might help you through some hard times with its relatability and subtle warmth threaded throughout its words.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars

For a poetry book I saw an expert from on tiktok, this was rather endearing and very sweet.

Toward the beginning there’s this beautiful passage that so perfectly captures what it’s like to have anxiety. (That’s the bit I saw on tiktok) Heavily recommended just to read for that part.

But there’s also other lovely parts:

“maybe it’s easier for me to swallow lies than to swallow truth.
maybe that’s why i never stop
craving the taste of you.”


“one morning
you will open your eyes
and know it will be a good day
without having prayed for it
the night before.”

Clearly potential in the writing, however my only criticism is that it reeks too much of Rupi Kaur, with the structure of the poems and the lack of capitalisation (all it’s missing is the illustrations). Unfortunately, it rips you out of the immersion because oftentimes it feels like reading tumblr poetry or instagram captions because of the structure.

3/5 stars

[Lauren McCombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

changing with the tides is a powerful collection of poetry that uses the expression of realization as its main theme. the book is unique in its structure with its alteration of letters and poems. there is also a progression of discouragement to empowerment within the voicing. i found many of Shelby's words to be very relatable and they pulled on my heart strings. there are many styles of poetry and prose used throughout. a very lovely collection. i honestly can easily picture many of the poems being used as wall art, phone wallpaper, quotes, and tattoos. they are just that stunning. <3
beautiful work, Shelby -- looking forward to reading more from you!

[Rosa G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of my favs:
to the person i am today: i promise i will start loving you again.
i just need to remember how it feels to be proud of you, to look in the mirror and be in awe of you.
i just need to remember what it was like before i told you
you weren't good enough.
i buried you alive, piling
doubt and loathing
onto your body like soil,
so only i can bring you back to life.
(and i will. i promise.)
she lowered her arms, dropping her
shield to the floor with a crash
i forgive you, she whispered.
————————————
to writing:
you strengthen me
even when i am
telling the story of someone
who weakened me.
i wrote through the pain until
ran dry and
finally i saw happiness
on the other side.
(writing heals me.)
———————————
one morning
you will open your eyes
and know it will be a good day
without having prayed for it
the night before.
———————————
i am a ghost
haunting my own home,
swallowing the dust
on old photo frames and books
just to get a taste of who i once was.
although broken,
the mirror i used to look into
hangs crooked on the walls
and i remember all the hours
i spent picking myself apart.
for old times' sake, i stand in front of the mirror one last time and see nothing.
invisible like i had always wanted.
but now, i wish i could see
my soft blue eyes that i always thought
were too light,
my hair that was too thick,
my smile that was too wide.
i wish i could see all the
flaws i used to hate
so i could show them love.

[Stephanie Parent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this honest, heartfelt poetry collection that uses imagery of oceans, tides, and anchors to describe a journey through heartbreak and back to finding one's own voice. I particularly appreciated how vulnerable the poet allowed herself to be, which then made her ultimate journey toward empowerment even more compelling. These poems are deceptively simple but reward re-reading. I especially like the ones that arrange words on the page, like

"and you break me like an
ocean wave
breaks on
the shore."

Another aspect I really identified with was the idea of using writing to heal, while still being vulnerable and open about one's own weaknesses. For instance, this small gem:

'to writing:

you strengthen me
even when I am
telling the story of someone
who weakened me."

An excellent collection, and I'm looking forward to reading more by Shelby Leigh!

[Brooke Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

To keep with the ocean aesthetic (and because this is just what I envision when I think of the book as a whole), I have the image of waves.

They can be fierce and harmful or soft and soothing. I think it’s a good representation of the internal struggles of dealing with heartbreak and deciding to love yourself instead. I love the theme of self-love and, while I normally prefer more complex or layered poetry, I enjoyed the simpler style Shelby used in this context. Her style, the imagery, and the aesthetic of the ocean all flow together nicely. Shelby also makes excellent points about self-doubt, self-love, insecurity, and anxiety that I really relate to as someone who has been diagnosed with anxiety (and who struggles with self-esteem).

Changing with the tides is a beautiful, powerful book - and a perfect introduction for people looking to get into reading poetry! It has a more simplistic style that’s easy to understand and also contains an emotional element that can connect with readers.

[Frank DiLuzio | franks_fiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're drifting through heartbreak or change, Changing with the Tides might help you feel a little less alone.

Summary:
Shelby Leigh’s two-part collection, Anchor and Sail, charts the emotional journey from insecurity and anxiety to self-trust and renewal through poems and personal letters.

What I Loved:
– The structure gives a clear emotional arc, and the shift from “Anchor” to “Sail” is both literal and symbolic.
– Leigh’s tone is gentle, intimate, and accessible—like reading a letter from someone who’s been where you are.
– The mix of poems and prose added dimension and made the reading experience feel personal and intentional.

What I Didn’t Love:
– Some of the poems felt more like motivational quote posts than pieces of poetry.
– The language, while relatable, often lacked poetic grit or surprising turns of phrase.

Recommended If You Liked:
📖 Home Body by Rupi Kaur
📖 Please Love Me at My Worst by Michaela Angemeer
📖 Driftwood by Marya Layth

Changing with the Tides isn’t trying to reinvent the genre—it’s here to comfort, to steady, and to remind you that growth can be gentle. And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.

[Ericka Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

rated: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.25)

"and happiness lives
in a little room in my heart
and some days it
prefers the curtains drawn shut.

(and I've learned that's okay.)"

I love reading poems and Changing with the Tides by Shelby Leigh is my first poem of 2022! The books had somehow expressed the feelings I've been keeping inside and it felt like a warm hug🤗

Changing with the Tides is about acceptance, forgiveness and a journey to loving oneself. It is divided into two parts (the anchor and the sail). Moreover, it touches topics such as insecurity, past relationship and how a person deals with anxiety when it comes knocking.

The words were so beautiful and I love the writing style as well as how the author shared her insights and feelings through poetry.

Let's ride to new beginnings! Cheers to better days!

"it took days, weeks, months,
but slowly I grew."

[Dana Mendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changing with the Tides by Shelby Leigh is a great poem book. I really like how Leigh in corporates an ocean theme to most of the poems uh this how they are just sticking to one theme and not a lot of different types of themes. Most of the poems in this book are about relationships probably any type of relation especially when that relationship ends. They talk about how they felt in some of these relationships the regret that they have that pain that was inflicted onto them. The book shows raw emotion of how someone might feel once they have left a toxic relationship or when they realize they were the toxic person in the relationship. I would really recommend this book to people that are into these sad to realization on how to change themselves would be great for them.