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The She Book
Crafting together the power of words and womanhood, writer Tanya Markul has written a completely unique poetry collection fit for the phenomenal readers of today.In Tanya's words, "May we raise the bar for how we live our lives. May we ridiculously increase the amount of peace, play, creativity, beauty, love, and joy in everything we do. May we all sip from the wisdom of our suffering. And awaken with the courage to share our stories that can heal our inner and outer worlds."
146 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 14, 2023
170 people are currently reading
2134 people want to read
About the author
Tanya Markul
5 books75 followersTanya Markul started writing when she was six years old. She used to scribble lines on top of lines and called it ‘poetry’. Early in life she discovered emotional pain to be a sustainable resource for her work—and hasn’t stopped writing since. Her themes explore heartache, loss, abandonment, rejection and mental health. In her words, she writes for the ‘rejected ones’ and to ‘revolutionise pain’. Her quotes, stories, poems and prose have touched readers around the world. She hopes to be a source of inspiration and empowerment for years to come.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
August 11, 2020
"People are the way they are because of them. People love the way they love because of them. People do things they do because of them. Not because of you."
⟹ MY BLOG ⟸
⟹ SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ⟸
*All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless states otherwise*
This was a very feminist poetry collection about Love, Hurting, and Being there for yourself.
I greatly enjoyed reading this collection and you could really feel the emotions that the author put into the work. There were a lot of original pieces that did not sound redundant when compared to other poetry collections. It is very empowering to every woman out there who is looking for something to get themselves back up. A lot of pieces definitely touched me and made me want more.
My favorite part was the section about the different star signs. There was something written for each one and made the piece seem more relatable in a way.
There have been more and more feminist poetry releases and there is never going to be too much, especially when it comes to empowerment in general., no matter who you are
Thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC through Netgalley to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⟹ MY BLOG ⟸
⟹ SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ⟸
*All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless states otherwise*
This was a very feminist poetry collection about Love, Hurting, and Being there for yourself.
I greatly enjoyed reading this collection and you could really feel the emotions that the author put into the work. There were a lot of original pieces that did not sound redundant when compared to other poetry collections. It is very empowering to every woman out there who is looking for something to get themselves back up. A lot of pieces definitely touched me and made me want more.
My favorite part was the section about the different star signs. There was something written for each one and made the piece seem more relatable in a way.
There have been more and more feminist poetry releases and there is never going to be too much, especially when it comes to empowerment in general., no matter who you are
Thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC through Netgalley to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 22, 2022
"if I want
to be loved,
I must be love,
that if I want
to be beautiful,
I must choose
to nourish myself
beautifully,
that if I want
to be free,
I must forgive
because I don’t deserve
to remain on any hook
when my wings
belong in the sky."
This collection of poems were all deeply personal and yet could, I believe, be universally felt and appreciated. There was a rawness and a beauty present in each poem and that, combined with the repeated references to the dual rawness and beauty of nature, made this collection a visceral delight to behold. As with the nature of any anthology, I appreciated some poems more than others but none here failed to appeal at all and most were deeply felt, as though they were exposing me, personally. I especially loved the concluding section that featured a poem for each astrological sign.
"Pain has led me through decades of self-sabotage and playing small. It made me apologetic for the space I took up, embarrassed by the sounds of my howls and insecure about the creativity that bled from my claws. For as long as I remember, I didn’t like myself despite knowing that I had something to offer. My hidden unhappiness kept me in toxic relationships, malnourished friend- ships, and poisonous mindsets just so I didn’t have to be alone. I let people think I was weak, and I let them believe that I was someone else just to fit in. Then one day, I had enough. I began to allow myself to do the things that made me feel empowered, and I learned a new language of pain. My life started to change. I let go of underserving people, places, and things to magnetize a new tribe. None of this happened overnight. It has been a humbling lifetime process for me, but now I know that the courage to own my story of pain, to feel it and claim its power, took me out of exile and into a radiant, healing, speckled light."
to be loved,
I must be love,
that if I want
to be beautiful,
I must choose
to nourish myself
beautifully,
that if I want
to be free,
I must forgive
because I don’t deserve
to remain on any hook
when my wings
belong in the sky."
This collection of poems were all deeply personal and yet could, I believe, be universally felt and appreciated. There was a rawness and a beauty present in each poem and that, combined with the repeated references to the dual rawness and beauty of nature, made this collection a visceral delight to behold. As with the nature of any anthology, I appreciated some poems more than others but none here failed to appeal at all and most were deeply felt, as though they were exposing me, personally. I especially loved the concluding section that featured a poem for each astrological sign.
"Pain has led me through decades of self-sabotage and playing small. It made me apologetic for the space I took up, embarrassed by the sounds of my howls and insecure about the creativity that bled from my claws. For as long as I remember, I didn’t like myself despite knowing that I had something to offer. My hidden unhappiness kept me in toxic relationships, malnourished friend- ships, and poisonous mindsets just so I didn’t have to be alone. I let people think I was weak, and I let them believe that I was someone else just to fit in. Then one day, I had enough. I began to allow myself to do the things that made me feel empowered, and I learned a new language of pain. My life started to change. I let go of underserving people, places, and things to magnetize a new tribe. None of this happened overnight. It has been a humbling lifetime process for me, but now I know that the courage to own my story of pain, to feel it and claim its power, took me out of exile and into a radiant, healing, speckled light."
December 28, 2019
It's mine, and I do love it. I'm proud of myself for being so vulnerable.
December 5, 2019
I'd love to thank Tanya Markul, Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review!
This is yet another unique poetry book! There are 107 poems called by their number. For example, the first poem is called "one"...and so on! Some of the poems were a little off the track for me, but as a whole, the author created a beautiful feminism message about loving yourself!
Also at the end, you can find all the qualities every zodiac woman has. I recommend this one!
This is yet another unique poetry book! There are 107 poems called by their number. For example, the first poem is called "one"...and so on! Some of the poems were a little off the track for me, but as a whole, the author created a beautiful feminism message about loving yourself!
Poem "Eight":
"Rejection
taught her to let go of what didn't want her.
Abandonment
showed her how to stand on her own two feet.
Betrayal
awoke her intuition.
Pain
broke her heart wide open.
Loneliness
gave her permission to befriend herself."
Also at the end, you can find all the qualities every zodiac woman has. I recommend this one!
June 6, 2019
The She Book is a collection of poetry that tries to reach the audience with the message of female empowerment and rising above it all to find the strength within yourself. However, this collection did not speak to me.
Put Markul down as another of the Instagram Poets. I don't say that in a negative way, because this poetry movement brought the likes of Rupi Kaur and Amanda Lovelace. The biggest issue I have with this collection that I didn't with the others is that it's playing mimicry--it is trying to say the same things that these other collections have said, but it doesn't contain the same magic that made me want to read more so I can find new connections to myself and to the work. This collection can be boiled down to "I'm broken. I fixed it. You look broken. I'm going to tell you that you are great so you can fix yourself too."
Let's just say I'm hoping to see the Instagram Poetry bubble burst soon, but because people want simple language and stuff they don't have to pick apart to find meaning, I think it will be around for awhile. This collection isn't for me, but I'm sure there are plenty out there who can find a bit of solace or empowerment from it.
*Book provided by NetGalley
Put Markul down as another of the Instagram Poets. I don't say that in a negative way, because this poetry movement brought the likes of Rupi Kaur and Amanda Lovelace. The biggest issue I have with this collection that I didn't with the others is that it's playing mimicry--it is trying to say the same things that these other collections have said, but it doesn't contain the same magic that made me want to read more so I can find new connections to myself and to the work. This collection can be boiled down to "I'm broken. I fixed it. You look broken. I'm going to tell you that you are great so you can fix yourself too."
Let's just say I'm hoping to see the Instagram Poetry bubble burst soon, but because people want simple language and stuff they don't have to pick apart to find meaning, I think it will be around for awhile. This collection isn't for me, but I'm sure there are plenty out there who can find a bit of solace or empowerment from it.
*Book provided by NetGalley
January 5, 2019
Very readable
These poems, while they reward repeat reading, leap off the page with joy and power from the very first perusal.
These poems, while they reward repeat reading, leap off the page with joy and power from the very first perusal.
June 21, 2023
Dang, I don’t know if I’ve just read too much feminist poetry up to this point (I really don’t think that’s possible) or if something is missing in my brain that would have allowed me to connect more with this book. I liked a handful of these poems, but most of this was skimable at best for me.
December 16, 2017
In equally tender and fierce expressions, Tanya Markul’s “The She Book” delivers 107 bite-sized, inspiring assertions of womanhood, followed by 12 brief zodiac portraits of “stardusted women”, that reverberate with an uplifting zeal for life. Markul’s voice pleasantly undulates between narratives of her own challenging history, the empowering realizations she extracted from it, emphatic directives to the reader, and characterizations of “She” that blur the lines between where “She” ends and the author begins. Into simple, poetic word snippets she packs meaningful messages, full of healing, hope and resilience. With an occasionally rhythmic and effectively repetitive style—delightfully reminiscent of stories for children—Markul may very well have written a truly empowering modern-day fairy tale, where the queen’s crown awaits her, sparkles and all.
February 13, 2022
✧ Completed: 31 January 2022
Was this actually a poetry book though? I'm confused lol
✧ What I Liked ✧
I didn't really think that I would like this at all. But it really did have its moments where I was like "oh wow, yes. I love that" and actually bookmarked a few that I did like.
What set this apart for me was the fact that there was a section for each woman of every astrological sign. That was really lovely to see. It wasn't that important really but it was just something I haven't seen before.
✧ What I Didn't Like ✧
One thing that I didn't really like about this is that some of these felt repetitive: saying the exact same sentiment just in a different way with different words but same keywords and different format. And they weren't like revolutionary either. It's things we hear very often from motivational figures/blogs/quotes/etc directed at women. Just said differently.
Another was the use of the word "sparkle". This was such a superficial thing for me to be "annoyed" about? And I feel like I wouldn't have been annoyed by it if she didn't keep on using the word like it had a monumental meaning to it. And like yeah, okay, maybe it does, but it just doesn't land as well as other keywords. She could have used words like "lustre" or "radiance", both much more beautiful than sparkle. Which like makes me think of cheap bedazzled fashion items from the early 2000s that just doesn't appeal to me personally.
I realize I'm being ridiculous for going on and on about it and I'm sorry for that 😂 but like it really bothered me a bit and that's a personal thing 😂
✧↠✧ Overall Enjoyment / Impact ✧↞✧ 【★★★☆☆】
Surprisingly okay! Forgettable maybe? But I didn't completely hate it so that's a plus!
"When she shifted from competition to collaboration, all the women around her became radiant stars in a dark blue sky, each one striking and rising, without trying to outshine."
Was this actually a poetry book though? I'm confused lol
✧ What I Liked ✧
I didn't really think that I would like this at all. But it really did have its moments where I was like "oh wow, yes. I love that" and actually bookmarked a few that I did like.
What set this apart for me was the fact that there was a section for each woman of every astrological sign. That was really lovely to see. It wasn't that important really but it was just something I haven't seen before.
✧ What I Didn't Like ✧
One thing that I didn't really like about this is that some of these felt repetitive: saying the exact same sentiment just in a different way with different words but same keywords and different format. And they weren't like revolutionary either. It's things we hear very often from motivational figures/blogs/quotes/etc directed at women. Just said differently.
Another was the use of the word "sparkle". This was such a superficial thing for me to be "annoyed" about? And I feel like I wouldn't have been annoyed by it if she didn't keep on using the word like it had a monumental meaning to it. And like yeah, okay, maybe it does, but it just doesn't land as well as other keywords. She could have used words like "lustre" or "radiance", both much more beautiful than sparkle. Which like makes me think of cheap bedazzled fashion items from the early 2000s that just doesn't appeal to me personally.
I realize I'm being ridiculous for going on and on about it and I'm sorry for that 😂 but like it really bothered me a bit and that's a personal thing 😂
✧↠✧ Overall Enjoyment / Impact ✧↞✧ 【★★★☆☆】
Surprisingly okay! Forgettable maybe? But I didn't completely hate it so that's a plus!
April 14, 2019
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The She Book is a collection of 107 poems. Spanning from a few words to a full page, they are written in a way that empowers and inspires the reader. But the poems also tackle issues like emotional pain, change, and self love.
An overall good read, recommended for fans of modern poetry.
The She Book is a collection of 107 poems. Spanning from a few words to a full page, they are written in a way that empowers and inspires the reader. But the poems also tackle issues like emotional pain, change, and self love.
An overall good read, recommended for fans of modern poetry.
January 23, 2018
Beauty book of heart-delivered poetry which tackles both the light and dark with bravery and Tanya's special sparkly-ness akin to get Thug Unicorn Instagram feed. Truly soulful book that I'll revisit often for inspiration.
April 22, 2019
I am just starting to read poetry and I liked her work. Very empowering words for women! I will most likely purchase more of her work when it is available.
March 28, 2021
Sometimes the scariest bridge to burn
is the one between you
and the person
you thought you were.
The She Book has been such an empowering read. It has tackled about freedom of self from self-pity, self-hatred, discrimination, insecurities and all that doubt one feels within.
Seeing these words does creates an impact to one individual, I am glad I had stumble upon The She Book. These are words you never thought you wanted to read/see, but is here. There are silent battles within us that creates more doubt than healing at times. Reading it through poetry and prose made it easier to absorb them.
Joy, forgiveness, acceptance, embracing, empowering yourself is felt in each and every page.
All of these came to me as if realizations I already had but reading them aloud is a such a therapeutic process to digest. I wish my younger self had read more of these poetry.
Totally recommend for all ages, biological women and trans-women ❤.
is the one between you
and the person
you thought you were.
The She Book has been such an empowering read. It has tackled about freedom of self from self-pity, self-hatred, discrimination, insecurities and all that doubt one feels within.
Seeing these words does creates an impact to one individual, I am glad I had stumble upon The She Book. These are words you never thought you wanted to read/see, but is here. There are silent battles within us that creates more doubt than healing at times. Reading it through poetry and prose made it easier to absorb them.
Joy, forgiveness, acceptance, embracing, empowering yourself is felt in each and every page.
All of these came to me as if realizations I already had but reading them aloud is a such a therapeutic process to digest. I wish my younger self had read more of these poetry.
Totally recommend for all ages, biological women and trans-women ❤.
March 2, 2022
As someone who does not like flowery writing, I should have known that poetry might not be the thing for me. But what can I say, I am weak for some feminism. The feminism however did not weigh up for the lack of connection to the poems.
In this case I don't think that the book is the problem as much as it is me.
In this case I don't think that the book is the problem as much as it is me.
May 17, 2025
Thanks mum for the housewarming gift
May 28, 2019
*I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own*
I was excited when I picked up this collection because I've been on a huge poetry kick lately, but I'm afraid to say that I was really let down with this one. Unfortunately I couldn't connect with Tanya's writing and I only enjoyed a handful of the poems. On a more positive note, I really did enjoy the ending where Tanya included 12 poems for women born in corresponding months of the year. I would recommend this collection to anyone that loves feminist, empowering poetry.
I was excited when I picked up this collection because I've been on a huge poetry kick lately, but I'm afraid to say that I was really let down with this one. Unfortunately I couldn't connect with Tanya's writing and I only enjoyed a handful of the poems. On a more positive note, I really did enjoy the ending where Tanya included 12 poems for women born in corresponding months of the year. I would recommend this collection to anyone that loves feminist, empowering poetry.
February 4, 2018
I’ve been following Tanya Markul (“Thug Unicorn”) on social media for months now. Her words and imagery have spoken to me and this book is an incredible collection of her poetry. Every page left me wanting more and so many of these poems spoke straight into my heart and soul. One of my favorites was “sixty” — as someone who is walking the journey of learning how to be happy within myself, this one really got me. Thank you Tanya Markul.
February 13, 2019
A balanced combination of well-thought out writings that evoke an emotional response and poems that seemed to be mildly lacking in emotional depth. If you enjoy books like Milk & Honey this is a good comparison, but it does not reach as much of an emotional depth. Good read overall but some poems needed work. Definitely marked some pages for later because of the connection I felt but some left more to be desired.
July 14, 2019
It might be just me, but I couldn't connect with any of the poems in this book. They are too simple while at the same time trying too hard to be about something meaningful.
Unfortunately it wasn't the poetry book for me.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. All opinion are entirely my own.
Unfortunately it wasn't the poetry book for me.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. All opinion are entirely my own.
July 16, 2025
I read this with my mom, and while there were a few poems that really resonated, maybe 8 out of the 114, the rest didn’t quite land for us. Some pieces felt more like short paragraphs than poems, lacking the rhythm or emotional weight we were hoping for. There were moments of beauty and vulnerability, but overall we found it a bit underwhelming. It could have been stronger with more consistency and poetic depth.
February 23, 2022
(3.5/5*)
"Sometimes the scariest bridge to burn
is the one between you
and the person you thought you were."
The audiobook is available for free on Spotify, and I recommend listening as you read!
"Sometimes the scariest bridge to burn
is the one between you
and the person you thought you were."
The audiobook is available for free on Spotify, and I recommend listening as you read!
January 1, 2020
An absolutely perfect way to kick off 2020.
March 2, 2020
I love free form poetry but this was...lacking for me. I love Amanda Lovelace much more.
October 1, 2022
So good. I picked this book for an assignment for my creative writing class. I absolutely loved it. I’ve been working on self love recently and this was brilliant. It was relatable and inspiring. It fills you with power and shows you that that power has always been in you.
September 12, 2019
I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this but, there were several good ones that I marked to read again and again. I even shared with my daughter.
February 19, 2020
Beautifully SIMPLE and simply BEAUTIFUL.
Holding and Reading this book is like if you have your heart open on your hands and you are reading your feelings... It is like sharing your deepest with your dearest.
Holding and Reading this book is like if you have your heart open on your hands and you are reading your feelings... It is like sharing your deepest with your dearest.
October 14, 2020
This is a great book for woman that need a little boost to keep going. Relights a little fire in your belly
January 27, 2025
Por qué toda la poesía contemporánea en inglés es sobre los mismos temas? Ya da flojera
September 8, 2020
I haven’t read a poetry collection in a long time, so it was kinda nice to just sit back and flip through these “poems”. I put poems in quotation marks because to me, these weren’t poems, but just little mantras and affirmation. But I’m not mad about it. I connected to a lot of these poems, and some of them just made me feel a bit more free. I also liked the allusions to nature. This was a very spiritual book, but towards nature. I love the way humanity can relate to nature so I really enjoyed it when these poems connected back to the earth. I really needed this right now and I’m glad I read it when I did.
☞ 5 stars
☞ 5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews