When the Stars Wrote Back: Poems

by Trista Mateer

In the vein of poetry collections like Milk and Honey and Light Filters In , this compilation of short, powerful poems from Instagram sensation Trista Mateer shines beauty and insight into relationships, love, growing up, and learning to cope.

This hardcover collection features completely new material, plus some fan favorites from Trista's account. Filled with colored original artwork from Jess Cruickshank, this powerful collection unpacks how to heal from trauma, explores love in many forms, and empowers you to love yourself and take up the space you deserve.

BIG BANG THEORY
what happens if we collide?
will it feel like atoms bursting?
will it burn like light?
will your hands feel the same as other people's hands?
will the whole world change if we touch?
do you want to find out?

Genres: Poetry, Young Adult, Mental Health, LGBT, Romance, Contemporary, Queer

208 pages, Library Binding

First published June 2, 2020

About the author

Trista Mateer is the bestselling author of multiple poetry collections, including Aphrodite Made Me Do It and Honeybee. She is a passionate mental health advocate, currently writing in South Carolina. Connect with her on Instagram and Tiktok @tristamateer or at tristamateer.com.
​
Her newest collection, Artemis Made Me Do It, is available for preorder now and releases in September 2022!

Reviews

[Claude's Bookzone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book 1 in the Book Loving Kiwis: Book Pool challenge

CW: Rape, body shaming, body image issues, suicide, eating disorders, alcohol/drug use, emotional and sexual assault.

A poetry collection that looks at finding your voice and feeling confident in who you are. Some of the poems felt more like motivational quotes but there were some glimpses of lovely writing dotted throughout. I imagine it will be a powerful and poignant book for people who connect with the content. Just okay for me.

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC of When the Stars Wrote Back!

This book certainly contains lovely poetry - all of which I enjoyed reading through in one sitting. That said, I have been reading a lot of poetry lately, varying from Dickinson to more modern authors, and these poems fell somewhere between "good" and "average." If you are a younger reader, however, I do believe you will enjoy this much more than me!

Pub Date: June 2, 2020

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

“seeds do not sprout
into trees overnight.
the slowness of growth
can be infuriating
but everything
takes time.
we all heal
at our own paces.”

a lovely collection of poetry. nothing groundbreaking, nothing we haven't seen before, but lovely nonetheless.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the B version of “milk and honey” and “milk and honey” is already the B version of any decent poetry collection. The “poems” are often one line and not the kind of one lines that can stand by themselves. This was clearly made for a melodramatic teen audience. And can you tell I hate myself bc I imagine I write poetry in the same way?! Some bits did resonate but the fact that this person is a best selling poet? gross.

[Mariah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Millie Cullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Danai · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was about time I read this since it's been sitting at my "to be read" list for eons ( three years) now :')

Overall an easy to read collection great for poetry beginners. While Mateer doesn't have the flowery prose I mostly prefer to see in poems her poetry is relatable and clearly coming from her heart. The illustrations are also quite lovely!

If you enjoy Amanda's Lovelace books you will most probably enjoy this one as well.

[Kiera LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I RECEIVED A FREE ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

When the Stars Wrote back is a collection of beautifully written poetry about love, self love and mental health. The poems where do pretty and lyrical.

I think the messages in these poems are very valuable to teens today. Especially the ones about body image and self love. I really wish that more teens pick up this book in the future.

I have to admit I'm not a huge poetry reader, I've probably only read like four poetry collections but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I would definitely recommend that you pick this one up!

[Ricardo Torres · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reflecting back on the one called “the poem does not have to be good”, I get that idea which I vaguely remember from Rupi Kaur as well about a poem not needing to be beautiful, abstract, rigorous or even resonate with anyone, but only be good enough for the writer (this gets a lot clearer when looking at the therapeutic aspect of writing). But if one uses that as a justification to throw out the window all/most of the literary rigor that poetry and language have to offer, then cool... but don’t be surprised to get some unflattering reviews. Sort of a “the review does not have to be good either” response. In kinder words, the poems seemed extremely simple to me.
I don’t doubt the power of the feelings behind this work and I gladly realize that anyone who relates more to this (and who is fond of insta poetry) might have better things to say but still, in no way could I say this is good poetry.
Rating 1 or 1.5 for me, 2 at best.

[Katie.dorny · Rating 3 out of 5]

These poems were kind of hit and miss for me - some felt like quotes from motivational speeches rather than poems themselves.

[ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʟᴜɴᴀᴛɪᴄ (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.) · Rating 1 out of 5]

"𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯."

I'm not sure if i can call it poetry.

[Shelby Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mateer is a master of many styles of poetry. This collection felt really different compared to her previous collections, yet at the same time, her familiar voice and style shined through. If you are a fan of short-form, relatable quotes (and beautiful artwork to accompany them), this is a great read for you! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Sasha Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 3 favorite things are in this book: space metaphors, poetry, and purple! It's so purple and the poems are so melancholic yet so hopeful. It's all so very self-aware and includes a lot of growth and promises mateer seems to make to herself that we can also make to ourselves.

[addie · Rating 5 out of 5]

so achingly beautiful

[Victoria · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this novel given the art on the cover and within the novel (awesome shout out to Jessica Cruickshank for the art that incorporated the writing in this novel!). I expected the writing to be minimalistic and candid (or in other words, straightforward).

Given that modern poetry are interpretive, it's hard to really guess how each reader is going to interpret the book as a whole. Unfortunately for me, I didn't interpret any meaningful connections between each of the poems and was more distracted by the artwork. I anticipated that the poems would conduct a story related to "when the stars wrote back" but instead read a series of quotes related to love and affection that I have seen before. I definitely wish I would have gotten more out of this collection but I'm still open to reading other arcs written by Mateer.

[majo☽ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m growing with an ache in my chest, but I’m still growing. That’s what counts.

[farah · Rating 5 out of 5]

in my poetry era

[є r i ☕ · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for letting me receive an ebook in exchange for an honest review.*

“I think that the first step to loving the life you have made for yourself is knowing that you want it.”

I think this poetry collection is great for body positivity, healing after trauma and the experiences women have to go through in life. I liked this but I did not enjoy this as much as Aphrodite Made Me Do It. I think a large reason why Aphrodite Made Me Do It appealed to me was because of the use of greek mythology in the poems. I still enjoyed this collection overall, I just did not connect to it as much on a personal level compared to the author's previous collection.

3/5

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely and powerful poetry about love, loss, trauma, and embracing who you are. These short but emotional poems will make you laugh and make you sad and make you root for yourself.

I listened to the audiobook of this collection and I absolutely recommend it! The narrator does a wonderful job reading the poems in a way that brings you right into the moment of listening.

[Georgina · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okaaay….However, a lot of the ‘poems’ really felt like they were just lines from motivational speeches/quotes…I would have liked a bit more substance

[Vehka Kurjenmiekka · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was exactly what I expected from Mateer's poetry: minimalistic, raw and honest. A solid, good poetry collection, which will hit hard if you are in need of a shoulder to lean on after a breakup or years after being told how you should look like instead of how you do. I'm currently too happy for this collection to hit that hard, but I highly recommend it for the people who aren't.

[sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful poems, beautiful illustrations. definitley would recommend it to poetry lovers

[Sacha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. I’ll post that review upon publication.

Updated 6/2/20:

2.5 stars

This collection is short and palatable. Even folks who do not normally fancy themselves fans of the medium will be able to manage here.

There are quite a few resonant themes, but some include body image, feelings of low self-worth, and experiences in love and/or romantic relationships. The periodic illustrations stand out and highlight some of the works, too.

Overall, this is a nice collection but does not reflect the originality that Mateer's earlier work does.

[Doe · Rating 2 out of 5]

A huge thanks to PRH international for the eARC. All the following opinions are my own. 


When The Stars Wrote Back is a poetry collection that is written in the style of poetry popularized by the likes of Rupi Kaur and Amanda Lovelace. 


And it follows the themes that are often explored in collections like these as well - neglect, trauma, sexual abuse/assault, heartbreak, love, addiction, body image issues, mental illness, etc., 


I honestly don't have much to say because the book was…fine? But it didn't leave an impact on me at all. I sped through the book in under an hour and I really didn't find a poem that I resonated with deeply. It was just…words. 


I don't deny that this poetry collection can become a very important piece of literature for someone else, but that just isn't me. 


I do think that this poetry collection will definitely benefit an audience of people who are younger than I am, and are always looking for pieces of themselves in the words on page - I know they do because I've done it, too, and there's nothing wrong with being that way!


I'm really sad I didn't enjoy it as much as I would've liked to, but I will definitely not discourage you from trying it out because you can never really tell with books like this. *shrug*

[Cassandra Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

A timely and powerful poetry collection, Mateer's subject matter runs the gamut from toxic relationships, to mental health issues, feminism, and everything in between. Paired with beautiful artwork by Jess Cruickshank, Mateer's empowering (and surprisingly hopeful) collection is a raw nonfiction glimpse that explores surviving break ups, healing from trauma, loving yourself, and so much more.

[Pink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hit so far home.

"There are two versions of me:

one that forgives like forgiveness is the only thing
they serve here, so I just have to keep ordering it,

and one that doesn't.

The one that doesn't
is the one that writes the poems."

Playlist:
Rue by girl in red
After You Left by Mirah

[thelittlestpickle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my least favorite collection of Trista's so far, but she is still my favorite poet and I get excited every time she releases a new book.

[Lily ♡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

end the modern poetry industrial complex

[its.me.the.bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for a chance to read & review an E-ARC of this collection!**

In this collection Trista Mateer artfully balances vulnerability, lyricism, activism, & empowerment. Through her beautiful writing she shares experiences that many can relate to & learn from. With all that is going on in society today (& throughout history), she beautifully highlights both the gruesome & illuminating parts of building yourself up from a past that was designed to repress. Please find my extended feedback below...along with some potential spoilers (beware).
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Things I Liked:
-I was grateful for the trigger warning at the beginning of the collection. I think it is a genuinely kind aspect to include & shows just how much the author/publishing team cares about the readers. Thank you!
-There are some very tough topics covered in this collection. While things like mental health, self-worth, sexism, ingrained expectations, & self-image can be difficult to discuss...it is all too important that we do! I appreciated the way in which the poet covered these topics with honesty but did not do so with any lack of empathy.
-I also really admired the poet's way of balancing the confusion she felt during certain parts of her life with the lessons that she learned from those experiences. That genuineness made it easy to relate to the words & the emotions behind them.
-I loved the messages about empowerment, not allowing others to define your life, living life in your own way, & overcoming difficult experiences.
-The illustrations are stunning.

Things That Didn't Sit Quite Right With Me:
-My only concern was that it was tough to read certain parts of the collection in the E-ARC version. Sadly, some parts were cut out & I had to fill certain words in to try & make sense of the writing. While it was slightly disheartening, it still didn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the collection.

Overall, I gave this collection 4 stars. I think it would be a fantastic read for those interested in poetry, hearing stories of empowerment, reading about how perspectives develop across time, & for the beautiful illustrations.

[Doe · Rating 2 out of 5]

A huge thanks to PRH international for the eARC. All the following opinions are my own.

When The Stars Wrote Back is a poetry collection that is written in the style of poetry popularized by the likes of Rupi Kaur and Amanda Lovelace.

And it follows the themes that are often explored in collections like these as well - neglect, trauma, sexual abuse/assault, heartbreak, love, addiction, body image issues, mental illness, etc.,

I honestly don't have much to say because the book was…fine? But it didn't leave an impact on me at all. I sped through the book in under an hour and I really didn't find a poem that I resonated with deeply. It was just…words.

I don't deny that this poetry collection can become a very important piece of literature for someone else, but that just isn't me.

I do think that this poetry collection will definitely benefit an audience of people who are younger than I am, and are always looking for pieces of themselves in the words on page - I know they do because I've done it, too, and there's nothing wrong with being that way!

I'm really sad I didn't enjoy it as much as I would've liked to, but I will definitely not discourage you from trying it out because you can never really tell with books like this. *shrug*