September Love

by Lang Leav

A book that will change the way you think about love, relationships, heartbreak, and self-empowerment. Breaking the rules, challenging perceptions, and exploring the secret desires we keep hidden from the world. 

Beautifully composed and written by international bestselling author Lang Leav, this new collection of poetry and prose will positively influence your life.
 
September Love captures the magic of each passing season, a pearl of wisdom waiting to be discovered with every page turned. A book that will inspire you to reach for the stars.     

Genres: Poetry, Romance, Nonfiction, Contemporary, Feminism, Adult, Ebooks

224 pages, Paperback

First published November 3, 2020

About the author

Novelist and poet Lang Leav was born in a refugee camp when her family were fleeing the Khmer Rouge Regime. She spent her formative years in Sydney, Australia, in the predominantly migrant town of Cabramatta. Among her many achievements, Lang is the winner of a Qantas Spirit of Youth Award, Churchill Fellowship and Goodreads Reader’s Choice Award.

Lang has been featured on CNN, SBS Australia, Intelligence Squared UK, Radio New Zealand and in various publications, including Vogue, Newsweek, the Straits Times, the Guardian, and the New York Times. She currently lives in New Zealand with her partner and fellow author, Michael Faudet.

Reviews

[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘you say im the girl who reads too much into everything - that i never see things as they are, only what they could be. so, can you blame me when i look at you and all i see is love.’

this is my first experience with LL, but definitely not my last.

i appreciate how accessible the poetry style is. it feels very minimalist - modern and simple, yet artistically pleasing.

i will admit i preferred the prose sections more than the verse, but only because it felt like they told a deeper story.

overall, this a lovely selection of reflections on love, life, and everything in between.

thanks so much andrews mcmeel publishing for the ARC!

↠ 3.5 stars

[Shorouk ♍ · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Only So Much"

"There is only so much you can say about a man who hurts you so covertly, so gradually.
The tiny paper cuts that come one after another, so measured and subdued. It barely hurts, until it does. Yet your pain is visible to no one, sometimes, not even to yourself. There is no blood to mop up, no broken glass to sweep. Not a trace of anything untoward until it gets too much, and suddenly you are a wild animal thrashing, baring your teeth, and when they ask you why, you have nothing to show, no answer to give."

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading Lang Leav's poetry collections for the past two years and yes, I will keep reading whatever she writes.

So far, I feel this is one of her best collections. So far my second favourite collection. And so apt for the September 2020 even though the book is coming out in November 2020 and was compiled in 2019 which started with a poem with the same name of the book title published in one of her popular poetry collection two years ago.

The author focuses on relationships, writing; her past and the present; all the ridiculousness of the blame games directed to her because of her writing, her poems; and being an artist; seasons, love, loss, time and healing; being a woman and how life gets chaotic and how beliefs matter.

I specifically liked reading 'After Thirty'. She talks about how she changed after being this particular age. And the most interesting poem for me is 'Ten Things'. It talks about only ten worldly possessions. That gave me lots to reflect on.

But the best part is after reading all the musings, the lines, the poetry and the one liners, it gives me hope like it does for the author.

I like the genuineness in the writing. It's heartfelt and personal.

Learning to express one's own feelings and emotions through poetry and musings is one of my most favourites to read.

However, I feel some parts get a bit too repetitive. Otherwise I totally love the collection.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

[preru ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

lang leav and her writing will never not fail to leave me in awe; i loved this book and also the fact that i started and finished (miraculously i did, yay) it in September too :>.
it’s always like her intertwining stories using the 26 letters of the language is like magic being spewed, the kinda of magic that is more like a reminder of what i can be and already am. loved every bit of it, definitely worth the read

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lang Leav's poetry collection can be a hit or miss for me and this one here didn't unfortunately meet my taste. I was expecting a lot more from these poems, but I really could not connect with most of them. Also, I believe that the same themes were used over and over again which is something I didn't particularly enjoy.

[Paula M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been hearing about Lang Leav for so long. In fact, I can't even scroll through my bookstagram feed without seeing a book from her. I am both happy and sad with that fact. Of course, I am all for success when it comes to authors/poets, they deserve it as long as they're working for it legally and without being problematic. However, I am sad that this is what most of people thinks as "extraordinary" poetry. I understand, poetry CAN BE subjective. So let me stop you right there and inform you now— I am reviewing this poetry book from both aspects which is what I always do when it comes to poems: subjective preference and objective quality.

Of course I am not diminishing any personal experience and feelings of Lang Leav, she has the right to express them. But what I'm saying is, there are certain craft elements to consider that I sadly didn't see here in this book. This whole collection isn't entirely bad, however, there's more "bad" than "good". The theme of the whole collection? Nothing. It's like a bunch of poems saved via bookmark, dumped in one pile and someone decided to make it a "poetry book". What stood out for me is the foreword of Lili Reinhart and probably 2-3 one liners.

I gave this a try because I remember reading her first poetry book and didn't like it. So I was hoping for this collection to change my mind. However, this book gave me a different effect, I just decided to stay away from Lang Leav any works at all. For my recommendations, try Warsan Shire, Sarah Kay and Dawn Lanuza!

[Sabi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kudos to those who connected but for me, the poems were quite related to being a poet and artist.

[abthebooknerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.75 / 5 ⭐️

Lang Leav takes your hand and guides you through a modern look at love, heartbreak, and self-empowerment in her newest collection of poems and prose.

I used to think love had no limits - but I draw the line at myself.

I was knee-deep in the Poetry section on Netgalley when I found this book. I have been dipping more into the genre lately just because it’s quick, and it’s easy, and it makes you feel something (hopefully). I was so surprised when I found this beautiful little treasure! The forward by Lili Reinhart was a nice touch, but the real prize here is (shocker) THE POETRY. I loved everything about this collection of poems. It was raw, honest, and so freaking empowering.

And while there is still a glimmer of hope behind those sad, tired eyes, know he hasn’t worn you down. And while there is an ounce of fight left in you, know he hasn’t won just yet. And while there is a chance in hell you get out of this, you come out swinging.

I love a good inspirational quote. And luckily, this book is full of them. Also, Give You when I read it for the first time gave me such a visceral image, as well. It officially made it onto the list of my Favorite Poems ever. Yeah, there’s a list 😂 I would have included it in this review, but it’s a chunker. It’s just such a beautiful book overall. Read this if you want All the Feels!

Big thank you to Netgalley + Andrew McMeel Publishing for sending me a review copy of this book!

*Note: Any quotes referenced in this review, may or may not be subject to change in the finished copy of the book.

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 4 out of 5]

And while there is still a glimmer of hope behind those sad, tired eyes, know he hasn't worn you down. And while there is an ounce of fight in you, know he hasn't won just yet. And while there is a chance in hell you get out of this, you come out swinging.

I'm a long-time fan of Lang Leav's, and it always makes my little heart swell right up when I see that she's releasing a new collection. Lang is quite easily my favorite modern poet — in fact, I'd only rank her second to Poe as my favorite poet of all time — and historically speaking, her words have always cut right to the core of me. While this wasn't my favorite collection of hers, it still held true to that record: something about her words always exposes something in me that leaves me feeling incredibly understood, and it's a beautiful yet sobering feeling.

Whether you come to Lang's work looking for feminist commentary, expressions of love and yearning, or the quiet, endless ache of someone who's been truly heartbroken, she never disappoints. ♥

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Aiza Idris (biblio_mom) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read 3 of her poetry books before. I do agreed with "nobody writes like her. she could form poems flawlessly". But the thing is, in my honest opinion, its too self-centred and it feels like she's criticising her readers 😅

There's no sequences to these poems & prose. On the bright side, despite all those, some of the pieces are beautifully created.

[B(ea) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars⭐️

[☀︎El In Oz☀︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

I never see things as they are, only what they could be. So, can you blame me when I look at you and all I see is love?

I’m in my poetry phase I guess? This is the third poetry book I’ve read this month, and that’s impressive. Sadly this wasn’t as good as the other poems I have read. That being said it could be because I didn’t really relate to most of the topics that were discussed and stuff like that. I enjoyed the poems about love and longing the most, obviously.

If you were to choose a season, which would it be?

The golden dunes of summer, wild and free

The quiet breath of winter—trees bare and stark

Or spring’s flowers and her honeybees?

Would you swim in the ocean or walk in the park?

Or catch the sunset before it grows dark?

What page of the calendar would you mark?

I’d choose fall—the season you came back to me



Honestly I think that the poems were all together too similar, they didn’t have lots of variety and I didn’t really connect with the poetic style of it in general. I always appreciate poetry, but this collection itself wasn’t for me, it was pretty average. But my favourite poem was the titular poem, September Love, which I’ll put below :)

How many years must we put between us to prove we are no longer in love? How many summers and Septembers, distractions and chance meetings, remnants of our sad, hopeful love in another’s look, an all too familiar gesture—how long do we go on dragging our bodies day after day through this yawning, yearning world, searching for a glimpse of what could have been?

Tell me there has been someone else like me, for you. That your experience of love has not been defined by the way I spoke your name into the hollow of your neck. Ask me if I have found the same kind of reverence anywhere else but in your slow, patient hands, your sea-salt lips spilling laughter mid-sentence, my heart rising in a crescendo like a wave ready to crash.

As you whispered to me, love is the only thing that time cannot touch.

After all this time, my love for you burns constant and true, my guiding light, my morning star. Time is testament to the relentless, unyielding power of this old, ancient love. A love I will carry with me, from eons to oceans to inches, back to you.

[mohini☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⨳4.5⨳

This is my second Leav book and I’m so glad I gave it a chance!

“I used to think love had no limits—
but I draw the line at myself.”

I'm actually shocked by how much I loved it. It's like you open the box on the kitchen top, thanking your brother internally to be generous enough to leave you a piece of apple pie and it turns out to be a whole chocolate truffle cake!

Coming to this bittersweet treat—I can already say I’m going to read this again sometime. I finished the book and went back to the first poem immediately because it was a masterpiece. I tried to list my favorite pieces but soon realized it’ll be better if I just add the whole book to favorites.

If you’ve read Leav before, expect the usual flow and style here. She addresses several themes like love, heartache and grief, womanhood, self-empowerment, self-love which she has always voiced through her poems. What was new (and my favorite parts) was the way she wrote so beautifully and poignantly about being an artist, her inspirations, and the burden of acceptance or criticism her work carries.

There were so many pieces that had me just stop and take a breath- not because she says something no one has ever said or felt, but because she plucks the most mundane, alluvial thoughts and gives them a home on a paper.

Also, shoutout to Lili Reinhart for that amazing foreword!

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

September love is a beautiful collection of poetry that really resonated and connected with me and I loved every page. There were a few poems especially that felt that I could have been the person they were written about they were so in tune with a time in my past.

This is the first poetry collection I have read by Lang Leav but it won't be the last!

[Brittney Andrews (beabookworm) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meep. I am sad.

For the most part, I enjoy Lang Leav's poetry. But after reading this collection, it just left me feeling meh.

The poems felt like they were sucking life out of me, giving some back, then sucking it out again. I was left feeling drained and irritated. Like that feeling after you've just done 5 loads of laundry and the machine ruined your favourite shirt in the last load—defeated, that’s the word I’m looking for. Anyways… look, LL is such a talented poet, but this collection felt very average compared to her other work.

This collection was a combination of stimulating poems and unnecessary Facebook-like drama:

Exhibit A (Facebook dramalama):

To the Guy Who Claims My Poetry Was the Cause of His Break-Up

"It is astonishing to think that my words have the power to
make someone fall out of love with you. That I have somehow
been conspiring against you, even though up until this
moment, I was blissfully unaware of our existence. Maybe
you should ask yourself why she has found her self-worth in
the words of others and not yours. Could it be, perhaps, that
I'm not some grand puppet master like you believe, that my
words are not a cold hard slap, but merely, a soft tap on the
shoulder and the truth is--you're just a shitty boyfriend"

Idk, I felt like this is the type of poem you’d see in an Atticus collection, not LL’s.

Exhibit B (probably my fav from this collection):

A Woman

"The day you become a woman, they hand you a grenade.
And you must choose between hurling or holding. Between
want and expectations. Excise your desire, while you are
hungry for everything. Give up your life for a version of you
that isn't you at all.

Do not think twice about the imposition when they tell you,
there is nothing worse than a fallen woman. Nothing worse than a
woman who doesn't know her place. You will learn otherwise
when you trade your truth for an ideal that no amount of
good you do will ever be enough anyway.

So, make up your own rules. Don't be afraid to hurl, to fall,
to get dirt on your face. Sweetheart, let this be your one
glorious mess because in the end the only person you should
answer to is yourself.

After all, you are a woman,

And long before they punish you for what you've done, they
will punish you for what you are.

Thanks a million to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. Quotes are subject to change upon publication.

September Love comes out in Canada on 3 November 2020.

[Geoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly adequate conversational poems centered around relationships starting and ending, poems being written and forgotten. Don't think I'll look for more of Leav's work, but there wasn't much that was off-putting either. Probably my lukewarm favorite of the bunch was 'A Poem Comes':

This was a poem that came to me
the way anything good comes
Like a comet that swings back around
or a recipe you reconstruct from a childhood memory
The lens with which you peer through
all blurred and sentimental

It came to me through the
lifelong wonder I've held
of the way words will unravel
if you let them, as though they
are creating these sentient worlds
entirely on their own

[Syd BookWorrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure if I could have enjoyed this collection any more than I did. Lang Leav is brilliant - the atmosphere in entries like “Being an Artist” the comparisons used like in “The Path of a Writer”, the importance of the words like in “A Woman”, the shifting between heartbreak and hope...was just all so utterly beautiful. I’m so glad I received this ARC, and I look forward to purchasing it for my collection.

[Prpages · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

********

The thing about modern poetry is that it’s all starting to sound the same. So much to the point I have to fight to keep my eyes from glazing over.

"Water is wet and that makes me hurt like an ache." Or some such.

*******

I’m not sure if I’m just looking in the wrong places? Or if a majority of the topics modern poetry seems to cover are just severely overdone.

I do think that there are people who will like this collection, namely people who adore Rupi Kaur-esque-poetry, but it’s just not for me.

There are moments in this where I think it had the potential to lead somewhere incredible, however, the end result was always just semi disappointing
Take this line for example:

"I give you up, fingernails dig in dirt, spitting up blood, I give you up."

*****

“I would imagine this isn’t love, but some other beast altogether."

*****

"You’ll get what you want if you’re willing to wait
if not when you want it
then when it’s too late."

*****

Moments like that!
It’s almost reminiscent of Sylvia Plath.
It’s got potential, but I just found myself bored with it.
Like I’ve read the exact same thing before.

I’ll give props to the author though. Putting out a poetry collection for the world to take in as it pleases; especially when writing about topics that are personal to you is, I imagine, potentially nerve wracking.

So I’ll add a star just for the bravery.
I also find her personal story fascinating as well and it’s easy to pick out some of the parts correlating to her life story.

[Katie.dorny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection of poetry that definitely evokes sadness and love and the nature of coming to terms with oneself.

[Giuls · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This is my first Lang Leav book, but I've always heard wonderful things about her works and I can honestly say they were right.

Her words are poignant and powerful and can seem to understand you when no one else can. I especially related to her pieces about writing and being a writer, because I used to write poetry as well and I felt exactly the same way she did: you can't hide when you're writing poetry, everyone will see you and pick apart your words and will have a say and not everyone will like you. I think that's a very important statement to keep in mind, especially in the social media age.

I also loved when she talked about this generation always under scrutiny and how we can't escape our mistakes, because they're written or recorded somewhere forever.

I highly recommend this to anyone who's looking for strong pieces about feminism, self-empowerement and love.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this early and thanks to Lang Leav for writing a stunning collection.

[Sara Jovanovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

It remains true, once again, that poetry collection by Lang Leav can be a hit or miss. And this one did it for me. Poignant, powerful, but vulnerable and deeply honest at the same time. I really enjoyed it, and I'm glad to see improvement in Leav's work.

This one focused on the topics of lost love, and I loved those. However, some of my favourite poems explored being a writer from a different angle. How poetry means stripping yourself bare, and how it takes tremendous bravery to share those parts of yourself with the world, ready to judge you at any time. It was relatable and resonated with me. I simply loved reading about it.

Leav's poetry is truly beautiful and, after reading everything except Sea of Strangers, I'm really excited to see where she stands when it comes to novel writing. And I'll patiently wait for her next release.

Thanks to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ulfa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished reading: 3.8/5 ⭐

"We talk so much about our lives, we forget to live it."

26 Nov 2020
Basically, I'll read whatever Lang Leav write.
And this year I'm definitely lacking in my poetry quota. So before this year is over I decided to pick up September Love to read. Simply because I'm sure L.L. wouldn't write anything anyone considers as a letdown.

[Elvina Zafril · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.5.

I'm so happy to see the improvement in Lang Leav's work.

September Love is focuses on the topics of love and loss. Her words are poignant and somehow so powerful. Reading the poems made you feel like someone is actually listening to you.

I liked that the author talked about how we cannot escape from making mistakes. People make mistakes and when we make a mistake, we learn from it and not repeat it again.

I love the forward by Lili Reinhart, I agreed that Lang's words seem as if they are individually plucked with precision and purpose, thoughtfully portraying a picture that lives inside her mind.

Overall, this was a good read to me and I think I need more. Thank you Times Reads, for sending me a copy of September Love in return for an honest review. This book is available at all good bookstores.

[Naadhira Zahari · Rating 4 out of 5]

September Love is an ode to love, relationships and self empowerment. I think this poetry book might be my favourite one so far from all Lang's previous books. It has on a more mature take, raw and very cut throat as it is very bold.

This book includes a foreword by Lili Reinhart and she wrote something that is simply too memorable to forget. It goes like this: "I recognised myself in her experiences, I saw my pain in her words. And that's the whole point of poetry, isn't it? To see yourself in someone else. To feel less alone." Honestly, I've never actually seen it from this angle but she's true. I do actually seek for this kind of words and feel that I'm not the only one who can see through my pain. That someone out there gets me too. I know that I'm not alone and these words have the power to give me comfort.

This book is hopeful as it tells you to ignore and fight your way through the misconceptions that people say about you. It is about the change of seasons and how it might bring different sides to your relationship. I especially love the parts about writing and poetry. Lang may not have written much about it in her previous poetry books that I've read but with this one, she went deeper and more detailed which I ended up really enjoying.

This poetry book that didn't have a lot of pages has managed to make me feel empowered in just one sitting. It tackles on so many important aspects in life which sometimes even we take it for granted but I believe we can become better to make the world a nicer and kinder place to live for everyone.

[Mark Alpheus · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for providing the ARC through NetGalley.

There is no organization in this poetry book. The sequence is purely random, one moment the author is criticizing her readers, the next she's talking shit about men, the next about life as a writer, and so on. It was confusing and it made it hard to commit to a thought while reading it.

Also, the use of words in the poems is not fine for me. It also felt random. There are things that just made me, "meh" at what I'm reading. It turned out to be a torturous read I almost DNFed it halfway.

This book:

10% about love
20% about men
30% saying the poem is a poem
20% random life moments
20% criticizing her critics

It was also more of tell, and not much of show. I mean, most of the time it felt like the author was talking to herself, and not to me. It's like Leav's personal diary of thoughts I need not know. Some poems also has no actual message to go through.

[Fatima Anwar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Name: September Love
Author: Lang Leav
Genre: Poetry, Love
Review:
A series of intricate and marvelous poetries and prose that dwells on the topics such as love, heartbreak, betrayal and self empowerment. The poetries are beautiful, and absolutely touching, each filled with an essence of love. The poetries are beautiful and leaves the readers dwelling on these sentiments, each word having a profound impact on the reader's heart.
Lang Leav was one of the poetess, that I wanted to read for a while. And I must say I am not at all disappointed. Her poetries are so amazing, I loved so many of them. Each poetry left me hung on those words.

[Alexis Scrima · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars: Another beautiful collection from Lang Leav. Truly one of my favorite poet and writer!

[ftnrsnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like it! September Love is a beautiful rendered collection of prose and poetry that center on the theme of love and self-empowerment. I can't say that I like all the poems in this book; I find some of them are very empowering, some flow perfectly to provoke emotions and some are just ok.

Although I’m not a huge fan of the author's works, I'm quite familiar with the style poetry she writes. And for me, in September Love, Leav has skillfully weaved her words and managed to capture the intensity of feelings of falling in love to the madness misery that comes with heartbreak and the journey towards growth and strength.

There are a lot of poems that are really lovely and enjoyable, but I am taking a liking to ones that focus on self-growth. I love how Leav just pours out encouragement for us to never let pains to break us as we are the one who have the power to our own happiness.

The only thing that holds me back that I feel can be improved however, is mainly the flow structure of the poems. I would prefer them to be grouped accordingly into respective themes so that we can really see the journey that these poems go on and take us along with it because they are quite scattered, like collections of Tumblr posts without clear narration. But overall September Love is a comforting read for me.

Great news to all the readers in Malaysia and Singapore, Times Reads is hosting a giveaway for you to win a signed copy of September Love. Don’t forget to check out their Instagram to join the giveaway. Also, for every purchase of September Love at Kinokuniya, MPH, Popular and Times Bookstore, you will get a cute enamel pin (while stocks last). Don’t forget to grab yours now!

Thank you Times Reads for sending me a review copy of this book in return for an honest review. This book is available in all good bookstores Malaysia and Singapore.

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always happy to read a new Lang Leav poetry collection. And,as always, this newest one,September Love,did not disappoint. There is just something about her writing that hits me like no one else can. Even the small poems that are just a few lines have an impact on me. I feel like there wasn't a poem here that I didn't enjoy, but I especially liked the ones on writing.
Huge thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Radwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

English Review Below.

سمعت عن كتابات لانغ ليف منذ فترة طويلة، فلطالما أحببت أغلفة كتبها ولكن هذه قراءتي الأولى لها. هذه ألمجموعة مزيج من قصائد الشعر والسرد، وبصراحة قصائد السرد أعجبتني أكثر. هناك بعض التكرارية في أفكار المجموعة، وأغلبها عن الحب، بجانبيه السعيد والحزين. هناك بعض الجمل التي أحببتها وسجلتها لأتذكرها، ولكن أظن أن المجموعة كانت ستكون أفضل ببعض التنوع.

I have heard of Lang Leav's writings for a long time, some years ago I was intrigued by her books because of their pretty covers but didn't try them, and this is my first read for her.

It's a mix of prose with poetry, and I loved the prose more than the poetry, there were some repetitions in the writings, and the main theme is love, whether it was sad and depressing or happy and fulfilled. I got some quotes out of it that really stuck with me, but I think more variety in the themes and topics would've done this collection some good. Also I didn't understand some of the poems, as they felt more like random thoughts?

But, that cover is so beautiful!
I thank Netgalley for the digital ARC.