Stitching the Soul

Pillow Thoughts #4

by Courtney Peppernell

The final installment in this bestselling series completes the journey that Courtney Peppernell began with Pillow Thoughts. With 600,000 copies sold across the series, Pillow Thoughts continues to inspire all who dip into Courtney's encouraging words.

Self-healing is the theme of the entire Pillow Thoughts series. While books II and III focus on healing the heart and mind, respectively, Pillow Thoughts IV offers a balm for healing the soul. Have a cup of tea and let yourself feel.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Romance, LGBT, Self Help, Ebooks

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2020

About the author

Courtney Peppernell is an acclaimed best-selling author from Australia, celebrated for her inspirational poetry collections, including the beloved Pillow Thoughts series, Watering the Soul, I Hope You Stay, Time Will Tell and more. With over two million sales worldwide, she continues to lead the forefront of today’s poetry genre. Courtney spends her days writing and working on many projects with her beloved dogs and chickens in tow. She hopes to continue exploring expression and the art of healing through stories, novels and poetry for years to come. Stay tuned for the latest releases from Courtney and her team!

Reviews

[Mary ツ⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courtney Peppernell has been one of my favorite authors of all time and this surely did not disappoint. I loved everything about this series, how the author was able to structure her words marvelously and uniquely with making the readers feel loads of different emotions. Her poems will never fail to leave the readers inspired. Many of the poems from Pillow Thoughts I - Pillow Thoughts IV truly speaks to the soul.

Huge thanks to Andews McMeel Publishing for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Elena Mayr · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOHLFÜHL-/HERZENSBUCH | 4,5/5 ⭐️

Ihr wisst, ich liebe die Texte von Courtney Peppernell.
Das war leider schon der letzte Teil der
Pillow Thoughts-Reihe. 😢
Auch hier hat sie wieder wundervolle, ermutigende und warme Worte gefunden, für mich ist das aber leider der schwächste Teil.
Trotzdem wieder so, so schön - habe wieder sehr viele Einmerker gebraucht. 💛

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

NOW AVAILABLE: Today Tuesday, August 04, 2020.

I didn’t mind this poetry collection, but it was ultimately very repetitive.

Full review to come !

3 stars.

Thank you very much to Andrew McMeels Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

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

Even though I enjoyed some of this author’s previous works, I’m sorry to say it wasn’t the case with this one here. It kind of felt a bit repetitive, like the same two or three messages were all there was in these poems. That's why I found myself bored on multiple occasions during the reading experience.

[Julia Sapphire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided with this e-ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Courtney Peppernell is great at writing poetry that is beautiful and discusses important topics.
This last installment in the Pillow Thoughts series was a great conclusion to the series.
These collections always have cute little illustrations and give guidance based on certain emotions (loneliness, love, etc.). If you are trying to get into modern poetry this series is a great place to start. Overall I am very excited to see what Peppernell releases in the future.

[Avani ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hyped up!
Does not meet my expectations.
Overall, a good one time read for me.

[Hsinju Chen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my first time trying Peppernell’s poems. I love her novel Keeping Long Island , which I am sure I talked too much about already. Unfortunately, I am unsure what I am feeling after finishing Stitching the Soul.

The first few sections of the book were somewhat depressing. Peppernell has a very soothing tone in her written words and the sadness manifests in all the lines. The book does take a happier turn in the latter half and becomes more therapeutic as I had initially thought the whole book would be. Some of the themes were repetitive, and oftentimes, I find the feeling glum and others cheesy. However, it was totally worth a read because there were still some great lines here and there.

“She is not confined by time
/ she is a running river
/ seeking freedom to flow through life unchained” How powerful is that?

Another nice touch in this book was the inclusion of Justin Estcourt's illustrations of foxes, a jellyfish, and occasionally an owl and the heart. The sketches made me smile.

I am glad I finally read Peppernell's poems but sad to say this collection was not for me.

I received an e-ARC from Andrews McMeel Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sahar Jennah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sad it’s the last one in the series but it was so good🙏🏾

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm having a hard time deciding how many stars I will give this book.
I think you need to read this book when you're in the mood for it. I read the first half of the book quite some time ago and wasn't a big fan of it. I continued at the end of July, when I felt like reading it and enjoyed it more.
However, I think that this collection consists of a lot of repetition, which I'm not really fond of. Some poems said the same as some others and that bored me after some time. I loved all the other books in this collection, but this was my least favorite one.
I give it 2,75 out of 3 stars.

[Celine Walde · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t believe the Pillow Thoughts series is over. this has truly been a journey and although I loved the first three books of the series, this one was my favorite. it healed my heart in so many different ways. I smiled, laughed, screamed and cried. I saw myself in those pages. I saw myself trying, healing, learning and growing. so appreciative towards this series, these words.

[kristiin huttunen · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this may be my least favourite of the series

[Gerardine Betancourt · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Time doesn't always completely heal us, but it does make the ache easier to live with"
"It's been forever, and I cant seem to let you go"
This book is a collection of thoughts and is divided like this
* If your soul is grieving
* If your soul is lonely
* If your soul is searching
* If your soul is whole
* If your soul needs empowering
* If your soul needs to breathe
* If your soul needs a friend
* These are for your soul

I don't really like poetry, but when they are books written by Courtney Pepernell I can't help but cry every time as they make me feel like they're talking to me in a personal way.
Many of the writings make the reader feel identified as it provides encouragement and hope to people who have suffered for love, it also provides strength when you feel that you don't have direction in your life or your future.
This last book in the pillow thoughts series comes out on August 4, 2020.
The Arc of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Giulia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 ⭐️

Fam, reading this during quarantine hit differently.
Fam, reading this in my mental state hit differently.

Some poems seemed as if they were written specifically for me and my eyes and my soul only.
Some others, though, were too cliché and conventional.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of poems. The Pillow thoughts series has a very special place in my heart and I will forever be a fan of Courtney Peppernell's way with words.
She has such a delicacy, such a beautiful way to say things. I'm a die hard fan of her poems and her messages, which center around kindness and compassion, self-love and love and friendship.

Pity for the cliché and sometimes repetitive poems. But overall, Stitching the Soul was a lovely and touching addition to the series and I will forever keep my eyes open for Peppernell's future works.

Favourite Poem:
So, it’s been a rough week. Too many storm clouds and people getting under your skin. Too many moments you felt the anger rage, so you have forgotten where to begin. And so you blame yourself for things always going wrong, because what’s happening to you couldn’t possibly be happening to someone else. It’s all your fault when life seems to be spiraling out of control.

Stop and breathe.

You do have time to breathe, so make time. Concentrate on the way your body feels when you are breathing in and out.

How it rolls over your stomach, catches in your chest, and releases through your lips. A rough week is just a rough week.

We all have them; we all blame ourselves when things go wrong. We can’t always control the moments that make us feel so alone. But we can control our breathing.

Just stop and breathe.

[Mona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have miles to go
before I lay my head
to rest
I have seasons to live
before I regrow
and blossom
I have caution to throw
to the wind
before I keep my promises

**********************

I just never imagined one day you would be the ship and sail away, leaving me and all our plans on the sand.

[Erika Sarutobi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sometimes I look at you, and I wonder who made you feel like you weren’t strong enough to face each and every day.

I wonder who made you feel as though you weren’t smart enough to go your own way. I wonder what I can do to show you that you do not need to seek shelter in other people’s acceptance. You do not need other people’s permission to begin. There is a perfectly good home within your own skin."

This was another great poetry book and I loved many of the poems! It focuses a lot on self acceptance and advices on how we should live with focusing on ourselves than what others think as well as some relationship issues specifically about breakups. My only problem is that sometimes it feels a bit repetitive but was still great.

Overall, I enjoyed reading through this and here are some of my favorites! (I hope it's not much though and really had to cut down a lot since I had around 70 :D )

"We hold ourselves back sometimes, probably because we are afraid of the outcome. But life is about taking risks, jumping, even if you may fall. If you stay stagnant your whole life, you’ll never grow into your full potential."

"Live with intention. When you have purpose to seek things greater and more meaningful in life, you find your heart beats a little faster."

"There are different types of sadness, and they all bring such a deep feeling of loss. Of not knowing how to heal and how to recover. The long nights filled with wondering why me and how to rebuild a bridge that has burned to ashes. But someday the nights will get easier, and you will be able to find the joy in things again. Someday you will look back on all the nights you felt so lost, and they will hold meaning for all the new things you have found."

"If there are days
you feel as though
your heart is too soft
and sensitivity is all
but a heartbreaking curse,
remember how important
it is that your heart grows
with every song, smile, and touch, because softness is not a curse but rather a beautiful gift
from the universe."

"Sometimes sadness is feeling like you are too complex for someone to love you. And so, there are moments I want to take you in my arms and whisper that you are not your past.

That your scars are not definitions of who you are or how long you can last. To reach for you when the walls feel they are caving in. To remind you a new day is coming and you can start again."

"The pain changes you,
it makes you grow in ways
you could never imagine.
But so does love and healing.
Recovery is a battle,
no matter how great or how small.
And even if you have these battles for the rest of your life,
you are still here to fight them, and for that you won the war.
You are never alone
in the things you feel,
especially the sad things.
Sadness was made
so the soul could learn to heal."

"Grief really just wants to be loved. It hides in the corners of your soul that feel the most vulnerable. It dreams of a moment you will reach out your hands and let it be held. It gathers in the folds of your sheets and asks to be nurtured.

Grief knows that ripping yourself apart isn’t going to heal the wounds. It is just an ache that needs a place to go. Grief is just a friend needing to be reminded it is not alone."

"I am still trying to understand how we can think so highly of someone else and so little of ourselves. So, when it feels like every breath leaves a bruise and your hopes are set on the love returning, just know that I wish I could hold you when the darkness feels too great. I wish I could comfort you and remind you the sun will reappear. I wish you could see that all the scars are a reminder; you will survive the ache."

"One day, grief wrote me a letter. It said, “All I’ve ever wanted is the best for you, for you to be patient when I am relentless.”

It said, “I wanted to teach you to be compassionate, even in the moments when I don’t seem fair.” It said, “I wanted to remind you that it is impossible to live a life without me.”

It said, “Sometimes I will be heavy; often I will be small; and other times, I will make you feel so empty, it will feel impossible not to fall.” And then it said, “I want you to know it is not because I don’t love you or that I don’t want you to win. It’s because I need you to know that without me, you wouldn’t let anything else in.”

"We will always think of things that break us. But remember to think of the things that make you whole. When you find a passage in a book that speaks to you, a funny comic online, a sunny day in a big city, or the smell of fresh air in a small town. The butterflies you feel for someone who turns your world upside down. Think of the things that make your heart burst with love."

"People fear those who stand up for themselves. The people who fight day in and day out for the rights of the vulnerable.
They fear the people who fight the chains. So, continue breaking them."

"It’s not always about telling yourself that you are fearless and radiant and brave. It’s about acknowledging all your faults and not despising yourself for them."

"You are surrounded by people who are trying to mold you to fit an idea that they perceive as beautiful. You will be expected to smile instead of standing up and fighting harder than most to be a leader. But you were born strong. Never let the world take away your voice."

"Let every moment that pains you make you stronger and kinder.
The trauma is yours,
but you are not the trauma."

"Don’t make your body the enemy. It is your map, your home, your canvas, your certainty. It deserves to be told it is beautiful, even on the days you notice every stretch mark and scar. Your body is the vessel for you soul; it is an entire earth of your being."

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.

[Lea (drumsofautumn) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Say what you want about these poetry collections, I owe Courtney Peppernell my life at this point.

[Bea (beansbookshelves) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley.

I completely love Courtney Peppernell's poetry. However, I just didn't feel it in this one. It got repetitive. I was expecting way more poetry rather than prose. Although I enjoyed reading some parts, most of the book was a bit disappointing for me. Rating: 3/5 stars.

[Lauren Saphir · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this collection finally! This poetry is accessible but...its not unique in my opinion.

[Miguel Vega · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free arc of this book for an honest review.

"Pillow Thoughts IV" caps off the trilogy of books that Peppernell began with her "Pillow Thoughts" book and if I am frank - three books was too much.

While many people love these books (good for you) I believe that the material in book 1 itself was repetitive to the point of each poem sounding the same. Book 2, in my eyes, did no better. With book 3 done and completed, I cannot tell you a single poem from my recollection that stayed with me (not just from this book but from the entire trilogy).

The basis for the collection is in itself interesting, with promising lore of a magical jellyfish called "You" being introduced in the first book. However, this was but an excuse for the word "you" to be used over and over and over again which did not help in the repetitive nature of the book(s). With that being said, there was a magical Fox, or something, in this book (at this point I really don't care) which contributed to the lore here???

Overall, this book (as its predecessors) did not do much for me. If you're looking for an entryway to poetry or are intimidated by the more literary style of Peppernell's contemporaries - then great by all means start and stay here! Love that for you!

If you are looking with something with more substance - eh, I'd say skip it unless you're curious.

[Sara Jovanovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked previous installments in Courtney's Pillow Thoughts series, and I knew this one would be no exception. I always like how she divides the book in different sections, so you can basically read the poems based on your current mood.

In the similar manner to the entire series, this one too is about grief, loneliness, but also healing and finding hope in the most unsual places. My only complaint is that it sometimes felt a bit too repetitive, but still a great poetry collection. It was inspiring and I really needed to read some of them at the current moment.

It's a shame this series has come to an end, although I'm sure Courtney's next works will not dissappoint.

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

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upon many things I like about Courtney Peppernell’s poetry collections is even if this is the fourth book of her Pillow Thoughts series you can read it as a standalone. Each of her collections are specify targeted for a reason or part of self. Her collection starts off as a story about life,
Once there was a jellyfish
We’ll call it
You.
Her 2nd collection is more for the heart, her 3rd collection is more for the mind, and this one is for the soul. I read her first three collections when they came out in 2019 and I recently read them again. Courtney Peppernell’s poetry I found have the ability to be there for you as time goes on. Her poems capture individual growth, such as the procedures and occasions that can develop or experience over time. Not all her poems will effect you the first time, but could affect you in another time.
For me, I find once I start her poetry collection I have a hard time putting the book down. I want to read one more poem, than one more again until I have finished the collection. Afterward I do go back and re-read my favorites and appreciate how well this poet can understand and write truthfully about the many paths human beings walk down even though most seem to walk them alone. We are in fact not.
If you are looking for respect
tell yourself you are beautiful
every day in the mirror
If you are looking for the truth
remind yourself you are strong
every day out loud
If you are looking to be proud
remember you are not worthless
remember you are not weak
hold yourself piece by piece.
If you are looking for hope
I am telling you that the road
always start again
no matter how long
no matter how far

[Jill Jemmett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the final installment in the Pillow Thoughts series. This collection of poetry is about healing the soul, through grieving, empowering, and recovering.

Most of these poems are spoken directly to “you.” Often the “you” is the speaker’s former partner. The technique of speaking directly to the reader brings the reader right into the poetry. It made me feel more connected to the poetry, since it seems to be speaking to me.

I loved the comparisons to nature. There has been a lot of nature imagery throughout the series, with the images of the jellyfish, the fox, and the owl. There were some poems that compared the soul to nature. You have to weed a garden to make plants grow, just as you have to look after your soul to keep yourself well.

The parts about grief were quite moving. Though we don’t like feeling grief, it is a part of life that we all have to go through. We can’t have good moments, if there aren’t bad moments to compare them to. These poems say it’s okay to grieve, but you must move on after.

Empowerment was another important theme of this collection. Empowerment can heal the soul by encouraging you to keep going. It’s important not to judge your success by the success of someone else. This is so difficult to do, because we want to be the best we can, and it can be discouraging when someone else has what you want. However, everyone has different skills and works at different speeds, so it isn’t fair to compare yourself to other people.

This is a beautiful poetry collection.

Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Camila Quezada · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love poetry, but sadly this collection of poems wasnt for me.

It felt very repetitive, all the poems were based on the same themes, the only difference that i notice was that the author used different words in each one, thats why i found myself bored on multiple occasions while i was reading it. Another thing I did not like was the way certain poems were written, as if they spoke directly to me, I felt that they were giving me a motivating speech and I really did not like it.

Even so, there were a few poems that I did like, and I really recommend this series of books because I liked the previous books a lot.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.





ESP

Se sintio muy repetitivo, todos los poemas se basaban en los mismos temas, la unica diferencia es que utilizaba palabras diferentes en cada uno, pero al final era lo mismo. Esto hiso que me aburriera leyendolo y que la lectura se me hiciera eterna.

Otra cosa que no me termino de gustar del todo fue la forma en la que estaban escritos ciertos poemas, como si me hablaran a mi directamente, sentia como si me estuvieran dando un discurso motivacional y eso la verdad no me agrado del todo.

aun asi hubo unos cuantos poemas que si me gustaron, y la verdad si recomiendo esta serie de libros porque los libros anteriores si me gustaron mucho.

Gracias a Netgalley y a la editorial por darme una copia avanzada a cambio de una reseña honesta

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 2 out of 5]

After having read all four volumes in the Pillow Thoughts series, I found this final installment to be the most boring and more repetitive than usual. Despite being divided into eight segments, Pillow Thoughts IV felt like the author preaching the same thing over and over again.

The author also comes across as having very unrealistic ideals of love and romance as well as its ups and downs. It's either all-consuming passion and soulmates or drowning in darkness and hopelessness. What about the in-betweens and day-to-days and simplicity?

✨ "There have been many parts to the heartbreak. The first part, when I felt you pulling away. The second part, when you told me you didn't love me anymore. The third part, my heart breaking, screaming, crying, agonizing. The fourth part, the empty and dark days, the trying to heal but not knowing how to. The fifth part, the realization that you were never coming home. But the saddest part, the part that haunts me the mot, is filled with all the things I didn't say."

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

[Anoeska Nossol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Courtney Peppernell is one of my favorite poetry artists. Her words have touched me in recent years and I have always found them to be inspiring.
Her writing style always appealed to me. She knows how to say a lot with a few words, and also combines this with a strong load of emotion. In the past, she managed to touch me and make me think about life several times.
The fourth book in the 'pillow thoughts' series is certainly just as good as all the others in the series. And honestly, that's the problem. It didn't feel innovative. After reading some books by this author, I am wishing for innovation and a new look on things. She always sticks to her own familiar style, which I find very unfortunate. I hope to see in the future that she will also step outside her comfort zone and get creative.
She can touch a lot of people with her words and writing style, but this fourth part feels so repetitive; that I had no idea I had read something new.

[Vendea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received ARC from publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

Stitching the Soul is the fourth installment in Pillow Thoughts poem series. I've only read first book in the series so far, so I can't really compare all of them, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised because I was not expecting to like this after disliking first book. Well, miracles happen.

I am very picky about "modern" poetry and it is really hard to impress me or make me feel anything. Stitching the Soul focuses on different aspects and divides book into several sections. That's definitely one of the advantages because everyone can relate at least to something. I surely did. I was not fan of everything, but poems at least made sense and touched me several times.

Compared to other authors, I'd say Courtney Peppernell belongs to the group of the ones I enjoy more than not enjoy. I will definitely try her other works to see the difference.

4/5*

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

STITCHING THE SOUL, the fourth and final installment in the Pillow Thoughts series by Courtney Peppernell, was a joy as always. Her poems are always very relatable and I admire Peppernell's openness. However, I was glad that this was the final book in the series; usually, there are multiple poems that are really WOWing me in her books, but in this book, there was not a single one that completely swept me off my feet. They were all 'okay'. It felt like Peppernell lost her inspiration and just kept repeating her previous poems and stories. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either, to me. It just didn't do it for me and it didn't make me really care.. I'd like to emphathise however that Peppernell's stories are very approachable, relatable, and wonderful so don't be put off by this review, this is very subjective! I'm rating this book with ★★★☆☆

[Manon (bookswithonno) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, this poetry book was not for me. I've read all of the pillow thoughts books so far and liked them all, but, unfortunately, this was my least favourite one. Mainly, my issue was the presence of repetition. Many poems conveyed similar messages which made the reading experience a bit boring in my opinion. I still found some poems in here that I loved, but overall I just didn't enjoy this book that much. However, I would still recommend the Pillow Thoughts series because I really liked the previous books and think other people may not at all be bothered by the repetition in this one. Looking at the series as a whole, I think it brings across many beautiful and meaningful messages that many of us may need.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Fatima Anwar]

Name: Pillow Thoughts IV
Writer: Courtney Peppernell
Genre: Poetry
Review:
A collection of intimate personal poems in the which the poetess searches for the answer for her questions. The book is divided into several parts.
The first part is Soul of Grief in which the grief of the poetess over the loss of her lover. She talks about her dreams and her memories of her lost lover.
The first thing that made me want this book was the superb amazing cover and the title which totally justifies the this collection of poetries. I really liked the illustrations in between the pages.