What do you think?
Rate this book
If Anyone Can Hide it, it's Me
If Anyone Can Hide it, it's Me is Matthew Stegman's debut as an author. Separated into four sections, this book is a collection of poetry and short narratives describing his struggle over the inability to handle a failing relationship. As well as the spiral into unhealthy coping mechanisms, the realization of his trauma and depression, and finally acceptance. It is compiled of moments of overwhelming emotion, where all he could do was write something down. However, everything is fleeting. This includes a majority of those emotions.
- GenresPoetry
173 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2020
22 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Stegman
2 books3 followersMatthew Stegman is the author of If Anyone Can Hide it, it's Me and Parallel Universe Me Has No Scars, two self-published poetry collections. He has no other notable accomplishments. He’s honestly at best let everyone down, but he makes up for it with charisma. Matthew has always had a passion for literature and art. The Altruistic Hedonist, The Uneducated Prick, he strives every day to be a little better than the last. Matthew’s writing will often walk the tightrope balancing between taking itself a tad bit too seriously and playfully being as satirical as it possibly can. “Whatever happens, happens, baby.”
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 28, 2022
If Anyone Can Hide it, it’s Me is a gritty, realistic book of poetry that hit hard for me.
Focusing on the author’s internal pain and struggles, I felt and related to their agony. Coupled with unique illustrations in each act, this was a not an easy read, but it was profound and left me thinking long after I finished it.
Focusing on the author’s internal pain and struggles, I felt and related to their agony. Coupled with unique illustrations in each act, this was a not an easy read, but it was profound and left me thinking long after I finished it.
March 22, 2021
➳ Rate: 3,5/ 5 stars
I don’t really know how I feel about this one. It was an unusual read for sure. Matthew’s poetry is like a reflection of his life and the dark thoughts that have lived inside his head. This collection is very raw, a bit weird at times and also very honest.
I really liked how Matthew took the time after each Act to explain some of what he was writing about but also let us know how what he was writing reflected what he had been through.
This collection is about a bad breakup and how that breakup caused a spiral but also a lot of self-reflection. It’s dark, gritty but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
Matt showed us through his journey that once you hit the rock bottom, the only way left is up! Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
➳ Physical copy provided by the author in exchange for a honest review.
➳ Order at: Amazon US for only $1,05!
➳ Follow me on: Instagram ⁕ Facebook ⁕ Twitter
I don’t really know how I feel about this one. It was an unusual read for sure. Matthew’s poetry is like a reflection of his life and the dark thoughts that have lived inside his head. This collection is very raw, a bit weird at times and also very honest.
I really liked how Matthew took the time after each Act to explain some of what he was writing about but also let us know how what he was writing reflected what he had been through.
This collection is about a bad breakup and how that breakup caused a spiral but also a lot of self-reflection. It’s dark, gritty but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
Matt showed us through his journey that once you hit the rock bottom, the only way left is up! Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
➳ Physical copy provided by the author in exchange for a honest review.
➳ Order at: Amazon US for only $1,05!
➳ Follow me on: Instagram ⁕ Facebook ⁕ Twitter
December 15, 2021
This book was sent to me by the author to review. I sent the author a private note to warn him in advance that my review would be negative. The author agreed that he would prefer an honest review be posted rather than I not review the book.
When people critique the glut of self-published books available in the modern age as a symptom of the market being saturated with subpar work, it's books like this that create this impression. Virtually everything about this collection of poetry is achieved at the amateur level, and this is a hindrance to any reader being able to engage with it beyond the surface of its imperfections.
The problems begin with the cover and the formatting of the manuscript. While the cover image is serviceable enough, the back text is badly formatted, and it is clunky in its wording. To be completely transparent, the cover looks like one that was made with a basic template, and it screams self-published. The ideal behind self-publishing books, is to create covers that appear professional. Otherwise, you are not doing yourself any favors by publishing it yourself, hoping to attract an audience.
Once you move past the exterior, the interior does not improve upon this impression of amateurishness. Unfortunately, that means this is a book that CAN be somewhat judged by the cover. Another bad sign. But I tried to remain open-minded and give the material a chance to stand on its own.
It just doesn't happen. Although I will pay a compliment to the illustrator, Hal Gre. The cover illustration and the drawings that are included within the book itself are quite beautiful. It's a shame they are not paired with better writing.
The very first page of this manuscript has an error, as the title is punctuated with a period at the end. How could anyone miss that? This is why we should not rely on our own eyes when editing. And instead of properly attempting to format the content of the book with blank pages between content and separating out the sections, it's all just thrown together. Another bad indicator of self-publishing done by someone inexperienced. This is a book that I honestly couldn't force myself to slog through completely. The physical lack of attention to professional detail, and the lack of attention to the craft of the writing are just too overbearing. There are redeemable moments, but they are few and far between.
To begin with, the author starts his collection with two unnecessary introductions. In the first introduction, he tells us he hates the book, because it is old material. Well, if you are not proud of the book, here's some free advice, don't publish it. The next introduction is a brief explanatory section about why he wrote it. If anything, neither of these sections should have been tacked onto the beginning of this book. They are completely extraneous, do the book no favors, and they are horribly in need of editing. The prose just comes across as a clumsy, badly executed ramble of a Live Journal entry. I wish I could be more kind here.
But once the poetry starts, it doesn't get much better. This book is 170 pages! What are you doing, man?
It's poem after poem of bad cliches, telling language, and simplistic angst-letting. The poems are about a break-up, and they should have stayed in whatever journal they came from. The tell-tale signs of work that has not been work-shopped or revised are all over these poems. They read like writing from someone who has not read much poetry, or engaged much with the craft of this art.
I feel like I am being cruel in my criticism, and for that I am sorry. I am just giving my most honest feedback. This is not a book that I could recommend, or work that I feel should have been published.
Here's where I try to give some advice to the poet: for one thing, start smaller. Poetry collections are meant to be consumed generally in one sitting. This is why most poets start out publishing chapbooks of work rather than full-length collections. These are around 30 pages. Quite the step down from 170. This allows for tighter execution of theme and a cohesive metaphor to be employed. It also gives the poet a chance to collect work that has been previously published in other literary publications.
I don't know much about this author, but I am sure this was all done with a heart in the right place. That just doesn't equate to a book that needs to be published. You have to have earned some stripes in the field of battle first. This means actively pursuing publication the old fashioned way, getting those rejections, learning the thrill of someone else accepting your work and telling you it is worthy of consumption by the public, that is has been chosen for its artistic merit. And if you try this path, and keep finding yourself rejected, learn from what isn't working, and use that feedback to fuel improvements and push yourself to get better.
Also, the best way to learn what makes poetry great, is to read it, read it, read it. Read every poet that you can, and find what you connect with the most. This teaches your brain inherently about the craft in a way you can never learn on your own. We initially learn by imitation, and then develop that into our own voice. Then, attend workshops and let people help you hone your craft through the process of revision. It's the only way to get better as a writer.
Self-publishing books is meant to be a last resort in the pursuit of publication. It isn't meant to be a hall pass for any tossed off material spilling out of your head. People who use self-publishing this way, are giving it a bad name.
I haven't written this review to try and be condescending, or to try and belittle anyone. I hope these words have been helpful to the writer in some way, and that my advice is heeded. I didn't tell you what you wanted to hear, but hopefully, I told you something that you needed to push you in the right direction. If not, forgive me. I tried to be constructive.
When people critique the glut of self-published books available in the modern age as a symptom of the market being saturated with subpar work, it's books like this that create this impression. Virtually everything about this collection of poetry is achieved at the amateur level, and this is a hindrance to any reader being able to engage with it beyond the surface of its imperfections.
The problems begin with the cover and the formatting of the manuscript. While the cover image is serviceable enough, the back text is badly formatted, and it is clunky in its wording. To be completely transparent, the cover looks like one that was made with a basic template, and it screams self-published. The ideal behind self-publishing books, is to create covers that appear professional. Otherwise, you are not doing yourself any favors by publishing it yourself, hoping to attract an audience.
Once you move past the exterior, the interior does not improve upon this impression of amateurishness. Unfortunately, that means this is a book that CAN be somewhat judged by the cover. Another bad sign. But I tried to remain open-minded and give the material a chance to stand on its own.
It just doesn't happen. Although I will pay a compliment to the illustrator, Hal Gre. The cover illustration and the drawings that are included within the book itself are quite beautiful. It's a shame they are not paired with better writing.
The very first page of this manuscript has an error, as the title is punctuated with a period at the end. How could anyone miss that? This is why we should not rely on our own eyes when editing. And instead of properly attempting to format the content of the book with blank pages between content and separating out the sections, it's all just thrown together. Another bad indicator of self-publishing done by someone inexperienced. This is a book that I honestly couldn't force myself to slog through completely. The physical lack of attention to professional detail, and the lack of attention to the craft of the writing are just too overbearing. There are redeemable moments, but they are few and far between.
To begin with, the author starts his collection with two unnecessary introductions. In the first introduction, he tells us he hates the book, because it is old material. Well, if you are not proud of the book, here's some free advice, don't publish it. The next introduction is a brief explanatory section about why he wrote it. If anything, neither of these sections should have been tacked onto the beginning of this book. They are completely extraneous, do the book no favors, and they are horribly in need of editing. The prose just comes across as a clumsy, badly executed ramble of a Live Journal entry. I wish I could be more kind here.
But once the poetry starts, it doesn't get much better. This book is 170 pages! What are you doing, man?
It's poem after poem of bad cliches, telling language, and simplistic angst-letting. The poems are about a break-up, and they should have stayed in whatever journal they came from. The tell-tale signs of work that has not been work-shopped or revised are all over these poems. They read like writing from someone who has not read much poetry, or engaged much with the craft of this art.
I feel like I am being cruel in my criticism, and for that I am sorry. I am just giving my most honest feedback. This is not a book that I could recommend, or work that I feel should have been published.
Here's where I try to give some advice to the poet: for one thing, start smaller. Poetry collections are meant to be consumed generally in one sitting. This is why most poets start out publishing chapbooks of work rather than full-length collections. These are around 30 pages. Quite the step down from 170. This allows for tighter execution of theme and a cohesive metaphor to be employed. It also gives the poet a chance to collect work that has been previously published in other literary publications.
I don't know much about this author, but I am sure this was all done with a heart in the right place. That just doesn't equate to a book that needs to be published. You have to have earned some stripes in the field of battle first. This means actively pursuing publication the old fashioned way, getting those rejections, learning the thrill of someone else accepting your work and telling you it is worthy of consumption by the public, that is has been chosen for its artistic merit. And if you try this path, and keep finding yourself rejected, learn from what isn't working, and use that feedback to fuel improvements and push yourself to get better.
Also, the best way to learn what makes poetry great, is to read it, read it, read it. Read every poet that you can, and find what you connect with the most. This teaches your brain inherently about the craft in a way you can never learn on your own. We initially learn by imitation, and then develop that into our own voice. Then, attend workshops and let people help you hone your craft through the process of revision. It's the only way to get better as a writer.
Self-publishing books is meant to be a last resort in the pursuit of publication. It isn't meant to be a hall pass for any tossed off material spilling out of your head. People who use self-publishing this way, are giving it a bad name.
I haven't written this review to try and be condescending, or to try and belittle anyone. I hope these words have been helpful to the writer in some way, and that my advice is heeded. I didn't tell you what you wanted to hear, but hopefully, I told you something that you needed to push you in the right direction. If not, forgive me. I tried to be constructive.
December 19, 2020
3.5⭐️
First of all, thank you so much to Matthew for sending this my way!
This is a collection of poetry written while healing from a breakup with a long-term partner. It’s honest, raw, emotional, and Matthew definitely doesn’t hold back. This felt like reading someone’s diary, all their deepest thoughts and emotions, which I appreciated. I find a lot of poetry (that I read, at least) tends to try and be more general so as to appeal to a larger audience, which can make it hard to connect to. So I really like that Matthew was clear with the fact that he was writing about a specific event in his life, and that this book was mostly about one person.
With that said, that is also where my one main issue with this collection came in. This book is split into 4 parts. In Acts 1 and 2, I assume those were written shortly after the breakup when the strongest emotion he was feeling was anger. And let me preface by saying feeling that anger is completely valid, and I think the healthiest thing you can do is to allow yourself to fully feel whatever emotions you need to feel. So this is not to say that I don’t think he should have been angry. However, the level of anger in the first two acts were filled with aggression as well, and knowing that all this aggression was directed at one specific person made me a little uncomfortable at times. For context on my part, I have never been broken up with before, I’ve only ever been the one to do the breaking up. So while reading this, I wasn’t able to connect with all the emotions he was feeling, so I couldn’t really understand why that amount of aggression was necessary. Being that I have been in the shoes of his ex before, I found myself imaging how I would feel if one of my exes had written this about me, and it was not a comfortable thought to have. Personally, I don’t think it’s ever appropriate to tell someone that their actions made you want to commit suicide. It is of course a valid thing to feel, and I feel deeply for Matthew for having gone through that, as I also struggle with severe mental health issues. But this is the one time where I wish he hadn’t specified that this book was about one person, because in my opinion it’s not fair to put that on their shoulders.
But moving onto the positives, which there are a lot more of!
I love how vivid Matthew is able to paint his emotions. I’m also someone who feels everything so deeply, and I think it’s a beautiful thing (although painful at times). Matthew does not seem afraid to bare his soul and lay everything out in the open. Even though this book is open for anyone to read, the way it’s written makes it feel like a privilege to be allowed to see all these vulnerable parts of Matthew. It is not an easy thing to do, but Matthew managed to do it so beautifully, so I applaud him for that.
I especially loved the format he chose for this book, the four acts. It was a really easy way to track his journey, and better understand where he was emotionally throughout the course of this book. Acts three and four were my favourites, where he was still angry and sad, but the aggression was gone and he was starting to process his emotions and begin healing. He began to understand himself better, learned things about his own personality and the way that he feels things, and most importantly he begins to learn how to process his emotions in a healthier way. It was really interesting to witness this process, as it’s one that we all go through but rarely pay attention to the growth in the moment. We usually only see the ways in which we’ve grown when it’s hindsight; we look back and think “wow I’ve really changed since then.” But Matthew seemed able to capture his growth in the moments they were happening, as was very evident in the way his writing changed in the second half of the book, and that was fascinating to read.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this and I’m looking forward to getting to his next collection. Thank you again to Matthew for sending me these, it’s very much appreciated!
First of all, thank you so much to Matthew for sending this my way!
This is a collection of poetry written while healing from a breakup with a long-term partner. It’s honest, raw, emotional, and Matthew definitely doesn’t hold back. This felt like reading someone’s diary, all their deepest thoughts and emotions, which I appreciated. I find a lot of poetry (that I read, at least) tends to try and be more general so as to appeal to a larger audience, which can make it hard to connect to. So I really like that Matthew was clear with the fact that he was writing about a specific event in his life, and that this book was mostly about one person.
With that said, that is also where my one main issue with this collection came in. This book is split into 4 parts. In Acts 1 and 2, I assume those were written shortly after the breakup when the strongest emotion he was feeling was anger. And let me preface by saying feeling that anger is completely valid, and I think the healthiest thing you can do is to allow yourself to fully feel whatever emotions you need to feel. So this is not to say that I don’t think he should have been angry. However, the level of anger in the first two acts were filled with aggression as well, and knowing that all this aggression was directed at one specific person made me a little uncomfortable at times. For context on my part, I have never been broken up with before, I’ve only ever been the one to do the breaking up. So while reading this, I wasn’t able to connect with all the emotions he was feeling, so I couldn’t really understand why that amount of aggression was necessary. Being that I have been in the shoes of his ex before, I found myself imaging how I would feel if one of my exes had written this about me, and it was not a comfortable thought to have. Personally, I don’t think it’s ever appropriate to tell someone that their actions made you want to commit suicide. It is of course a valid thing to feel, and I feel deeply for Matthew for having gone through that, as I also struggle with severe mental health issues. But this is the one time where I wish he hadn’t specified that this book was about one person, because in my opinion it’s not fair to put that on their shoulders.
But moving onto the positives, which there are a lot more of!
I love how vivid Matthew is able to paint his emotions. I’m also someone who feels everything so deeply, and I think it’s a beautiful thing (although painful at times). Matthew does not seem afraid to bare his soul and lay everything out in the open. Even though this book is open for anyone to read, the way it’s written makes it feel like a privilege to be allowed to see all these vulnerable parts of Matthew. It is not an easy thing to do, but Matthew managed to do it so beautifully, so I applaud him for that.
I especially loved the format he chose for this book, the four acts. It was a really easy way to track his journey, and better understand where he was emotionally throughout the course of this book. Acts three and four were my favourites, where he was still angry and sad, but the aggression was gone and he was starting to process his emotions and begin healing. He began to understand himself better, learned things about his own personality and the way that he feels things, and most importantly he begins to learn how to process his emotions in a healthier way. It was really interesting to witness this process, as it’s one that we all go through but rarely pay attention to the growth in the moment. We usually only see the ways in which we’ve grown when it’s hindsight; we look back and think “wow I’ve really changed since then.” But Matthew seemed able to capture his growth in the moments they were happening, as was very evident in the way his writing changed in the second half of the book, and that was fascinating to read.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this and I’m looking forward to getting to his next collection. Thank you again to Matthew for sending me these, it’s very much appreciated!
August 27, 2020
Trigger warnings: alcohol and drug abuse
Sucidal thoughts
Thank you again to Matthew for sending this to me!
This poetry collection (including a couple of longer texts) talks about being with a partner for a long time, growing with them and then breaking up and having to fin yourself again.
It was a very interesting read because it felt like I was watching him going about his days, seeing how he struggles and hearing his thoughts.
The book is split into 4 parts and the beginning you can absolutely feel the anger and jealousy (of the exes new partner). It was almost overwhelming how much anger there was, but it was very well written so I could totally understand where he's coming from.
There were some amazing metaphors in the whole book, one of my faves was one in the poem "Kerosine! Gasoline!"
In Part 3 the writing style changes (due to drug use), and the author starts using rhymes which I appreciated. It seemed very natural and not forced at all.
He seems and writes calmer (regarding anger) now, but he starts getting anxious (which really affected me while reading?? So well done haha) and a little distracted, confused, which made it hard to keep up sometimes.
Part 4 is getting a little weird at the beginning but in the end the whole thing comes to an ending that shows growth and closure which is very nice.
I really enjoyed reading his and going on this journey together with the author, and it makes me happy that he was able to grow so much from this experience and find himself and accept himself so much more now!
4/5 stars
Sucidal thoughts
Thank you again to Matthew for sending this to me!
This poetry collection (including a couple of longer texts) talks about being with a partner for a long time, growing with them and then breaking up and having to fin yourself again.
It was a very interesting read because it felt like I was watching him going about his days, seeing how he struggles and hearing his thoughts.
The book is split into 4 parts and the beginning you can absolutely feel the anger and jealousy (of the exes new partner). It was almost overwhelming how much anger there was, but it was very well written so I could totally understand where he's coming from.
There were some amazing metaphors in the whole book, one of my faves was one in the poem "Kerosine! Gasoline!"
In Part 3 the writing style changes (due to drug use), and the author starts using rhymes which I appreciated. It seemed very natural and not forced at all.
He seems and writes calmer (regarding anger) now, but he starts getting anxious (which really affected me while reading?? So well done haha) and a little distracted, confused, which made it hard to keep up sometimes.
Part 4 is getting a little weird at the beginning but in the end the whole thing comes to an ending that shows growth and closure which is very nice.
I really enjoyed reading his and going on this journey together with the author, and it makes me happy that he was able to grow so much from this experience and find himself and accept himself so much more now!
4/5 stars
July 18, 2021
3.5/5
If Anyone Can Hide It, It's Me is a beautiful and vulnerable poetry collection about the author's experience coping with a tough breakup. I have not yet experienced heartbreak, but I can tell this book would be relatable to those who have. It's told in 4 parts, each with their own central theme: sadness and confusion, anger, depression/insanity, and growth/acceptance. I enjoyed the accessible writing and witty titles, and how the author's voice shines through. Some of my favorites in the collection include: 'It Isn't Personal,' 'Burying Your Pets (Burying Yourself),' and 'Sleeping (Mostly) Alone.' My main critique would just be that the collection felt very long, and some of the poems felt very similar to each other in theme and symbolism. Perhaps they could have been consolidated to keep the collection fresh.
Thank you for the copy and I'm excited to read the second collection!
July 28, 2020
A book depicting mental health struggles through the art of poetry. Matthew describes his experience in a bad relationship and his unhealthy ways to cope through his passion for creative writing. Reading Matthew's poetry was a wild rollercoaster. It's a whole journey of events that needs to be read and enjoyed.
If you want to read it here's the link :
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1653515546/...
Its such a great book and definitely recommend the read
If you want to read it here's the link :
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1653515546/...
Its such a great book and definitely recommend the read
August 11, 2020
A proper presentation true feelings on paper. It has captured my mind from first to the end.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews