The Gift of Everything

by Lang Leav

International best-selling author Lang Leav presents The Gift of Everything, a stunning hardcover gift book featuring her finest pieces to date, spanning across her world-renowned poetry and prose titles from Love & Misadventure to Love Looks Pretty on You. In addition, this beautifully conceived clothbound anthology includes 35 new poems as well as original and arresting illustrations by the author.Lang’s evocative words of love, loss, and self-empowerment have inspired millions across the globe to seek their own voice through the healing power of poetry. A definite must-have collection for all lovers of poetry and prose.   The Gift of Everything will thrill and delight fans of Lang Leav as well as those yet to discover the enchanting world of one the most celebrated poets in modern history.  

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 16, 2021

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

[Elvina Zafril · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The Gift of Everything by Lang Leav is a poetry collections consist of the best poems from her previous including 35 new poems.

The Gift of Everything celebrates the past decade of Lang Leav's life, marking the pivotal moment she shared her first poem, "Sea of Strangers," on Tumblr to seeing through a long cherished dream of having her poetry read and loved by so many.

Lang Leav is a good writer. I enjoyed her poems from love and loss to healing and self discovery. In this collection, my main focus was on the 35 new poems. It was kind of not enough to have just 35 poems when I used to have more from her. I'm sharing some of my favorite poems in the carousel. (swipe left)

To those who have not read anything by Lang Leav before and if you ever wanted to try her writing, this book is such a good one for you.

Thank you Times Reads for sending a copy of The Gift of Everything in return for an honest review.

[iris [updating reviews] · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will celebrate this life of mine, with or without you. The moon does not need the sun to tell her she is whole.

*･☪︎·̩͙

Sometimes the loneliest place to be is in love.

*･☪︎·̩͙

The second I tried to tell myself I wasn’t in love was the moment I realized I was.

*･☪︎·̩͙

I don’t want to be the one who tucks you into bed—I want to be the reason why you can’t sleep at night.

*･☪︎·̩͙

You said my sadness was like the sun, beautiful from a distance but it hurt you too much to come closer.

*･☪︎·̩͙

The sad thing is, the moment you start to miss someone, it means they’re already gone.

*･☪︎·̩͙

I have buried myself so deep in my words that sometimes I can’t tell if I am the person writing or the one hiding between the lines.

*･☪︎·̩͙

Yes, I think it is entirely possible to fall in love with someone you’ve never met.

[Peta Garside · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really nice poetry although does talk about love as the end goal and completing factor which....eh not a fan of but I will probably reread anyway

[Rehan Abd Jamil · Rating 5 out of 5]

You always knew..

[maisie ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t my favorite collection of poetry, but I can’t deny that Lang Leav has a talent for writing. Unfortunately, I couldn’t relate to many poems in this book. That’s not to say that others won’t feel moved by them. Lang Leav does a good job of adding vivid imagery to her poems. I also liked the variations of shorter and longer poems. I kind of wish she broke the book into sections like how other authors do. This was actually pretty long for a poetry book, which is another reason why I felt disconnected from it. There are still some really good poems that stand out to me though. It was nice for a quick read and if you’re ever in the mood to read poetry about love, longing, and loss. Also, the cover and design of the book is super pretty.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gravitate to poetry I can relate to and what speaks to me. There were quite a few lines in this collection where I paused and let it all sink in. I will have to go and read more of Lang Leav's collections because I do like the style. While I liked quite a few, there were others I just brushed past. So, I can say I enjoyed it but I didn't love it as much as I wish I did.

3.5 stars and I look forward to reading more and seeing what I think!

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

2.6⭐️ kind of rating I guess. 35 out of 236 poems are new. The rest are largely selected from her previous works ♻️ I’m not the biggest fan, but I love a few of the new pieces.If you are undergoing a breakup, you might want to drown yourself in these poems & proses.
• This hardback cover is absolutely stunning & aesthetic! 🤌🏻✨

[adele · Rating 4 out of 5]

ೃ⁀➷ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✎… ‘our lives are not linear, even if our bodies are fixed to a moment. our minds can travel back and forth at will. the greatest trick in the world is time. all that existed before still remains, as sure and real as everything still to come.’ 🌷

such a gorgeous collection of poems again from the most talented and incredible lang leav ♡ i stumbled upon her work during high school, when i had just started to discover poetry and its wonders. she has stuck with me ever since and been my poetry teacher and inspiration.

she grips my mind so easily with her poems - i can relate to each and every one of them in my own little way, and i think her poems are so uniquely personal to each individual that reads them. she makes me flow through my emotions so delicately, and takes me on such a journey.

i love the different styles she uses, and they’re so easy to read and understand. she makes poetry accessible and that’s my absolute favourite part about her work. even if you’re not a poetry reader, lang leav is there for you!

this was definitely one of my favourite collections from her. she never ever fails to make me feel inspired. ♥︎

[A.F. Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved EVERYTHING about this collection. This is the ultimate Lang Leav collection, if you have not tried her work before, this is what you should start with in my opinion. All the best poems, plus new ones! Every page was relatable, and the feelings it evoked were so beautiful and touching. I’m obsessed! And such a beautiful cover!! So happy to have this in my collection.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Real rating: 3.5 stars

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adore these poems. Adele you have introduced me to something truly beautiful.
The writing style is so easy to read but also deep and gets you in your feels. There’s so many poems you connect to on a personal level. Will absolutely be rereading these. My new comfort book.
Any new poetry lovers start with this book!! You will not be disappointed.

[Egi Karafili · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find it difficult/weird to rate poetry because it’s tough giving a rating to something about one’s personal life that they’ve poured their heart into.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book and recommend it.

[Meaghan Recollet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though this was largely a selection of her previous writing, it was nice to revisit some of my favorites and find some new ones as well.

[Madi Ngo · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing. anguish, loss, hope, longing — all in one book ! ok i’m just saying random adjectives LOL i’m not good at this, but anyways this book understands me more than i understand myself. so beautiful 10000/10. :D

[katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is one of the most beautiful illustrations of words i have ever read.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written poetry and definitely will be revisiting it over time!

[xiaohui · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful things
letter to the past
thoughts on letting go
losing you
moving on

[Maggie Smardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite of hers but still good.

[the refuge of books · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been a really long time since I read but this one is just amazing

[Selena Wu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this collection I had never heard of Lang Leav but somehow it feels like the words were always inside of me and she just brought them out.
Some of her writing was so creative and innovative, I would not have thought of such incredible descriptions in a million years. Other parts felt like I had stumbled upon a comforting, gentle, familiar voice, and it was just a wonderful experience. They say a good writer strikes a balance of uncanny specificity about universal things. They describe something so intricately, so well, that it feels personal, and special, and unique to you - but also in a way that feels universal and resonates with a lot of people in their own way and I think she did this well.

I really appreciate the varied tone and length of the poems, it never got slow or repetitive for me as collections can sometimes. I am not always a fan of rhyming poems because sometimes they feel overworked, over-edited, but the ones that did rhyme felt rhythmic and genuine.

The collection is about love and loss and everything in between. Its about her and you and me and him, it's about it all.

If you are looking to venture into poetry, I think this is a good one to start with because it's easy to read but still very vivid and clever.

Some of the lines that struck me particularly (without giving the entire poem away):

"But you had a plane to catch, and I was already home" - Crossroads

"It was just an ending, they tell me, not the end" - Collision

"I have happened in so many places to so many people" - Metamorphosis

"Every day, I look in the mirror and I see more and more of my mother's face staring back at me" - Waiting

"Because there was love and then there was you" - Crazy Love

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gift of Everything is another brilliant art from Lang Leav, which written in 247 pages long. It contained 236 poems and prose, which 35 of them are the newest poem collection and the rest are selected creation from previous books. The Gift of Everything, according to Lang Leav, is collection of her work during childhood where it evolves around schoolyard. Published in 2023, this book once again evoke a friendly yet nostalgic feeling within myself. The poems are still circulating around love, loss and self empowerment, which made it more easy to feel and read also very relatable.

I've read some title such as Crossroads, A Woman and Rogue Planets and remember them admirably as I found them first in the other books like The Universe of Us, Sea of Strangers and Love & Misadventure.

"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."

— A Woman by Lang Leav

Nothing drastically change in term of her writing style, which I took note like to make parable to express her feeling in her writing. Her interesting way of thinking and write it down in parable engage the reader to get lost between each words.

"But since you, my life
is less about attainment
and more about holding
to what I already have."

— Attainment by Lang Leav

Lang Leav's strands of word are beautifully chose and arranged by her and it made her every poems are touching and successfully left me in awe although I've read it thousand of times. From this book, I crowned How Much Love on page 191 as my favorite title as this prose summarized this book in only two sentence.

"How much love is a person capable of giving? I thought I knew the answer until I met you."
— How Much Love by Lang Leav

[E-Lynn Kok · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book if you are interested to start reading Lang Leav's poetry because it is a complication of 236 poems from her previous poetry books published in the span of a decade. These poems are hand-picked by Lang herself. Should you be unsure if you should pick up this book but you have been intrigued by the fuss of her fame and poetry, I recommend that you give this a try.

Having read her previous books and this one, I find most of the poems to be the best of selection plucked from her previous books. It is also a great addition to your Lang Leav collection if you are a fan. This is a beautiful hardcover book, with holographic confetti on the cover, a lavender ribbon bookmark, including an introduction by Lang. Last but not least, it includes 35 new poems sprinkled throughout the book for you to discover like little easter eggs!

The Gift of Everything is an ideal gift for poetry lovers. Poetry comes from the soul, and we all have different souls, some with similar frequency, as such it is up to each person to connect with a poet. Which is to say, Lang Leav's poetry remains a hit or miss for readers. Trying this book can't hurt (ok, fine, maybe your wallet), you might even realise that you have a soft spot for her poems. This book is a vital addition to your Lang Leav treasure hoard as well :))

"She lends her pen
to thoughts of him
that flows from it
in her solitary

For she is his poet
And he is her poetry"

Thank you @times.reads for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. You can find her book in all major bookstores around the world, or here: https://www.timesreads.com/stockists

[Samantha’s Little Library♡✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book of poetry by Lang Leav is very beautiful. 🥰 I’ve been going through a little thing recently, and it was more painful than I expected. The ache is still there; I don’t think it can be properly articulated. On the outside, it was a rather minor event in the grand scheme of my life, but its impact on me has made me rethink a lot about my personal life and the way I go about living it. I’m okay if people don’t understand me or the way I love. I know my heart and I don’t need to give explanations to anyone. I’ve learned a lot about myself, including my views on trust and love. Because of it, I’m a better person even though it hurts. could relate to so many of her words and the feelings she expressed regarding heartbreak, longing, desire, and isolation. One of my favourites is on page 115, titled “Thoughts on Letting Go.” It reads, “It’s possible to move on from someone even if your heart refuses to let go. And it’s not something you need to consciously do. It will just happen gradually, but the intensity will fade, and you’ll find other beautiful things to fill your days with.” Another, on page 82, is titled “Her Time.” Leav states, “She has been feeling it for awhile - that sense of awaking. There is a gentle rage simmering inside her, and it is getting stronger by the day. She will hold it close to her - she will nurture it and let it grow. She won't let anyone take it away from her. It is her rocket fuel and finally, she is going places. She can feel it down to her very core - this is her time. She will not only climb mountains - she will move them too.”

[Nas · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿
𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀
𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁
𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿
𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗸𝗲
𝗔 𝗸𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱
𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲

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

———

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 celebrates the past decade of Lang’s life with 35 new added poems in this anthology of collection.

I just not like it, but i love this new piece of her book. LOVE!

This book is so dear to me for a very personal reason. I feel so emotionally attached to all the words, poems and prose. It speaks directly to my soul and console my troubled, unease heart.

Where words are indescribable to speak how i truly feel at the moment, this book speaks it all as the representative of my aching soul. Wounded, hurt, but hopeful.

As much as I love Lang Leav, this new collection of her is one of my best reads before 2021 bids its goodbye.

Personal rating: 5🌟

Thank you so much @times.reads @putrifariza for sending me this review copy🤍

#langleav #langleavpoetry #thegiftofeverything #bookreview #timesreads #bookstagrammermalaysia #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #malaysiamembaca #andrewsmcmeel #andrewsmcmeelpublishing

[Hyeyeongie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminded me of why I love her poems back then

Newest addition to my shelf
Painted Chantilly lace
The papers are thick
Bearing words of mystics
With a cold heart you touch
Won’t it be too much?
Before you realised,
236 keeps you warm

This is a celebration
For readers, like me
To reread the same lines
And spark some memories
To be a tourist of own past
And embrace them if you must
The time you’re in Love
And gone through Misadventures,
Then on September Love,
you walked across Sea of Strangers
People singing Lullabies,
Aah what a Memories,
Really, Love Looks Pretty on You

“What a blessing it is, to have music and dancing and poetry”
She said At Last
Adding 35 to get it even

Don’t draw the lines
If you think love has no limit
Don’t take it for granted
Or else you’ll lose it
And
If you have a chance to read
Always and always,
Choose poetry

*236 is the total number of poems inside with 35 new poems

Most of my faves are the ones from her old books (Love & Misadventures, September Love, Sea of Strangers, Lullabies, Memories, Love Looks Pretty on You). The quoted lines are taken from the poem titled At Last. ​

[Reena (theBookishReverie) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last time I picked up a work of Lang Leav's was probably over 5 years ago, so even though this collection is mainly made up of her past work, it felt new to me (there are technically only 35 new poems out of the 200+ in this collection).

The way Lang Leav is able to describe and express her feelings and experiences is just beautiful. I found myself resonating with many of her poems and wishing I thought to express the same feelings in the way she did. If you're going through or gone through heartbreak, you'll likely feel understood when reading her work.

I will say though that past the 50% mark it started to feel a bit repetitive to me. I kind of wish she wrote about other aspects of her life rather than just focusing on love and relationships. I would be very interested to read more about her upbringing as a refugee, the events her family went through, and how that has all shaped her.

Overall, this was a pretty quick and light read for me. I enjoyed it but it's not something that truly touched me.

[Naadhira Zahari · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gift of Everything by Lang Leav is a blend between the old and new of the internationally well adored poet's collection about love, life and so much more. I didn't know that this book would include Lang's previous works as well as new ones but it felt like seeing a familiar face as the pages gradually flicker away.

It's always a joy to read this author's beautiful work of poetry and prose. This too, wasn't disappointing. I can feel the emotions seeped through the ink of the pages. The title and purpose of this book is so beautiful because it felt like the author is trying to convey her thankfulness to the readers by releasing this book. Hence, the title: The Gift of Everything.

This book is beautiful inside and out, I would totally recommend you to read Lang Leav's newest addition of her collection of poetry and prose. The thickest and most meaningful one yet.

[Sawsan S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lang Leav rarely misses. I resonate sincerely with her style of writing and her approach to interpreting emotion. I enjoyed this book, as well as some of her others; my only complaint is that I wish she would branch out when it comes to her topics. She writes mostly about love and romance and relationships. I know that Leav is a refugee and endured an eventful childhood. Sometimes I wish she would write about some of these heavier, varying subjects rather than just love. Her collections tend to drone as they go on. By midway through this book, my capacity for reflecting on relationships was burnt out.

Apart from that, her writing and work is beautiful and elegant. I felt a lot of what I read.

[Asmaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

To the man I love, to my future.
 
The first time I felt your presence, I began joining the dots in the sky, wondering when our stars would align.
 
I often think of where you are and if you’re happy. Are you in love? I hope she is gentle. I know you and I are the same in that way—we bruise a little more easily than most. You see, our souls were made in the same breath.
 
I know I’m running late—I’m sorry. Things haven’t worked out the way I planned. But believe me when I tell you I am on my way.
 
Until then, think of me, dream of me and I will do the same. One day I will learn your name, and I will write it somewhere on this page. And we will realize that we have known each other all along.

[kyra ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is not meant to be read in one sitting. flip through the pages, let your eyes snag on keywords that speak to you. there's a poem for heartbreak, for your lover, for when you think you've found your true love but discovered they were just first in line.

I bought this book when I was deeply infatuated with a crush at the end of last year. all the hopeful, starry eyed poems spoke volumes to me then. now i skip them with a rueful smile. one day, a future me will be able to find meaning in them once more.

a beautiful collection of poems exploring the many facets of the heart.

4.5 stars*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

We will remain unwritten throughout history
no X will mark us on the map
but in books of prose and poetry
you loved me once, in a paragraph