On The Way Home: A Collection of Poems

by Olivia Gwyn

Genres: Poetry

70 pages, Paperback

Published November 20, 2021

About the author

Olivia Gwyn was born in rural North Carolina where she grew up with her five siblings. She graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in English with a focus in journalism. She lives in North Carolina with her husband.

Reviews

[Hanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

i've been following olivia's work and writing for years (maybe since 2015?) and i've been looking forward to the day where she write and publishes a book for the longest time.

this book was everything: the way she writes is just immaculate and I am obsessed. these poems talk about the small moments, of living life in the face of eternity, of growing up and growing old, and all in all, they are incredible. this is a favorite on my shelf and i'll be rereading this frequently.

[Kayla]

Beautifully stated, eloquently expressed reflections on moments, memories, hopes and fears. My favorite poems contain snippets of honesty in family relationships and tensions.

[Anna Plybon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and breathtaking!

[Stephanie | stephonashelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟 70 pages of love, loss, growing up, passing time, faith, and the search of light.

I adore poetry, and loved how this felt like a stream of consciousness. It felt like a breath in and out with a style similar to Morgan Harper Nichols and Rupi Kaur.

Poetry resonates so deeply with me, and I am thankful that others have a capacity to share the experience of life this way.

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

“And I can’t stop myself thinking,
‘What did I do to deserve a morning like this?’

The answer comes in the silence
of the microwave beep,
‘Nothing.’

And it is enough.”


Olivia’s words have been been a part of my life for a few years now, but to read them all together, on a page, packs a gut-punch (in the best way possible). I found myself going, ‘whoa, whoa, wait…’ upon finishing each poem. It’s the kind of book you find yourself writing in the margins of, because somewhere between the author’s heart, their pen, and your mind, the words have become about you, too.

All I can say is “On the Way Home” is true to it’s name - it feels like coming home. It feels like patience, and growing pains, and the realization of love. The gospel whispers straight to us, and shouts in our insufficiencies. I see myself, and where I once hated myself, I love the way I’m made. It’s about an ordinary life that is anything but ordinary; oh, if only we’ll believe it.

Thank you, Olivia, for your courage and your gift. His words in you are wonderful.

[gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This spoke to my soul. I don’t know how to accurately describe how much I related and felt, truly felt, these poems. Olivia’s way with words is incredible.

[Sofia Tejada · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how she incorporated her faith and that she had a little bit of everything :) it truly felt like I was flipping through millions of seasons and years of someone’s life. totally recommend this book! really good for her first book ever too 😊

[Josh Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book from a sweet friend! Enjoyed every page!

[Kyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love poetry so much.

[Bookfish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely wonderful, I fell in love with it 3 poems in. Each poem is written simply, a piece of real life in word form. I absolutely LOVED it so much.