The Tears That Taught Me

by Morgan Richard Olivier

With unapologetically honest reflections and revelations—Morgan Richard Olivier embraces the tears, trials, and triumphs one experiences when seeking development, direction, and detachment. The Tears That Taught Me poetry and prose collection guides readers as they dig through the roots of their struggles, truths, faith, and life lessons. Through pruning, positioning, and reframing—we are able to blossom as we make peace with our pain and accept the greater purpose of every experience and emotion endured.

Genres: Poetry, Self Help, Nonfiction, Love, Grief, Religion, Christian

167 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Taylor Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Now that I've learned and grown, I find myself more grateful yet far less impressed."

What an absolute masterpiece. Extremely well written, empathetic, expressive, and inspiring. I felt that this book truly resonated with me in many poems within it. I loved the incorporation of God into a majority of the poems as well because it has really touched my faith journey in which I am making my way back towards God. Overall, I highly recommend this book.

Really excited to read Morgan Olivier's second book!

[Annalisa Dalla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kept seeing excerpts of this book on Facebook so I decided to buy it. I suppose it wasn’t quite what I thought based on what I read from it already. It didn’t feel poetic for most of it and also felt very repetitive. I was expecting something with more of a poetry feel and less of a motivational PowerPoint conference feel.

[Mackenzie Dain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love poetry and if you are someone who really finds poetry to be soothing or relaxing, then this book is for you. I have been struggling all of my life with mental health issues and this book is great for affirmations and reassuring myself that everything will be okay.

[Megan Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mild references to Christianity that I did not relate to, but mostly I really treasured the insights that Morgan shared. It even inspired me to pick up writing again. 💕

[Borough of Totowa Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book because it really expressed my feelings and showed how even though we go through these hard times and don’t believe in ourselves and think that we are not good enough we have to stand tall and push through and recognize ourselves as who we are and what we have become!

This review was submitted as part of our Youth Engagement Team "Goodreads Review Program".

[Emily Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My student was loving this book and wanted me to read it today, so I read it during my prep. I’m not religious but the author has some good quotes about self actualization as well.

[Cynthia Feenstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book. Great wisdom, tons of nuggets.

[Conner Walstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tears That Taught Me by Morgan Richard Olivier is a collection of poetry that explores the lessons learned through life’s many trials and tribulations. I originally picked up this book because I thought that it looked interesting and the concept of this collection is something that I’ve been trying to deal with for the past year or so. Reading this was pretty difficult for me because the majority of the poetry covered within seemed pretty directed to my current complicated mental state. Although it took a while to think through the powerful words within these pages I ended up learning a lot about myself throughout reading this. I won’t go into exactly what I learned from this since that feels a bit too personal but I think that anyone who reads this will learn something helpful regardless of what your current circumstances are. Weirdly enough, I gained a new understanding of the trials around me which made me interested in what caused many of my social issues as a late teenager. I ended up doing an entire research project in an English class based on this newfound fascination with my rocky past and the more academic side of things. I personally really enjoyed this book and might have to poke into a bit more poetry because of how good this one was. I’d recommend this book to anyone who might be struggling with mental health or any problems related to how you deal with challenges. I’m glad I read this collection and hope that others may be able to connect to it too!

[Abbi Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think overall this book wasn’t bad however, there is a lot that seems very ignorant it very much so gives off the the vibe of “you should just be happy and God will take revenge for you” I don’t think it was all bad though. On the other hand, I would NEVER let anyone with a super impressionable mind read this.

[Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking. Soul altering. Life changing

[Pay:) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS

The Tears That Taught Me is a profoundly moving and beautifully written collection that left a lasting impact on me. From the very first page, the author’s vulnerability and honesty shine through, inviting readers to reflect on their own journeys through pain, growth, and healing.

What stands out most is the way the book transforms difficult emotions into sources of strength and wisdom. The poetry is both raw and uplifting, capturing the complexities of heartbreak, self-discovery, and resilience. Each piece feels deeply personal, yet universally relatable, making it easy to connect with the author’s experiences and insights.

I especially appreciated the hopeful undertones woven throughout the collection. While the poems do not shy away from the realities of struggle, they also celebrate the beauty that can be found in overcoming adversity. The writing is lyrical and evocative, with lines that linger in your mind long after you’ve finished reading.

Overall, The Tears That Taught Me is a testament to the power of vulnerability and the lessons we learn from our hardest moments. I would highly recommend this book to anyone seeking comfort, encouragement, or a reminder that healing is possible. It’s a collection I will return to again and again.

[Cheyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the most beautiful and raw words I have read. The only draw back was the consistent reference to a Christian god. Otherwise, is a great book to reflect on our need to process our emotions and let go of what is no longer serving us.

[Gracyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It hit too close to home. It was beautiful. I would recommend this to everyone if I could. I finished it in one hour

" Please know that I truly do not care if you don't like the woman who stands before you. I unapologetically and wholeheartedly love her."

[Mcalaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift from a very dear friend who meant it to feel like a “book hug” and that is exactly what it was for me and my soul. I will reread using each page as a daily journal prompt. Feeling inspired!

[Riki Neilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book! So many moments of self reflection, highly recommend. Easy easy read too, but I’ll be reading this many more times.

[Anja Barugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it, felt like advice from a big sister!

[Ava Kalk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not the biggest poetry person but my mom gave me this book and I left with a large number of quotes in my notes app that I look at when I need to remind myself that things WILL get better

[Carol McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book for those who have gone through life & need self-love, forgiveness, and healing.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really beautiful book with many passages that I feel I'll return to as healthy reminders to myself.

[Breanna Muiller · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first time reading a book of poetry and I’m thinking it’s probably just not my thing- but I tried!

[Hollie Bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hadn’t really realised God would be mentioned so much. Had to skim a lot of repetitive messages and messages about God. But some helpful quotes to highlight and read later on.

[Lea Kocurek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Much like Her III, this one wasn’t for me. It didn’t strike me as particularly poetic—more a collection of aspirations that didn’t quite land.

[Mary Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best motivational book I’ve ever read! I wanted to highlight every word. I’m going to be recommending this book to everyone. It does talk about God, but you could use it as your high power instead- or what you believe in.

[Gabrielle G · Rating 1 out of 5]

I added this to my book to my list after TikTok trend of what book describes my life. This was disappointing hahaha. It was a poetry / essay style book with references to Christianity and focused a lot on moving past drama. How do I fix my algorithm

[BethAnn BookBumming · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who is struggling.

It’s like she lived my life. A wonderful read and one that when struggling with life you can go back to over and over.

[Valerie M]

A poem book about growth, boundaries and letting go. Many of the poems resonated with me for long periods after reading them. It’s a simple short read with deep meanings. I’ll definitely be picking it up once in a while to reference back!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relatable. Some good points, but can be repetitive at times.

[Aliesha Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Kayli · Rating 5 out of 5]

validating

As someone who has suffered for so long and never truly understood this feeling, this book has taken my scrambled head and wrote my feelings out, I’m not religious so I didn’t pay a lot of attention to the God parts but everything else made me cry

[Hilda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the wisdom shared in this book. I would recommend it to everyone. A wonderful read for everyone. We can all use encouragement, and wisdom from others experiences. Kudos to this author for her sharing of her experiences, and the wisdom she gained frim them. It's so important to share like this. It may help someone else, and lifting others up, is really what it's all about. No man or woman for that matter, is an island. We were made for community. We need each other's stories and wisdom.