Time Will Tell

by Courtney Peppernell

Time Will Tell is a collection of introspective poetry from bestselling author Courtney Peppernell. Discover what it means to start inward and evolve into the version of yourself the world knows you can be.

From the bestselling author of Pillow Thoughts and Watering the Soul comes another deeply honest and moving collection of poetry and prose, about the strength and resilience we embody in the face of hardship and change. Time Will Tell offers what Courtney Peppernell does hope, encouragement, and the beauty of looking inward.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Romance, Adult

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2023

About the author

Courtney Peppernell is an internationally best-selling author, known for her deeply moving poetry and storytelling. Her beloved Pillow Thoughts series, along with Watering the Soul, I Hope You Stay, Time Will Tell, and more, have resonated with readers around the world, selling millions of copies and being translated into multiple languages. Blending themes of love, healing, and self-discovery, Courtney's work has made a lasting impact in the poetry and contemporary literature space. She lives on the South Coast of NSW with her partner and spends her days writing and working on many projects, always accompanied by her beloved dogs and chickens. Passionate about the power of storytelling, she hopes to continue creating work that fosters connection and healing for years to come.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐️

The artwork was absolutely stunning and there were a few poems/portions of poems that resonated with me. Aside from that, the rest was okay - while I agreed with the messages, I didn’t really feel the poems the way I had hoped to.

I enjoyed Rebirth - the last chapter - the most.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading Courtney Peppernell for years and I just think it's been amazing and wonderful seeing her grow in/with each book. While her earlier works largely focused on romantic love (and lots of heartbreak), her more recent collections like this one are centered on self-love, growth and healing, which I find so beautiful.

Time Will Tell isn't my favourite collection as it has way too many anecdotes for my liking, most of which I find overly cheesy. However, there are a few poems I love and deeply resonate with. While this was an okay read overall, I really like the overlying themes of rest, reflect, reset and rebirth.

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing for the Netgalley ARC.

[Kalena ୨୧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars, this was so beautiful I needed to hear some of the themes

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

I own a few other of Courtney Peppernell's books and they're so lovely, my first experience with her was in Pillow Thoughts Vol 1 and I'm honestly trying to read the rest of her books as well. So when I saw this on NetGalley I wanted to see if I could get this to read and I'm so happy I did. This poetry style is definitely for people who enjoy the structure of classic poetry but the possible connection to the present of "Instagram caption poetry" (which I really like). There are also some paragraphs and pages that are just composed of prose but help paint the background story of the collection and I thought it was very nice.

It's always tricky to remember that change is a part of life and that it's not always a bad thing. I have problems with assuming change has a negative connotation because it scares me. But growth means the same thing and it has such a positive connotation that it truly might not be as bad as anxiety makes it seem. This message came through loud and clear from this collection and I really needed to hear it at the time, I know that life is difficult but it was comforting to hear someone talk about change and eventually get to 'regrowth' instead of just not be able to find happiness anymore.

[TW: breakup and mental health struggles]

[Lina · Rating 2 out of 5]

NetGalley ARC review: Firstly I want to acknowledge that I went into this book with the wrong expectations! I interpreted the synopsis and cover as a whimsical fantasy story told through poems with themes of overcoming struggle. In reality this is more of a self help poetry collection.
The poetry was a bit too heavy handed for me personally and I felt that it was very on the nose at times.
I will say the illustrations within this book and on the cover are really stunning!

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5*

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my Marines gave this to me. It honestly reminded me of my own poetry (and I think I am a very surface level poet!), so I wasn’t really a fan.

[jada · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 ⭐️'s

we are so hell-bent on loving
people who never notice us
in a crowded room.
but you deserve to be noticed.

[Madison Head · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good collection of poetry. I didn’t connect to all of the poems as deeply as the last book I read by her, but this was beautiful in its own way.

[Kamilė | cobwebshelves · Rating 3 out of 5]

"And I understood that this is what it means to watch reinvention, to see someone find their worth. So beautiful in the way they learn to fly, such grace in the way they have healed."

2.5, rounded up. I just really didn't click with this one. I will commend Peppernell for the variety of style and structure. Some people are written as short essays, with some rhymes, and the more conventional poems range in stanzas and patterns. That said, when you take the entire book into consideration, all this variety feels disjointed. There's little binding some of the sections together, and certain poems feel completely out of place. A lot of the motifs are repetitive to the point where it no longer feels like callbacks, and more like "what, haven't I read this before?" – that's not to mention the somewhat cheesy tone. Some of the poems should've been cut out and perhaps saved for a different volume, as this collection ends up feeling far too long for what it offers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the arc.

[La Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time will tell is a collection of introspective poems.
Those reported in this fabulous little book are very profound poems that completely change the way you see yourself. Poems that kidnap your soul, that help you discover your inner self, evolve yourself and improve your person.
I madly loved every poem. Courtney Pepperell entered my heart with her fluid, deep, meaningful pen that pushes you to find yourself and give yourself time.
A very personal and intense booklet. Highly recommended.

I thank Netgalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and Courtney Pepperell for sending me the ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[angelpompom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another gorgeous poem book written by my quickly becoming favorite poetry author💕

Perhaps the reason
so many choose to hide
behind closed doors
is for the fear there will
be no one to greet them
on the other side.

It is a simple, beautiful thing
about humans—
we want to mean something,
to someone.

We want to know our worth
and our existence matter.

So, if you ever have the chance
to remind someone of their
importance, and of their worth,
that just by being here,
the world is a little better—
open the door.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given to me by a dear friend which made the messages inside even more dear to my heart. It was a long 2024 and this gave me space to reflect on some of the year’s events. It provided hope for a more positive 2025, but only time will tell.

[Eleanor Cleveland · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art throughout is beautiful

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars feels too critical, but 3 stars doesn't feel right either. I loved the idea of this book, but it didn't particularly resonate with me, and I think I would've edited out a lot of the poems, making for a more concise read. I felt a lot of them to be kind of trite and repetitive, and trimming those out would've helped the stronger poems stand out more.

I also felt like the majority of this book centered on reiterating the same vague promises that change/growth/healing/good things will come, without much focus on what that change looks like, what it is, and what it is to have to work hard and fight for it. Instead, it felt the themes and narratives (for the most part) lacked specificity.

Lastly, when I picked this book up I had no prior knowledge of the author or her other works, and I think the marketing misled me a bit on what I ought to expect. The cover and the blirb at the back of the cover gave me the impression there would be a sense of narrative and story, while the book is actually purely a collection of poetry.

I did enjoy the artwork, some of the poems, and the way the different sections of the book were organized by theme. Hence, why a mere 2 stars feels very critical of me. Give it a try if you enjoy poetry and don't care too much if it's not particularly advanced.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for the beautiful artwork. It was the drawings that drew me to this poem collection and there was 1 poem I really connected with. The rest were ok. I think if you have lost a spouse or romantic partner, you would probably get more out of this.

[Alexandra (birdyreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Courtney Peppernell writes beautiful works and I am a forever fan. This collection felt a little different to me, like it didn't quite connect like her previous works. Thats not to say there were many moving moments through out this book. I very much enjoyed the variation in the the structure of the poems. The essay like pages give me hope that she will someday write a short story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for my eARC

[Malli (Chapter Malliumpkin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC was given by NetGalley & Andrews McMeel Publishing.

Expected publication: August 1, 2023

✨ Pillow Thoughts ★★★★

Actual rating: 3.5 ��

Content/Trigger Warnings: Loss of loved ones, grief, depression, mentions toxic/abusive relationships, talk of body image, loneliness

"Healing is much like a pile of leaves. The pile does not appear in an instant. It takes many falling leaves, slowly, one by one, adding to the pile."

Honestly, I don't know how to write my feelings or review for this book. I did round up my rating to a low 4 stars. I think if I wasn't on a healing journey right now (at the time of reading this arc) and I wouldn't have dealt with a lot of loss and grief in the beginning of the year, this book wouldn't have hit the way it did. There were a lot of passages that hit really close to home and some hard pills to swallow. I also enjoyed the story of The Old Man and the Butterfly story at the end of this book. There was also a passage where the author referred to themselves as a colosseum and taking care of people beyond their limit, and that hit really close to home. My Aunties often refer to me as being a lighthouse for people and that passage just made me really soft and squishy. However, there were a lot of passages that felt repetitive, longer than they should have been, and even near the end, it felt like we kept circling back to things that were already addressed at the beginning of the book. As an overall, I rounded up my rating for this book because the parts that really hit close to home and made me emotional really made the book for me. I think this book can potentially be hit or miss for readers especially if you're someone who doesn't vibe with repetitiveness. I still encouraging poetry lovers to give this a chance especially if you're healing from a l0ss or you're embarking on a healing journey.

"Starting again," it said, "is the only way to repair."

The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.

Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been really into poetry lately. While I read this from the viewpoint of being in a relationship, i definitely found myself reflecting on what love means to me. Regardless of if you’re in a relationship, single, or just broken up, you’ll find that the poems and stories in “Time Will Tell” are raw and relatable. I hope the people in my life know how special they are to me. My heart would not be full without them <3 may they all find happiness and love

My favorites were:
-“The most beautiful thing you can do is hold out your hand when someone falls. The most beautiful thing you can do is listen when someone talks about their fears and insecurities, to remind them that their flaws do not define them or diminish their capabilities. The most beautiful thing you can do is to show empathy, for you do not know what battles people may face day-to-day. The most beautiful thing you can do is lift up someone's spirits, for joy always keeps the darkness away. The most beautiful thing you can do is laugh and dance for all of time. The most beautiful thing you can do is hold on to your dreams and always be kind.”

-It was always a risk to love you— I knew what they would say and
all the ways they would try to keep us apart
But the way my hand fits with yours and that feeling in my chest

always you

You kissed me once for every letter in my name, told me that in the moments that felt too complicated and out of reach
you would breathe, and I'd be right there on your lips

forever”

-“And there we were, singing the lyrics to our favorite song, in a stadium of twinkling lights, feeling like we really belonged—
and even in a sea of others, your smile lit up the night.
I knew then that my love for you was brighter than any color.”

[Shea ☾⚂ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning was good, kept my attention. The middle was lacking with a few great pieces sprinkled in, but then the end was really good. Loved the ode to a butterfly, I feel it was a great conclusion to the collection. I had just gone through a friendship breakup myself and some of the poems really spoke volumes to me, it’s nice to know you’re not the only one feeling your feelings. This book reminded me that I’m not alone, I’m by myself.
But at the same time I felt like some poems made no sense, like it’s about healing, then there was a random feminist poem in there, caught me off guard because it didn’t fit with the vibe. I felt some poems were repetitive and this could have been like 50 poems shorter because of that.
Thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing!

[Yolanda | yolandaannmarie.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Time Will Tell releases August 1, 2023

4.5

reflection and repair.
healing and strength.
growth and change.

If you’re going through a rough time, or are facing loss (of yourself, or someone else), or have self-doubts, you’ll definitely find comfort and reassurance within these pages.

Courtney’s poetry always seems to find me at the right time, like a moth drawn to a flame.
This will be one I treasure and come back to when I need that reminder that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

[Laurel]

Peppernell's books always feel a bit like a diary to me - but one without contextual details and specific people. Maybe an internal monologue journal perhaps? It's a journey inward and softly arrayed words to a gentle rhythm.

While not a work to read if you like deep metaphors or strict stanzas, there is nonetheless something I find soothing in her reading her poetry. It's rather like revisiting a favorite children's book where the simple words and kind messages give you a boost.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this work.

[Julie Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for letting me read this book in exchange for a review.

This is a beautiful collection of poetry which I really enjoyed! It’s split into sections by themes, and some of the poems are structured like traditional poems, whilst others consist of a paragraph of text.

I found a lot of the poems to be relatable and inspirational and I enjoyed this collection a lot!

[Kade Gulluscio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courtney Peppernell's work is truly amazing. I know it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but man, do I love their work.

I always find so many poems i resonate with. And I think that's part of what makes her work so special. Her ability to put into words what so many of us feel.

This book is beautiful. Get it.

[Sara Jovanovic]

DNF @ 47%

I think it's safe to say that this poetry collection simply wasn't for me. I tried to push my way through because I really enjoyed Courtney's previous works and because it's a poetry collection but I just simply couldn't do it. It didn't held my attention and I defintely won't be trying this one again.

[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.

After reading so many of Peppernell's books, this ends up feeling a bit repetitive, though I did enjoy reading these poems. A good book to read if you're going through a tough time. Rating: 3/5 stars.

[ruthsbooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

This seems so different from Courtney’s previous works. The story telling was immaculate 🤌🏼 The reflecting, the repairing, the emerging, the awakening, the navigating - all chefs kiss 💋

Perhaps it’s when I’m at my saddest that I turn to poetry for company and I guess I’m not at my saddest right now, so I didn’t feel as connected to the words as much as I thought I would. But that’s on me. It was still so beautiful. I felt the grief, the heartache, the hope, and the rebirth of it.

And the covers simple and beautiful 😊

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 - Easily one of my favorite Courtney Peppernell books. So many relatable poems, so many things that make you think about life, love, friendships, soul searching. This book had it all. Beautifully written!

[Shannon Deacon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was nice to read, some poems and passages felt very relevant to me and there are some i’ve tabbed to go back to at another time. Some I felt were quite repetitive in each of the sections, overall a pleasant read and the illlustrations are beautiful.

[Alara Koksoken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am obsessed with these works of Courtney Peppernell. I love how she sneaks in this cute little creature into the book to help with the purpose. This one resonated with my feelings once again.

[Hailey Toney · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ✨