This Day Is Dark

by R.H. Sin

r.h. Sin’s This Day Is Dark is a blistering case study of when red flags are mistaken for passion and love falls in the hands of the wrong people, as explored in his signature poetic voice.

From  New York Times  bestselling author r.h. Sin comes  This Day Is Dark , a heartbreakingly relatable collection of poetry and prose that captures some of the darkest moments over an 18-year period.  This Day Is Dark  is an evocative exploration into what it means and how it feels when forever is temporary and once celebrated love becomes unrecognizable.

Genres: Poetry

304 pages, Paperback

Published August 22, 2023

Reviews

[Booked 📚 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75/5 ⭐️
Some of the entries read like something cross-stitched on a pillow. Some read like phrases painted on a piece of repurposed barn wood and sold at HomeGoods.

[T Cruz · Rating 2 out of 5]

this style of poetry is starting to feel too predictable.

"Our love became a wound," (67) is just one example of how, almost lazy?, this collection is. Sin even says it in the introduction that some of these pieces are taken from previous collections. stating the obvious like "they move one and so will you," (184) just isn't the profound piece it wants to be. ugh, please poets, give me more!

[Rhina M. Finley · Rating 4 out of 5]

R.H. Sin is one the best modern poets out there , very blunt, open, and direct with his reflections. Throughout these reflections and poems he tell us more about himself his experiences of being homeless, without father and the lack emotional support from his mother. The beginnings of before he became the poet he is today. The heartbreak and disappointments. There were dark days in his life but he proves there is light and healing ❤️‍🩹.

[Aspen McClain · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really didn’t like this book. I do think that there are some wonderfully good poems and lines in this book, but they are vastly outnumbered by…how do I say this…motivational Facebook posts?

r.h. Sin could be a good author if he left the cliches and actually wrote poetry, and poetry can be many things. Poetry can be simple, poetry can be modern, poetry can be wordy and romantic, or dark and destructive.

At its core, poetry has to make the reader feel something in its construction. This book made me feel nothing but disappointment, wouldn’t recommend to someone looking for an engaging read.

[Nix012 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for people going through a breakup. Good thing Im not 🤭

[Mikaela S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

2:00pm-2:46pm
Out of all of his books, this has been the most vulnerable and consistent collection of poetry so far. The aesthetics were stunning and greatly added to the reading experience!! 🖤

[Elizabeth todd · Rating 2 out of 5]

its alr🤷‍♀️

[Samantha Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a beautiful poetry book but man I think I cried like every four pages

[Elizabeth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciate the fact that this book was written on black paper. I think it went really well with the title name as well as the collection of poems. This was a little bit more outside of the box from the usual Instagram poetry which I really really really appreciate it, I think it’s a great first novel to start off the year as I didn’t quite finish it last year. I ear dogged sooooo many pages for rereads.

[Summer McDaniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy the dark pages and there are a few good pages in this book. To me it is too repetitive of itself just rewording the same things. I give 2 stars for the words, but overall I feel 1.5 is a better rating since the cover fell off!

[Sabrina Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

i did enjoy this a lot, there was a lot of poems in here that i really connected with. i’ve been trying to get into note tabbing more and there was certainly a lot of tabs for this book. if you’ve ever gone through heartbreak this book is definitely something you’ll wanna read. shows that you’re not alone in your feelings.
4 stars though because i did feel like there was a bit of repetition but i still throughly enjoyed!!

[Tony Sadowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, if a bit repetitive of the same themes and thoughts in places. There are some lovely, raw, sad, powerful statements along this very personal, poetic journey of lost love, betrayal, hurt, and self-discovery.

[kutingtin · Rating 3 out of 5]

a lovely savage a delicate beast
she was a warrior
with soft skin
a vivacious brute with victory in her soul
and power in her veins

[Brian Ayers · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn’t take long into this to realize this style of writing/poetry is absolutely NOT for me, but I decided to give the rest a fair shot.

None of it connected for me. Instead of picking any of it apart in a way I’m not qualified to do, I’ll just leave it here and steer clear in the future.

[Madi Calderoni · Rating 3 out of 5]

the irony of reading a book about falling apart while my copy is ACTUALLY falling apart. not my fav from sin but they can't all be winners i guess!!!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

devastating but conclusive

[Kylie Znaniecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is by far my favorite poet. And I love and own all of his books. Always will recommend anyone to read his work.

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was enjoyable. It definitely seems like a more niche book and I can understand how it doesn’t appeal to everyone however I really enjoyed reading it. I liked the writing style and I always love reading modern poetry! It’s a quicker read that I can see myself rereading again when I may want the words of this book as comfort :)

[Courtney Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

R.H. Sin continues to hold a special place on my bookshelf, and honestly, this book is exactly why. His poetry always seems to find a way to cut into whatever emotional space I’m holding at the moment, even if it’s not one I’m consciously aware of. I could be having a perfectly fine day, feeling grounded and content, but opening one of his books guarantees that I’m about to spiral into reflection—sometimes sadness, sometimes clarity, but always something. That’s the power of his work. It’s not just about heartbreak or survival; it’s about the quiet ways we sabotage ourselves by staying in places we’ve outgrown.
This Day is Dark hits on one of those deeply uncomfortable truths: the way we stay in relationships not because they’re good for us, but because we’re still clinging to the idea of what the other person could be. It’s a book about recognizing the cost of staying for potential rather than reality, and about finally choosing yourself. R.H. Sin doesn’t sugarcoat it. He’s blunt, repetitive at times, but in the way a friend repeats advice when you’re too stubborn to listen the first time. These poems aren’t here to make you feel better—they’re here to remind you what you’ve already known deep down.
One of the things I really appreciate about this collection is how it explores the moments we often downplay. Not the grand betrayals, but the accumulation of small cruelties: the one compliment used to cover a hundred harsh words, the excuses we make for partners who have long stopped seeing us clearly. Sin reminds the reader that those tiny fractures add up until something essential inside us breaks. And when it does, we can either keep trying to glue it back together for someone else’s comfort, or we can finally start the hard work of healing for ourselves.
Not every poem here is a standout, but that’s to be expected with collections like this. The strength isn’t necessarily in individual lines, but in how the book as a whole builds a conversation with the reader about endurance, exhaustion, and eventually—release. I found myself flagging more pages than I expected, especially in the latter half where the poems seemed to sharpen their focus on reclaiming your peace, even if it means letting someone go.
What I loved most is that despite the darkness (and it’s right there in the title), this didn’t leave me feeling heavy. If anything, it offered validation. Sometimes it’s enough to have someone put your unspoken feelings into words, to hold a mirror up and say, “See? You’re not crazy for feeling this way.” That’s what this collection did for me.
R.H. Sin continues to write poetry that lives in the margins—the spaces where people don’t always look but where so much of our hurt and healing reside. His honesty, his refusal to shy away from pain, is what keeps me coming back to his books. This wasn’t his strongest collection overall, but it was exactly the one I needed at this moment.
Favorite Takeaway:
There is strength in recognizing when love has become more about endurance than joy, and healing often begins in the moment you finally say: “No more.”
Final Thought:
If you’ve ever been in a relationship where you stayed too long, where you kept hoping things would return to how they used to be, this book will feel painfully familiar. But it won’t leave you hopeless. It reminds you that walking away is an act of self-respect, not defeat.

[MaKenna Rosales · Rating 4 out of 5]

r.h. Sin is one of my favorite poets, and I think that speaks for itself. His writing can always make you feel something you didn't know you could feel. I could be the happiest I've ever been and opening up one of his books, I just know that I'll be in my sad feelings. Sometimes that can be a bad thing I'm sure, but it hasn't been a bad thing for me yet!

This book in particular is very much about being in love/in a relationship that you can recognize isn't good for you mentally, but try to stick it out anyway. We as people tend to do this because we love the person they CAN be and not who they are now - which Sin hits pretty hard. He writes about recognizing what you need, not what your partner needs. He writes about not letting yourself get tricked into staying because of what they say or do, to not get sucked into the 1 good thing they do for you despite the 100 bad things they've said or done.

As always, Sin hits it out of the park with this one. I did dock it one star because, while I was in my feelings, I didn't necessarily "relate" to everything he wrote - but I understand where he's coming from with almost all of it. Love!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't ever read poetry, but this book has made me think I need to delve deeper into it. I was drawn to the book by the cover and was impressed that the content inside was just as impactful. Of course not every single poem was a gem, but as a whole I enjoyed them all and have a long list of my favorites noted down for reference. The subjects of the poems are mostly on the dark side, as indicated in the title, but if you have been through some complicated and possibly emotionally scarring relationships then you will feel every one of these poems. Somehow though, I didn't come away from them feeling down, I felt more validation than anything. Maybe it's because they added in some poems that were addressed to the reader, as little messages to let us know we're not alone in any of the emotions we might be going through.

I will for sure be reading more from this author, loved this collection.

[Matthew Betashour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sin’s prose can feel melodramatic, repetitive of the same emotion, and like a plot stuck on the same point the entire length. It can feel like that when I caught myself glazing through the words or zoning out, but when I was engaged with the words it felt like a good sad song you sing along to in the car.

At the beginning, I immediately self inserted into Sin’s role as I think you’re supposed to but later I had an anxiety and hoped no one would ever read this and think of me. This book is repetitive, but by design and of a self affirmation of standing up but not ignoring how hard it can be.

By the end, the greater structure and its purpose are revealed and worth the investment of emotion and taking it seriously from the onset. Overall, a great time!

[Layla Sturm · Rating 1 out of 5]

This genre of poetry is getting repetitive and old very quickly. I would rather stick my head in a toaster oven than hear the same sentence repeated over and over in a slightly different format with irregular and irrelevant syntax. I think the only reason I didn’t give this book half a star is because it is impossible and because its only redeeming quality is how pretty the cover is. Take this vomit-inducing “poetry” and throw it in the fire along with that Aliza Grace bullshit. Learn how to write before attempting poetry.

[Zac Sambals · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I miss my mother, the woman before, not after, the one from the beginning, the one who would have never, allowed it to end the way it did, I miss her protection, her watchful eyes, guarding me, I've spent the majority, of my adult life, feeling like a kid, stuck in a rainstorm, without an umbrella" This book is about a breakup. However after losing my dearest mother to cancer, I found this quote comforting. Almost like a hug. Finding this quote was a hidden gem for sure. It's nice to sometimes find hidden things in places they subjectively shouldn't be.

[A.R. McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

R.H. Sin never disappoints. In his new installment, he isn't afraid to delve into the darkness that so many of us try to ignore. But reading his poetry reminds me that there is strength in the shadows and we heal when we expose those secrets to the light. His honesty is refreshing, especially in our superficial world where feelings are swept to the side and we try to pretend that everything is okay when it's not. He is a true poet and I love him so much.

[Teri Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of poetry is super relatable for anyone who is experiencing, or has experienced, heartbreak. I know because heartache had me in a chokehold a few years ago. As I read the poems, I just know I would have felt so seen back then. This was my first read by him and I know I will continue reading his works.

My only complaint is the poor construction of the book. The cover literally separated from the spine. So I’ll have to handle it with care if I pick it back up for another read.

[Deserae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely powerful. I loved it so much. It made me think and understand how much I can relate to so many other people through the words that were spoken in this book. It made me have a different perspective on how I should be reacting/ handling to certain situations and how I shouldn’t settle for anything but the very best when in a relationship. It would be a very good book for someone going through a breakup. I am not however can relate in other ways.

[Shianne DeMoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love all of R.H. Sin's books. This one just wasn't quite 5 stars for me, but only because it was more so sounding like poetry from after a breakup, and I haven't had one of those in quite some time. 😅 I've found my healing. This book reminded me of some of those things, but I'm no longer in a place where they impact me as much as they once did. As always, though, it was a wonderful book. ❤️

[Jordan Ricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I read this after the challenging year that I have had this was really helpful. I cried a lot but I needed to cry because i was trying to be strong but i am so thankful for this book because I had suffered from loneliness and depression a lot and this book of poems was validating for me and also it felt good to hear a point of view like this.

[Marinara Sauceonova · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is likely more helpful for people working trauma through relational and romantic trauma, which I wish was more highlighted in the description.
Out of 200 something pages, none resonated with me. I was hoping to be able to take more away from it, maybe but I’d totally give the book to a friend going through a break up. I can’t recommend it to anyone else.