Things I Have Loved

by Sophia Hembeck

"Things I Have Loved" will be the second book of the poetic memoir trilogy by Sophia Hembeck.

If "Things I Have Noticed" was about growing up and finding yourself "Things I Have Loved" is about the things that were gained/missed/lost along the way.

Told through objects Hembeck has loved, she is weaving a narrative that examines the themes of love, longing and self-worth.

By diving deep into memories of her own life, pop-culture and (lost) objects she is getting to the core of how we love and why.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Memoir, Essays, Self Help

Paperback

First published February 14, 2023

About the author

BUY HER BOOKS ON: MUSELETTERPUBLISHING.COM

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Sophia Hembeck is a writer and visual artist based in Edinburgh.

She has published three books of essays called:

Things I Have Noticed / Muse Letter Publishing, 2020

Things I Have Loved / Muser Letter Publishing,
2023

Things That Are Different Now / Muse Letter Publishing, 2025


Every Sunday she writes The Muse Letter on substack, where she wonders about the meanderings of life. Read on themuseletter.substack.com

Reviews

[ana (ananascanread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book spoke to me on a personal level.
couldn't put it down, finished it all in one afternoon.

a collection of personal reflections about life, friendships, womanhood and love.

[endlessbookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignant, empowering and comforting. This memoir was so beautifully written, composed of anecdotes from the author herself, and excerpts from books by Virginia Woolf, Patti Smith, Sylvia Plath, Joan Didion and more. Some of the collections in this memoir resonated with me, I’d read it again.

[el · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes. So. Gorgeous. Tender and warm and essential. Have no other words as of yet. Xxx

[Dana Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I read this book in one afternoon (yes, it was that captivating) it now has more dog-ears than "Things I Have Noticed" - if that's even possible. Sophia has a way to say a lot of ordinary things (I mean it in a good way as in relatable) in a very beautiful and catchy way. I love her way of writing so very much and keep her books very close to my heart.

[Elena T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic second memoir in this soon-to-be trilogy. The author explores themes of self-worth, trauma and uncertainty by noticing patterns in her own life. The writing is immediate and has a unique, very personal flavour to it that I can only assume comes in part from perceiving the world first in a language that is not English and still having written this book in English. It is very interesting to see how much the writing style has matured since the first volume, while still maintaining the same style. The insights that the author has into her experiences is inspiring and always pushes me to question events in my own life - which I immensely enjoy.
This is an excellent short read that will have you thinking about it long after you've finished it.

[skullashr · Rating 5 out of 5]

bagusss

[Rebecca Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book, I couldn't put it down. Deeply personal reflections that perfectly capture the transience of heartbreak and reconciliation of childhood. A must read!

[Juliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

“As a writer I am used to filling these gaps with story, pouring one letter after the other into the little cavities in my mouth.” Sophia Hembeck’s Things I Have Loved is the second instalment in a trilogy of memoirs, though it stands on its own (I still need to read the first volume myself). It is a reflection on love and narrative told through essay fragments, slipping through shards of memory and literature. Hembeck asks so many pertinent, difficult questions about love: “People wonder after a break-up, after a loss: Where does the love go? Is it blown away like dandelion puffs? To be sown in better places? Or can I take that love — take it all — and let the seeds fall onto me?” She reflects on singleness and a lack of male friends amongst her and friends, as well as reflecting on the ways romantic love is seen to eclipse other types of love (reminiscent of Amy Key’s recent book); elsewhere, in the longest section of the book, Hembeck explores male fragility, corporal punishment, love, and self-esteem in a surprising narrative turn. It is clear that Hembeck has been greatly influenced by Deborah Levy’s own trilogy of memoirs, as well as other writers I love, like Joan Didion (just before referencing Didion’s famous about telling ourselves stories, Hembeck opines “People will go to great lengths to protect their stories”). In other places, Hembeck reflects on repairing a damaged connection with a loved one: “Trust cannot be built in a minute of compassion when there has been a lifetime of damage. It’s an ongoing conversation.” I’m excited to see where this trilogy will end — thanks Sophia for sending me a copy of the latest instalment!

[Carlos de la Cerda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read! She is very intelligent and really writes from the heart - those too-sentimental types (Pisces, for example: water, mutable and feminine) will love it and will see themselves in many of the chapters.

The book is structured in blocks of memories that have influenced who the writer is as a person and that have brought her to a place she does not want to be in. It's quite a therapeutic work both for the writer and the reader.

Before buying it, I thought it was a bit overpriced for the book's length (I read it in two rainy mornings) but then realised it's a book you can come back to at any and multiple times.

[Buchstaeblichkeit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophias book touched me deeply. The words could find a place to land.

[Hanne Sofie Lindahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended! Smart, interesting and well-written reflections about life, love, friendships and womanhood! Can’t wait for the third book in the trilogy!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5