I’m pretty sure it’s no secret that I love Amanda Lovelace poetry. She’s my favourite poet! I’ve written about my love of poetry a few times, like about poetry and mental health and on Book Riot. Today I want to spotlight Lovelace’s work, highlighting my favourite poems and collections, as well as providing reading order!
I’ve always known I love quotes and insta-style poetry because they help me process and understand my own feelings. I’m pretty sure I know why that is so true for me. I’ve recently been diagnosed with ADHD, and something that can go along with that is Alexythmia—difficulty identifying and describing your feelings/emotions. I’m pretty sure I have this, but I have not been formally diagnosed (yet). Getting the right diagnoses is a process.
The first time I read Amanda Lovelace’s poetry was when I was on a solo trip on the west coast. I picked up the princess saves herself in this one and read it in one sitting. Then proceeded to read it a second time, cover to cover, in that same sitting. I really connected with her woman-centric themes and simple language. It really paints vivid pictures in my mind triggering visceral reactions. I’ve shed more than one tear reading her work in public.
I had the absolute pleasure of meeting her when I was at Book Expo in 2018. She was on a panel about contemporary poetry and signing copies of the anthology [Dis]connected with other featured poets (including other favs Nikita Gill and Trista Mateer!). Right after the panel I ran up to the stage and gushed to Amanda and snapped a pic. It was such a joyous day.
Since then, I have gotten every one of her poetry collections. And adored them. I’ve also picked up the anthologies she has been a part of!
Women Are Some Kind of Magic series
The Princess Saves Herself in This One (#1)
The Witch Doesn’t Burn in This One (#2)
The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One (#3)
Things That H(a)unt series
To Make Monsters Out of Girls (#1)
To Drink Coffee With a Ghost (#2)
You are Your Own Fairytale
Break Your Glass Slippers (#1)
Anthologies
[Dis]connected: Poems and Stories of Connection and Otherwise
Dragonhearts
His Hideous Heart
Hardcover, 480 pages
Published September 10, 2019 by Flatiron Books
Okay, look. I sort of forgot about this one. I’m not as good at keeping up with anthologies with multiple contributors. It sounds very interesting though! YA authors retelling Poe’s creeptastic poems? Sign me up.
Extra
Slay Those Dragons: A Journal for Writing Your Own Story
Amanda Lovelace Poetry Book Order
There are a few different ways to read these collections! You can read them in publication order, one series at a time, or however you want! Today I’ll tell you the publication order as well as my own recommended reading order!
Publication Order
The princess saves herself in this one
The witch doesn’t burn in this one
To Make Monsters out of Girls
[Dis]connected
Dragonhearts
The mermaid’s voice returns in this one
Slay Those Dragons journal
His Hideous Heart
To Drink coffee With a Ghost
Break your glass slippers
Recommended Order
To be honest, I don’t think it totally matters what order you read these books in. No matter what order you choose, I think you’ll get what you need from them, and you won’t be missing something. While her collections are in series, they are companions not sequels. So, I recommend reading them in what ever order calls to you. Which one do you want to read first? But if I have to give an answer, here it is 😉
Slay Those Dragons
Grab the journal first so you can take notes and jot down thoughts as you read!
Women are some kind of magic series
This series is quintessential Amanda Lovelace. I recommend checking out the book that started it all, the princess saves herself in this one. Then continue with the series in order. It’s so good and the perfect introduction to the poet.
Break your glass slippers
This collection has a feel to it that is similar to the women are some kind of magic series. So if you really enjoy that series, you’re going to love this start to a new series.
Dragonhearts
This collection was published independently by Amanda Lovelace and the poets Nikita Gill and Trista Mateer. It’s a joint effort that introduces you to some of Lovelace’s contemporaries as well.
Things that H(a)unt series
This series is a bit different and best enjoyed in the autumn, in my opinion! There is a bit of a halloween/spooky feel to these collections.
The anthologies
I don’t know which I’d suggest reading first universally. However, if you’re big into the retelling aspect and love YA, definitely jam with His Hideous Heart. If not, [Dis]connected is the way to go!