Cover Image: Sincerely

Sincerely

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Member Reviews

This was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it. thanks for letting me have an advance copy. I'm new to this author.

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Great collection. Heartfelt and thought provoking.

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This is a book I would re read over and over again. Definitely recommend reading. I will definitely be reading more of Yousaf's work.

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Thanks to #NetGalley for the review copy of #Sincerely

This book is based on a fairly unique premise compared to other modern poetry - it's a loving ode to Yousaf's now-wife (then-girlfriend) based on old letters and communications, assembled to propose to her. Going through the book beginning to end tells a story of all of the challenges, victories, and growth that occur when forming such a bond with another person. There are also simple sketched illustrations throughout that are plain but add to the overall feel of the collection by adding visuals or by making space between poems. This book would make a great gift for a loved one, to show appreciation and to thank them for the support and positive changes they've inspired in your life.

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Honestly, what a book

I started reading sincerely half expecting to read another heartbreak book. I know poetry is often about feelings and sharing them on a page and that can be therapeutic for the author but sometimes I do feel like the sad, heartbroken poems are very overdone and can bring the reader down in a way. Sincerely wasn't this. I am pleased.

The way F.S. Yousaf speaks about the person he is writing about is beautiful. The way he addresses him/her, the way he describes their relationship, it makes my heart smile. Being in a long term relationship myself, I know love when I read about it. This book defines love in a way that I've never really seen it before. Despite what may have happened/ what is happening between the author and this individual, the language used in his book makes me respect F.S. Yousaf as an author and a person. We need more uplifting poetry!!

ALONGSIDE this, the illustrations are simple yet graceful and accompany the poetry well.

If you want to smile a little more, read this book.

4.5/5

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Thank you to NetGalley for a free digital copy of this book.

This collection is still just as lovely as when I read it as a self-published book. It's a heartfelt, easy read for those who are looking to get into poetry.

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I sincerely don't know what happened with this book. I was approved to read it two days ago and yesterday night when I tried to read it I found out it was archived. I am quite bummed, but okay. Maybe it wasn't meant to be....

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Searching for a profound way to propose to his fiancée, F.S. Yousaf reread the letters she had written him. In them he found his proposal, as well as inspiration to write his own prose and poetry. From this inspiration, Sincerely was born.

From the first, these poems are truly beautiful and most people would love someone to write about them in such a beautiful and lyrical way. Yousaf through their poetry truly is so emotive and passionate and it makes for such a beautiful read. Moments that stand out for me like 'High Noon' and 'Alter' for example are some finest love poems and they truly pop in this collection.

This collection is so many things, it's intimate, it's raw, it's proposing to the person you've spent so long writing about and realising just how important they are to you. Sincerely is sincere and it makes for a gorgeous read from start to finish, though sometimes it felt like in moments I was reading some of the same things.

A deeply emotive collection of poetry full of passion, I recommend it to anyone who loves the work of Lang Leav for example.

(I received an ARC from Netgalley for honest review).

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I didn’t realize I requested a book I had read when it was first published. However, I enjoyed the read a second time around and would recommend it to anyone!

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It’s not often that I read poetry and I don’t have the ability to pick apart each sentence, line or word to discover a hidden meaning like so many of my English teachers used to do. But that in no way stopped me from enjoying this book immensely. Seriously, I loved it!

I read each poem as a whole and was able to experience its beauty in the moment. Yousaf has such a way with words that you immediately feel transported into his shoes, feeling every feeling and thinking every thought.

I also don’t usually annotate in my books (physical or ebook) but there were several passages in this one that I just had to highlight in my kindle so I could come back to them later. This book may be an ode to their significant other but it covered so much more. Topics like not giving up, always trying your best, how your partner can bring you happiness but only you can save yourself, were all touched on in the poems and I found Sincerely, to be so inspiring.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Central Avenue Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed this poetry collection. It was so sweet. You can feel Yousaf's passion for his writing and his lover throughout the entire collection. It was absolutely beautiful and an absolute joy to read.

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It was nice reading this and I really like the mention of Poe in this. I didn't connect to any of the poetry. I loved the little story in the beginning on how it came to be published.

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An absolutely wonderful and heartfelt collection. I couldn't possibly pick favourites because the whole collection is full of gems; it is clear how much love there is behind each one.

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I am not one for love poems but I fell in love with the love this author holds. This beautiful love letter is one to read. It’s the kind of love you hope for and the one we all deserve. Yousaf’s poems express love in a simple way and makes loving look easy. This book breathes hope in its pages. Thank you to Netgalley and Central Avenue Publishing for the advance read.

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I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

I wish I had even an ounce of the talent F.S. Yousaf has.

This book is full of emotional powerful poetry.
You won't regret reading this.

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I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This book is beautifully written and very heartfelt and heartwarming. You can feel the live felt for this special person it was written about and for through each and every page.
These poems are very simple in style but very well worded and written.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful collection with us, I look forward to reading more from you in the future.

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This book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Central Avenue Publishing and Netgalley!

Sincerely, is a poetry collection that was previously self-published and is now published by Central Avenue Publishing. This poetry collection is a collection full of love letters and love poems.

I really liked the idea of this collection and I was really curious to see if this poetry collection was something for me or not. I really wanted to like this collection because it’s the first poetry collection that I read this year, but unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped to.

For some reason I couldn’t connect to the poems, I couldn’t ‘feel’ them. I’m not sure how to describe this feeling but usually, when I read poems I get this feeling, and now I did not. I guess this poetry collection wasn’t something for me or maybe at another time, I can enjoy it a bit more?

I do think that the meaning behind this collection is beautiful and some of the poems were really beautiful. I also really liked the illustrations in this collection, illustrations always give the book something extra! I just wish that I could’ve enjoyed this collection a bit more.

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4 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely beautiful! It's hard to put into words the feeling of love but every word made sense to me. This is the cutest most soppy poetry read in the best way possible.

This is a great read if you are into love poetry or just want an easy quick read.

My only issue, which I do feel is unfair to poetry I must admit, is that it could of been shorter as they are all about the same thing with only different words.

Would still highly recommend.

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I've been so drawn to sad literature as of late. This is quite the opposite of what I have been in the mood for. Let me tell you, so many beautiful poems here.

Not just filled with love letters and love poems, but a sense of hope and strength throughout. There's not always going to be sunshine, sometimes it's just fog. Love, on the other hand, regardless of fog will still be there.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, especially as I got deeper into it.

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*Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book*

I am so pleased I was accepted to receive an advanced copy of this collection of short poems. I would describe them as romantic and tender poems and each one reflects different stages of a long term relationship.

deja Vu
I asked you how our love was doing. And you responded by saying that it was as tight as a knot.
And while your words gave me deja vu, I turned back and asked you again after some time,
How is our knot doing now?
And you responded, tighter than before.

Anyone and everyone will be able to enjoy these short poems. You can dip in and out of them or devour them in one sitting, like I did. They are scattered amongst the loveliest little illustrations and you can only leave the pages feeling captivated and happy.

Carousel
When I want to write about bliss,
I think of you.
When I want to write about tranquillity,
I think of you.
When I want to write about the beauty of this world, My mind wanders only towards you.

Some readers will be able to resonate with certain poems so I urge anyone who is new to, or wants to rekindle their love for poetry to try these!

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