Normally, I’m not a fan of modern poetry but this was phenomenal

The prose poetry is beautiful
The themes are universal
I haven’t read the other colelctions in the series but I think I’m going to very soon!

Pillow Thoughts IV by Courtney Peppernell is the final installment in the series and concludes on a beautiful note. Her poems are like a friend reaching out across a coffee table to hold your hand while you piece yourself back together, while you stew in your grief and tape back the shattered pieces of yourself. There is hope and understanding in her words and love for the person you are and will be as you rebuild yourself up after loss.
I find great comfort in her words and can’t wait to own this book so I can tag my favorite lines and curl up in my favorite couch with tea and re-read it all again and savor it even more.
***
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy. This is a beautiful conclusion to Courtney Peppernell's Pillow Thoughts series. There is truly a piece for everyone in this collection.

I definitely liked this collection more than I Hope You Stay. I believe this was the finale to the Pillow Thoughts series and it was a well-rounded ending to a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Recommended especially if you were a fan of the first three.

A beautiful collection of grief and heartbreak. I really enjoyed reading this book and found it to be perfect. The poems and thoughts were relatable and enjoyable. The little bits of artwork scattered in were charming and this was an overall wonderful read.

Beautifully magically written poems. This book transformed me into a magical world I didn’t want to leave. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book did not disappoint! Pillow Thoughts is a wonderful collection of poetry that I would definitely recommend to all readers.

Upon many things I like about Courtney Peppernell’s poetry collections is even if this is the fourth book of her Pillow Thoughts series you can read it as a standalone. Each of her collections are specify targeted for a reason or part of self. Her collection starts off as a story about life,
“Once there was a jellyfish
We’ll call it
You.”
Her 2nd collection is more for the heart, her 3rd collection is more for the mind, and this one is for the soul. I read her first three collections when they came out in 2019 and I recently read them again. Courtney Peppernell’s poetry I found have the ability to be there for you as time goes on. Her poems capture individual growth, such as the procedures and occasions that can develop or experience over time. Not all her poems will effect you the first time, but could affect you in another time.
For me, I find once I start her poetry collection I have a hard time putting the book down. I want to read one more poem, than one more again until I have finished the collection. Afterward I do go back and re-read my favorites and appreciate how well this poet can understand and write truthfully about the many paths human beings walk down even though most seem to walk them alone. We are in fact not.
"If you are looking for respect
tell yourself you are beautiful
every day in the mirror
If you are looking for the truth
remind yourself you are strong
every day out loud
If you are looking to be proud
remember you are not worthless
remember you are not weak
hold yourself piece by piece.
If you are looking for hope
I am telling you that the road
always start again
no matter how long
no matter how far"

Pillow Thoughts IV: Stitching the Soul is the latest in Courtney Peppernell's poetry series, and whether you're a long-time fan or new reader, you're sure to love this book. Peppernell's words speak right to the heart- the sections are laid out so you can find the words you most need to hear in the moment, and the pages are filled with beautiful verse that's emotional and comforting at the same time. These are notes for those who need healing and words of support, and I can see how going back and flipping through the book will bring great comfort.
Andrews McMeel Publishing

I've been reading this series from the beginning. I am not an avid poetry reader but i really enjoyed Pillow Thoughts series. I liked this one too. I think the message behind this book was really lovely. Everyone should heal their heart and love themselves too.

I’ve started from book 1, now this is the final book in the series.
It’s such a nice thing to grow with author as they evolve. This book is good for healing or simply to be art. It’s a beautiful take on love, heartbreak and self worth. I’m really happy with this book

The arc of Pillow Thoughts is beautiful in concept. Supportive and encouraging in message and loving and comforting in the careful choice of words. It’s also softly f/f centric in certain areas that I wish came out a little more as it had in Courtney’s past works in this journey.

However, in this installment I truly struggled to enjoy it as I had the first book. Sure there were a few pages that I enjoyed and while I think this fourth book was better than others, as a whole it was overly repetitive and beaten to death. Each work attempting to find new ways to say the same thing as the pages before it.

Additionally, none of the topics are relatively new or special. After awhile a lot of it felt superficial and exaggerated in its purpose. Potentially, this might fair better as an audio book if the option were ever made available, but even still I don’t know how much I could take in one sitting.

I have read Courtney Peppernell's previous books and I was excited to see this available on Netgalley. I enjoy how the book is split into sections so that you can pick it up and read what you need. It was definitely medicine for the soul and explored themes such as grief, loneliness and soul searching.

A lot of the poems really hit home for me, I found them profound and meaningful. Beautifully written and unique. The poems about grief I found particularly thought provoking and eloquent. I felt some fairy tale vibes to descriptions within poems which made the emotions that much more real.

Some of them were a little repetitive at times and the themes were quite similar throughout the book . I still overall really enjoyed reading this book and found the poems inspiring.

While I am delighted to be reading this early copy of Pillow Thoughts IV there is a little part of me that is sad to know that it is the last in this beautiful series of books, each one of which has reached out and touched me in so many different ways. Courtney Peppernell has always captivated me with the honesty and simplicity of her words and this latest offering is no exception. No matter what mood you are in, you can pick up this book and find something to comfort you, make you feel understood or even empower you. As I read I found myself noting down several pieces that especially spoke to me like " grief is not a singular occasion; it does not happen once and disappear. It happens over and over again, stitched into all the things I do" and " Don't make your body the enemy. It is your map, your home, your canvas, your certainty... Your body is the vessel for your soul; it is an entire earth of your being." and " life is about taking risks, jumping, even if you may fall. If you stay stagnant your whole life, you'll never grow into your full potential. "
As the finale to a wonderful and beloved series, this collection strikes a wonderfully hopeful note. I am keen to see where Peppernell goes next, and I look forward to new work, while knowing that I can always find comfort in this series.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

<i>arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review</i>

This was a good conclusion for this series of poetry. It has a very strong message about self love and how to be patient with yourself. It’s about dealing with grief in your own way, on your own time but that it won’t hold you down forever.

I really liked this overall. It did feel a bit repetitive at times but it didn’t take away from the message of it at all.

3/5 ⭐️

TW: Heartbreak, Breakup, Grief

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Unfortunately, I do not have the capability to read it in the protected pdf format. Thank you.

I completely love Courtney Peppernell's poetry. However, I just didn't feel it in this one. It got repetitive. I was expecting way more poetry rather than prose. Although I enjoyed reading some parts, most of the book was a bit disappointing for me. Rating: 3/5 stars.

Name: Pillow Thoughts IV
Writer: Courtney Peppernell
Genre: Poetry
Review:
A collection of intimate personal poems in the which the poetess searches for the answer for her questions. The book is divided into several parts.
The first part is Soul of Grief in which the grief of the poetess over the loss of her lover. She talks about her dreams and her memories of her lost lover.
The first thing that made me want this book was the superb amazing cover and the title which totally justifies the this collection of poetries. I really liked the illustrations in between the pages.

Truly gorgeous. Peppernell is a master with words, those familiar with her previous work have to come to expect that. It’s such a powerful collection of love, heartache and longing. This book has so much soul. I hope that those that need it, find it

There were so many essays/short story pieces in this book that it did not feel like a work of poetry. After enjoying Courtney Peppernell's previous work, I was excited about diving into this. The writing was not a strong or poetic as the first three installments of this series, and I simply did not connect with the poems as I had previously.