Member Reviews

Beautiful collections of poems that are thought-provoking and show love, promises, comfort, and other things. It's more than just beginnings and endings, it's felt like a unique experience while reading them.

Thanks to Central Avenue Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read this collection of poems in exchange for a review.

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Tidal Pools and Other Small Infinities is a beautiful, poignant journey of finding and losing love. I love the underlying, consistent connection to nature. It provides the perfect anchor for Costello to move through the beauty and chaos of love. From the bright, hopeful beginning to the messy middle to the devastating ending and finally to the hopeful rebirth. Each poem flows and brings raw emotion through poetic lyrics. You can feel how she felt and empathize through her grief. My favorite poems were the third person ones looking in. It adds the perfect extra touch to this lovely collection. Castello is a master of her pen and words.

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Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Every once in awhile I feel nostalgic and existential and I need to read poetry in order to be understood. This volume scratched that itch for me. Poetry collections are usually short but they give me this feeling of wonder.

I really love how the author views the world we live in, and her commentary on love, loss, and heartache. You can tell the author loves the art of poetry and has that poet's view on the world where everything is a bit romanticized and focused. I would love to see more volumes from this poet as I think she will get better and better.

Some poems I was not able to relate to, but that's okay. Not every poem is written for every person. I do think some metaphors reached quite far to find a connection to the meaning, but I can respect the fluidity of the writing. I felt these passages had a song-like flow and it was wonderful to read.

I would recommend this collection to anyone who likes poetry.

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- strongest in the collection, in my opinion: “the pantry: top shelf,” “betrayal,” and “insomnia.”
- why reference science (petri dishes, tidepools, lessons in botany, etc.) if the myth of lemmings naïvely committing suicide via cliff-jump isn’t debunked here? i feel like it could’ve worked equally powerfully to reference how lemmings use one another for survival, but at the expense of the weakest ones who cannot make it
- this collection didn’t feel like it tickled the part of the brain and heart that it usually does, but my particularity is my own. still would recommend others try it, especially amidst a painful breakup.

many thanks to central avenue publishing and netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

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I love reading poetry and went into Tidal Pools and Other Small Infinities expecting more of the same that I have been reading lately. Kristen Costello completely surprised me with her singsong lyrics and storyteller abilities. I absolutley flew through this book of poetry in one sitting and am looking forward to reading the real book once it comes out. I highly recommend Tidal Pools to anyone who LOVES poetry that tells a story and reminds you of times in your past.

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