Central Avenue Poetry – serie

What do we risk by living our most authentic lives? More importantly, what do we gain?In the Middle of a Better World is a queer guide to love and identity, a collection both formally inventive and infused with a bright, shimmering imagination. Part elegy, part battle cry, this highly anticipated new collection by Grant Chemidlin is unabashedly joyous in its exploration of desire, human connection, and community—those we’re born into and those we build ourselves.

If you think often about the past or battle with overthinking and self-esteem, girl made of glass is for you. This collection is about finding yourself, forgiving yourself, and loving yourself. It explores the many ways our past haunts us, but will leave you feeling hopeful about your future.girl made of glass is a poetry collection about how our past—past mistakes, relationships, and regrets—can linger into our future. Broken into four parts, this book is about finding, forgiving, and loving ourselves. The Nightmares explores our past and the moments that haunt us. The Mirror delves into insecurity and how we might haunt ourselves. The Shattering investigates relationships and how they can break us. The Enchantment delivers an uplifting conclusion of self-love and growth.

How do you untangle the real you from the curated you? In this introspective yet whimsical collection, poet Grant Chemidlin takes readers into the thicket of self-discovery.**Finalist for Lambda Literary Award - Gay Poetry What We Lost in the Swamp is a lush and vibrant collection of poems that examines the many manifestations of green: nature, inexperience, jealousy, burgeoning love, and exploring sexuality. It is a slow unfurling. It is a love letter to growth, to rediscovery, to finally learning how to speak the truth. These astonishing poems ask the reader: Who do you want to be in this world? How do you want to build a life?   This is not a coming out. This is a coming in to one’s truest self.Find out why this is one of TikTok's most viral poetry books.

* A Belletrist Book of the Month! A poignant collection of poetry and prose that tackles the complexities of heartache, gender roles, queerness, and toxic masculinity.Introspective, vulnerable, and tantalizing, this is a love letter to queerness — capturing the joy, grief, ecstasy, and hope that accompany it. The poems tackle the complexities of infatuation, heartache, sexual assault, and toxic masculinity. Across three acts, Weissmann offers readers an unfiltered view into his psyche through several romantic relationships. These poems magnify the reality of exploring emotional and physical intimacy with multiple genders, all while navigating the journey of self-love. Her, Him & I is a coming-of-age celebration of heartbreak and healing.

Sweet reassurance and validation for anyone feeling adrift—this collection of verse, illustrations, and photography is a poetic refuge far away from loneliness.A delicate blend of melancholy reflections and absurd hopefulness, Small Ghost explores the exhausting reality of struggling with mental health. Mateer’s conversational style, infused with vulnerability and thoughtfulness, transforms mundane experiences into wistful musings. Panic attacks at the grocery store and days spent wasting away in bed are met with humor and care. Lauren Zaknoun’s evocative photography and the poet’s own illustrations add a whimsical, irreverent touch to the collection. With Small Ghost, Trista Mateer holds out a hand and offers solace to those who may feel otherwise isolated in their peculiarities.

Discover the fourth collection by Shelby Leigh, the bestselling poet of Changing With the Tides and Girl Made of Glass, where she invites you to embrace the present, nurture self-growth, and discover hope in every moment of your journey through the sands of time.Ever feel like you’re running out of time? Feel lost thinking about the future? From Sand to Stars provides a reminder that every day is a new day to find joy and self-acceptance, no matter where you are in life’s journey. Exploring the concept of time and how it affects our mental health, From Sand to Stars will make you feel heard and seen, while inspiring you to embrace all life has to offer. Sand, section one, represents the hourglass—how time gets away from us and causes overthinking and anxiety. Soil, the second section, represents self-care, growth, and the joy that surrounds us when we look for it. Finally, Stars provides an uplifting final section on finding hope and healing around us.

An intimate and immersive collection of heartfelt letters that capture the essence of romance through tender and sensual exchanges between lovers, self, and even pets.Dear Love is a collection of heartfelt love letters written by request from people from across the globe. Each letter is an answered call between lovers, self, and even pets. Sometimes erotic, sometimes funny, always sincere, Dear Love expresses connection through one of the most meaningful forms of romance: a letter. Discover the magic within these pages and be inspired to pen your own love letters to those who matter most.

A poignant journey through womanhood, motherhood, mental health, and identity, with a unique lens on the biracial experience, offering solace and understanding amidst life's complexities.I'll Cry If I Want To is a poignant collection that delves into the intricate experiences of womanhood, motherhood, marriage, mental health, grief, and the challenges of being biracial. Each poem offers a candid glimpse into the raw realities of life, resonating with honesty and emotional depth. Throughout the collection, Franco explores the highs and lows of existence with unapologetic sincerity. From the joys of motherhood to the complexities of marriage, every aspect of life is examined through a lens of gratitude and resilience. Ultimately, it serves as a reminder that it's okay to embrace our vulnerabilities and acknowledge our struggles. Through evocative verses and illustrations, readers are reassured that they are not alone in their journey, finding solace in the recognition that someone out there sees and understands them.

A powerful and honest force on TikTok, Harman Kaur's words are now in print. This is an exploration of the diverse manifestations of “home”, extending beyond its mere physicality to womanhood, spirituality, and immigration.Explore the multifaceted concept of "home" through Kaur's evocative poetry. Journey beyond its physical confines to discover its emotional and psychological depths, touching on themes like immigration, womanhood, and spirituality. Encounter narratives of loss, rediscovery, and healing that resonate with the human experience. With rich language and imagery, this collection offers fresh perspectives, inviting readers to reconsider their understanding of what it means to feel at home.

In Love Letters and Pocket Knives, J.J. Celli opens the window to her soul, inviting us to take a close and intimate look at the raw and unfiltered moments. Through evocative imagery and heartfelt storytelling, these poems explore the myriad shades of love from the euphoria of new beginnings to the bittersweet ache of farewell. In this autobiographical collection, each poem reads like a mini-memoir, weaving together the threads of trauma, intimacy, love, and resiliency. These poems stand strong with brave vulnerability confidently confronting those experiences in life that haunt us so we can quit ghosting ourselves. As the title suggests, Love Letters and Pocket Knives explores the delicate dance between tenderness and toughness. From the gentle caress of a love letter to the sharp cut of a pocket knife, we are reminded it is this beautiful complexity and balance that continues to encourage these human hearts to love.

Our entire lives are dictated by love. Love creates our brightest joys and our deepest aches. Love cures and love scars. It brings out both the best and the worst in us. Through the highs and lows, we learn and grow, preparing ourselves to find enduring love.Lovers/Exes/Soulmate is a testament to those who take our hearts, break them, and make them whole again. From the intensity of our first loves, through the despair of heartbreak, and to finding 'the one' and beyond, this collection of poetry and prose captures the essence of humanity: to love, to lose, and to love again.

"Love is a needle and thread, and I am the tapestry."Fall in love, break, and heal all over again in this stunning new poetry collection from Catarine Hancock, one of today’s most beloved voices in modern poetry. In this deeply emotional journey, Hancock captures the shifting tides of love—from the thrill of new beginnings and the ache of heartbreak to the quiet strength that comes from finding yourself again. Written with both vulnerability and wisdom, each poem explores love in all its forms: the euphoria of romance, the lessons learned from unhealthy relationships, and the gentle path toward a healthier, more hopeful love. Through raw, relatable verses, Hancock shines a light on what it means to truly heal and to grow, offering solace and encouragement to anyone who has ever felt lost in love. Whether you’re navigating heartbreak, rediscovering joy, or simply longing for words that understand your heart, this collection is here to remind you that love is a journey—and every step brings you closer to becoming whole. Hancock’s words are a comforting presence, and a reminder to yourself that love—real, healthy love—begins with you.

Trans poet Parker Lee (author of the bestselling coffee days whiskey nights) returns with an all new collection of poetry, prose, and aphorisms. This is a journey from hopelessness through to self-discovery, self-love, and romantic love presented in three sections: moonrise, sunrise, and stardust. In moonrise, you’ll follow Parker as she copes with various struggles, including alcohol abuse, disordered eating, gender dysphoria, and mental health. In sunrise, Parker finds herself coming to terms with and accepting her identity as a woman, and everything that comes with being trans in today’s current political and social climate. Through that struggle, Parker comes out on the other side in stardust, dedicated to self-love, sapphic love, and trans joy. With raw vulnerability and unwavering strength, The Starlight She Becomes is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the beauty found in embracing one's true self.

Southern Bred is a haunting, powerful collection of gothic poems that captivate and transport the reader into the heart and soul of the Deep South. Each poem offers a glimpse into its mystery and enchantment, drawing you in with a blend of beauty and darkness. In the style of a memoir in verse, it showcases Ghigna's southern soul and his tender, yet piercing language, and affirms his place as one of the finest poets of our time.

A poetic celebration embracing our unfinished, imperfect, and authentic selves.The Never Was is a deeply personal return from bestselling poet Tyler Knott Gregson. Known for his intimate typewritten verse, Gregson turns inward with raw honesty, reflecting on identity, diagnosis, and the quiet beauty in the incomplete.  Prompted by a late-in-life autism diagnosis, Gregson revisits a series of poetic fragments—unfinished lines once cast aside—that now reveal themselves as essential expressions of his neurodivergent experience. Interwoven with new poems, these pieces form a deeply human tapestry of vulnerability, self-discovery, and grace.This is a book for anyone who has felt unseen, misunderstood, or like they didn’t quite fit. The Never Was is a celebration of the imperfect, a testament to the healing power of art, and a reminder that even the fragments can hold a whole world.

"In the quiet moments, love speaks its loudest truths." Euphoria is a tender journey through love’s resilience and the beauty of fleeting moments.In Euphoria, bestselling poet F.S. Yousaf—author of Sincerely and Serenity—offers an expanded, intimate journey through the landscapes of love, faith, and the fragile beauty of fleeting moments. With a tender and profound voice, Yousaf’s poems touch on life’s most delicate experiences, tracing the quiet resilience that sustains us and the connections that give us strength.Each verse invites you to pause, to linger in emotions that feel both personal and universal. With a following that spans millions, Yousaf’s work resonates as a gentle reminder of the ways we hold each other and find grace in the everyday. Euphoria is a companion for the heart, a softly lit path through love’s highs and lows, and a celebration of the moments that shape us.