My boyfriend knows how much I love to read, but realizes how I do not have much time to enjoy books since I am a full time student. For Christmas, he got me "The Princess Saves Herself In This One" by Amanda Lovelace. He knows I love poetry and sad stories are my weakness.

It turns out that Amanda Lovelace is from New Jersey, specifically she went to a college right near me. She is an extremely talented writer and poet. Her story really hit home with me through her gorgeous writing style and openness of what happened to her during her early life.

Her book was divided into four sections: the princess, the damsel, the queen, and you.

The princess begins the story. It follows her as a teenager and this section really resonated with me. Some of my favorite poems in this section include:

- silence has always been my loudest scream

since

i couldn't

have

my wings,

i wore

the

fake ones

dipped

in

gold

glitter.

- a wannabe faerie in converse.

if a house

does not

automatically

make a home,

then a body

doesn't

automatically

make a home

either.

- i've always felt like a stranger in my skin.

The second section was the damsel. This was the breaking point in her life. During this time, she was around my age and going through the toughest point in her life. Some of my favorite poems in this section include:

everyone i love leaves.

i have

so much love

to give,

but no one

ever wants

it.

- a cup overfilled.

the princess

jumped from

the tower

& she

learned

that she

could fly

all along.

- she never needed those wings.

The third was the queen. This was the point where she discovered herself and rose from the ashes all by herself. Some of my favorite poems in this section include:

i bet

you regret

making

an enemy

out of

me.

- 1 back, 2 knives.

i am so glad

we were born

during the same

lifetime.

- i may not believe in fate, but i believe in you.

if i ever

have a

daughter,

the first

thing

i will

teach her

to love

will be

the word

"no"

&

i will

not

let her feel

guilty

for using

it.

- "no" is short for "f*ck off"

The final section was you. This included how her life changed when she met a wonderful guy and put herself first. Some of my favorite poems in this section include:

food

is

not

the

enemy.

- society is.

repeat after me:

you owe

no one

your

forgiveness.

- except maybe yourself.

when

someone

offers to

save you

make it

your mission

to

save yourself.

- i believe in you.

Overall, the book was absolutely wonderful. I definitely recommend it to anyone that loves sad stories that are full of poetry and pretty simple to read! Thank you, Dylan!

Happy reading!