The princess saves herself in this one

I got this on a whim. It's 2am and I should be asleep, but this was free and I knew nothing about it so I downloaded it and devoured it.

I could say all the pretty words like "It's moving" or "heart-wrenching" or "touching", but that would be doing this book a disservice because this is so much more than any eloquent review could do justice.

I feel like my heart let out a sigh of relief for someone being able to put into words what I never knew I needed to hear.

This was beautiful beyond words.

Thank you,
A fellow mermaid aficionado

The Princess Saves Herself in this One is a collection of autobiographical poems focused on love, loss, child abuse and feminism. Lovelace has a fresh new voice and these poems are incredibly relatable to anyone bookish girl who grew up lonely and dreaming of princesses. I did find some of the poems to be a bit too short and somewhat meaningless, but overall Lovelace writes beautiful, powerful prose that I really related to.

This is the most difficult review I've written, and that is because the princess saves herself in this one has left me speechless. Rather than thoughts, I am full of emotions. This poetry book touched me on a deep level.

I adore Lovelace's style - it's so simple yet powerful. She can write a short poem that pierces you to the core. Each and every one of her poems are full of emotion that the reader can feel, even if one's experiences are different. They're beautiful and heartbreaking. They're comforting in letting you know that you are not alone in your difficulties and experiences.

I feel that anyone, poetry lover or not, can appreciate Amanda's beautiful poems and soul.

A very powerful series of poems. They all work together to tell the powerful journey of the author, from damsel to princess. I like to believe that the events we go through make us who we are, and now she is just a queen. A quick read, I highly recommend!

Just got the book in the mail today and finished it in about a half hr really good book I cried a little when it got to the part of her mom very deep and in thought I love poetry especially when it contains helpful traits in life lessons on how to grow and build yourself as a person it really is a great book 5 stars for sure!

I bought this book looking for something that could carve out my insides and splatter them in front of me, leaving me raw and emotional and relieved. A reaction which this book failed to accomplish.

This is written by a woman who is just beginning define herself in her poetry, that much is obvious. It is a book of Amanda Lovelace's own healing, her own story -- it's hard for me to connect with. From the brief glimpses in the poems, her story is one of the darkest and most twisted, gut-wrenching ones I've come across... hard to believe it's someone's reality. However, the book is aimed at an (unusually limited) audience that can share her experiences or sympathize with them. In addition, the style is VERY, VERY similar to the style of Rupi Kaur's Milk and Honey to the point where I cannot help but compare the two with nearly every poem I read in here. I have read Kaur's book many times over before I purchased this one and I very much prefer Milk and Honey. Kaur has this uncanny ability to transcend mere words on paper and pierce your heart with a thousand needles until you've bled out your emotions on the floor. Lovelace does not have this ability, but she has some potential. Despite the concerning similarity between this poetry book (published 2016) and Milk and Honey (published 2014), Lovelace did not mention Kaur as a source of inspiration for format or style... I wonder if she will credit Kaur at all. Though both poets write in the style of Warsan Shire, Kaur has adapted a unique stylistic prose that Lovelace seems to try and imitate. There are a couple of poems that seem almost exactly like ones from Milk and Honey, but those could be unintentionally similar. Still, I did not like many of these poems' format or structure... they seemed choppy, strange, and ill-fitting. I'm disappointed to say there were fewer than 10 poems that I connected with in this book.

The book is split into 4 parts: 3 transformations of a woman and 1 address to the reader. "Princess" and most of "Damsel" I could not connect with because the poetry is specific to Lovelace and not as emotionally descriptive as I hoped it would be. "Queen" is inspiring but vague, and the entire chapter of "You" seems like a broad blanket to include as many issues of the audience in her poetry she could fit in (LGBTQ, rape, violence).

The book is terribly emotional and deep, but with the way it's written, my eyes touch the words and the words do not touch my heart.

After numerous college courses in poetry I wasn't at first a fan of the style but by the end it really matched Lovelace's words. Simple, unapologetic, inherently interesting. This will appeal to a lot of ladies, especially younger ones. Gentlemen may not be into it but who says anyone has to be super into it?

I've never read poetry before. I didn't think I'd ever like it. This is a great example of why introducing someone to a genre shouldn't be something done with the old classics, but with a tailored recommendation based the person's interests. 'The Princess Saved Herself in This One' is an amazing collection of poems turned into a story. I can't wait to find out what else Amanda Lovelace has up her sleeves​.

The book has some nice parts but its mostly all over the place and random. I feel like this book would be a lot more understood if you knew her personally. Doesn't make sense to a stranger. Some of it is relateable and not so personal but still personal if that makes sense.. There was one really cool part where she explains how she let the "dragons" take her from her tower but she only went from one tower to the next. I didn't understand what she meant until the next page where she said the dragons were lying, beautiful boys.

The title was cool so I decided to give it a try. It was a poetry book so very short (read in 30 minutes) and did the usual young adult girl sterotypes: fat girl bullied and starving herself, cutting herself, feeling that she is different, first boyfriend lies and cheats on her, second boyfriend is much better, fixing yourself through self-love and self-respect. Death also brought in. I found some of what she said catchy like it could be a Twitter update or meme but I do not consider that poetry and neither is this in my opnion. I thought this was overall very cliche. I gave this three stars since just because this did not appeal to me doesn't mean it would not appeal and touch others and I think overall the book was okay.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley for review consideration.

I appreciated the rawness and how personal it was, but I don't like this kind of poetry. Just feels like a sentence punctuated by several spaces on a page. However I may be biased because I don't like poetry in general usually.

It was a worse version of Milk and Honey. I had high expectations and kept thinking it would reach the level of sophistication that Milk and Honey had- the book just never got there. Don't waste your time reading it.

Im writing a review specifically focusing on the actual physical product. I love collecting poetry books, especially small collections. The quality of this printing is terrible. My cover was printed off, shifted entirely over so that the authors name on the cover is partially cut in half.

I read this book before I read the author's bio. Half way through I said to myself, "This is like the junk I wrote when I was 16, if I had a slightly better command of English." I don't wish to diminish the author's personal experience, but I'm not sure this should have been published. I'm very sure this should not be a top 10 seller in poetry. There is no meter, no structure, no layering of meaning, no word play, the author can't get outside herself. There are literally three metaphors in the entire 150 pages - boys are dragons, I am the princess, mom is the queen. They are reused through the entire book which gets very tedious. Most of the poems are about 30 words long. With such brevity, I would expect something as cleverly crafted as the six word story. Instead what we have is a poorly written television show where the character announces to the room, "I am sad because boys lie". I wish I would have looked more closely at the preview.

Okay so this lady has been through a lot. She's super brave. There are definitely some very strong poems that I did the poetry night finger snap when I read, dont get me wrong. However, there's something about the author that just puts me off. A select few of the poems really bugged me and I don't even know why. After looking at her twitter and instagram, my weird vibes grew stronger. The poems I love, I promise I love; but I can't help but think it was only an okay read.

This book was not at all as described and toxic for teen/mother relationships as throughout the book hatred for the author's mother is infused. I interpreted the description as an empowering book. It may be empowering to somebody in an abusive relationship dealing with role reversal with a parent, but not for the average emotional teen/young adult. I tried to return and links keep looping so currently I am stuck with book and no way to return and nobody to give it to....

This was literally a waste of my money. It was cliche, poorly written, predictable, and rolled my eyes almost every page. I don't mean to make light of the themes and issues that this author aims to explore in this collection, but I would make sure that I can actually write before doing so.

More like "the princess is pretention and bemoans her fate rather than actually saving herself". Poorly written "soft-grunge" Tumblresque poetry blurbs. There are a few nice pieces but this isn't worth buying. Disappointing.

i didn't realize
that poetry could be achieved
by hitting the enter key &
then breaking up a sentence

with

a

space

who knew that all this time
my english teachers were wrong?
- go to hell, robert frost

---

So this is going to be a tricky review to write, because opinions have really diverged on this book. Looking through the reviews of THE PRINCESS SAVES HERSELF IN THIS ONE, you immediately see that some people adored this book and others found it deplorable. Age seems to be the dividing factor - this book is a hit with younger readers, and I think the generational gap has something to do with it. The Tweet-sized snippets of text remind me of the emo blogs that were so abundant on Xanga in 2005. That probably betrays my age, though. People in the "know" are calling it "Tumblr poetry." I can't vouch for that, though - this fogey-in-process doesn't have a Tumblr.

Anyway, Andrews McMeel is going to publish this book, and I'm sure the fact that the author won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Poetry has something to do with this book deal. Andrews McMeel is a quirky publishing company that does a lot of novelty books, comics, cookbooks, and poetry. Since I've loved pretty much every book Andrews McMeel put out, I jumped when I saw this title appear on Netgalley. The fact that this book won the GCAs did make me more interested in reading it, even though poetry really isn't my bag, baby, and when one of my favorite publishers acquired it, that was the final painted nail on the elegantly manicured grabby hands. To my surprise I actually liked most of the "poems" in this volume, even if I can't really bring myself to call them that.

THE PRINCESS SAVES HERSELF IN THIS ONE is divided into four sections. Each one appears to address a different topic, and as far as I can tell, they are organized as such:

"the princess" is about how she grew up and came to be the person she is

"the damsel" is about suffering and how she almost lost sight of who she is

"the queen" is about healing and how she came to love who she is

"you" is directed towards the reader, and full of advice on what it means to be a human, and also a woman

There is a lot of suffering in this book, which is part of what makes it so raw. It's hard to get mad at someone who was brave enough to put their words to paper and then put that paper out into the world. We can mock how she chose to do it, but the fact of the matter is, she did it. Good for her. If writing this book helped her achieve cathartic release, as she claims at the end, then that is a good thing. If reading this helps others gain comfort through their suffering, that is also a good thing. Some of the "poems" are a little sappy, but there are also some great insights in here as well about self-harm, death, grief, rape, empowerment, feminism, and body dysmorphia.

At the end of the day, your opinion is your own. I'm not condemning the people who didn't like this book, because poetry is such a sensitive and subjective thing that is so deeply personal, expecting poetry to be universally beloved by all is ridiculous. Reading THE PRINCESS made me nostalgic about the blogs I kept as a high school student, which also got me through some angsty times. If you ever subscribed to "emo" culture, had an angsty blog, or the whole "chicken soup for the ____" phenomenon, read THE PRINCESS SAVES HERSELF IN THIS ONE. It'll warm your heart.

Thanks for the advanced reader copy Andrews McMeel/Netgalley!

3 to 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This book is a rollercoaster ride so if you are emotionally exhausted like I was you may want to wait until you are ready. While I did love the poetry, I would have liked it more if I was a teenage girl in high school. Since I technically saved myself and went through a majority of what Lovelace went through I could appreciate what she was writing, but I am healed from what I have endured.

It would have been amazing to read this in high school when you are just going through so much, and you don't even know who you are, what you should be doing, or even how to love. When emotions are fragile and you just need a savior (however you will learn to save yourself). This would be a good book to keep as a art journal, drawing next to the poems in a way that helped the emotions let loose.

My favorite part was III the queen. This is where you start to believe in yourself and Lovelace has a way of writing so that it reaches down into your soul and picks out those chunks that need to be healed. Despite liking the poetry I just couldn't give it a 4 or 5. Like I said if those wounds were fresh or if I was experiencing these problems, it would have spoken to me more. I also felt like something was missing, for me, from the poetry, what it was I couldn't tell you.

Original review on Goodreads and Booked J. Slightly revised from its original form in honor of the newly published version, now featuring more new poems. This is pretty much the same review only it tackles a bit more without spoiling the new works published. A copy of this novel was provided through NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

The Princess Saves Herself in this One is a triumph in modern poetry and I'm not just saying this because I've followed Amanda for years on her Tumblr and admired her blog from afar. I'm saying this because it's the first thought that comes to mind when reading this. If ever there were a release this year worthy of hype, it's this one. No matter what someone says--this is poetry and this breathes life to Amanda's words.

It came to me during a reading slump and brought me from it. Actually, I can't stress how important this collection is to me because reading it was something truly magical and didn't just pull me out of a reading slump. Now, my second time reading it and exploring the newer additions, I can say even further that Amanda Lovelace is a talent in her own league and someone to look out for.

(I regret not having purchased a physical copy of its first edition but I am privileged nonetheless in the fact that I was able to read it then and now.)

Ultimately, words can't do this one justice; much like my feelings toward Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, there is this tone of honesty to it that feels beyond personal. Nearly every page lifted my spirits or connected with me on some level because it's so real and intimate. It gives you the chills as you flip each page and honestly? I love it.

Sometimes it's overwhelming in the best ways possible.

Let me lay it all out for you guys: the Princess Saves Herself in this One shines because Amanda's writing shines in a way that is captivating and intimate. Her words leave you feeling, feeling, feeling. At every turn, every line in every poem from every section, you're left with a buzz. I swore I could feel my skin tingling in joy and heartbreak, every emotion brought a new sensation to my mind and I find it impossible to describe.

There is a special quality to her prose that is deeply moving and it touches part of your heart in ways that many authors can't accomplish in full length novels let alone a modest collection of poetry. What is even more striking is the way each section (it is divided into multiple parts) of the poems improves and builds and draws you in--you can't not feel.

I'm serious. I'll say it again. Every pause, every line, leaves some sort of mark on you and when you close it you think: "This poem, man, this poem." and you'll walk away having many favourites. Countless favourites. There isn't a dull end to this book: everything outshines the rest and it's just... wow.

When someone asks me why it has gone and attached itself so clearly to me, why it has become so dear to me, on why I am constantly recommending it, I say: Much like life, there are so many layers to Amanda's thoughts and words. So many ways it defines itself. It's complex. It's full of soul. It's honest. It's raw. It's real. It's growing up. It's loss and love.

(Before I get to repeating myself with the "it's", I have to add one more thing: it's... everything. It's everything because it faces these truths and more.)

The thing about poetry is, sometimes you see yourself between the lines. Connect with the authors thoughts. You feel, you feel, you feel. The Princess Saves Herself in this One is that collection and so much more. It reminds me why I read and write poetry.

If you haven't read this one, you need to.

Don't let anyone's reviews influence you on it, though, because this experience is something that is uniquely your own. It makes me sad to see some people are calling this "fake poetry" or "just Tumblr poetry"--just because you dislike the prose, doesn't mean it's an invalid release. You're just being petty and nitpicking something irrelevant to your life--it's okay not to like it, but don't be a jerk just because you're bitter.

The Princess Saves Herself in this One is full of soul and a beautiful prose that will just keep your mind turning. Just as good--actually, better--as its original form, Amanda Lovelace proves she is here to stay and offers a voice to so many of us.

I don't doubt the pain is real, but it's like reading middle school poetry. Sorry your boyfriend left you, but it's trite and cliche the way it's written. Lovelace also writes in the hip lower case with the title after the poem that is just so "in" right now.

It is a bit of a slog to get through because the emotion is there, just below the surface but she/we can't reach past the simplistic style of the writing and basic emotions (I'm mad, I'm sad). I can see a teacher writing across Lovelace's papers "is this really YOUR voice"? It kind of feels like she is trying too hard to be a poet. Yes, I really said that, knowing full well her life has been full of pain and sorrow and boyfriend problems (like every woman...ever).

I read all types of poetry, although lately it's been lots of feminist anger. This just wasn't what I expected, it seems. I will try to read since of her other work. I won't count her out entirely, just this collection.

I will admit, I had a hard time getting into this book. The beginning wasn't what I expected when I read all these rave reviews about power and how uplifting it is. It was when I "crossed over" from the princess and into damsel that I "got it." the princess is hard to relate for me, as a 35 year old so far removed from the imaginings and hurt from my adolescence. But I remember the bitterness, pain and visceral image of love. I remember the scars that have never really healed. And from damsel on, I couldn't stop reading. I couldn't stop breathing this book in. My older sister attempted suicide in 2008. She would have left behind 3 little girls had she succeeded. Her older daughter, my 16 year old niece has attempted to take her life three times over the course of five years.

"the worst
part is never
being able
to know
if it was suicide
or not.
-the truth will free me. "

This part in Lovelace's story brought tears and I had to walk away from it.
And there is something more than bitterness and pain here. She does pen very uplifting and powerful verses that will make any one of us believe that we "never needed those wings" to escape our imposed towers. So I continued to read about dragons, mermaids, starfish, and how a the princess saves herself in this one.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

The writing was excellentè!

The writing was so different and yet so gorgeous. Although- I suppose it is technically poetry, but this is where the conflict comes in. It is classified as poetry, but I saw it more like just writing in verse, because that’s what I’m used to and this would be quite informal for poetry. However, it was still quite interesting, and I feel like the writing being all lowercase added to the… Ambiance, I suppose?
The story was heartbreaking.

I was in a public place the whole time I was reading this book. I was struggling very hard to not cry. It was incredibly difficult. I’m rather astonished I didn’t.
Whoosh! Wait, where did the book go?
Into the never-ending depths of Amy’s crazy pit of a mind, that’s where.

The whole book just went so fast. It was like- Oh, look at this sweet little book of poetry!

…

Dear Lord, I’m going to cry. Please don’t cry. Please don’t cry. Please don’t cry. *fans face*

…

Wait, what? That’s the end? It wasn’t a good thing or a bad thing, it just really surprised me. I probably read this book over the course of a couple hours? Ish? In any case, it was extremely fast, and I almost felt like I had to read it again because of how quickly it went.
I was vastly confused for a rather large chunk of the book.

I didn’t actually understand that all of them were the same person until I got to the third portion of the book. I didn’t connect a lot of the dots. And then I felt like I had to reread that part because of how confused and disconnected I was.
Even though I didn’t really feel like it was poetry, it really wasn’t a story.

There wasn’t really a plot, and although there are some characters, there is a ton of feeling and not necessarily a lot of explaining. So it was a book of poetry, not a story, even though it was written like one. Confused? Me too.
In any case, I enjoyed it and I might just need to reread it.

For all of the quickness/confusion faults of this book, it was still very sweet and very emotional. I totally felt for the author as I was reading it, and I think it was very brave and wonderful of her to be able to publish this book. Originally posted on Every Book You Need to Read and More.

This was such an emotional read. I don't think I've openly cried so much while reading this year. The author's words were heart-wrenching and brutally honest. My heart was smashed into tiny pieces and then carefully pieced back together again. It was beautiful, stunning, gorgeous...it's impossible to find the words that can accurately describe how I felt about this book.

I've written, erased and rewritten this review so many times. Why is it so difficult to write a review for a book that you loved? What I can say is that I'm extremely happy that I finally downloaded The Princess Saves Herself in this One. It's been all over social media this past year and was named best poetry book in the Goodreads Choice Awards. I saw it but never actually took the leap and bought it. What was I thinking? It lives up to all of the hype and more. I wasn't prepared for how it would make me feel.

I've read more poetry this past year than I ever have in the past. The Princess Saves Herself in this One reinforced why I need to read more of this genre. I may not have identified with all of the topics discussed in the book, but all of the words hit me hard. That's what's wonderful about poetry. It has a way of making you feel so many emotions, even when only a few words are used. The poems may be short but here less is definitely more!
I cannot recommend this book enough. If you haven't read The Princess Saves Herself in this One you need to pick it up. You don't even need to be a reader of poetry. You'll be hooked and so emotionally invested after the first page...it's life changing. Trust me. Just read it.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book.*

This poetry book was just mesmerizing. I saw a lot of people raving about this book and I decided to give it a try as well. And oh, my, God! I thought this book would take some time to read but once I started, it was impossible to stop. I finished it in less than half an hour.

This collection of poems is divided into four parts- the princess, the damsel, the queen, and you. Each of the parts was unique and beautiful. I especially teared up during the damsel part.

The complaints I saw from a few people on Goodreads was about the writing style. But for me, that completely worked! I liked how the writing easily flowed and kept me captivated throughout the book. Whereas I could relate to some of them, the others melted my heart.

Overall, The Princess Saves Herself in this One is a beautiful collection of poems that I would love to read over and over again. I loved the writing style and every little thing about this book! For me, this book was definitely an ideal start to reading poetry. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

Recommend it?

Yes!

While at Bee and En, there was a book that was featured and the title intrigued me. Also, we had signed copies of it. Lots of them. The title is The Princess Saves Herself In This One by Amanda Lovelace. Had I known that it was poetry, I probably wouldn't have bought it, but I was so intrigued that I bought it without opening it and added it to my To Read pile. Last night, I opened it. And tonight, I finished it. I am just dazed. Amanda Lovelace clearly has either been living in a universe parallel to mine or sleeping in my closet (like there is room in there for anyone!). I cannot say how much I love this book. If you are a woman who needs to feel empowered, this book is for YOU. Read it and feel the emotion in it. I did. I will be reading it again, and keeping it on my desk for further reference. Well done, Amanda.

Lovelace has a special talent for packing her collections full of poems that deliver an eye-opening punch to reality. Each poem is jammed full of emotions. I mean, you can really feel the sadness, the anger, the brokenness, and the strength with each passing line. There's a reason why she's a best-selling poet, and its because Lovelace knows how to write with dual purpose. She knows how to personalize her poems so you not only get the jist of her experiences with motherly abuse and the ridicule she has received from men, but she also has a knack for turning it around so you feel like every word is meant for you.

She hooks you from page one with the warning that there is no princess and there is no queen. Just her. Just us. In the singular struggle to find acceptance in this wild, crazy world.

I don't know what it is or how she does it. Maybe, it's because we all experience the same kind of struggles and Amanda has honed in on this little fact, but her book definitely has that special something that not many poets possess: revolution. There is a weight behind her words. She isn't just another girl pining away over some dude that decided he didn't want her anymore.

Hell no! This girl has something to say and, damnit, you're going to listen.

You are going to sit down with a big cup of coffee and she is going to take you're hand to guide you through the journey of her life as she learns how to cope and love herself.  In doing so, she allows us to find peace within our own selves. I know I certainly did. I know that whenever I start to doubt myself, or my reason for writing, for moving, for even trying in this crazy world, I can pick up Lovelace's book and feel that there's a reason to fight for it all. She gives me a little emotional boost to gather myself up and work for what I want in life. To fight for change.

Amanda's poetry does have a few triggers in it. The subject matter rests with abuse, assault, and rape. Now, I have seen a lot of negative criticism directed toward Lovelace's "The Princess Saves Herself In This One". I mean, a lot.  Haters will be haters, I suppose, and Lovelace valiantly ignores her foes. I just think it's a tad disturbing that there are still people out there that feel so negatively toward people who are trying to help others suffering from mental illnesses.

I would like us all to take a step back and realize what Lovelace is attempting in her collection. She is delving into some pretty serious subjects  I feel like these are issues that need, no, must, be dealt with and Lovelace definitely tackles them in all the right ways. She is sensitive where it is necessary but that doesn't mean she won't pack a punch straight to the feels on the next page. Sometimes, that's what it takes to get a simple point across. People need to be hit over the head with something before they really get the message. Even if that message is not to abuse/assault anyone whether it be physical or emotional.

I will also say this:  Her writing is not for the super flowery poet, either. Which ended up being totally okay with me because I don't personally care for poetry that takes me days to work out and decipher. I think if you can deliver a short message, with few words, and still make people's hair stand on end then that's true talent.

And, trust me, Amanda has that talent.

If you are looking for a pick-me up, a reason to keep on, or just want to feel like you aren't alone, then I strongly encourage you to give this one a try. There's something magical in the way Lovelace writes that I guarantee most of us will connect with. Some people have this idealized view of poetry and maybe this more modern way of writing deters people from the start. However, I think it's highly important you read at least one poem from each section before giving any judgement. Each portion offers a little something different than the last. This is a collection that cannot be judged by the first few pages. No, you have to really stick your knife and fork into the meat of it to fully understand. If you're anything like me then after exploring each section, you will definitely be placing the book down, looking wide-eyed out into nothingness, saying, "I totally get it now".

- @yetiyoungblood

Amanda Lovelace (love that name!) is an original voice with a remarkable talent for making 'poetry' or rather the reading of poetry attainable to anyone who is curious, open minded and seeking deeper truths. It is something I have wanted to do for a while now, I love writing and reading good poetry and sharing it with an audience. I would like to give this author a standing ovation for structuring her book in a way that both gave us the gifts of her writing skill while also not making the audience work too hard to understand it. It was brilliant how she broke the book down into relatable fairytale sections - the princess, the damsel, the queen and you. At the end of each poem, which to me felt more like an intimate diary entry, she gave a small summary statement so if you aren't a writer, you could say, 'Okay, i get where she's going here.' I am going to pass my copy of the book along to a friend's teenager who is finding her own confidence and voice through writing poetry.

Okay so this lady has been through a lot. She's super brave. There are definitely some very strong poems that I did the poetry night finger snap when I read, dont get me wrong. However, there's something about the author that just puts me off. A select few of the poems really bugged me and I don't even know why. After looking at her twitter and instagram, my weird vibes grew stronger. The poems I love, I promise I love; but I can't help but think it was only an okay read.

This book was not at all as described and toxic for teen/mother relationships as throughout the book hatred for the author's mother is infused. I interpreted the description as an empowering book. It may be empowering to somebody in an abusive relationship dealing with role reversal with a parent, but not for the average emotional teen/young adult. I tried to return and links keep looping so currently I am stuck with book and no way to return and nobody to give it to....

This was literally a waste of my money. It was cliche, poorly written, predictable, and rolled my eyes almost every page. I don't mean to make light of the themes and issues that this author aims to explore in this collection, but I would make sure that I can actually write before doing so.

More like "the princess is pretention and bemoans her fate rather than actually saving herself". Poorly written "soft-grunge" Tumblresque poetry blurbs. There are a few nice pieces but this isn't worth buying. Disappointing.

i didn't realize
that poetry could be achieved
by hitting the enter key &
then breaking up a sentence

with

a

space

who knew that all this time
my english teachers were wrong?
- go to hell, robert frost

---

So this is going to be a tricky review to write, because opinions have really diverged on this book. Looking through the reviews of THE PRINCESS SAVES HERSELF IN THIS ONE, you immediately see that some people adored this book and others found it deplorable. Age seems to be the dividing factor - this book is a hit with younger readers, and I think the generational gap has something to do with it. The Tweet-sized snippets of text remind me of the emo blogs that were so abundant on Xanga in 2005. That probably betrays my age, though. People in the "know" are calling it "Tumblr poetry." I can't vouch for that, though - this fogey-in-process doesn't have a Tumblr.

Anyway, Andrews McMeel is going to publish this book, and I'm sure the fact that the author won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Poetry has something to do with this book deal. Andrews McMeel is a quirky publishing company that does a lot of novelty books, comics, cookbooks, and poetry. Since I've loved pretty much every book Andrews McMeel put out, I jumped when I saw this title appear on Netgalley. The fact that this book won the GCAs did make me more interested in reading it, even though poetry really isn't my bag, baby, and when one of my favorite publishers acquired it, that was the final painted nail on the elegantly manicured grabby hands. To my surprise I actually liked most of the "poems" in this volume, even if I can't really bring myself to call them that.

THE PRINCESS SAVES HERSELF IN THIS ONE is divided into four sections. Each one appears to address a different topic, and as far as I can tell, they are organized as such:

"the princess" is about how she grew up and came to be the person she is

"the damsel" is about suffering and how she almost lost sight of who she is

"the queen" is about healing and how she came to love who she is

"you" is directed towards the reader, and full of advice on what it means to be a human, and also a woman

There is a lot of suffering in this book, which is part of what makes it so raw. It's hard to get mad at someone who was brave enough to put their words to paper and then put that paper out into the world. We can mock how she chose to do it, but the fact of the matter is, she did it. Good for her. If writing this book helped her achieve cathartic release, as she claims at the end, then that is a good thing. If reading this helps others gain comfort through their suffering, that is also a good thing. Some of the "poems" are a little sappy, but there are also some great insights in here as well about self-harm, death, grief, rape, empowerment, feminism, and body dysmorphia.

At the end of the day, your opinion is your own. I'm not condemning the people who didn't like this book, because poetry is such a sensitive and subjective thing that is so deeply personal, expecting poetry to be universally beloved by all is ridiculous. Reading THE PRINCESS made me nostalgic about the blogs I kept as a high school student, which also got me through some angsty times. If you ever subscribed to "emo" culture, had an angsty blog, or the whole "chicken soup for the ____" phenomenon, read THE PRINCESS SAVES HERSELF IN THIS ONE. It'll warm your heart.

Thanks for the advanced reader copy Andrews McMeel/Netgalley!

3 to 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This book is a rollercoaster ride so if you are emotionally exhausted like I was you may want to wait until you are ready. While I did love the poetry, I would have liked it more if I was a teenage girl in high school. Since I technically saved myself and went through a majority of what Lovelace went through I could appreciate what she was writing, but I am healed from what I have endured.

It would have been amazing to read this in high school when you are just going through so much, and you don't even know who you are, what you should be doing, or even how to love. When emotions are fragile and you just need a savior (however you will learn to save yourself). This would be a good book to keep as a art journal, drawing next to the poems in a way that helped the emotions let loose.

My favorite part was III the queen. This is where you start to believe in yourself and Lovelace has a way of writing so that it reaches down into your soul and picks out those chunks that need to be healed. Despite liking the poetry I just couldn't give it a 4 or 5. Like I said if those wounds were fresh or if I was experiencing these problems, it would have spoken to me more. I also felt like something was missing, for me, from the poetry, what it was I couldn't tell you.

Original review on Goodreads and Booked J. Slightly revised from its original form in honor of the newly published version, now featuring more new poems. This is pretty much the same review only it tackles a bit more without spoiling the new works published. A copy of this novel was provided through NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

The Princess Saves Herself in this One is a triumph in modern poetry and I'm not just saying this because I've followed Amanda for years on her Tumblr and admired her blog from afar. I'm saying this because it's the first thought that comes to mind when reading this. If ever there were a release this year worthy of hype, it's this one. No matter what someone says--this is poetry and this breathes life to Amanda's words.

It came to me during a reading slump and brought me from it. Actually, I can't stress how important this collection is to me because reading it was something truly magical and didn't just pull me out of a reading slump. Now, my second time reading it and exploring the newer additions, I can say even further that Amanda Lovelace is a talent in her own league and someone to look out for.

(I regret not having purchased a physical copy of its first edition but I am privileged nonetheless in the fact that I was able to read it then and now.)

Ultimately, words can't do this one justice; much like my feelings toward Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, there is this tone of honesty to it that feels beyond personal. Nearly every page lifted my spirits or connected with me on some level because it's so real and intimate. It gives you the chills as you flip each page and honestly? I love it.

Sometimes it's overwhelming in the best ways possible.

Let me lay it all out for you guys: the Princess Saves Herself in this One shines because Amanda's writing shines in a way that is captivating and intimate. Her words leave you feeling, feeling, feeling. At every turn, every line in every poem from every section, you're left with a buzz. I swore I could feel my skin tingling in joy and heartbreak, every emotion brought a new sensation to my mind and I find it impossible to describe.

There is a special quality to her prose that is deeply moving and it touches part of your heart in ways that many authors can't accomplish in full length novels let alone a modest collection of poetry. What is even more striking is the way each section (it is divided into multiple parts) of the poems improves and builds and draws you in--you can't not feel.

I'm serious. I'll say it again. Every pause, every line, leaves some sort of mark on you and when you close it you think: "This poem, man, this poem." and you'll walk away having many favourites. Countless favourites. There isn't a dull end to this book: everything outshines the rest and it's just... wow.

When someone asks me why it has gone and attached itself so clearly to me, why it has become so dear to me, on why I am constantly recommending it, I say: Much like life, there are so many layers to Amanda's thoughts and words. So many ways it defines itself. It's complex. It's full of soul. It's honest. It's raw. It's real. It's growing up. It's loss and love.

(Before I get to repeating myself with the "it's", I have to add one more thing: it's... everything. It's everything because it faces these truths and more.)

The thing about poetry is, sometimes you see yourself between the lines. Connect with the authors thoughts. You feel, you feel, you feel. The Princess Saves Herself in this One is that collection and so much more. It reminds me why I read and write poetry.

If you haven't read this one, you need to.

Don't let anyone's reviews influence you on it, though, because this experience is something that is uniquely your own. It makes me sad to see some people are calling this "fake poetry" or "just Tumblr poetry"--just because you dislike the prose, doesn't mean it's an invalid release. You're just being petty and nitpicking something irrelevant to your life--it's okay not to like it, but don't be a jerk just because you're bitter.

The Princess Saves Herself in this One is full of soul and a beautiful prose that will just keep your mind turning. Just as good--actually, better--as its original form, Amanda Lovelace proves she is here to stay and offers a voice to so many of us.

I don't doubt the pain is real, but it's like reading middle school poetry. Sorry your boyfriend left you, but it's trite and cliche the way it's written. Lovelace also writes in the hip lower case with the title after the poem that is just so "in" right now.

It is a bit of a slog to get through because the emotion is there, just below the surface but she/we can't reach past the simplistic style of the writing and basic emotions (I'm mad, I'm sad). I can see a teacher writing across Lovelace's papers "is this really YOUR voice"? It kind of feels like she is trying too hard to be a poet. Yes, I really said that, knowing full well her life has been full of pain and sorrow and boyfriend problems (like every woman...ever).

I read all types of poetry, although lately it's been lots of feminist anger. This just wasn't what I expected, it seems. I will try to read since of her other work. I won't count her out entirely, just this collection.

I will admit, I had a hard time getting into this book. The beginning wasn't what I expected when I read all these rave reviews about power and how uplifting it is. It was when I "crossed over" from the princess and into damsel that I "got it." the princess is hard to relate for me, as a 35 year old so far removed from the imaginings and hurt from my adolescence. But I remember the bitterness, pain and visceral image of love. I remember the scars that have never really healed. And from damsel on, I couldn't stop reading. I couldn't stop breathing this book in. My older sister attempted suicide in 2008. She would have left behind 3 little girls had she succeeded. Her older daughter, my 16 year old niece has attempted to take her life three times over the course of five years.

"the worst
part is never
being able
to know
if it was suicide
or not.
-the truth will free me. "

This part in Lovelace's story brought tears and I had to walk away from it.
And there is something more than bitterness and pain here. She does pen very uplifting and powerful verses that will make any one of us believe that we "never needed those wings" to escape our imposed towers. So I continued to read about dragons, mermaids, starfish, and how a the princess saves herself in this one.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

The writing was excellentè!

The writing was so different and yet so gorgeous. Although- I suppose it is technically poetry, but this is where the conflict comes in. It is classified as poetry, but I saw it more like just writing in verse, because that’s what I’m used to and this would be quite informal for poetry. However, it was still quite interesting, and I feel like the writing being all lowercase added to the… Ambiance, I suppose?
The story was heartbreaking.

I was in a public place the whole time I was reading this book. I was struggling very hard to not cry. It was incredibly difficult. I’m rather astonished I didn’t.
Whoosh! Wait, where did the book go?
Into the never-ending depths of Amy’s crazy pit of a mind, that’s where.

The whole book just went so fast. It was like- Oh, look at this sweet little book of poetry!

…

Dear Lord, I’m going to cry. Please don’t cry. Please don’t cry. Please don’t cry. *fans face*

…

Wait, what? That’s the end? It wasn’t a good thing or a bad thing, it just really surprised me. I probably read this book over the course of a couple hours? Ish? In any case, it was extremely fast, and I almost felt like I had to read it again because of how quickly it went.
I was vastly confused for a rather large chunk of the book.

I didn’t actually understand that all of them were the same person until I got to the third portion of the book. I didn’t connect a lot of the dots. And then I felt like I had to reread that part because of how confused and disconnected I was.
Even though I didn’t really feel like it was poetry, it really wasn’t a story.

There wasn’t really a plot, and although there are some characters, there is a ton of feeling and not necessarily a lot of explaining. So it was a book of poetry, not a story, even though it was written like one. Confused? Me too.
In any case, I enjoyed it and I might just need to reread it.

For all of the quickness/confusion faults of this book, it was still very sweet and very emotional. I totally felt for the author as I was reading it, and I think it was very brave and wonderful of her to be able to publish this book. Originally posted on Every Book You Need to Read and More.

This was such an emotional read. I don't think I've openly cried so much while reading this year. The author's words were heart-wrenching and brutally honest. My heart was smashed into tiny pieces and then carefully pieced back together again. It was beautiful, stunning, gorgeous...it's impossible to find the words that can accurately describe how I felt about this book.

I've written, erased and rewritten this review so many times. Why is it so difficult to write a review for a book that you loved? What I can say is that I'm extremely happy that I finally downloaded The Princess Saves Herself in this One. It's been all over social media this past year and was named best poetry book in the Goodreads Choice Awards. I saw it but never actually took the leap and bought it. What was I thinking? It lives up to all of the hype and more. I wasn't prepared for how it would make me feel.

I've read more poetry this past year than I ever have in the past. The Princess Saves Herself in this One reinforced why I need to read more of this genre. I may not have identified with all of the topics discussed in the book, but all of the words hit me hard. That's what's wonderful about poetry. It has a way of making you feel so many emotions, even when only a few words are used. The poems may be short but here less is definitely more!
I cannot recommend this book enough. If you haven't read The Princess Saves Herself in this One you need to pick it up. You don't even need to be a reader of poetry. You'll be hooked and so emotionally invested after the first page...it's life changing. Trust me. Just read it.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book.*

This poetry book was just mesmerizing. I saw a lot of people raving about this book and I decided to give it a try as well. And oh, my, God! I thought this book would take some time to read but once I started, it was impossible to stop. I finished it in less than half an hour.

This collection of poems is divided into four parts- the princess, the damsel, the queen, and you. Each of the parts was unique and beautiful. I especially teared up during the damsel part.

The complaints I saw from a few people on Goodreads was about the writing style. But for me, that completely worked! I liked how the writing easily flowed and kept me captivated throughout the book. Whereas I could relate to some of them, the others melted my heart.

Overall, The Princess Saves Herself in this One is a beautiful collection of poems that I would love to read over and over again. I loved the writing style and every little thing about this book! For me, this book was definitely an ideal start to reading poetry. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

Recommend it?

Yes!

While at Bee and En, there was a book that was featured and the title intrigued me. Also, we had signed copies of it. Lots of them. The title is The Princess Saves Herself In This One by Amanda Lovelace. Had I known that it was poetry, I probably wouldn't have bought it, but I was so intrigued that I bought it without opening it and added it to my To Read pile. Last night, I opened it. And tonight, I finished it. I am just dazed. Amanda Lovelace clearly has either been living in a universe parallel to mine or sleeping in my closet (like there is room in there for anyone!). I cannot say how much I love this book. If you are a woman who needs to feel empowered, this book is for YOU. Read it and feel the emotion in it. I did. I will be reading it again, and keeping it on my desk for further reference. Well done, Amanda.

Lovelace has a special talent for packing her collections full of poems that deliver an eye-opening punch to reality. Each poem is jammed full of emotions. I mean, you can really feel the sadness, the anger, the brokenness, and the strength with each passing line. There's a reason why she's a best-selling poet, and its because Lovelace knows how to write with dual purpose. She knows how to personalize her poems so you not only get the jist of her experiences with motherly abuse and the ridicule she has received from men, but she also has a knack for turning it around so you feel like every word is meant for you.

She hooks you from page one with the warning that there is no princess and there is no queen. Just her. Just us. In the singular struggle to find acceptance in this wild, crazy world.

I don't know what it is or how she does it. Maybe, it's because we all experience the same kind of struggles and Amanda has honed in on this little fact, but her book definitely has that special something that not many poets possess: revolution. There is a weight behind her words. She isn't just another girl pining away over some dude that decided he didn't want her anymore.

Hell no! This girl has something to say and, damnit, you're going to listen.

You are going to sit down with a big cup of coffee and she is going to take you're hand to guide you through the journey of her life as she learns how to cope and love herself.  In doing so, she allows us to find peace within our own selves. I know I certainly did. I know that whenever I start to doubt myself, or my reason for writing, for moving, for even trying in this crazy world, I can pick up Lovelace's book and feel that there's a reason to fight for it all. She gives me a little emotional boost to gather myself up and work for what I want in life. To fight for change.

Amanda's poetry does have a few triggers in it. The subject matter rests with abuse, assault, and rape. Now, I have seen a lot of negative criticism directed toward Lovelace's "The Princess Saves Herself In This One". I mean, a lot.  Haters will be haters, I suppose, and Lovelace valiantly ignores her foes. I just think it's a tad disturbing that there are still people out there that feel so negatively toward people who are trying to help others suffering from mental illnesses.

I would like us all to take a step back and realize what Lovelace is attempting in her collection. She is delving into some pretty serious subjects  I feel like these are issues that need, no, must, be dealt with and Lovelace definitely tackles them in all the right ways. She is sensitive where it is necessary but that doesn't mean she won't pack a punch straight to the feels on the next page. Sometimes, that's what it takes to get a simple point across. People need to be hit over the head with something before they really get the message. Even if that message is not to abuse/assault anyone whether it be physical or emotional.

I will also say this:  Her writing is not for the super flowery poet, either. Which ended up being totally okay with me because I don't personally care for poetry that takes me days to work out and decipher. I think if you can deliver a short message, with few words, and still make people's hair stand on end then that's true talent.

And, trust me, Amanda has that talent.

If you are looking for a pick-me up, a reason to keep on, or just want to feel like you aren't alone, then I strongly encourage you to give this one a try. There's something magical in the way Lovelace writes that I guarantee most of us will connect with. Some people have this idealized view of poetry and maybe this more modern way of writing deters people from the start. However, I think it's highly important you read at least one poem from each section before giving any judgement. Each portion offers a little something different than the last. This is a collection that cannot be judged by the first few pages. No, you have to really stick your knife and fork into the meat of it to fully understand. If you're anything like me then after exploring each section, you will definitely be placing the book down, looking wide-eyed out into nothingness, saying, "I totally get it now".

- @yetiyoungblood

Rate: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Recommend: Yes
Review:
This was a beautiful, short book of poetry with a beautiful message. While I did enjoy it, some poems fell short for me or just didn't fit with the overall message of the work. Still, I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to others.

The princess saves herself in this one is a poetry collection told in four sections: the princess, the damsel, the queen, and you. My personal favorite sections are, the princess and the queen. In the section, the princess, a few poems hit close to home. The queen made feel slightly better about my insecurities.

At the beginning of the book there are trigger warning for child abuse, partner abuse, eating disorders and many more. Going into the book I felt fine after reading a few poems my eyes were watering. The Princess Saves Herself In This One is a powerful, intense and beautiful.

Amanda Lovelace is a wonderful author and I cannot wait to start The Witch Doesn't Burn in This One

As a male reader I thought, "how will I relate to this collection of work?" Like many of you reading these reviews I had heard so many great things about Amanda Lovelace's work. I was immediately taken in by her writing style. Lovelace holds no punches when it comes to her poetry. My worry of not relating was gone immediately, as I could feel the emotion, pain, and triumph in her work, and see through her lens. I think one of the most important things we can do as readers is expose ourselves to another person's point of view. I was able to view things different because of Amanda Lovelace's work, which is one of the greatest things a writer can do for their reader. I finished this book with a lot of material to digest and reflect on, and I find myself ruminating on pieces from this collection, revisiting them again and again.

It was amazing! I finished it in less than a day. It is a short collection of poems. To be completely honest, I am a bit speechless. This book is so raw, heartbreaking, powerful, and uplifting in one. It made me mad, sad, and happy. Some of the poems are messed up , some are lovey- dovey, and some are meant to be empowering. I look forward to reading the sequel this year.

I've always had a love/hate relationship with poetry. I hated how teachers used to make us dissect every word instead of letting it speak for itself. This book of poems is beautiful, tragic, and more honest than anything I've read in a long time. The poems about her mother particularly hit home with me. It's made me actually want to seek out more poetry which I've never had an inkling to do before. Highly recommend but remember to read the triggers page for your own safety.

Wow. I don't know how to start this any other way than by just stating that word. Going into reading this book I didn't have much prior knowledge about the book itself other than the fact that I was seeing some great reviews among some of the book blogs I follow. At first I was on the fence about reading it because I found out it was a work of poetry and I haven't read much of this type of writing.

But how happy I am that I decided to read this incredible book.

It's raw and honest in way not many people feel comfortable writing. The fact that it is made of real experiences makes me want to stand up and applaud the author for sharing such personal experiences and thoughts. At points I was so overwhelmed with emotions tha tears were brought to my eyes; at other points I was awakened with this renewed sense of self worth.

I recommend this read to anyone really, but I'd especially recommend it to girls and women of all ages. It tells of the insecurities we have, the experiences many of us face, and those outrageous standards society has set up for us to live up to.

As heartbreaking as this was to read, to know that the author went through this, this book was written so beautifully. Five stars to an author who got me contemplating life and society. Thank you for making me realize that the princess most definitely can save herself in such a world where loneliness and ones negative outlook on their image seems so hard to escape.

My tweenaged daughter read this and genuinely loved it. She said it made her feel like she needed to share it with friends who felt that they were not enough or were bullied. We purched a paperback and she intends to pass it on to someone who she feels needs to hear this message.

This book was very emotional and real for the author but i had a hard tim erealting to it. It is the story of her healing but i felt like there was limited imagery or any firgurative language that could paint a picture for me, and for any figurative language that was present it felt bery abstract such as "a feather disguised as steel". The poems themselves were very short and mainly felt like poems that i could find on tumblr, which is not what i would expect from a published author. Overall i just felt like this book of poems was lacking and a lot of it felt like something that i had seen before. I do feel bad criticizing this work though because it was such a deep and moving thing for the author to write and recount her past. However for me the work felt very distant.

Beautifully heartbreaking. I read this book in one sitting. The words...they are just so beautiful. They brought me to tears. I also smiled and felt a sense of pride as the poet moved onto better and brighter days. With each word I fell more and more in love with Amanda Lovelace.
Definitely recommend this book to everyone.

The princess saves herself in this one is a powerful collection of poems, that the author, Amanda Lovelace experienced in her life. It is well-written and hard to put down. There are so many poems that I could relate to, and others that I couldn’t but still felt the emotion behind them. I can’t wait to read more by Amanda Lovelace!

It's been a really long time since the last time I've read any poetry. I can't even remember the last time I've reread the ones I love, it's just a genre I've been avoiding, I guess, for years now. When I saw this poetry collection and read a few of the poetry in this little book all over the internet, it made me curious, it made me want to go back to reading poetry.

I think a lot of people are scared of reading something like that because poetry gives you really raw feelings. While reading this last night, before going to bed, I found myself trying to hide even tho I was alone in the dark, under my sheets. Every single poetry in The Princess Saves Herself in This One is so personal that you feel like you're intruding in someone's life - and it's exactly like that. You really are. But not in a bad way. And even being so personal it can speak to so many different people who went through similar stuff, who's keep going through so much.

I was amazed by it, it made me feel alive.

This was an amazing read. So powerful and full of raw and real emotion. The first two chapters were really heavy content wise. I particularly loved the last 2 chapters (the queen and you) because they were really inspiring. I loved how feminist it was as well. Overall, an excellent poetry collection.

This a wonderful book for anyone who has ever felt like they are worthless and they are not good enough. This book shows life as it is when you feel like everything is crashing in on you, and you are worth nothing. It's real. It's raw. It's killing me. Nothing I say here will do this book justice. I hope ever girl who has ever felt like scum, reads this and realizes she is a queen.

I've never cried over a poetry book before this one. There's so much intense and raw emotion throughout all the poems. Don't think that this book is filled with cheesy poems because of the title because this book is incredible. It talks about hardships, surviving, and persevering through it all. One of my favorite poems in this book:

repeat after me:
you owe
no one
your forgiveness.
-except maybe yourself.

Hands down would recommend this it's fantastic!

I don't necessarily believe this was "poetry" in any sense; however, there were some very powerful and emotional pieces.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest opinion. My thanks to Amanda Lovelace
and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity

Warning there may be triggers here.

Gritty, simple, and full of moments that pulled solid emotions out of me. Some of these words cut as if I experienced them directly or as if they were written just for me. Other words were strange and heartbreaking. This poetry inspires me to pull out my old book and start drafting my soul onto the pages again.

Thank you Amanda for bearing your soul.

If you took the music of young Taylor Swift and then removed the catchy music, charm, and rhyme schemes and added in some mommy issues, you'd get this book. It's overwrought and ridiculous with an interesting organizational method. This is no more poetry than Pepe the Frog memes are legitimate political commentary. I try to be positive in reviews, but this was disappointing. I even read it through to see if it would improve. If you want something like this (but good), read Milk and Honey, which this book's publishers are obviously blatantly imitating with its cover.

Feels like it tries a little hard to be "edgy" and really pushes the emotion more than it needs to in places, but overall, it's an enjoyable read. The story told is a bit predictable, but there are some pretty lines/poems sprinkled throughout.

This book touches on topics that are hard to speak about but are addressed beautifully by the author. As someone who hasn't experienced some of the traumas that the author has, it was beneficial for me to read and get insight into situations I haven't experienced first hand. I recommend this book to anyone who can relate to the author, as well as anyone who wants to understand someone who has experienced traumas relationally due to loss, abuse, or mental illness.

I liked this little book.
It was experimental and quick and I can understand why it might not be some people's cup of tea.
But I enjoyed the content and I thought the format flowed well.
But maybe it's because I just spend too much time on Tumblr XD

First I would like to say I’m not big on poetry. Second I would like to say that despite that, I adored this. I read it in one go because it was simply too beautiful to put down. It is so full of emotion, full of empowerment and full of truths. you can tell so much was put into it. one of my favourites (picking just one was incredibly hard btw) is the following:

“the princess
locked herself away
in the highest tower,
hoping a knight
in shining armor
would come to her
rescue.

– i didn’t realize i could be my own knight”

I would 100% recommend this to anyone I know, so what are you waiting for? Go and read it!

Amanda Lovelace tells a tale of her battles with her demons and her trauma in a modernized style of poetry. Lovelace also uses her poetry as a pedestal to speak out on issues of abuse, feminism, self-acceptance, and so many more issues that need to be addressed in society. It took me months to finally buy this book, and I wish I had bought it the day that I found out about it.

I expected more from this book. It didn't touch me as much as other books I've read have (milk and honey, whiskey and a shovel) I haven't experienced a loss of a loved one in a while..she talks about her mothers death a lot

The Princess Saves Herself In This One was one of the most raw, emotional works of poetry that I've ever read. It's a crescendo of loss, heartbreak, and redemption. It leads you down a sorrowful past full of tragedy and trauma, but it's not just a depressing book. There is hope here, too. The last section of the book is inspiring, empowering, and feminist as hell.

I cried so many tears over this beautiful collection. Read it, absolutely, read it.

If I could I'd give it zero stars. This book is beyond awful, completely unoriginal, and somewhat annoying. What's up with all the spacing between letters? and the uncontrollable use of "&" instead of "and"?! How can someone give this book five stars and mislead other people into buying it? This is not poetry! And she has a B.A. in English literature, too. Disappointing.

Not what I expected from a poetry book at all. I was hoping to return it since I just got the opportunity to read it and only ended up flipping the pages. The book and printing isn't very attractive either. Personally not what I was looking for or was lead to believe in reference to the title. Just not my cup of tea.

Oh my god. Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod. I picked this up from my shelf yesterday as a light book to carry with me and I ended up crying my eyes out on the subway with the 'damsel' bit. I am in LOVE with the organization of the poems in this book and how it really tells a "complete" story about the poet. Touching, raw, relatable, heartbreaking, emotional. I have taken pictures of most poems and already recommended it to more people than I care to admit. What a masterpiece.

i love this book. for whatever reason it won't let me buy this book, it'll only let me download the sample, so that's the only reason a star was deducted. other than that, i love it. i felt like i was the princess who was doing all the saving in the short few stories i read. it was powerful and well needed.

My book came with a slightly dirty cover. Looked like someone had touched it with either dirty or soapy fingers. Likely wouldn't have shown on a book with a shiny cover, but the cover is matte and black so it was SUPER visible. I was gifting the book so I had to carefully wipe the cover down before I packed the gift up.

I've never cried over a poetry book before this one. There's so much intense and raw emotion throughout all the poems. Don't think that this book is filled with cheesy poems because of the title because this book is incredible. It talks about hardships, surviving, and persevering through it all. One of my favorite poems in this book:

repeat after me:
you owe
no one
your forgiveness.
-except maybe yourself.

Hands down would recommend this it's fantastic!

I don't necessarily believe this was "poetry" in any sense; however, there were some very powerful and emotional pieces.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest opinion. My thanks to Amanda Lovelace
and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity

Warning there may be triggers here.

Gritty, simple, and full of moments that pulled solid emotions out of me. Some of these words cut as if I experienced them directly or as if they were written just for me. Other words were strange and heartbreaking. This poetry inspires me to pull out my old book and start drafting my soul onto the pages again.

Thank you Amanda for bearing your soul.

If you took the music of young Taylor Swift and then removed the catchy music, charm, and rhyme schemes and added in some mommy issues, you'd get this book. It's overwrought and ridiculous with an interesting organizational method. This is no more poetry than Pepe the Frog memes are legitimate political commentary. I try to be positive in reviews, but this was disappointing. I even read it through to see if it would improve. If you want something like this (but good), read Milk and Honey, which this book's publishers are obviously blatantly imitating with its cover.

Feels like it tries a little hard to be "edgy" and really pushes the emotion more than it needs to in places, but overall, it's an enjoyable read. The story told is a bit predictable, but there are some pretty lines/poems sprinkled throughout.

This book touches on topics that are hard to speak about but are addressed beautifully by the author. As someone who hasn't experienced some of the traumas that the author has, it was beneficial for me to read and get insight into situations I haven't experienced first hand. I recommend this book to anyone who can relate to the author, as well as anyone who wants to understand someone who has experienced traumas relationally due to loss, abuse, or mental illness.

I liked this little book.
It was experimental and quick and I can understand why it might not be some people's cup of tea.
But I enjoyed the content and I thought the format flowed well.
But maybe it's because I just spend too much time on Tumblr XD

First I would like to say I’m not big on poetry. Second I would like to say that despite that, I adored this. I read it in one go because it was simply too beautiful to put down. It is so full of emotion, full of empowerment and full of truths. you can tell so much was put into it. one of my favourites (picking just one was incredibly hard btw) is the following:

“the princess
locked herself away
in the highest tower,
hoping a knight
in shining armor
would come to her
rescue.

– i didn’t realize i could be my own knight”

I would 100% recommend this to anyone I know, so what are you waiting for? Go and read it!

Incredibly moving and empowering, even for readers who have not experienced the majority of what Amanda Lovelace has in her lifetime. This collection of poetry conveys hurt, pain, trauma, etc. yet is unapologetic and triumphant. Can't wait for her second collection--March is too far away!

Amanda takes you on a breath-taking journey. I mean, i was holding my breath at times. Everything was just so genuine. With her fantasy themes it made it even more enjoyable. I cried and my heart pounded. Usually i'm not sure what to sat for a review. I mean, how can i summarize the beautiful books i read? But, what i can say is it was very true to heart. It will open your heart up, but you'll be left with a contentment and a feeling of victory.

Amanda Lovelace tells a tale of her battles with her demons and her trauma in a modernized style of poetry. Lovelace also uses her poetry as a pedestal to speak out on issues of abuse, feminism, self-acceptance, and so many more issues that need to be addressed in society. It took me months to finally buy this book, and I wish I had bought it the day that I found out about it.

I expected more from this book. It didn't touch me as much as other books I've read have (milk and honey, whiskey and a shovel) I haven't experienced a loss of a loved one in a while..she talks about her mothers death a lot

The Princess Saves Herself In This One was one of the most raw, emotional works of poetry that I've ever read. It's a crescendo of loss, heartbreak, and redemption. It leads you down a sorrowful past full of tragedy and trauma, but it's not just a depressing book. There is hope here, too. The last section of the book is inspiring, empowering, and feminist as hell.

I cried so many tears over this beautiful collection. Read it, absolutely, read it.

If I could I'd give it zero stars. This book is beyond awful, completely unoriginal, and somewhat annoying. What's up with all the spacing between letters? and the uncontrollable use of "&" instead of "and"?! How can someone give this book five stars and mislead other people into buying it? This is not poetry! And she has a B.A. in English literature, too. Disappointing.

Not what I expected from a poetry book at all. I was hoping to return it since I just got the opportunity to read it and only ended up flipping the pages. The book and printing isn't very attractive either. Personally not what I was looking for or was lead to believe in reference to the title. Just not my cup of tea.

I heard so many good things about this book that one day I bought it on impulse. I finished it in less than one day because I couldn’t put it down. I related to so many of the poems in the book and it really made me feel understood. I love the authors writing style as well, it was very enjoyable to read.

Oh my god. Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod. I picked this up from my shelf yesterday as a light book to carry with me and I ended up crying my eyes out on the subway with the 'damsel' bit. I am in LOVE with the organization of the poems in this book and how it really tells a "complete" story about the poet. Touching, raw, relatable, heartbreaking, emotional. I have taken pictures of most poems and already recommended it to more people than I care to admit. What a masterpiece.

i love this book. for whatever reason it won't let me buy this book, it'll only let me download the sample, so that's the only reason a star was deducted. other than that, i love it. i felt like i was the princess who was doing all the saving in the short few stories i read. it was powerful and well needed.

My book came with a slightly dirty cover. Looked like someone had touched it with either dirty or soapy fingers. Likely wouldn't have shown on a book with a shiny cover, but the cover is matte and black so it was SUPER visible. I was gifting the book so I had to carefully wipe the cover down before I packed the gift up.

My daughter and myself absolutely love this book. We agreed we can read it again and again. It is raw, real, and so relatable for any woman who's ever been traumatized, abused or lost someone they cared about. I cried. She did room

Amazing, brutal, beautiful, stark moments of Lovelace's life all caught in elegant, amusing and heartfelt prose. She covers everything from love, hate, rape, life. A whirlwind glimpse into the life of someone who struggled and was victorious in the end. She certainly is a self saving princess.

I read the Kindle edition that I borrowed from the library. This book is Powerful & Raw, these poems penetrated me to my core. I will be thinking about them for quite a while. I read the Kindle edition that I borrowed from the library and will be purchasing a paperback copy asap

If you’d like to get hit right in the feels, buy this book. It is a real, raw rollercoaster of emotions. Bravo. A million billion stars.

If you can read this book front to cover and NOT be ugly-crying by the end, there is something pathologically wrong with you. And I’m not saying that to be mean. Seriously. Get help.

I love it I love it I LOVE IT. It's an absolutely amazing book. I'm usually not big on poetry books but this one right here is definitely something else. If I could buy a billion copies and lend it to every woman I've come in contact with, I would.

This is the first poetry book I've picked up and I'm pretty down and this made me cry but at the same time made my heart pretty much open up. The love she has for her fiancé and the love she holds for everyone who reads this... Just wow.

I've been reading a lot of poetry, and each one related to me differently. This one is exactly what I need to read over and over: the "you" section was an incredibly original idea and I adored every poem. Thank you so much for this, Amanda.

Just wow. This book resonated with me in such a strong way. Admittedly I bought this book for a friend who could use a pick me up of sorts but inside these pages I found myself relating to the to the princess, the damsel and the queen. I'd recommended this book to anyone.

You have got to be kidding me. All I can do is just laugh at these people writing 5 Star reviews. Don’t waste your money. It’s a little girls tumblr page turned into a book. It’s infantile and utterly pathetic. I am just in complete amazement as to how this actually got published. I can’t believe it. I cannot believe it.

A waste of trees, our society is getting dumber it's no wonder these books are best sellers. There is a lot of blank space in this book and poems if you can call them are often one sentence or a few lines. I do not recommend this at all unless you like wasting money. This seems like another social media poet that has found a niche among the mantra of the morons and this is based strictly on the quality of the work in this book.

I'm frustrated while writing this review because I know that nothing I say will be as beautiful as the poetry that it is about.
Amanda has somehow managed to break my heart then put it all back together. Even though my personal story is different from the one that was written in this collection of poetry, I still felt like I was being understood in a way that I haven't before. I could relate to the loss of a parent, life being tragic taken, toxic relationships with people who were meant to be your cure, and finally the feeling of being whole all on your own. These are things that are not the "normal" topics of conversation, so it was wonderful to feel like someone else understood my own pain and triumphs.
This felt like a full, cohesive narrative, which is usually hard to achieve in poetry collections. Every word felt purposeful.
This work of art makes me want to create some art of my own.

This poetry book. I don't even know where to start. This is a poetry book about truth. Painful truth, harsh truths, angry truths, but also beautiful and liberating ones. Truths no one speaks, but everyone aches to hear. Truths only half-whispered in secrets places, because people are afraid to poke the masses.

It is a book about loss. The heaviness of that loss, the guilt that comes with it. The relief, that sadness, the darkness, the what-ifs.

It is a book that wants to empower. You, her, me, us, him, it. Empower you to love yourself, to trust yourself, to always put yourself first.

It is a little about everything. You, who you are, who can you be; it tells you that it's up to you to decide, no one else. It is your life.

Amanda did a lovely job of stabbing the dragons with her words, of taking the bad blood out her system and write lovely poetry with the ink.

Some of Manda's words went under my skin, where I'm sure they'll stay for a very long time. Thank you for writing this.

Just finished reading "the princess saves herself in this one" by the lovely Amanda Lovelace. Reading it was very empowering and I can feel the story behind every poem. If you're a book junkie for poetry like me, it's really worth the read. I felt the power of being a woman and how we can survive through the worst.

I received this as a gift, as it was on my reading list. I adored this book and the powerful way in which the author said so much in few words. I felt Ms. Lovelace's emotions in each stanza.
I was particularly impressed in the way the author formatted her prose with titles and commentary at the end, rather the beginning of each piece. Tragic yet ending in such victory, this is a book I related to, on many levels. We'll done! Author/poet, Brenda-Lee Ranta

I purchased this book from Target to read. All opinions are my own. ☄The Princess Saves Herself In This One by Amanda Lovelace. ????? Women are women. Abuse is always abuse. Death is always death and always tragic. Life will continue to move forward past the pain. Grab this book and you will see.

This collection absolutely spoke to my soul and helped heal some deep seeded wounds I’ve been holding on to. The most profound page shouted at me; “silence has always been my loudest scream.” This simple statement hit hard and awakened something in me I’d never quite processed. Thank you, Amanda! I can’t wait for more from you.

Incredibly moving and empowering, even for readers who have not experienced the majority of what Amanda Lovelace has in her lifetime. This collection of poetry conveys hurt, pain, trauma, etc. yet is unapologetic and triumphant. Can't wait for her second collection--March is too far away!

Amanda takes you on a breath-taking journey. I mean, i was holding my breath at times. Everything was just so genuine. With her fantasy themes it made it even more enjoyable. I cried and my heart pounded. Usually i'm not sure what to sat for a review. I mean, how can i summarize the beautiful books i read? But, what i can say is it was very true to heart. It will open your heart up, but you'll be left with a contentment and a feeling of victory.

I heard so many good things about this book that one day I bought it on impulse. I finished it in less than one day because I couldn’t put it down. I related to so many of the poems in the book and it really made me feel understood. I love the authors writing style as well, it was very enjoyable to read.

My daughter and myself absolutely love this book. We agreed we can read it again and again. It is raw, real, and so relatable for any woman who's ever been traumatized, abused or lost someone they cared about. I cried. She did room