Make Believe: Poems for Hoping Again | Review
A poetry collection that feels like springtime.
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Make Believe: Poems for Hoping Again by Victoria Hutchins
144 pages | Published by Convergent Books
The Set Up: According to the official marketing copy: An exquisite poetry collection from the creator of The Daily Victorian that celebrates the hidden versions of ourselves, unveiling the healing power of nostalgia, imagination, and hope.
Now THIS is the kind of poetry collection I can get behind. Recently I read *A Bit Much* by Lyndsay Rush which did not land for me, but *Make Believe* was just the right vibe. I stopped several times to note specific lines throughout the collection.
I read it at just the right time - the collection felt like springtime. Victoria Hutchins’ writing is beautiful and lyrical, and it left me with a sense of calm. There is a lot of heart and seriousness to her pieces, but it felt joyful and celebratory.
“There’s an idea: to accept help—not because I can’t carry it alone, but simply because it’s heavy.”
I enjoyed how the poems were broken down into different sections about childhood, nostalgia, self-love, hope, love, and spirituality. There’s definitely a through-line about God and religion, but I came away feeling that is was more general spirituality rather than a specific Christian God.
Before reading, I was not familiar with the author or her online presence, but now I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more work from her in the future.
