Poemsia is really quite a short book, so I definitely feel there was room to include some. I only have one complaint – we didn’t actually get to read any of Verity’s poetry! There weren’t even any scenes of her composing. Personally, I love modern poetry, and Poemsia feels like a secret backstage glimpse into what it’s like being part of the Instapoet movement.

Verity is immediately thrown into the spotlight and must decide whether to stay true to her humble roots in Australia or pursue a life of stardom in New York. As for the cute boy she’s just met, he’s about to discover her best kept secret.Īs a huge fan of Leav’s poetry, I went into Poemsia with high expectations and I was not disappointed! The book tells the story of Verity Wolf, a young woman whose dreams of being a poet come to fruition after a celebrity re-shares one of her Instagram posts. Her best friend Jess thinks she’s definitely got what it takes, while her cat, Zorro is characteristically indifferent. Verity Wolf dreams of being a poet-not that she’d ever admit it to anyone. International bestselling author, Lang Leav takes you into the shadowy world of contemporary poetry in this revealing and emotionally charged story about friendship, first love, betrayal, and the courage to follow your dreams. Suitable for readers aged 15+.Īngela Crocombe is the manager of Readings Kids.When Verity stumbles on an old, mysterious book, Poemsia, she finds herself suddenly thrust into the dizzying world of social media stardom, where poets are the new rock stars and fame is sometimes just a click away. This book will appeal to teens and adults who are intrigued by the world of the Insta-poets and want to read more about them, and those who like romance. The writing is not as lyrical as one would have hoped from a poet, but the characters are well defined and there is an overall innocence about the main character that doesn’t become tarnished despite online and verbal bullying. This is a world where online poets are like rock stars and their youth is part of the appeal. At the heart of the story is the strong friendship between Verity and her best friend, who always supports her, even when Verity becomes briefly enamoured with celebrity. There’s also a cute boy who helps out at the bookshop his jealous ex, who happens to be both a wealthy orphan and an online poetry reviewer and a star of the poetry scene, who appears to be endorsing Verity but may also have her own motives. When she posts a poem from an old book she finds at the bookshop, people mistakenly assume it is hers, which leads to an online backlash. The main character, Verity Wolf, lives above a second-hand bookshop run and owned by her grandfather. The second novel by Lang Leav, best known as an Instagram poet, follows the path of a young poet who finds fame when her best friend encourages her to post her words online.