The Princess Saves Herself in this One

This collection of poems shows the transformation of a woman divided into four sections: princess, damsel, queen, and you. The poetry contained in the book is very raw and reflective and I finished the book feeling grateful for the gift of her life experiences. I personally appreciated that the author provides a trigger warning for the reader and encourages the reader to practice self care before, during, and after reading this book.

In the princess section of the book, the author writes of a childhood fraught with a neglectful mother and an eating disorder among other things.My favorite poem in this section was “sisters” which laments on the relationship between sisters can be redeeming yet strange at times. “Sisters” resonated with me because I have a similar relationship with my sister.

In the damsel section of the book, the author speaks of broken promises from boys, and the loss of loved ones. My favorite poem from the section was “what it really means to loose your innocence” which exposes the experience of realizing that your parents aren’t immortal.

In the queen section of the book, the damsel has claimed her power as a woman and is embracing self love and the love of a man. My favorite poem in this section is “ & it’s okay not to know” which shows that in life, it’s okay to not verbally express to others what your goals are or to just not know.

The final section of the book entitled you is unapologetic in expressing a life come full circle and discovering self acceptance. My favorite poem in this section is “your friendly neighborhood man-hater & child-eater because the first line of the poem “ you are not obligated to have children just because your body has the capability” sums up my perspective of having children. I admire the author’s ability to convey a variety of emotions over the course of the book. I also like how in each section of the book, the author creates four separate personalities yet by the end of the book, the four personalities merge into one whole person who is battered and bruised but not broken.

Amanda Lovelace’s The Princess Saves Herself in This One is a powerful and deeply personal poetry collection that explores love, loss, trauma, and empowerment. Divided into four sections—“the princess,” “the damsel,” “the queen,” and “you”—each represents a different stage in emotional growth and self-realization. In “the princess,” Lovelace reflects on childhood and early experiences of loss and heartbreak, capturing the vulnerability of youth. The poems in this section express feelings of loneliness and yearning with raw honesty, drawing readers into her emotional world.

In “the damsel,” Lovelace delves into darker themes, portraying the helplessness and trauma many women face. This section emphasizes the weight of external pressures and personal battles, showing moments of despair and emotional entrapment. However, through this adversity, the seeds of resilience are planted, leading to a profound transformation.

“The queen” is the turning point in the collection, where Lovelace crowns herself, embracing her inner strength. These poems celebrate self-love, empowerment, and the realization of self-worth. Here, the tone shifts from victimhood to a confident reclaiming of one’s identity, illustrating the journey of healing and personal growth. Lovelace’s work encourages readers to rise above their challenges, symbolically asserting that women can be their own saviors.

The final section, “you,” is a direct address to readers, offering encouragement and solidarity. Lovelace’s message is one of empowerment and self-love, urging readers to embrace their own journeys of healing and strength. Her simple, accessible language makes the complex emotions she explores more relatable.

Lovelace’s poetry challenges traditional narratives, particularly the idea of a princess needing to be saved by a prince. Instead, she reclaims the archetype of the princess, showing that women can save themselves. This focus on independence and personal empowerment is especially timely and relevant in today’s cultural landscape.

In summary, Lovelace’s collection is a moving exploration of love, trauma, and self-discovery. Through simple yet emotionally charged language, she crafts a narrative of empowerment and resilience, urging readers to recognize their own strength and embrace their journey of healing. The book is a testament to the power of self-love and personal growth, reminding readers that they can rise above their struggles and become their own heroes.

This book was absolutely beautiful, I loved every second of it.

poetry

/ˈpəʊɪtri/

noun

literary work in which the expression of feelings and ideas is given intensity by the use of distinctive style and rhythm; poems collectively or as a genre of literature.

It's true - this collection mostly doesn't rhyme. And the structure is not "traditional" - but that also doesn't make it not poetry. Poetry is stories - stripped back to the raw emotions and feelings. This collection is very much like slam poetry and not everyone will like it - hell I find most people don't enjoy poetry full stop - but this collection

is poetry.

To be fair - there is nothing particularly original in this collection. It recycles a lot of ideas - but so do many books and films and songs. So can we really fault the author too much for that?

While not original or groundbreaking, I did love this collection. It was heartbreaking and hopeful and empowering and honest and raw and it packed a punch. There were some gems to be found - my personal favourites were;

here lie

the raw,

unpolished,

& mostly

disjointed

pieces of

my soul.

sticks & stones

never broke

my bones,

but words

made me

starve myself

until

you could

see all of them.

you

did

absolutely

nothing

to

deserve

it.

- fuck rape culture.

once upon

a time,

the princess

rose from the ashes

her dragon lovers

made of her

&

crowned

herself

the

motherfucking

queen of

herself.

- how’s that for a happily ever after?

Lovelace, Amanda. the princess saves herself in this one (p. 105). Andrews McMeel Publishing. Kindle Edition.

This won't be for everyone but I'd recommend it to lovers of fairy tales, teenagers, slam poetry enthusiasts, tumblr users (because while I don't think the whole tumblr poetry thing should be considered a bad thing - it does have some merit of truth - it is tumblr poetry) and anyone struggling with their self worth. I will definitely be reading more of the author's works.