Leila Tualla: Mama, Author, & Advocate
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            News & Bookshelf

Review: love, & you by Gretchen Gomez

12/1/2017

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Picture
one day i met a guy
who stole my heart,
we created a world
for ourselves.
and another day
he broke my heart
and shattered
my soul.

i took the tattered
pieces of this
broken soul and
became anew.

- here lies the hurting, the healing, and the learning
Get your copy here. 

~My Review~

Let me preface this review by saying that I love reading and watching romance. My favorite part, however, in all cinematic scores and countless of stories, is where they take all these emotions of the heartbreak, and we get to be witnesses to the fragility of our heroine's heart as these hurt and pain and tears come on. And then, the most incredible thing happens. The music changes. Her face lights up and you see her taking back her life. Your heart beats faster as you see her conquering one thing at a time, no matter how small or trivial. That's my favorite part. Always. When she finds her worth; when she creates her own story.
Reading love, & you reminded me of why I love that part. Because it reminds us that we are fragile for giving our heart, our bodies, and soul to another and asking them to please protect it, nurture it and complement it. When the person we deem worthy takes this gift and crushes our spirit, of course, we're broken. How can you not be?
I was quite moved by Gretchen's heartbreak. INVESTED, really. I appreciated that she took her tormented heart and wrote. Her anger and bitterness - the pacing, the words - made me feel for her. (sidenote: how do you fall in love with a stranger you've never met? read their poetry) And then that moment came, where she
"....took the ashes from the
forest and threw them in
the ocean

i went back to the forest 
and planted sunflowers
of love and happiness
and joy and forgiveness and
peace of mind and me"

Words of healing. What a journey to get to where she is. First there was a beginning, and then there's an end...but always, we remember about love, & you. 

Rating: 5/5 on my reread pile

About the Author

Picture
​Gretchen Gomez is a writer and blogger from Bronx, New York. First generation Puerto Rican. She’s been writing poetry since the age of 11 and although silenced for many years, she cut the ties with silence. “love, and you” is her first published poetry collection and she is working on other collections at the moment. Gretchen makes art out of all her past experiences.

You can find her here:
blog: chicnerdreads.wordpress.com
twitter: chicnerdreads
instagram: chicnerdreads
tumblr: chicnerdreads.tumblr.com

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Hi there! Here's a quick bio

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Leila Tualla is a Filipino-American poet and author based in Houston, Tx. Leila’s books include a YA contemporary romance called Letters to Lenora and a memoir/poetry collection called Storm of Hope: God, Preeclampsia, Depression and me. Her poetry is featured in several mental health anthologies and she is currently working on a poetry collection based on Asian American stereotypes and identifies. Her chapbook “pmdd & me,” will be out this Spring 2022. ​

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  • HOME
  • about me
  • Blog
  • News & bookshelf
    • Media
    • Books >
      • Letters to Lenora
      • Love, Defined
    • Poetry >
      • PMDD & me (poetry chapbook)
      • Storm of Hope
    • Anthologies >
      • The Sacred Feminine II
      • The Poetry Marathon 2021
      • Remnants of Home
      • Poetica II
  • ADVOCACY
    • RESOURCES for PMDD warriors >
      • IAPMD
    • Community resources for moms >
      • Pregnancy and Postpartum Support
      • 2020 Mom
      • Preeclampsia
      • Momma's Voices
      • Shades of Blue Project
  • Contact