Review: Table for One by Laura Ashley Laraque

This collection of poetry talks about a woman who has experienced what many have, heart break. In the midst of her pain, she takes on a journey to learn to love herself. Also, expressing emotions and looking back on memories that although left scars, have led her to sit at her table alone. Finding yourself is crucial and she explains how she accomplishes this day by day.

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~ My Review ~

I felt like this collection oscillated between wanting to find strength in whom the poet is as a woman, and a woman who is scorned trying to get her thoughts in prose. And I get that.
I get the need to look through our heartbreak, and sifting through emotions to look for when, and where the relationship failed. I understand shaking the deluded thoughts of the 'what ifs' and 'if onlys,' as those thoughts will only do more harm than good. 
I could hear the frustrations from Laura Ashley in each word she wrote. I heard and felt her anger and saw her bitter tears, as she tried to form enough coherent thought to tell us what this heartbreak did to her.
And whoever you are, mister, this woman absolutely did not deserve you.
In between some heavy piercing pieces for this "character," she kept some pieces of strength for herself. Those pieces touched me. Here she is broken and haunted. But her sureness that one day she'll wake from this heartache is evident throughout. She still had hope within her. She still had love in her.
Throughout this collection, her heart and mind battled between holding on to false promises and toxic love, and letting go of her insecurities. I applaud you, Laura, on your tenacity to fight for your heart. After all, when it comes to love and putting ourselves first, I'd rather have a Table for One than sit in pained and uncomfortable silence with mixed company. 

And in her own thoughts, "This is me and I am new and you can leave." Bravo, superwoman.

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About the Author

​Laura Ashley is an indie author who has published her first collection of poetry. She started writing from the 6th grade and has displayed her words as art on canvas for others to dive into. She plans on continuing to write and is ready to release more books to come! Stay tuned.
Social Media:
Blog: speakunspokenly.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaNillaRose
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakunspokenly/

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