Review: I Hope You Remember

I Hope You Remember

Author: Josie Balka

Simon & Schuster, 2025

ISBN: 9781668077108 (hardcover)
9781668077115 (EPUB)

$32.00 CAD (hardcover)
$15.99 CAD (EPUB)

176 pages

Ages: Adult

I Hope You Remember is a collection of poetry that shines a light directly on all of the emotions that we otherwise leave buried deep within us. Josie Balka’s writing captures the gut-wrenching moments of insecurity, hope, and nostalgia that help shape each of our lives. The book is divided into three chapters: loving, longing, and living, a poetic alliteration of three words that, although they feel distinctly different, come together to embody what it means to truly be human. The poems within these chapters tackle lost love, immeasurable beauty standards, friendship, body image, breakups, and what-could-have-beens. As the reader, we are faced with the thought that maybe we aren't as alone as we thought. With clear prose and language I believe this book would appeal to an audience of both adults and young adults who are looking to make sense of what's beneath the surface.