Review of Scars like Constellations

[Gabriela Contreras Gonzalez]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Scars like Constellations" by Cristie Robbins.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

How do you deal with pain? How do you deal with loss? The book scars like constellations by Cristie Robbins is a collection of poems that express in sincere, raw prose what it is like to keep on living when everything is gone, when you feel like you have lost everything, including yourself.

The book touches on topics like addiction, grief, and trauma, among others. The book touches on these topics through the five parts it is divided into, which I enjoyed, as healing and trauma are not linear; they do not follow a straight path. I appreciated how the reader can heal alongside the author, how the things that happened in her childhood and the persons that caused her pain no longer had power over her, as this is something a lot of people can relate to. It is clear that the author has a passion for mental health and healing trauma, as each poem will help someone who has a painful past that needs to heal their trauma.

I enjoyed the author’s choice to not follow capitalization rules and write the titles and subtitles only in lowercase; it gave me a sense of peace among the chaos the author was sharing. Some of my favorite poems are “the weight of what’s left behind,” “unsaid,” “what the body remembers,” “the exercise i could not complete,” “the things he said,” “the things i wish i could tell her,” and “no one saves you.” I loved how, despite not being able to share the author’s experiences, I could see how I’ve dealt with my pain and trauma in similar ways to what the poems narrate. For example, in “what the body remembers” the author talks about how, with time, the mind forgets and changes our memories, but our bodies cannot do that, and they still react when we are reminded of something. Some poems feel to be connected with each other, which I felt was another nod to the non-linear healing people have when dealing with their traumas.

The author’s past and mine are different, but we are bound with a pain that only a few know about. Her words resonate with me on deeper levels than I imagined, than I expected when I started reading her book. I am certain several readers will experience similar feelings, that they will remember a time when they felt broken, a person that caused them pain, or a relationship that failed, and they will smile as they realize how strong they are because of that.

Overall, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. There is nothing negative I can say about the book; it is exceptionally well edited and completely free from errors. In the author’s own words, this is a book for those who have felt lost, have been hurt, or are struggling to move on, to get out of the dark place they are currently stuck in. And if you're fortunate to have never felt like that, but you enjoy poetry, grab a copy of this book. As a warning, the book touches on suicide, so anyone who is triggered by this might want to reconsider reading the book; while not extremely graphic, the book does not try to hide this.

******
Scars like Constellations
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Kibet Hillary]

Mental health is critical to one's wellbeing, and I am happy to see that the author addresses it through poetry as well. And, for sure, healing and trauma do not follow a linear path. Thank you, @Gabriela Contreras Gonzalez, for the fantastic review.

[Onyemuwa-dave]

It's clear how deeply Cristie Robbins' raw exploration of healing, grief, and trauma resonated with you, especially the non-linear journey. I completely understand that connection; I see people around me grappling with similar pain, and it's heartbreaking. Your highlight of "what the body remembers" truly speaks to that shared human experience. Thank you for such an emotional and honest reflection on this powerful collection.

[Spoorthy S]

Nice review! You captured the essence of the work well. Keep up the good work!

[Helen Waziri]

It sounds like Scars like Constellations is a deeply moving and cathartic collection, offering a glimpse into the complexity of healing from trauma. I appreciate how the non-linear structure of the book mirrors the way healing truly happens. I can see how the poems about memory and the body’s reaction to trauma would resonate strongly with anyone who has experienced deep emotional wounds.

[Etimbuk Eshiet]

This is such a moving and thoughtful review. I appreciate how you connected with the author’s healing journey and described the emotional impact of the poems. You’ve made me genuinely curious about the book’s structure and voice. Beautifully written!