witchbuns

Katie Nayman, 2025

3.75 Stars

Wow – I see why this is highly reviewed because the form of this, the writing and the vulnerability (actual poems) is top notch. Leigh is the main character but her Anxiety is a supporting (unsupporting) character and this is a study in self-doubt. I really liked Will and wow again, he had some swagger when it came time for burn time, and his poems matched his characterization in such a deft way. 

This wasn’t 4 stars for me however because I couldn’t decide if I connected with Leigh personally. Although I’m familiar with anxiety and we hold hands, it was really hard to read her self-sabotage and see her negating Will and their story over and over again. It almost hurt to see them sabotaging their communication, but for the Leigh’s of this world I really hope you find this book. 

Overall it felt like a younger age and audience than I am normally drawn to because of how they treated each other, it almost felt like college aged instead of graduate school. I wondered what the book would have been like from Hazel’s POV or the hippie yoga girl who keeps dating the second-year, because they were already being vulnerable in their poetry and I wanted to start from there.  

So yes to this form, and yes to Katie Nayman. Whatever is next in your pen, I will come find it.