The second half of 2025 is chock-full of great debut voices, and below are 10 poetry collections we’re very excited for. Pre-ordering is vital to a book and a writer’s success. These are powerful and transformative poets worth your attention, many of whom are on small independent or university presses. Give these collections a look and discover a new voice you’ll fall in love with.
Dead Girl Cameo by m mick powell (August 5)
powell is a ferocious writer with an unapologetic voice. She explores how we treat our heroes, and what heroes do and do not owe us. The poems are odes to those we lost (Whitney Houston, Left Eye) and a reminder that we’re all hiding pain. Moving and refreshing. A knockout.
The Years of Blood by Adedayo Agarau (September 2)
Inspired by the haunting legacy of ritual killings and child abductions in Nigeria, Adedayo Agarau’s poems are ones of remembrance and resistance. A stunning and eye-opening collection.
What God in the Kingdom of Bastards by Brian Gyamfi (September 9)
Diving into Gyamfi’s poem proves he has an eye for rich and evocative imagery on top of emotional language. He expertly blends a personal lens with the larger cultural roots that built him as a writer.
The Same Man by Bobby Elliott (September 9)
A lyrical collection about the highs and lows of love and family. Elliot explores how we’re shaped by the memories we want to leave behind.
Someone Else’s Hunger by Isabella DeSendi (September 15)
DeSendi allows readers into intimate moments about topics ranging from eating disorders to fitting into toxic places controlled by masculinity. She somehow is able to radiate beauty with her words while writing about the darkest of times. This collection touched my heart and soul. Her poems are unforgettable.
Level Watch by Mary Ardery (September 23)
Based on her time as a wilderness guide for women in recovery, Mary Ardery’s debut collection is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she explores relapse and the rugged beauty of survival.
Something Small of How to See a River by Teresa Dzieglewicz (October 1)
A revelatory collection about operating a school in Standing Rock that opened my eyes to stories often forgotten. It feels like a docuseries in poetry form. Dzieglewicz strikes with undeniable force.
Her Mouth A Palace of Lamps by Yamini Pathak (October 10)
After released a few poetry chapbooks, Pathak offers a full-length collection where grief swirls and each poem offers a meditation on maternal lineage.
The Past is a Jean Jacket by Cloud Delfina Cardona (October 14)
Selected for the Hub City BIPOC Poetry Series this collection cuts like a knife. In it, Cardona asks, “why am I nostolgic for the shitty times in my life?”
Let the Moon Wobble by Ally Ang (November 11)
The emotions in Ang’s poems jumped from the line and into my soul. They explore queerness without filter or apology. The poems are radiant.