Reading irl by Danielle McMahon felt less like reading a poetry collection and more like opening a forgotten box in the attic. Inside were late-night drives, AIM conversations, first crushes, and the peculiar combination of freedom and uncertainty that comes with being young.

Poetry isn’t a genre I reach for often, which makes this book’s impact all the more surprising. In just seventy-five pages, McMahon captures a very specific moment in time and somehow makes it feel universal. If you came of age in the 1990s, there’s a good chance you’ll find a piece of yourself somewhere in these pages.

*Spoilers will be hidden and labelled so you can choose to read or skip.

The subjects of irl are an unnamed pair of teens, high school sweethearts in the 1990s, experiencing coming of age and first love.

I don’t read enough poetry to comment much on style. However, I found the punctuation and layout in irl intriguing. The language was vivid and called to mind another time without relying on colloquialisms or slang.

Steeped in nostalgia, this narrative collection of verses is about looking back at young love in a small town. irl reflects on the zing of seeing and being seen in those pivotal coming-of-age moments.

What Worked:

• The language painted the setting and tone while being brief
• Thoroughly tugged at the nostalgic heartstrings
• Collected poems around a single subject created a through-line that told a story
  

What Didn’t Fully Click:

• The pages with a non-linear layout broke the flow for me. This may have been intentional.
  

Overall:

Interesting, out of my normal wheelhouse, toe-dip into poetry that left me feeling reflective.

Danielle McMahon reached out to me on Instagram after finding my handle on a list of folks who review books. She asked if I might be interested in reading irl. Normally, I would have passed on a book of poetry–I’m not really that into it. However, when she told me the premise, I had to check it out. I’m so glad that I did.

Reading irl was like thumbing through old photographs. I was taken back to a time in my own life when things were simpler. A time when corded landline phones and AOL Instant Messenger coexisted. When the stars shone bright in the sky, and the highest form of entertainment was a late-night drive with your sweetheart. I was comforted in a way that I didn’t expect. This book is for a very specific segment of readers, and, formerly unbeknownst to me, I am one of them.

Read if you like:

• Poetry collections
• Nostalgic 90s vibes

Skip if you dislike:

• Poetry
• Looking back at old memories
• If you weren’t a teen or young adult in the 1990s this might be a miss for you.

Listen to your favorite tunes from the 90s while reading this short book. While the text directly names throwbacks Bob Seger and The Eagles being on the radio, the feeling this conjured for me was Tom Petty’s Wildflowers.

What was the top hangout spot for you as a teen?

May your life be as full as your bookshelf and as long as your TBR list.

Happy Reading!