Love, loss, witchcraft, avocado toast, and storming the patriarchy: an inclusive poetic perspective on millennial life. 

The ocean is one of the greatest metaphors: the ebb and flow of love and loss, the tumultuous emotions that roil beneath a blue-calm surface, the search for meaning in the endless horizons of sea and sky. On an Ebbing Seafoam Tide is a deep dive into reflections on the calms and tempests of everyday life.

Alannah Radburn’s poetry floats to the surface amidst the messy chaos of personal relationships and societal constructs, and comes together in a relatable perfect storm of practical wisdom. If you’ve ever felt like you were drowning in feelings or searching to find meaning in today’s turbulent times, you will find a lifeline in these poems.

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I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review; thank you NetGalley and Alannah Radburn for the opportunity to read and review this novel. This in no way sways my review or opinion of the novel.

Radburn’s cottagecore and naturecore poetry in “On an Ebbing Seafoam Tide” is the perfect summer read for poetry and non poetry lovers alike. With a balance of both coziness and empowerment, Radburn explores the highs and lows of love, queerness and life.

I absolutely adored the tranquil imageries depicting the simple joys of life. A warm drink while gazing out the window, quiet days in, listening to the sounds of nature … Radburn brings to light how one can find delight in the mundane, allowing yourself to find some ease and peace during the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

There is, however, a lot of exploration on heavy and intense emotions through simple yet meaningful statements to comparisons in nature imagery. Queer love, intimacy, self love, feminism, mental health, past trauma, and abuse (physical, psychological, sexual) are just some of the many topics Radburn’s poetry examines.

The focus on feminism and queer love were my favourites, especially as someone who bloomed later in life when it came to understanding her own sexuality and sexual orientation. Discussing how the world still views women empowerment and queerness as “sinful” and a “taboo”, Radburn demonstrates the difficulties women and the LGBTQAI+ community continue to face. But she also shows the strength we all have, allowing a safe space in her words to feel valued and understood … that being a woman and loving who we love is not a sin … it’s something beautiful, something for us to cherish.

“On an Ebbing Seafoam Tide” was an amazing reading experience; I’ve already added numerous other books by Radburn to my TBR and plan to by a physical copy of this so I can re-read it again while adding my own thoughts during my experience. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and find some comfort in Radburn’s words.

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