The beauty in such soft-spoken words, Courtney Peppernell is an Australian author who has published a very successful collection of poetry books. The collection is called Pillow Thoughts and is made up of four books all being labeled as different segments. For instance, the second book is called Healing the heart, the following books are called mending the mind and the final book is stitching the soul. With this unique set up we as readers get to go through the different phases of a broken heart but in written poetry.  

Courtney has brought life to so many situations, the focus is love. There is a common theme of love and relationships. The speaker being a woman and the person of interest also being a woman will also highlight queer relationships throughout each poem. 

The first book is plain, with no real theme compared to the others having a saying relating to the theme throughout the series. All four books have a jellyfish on the front cover but, why? The jellyfish is recognized as a poem in the first book. 

“Before we begin, I’d like to share a story. 

Once upon a time there was a jellyfish. We’ll call it  

You. 

You became lost sometimes 

You could be a little unsure 

You tried very hard 

But sometimes it didn’t feel like enough. 

I hate to spoil the ending 

But you is fine 

You is still here 

You is going to make it.” 

This poem is written in such a way that the character “you” in the story is the reader. These poems are here to heal “you” of what you have encountered. Or you can interpret it as Courtney herself reminding herself she will be okay.  

The books are broken up into different categories for things you may be feeling at the time. She does a good job of keeping the poems relevant to the category it falls under. Since there are four books, they all stay relevant to the theme of love.  

Romance is a topic that is mentioned a lot and Courtney brings awareness to the pain and suffering just a single person can have on you. Not only can people influence you, but daily tasks you do can lift you up or sink you. 

“People should fall in love more. Fall in love with the way your coffee swirls as soon as you pour the milk in. Fall in love with the look your dog gives you when you wake up. Fall in love with the rare moment when your cat doesn’t ignore you. Fall in love with the person who tells you to have a good day. Fall in love with the waiter who gives you extra chili fries. Fall in love with sweaters in winter and cold lemonade in summer. Fall in love with the moment your head hits the pillow. Fall in love with talking to someone until 4 a.m. Fall in love with the days you can hit the snooze button over and over again. Fall in love when a lover stares at you for five hours. Fall in love with the stars when they look at you. Fall in love with the sound of someone breathing. Fall in love with the bus if it’s on time or the train if it comes early. Fall in love with everything possible.”
― Courtney Peppernell, Pillow Thoughts 

Courtney produced the series to give young women and men all around the world hope of healing from a broken heart.