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Love, Sivvy: A Novel Inspired by the Life, Letters, and Diaries of Young Sylvia Plath
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Expected 17 Feb 26Win a free print copy of this book!
1 day and 20:23:01
20 copies available
U.S. only
For fans of Girl in Pieces and Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, comes an intensely relatable historical novel-in-verse about the young adult years of the exceptionally talented and original tortured poet, Sylvia Plath, as she casts off all the sexist and limiting expectations of American women and forges her own path.
Sylvia Plath knows she was born to be remembered. She loves learning, literature, and writing, especially poetry. The problem is, she’s coming of age in a time when women are expected to happily set aside their dreams for a husband and a home. Even in high school, Sylvia struggles to reconcile the societal expectations placed on women and the ambitions she has for a great career. She aches for a partner and a family, but she longs to become a poet, too. And she’s afraid she can’t have both.
Covering her high school and college years, and capturing her many highs and lows as she wrestled with her mental health and blazing talent, Love, Sivvy is a beautifully rendered portrait of one of the most incandescent poets of all time.
Sylvia Plath knows she was born to be remembered. She loves learning, literature, and writing, especially poetry. The problem is, she’s coming of age in a time when women are expected to happily set aside their dreams for a husband and a home. Even in high school, Sylvia struggles to reconcile the societal expectations placed on women and the ambitions she has for a great career. She aches for a partner and a family, but she longs to become a poet, too. And she’s afraid she can’t have both.
Covering her high school and college years, and capturing her many highs and lows as she wrestled with her mental health and blazing talent, Love, Sivvy is a beautifully rendered portrait of one of the most incandescent poets of all time.
416 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 17, 2026
2138 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 2, 2025
*** Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of LOVE, SIVVY by RL Toalson in exchange for my honest review.***
3.5 STARS
The early life of Sylvia Plath told in gorgeous verse by RL Toalson. The crisp writing in short chapters made for fast reading make LOVE, SIVVY readable for young adults and older middle grade readers.
I’ve read a lot by and about Sylvia Plath over the years. I saw The Bell Jar movie when it first came out. I think Sylvia would be pleased with LOVE, SIVVY. A story in verse is the perfect way to introduce Sylvia to younger readers and I hope this will inspire them to read THE BELL JAR and her poetry. I, however, was disappointed that the story ended when it did. Sylvia’s life as an adult was as instrumental as who she was as her younger years, adulthood with marriage, children and her career was equally important. She is remembered as much for her poetry as much as her death, unfortunately. Stopping LOVE, SIVVY on a hopeful note feels disingenuous to her story.
I hope many readers will get to know Sylvia through LOVE, SIVVY.
3.5 STARS
The early life of Sylvia Plath told in gorgeous verse by RL Toalson. The crisp writing in short chapters made for fast reading make LOVE, SIVVY readable for young adults and older middle grade readers.
I’ve read a lot by and about Sylvia Plath over the years. I saw The Bell Jar movie when it first came out. I think Sylvia would be pleased with LOVE, SIVVY. A story in verse is the perfect way to introduce Sylvia to younger readers and I hope this will inspire them to read THE BELL JAR and her poetry. I, however, was disappointed that the story ended when it did. Sylvia’s life as an adult was as instrumental as who she was as her younger years, adulthood with marriage, children and her career was equally important. She is remembered as much for her poetry as much as her death, unfortunately. Stopping LOVE, SIVVY on a hopeful note feels disingenuous to her story.
I hope many readers will get to know Sylvia through LOVE, SIVVY.
December 3, 2025
A fictionalized novel-in-verse centers poet Sylvia Plath’s formative teen and college years, beginning during her junior year in 1948 Wellesley, Massachusetts and ending with her graduation from Smith College. Like Plath herself, this is an ambitious and dizzying book.
I found this to be lucidly told with finely crafted poems, but it's a difficult read if you know how the story ends. I remember idolizing Plath when I first encountered her in high school, pouring over her poems and journal entries as I wrote my own. I related to her; for a time, I wanted to *be* her. Meeting her as an adult in the pages of this novel was a very different experience. I saw more clearly her flaws, her ego, how much she struggled to simply be happy. And while I still respect her work and am grateful to her for paving the way for women like me who continue to pursue both literary careers and families, I realized that I no longer consider her a role model. I don’t want to *be* her anymore, because she was inwardly tortured and miserable despite her accomplishments.
New personal life goal: let what I have and what I've done be enough.
I found this to be lucidly told with finely crafted poems, but it's a difficult read if you know how the story ends. I remember idolizing Plath when I first encountered her in high school, pouring over her poems and journal entries as I wrote my own. I related to her; for a time, I wanted to *be* her. Meeting her as an adult in the pages of this novel was a very different experience. I saw more clearly her flaws, her ego, how much she struggled to simply be happy. And while I still respect her work and am grateful to her for paving the way for women like me who continue to pursue both literary careers and families, I realized that I no longer consider her a role model. I don’t want to *be* her anymore, because she was inwardly tortured and miserable despite her accomplishments.
New personal life goal: let what I have and what I've done be enough.
November 30, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Sylvia Plath, along with Emily Dickinson, featured largely in the interests of high school girls at my school back in the 1980s. Plath's work, and life, are rather grim, so I didn't quite understand this interest. It makes sense to give her life another look, and this book frames her as a young feminist who had many interests in topics that were unusual for the time in which she was raised, like having a career or having an interest in sex. This is more for high school readers than middle grade ones, and has a hopeful feel to it that seemed at odds with Plath's struggles and demise. The attention to detail and research into Plath's writing is very evident, and the verse novel format would probably have been appreciated by Plath herself. Love the cover, but will pass on purchase for my middle school library.
Sylvia Plath, along with Emily Dickinson, featured largely in the interests of high school girls at my school back in the 1980s. Plath's work, and life, are rather grim, so I didn't quite understand this interest. It makes sense to give her life another look, and this book frames her as a young feminist who had many interests in topics that were unusual for the time in which she was raised, like having a career or having an interest in sex. This is more for high school readers than middle grade ones, and has a hopeful feel to it that seemed at odds with Plath's struggles and demise. The attention to detail and research into Plath's writing is very evident, and the verse novel format would probably have been appreciated by Plath herself. Love the cover, but will pass on purchase for my middle school library.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews