STARRED Book Review: If You Recall All of Our Conversations You Have Everything Needed

Reviewed by Elizabeth Zender

Whoever said it was better to have loved and lost needs to square up.

To the heartbroken lovers with hopes of healing, I tell you this: read Kreshnik Hoti’s If You Recall All Of Our Conversations You Have Everything Needed. This poetry collection has a refreshing take on post-breakup pain, exploring the depths of emotion and wide array of feelings experienced at the end of a relationship. 

Split into seven parts, this collection dives into the truest details of heartbreak—from the ones we see on the surface to the things that lie far beneath. Some poems, such as “Honey Fungus,” remind readers of the romanticization of pain. Others reflect the way we internalize what is said about us, like “Kreshnik Is A Monster;” here, Hoti takes words flung at him presumably by an ex and turns it into a heart-wrenching extended metaphor. This poem is high on my list of favorites from the collection. The feeling of wanting to transform something harmful into something beautiful resonates in a way that straddles the line of playful and painful.

Hoti’s poetry contains some devastating lines, such as “Tell him how you made me believe in a dream/you never believed in” from “If He Asks You About Me.” His Biblical allusions, particularly toward Judas Iscariot, are poignant and well-timed. He ruminates on the way we hold onto our hurt and our loves, even when we know it isn’t good for us. 

I found myself reading these poems over and over again. Hoti expertly conveys the singular feeling of lost love in a voice and atmosphere that feel so familiar. Reading this book is like yelling your favorite breakup songs in the car and explaining to your best friend why you want things to work despite knowing how bad that person is for you. I cannot stress enough how much I wish I’d had this poetry collection six years ago when I found myself at the end of a relationship. 

Each section takes on its own persona, especially parts four and seven. Part four contains four poems in different languages, while part seven is printed like a graphic novel. If you’re looking for non-traditional poetry, Hoti has you covered. I always love the use of mixed media to get a point across, and I think this is done exceptionally well here. I will always urge readers who have not tried poetry to pick up a book of poems and see if it hits; now, I will ask that they pick up this book in particular to give it a try.

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