Starlight She Becomes: Poems

by Parker Lee

Experience a powerful journey of transformation and self-love, told through the evocative words of a trans woman reclaiming her identity and joy.

Trans poet Parker Lee (author of the bestselling coffee days whiskey nights) returns with an all new collection of poetry, prose, and aphorisms. This is a journey from hopelessness through to self-discovery, self-love, and romantic love presented in three sections: moonrise, sunrise, and stardust.

In moonrise, you’ll follow Parker as she copes with various struggles, including alcohol abuse, disordered eating, gender dysphoria, and mental health. In sunrise, Parker finds herself coming to terms with and accepting her identity as a woman, and everything that comes with being trans in today’s current political and social climate. Through that struggle, Parker comes out on the other side in stardust, dedicated to self-love, sapphic love, and trans joy.

With raw vulnerability and unwavering strength, The Starlight She Becomes is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the beauty found in embracing one’s true self.

Genres: Poetry, LGBT, Queer, Transgender

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 29, 2025

About the author

Parker Lee [she/her] is a trans woman poet and storyteller, as well as author of coffee days whiskey nights and espresso shots & forget-me-nots. A midwestern transplant, Parker resides in a coastal New Jersey town alongside wife and poetess amanda lovelace (and their three cats), where she can almost always be found not writing when she should be, drinking way too much coffee, and waxing autumnal every single day of the year.

Reviews

[Sam’s Sapphic Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Say goodbye to who you were to make space for who you are meant to be”

The reasoning behind 3 stars is because the poems didn’t feel like poems and instead were more-so notes.

Let me add in by saying that didn’t take away from the messages behind the poems. I quite literally got chills multiple times when I read them.

Most of the poems focused on the author finding herself, accepting herself, and then allowing herself to BE herself.

The main focus is coming to terms with being transgender and the struggles of transitioning. Not only internally but as well as with everyone around.

I do think that it was a beautifully told story and pulled at my heart strings more than once, but I do wish I got more of the “poem” feeling behind them.

Please note: I received an arc copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you NetGalley and the author Parker Lee for a copy!

[Liv Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really heartfelt, insightful and inspiring. Made me feel all kinds of things.

My favourite poems were: “hate”, “do as i say not as i do”, “i dream about a version of me that still has friends”, “dysphoria iii”, “always becoming, never being”, “Lake Michigan”, “see me”, “conservative views hypocrisy”, “eradicate”, “pride 2023”, “regular”, “don’t wanna live, don’t wanna die” and “a letter to my past selves”

Thanks to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for this ARC!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful poetry collection from Parker Lee! This heartfelt and triumphant work showcases Lee’s unmatched honesty about sobriety, identity, and self-love. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

[Bea (beansbookshelves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley.

A deeply personal and emotional collection of poems and prose, showcasing the author's deepest emotions, whether they're brighter or darker ones, just like life.

A powerful queer book with strong and inspiring message. Definitely worth reading.

"You are so much more than they could ever comprehend."

[Quilted.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not have chosen a better poem for national poetry month. The raw and beauty of these poems written by a wonderful trans woman reclaiming her identity and joy.
Magnum opus
“ Sometimes I wonder if anyone would miss me if I just disappeared. Deleted all my social media accounts and ran off to live in the woods. I wonder if I unplugged myself from reality and let the poems I’ve written exist to my place, if I let my art be my legacy, would that be enough for me if my last poem is my last poem, would I be content with my final words? At one point, I might’ve said yes, but now, I’m not sure I’ve written my best line, let alone my best poem. In 2018, I thought I completed my Magnum OPS but now I asked myself can your great work be your great work if nobody sees it?”
Just wow
Everything about these pieces struck a cord in me. Thank you for these. Highly recommend for any poetry fan.

[Danielle | daniellereadslikealot · Rating 4 out of 5]

No surprise here, but I loved this collection of poetry. Full of reclaiming identity, embracing softness and self love, The Starlight She Becomes told such a powerful and beautiful story. I always think poets are so incredibly brave making their experiences, especially the difficult ones, into works of art and Parker Lee is no exception. I found myself drawn to several of the poems, but repetition, i dream about a version of me that still has friends and a letter to my past selves. One of the things I loved most was seeing the way Parker writes about Amanda and their relationship. As a longtime Amanda Lovelace reader, I’ve read her beautiful poems about Parker and so it was such a cool experience reading Parker’s point of view and how she sees her. I’m so happy I got to read these poems and I highly recommend them if you’re looking for new poetry to enjoy!
CW: transphobia, homophobia, suicidal ideation, alcohol abuse, mental illness, death, pandemic disordered eating

Thank you to Central Avenue Poetry for the digital reader’s copy!

[Hollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Parker Lee, and Central Avenue Poetry for this opportunity.
Starlight She Becomes is a beautiful book of poetry that takes us on a powerful journey. Parker Lee's experience with transformation and self-love is told through her words of a trans woman who reclaimed her identity and found herself along the way.
The poems contained on these pages are from all stages of her journey, from beginning to where she is now. The words are beautifully written and while reading them, it takes you along for the journey and gives you a glimpse in her life.
From stardust to starlight, Parker Lee shone brightly with Starlight She Becomes.

[andrea ˚⋆｡✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting reflection of being at odds with yourself, written by a trans woman, which really gives you an insight into her journey. I really loved how it's separated into moonrise, sunrise, and stardust to represent the different stages of her life.

I related to moonrise, but stardust is full of hope and I really appreciate ending on that note.

"There is an emptiness inside I cannot explain - a longing for something I cannot give a name"

[Antonia Waggoner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful collection of poetry and thoughts. Parker's work in this book was so beautifully raw and authentic about being a trans woman and also dealing with alcohol abuse. This book gave me a lot of comfort whilst reading it. Hope for a better tomorrow.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

[Valerie Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

"is the poet still a poet when their pen has run dry"

through reading this, I kept thinking the writing was like a softer Amanda Lovelace and to find out this is her wife made so much sense and made me smile so big because that is such a loving marriage, good for them. This is definitely a poetry book needed, especially in current times, and it was lovely seeing the slow explosion into the person Parker was always meant to be and how they embrace it now

[KateJoanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to thank the author for sharing this work, although it’s written without fancy poetic techniques it does have exactly the vulnerability and emotion that poetry is all about.
A lot of these really spoke to me, with some stunning pieces on body image, eating disorders and queerness.
Trans and sapphic love and acceptance.

I’m personally not a fan of how these were structured, and would love an editor to tweak the layouts of each piece, but the content of the actual writing is good.
I did love the titles and sestet/end lines.

For such a heavy themed collection it’s surprisingly hopeful and heartwarming, with great tone, flow and prose. It also has some lovely honesties and metaphors.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC copy

**********

‘inspiration isn't always easy to come by when you've stopped being your own worst enemy.’

‘i needed to acknowledge my shadow instead of pretending it doesn't exist.
i needed to understand it to understand myself.—//
because try as you might, there's no outrunning the very thing that lives inside of you.’

‘IS THE POET STILL A POET WHEN THEIR PEN HAS RUN DRY?’

‘dead soil can only grow other dead things, and i'm tired of being a graveyard.’

‘this isn't who she wanted to become when she grew up, so add my name to the list of people i've let down. i just hope my battery lasts long enough to keep the darkness at bay until i find redemption.’

‘existence is an exhausting thing— it's hard, and it's ugly, and it hurts, but it's also fragile, magical, and beautiful, and the fear of leaving you behind or worse, losing you, is infinitely
more frightening than anything
that has made me so apathetic to living. when i awake the next morning
i pause. i listen for your breath, i look for the rise and fall of your chest. i let out a sigh of relief knowing our tomorrows haven't yet run out. it is a part of my morning ritual now. before brushing my teeth, before the first sip of coffee, i allow myself to be grateful that we are here, breathing, because that's all that really matters.’

[Nicole Field · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book makes some amazing observations and details an awe inspiring experience. More than one, in fact. So much so that it makes me sad that I didn't love it more than I did.

I'm also hesitant to call this a collection of poems. I'm not the first to note it, but this is definitely written more in a memoir style. The lack of capital letters does not make something poetry for me.

Still, there were definitely aspects of this collection that were achingly, devastatingly poetic. There were parts of it where I was hopeful. Other times that were difficult to read through their intensity (this isn't actually a bad thing, it means that it was evocative in those middle parts) and then, finally, there was the catharsis.

While I don't believe this was the author's best work, I definitely understand how it is the most important, and I love that for her. I love that Parker was able to find a home that would celebrate and keep this book in the format that it was created in, rather than trying to twist it out of its original shape.

But I feel that was more important for the author's experience, than for the reader's. This was a heartfelt memoir / journal style piece of writing that lacked cohesion at times to the outside viewer. It's a very private piece of literature that I feel will be incredibly important to those who walk a similar journey. I love that it introduced me to a new trans poet in Joshua Jennifer Espinoza.

But, though I own the other collections by this author and have loved reading them, I sadly don't think this one is one I'll personally be returning to.

[Bebo Saucier Carrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A brutally honest and beautiful poetry collection. I loved how this was set into three parts: Moonrise, Sunrise, and Stardust, each reflecting a particular mood/era of the author's journey.

Moonrise had more pessimistic/dark poems, written about more difficult topics like alcoholism, eating disorders, body image, and dysphoria. While heavy, these were excellent pieces that depicted bad experiences with tact and honesty. Some personal favorites in this section include, "don't call it an exorcism," "astral," "hate," "writer's block," dysphoria iii," "always becoming, never being," and "this isn't even my final form."

Sunrise had poems that contained both dark and light subject matter. They focused more on the process of healing and becoming more yourself, filling the reader with the sense of getting to a good place but not being there quite yet. Favorites in this section include: "you have new memories to look back on today," "when poems are closets," and "let kids be kids."

Finally, Stardust had poems that shone with self-love and acceptance. They revealed to the reader what it is like to be happily and joyfully queer and to celebrate your existence. This section felt the strongest to me and contained my favorite poems in the whole collection, "hrt is alchemy" and "lavender haze." Other favorites include: "transmute," "we are the jack-o-lanterns in July," "queer love," and "forget-me-nots."

Overall a gorgeous collection full of vulnerability and queer beauty.

[Alan D.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review: https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/20...

This was a book that opens your eyes to the reality of many people, trans people, to be more specific. With an honest and direct style, without ever losing her artistic flair, Parker Lee shares her experiences, from the most euphoric to the most devastating. Moments that would be familiar to anyone take on a different meaning through the author's pen.

There are many styles combined, and although prose is the most present, the most constant, there is a descriptive style in all the poems that serves as a common thread. Although there is a bit of everything, it is with her short prose that Parker shines most. While it is true that there are short sentences that seem like simple thoughts, these complement the longer segments.

While I certainly have no complaints about this book, I do have to say that it is quite experimental at times. It is not something one would normally expect unless one is already familiar with the author's style. For that reason alone, I would recommend reading at least one previous book to fully appreciate her writing style.

Overall, it's a beautiful read that explores identity and mental health from an honest and direct perspective. It's an especially important book given the times we live in, where LGBTQ+ identities, especially trans identities, have been under attack. With The Starlight She Becomes, Parker Lee speaks volumes and celebrates her femininity above all else.

[Summer Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an amazing collection! I loved the voice and writing style. I also loved reading about Parker’s experience being a trans woman. The other themes of homophobia, disordered eating, and alcoholism, while not comfortable to read about, were important and moving. There were many poems that I could empathize with and learn from, and others that I could directly relate to. It was a very well rounded collection that made me both smile and tear up. It was a perfect collection in my opinion.

If I highlighted every poem that I loved, every poem in the book would have been marked, so here are a few of my top favorites:

Pocket Sized Rebellion
Groundhog Day
Binge
Repetition
Name change: granted
When the poems are closets
Expectations
“Are you a boy? Or are you a girl?”
Let kids be be kids
Pride 2023
Transmute
Text me when ur sober
She says she not a perfect partner
Lavender haze
Manhattan
Queer love
Like mother
Some kind of magic
Hrt is alchemy
Sunset

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

“i press my hand against my stomach like i’m tamping down espresso grounds”
- repetition

“i try to convince myself that there is at least one person out there who needs my version of it, even if that person is just myself.”
- Writers block

“SHE IS MY OCTOBER SOULMATE, MY LAVENDER LOVE”
- lavender haze

[K.C. Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled a bit here, because the style is so informal, and reads more like voice memos or diary entries than poetry to my eye. Someone else's review suggests that readers of Amanda Lovelace and Rupi Kaur will enjoy this, and I think that's quite likely. I do feel like the writing style is very accessible and sincere. I personally prefer poetry that exhibits a greater interest in language, phrasing, and wordplay. I also found a lot of the musings in these pages to be fairly surface-level and, at times, trite.

That said, trans experiences are often very isolating, and I believe that trans readers in particular will find elements of Lee's work to be familiar and comforting. Lee's exploration of what it means to be a trans woman in 2020s America is earnest and direct. I know a number of people who find poetry to be intimidating as a concept, and Lee's work makes no moves toward pretension. For me, that's almost a complaint, which I mention in part because for some people that will be a point in this collection's favor.

In terms of the content/messages, this would be a good fit for reader who enjoyed Sara Soler's "US." While there's pain here, there's also a lot of affirmation and joy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy.

[Oceans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parker's words are so impactful and poignant, even in the slightly less weighty pieces. The words are picked and placed perfectly to have the desired emotional effect on the reader, even when discussing choosing a character in Pokémon. Of course the depth of that decision ran so much deeper than just what pixels on a screen represented her over time. I loved how she took us through a journey from being closeted and dysphoric to openly trans and euphoric and loved, with a section dedicated to self discovery in the middle. Prose is woven throughout the book between pieces of poetry as well. As a non-binary human myself who has been through similar struggles and moments, I found her stories haunting, comforting, and familiar all at once. Also, bonus points for the breakdown of some of the poems titles at the end of the book. If you're a lover of (mostly) modern free-form poetry, I'd absolutely give "The Starlight She Becomes" a read. I'll leave you with my favorite stanza from the entire book.

"and even when my sunset comes and i drift to sleep
for the very last time, there will be no casket to close,
no grave to bury me in, because who i am cannot be
contained by anything less than the universe herself."

[Madyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book of poetry has a good mix of lineated free-verse poetry with proper stanza breaks and prose poetry. I liked the various sentence lengths, use of enjambment, and overall tone of the book. I especially enjoyed the notes at the end of the book to explain some of the references that I for sure did not get on the first pass. I did enjoy the Pokémon mention every once in a while. I personally would've liked more capitalization to be used but I get the stylistic choice. Sometimes there wasn't a clarification of the pronoun/subject that Lee was speaking about so I was confused who the poem was referring to. But overall, I liked the emotional exploration and journey that the structure set up. Some poems I enjoyed:
- i dream about a version of me that still has friends
- pocket-seized rebellion
- this isn't even my final form
- lake michigan
- when the poems are closets
- "are you a boy? or are you a girl?"
- conservative v̶a̶l̶u̶e̶s̶ hypocrisy
- text me when ur sober
- purple aster
- forget-me-nots
- on titling my poetry
- a letter to my past selves
- a letter to my future self

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of poetry goes on a journey of self-discovery, particularly as Parker grows confident in her queer identity. There are poems of depression, self-doubt, and loneliness. There are also poems of strength, defiance, and hope.

Overall, this collection was deeply emotional and thoughtfully crafted. I didn't feel deeply as I was hoping to, but I might just not be in the right place for these poems. There's a healthy mix of lovely wordplay alongside Instagram-friendly declarations. I like the former much more than the latter, but I realize which is more popular right now. Speaking of popular but inexplicable choices, Parker ... why aren't there any capital letters in this book? I've seen poets do interesting things with capitalization. But if you're not using it because it's trendy, you're really missing out on a way to connect with your readers. Punctuation and capitalization are tools for clarity. Please use them. Please.

Thank you to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Serina’s Stories wolfganghollows · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a totally different style of book than I’m used to reading, but the synopsis sounded good so I wanted to support the author.
This is a deeply personal book for Lee, and read more like a series of diary entries to me rather than actual poems. Albeit it’s very poetic with beautiful word choices. As it read more like diary entries, it can seem a little flawed as diary entries are, and also very emotional. Another persons review says that they felt it was too depressing and seemed like at the end where it should be full of self love it read as barely self acceptance. I agree it doesn’t read as self love at the end, but I believe Lee has only really started coming in to herself as a woman, and is really only at the self acceptance stage, she’s been sober only a year by the end of this book, which means there is still scope for self acceptance to become self love. And I hope she finds that.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the author and this is my honest review.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley. This does not influence my opinion.

The best way, I can describe this poetry collection, is emotional. Not only from the way the poems talk about emotions, but also in the way it made me feel.
I cried multiple times throughout the book, sometimes from happiness or because the poems were just that beautiful, but just as often because it made me ache. For the author, for myself, for all of us trans and queer people, for the whole world.
There are many lines and entire poems that I would love to quote, but one that really stuck with me was this part from “hrt is alchemy”:
“i am the poem.
i am the masterpiece.
i am my greatest work.”
So, I highly recommend this poetry collection and am looking forward to reading more from the author.

[Erica Baxter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited about this book, but it just didn't hit the way I hoped. Many of the poems felt more like stream of consciousness journalling than actual poetry. And the overall vibe was dark, broody, angsty, and depressing. It never really felt like the celebration of self that I was hoping for.

I will say that I enjoyed getting to see the world through a trans perspective. But the poetry just didn't click for me. Too much self-loathing. Not enough self-love. Even the last section, “Stardust,” only felt like a nod towards self-acceptance, not an actual embracing of self.

Sad and dispiriting. This book reads like a cry for help.

[Kami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this ARC from Netgalley. Thank you.

A beautiful book of poetry, sometimes brutal, emotional, and poignant. It's about becoming, living, and thriving as your authentic self. Parker Lee is an amazing person and poet to just bleed all over the page like this and allow us to peer into her soul.

"...there is at least one person out there who needs my version of it, even if that person is just myself," Writer's Block.

Parker Lee's words are so fantastic. I'm in awe of her. Such beautiful words Parker Lee spins. I am in awe of her power. In the words of Margaret Atwood, "Don't let the bastards grind you down". Be you, Parker Lee.

[Anastey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley, Central Avenue Publishing, and Parker Lee for sending me this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a variety of poems, and also just some sections that were pure streams of thoughts. It was an interesting mix

There were a ton of deep emotions, especially about how the world has changed the last 5 years, and especially dealing with the vulnerability of being Trans. There are a lot of hard things to read here, but the struggles are common ones we all share. Everything is so exhausting, and we are all struggling to keep going while the world around us keeps getting worse.

[maité · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to NetGalley, central avenue publishing and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this arc !

this was a beautiful poetry collection about being queer, more specifically coming out as trans and coming to terms with being trans, and overcoming addiction. im not trans but I am queer and some of the poems about being trans resonanted a lot with me. this book felt like a journey through the authors life and her working through some difficult time!

"there is nothing more delicate in the universe than a love between two women"

[Carissa Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through this collection of poems, we are shown beautiful, raw and powerful insights into Parker Lee’s life and experiences. I feel like poems don’t need to follow rules or a specific format, they simply need to have rhythm and a message. These types of poems tend to feel more honest and makes me feel like I get a less polished, and edited version of the author. I feel like I’m feeling the experience right alongside them. I really like this style of informal poetry and would definitely recommend this book for fans of Rupi Kaur, R.H. Sin or Amanda Lovelace.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Sarah Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

These poems felt like connecting with an old friend. It felt like the poet was telling me a story aloud in conversation rather than simply reading the words she wrote. The poems are definitely set in a certain time and made me reflect on my life during those years, too. The emotions of the poet definitely bleed through the words. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Sweetmusicwoman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this advanced readers copy. I am a huge supporter of the author for years now. I was very excited to be accepted to read this. I have a copy preordered as well. This was beautiful as her work always is. It was heartbreaking at times too. But also full of strength and love. Such an inspiring book. I can’t wait to get my copy.

[Pooj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starlight She Becomes is a poetry collection detailing the author's journey through discovering herself and realizing her transness. This resonated deeply with me as someone trying to figure out my own identity. The emotions are raw and I could feel them through every line. 4.5/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a very gorgeous book of poems about not just the trans experience, and figuring out things that keep you alive, but also capturing a moment of history in the pandemic (while not being an overwhelming pandemic book) through connection, lack of connection, and the toll it had on everyone to be left to deal with only themselves.

Thanks for the ARC