I Never Knew Me (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798218882662)

I Never Knew Me is an intimate collection of poetry that explores identity, neurodivergence, queerness, and the quiet, aching beauty of becoming. Written by poet and photographer Meg Layne, this debut blends lyrical storytelling with magical realism and vintage fairytale aesthetics to create a deeply emotional reading experience.

Across more than 120 poems and musings, the speaker navigates late-diagnosed autism and ADHD, early queer awakening, the complexities of motherhood, and the lifelong process of finding and forgiving the self. Alongside photographs from the author's life, these poems feel both personal and universal. Together, they form a visual and emotional journey through unmasking, healing, longing, and transformation.

This collection will resonate with readers who love poetry rooted in honesty, vulnerability, and mythic imagery. The book explores themes of desire, grief, neurodivergent tenderness, invisible strings, ancestral longing, fantasy symbolism, and the brave act of becoming your truest self...often for the first time.

I Never Knew Me is perfect for readers of:

• contemporary and feminist poetry

• LGBTQ+ and sapphic poetry

• poetry about neurodivergence and mental health

• illustrated and aesthetic-driven poetry collections

• introspective, magical, or fairytale-inspired books

A love letter to the self through every era of life, this book invites readers to hold their own story gently and see their inner world reflected with softness, depth, and wonder.