How to Start Reading Cleo Wade
Cleo Wade's bibliography is deeply comforting, designed to act as a gentle companion through life's trials, transitions, and triumphs. Because her books do not follow a continuous narrative or fictional plot line, you can technically pick up any of her works in any order. However, depending on what you are looking to get out of her writing, there are three distinct paths you can follow to get the absolute most out of her work.
Path 1: The Core Self-Care & Healing Journey
If you are looking for personal growth, daily comfort, and gentle reminders of self-love, this is the main track you should follow. It begins with her foundational book and builds towards her comprehensive daily reflections:
- Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life (2018): Start here. This is Wade's debut and the ultimate introduction to her signature style of short, accessible poems and pep talks.
- Heart Talk: The Journal (2020): Pair your reading of the first book with this 52-week guided journal to put her affirmations into personal practice.
- Remember Love: Words for Tender Times (2023): Read this next. It offers a deeper, more mature look at navigating change, grief, and finding hope when times are tough.
- In a World of Sunrises: 365 Days of Heart, Soul, and Hope (2026): Conclude with this massive collection of daily wisdom, which gives you one short reading for every single day of the year.
Path 2: The Activism & Empowerment Angle
If you want to feel inspired to make a difference in your community or need guidance on how to avoid burnout while caring about the world, read this standalone work:
- Where to Begin: A Small Book About Your Power to Create Big Change in Our Crazy World (2019): A compact but powerful pocketbook focused on turning internal self-love into external community care.
Path 3: The Family & Children's Path
Wade has also authored beautiful illustrated picture books that are perfect for kids, but contain universal wisdom that adults will find equally moving. Read them in this order:
- What the Road Said (2021): A story about taking a path, making mistakes, and continuing forward with courage.
- May You Love and Be Loved: Wishes for Your Life (2024): A touching collection of wishes for a child's future, highlighting love, curiosity, and resilience.
Cleo Wade Books in Publication Order
For readers who want to experience Cleo Wade's growth as a writer and activist in the exact order her works were released to the public, here is the complete publication order of her books:
1. Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life (2018)
Wade's breakout debut serves as a modern toolkit for self-love. It combines handwritten poetry, typed prose, and colorful illustrations. It acts as a spiritual first-aid kit for anyone dealing with heartbreak, insecurity, or stress.
2. Where to Begin: A Small Book About Your Power to Create Big Change in Our Crazy World (2019)
Released during a time of heightened global anxiety, this book focuses on how we can show up for each other. Wade argues that changing the world starts with how we treat ourselves and those immediately around us, offering practical mantras for active compassion.
3. Heart Talk: The Journal: 52 Weeks of Self-Love, Self-Care, and Self-Discovery (2020)
Designed as a companion to her debut, this workbook features prompts, space for writing, and original quotes to guide readers through a full year of self-reflection and personal growth.
4. What the Road Said (2021)
This was Wade's first foray into children's literature. Illustrated beautifully by Lucie de Moyencourt, it features a child walking along a path and asking the road questions about making mistakes, being afraid, and choosing which way to go.
5. Remember Love: Words for Tender Times (2023)
Written in the aftermath of global trauma and major personal transitions, this poetry collection is a soft landing space for readers. It deals heavily with themes of rebuilding after loss, learning to trust yourself again, and staying tender in a harsh world.
6. May You Love and Be Loved: Wishes for Your Life (2024)
Her second children's book focuses on the boundless hope that parents hold for their children. It is structured as a series of heartfelt wishes, reassuring young readers that they are loved and capable of incredible things.
7. In a World of Sunrises: 365 Days of Heart, Soul, and Hope (2026)
Her most ambitious release to date, this daily devotional style book offers 365 days of micro-poems, prose, and daily intentions. It is structured to help readers begin each morning with a moment of peace, grounding, and optimism.
What to Know Before You Start
Cleo Wade's books are highly visual experiences. They are famous for featuring her own handwriting, large all-caps text, and simple, colorful graphics. Because of this, she recommends reading physical copies of her books if possible, or using a high-quality color e-reader to fully appreciate the design layout. Her writing is famously accessible; she rejects overly complex academic structures in favor of direct, conversational, and emotionally raw language that feels like a text message from a close friend.
Additionally, her poetry is strongly tied to her visual art installations and activism. If you enjoy her books, looking up her large-scale public art projects—such as the 'Respect' installation in New Orleans or the 'ARE YOU OK' booth in New York—offers excellent cultural context that enriches the reading experience.