When We Exhale: Reflections on Rest, Grief and Intimacy is a beautiful offering by Black women writers whose words settle in your spirit. In this literary respite Black women writers have opened their hearts, mirroring their experiences, so other Black women can see themselves. The writings are salves for emotional wounds such as longing and regret. Some are eulogies in memory of a loved one or a womb removed for health reasons. There are recipes for joy in times of peace and distress. Mantras and prayers when in need of radical self-love and relaxation. Black women are not just bringing receipts, but invoicing society for our contributions and pain in a world that we've given so much to. There are declarations of our wonder and power. While other pages give warm embraces through the writers' memories of pleasure and love in various forms. The tones of each piece range from soft to fiery, but all possess a special tenderness that sometimes Black women forget we can tap into.