White Lotus Star Haley Lu Richardson Announces Debut Book ‘I’m Sad and Horny’ (Exclusive)

Haley Lu Richardson can now add “poet” to her resumé!

On March 6, the White Lotus actress, 29, announced that she would be publishing her debut book, a poetry collection. Titled I’m Sad and Horny, Richardson’s works will reflect on life as a twenty-something — and the release is set to coincide with her 30th birthday.

According to publisher Simon & Schuster, the poetry collection — set to be released on Nov. 4, 2025 — features Richardson’s reflections on love, sex, art and more.

“I’m Sad and Horny explores the ecstasy of love and heartbreak in your twenties. Ghosting, breakups, making friendship bracelets, masturbating out of sadness, falling in love with yourself — Haley captures it all,” explains an official synopsis. “Heavily designed with evocative images on every page, I’m Sad and Horny celebrates the singular and exquisite journey of loving too hard and finding your way home.”

For the The Edge of Seventeen star, this forthcoming poetry collection also serves as a way to process her life experiences as she gears up to enter her 30s.

“Writing these poems and following through with the creation of this book has been the most inspiring and cathartic thing of my life. I’ve been writing poetry since I was a kid but never fully given in to this part of myself cause I’d been convinced it was ‘cringe,'” the star tells PEOPLE in a statement. “I want to share them ‘cause I think being vulnerable has a chance to connect and comfort people. I really just hope people can relate to my experiences and words and feel less alone.”

One of the poems in the books reads:

i always wanted to be a pop star so i could catharize my woes, heartbreak and general experience of life in whatever vulnerable,

valiant, or petty ways

unfortunately i’m tone deaf so instead, i wrote these poems

they’re my spilled guts and bleeding heart

i hope they make sense to you and resonate in ways my favorite songs resonate with me

i hope they make you giggle

i hope they make you feel a little more okay with your own life and even a smidge less alone

thanks for buying my sad n’ horny take on existing in my 20’s

love, haley.

Both the jacket and illustrations throughout the interior were designed by Richardson’s best friend, Lily Jade Kravetz.

“From the moment I started sending Lily the poems, she was supportive and gave me confidence that expressing myself in this way was allowed and even cool,” Richardson says, of how the book came together. “Trusting her to design the book was the best decision I could have made. She’s known me for so long and deeply gets the person I am, and that’s reflected in her art. I’m just really proud of her, and proud in general.”

Richardson, who is next set to star in the spy thriller series Ponies alongside Emilia Clarke, has previously been candid about the most challenging parts of her life, including heartbreak. In November 2023, she spoke openly with PEOPLE about her one of most difficult breakups.

“The perspective of time to be able to be like, ‘Wow, I got through that, and I was capable of getting through something like that, and I’m capable of being on my own,'” she told PEOPLE at the time, reflecting on the years since their split and how therapy helped her to grow. “That’s been an amazing thing to learn.”

I’m Sad and Horny is set to hit shelves on Nov. 4 and is available now for preorder, wherever books are sold. The book will be published by Simon & Schuster and Richardson is represented by Gersh, and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern, and Viewpoint.