[3] To promote the book, Keys appeared on The Early Show and at Barnes & Noble store where she signed copies of it.

Putnam's Sons, Carole Baron, commented that "It isn't everyday you are offered the opportunity to publish someone as unbelievably talented as Alicia Keys.

[12] The title of the book is derived from one of the poems, "Love and Chains", which contains the line: "I don't mind drinking my tears for water".

[14] The release party was hosted by Mums and featured appearances by Kanye West, Mos Def and Common.

Troy Patterson from Entertainment Weekly gave the book a C, stating that "her work would not pass muster in an introductory writing course at a four-year college.

"[16] Publishers Weekly gave the book a positive review and wrote "nearly half of the book consists of lyrics from her two albums, Songs in A Minor and The Diary of Alicia Keys; while they make a nice complement to the poems, the words feel a bit flat without the blaxploitation beat of "Heartburn", say, or the impassioned vocal delivery of "Fallin'"".