Hollie McNish is rightfully a beloved poet of the 21st century; her poetry is current, reflective, empowering, witty, political, human, and accessible. She's always been a poet I've enjoyed watching perform but I also commend how active she is online; using her platform to advocate, raise awareness and amplify the voices of others.

In many ways, Lobster does justice to who McNish is as a poet, mother and woman. Not only does she gift us a glorious array of fantastic poems but she also dives into her own experiences with essays on a variety of topics from raising a teenager, to her Scottish heritage, and to the lexical gaps in the English Language. McNish's prose and poetry is unabashedly honest, relatable and enjoyable to read.

What I particularly appreciated about Lobster was the choice McNish provides in how the reader can approach the collection. After the introduction, McNish offers chapter summaries for those who just wish to read the poetry. I loved this approach - I felt a freedom to dip into the essays and yet devour the poetry. This approach ensures Lobster is a book the reader can return to time and time again, taking something new away with them every time.

I love Hollie McNish - I really enjoyed reading her previous book 'slug' and this book was just as good.
I relate to so much of what she has to say.
Her personal and individual voice, comes out so clearly in her writing, it's like she is talking directly to me. It's conversational and inviting - it's just bloody brilliant!

More please!

A great collection of not only Hollie’s poetry but discussion around the things she is learning to love. Backed up with studies (not overly so) for me this gave Hollie’s arguments even more credibility and I learned loads along the way.
Hollie fights the corner of women (and often men) and questions societal norms that I couldn’t help but be persuaded by. The topics are quite motherhood heavy but this is ok for me and I found this so relatable.
The biggest thing that sticks with me, and I will use to educate my children and young people I work with, give genitalia the correct names - so many compelling reasons to.
Second I loved the chapter on oral sex. Never have I read anything like it. It was great!
Poetry is not my thing but this book was great. I also recommend Hollie’s book Nobody Told Me which I came across as a midwifery student and was hugely relevant for me at that time.

I have many of Hollie's poetry collection and have had the joy of seeing her live. So as I predicted I fell in love with this collection and Hollies ability to have me fully immersed in her words.

I love Hollie McNish, she's so warm and funny and sweary and relatable.

I listened to the audiobook which is read by Hollie herself and it really added to the prose and the poetry hearing her voice, just like hanging out with a really funny friend who tells it like it is while making you a cup of tea.

A recommended read for people who like people.

I loved this so, so much. Funny, insightful, honest, made me feel seen.

Gorgeous poetry but also reflections on living and motherhood and the importance of friendship and growing up, as I did, during a time when magazines shamed women for having perfectly normal bodies.

believe, despite the constant grind
that what you feel is good enough

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.