New American Best Friend is a book that makes me want Olivia Gatwood as my new best friend. Mostly because maybe then they can explain a few things to me. While the poems are straight forward, there are a few images I am trying to figure out what they mean as they can be interpreted a few ways. Then again, maybe that is the point?
However, there is no real question about Ode to My Bitch Face (and trust me, if you say you did not practice your own bitch face while reading it, I am going to call you out) or Ode to My Period Underwear (which is very relatable ladies) or Ode to the Word Pussy (which has a very unique but “of course it is” image at the end of it). Others are a little less obvious, but just as strong and interesting.
Gatwood shows how we grow up. The stages we take to get to become an adult who is probably as confused as that young girl who had her first kisses (yes there are two firsts). Gatwood puts it all out there. What it is like to try and fit in. What it is like to me the new girl. What it is like to get it over with.
Summer of 2019 Life of the Party: Poems is scheduled. While I am not sure I want to continue reading their works, I know that it will be equally powerful and will speak to the right people.