New American Best Friend (E.P. Chapbooks)

Love this poetry collection. She’s definitely one of the best voices of our generation. It’s a must read !

I haven't read poetry in YEARS, but when I saw a video of the poet reading her "Ode to the women on Long Island" I had go buy her book. It just hit something in me I watched the video 3 times. I ran through the entire book in a parking lot after I stopped to read a couple poems while waiting for my coffee to get cool enough to drink. Just dog earing and laughing and cringing and feeling the most powerful gratefulness for home and childhood. It is a beautiful book, I would recommend to anyone. But I would call it a must read for any women who grew up on Long Island and wants to feel understood.

I love Olivia's poetry. I originally bought the book for myself and then ended up giving it to my sister when I had reading through it once. I bought two more copies intending to keep one and give another to a friend, but again ended up giving both away as gifts! I will be ordering several more copies for other gifts (and hopefully get to keep on). If you have/are a badass women in your life, this book with with really resonate. She has a great way of making you feel every emotions. Seriously buy it!

So... awhile ago, a student HAD to show me this video on YouTube. Normally, after watching whatever it is any student HAD to show me on YouTube, I am mildly amused, disgusted, or confused. But this student showed me a video of Olivia Gatwood reading her poem “Ode To The Women On Long Island” and I was like, “Wut?” So I asked for her collection NEW AMERICAN BEST FRIEND for Christmas. I finally read it. Let me tell you folks, my amazed “Wut?” lasted through every poem and lingers even now. Gatwood’s little poetry book from Button Poetry is strong, female, and unapologetic. It’s sad, scary, somber, and everything in between. It’s REAL in a way only the best books are real. It should be required reading for everyone. I couldn’t recommend this more if I tried. Favorite stanza? It’s from “Ode To Elise In Eighth Grade Health Class” Elise, who taught me to bury/a lighter in my fist,/so that if I ever took my shot/at least I wouldn’t break my hand/on her pretty, pretty face. #teachersofinstagram #readinglist2018 #poetry

New American Best Friend was an impulse buy for me. I recognized the author's name from her slam performances on the Button Poetry YouTube page and new that this was a collection I wanted to try out. The poems showcase a beautiful evolution into womanhood, certainly not shy about any of the hardships that come along the way. Gatwood explores her sexuality, discusses her period and toils over the relationships gone wrong all while maintaining a sharp feminist edge that rings clear through every line. Poems like "The Autocross", "The Anthem I Have Sung", and "Ode To My Bitch Face" are tough and true while every line in "Ode To The Women On Long Island" oozes atmosphere and grit, putting the bold nature of a city-woman's strength on full display. Overall, this collection was innovative, experimental, well curated, and thought provoking. This is a book I would recommend to any girl and, frankly, any boy who wishes to look through the eyes of a true, young, feminist trailblazer and see the toil womanhood has on the soul and be in awe of the strength fused in ever girl's heart that pushes her into a state of acceptance and beautiful self-worth. (4/5 stars)

Olivia Gatwood is one of the most talented spoken word poets of this generation. I found her through Neil Hilborn and Button poetry and I had to have this book. I'm so glad I bought it. She is absolutely amazing. I highly recommend you check this out and view her videos on YouTube. Her poems are so powerful and you need to hear them as intended by the author. 😍

This is is one of the best books of poetry I've seen in a very long time. I waited patiently for this to come in the mail and I devoured it with my whole heart and soul over my lunch break as soon as it came. It spoke to parts of my own life that had always been very difficult for me to put into words. I'm so glad I'm not alone in these feelings or experiences.

The poems are really fantastic and raw. I saw a video in which the poet recited "Ode to my Bitch face". I wasn't aware it was specifically targeted to women with other titles like, "Ode To My Period Panties" and "Ode To The Word Pussy", but as a man I can definitely appreciate the insight into some aspects of woman hood in which I have no direct understanding and will be passing it along to some of my female friends.