Take a photo of a barcode or cover
amevillalobos 's review for:
New American Best Friend
by Olivia Gatwood
reflective
medium-paced
This collection felt like a snapshot of girlhood—awkward, beautiful, angry, soft, and sharp all at once. Olivia Gatwood has this way of capturing what it means to grow up wanting—to be seen, to be loved, to belong—while also carrying the weight of being a girl in a world that’s always looking back at you.
What struck me most was how specific some of these poems felt. About body hair, jealousy, suburban girlhood, boys, best friends, and the quiet violence of adolescence. There were moments that made me laugh, moments that made me uncomfortable because they hit too close, and moments that made me wish I had read this as a teenager—because maybe I would’ve felt less weird, less alone.
That said, there were times the collection felt a little uneven. Some poems were unforgettable—those ones that gut you in the best way—while others read more like filler or leaned into that Instagram poetry vibe. But honestly? I didn’t mind it too much. Because what Gatwood nails is the voice—that unapologetic, messy, loud girl voice we don’t see enough in poetry.
What stayed with me the most:
The way she captured girlhood—not as this sweet, pastel-colored thing, but as something weird, gross, funny, and powerful. The kind of girlhood that leaves you with scars and stories, the kind you survive and laugh about later. It made me think a lot about my own teenage years and the friendships that shaped me—how intense, dramatic, and necessary they felt at the time.
And honestly? When I finished it, I kind of exhaled and thought, “Okay… I’m good. Someone else might need this more.” It hits for a specific season, but it doesn’t beg to stay forever. I’m glad I read it—but it didn’t need to be a permanent part of my library.
What struck me most was how specific some of these poems felt. About body hair, jealousy, suburban girlhood, boys, best friends, and the quiet violence of adolescence. There were moments that made me laugh, moments that made me uncomfortable because they hit too close, and moments that made me wish I had read this as a teenager—because maybe I would’ve felt less weird, less alone.
That said, there were times the collection felt a little uneven. Some poems were unforgettable—those ones that gut you in the best way—while others read more like filler or leaned into that Instagram poetry vibe. But honestly? I didn’t mind it too much. Because what Gatwood nails is the voice—that unapologetic, messy, loud girl voice we don’t see enough in poetry.
What stayed with me the most:
The way she captured girlhood—not as this sweet, pastel-colored thing, but as something weird, gross, funny, and powerful. The kind of girlhood that leaves you with scars and stories, the kind you survive and laugh about later. It made me think a lot about my own teenage years and the friendships that shaped me—how intense, dramatic, and necessary they felt at the time.
And honestly? When I finished it, I kind of exhaled and thought, “Okay… I’m good. Someone else might need this more.” It hits for a specific season, but it doesn’t beg to stay forever. I’m glad I read it—but it didn’t need to be a permanent part of my library.