The Fairy Godmother's Growth Guide: Whimsical Poems and Radical Prose for Self-Exploration

by Marisa McGrady

Social media sensation Marisa McGrady is the Fairy Godmother with a self-help guide that isn't one-size-fits-all. . .

Modern media makes self-love seem simple. Buy a bath bomb, apply a face mask, and voila! You’ve got self-love, commodified and canned for your convenience. But self-love cannot be bought. There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to self-care. What happens once our bubble baths drain and feelings of self-loathing, doubt, or despair creep back in? How do our bodies, resource availability (including free time), and physical and emotional needs impact our ability to care for ourselves? Are our bodies “bad” just because certain industries, organizations, or people deem them so? Are we “bad” people if we experience negativity, or struggle with self-love and self-care?

Social media sensation Marisa McGrady, also known as @ris.writes or the Fairy Godmother online, explores these questions and more in her debut self-help book, The Fairy Godmother’s Growth Whimsical Poems and Radical Prose for Self-Exploration . The bite-sized poems in Part I propose new perspectives about our bodies and inspire us to see and interact with them in different lights. The prose in Part II advocates for accommodating and sustainable self-care and self-love through the lens of McGrady’s neurodiverse, plus-sized, and queer lived experience, while simultaneously addressing the industrialization and commodification of self-love and self-care, reviewing how external factors such as socioeconomic disparity impact self-worth, and discussing the origins of the body positivity movement. The Fairy Godmother’s Growth Guide will redefine your relationship with self-love and inspire you to make your life magical by creating self-care routines designed for and by you.

Genres: Poetry

170 pages, Paperback

Published March 26, 2024

Reviews

[Shayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marisa delivered a BANGER of a book that made me feel seen, validated, and motivated. As much as it's a cliche to say, people definitely need to read this book. It clarifies, defines, and helps you process the difference between self love, self acceptance, self esteem, and self care. Marisa is beautifully vulnerable and utilities it to help us understand and to grow.

[Ella Zeiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this poetry and prose about self acceptance!

[Meredith Rhine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart-warming and incredibly earnest. Marisa does an excellent job illustrating the abstract and very rarely rational relationship we as human beings assess and relate to our bodies. My absolute favorite section of her book were her poems she wrote in dedication to her body, all of them are witty and sincere and are a good reminder to be kind to yourself especially if you aren't exactly happy with how you look. Unlike most body positivity books she isn't trying to sell you on anything other than self-love, which can look like a million different things on a million different people! Doing what's best for you and your body is all you need to concern yourself with, yes you need to eat all of your greens and exercise but creating a militaristic schedule that you must adhere to otherwise you've completely failed is not true and it isn't sustainable. Marisa starts on this topic from the jump saying she knows there are some days when a 10 step 3 hour long routine is in no way happening, life is chaotic and busy and so are we. Her advice on how to assess your needs and get the most out of the time you can devote to yourself on days when you're overwhelmed is a true game-changer.

[Pat-z · Rating 3 out of 5]

"When you think of yourself, what first comes to mind?"

I agree with the message of this book, and I appreciate the effort the author gives to helping the readers understand themselves.
However, it is very wordy. It's more of a biography, introspective piece. The "guide" is a the very end. A list of suggestions to help you in your self-worth journey.

The poetry section was a little rough for me. The poems rhyme, which isn't the problem. They were a little cringe. No offense! I still enjoyed some of them and agreed with their messages. They were also a little repetitive.
All in all, this was more of a conversation about self-care and the nitty gritty on all the aspects of self-care.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. It's simple, it's clear. It provides tips and suggestions without pushing them as requirements. It gives examples for when you might not have the spoons to do things fully.