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Resting Bitch Face: Poems
An Audacious Book Club Pick
BCALA Literary Award Winner
Finalist for the Balcones Prize & the Ohio Book Awards
The author of the award-winning national bestseller I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times returns with a poetry collection that transforms the Black female speaker from object, artistic muse, and victim to subject, critic, and master of her story
Resting Bitch Face is a book for women, for Black women, for lovers of art and film criticism, and for writers interested in work that finds a middle ground between poetry and prose. Taylor Byas uses some of our most common ways of “watching” throughout history (painting, films, sculpture, and photographs) to explore how these mediums shape Black female subjectivity.
From the examination of artwork by Picasso, Gauguin, Sally Mann, and Nan Goldin, Byas displays her mastery of the poetic form by engaging in intimate and inventive writing. Fluctuating between watcher and watched, the speaker of these poems uses mirrors and reflections to flip the script and talk back to histories of art, text, photography, relationships, and men. From Polaroids to gesso primer to sculpture, Byas creates a world in which the artist calls out and the muse responds. For not only does she enter the world of the long-revered classic artist, but she also infuses her poems with such iconic pop culture works as The Joker, WandaVision, and Last Tango in Paris.
BCALA Literary Award Winner
Finalist for the Balcones Prize & the Ohio Book Awards
The author of the award-winning national bestseller I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times returns with a poetry collection that transforms the Black female speaker from object, artistic muse, and victim to subject, critic, and master of her story
Resting Bitch Face is a book for women, for Black women, for lovers of art and film criticism, and for writers interested in work that finds a middle ground between poetry and prose. Taylor Byas uses some of our most common ways of “watching” throughout history (painting, films, sculpture, and photographs) to explore how these mediums shape Black female subjectivity.
From the examination of artwork by Picasso, Gauguin, Sally Mann, and Nan Goldin, Byas displays her mastery of the poetic form by engaging in intimate and inventive writing. Fluctuating between watcher and watched, the speaker of these poems uses mirrors and reflections to flip the script and talk back to histories of art, text, photography, relationships, and men. From Polaroids to gesso primer to sculpture, Byas creates a world in which the artist calls out and the muse responds. For not only does she enter the world of the long-revered classic artist, but she also infuses her poems with such iconic pop culture works as The Joker, WandaVision, and Last Tango in Paris.
100 pages, Paperback
Published August 26, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
September 25, 2025
These are incredibly sharp poems by a poet with a real skill with using form to excellent ends. The depth of care, research, and precision that has been poured into the work is admirable. There is a haunting undercurrent throughout the collection about the avoidable but omnipresent precarity of womanhood.
September 2, 2025
No one is doing form in the 21st century like Dr. Byas. This collection, as with every one of her collections before it, left me walking away with knowledge of a new form & inspired to write. <3
August 16, 2026
the best of this collection is really quite good—"water as villain origin story," the titular "resting bitch face," "one of many," "sonnet for longing being mistaken for sadness," "ekphrasis on memory," "in the lens of desire"—and so much of that is owed to the incredible ekphrastic undertaking going on throughout. really great use of epigraphs in this!
most of the time, though, i felt like the subject matter (really compelling, really rich) did more for me than the execution itself, which is not generally what i look for in a poetry collection; instead, i'm trying to find poetry whose execution outweighs the subject matter, or justifies the subject matter beyond the subject matter itself. does that make sense?
resting bitch face deals with a lot of heavy, difficult themes like rape/rape culture, incest, and abuse, which prompts the reader to find the poems compelling or interesting or difficult as a result, even though the (figurative) language can be (at times) unconvincing, thin, or trite/overused. sometimes the language sears; sometimes it drags or confuses. i was not a fan of the repetition within poems, the random, inexplicable, ill-placed internal rhymes, or the occasional alliteration (alliteration is hard to do without teetering into cheesy territory imo).
so, for example:
trite:
or, less obviously overdone but very much written in the contemporary Lit Mag poet register (i know, i know, this is an impossible line to walk):
cheesy, or more accurately, wordy for no real reason (i'm not convinced of the use or placement of the invented word "maulless" here, either):
the random internal rhyming that crops up, then drops off for no reason (more alliteration here, much less annoying than the above):
anyway, this collection contains some real gems. i found the ekphrastic poems a lot more compelling than the handful of meditations on the speaker's loneliness/ambivalence/existentialism. 3.4/5.
most of the time, though, i felt like the subject matter (really compelling, really rich) did more for me than the execution itself, which is not generally what i look for in a poetry collection; instead, i'm trying to find poetry whose execution outweighs the subject matter, or justifies the subject matter beyond the subject matter itself. does that make sense?
resting bitch face deals with a lot of heavy, difficult themes like rape/rape culture, incest, and abuse, which prompts the reader to find the poems compelling or interesting or difficult as a result, even though the (figurative) language can be (at times) unconvincing, thin, or trite/overused. sometimes the language sears; sometimes it drags or confuses. i was not a fan of the repetition within poems, the random, inexplicable, ill-placed internal rhymes, or the occasional alliteration (alliteration is hard to do without teetering into cheesy territory imo).
so, for example:
trite:
My friend never learned how to hurt something without hurting himself.
or, less obviously overdone but very much written in the contemporary Lit Mag poet register (i know, i know, this is an impossible line to walk):
This is not a poem about suicide, but she slits herself / wide with feeling. There are ghosts and then there is / grief, both asking permission to be cast out.
cheesy, or more accurately, wordy for no real reason (i'm not convinced of the use or placement of the invented word "maulless" here, either):
I count the months, the mouthless minutes, the maulless math by which I calculate a survival[...]
the random internal rhyming that crops up, then drops off for no reason (more alliteration here, much less annoying than the above):
the couch i dream in green glares / ruby in the reflection. our relationship / emeralds in my remembering; a jade couch, / the olive duvet, the forest pillowcase greened / darker with tears. you hated green, never wore / it. i bore it because it was my school color.(this passage is from a much longer poem without any other rhyming, which is why i'm sitting here scratching my head.)
anyway, this collection contains some real gems. i found the ekphrastic poems a lot more compelling than the handful of meditations on the speaker's loneliness/ambivalence/existentialism. 3.4/5.
August 8, 2026
Sealey Challenge 2026: 7/31
Warning: This review discusses sexual violence!
It feels a bit odd to call Resting Bitch Face a favorite. Honestly, this was a heartbreaking read in many ways. Byas is examining violence against women in art and media and I can’t lie that some of these poems were difficult to read. Byas does not shy away from confronting the different media that showcases violence against women,but she never lets the violent acts themselves become the sole focus. Instead, she centers the women and girls who experience it, examining not only the many forms violence can take but also the systemic patterns behind it and the rage it can produce. She looks at the culture surrounding this violence, specifically how it starts with the hypersexualization for young girls with especially powerful reflections on this experience on young Black girls and its effects on their girlhood. There is a lot of emotional weight to this collection, but for a heavy read there is also something cathartic about the voice and perspective she has brought in with this collection. I was awe-struck by Byas’s earlier debut collection and how it resonated with me, but this one feels like an even deeper showcase of her insanely talented craft!
Warning: This review discusses sexual violence!
It feels a bit odd to call Resting Bitch Face a favorite. Honestly, this was a heartbreaking read in many ways. Byas is examining violence against women in art and media and I can’t lie that some of these poems were difficult to read. Byas does not shy away from confronting the different media that showcases violence against women,but she never lets the violent acts themselves become the sole focus. Instead, she centers the women and girls who experience it, examining not only the many forms violence can take but also the systemic patterns behind it and the rage it can produce. She looks at the culture surrounding this violence, specifically how it starts with the hypersexualization for young girls with especially powerful reflections on this experience on young Black girls and its effects on their girlhood. There is a lot of emotional weight to this collection, but for a heavy read there is also something cathartic about the voice and perspective she has brought in with this collection. I was awe-struck by Byas’s earlier debut collection and how it resonated with me, but this one feels like an even deeper showcase of her insanely talented craft!
September 8, 2025
3.5
"Sculpture Study Number 1 Brooklyn, New York//
A woman's real first lesson about her body is nothing // To write home about. // The second lesson, one of colonization."
Taylor Byas' "Resting Bitch Face" explores living under the male gaze. I thought the most effective parts were the Sculpture Studies, art history and art analysis. I listened to the audiobook read by the poet, the reading was ok and the collection overall was interesting.
"Sculpture Study Number 1 Brooklyn, New York//
A woman's real first lesson about her body is nothing // To write home about. // The second lesson, one of colonization."
Taylor Byas' "Resting Bitch Face" explores living under the male gaze. I thought the most effective parts were the Sculpture Studies, art history and art analysis. I listened to the audiobook read by the poet, the reading was ok and the collection overall was interesting.
May 15, 2026
Favorite poems: "Duplex of Lessons" & "The Violence of Rain"
July 22, 2025
!!! My goodness, I am so in love with Taylor Byas’ prose. This is my second interaction with her perfectly crafted poetry collections, and I was just hooked from the very beginning. Her capability to capture the very essence of longing, disgust, and heartache had me rolling in an empathetic fever.
Told through an artistic lens modeling exhibits displayed at the Cincinnati Art Museum (ayyyyy 513!), readers will find themselves transfixed by her transformative perspectives and intimate dealings.
I didn’t want this collection to find its end, and I am so thankful to our wonderful author, Soft Skull Press, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access before August 26, 2025!
Told through an artistic lens modeling exhibits displayed at the Cincinnati Art Museum (ayyyyy 513!), readers will find themselves transfixed by her transformative perspectives and intimate dealings.
I didn’t want this collection to find its end, and I am so thankful to our wonderful author, Soft Skull Press, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access before August 26, 2025!
August 23, 2025
*Read through NetGalley*
I don’t normally read poetry, but this book was still really digestible and enjoyable for someone who isn’t a big poetry reader. It didn’t feel like the author was writing to sound above a certain audience, but instead made the work feel relatable to everyone.
I really enjoyed the way parallels were drawn between her experiences and different types of art techniques. While the book focused specifically on the experiences of Black women, I think women in general could connect with many of the topics discussed. On the flip side, I also think Black men could find resonance with some of the themes explored.
The only thing that didn’t totally work for me was the repetition. After a while, it started to lose its impact and made me drift a little in those parts. But overall, I thought the book covered a lot of important topics in a really meaningful and beautiful way, while still keeping me interested. I think a lot of people would really enjoy this book. It is a quick read, so it's worth picking up even if you're not big into poetry!
I don’t normally read poetry, but this book was still really digestible and enjoyable for someone who isn’t a big poetry reader. It didn’t feel like the author was writing to sound above a certain audience, but instead made the work feel relatable to everyone.
I really enjoyed the way parallels were drawn between her experiences and different types of art techniques. While the book focused specifically on the experiences of Black women, I think women in general could connect with many of the topics discussed. On the flip side, I also think Black men could find resonance with some of the themes explored.
The only thing that didn’t totally work for me was the repetition. After a while, it started to lose its impact and made me drift a little in those parts. But overall, I thought the book covered a lot of important topics in a really meaningful and beautiful way, while still keeping me interested. I think a lot of people would really enjoy this book. It is a quick read, so it's worth picking up even if you're not big into poetry!
August 14, 2025
I was really excited to read Resting Bitch Face by Taylor Byas because I loved her debut poetry book and I loved this book too! I already read the print edition so I was eager to listen to this audiobook edition too especially since it’s read by the author. I like how each chapter is a part of a painting. There’s several ekphrastic poems referencing some famous artwork that I know and some that I didn’t know but maybe didn’t want to look up due to their subject matter. These poems confront the artist vs. Art debate, the male gaze, sexual relationships, and female power. My fave poems are on page 28, 57 and 67.
I’m excited to continue reading this author!
Thank you to the publishers for my copies!
I’m excited to continue reading this author!
Thank you to the publishers for my copies!
May 31, 2025
Got to read the galley - Unrelenting in its gaze, upon men, in response to art, towards one’s self. These poems feel empowered as much from what they include as to what they leave out.
July 23, 2025
I want to thank NetGalley for my ARC, and for Taylor's communications via Instagram.
I wanted to review this for a few reasons. I love poetry, supporting Black businesses (author in this case), and although she isn't from Ohio, she lives there and is by default, a fellow Ohioan.
As I have been thinking about how to approach this review I juggled a few things. What I decided, I feel is most appropriate. Because poetry is something that involves writing much more deeply from the heart, I refuse to critique the book at any form, aside from the enforced 5 star rating system by Goodreads and NetGalley's review forms. What I will do, however, is to mention the poems that resonated with me, and made me reflect whether upon the poem itself, or on the feelings the poem induced. Taylor has written some beautiful pieces in this collection. The uncomfortableness is important, because when you're uncomfortable, one's true feelings become visible. Beautiful collection of poetry.
And So You Want a Poem...
I felt like the use of "it", even in lower case form, gives the sense of the woman and her body being used for the man's needs and then discarded when he/they are done. The lower-case "it" further lessens the woman's identity, humanity, power, etc. as if she isn't worthy of her own identity/locus of control.
Canvas
I read this as an analogy of women of color being white-washed--figuratively in this analogy by the white painting of the canvas. I also read this as if even when women of color have titles, i.e. education, professional, or even portraying themselves to be what (white) society wants them to be, that their locus of control is and never will be enough to see these beautiful and remarkable women for who they are and their uniqueness that they bring to our world.
Essay on Shuttering
Respect the appreciation for this author's and fellow women's perspectives and individual experiences. The amount of composure of strength, of frustration to be under a constant lens as if an animal in a zoo exhibit, to see how they function, to be tamed, to be controlled. The following quote was quite visible in its importance to me: "My mother took me to admire the art but the art was too busy watching me."
Asymetrical Images
This one didn't really make sense to me. I am not sure why? Is it because I am a man? Is there something deeper that I am glossing over? A tax on tampons is ridiculous, but maybe that's the most simplest meaning of/for this poem?
The Day I Seized...
Complexities of virginity.
From the Photo...
Deep, intense, moving, pregnant with feeling.
Joking about the Pandemic/ They Call the Party...
Relatable.
A Man Makes a Stop Light
Anonymous, blatant public sexual advances. Creepy. Uncomfortable. Disgusting.
Watch Right
Curse of manhood. Everything anyone does, regardless of gender identity, is only ever done for the pleasure/approval of man/men.
Tea in the Museum
Made me recall my own child memories of visiting this museum in the 90s.
Sculpture Study #1
What's the appropriate response to sexual assualt? Whatever the victim chooses!
A Woman to Woman with Mona...
I literally laughed out loud at the "side-eye" Mona Lisa. It's an historical question...is Mona Lisa beautiful or not? As a man, a gay man at that, who am I to define her beauty, or any woman's beauty? But I think that Mona Lisa represents is just an average woman that is easily relatable. What I mean is that a woman could look upon her and be able to judge for themselves whether they see parts of themselves in her. Regardless of race, this is an art piece, and in this painting the viewer male/female will either get it or they won't. It being whatever the viewer feels the artist is trying to convey.
Sculpture Study #2
I loved this quote: "There are ghosts and then there is grief, both asking to be cast out."
Starved
Soulful aching to connect with someone with guttural meaning.
The Ongoing Debate
When I read this I immediately thought back to a course in my undergrad when we discussed an artist who was a mother who used nudes of her children as art, and the criticism they received. I didn't realize that it was Sally Mann until I googled her and realized this was the same artist in reference of this poem. While art certainly is subjective, from my perspective, I still view this "art" as an excuse for child abuse and child pornography. Especially considering Mann's own children expressed their utmost displeasure of their naked bodies being on display, and the comments people would tell them after seeing their nude images in exhibits. Can we separate art from artistry. In this instance, I certainly do not think so. I also did a little more research and was sad to find out Mann's son committed suicide. Although he did suffer from a mental illness, I don't doubt it can be argued that his mother's decision to display his nude body as "art", even against his own discomfort, certainly didn't help his decision to end his life.
They Say Chivalry is Dead...
Uncomfortable. Chivalry is overrated. It's dead because people expect others to know what they expect, and then get upset with the person for not guessing what they expected. I recall a moment in my undergrad when I was holding a door open to a building on campus for a female. She walked through the door and angrily yelled, "I don't need a man to open doors for me." I didn't realize in my kindness, in the way my parents raised me that I was doing something so offensively. I remember how angry that made me because I was trying to be kind. I thought I would never open a door for a woman ever again! And then I thought back to how my parents raised me, and realized this woman was just either a miserable person (which I doubted), or simply a woman who was having a bad day, and I just happened to be a man in her way.
When I say No...
The mirror imagery between the Joker, the man behind the couple, and the actual couple is quite vivid.
Lessons in Grief...
Read/heard this as if I were at a spoken word/poetry slam. Loved every bit of it.
Photography
I appreciated the repetition of each second line. I should know this type of poetry style, but nevertheless, I further appreciated the author's continued use of this style in later poems in this book.
Gesso
The absence of black made me think of black even more.
Water as a Villain...
Pt. 4 Was a beautiful sadness. The woman's pain, and the man's urgency to protect but his empathy made him weak.
In a Picture...
Pain. Loss. Betrayal. Abandoned.
Investigation
Green
Nan's Lover
Trigger trauma warning.
Sculpture Study #3
Dark. Secrets. House. Love terminated.
Tell It Like a Movie...
Powerful uncomfortability.
Resting Bitch Face
Title poem. "Smiling has never brought me tenderness."
My Friend Says...
"...(T)hings are never themselves when you view them from the lens of something else."
Are You Jealous
Wasn't familiar with Gaugin's work/legacy. Had to do research. Not a fan, but his pieces seem to depict the women as somber, sad, longing for something more. Strangely enough a sad boy like me should love this! But I don't. I also love that Byas has incorporated the blackout/erasure poetry style in their work in this poem and later on as well.
Your Husband Says.../When the Therapist...
Dark, sensual, seductive, erotic, and then the flame blows out.
Eavesdropping
Uncomfortability.
Made Over
Literally about Sally Mann again.
Locker Room Talk...
Made me think of Trump's comments, and his many gross abuses as a man, and as the leader of our nation.
Duplex of Lessons
Love. Again with the repeating lines. Loved that. Something about the repetition evolving into the next sentence just makes me feel the words so much more deeply than the way other poems/styles do.
Dry Down
About art but not about art. I think you just get this one, or you don't. If you try to explain it, it loses its meaning, its power, its beauty. Just love this one so much!
Discomfort at the MoMA
"Is red ever flat with its violence." Love this so much. I think it's relatable.
Formal
Beautiful. Sad. Nostalgic. Emotional. Moving.
I wanted to review this for a few reasons. I love poetry, supporting Black businesses (author in this case), and although she isn't from Ohio, she lives there and is by default, a fellow Ohioan.
As I have been thinking about how to approach this review I juggled a few things. What I decided, I feel is most appropriate. Because poetry is something that involves writing much more deeply from the heart, I refuse to critique the book at any form, aside from the enforced 5 star rating system by Goodreads and NetGalley's review forms. What I will do, however, is to mention the poems that resonated with me, and made me reflect whether upon the poem itself, or on the feelings the poem induced. Taylor has written some beautiful pieces in this collection. The uncomfortableness is important, because when you're uncomfortable, one's true feelings become visible. Beautiful collection of poetry.
And So You Want a Poem...
I felt like the use of "it", even in lower case form, gives the sense of the woman and her body being used for the man's needs and then discarded when he/they are done. The lower-case "it" further lessens the woman's identity, humanity, power, etc. as if she isn't worthy of her own identity/locus of control.
Canvas
I read this as an analogy of women of color being white-washed--figuratively in this analogy by the white painting of the canvas. I also read this as if even when women of color have titles, i.e. education, professional, or even portraying themselves to be what (white) society wants them to be, that their locus of control is and never will be enough to see these beautiful and remarkable women for who they are and their uniqueness that they bring to our world.
Essay on Shuttering
Respect the appreciation for this author's and fellow women's perspectives and individual experiences. The amount of composure of strength, of frustration to be under a constant lens as if an animal in a zoo exhibit, to see how they function, to be tamed, to be controlled. The following quote was quite visible in its importance to me: "My mother took me to admire the art but the art was too busy watching me."
Asymetrical Images
This one didn't really make sense to me. I am not sure why? Is it because I am a man? Is there something deeper that I am glossing over? A tax on tampons is ridiculous, but maybe that's the most simplest meaning of/for this poem?
The Day I Seized...
Complexities of virginity.
From the Photo...
Deep, intense, moving, pregnant with feeling.
Joking about the Pandemic/ They Call the Party...
Relatable.
A Man Makes a Stop Light
Anonymous, blatant public sexual advances. Creepy. Uncomfortable. Disgusting.
Watch Right
Curse of manhood. Everything anyone does, regardless of gender identity, is only ever done for the pleasure/approval of man/men.
Tea in the Museum
Made me recall my own child memories of visiting this museum in the 90s.
Sculpture Study #1
What's the appropriate response to sexual assualt? Whatever the victim chooses!
A Woman to Woman with Mona...
I literally laughed out loud at the "side-eye" Mona Lisa. It's an historical question...is Mona Lisa beautiful or not? As a man, a gay man at that, who am I to define her beauty, or any woman's beauty? But I think that Mona Lisa represents is just an average woman that is easily relatable. What I mean is that a woman could look upon her and be able to judge for themselves whether they see parts of themselves in her. Regardless of race, this is an art piece, and in this painting the viewer male/female will either get it or they won't. It being whatever the viewer feels the artist is trying to convey.
Sculpture Study #2
I loved this quote: "There are ghosts and then there is grief, both asking to be cast out."
Starved
Soulful aching to connect with someone with guttural meaning.
The Ongoing Debate
When I read this I immediately thought back to a course in my undergrad when we discussed an artist who was a mother who used nudes of her children as art, and the criticism they received. I didn't realize that it was Sally Mann until I googled her and realized this was the same artist in reference of this poem. While art certainly is subjective, from my perspective, I still view this "art" as an excuse for child abuse and child pornography. Especially considering Mann's own children expressed their utmost displeasure of their naked bodies being on display, and the comments people would tell them after seeing their nude images in exhibits. Can we separate art from artistry. In this instance, I certainly do not think so. I also did a little more research and was sad to find out Mann's son committed suicide. Although he did suffer from a mental illness, I don't doubt it can be argued that his mother's decision to display his nude body as "art", even against his own discomfort, certainly didn't help his decision to end his life.
They Say Chivalry is Dead...
Uncomfortable. Chivalry is overrated. It's dead because people expect others to know what they expect, and then get upset with the person for not guessing what they expected. I recall a moment in my undergrad when I was holding a door open to a building on campus for a female. She walked through the door and angrily yelled, "I don't need a man to open doors for me." I didn't realize in my kindness, in the way my parents raised me that I was doing something so offensively. I remember how angry that made me because I was trying to be kind. I thought I would never open a door for a woman ever again! And then I thought back to how my parents raised me, and realized this woman was just either a miserable person (which I doubted), or simply a woman who was having a bad day, and I just happened to be a man in her way.
When I say No...
The mirror imagery between the Joker, the man behind the couple, and the actual couple is quite vivid.
Lessons in Grief...
Read/heard this as if I were at a spoken word/poetry slam. Loved every bit of it.
Photography
I appreciated the repetition of each second line. I should know this type of poetry style, but nevertheless, I further appreciated the author's continued use of this style in later poems in this book.
Gesso
The absence of black made me think of black even more.
Water as a Villain...
Pt. 4 Was a beautiful sadness. The woman's pain, and the man's urgency to protect but his empathy made him weak.
In a Picture...
Pain. Loss. Betrayal. Abandoned.
Investigation
Green
Nan's Lover
Trigger trauma warning.
Sculpture Study #3
Dark. Secrets. House. Love terminated.
Tell It Like a Movie...
Powerful uncomfortability.
Resting Bitch Face
Title poem. "Smiling has never brought me tenderness."
My Friend Says...
"...(T)hings are never themselves when you view them from the lens of something else."
Are You Jealous
Wasn't familiar with Gaugin's work/legacy. Had to do research. Not a fan, but his pieces seem to depict the women as somber, sad, longing for something more. Strangely enough a sad boy like me should love this! But I don't. I also love that Byas has incorporated the blackout/erasure poetry style in their work in this poem and later on as well.
Your Husband Says.../When the Therapist...
Dark, sensual, seductive, erotic, and then the flame blows out.
Eavesdropping
Uncomfortability.
Made Over
Literally about Sally Mann again.
Locker Room Talk...
Made me think of Trump's comments, and his many gross abuses as a man, and as the leader of our nation.
Duplex of Lessons
Love. Again with the repeating lines. Loved that. Something about the repetition evolving into the next sentence just makes me feel the words so much more deeply than the way other poems/styles do.
Dry Down
About art but not about art. I think you just get this one, or you don't. If you try to explain it, it loses its meaning, its power, its beauty. Just love this one so much!
Discomfort at the MoMA
"Is red ever flat with its violence." Love this so much. I think it's relatable.
Formal
Beautiful. Sad. Nostalgic. Emotional. Moving.
May 14, 2026
To give you an idea of how much I love this book: I lost the first copy that I bought and immediately bought another and started all over again from page 1. Then I lost my second copy and immediately bought a THIRD and started all over from page 1. Then I found my second copy and gave it to a friend and begged her to read it ASAP.
Ordinarily, I like a book of feminist/political themes poetry better if it has quite a lot of subtlety. It's not that I necessarily dislike a lack of subtlety; it's just that I find that a lot of political poems that are unsubtle are that way because the poet lacked the skill for subtly and they often also are not as original as they could be. I don't necessarily dislike these unsubtle political poetry books as a rule; I just tend to like them MORE when they have that subtlety.
This was an exception. Poems like the titular Resting Bitch Face had all the subtlety of a sledgehammer and I loved them all the more for it. They didn't lack subtlety because Byas lacked the skill for it; it lacked it because the book being direct and in-your-face was necessary. And it had the originality that is ordinarily somewhat lacking in less subtle works.
Ordinarily, I like a book of feminist/political themes poetry better if it has quite a lot of subtlety. It's not that I necessarily dislike a lack of subtlety; it's just that I find that a lot of political poems that are unsubtle are that way because the poet lacked the skill for subtly and they often also are not as original as they could be. I don't necessarily dislike these unsubtle political poetry books as a rule; I just tend to like them MORE when they have that subtlety.
This was an exception. Poems like the titular Resting Bitch Face had all the subtlety of a sledgehammer and I loved them all the more for it. They didn't lack subtlety because Byas lacked the skill for it; it lacked it because the book being direct and in-your-face was necessary. And it had the originality that is ordinarily somewhat lacking in less subtle works.
August 30, 2025
4.75⭐️ Thank you to Netgalley for this ALC of Resting Bitch Face by Taylor Byas
I’ve never met a mind quite like this one. What a gorgeous book! What a gorgeous mind! What gorgeous prose and what sad truths! Ugh I need a physical copy now.
*Water As Villain Origin Story… really spoke to my soul.
*The story of Nan….. my goodness😫
*Tell It Like A Movie… powerful and tragic. It made my chest ache. I was so viscerally uncomfortable.
*Resting Bitch Face… I need everyone to hear this! So good, so powerful, so angry.
My only critique would be for editing to take out some of the odd pauses in the recording but it takes nothing from the powerful book.
*When The Therapist Asks About Intimacy…. Short but heavy and light.
There are so many other poems in this book that speak to me but I cannot name them all! Excellent!
I wanted to take my time with this book because poetry needs time to appreciate each one and I regret NOTHING.
I’ve never met a mind quite like this one. What a gorgeous book! What a gorgeous mind! What gorgeous prose and what sad truths! Ugh I need a physical copy now.
*Water As Villain Origin Story… really spoke to my soul.
*The story of Nan….. my goodness😫
*Tell It Like A Movie… powerful and tragic. It made my chest ache. I was so viscerally uncomfortable.
*Resting Bitch Face… I need everyone to hear this! So good, so powerful, so angry.
My only critique would be for editing to take out some of the odd pauses in the recording but it takes nothing from the powerful book.
*When The Therapist Asks About Intimacy…. Short but heavy and light.
There are so many other poems in this book that speak to me but I cannot name them all! Excellent!
I wanted to take my time with this book because poetry needs time to appreciate each one and I regret NOTHING.
August 25, 2025
Byas pulls double duty here as both the audio narrator and the author. The choice to have her narrate paid off. Her voice is perfect, like warm honey. At first I thought that she went too fast and I actually had to work with the speed settings before leaving the setting on default speed. Eventually, she found her footing and slowed down the pace. That slower reading is more confident and have more strength and depth to the poems. This is my second collection of poetry from Byas and I would definitely love to read more!
Thanks to NetGalley and recoded books for the e audio arc!
Thanks to NetGalley and recoded books for the e audio arc!
September 1, 2025
I am not usually a fan of books written in verse but, I devoured this book in less than a day. Thank you to Netgalley for the Advanced Listener's Copy which was read by the author and I am so glad it was because she did such a phenomenal job.
Although this book is mainly about the black woman's experience, there are quite a few things in here that I believe a lot of women can relate to.
Im so glad I got the chance to listen to this book because it's a masterpiece, hands down
I haven't read anything from Taylor Byas before but, I will definitely be checking out her backlist!
Although this book is mainly about the black woman's experience, there are quite a few things in here that I believe a lot of women can relate to.
Im so glad I got the chance to listen to this book because it's a masterpiece, hands down
I haven't read anything from Taylor Byas before but, I will definitely be checking out her backlist!
January 21, 2026
I absolutely adore Taylor Byas’s poetry. She is unabashedly herself, in every beautiful, vulnerable, and inspiring way. Without holding back, Byas tackles everything from the toughest of topics to the most mundane. This particular collection centers around a theme of art, with a focus on relationships, self-reflection (and criticism), and what it means to be a Black woman.
Thank you to Taylor Byas, HighBridge Audio, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Taylor Byas, HighBridge Audio, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
December 5, 2025
I'm starting to love poetry. These were really insightful and thought provoking. Some were incredibly painful or difficult to read, some were upsetting. It was fun, in spite of the difficult subject matter, to think beyond this and also make connections to other topics or books.
Using a quote from this in one of my projects for my class!
Using a quote from this in one of my projects for my class!
August 1, 2026
Outstanding collection about womanhood, love, and misogyny.
January 1, 2026
these poems hurt, and yet, Im pretty sure I found a new auto-read poet
August 29, 2025
Resting B!tch Face is not just a poetry collection—it is a reclamation of voice, agency, and power. Taylor Byas crafts poems that are at once intimate and unflinching, carving out a space where Black female subjectivity is not flattened into stereotype or object, but magnified, honored, and fully embodied. With each page, Byas dismantles the inherited lenses through which Black women have been viewed—on canvases, through camera shutters, and across cultural narratives—and replaces them with a defiant, self-authored vision.
What makes this collection extraordinary is Byas’s fusion of craft and critique. Her language is precise and lyrical, yet never ornamental for ornament’s sake. Instead, every turn of phrase, every hybrid form, every layered image contributes to a larger interrogation of gaze, art, and identity. Byas converses with painters, sculptors, and filmmakers—Picasso, Gauguin, Nan Goldin, and beyond—but refuses to remain a silent subject in their work. She writes back, boldly and unapologetically, transforming her poems into counter-portraits, mirrors that reflect not objectification but autonomy.
Beyond its artistic ambition, Resting B!tch Face pulses with emotional resonance. Byas explores what it means to live in a body that is constantly scrutinized, labeled, and misread. Yet she also celebrates resilience, self-definition, and beauty that exists outside the frame imposed by others. The result is a collection that is both vulnerable and defiant, deeply personal yet universally urgent.
This is a book for:
- Lovers of poetry who crave work that intersects with visual art, film, and cultural criticism.
- Readers seeking meditations on representation, gaze, and identity, especially as they pertain to Black womanhood.
- Fans of boundary-pushing poets who experiment with hybrid forms, blending essay, lyric, and narrative into a cohesive, daring voice.
Taylor Byas has given us a collection that is as much a work of art as it is a manifesto. Resting B!tch Face is inventive, fluent, and fearless—a necessary contribution to contemporary poetry and a book that will leave readers seeing not only art but themselves differently.
A triumph. Five stars without hesitation.
What makes this collection extraordinary is Byas’s fusion of craft and critique. Her language is precise and lyrical, yet never ornamental for ornament’s sake. Instead, every turn of phrase, every hybrid form, every layered image contributes to a larger interrogation of gaze, art, and identity. Byas converses with painters, sculptors, and filmmakers—Picasso, Gauguin, Nan Goldin, and beyond—but refuses to remain a silent subject in their work. She writes back, boldly and unapologetically, transforming her poems into counter-portraits, mirrors that reflect not objectification but autonomy.
Beyond its artistic ambition, Resting B!tch Face pulses with emotional resonance. Byas explores what it means to live in a body that is constantly scrutinized, labeled, and misread. Yet she also celebrates resilience, self-definition, and beauty that exists outside the frame imposed by others. The result is a collection that is both vulnerable and defiant, deeply personal yet universally urgent.
This is a book for:
- Lovers of poetry who crave work that intersects with visual art, film, and cultural criticism.
- Readers seeking meditations on representation, gaze, and identity, especially as they pertain to Black womanhood.
- Fans of boundary-pushing poets who experiment with hybrid forms, blending essay, lyric, and narrative into a cohesive, daring voice.
Taylor Byas has given us a collection that is as much a work of art as it is a manifesto. Resting B!tch Face is inventive, fluent, and fearless—a necessary contribution to contemporary poetry and a book that will leave readers seeing not only art but themselves differently.
A triumph. Five stars without hesitation.
August 24, 2025
🎧 Audiobook Review: Resting B Face by Taylor Byas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (but with a caveat)
This is a soul-stirring collection of poems that reclaims the gaze, reshapes the stereotype of the “angry black woman,” and centers Black womanhood with unapologetic grace. It's read by the author herself, the audiobook pulses with intimacy each line delivered with the kind of emotional precision that makes you feel like she’s speaking directly to you.
Now, let’s be real. I haven’t picked up a poetry collection in a minute. Zora Neale Hurston was my last literary love affair with her collections of short stories and this one reminded me why I fell for the genre in the first place. Taylor’s work is refreshingly good. It’s woman centric in the best way: fierce, vulnerable, and soul deep. Listening to her felt like being wrapped in a weighted blanket of truth.
But here’s the thing: as much as I love hearing her voice, I don’t think the audiobook alone does her work full justice. These poems aren’t just meant to be heard they’re meant to be seen. The line breaks, the spacing, the visual rhythm of her words? That’s part of the power. Listening without reading feels like watching a dance with your eyes closed.....like you’ll catch the emotion, but miss the choreography.
So yes, I enjoyed the audiobook. But if you really want to feel the full impact of Taylor’s brilliance, get the print copy too. Read while you listen. Let her words hit your ears and your eyes. Because this collection deserves your full attention and Taylor Byas deserves to be read like the literary force she is.
I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review all opinions on my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (but with a caveat)
This is a soul-stirring collection of poems that reclaims the gaze, reshapes the stereotype of the “angry black woman,” and centers Black womanhood with unapologetic grace. It's read by the author herself, the audiobook pulses with intimacy each line delivered with the kind of emotional precision that makes you feel like she’s speaking directly to you.
Now, let’s be real. I haven’t picked up a poetry collection in a minute. Zora Neale Hurston was my last literary love affair with her collections of short stories and this one reminded me why I fell for the genre in the first place. Taylor’s work is refreshingly good. It’s woman centric in the best way: fierce, vulnerable, and soul deep. Listening to her felt like being wrapped in a weighted blanket of truth.
But here’s the thing: as much as I love hearing her voice, I don’t think the audiobook alone does her work full justice. These poems aren’t just meant to be heard they’re meant to be seen. The line breaks, the spacing, the visual rhythm of her words? That’s part of the power. Listening without reading feels like watching a dance with your eyes closed.....like you’ll catch the emotion, but miss the choreography.
So yes, I enjoyed the audiobook. But if you really want to feel the full impact of Taylor’s brilliance, get the print copy too. Read while you listen. Let her words hit your ears and your eyes. Because this collection deserves your full attention and Taylor Byas deserves to be read like the literary force she is.
I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review all opinions on my own.
April 11, 2026
I picked this book up at the library, a little nervous considering I haven't picked up a poetry book in a while. I knew not every one was going to be a hit, but I really enjoyed many of these poems and the ways they were written (except the start with the last sentence of the previous part and create a new thread of a story based on that pattern, it was used a little too much). The balance of prose and poetry in here was perfect for me. All of the titles with several parts of prose or poems beneath them were normally my favorite. This author definitely comes into each poem wanting to explore so many different ideas at once, and these ones were perfect for that. Water As a Villain Origin Story was my favorite, I loved seeing the reference to the Greek myth of Narcissus. Using sculpture studies and photography and art museums to explore topics was really cool too, I definitely should have been looking up the art that the poems were referencing as I went through. This had what the last book I read, The Vegetarian, lacked in the sense that it was from the perspective of the woman who has been mistreated by men. Not all the poems contained this, but many did. It was hard for me to relate at times and occasionally uncomfortable, but I didn't get this book to live in my own echo chamber. Her ideas are fascinating and I doubt I got them all on the first read-through, very excited to pick up more poetry or write some myself!
August 25, 2025
Resting Bitch Face, by Taylor Byas, is beautifully narrated by Taylor and is such a powerful poetry collection. Taylor takes something as simple as the stereotype of having a "resting bitch face" and unpacks all the history, racism, and sexism behind it. The opening poem immediately sets the tone, showing how being told to "smile" is loaded with expectation and danger, especially for Black women.
Throughout the collection, Byas writes about art, pop culture, and everyday experiences in a way that feels accessible. She references Picasso, Gauguin, and The Joker, which feels wide-ranging and fresh. Poems like "Essay on Shuttering" highlight the power imbalance of being on the other side of a camera, and "Sculpture Study #1" asks whether Black women are ever allowed to be fully human when they’re in pain or if they’re only seen as unmovable, stoic symbols.
This is the kind of book that makes you stop, reread/relisten to lines. It’s smart, bold, and sincere. If you’re someone who loves poetry that challenges you while also making you feel seen, this is absolutely worth picking up. I’ll be recommending it to friends for a long time.
Thanks to Soft Skull Press and NetGalley for an ARC to review before its publication on August 26, 2025.
Throughout the collection, Byas writes about art, pop culture, and everyday experiences in a way that feels accessible. She references Picasso, Gauguin, and The Joker, which feels wide-ranging and fresh. Poems like "Essay on Shuttering" highlight the power imbalance of being on the other side of a camera, and "Sculpture Study #1" asks whether Black women are ever allowed to be fully human when they’re in pain or if they’re only seen as unmovable, stoic symbols.
This is the kind of book that makes you stop, reread/relisten to lines. It’s smart, bold, and sincere. If you’re someone who loves poetry that challenges you while also making you feel seen, this is absolutely worth picking up. I’ll be recommending it to friends for a long time.
Thanks to Soft Skull Press and NetGalley for an ARC to review before its publication on August 26, 2025.
September 13, 2025
This poetry book is a masterpiece.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley for the Advanced Listener Copy (ALC).
I love how the author includes poetry or stories from other people and compares them to her own story. It showcases how prevalent and pervasive these issues are. She feels the direct consequences of young Black women being sexualized AND it doesn’t occur in a vacuum.
The audiobook format was beautifully spoken by the author. I ordered a copy of the physical book before I finished the audiobook because I felt like I wasn’t catching all of the metaphors. I want to do a proper literary analysis on paper. For example, the couch being a different color in her memory— I just know that is deep and I need to overthink how deep it is.
This is a short poetry book and I don’t think one needs to be into poetry to appreciate it. It’s a series of short scenes that paint the bigger picture of the poignant narrative of the consequences of Black girls being forced to grow up too soon. Thank you to the author for bravely and beautifully sharing her story.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley for the Advanced Listener Copy (ALC).
I love how the author includes poetry or stories from other people and compares them to her own story. It showcases how prevalent and pervasive these issues are. She feels the direct consequences of young Black women being sexualized AND it doesn’t occur in a vacuum.
The audiobook format was beautifully spoken by the author. I ordered a copy of the physical book before I finished the audiobook because I felt like I wasn’t catching all of the metaphors. I want to do a proper literary analysis on paper. For example, the couch being a different color in her memory— I just know that is deep and I need to overthink how deep it is.
This is a short poetry book and I don’t think one needs to be into poetry to appreciate it. It’s a series of short scenes that paint the bigger picture of the poignant narrative of the consequences of Black girls being forced to grow up too soon. Thank you to the author for bravely and beautifully sharing her story.
November 30, 2025
A collection of poems that take back the Black female voice, as well as other women's voices - in art, in life.
from And So You Want a Poem: "And so the music / revs up and you drink your body into / a cage (two arms on either side / of the poem), enough room between the two / of you for Jesus and the list of tricks / you've mastered with your tongue."
from Joking About the Pandemic, a Friend Texts the Group Chat "I've Unhoed Myself": "Let us begin in the garden, hoe in hand, / the rusted scythe as urgent as archeology / (which only means if plans to take its time // with the killing). I draw back, drive the blade / into the packed earth until it gashes, makes / the ground beneath me uncertain."
from A Man Makes a Stoplight His Own Red-Light District: "You got your corset of dread, / its tight laces. Can't breathe, but girl you look good // enough to follow home. You watch the eyes / of his headlight tail you, unblinking."
from And So You Want a Poem: "And so the music / revs up and you drink your body into / a cage (two arms on either side / of the poem), enough room between the two / of you for Jesus and the list of tricks / you've mastered with your tongue."
from Joking About the Pandemic, a Friend Texts the Group Chat "I've Unhoed Myself": "Let us begin in the garden, hoe in hand, / the rusted scythe as urgent as archeology / (which only means if plans to take its time // with the killing). I draw back, drive the blade / into the packed earth until it gashes, makes / the ground beneath me uncertain."
from A Man Makes a Stoplight His Own Red-Light District: "You got your corset of dread, / its tight laces. Can't breathe, but girl you look good // enough to follow home. You watch the eyes / of his headlight tail you, unblinking."
September 1, 2025
I loved this collection of Taylor Byas’s powerful, thought-provoking, relatable poetry. I was previously unfamiliar with this poet, and I’m pleased to have discovered her work. Many of the poems made me deeply uncomfortable, confronting some of my own past experiences. It’s a bit like lancing a wound—there’s some ugliness, and then a sense of relief.
I think poetry is best enjoyed out loud, so I particularly recommend the audiobook, which is narrated by the author. The audiobook production was excellent, and I loved Byas’s smooth voice and understated narration.
I recommend this book for anyone interested in poetry and cultural criticism.
Thanks to HighBridge Audio for providing me with a free advanced review copy of the audiobook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.
I think poetry is best enjoyed out loud, so I particularly recommend the audiobook, which is narrated by the author. The audiobook production was excellent, and I loved Byas’s smooth voice and understated narration.
I recommend this book for anyone interested in poetry and cultural criticism.
Thanks to HighBridge Audio for providing me with a free advanced review copy of the audiobook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.
August 25, 2025
Something about listening to poetry narrated by the author is absolutely magical. You mean this brilliant human wrote these words, AND I get to hear them with the exact emphasis and intonation that was intended for them? Sign me up. It is so beautiful to hear these words as Taylor intended them to be.
And the words themselves. Whoa. Every line was raw and powerful, looking at the interactions women - especially black women - go through every day with an unforgiving magnifying glass and scrutinizing the passive acceptance with which society as a whole views these transgressions. The use of art that we all know and love as a demonstration of how these interactions creep into every aspect of life in the most unexpected ways is wonderfully poignant. This was truly a wonderful read.
And the words themselves. Whoa. Every line was raw and powerful, looking at the interactions women - especially black women - go through every day with an unforgiving magnifying glass and scrutinizing the passive acceptance with which society as a whole views these transgressions. The use of art that we all know and love as a demonstration of how these interactions creep into every aspect of life in the most unexpected ways is wonderfully poignant. This was truly a wonderful read.
August 25, 2025
Taylor Byas is a very critical observer, and it shows in the way she writes her poetry. A fond lover for arts and pop culture, Byas shares her observations as a woman experiencing her identity, her place in the world, her feelings and her relationships with love and intimacy. The voice of these poems feel empowering, especially in the responses towards artists and the advantages that the male gaze and male power has on womanhood. Pieces that were uncomfortable to read made for great discussion pieces.
A few of my favourite poems:
A Woman to Woman with Mona
When the Therapist Asks About Intimacy
Applied Theory
Girls' Night
A Valentine;s Day Poem to Myself at 25
Love Poem, Attempt 1/?
In a Past Life
Poem in Which I Try to Have the Last Word
A few of my favourite poems:
A Woman to Woman with Mona
When the Therapist Asks About Intimacy
Applied Theory
Girls' Night
A Valentine;s Day Poem to Myself at 25
Love Poem, Attempt 1/?
In a Past Life
Poem in Which I Try to Have the Last Word
October 12, 2025
When encountering a collection of ekphrastic work, we put ourselves in the role of the observer, channeling the speaker;s experience. In Byas’ collection, that relation is subverted, putting us in the world of the observed, asking what does it mean to move through a world that sees you as an object. The speaker of Resting Bitch Face is, in truth, a being of many faces, observer & observed & critic & lover & archivist. This is a book that considers observation an active engagement, asking what do we do with what we’ve seen.
August 23, 2025
I loved this collection of poems in the form of an audiobook by Taylor Byas. It has a run time of 2 hours and 8 minutes and is narrated by the author. If you like poems, then I highly recommend you pick up this audiobook when it is published on 08/26/25.
Thank you to Taylor Byas, HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Taylor Byas, HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
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