Lobster: and other things I’m learning to love

by Hollie McNish

Genres: Poetry

432 pages, Paperback

Published December 16, 2025

Reviews

[Charlie Gardiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Hollie at an event at work not too long ago and as someone who “doesn’t like poetry” felt quite sceptical. But after seeing her gig I wanted to give her book a try and I loved it.

Full of her rambling (I hope that’s not offensive) about opinions on different societal and personal issues that lead perfectly into her poems. It was a lot of fun, funny and emotional. Really raw storytelling, feels like you’re just having a conversation with her while reading. The content is very interesting, important, eye-opening and reassuring too.

Would recommend this to anyone! Just be prepared to be a bit shocked by some of the content, it can get quite graphic, but in a good way

[Fionnbharr Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both enjoyable and thought-provoking. I first heard of McNish when I saw her do a reading in Belfast, and she writes as she talks. Very strong voice.

Also, reading this I have probably quadrupled the number of times I’ve read the word ‘vulva’ in my lifetime (conservative estimate; Catholic education)

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit millennial slop. A book with love and female rage which I appreciate - I wanted to like it but found the poetry anodyne and the explication of the poetry onanistic.