Virgin: Hollie McNish's words always sweep me away' Giovanna Fletcher

by Hollie McNish

Genres: Poetry

160 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication January 27, 2026

Reviews

[Greg S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a powerfully feminist collection of poems. Full of passion and kindness and love and sex. Full of lines that made me gasp or call out in agreed frustration. Some are very funny or full of gorgeous nostalgia. Some are brilliantly political. Above all I get the impression that Hollie McNish is clearly just a good person who cares deeply about the human experience.

[Salomée Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel so honoured I was able to read this before its publication date. I'm a huge fan of everything / anything Hollie McNish writes and this book was, once again, a delight. I love how she played with form more and reading the poems asked us readers to be more engaged and interact with the pieces in different ways/through different languages too sometimes! Hollie McNish is a national treasure and I am so happy she's making poetry accessible, fun, yet profound, moving and political.

[Ruby Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

hollie you’ve done it again!

my favourites include:
- exchange rate
- second-hand bookshops are the lovers of the world
- blockbuster video stores
- waterslide
- grown woman speaking like a baby alert
- blood, in the world of wolves/stubble, in the world of war
- making love (#3)
- making love (#5)

[Amy B Garratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks for Hollie for this uncorrected proof copy of her next collection. It’s absolutely beautiful, and I really enjoyed how each part was sectioned out and the introduction to each chapter of poems was really engaging.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Hollie McNish and pretty much buy every book she puts out at this point. My favourites are the longer books with sections of prose too, but this is still excellent. She articulates a lot of things that I think, and makes me think in different ways about others, both of which I enjoy.

[Tobias Lindquist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twenty or so of these poems are absolutely brilliant!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5