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New American Best Friend
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Poetry (2017)One of the most recognizable young poets in America, Olivia Gatwood dazzles with her tribute to contemporary American womanhood in her debut book, New American Best Friend. Gatwood's poems deftly deconstruct traditional stereotypes. The focus shifts from childhood to adulthood, gender to sexuality, violence to joy. And always and inexorably, the book moves toward celebration, culminating in a series of odes: odes to the body, to tough women, to embracing your own journey in all its failures and triumphs.
55 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2017
128 people are currently reading
9901 people want to read
About the author
Olivia Gatwood
12 books956 followersOlivia Gatwood is a nationally touring poet, performer, and educator from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her work has been featured on HBO and Verses & Flow, as well as in Muzzle Magazine, Bustle and The Huffington Post, among others. She has been a finalist at the National Poetry Slam, Women of the World Poetry Slam, and Brave New Voices. She is a graduate of Pratt Institute’s Fiction Program.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 532 reviews
April 3, 2017
"Life comes fast. One minute you're taking typing classes for your new secretary job in the World Trade Center and the next it's all almost over, life I mean, but I kicked and screamed my way through it, and so will you." This is small piece from the very last poem in New American Best Friend called "Ode To The Women On Long Island." This small quote from the poem in my opinion summarizes up this entire collection of poetry.
Olivia Gatwood paints such a descriptive and vivid portrait of adolescence. It almost makes you nostalgic, but only after briefly making you cringe a little at some of the things you wasted your time completely obsessing over like changing things about yourself, pretending not to like certain things you absolutely love just to fit in with the popular girl. This collection took me back to those long hot summer days of being young and reckless with friends in poems like Dry Season, 2003. The poem Alternate Universe In Which I Am Unfazed By The Men Who Do Not Love Me makes me seriously wish it was written back when I was 18 and leaving the house to experience the world on my own. It could've saved me so much unnecessary time and heartbreak.
This collection is short and I could've totally read 50 more pages of whatever Olivia Gatwood wanted to share with us. But even though it is a a short collection it is sprinkled all throughout of a young woman who through it all kept kicking and screaming. Definitely a must read for anyone who is a poetry fan.
Olivia Gatwood paints such a descriptive and vivid portrait of adolescence. It almost makes you nostalgic, but only after briefly making you cringe a little at some of the things you wasted your time completely obsessing over like changing things about yourself, pretending not to like certain things you absolutely love just to fit in with the popular girl. This collection took me back to those long hot summer days of being young and reckless with friends in poems like Dry Season, 2003. The poem Alternate Universe In Which I Am Unfazed By The Men Who Do Not Love Me makes me seriously wish it was written back when I was 18 and leaving the house to experience the world on my own. It could've saved me so much unnecessary time and heartbreak.
This collection is short and I could've totally read 50 more pages of whatever Olivia Gatwood wanted to share with us. But even though it is a a short collection it is sprinkled all throughout of a young woman who through it all kept kicking and screaming. Definitely a must read for anyone who is a poetry fan.
December 8, 2017
I picked up this book because I saw one of Gatwood's readings of her poem "Ode to the Women on Long Island," and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So, being me, I decided to actually pick up her other works, realizing that maybe, just maybe, I had found a contemporary poet that I liked.
And I was very wrong.
This.... this is not poetry, or at least it doesn't seem like that to me. The same issues that other people had with Rupi Kaur's "Milk in Honey" in how it seemed to "try to hard" and was just a couple of sentences in lower case all mashed together to make "poetry," that was how I felt about this collection.
It felt whiny and immature and honestly, I understand that as women, it's important to talk about plights and problems with the world around us, but this book did a horrible job and further exemplified why there are some people in the world who like to dub feminists as "feminazis."
Also, what is it with modern day poets and talking complaining their period? Like holy shit we GET it you have a PERIOD wow how INCONVENIENT for you to EXPERIENCE that phenomena that literally HALF OF THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE EXPERIENCES WITHOUT COMPLAINT.
Like as someone who gets a period, I thought this was a really shallow attempt to seek pity from people around ya. And honestly Gatwood, I don't feel a lick of sorrow for you for experiencing the same thing every other woman experiences.
And also if everyone could collectively just stop writing period poetry the world would be a better place.
This book was full of what were I suppose to be sad stories about growing up in the face of poverty, sexism, lost loves, change, personal growth and bullies but I just couldn't connect to the narrator. It felt so shallow and narcissistic and just excruciatingly boring that I couldn't get into it. And when I wasn't bored, I was pissed off and thinking to myself "so this is what passes for poetry today? Fuuucccckkkkkkkkkk."
I ended up skimming the poems near the end because my headache was growing by the second every time I read another word in this book of "poems."
So yeah. I know a lot of people liked this so maybe, at the end of the day, poetry just isn't for me. Specifically modern poetry. Or possibly any poetry besides the work of Mr. Edgar Allan Poe. Maybe I just ask for too much when it comes to my poetry, but if I have to hear another word about sad cigarettes and lipsticks and boys I'm gonna bite somebody's head off.
An extra star for the "Ode to the Women on Long Island," because it's the only one I liked, but other than this I found it overwhelmingly dull and pointless.
And I was very wrong.
This.... this is not poetry, or at least it doesn't seem like that to me. The same issues that other people had with Rupi Kaur's "Milk in Honey" in how it seemed to "try to hard" and was just a couple of sentences in lower case all mashed together to make "poetry," that was how I felt about this collection.
It felt whiny and immature and honestly, I understand that as women, it's important to talk about plights and problems with the world around us, but this book did a horrible job and further exemplified why there are some people in the world who like to dub feminists as "feminazis."
Also, what is it with modern day poets and talking complaining their period? Like holy shit we GET it you have a PERIOD wow how INCONVENIENT for you to EXPERIENCE that phenomena that literally HALF OF THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE EXPERIENCES WITHOUT COMPLAINT.
Like as someone who gets a period, I thought this was a really shallow attempt to seek pity from people around ya. And honestly Gatwood, I don't feel a lick of sorrow for you for experiencing the same thing every other woman experiences.
And also if everyone could collectively just stop writing period poetry the world would be a better place.
This book was full of what were I suppose to be sad stories about growing up in the face of poverty, sexism, lost loves, change, personal growth and bullies but I just couldn't connect to the narrator. It felt so shallow and narcissistic and just excruciatingly boring that I couldn't get into it. And when I wasn't bored, I was pissed off and thinking to myself "so this is what passes for poetry today? Fuuucccckkkkkkkkkk."
I ended up skimming the poems near the end because my headache was growing by the second every time I read another word in this book of "poems."
So yeah. I know a lot of people liked this so maybe, at the end of the day, poetry just isn't for me. Specifically modern poetry. Or possibly any poetry besides the work of Mr. Edgar Allan Poe. Maybe I just ask for too much when it comes to my poetry, but if I have to hear another word about sad cigarettes and lipsticks and boys I'm gonna bite somebody's head off.
An extra star for the "Ode to the Women on Long Island," because it's the only one I liked, but other than this I found it overwhelmingly dull and pointless.
December 29, 2017
I saw this one in the GR Awards for a Poetry nomination, and a good friend happened to have given me this book a while ago. It was still on my Unread pile so I was like "what the heck?" It was just a little book.
It was more than just a little book. It was growing up with blood seeping through your teeth. It was falling in love while watching them die horribly. It was looking at trash trampled by the everyday commute and finding a way to dine on it by candle light.
I wish I could've voted for this one. The only reason I'm not giving this five stars may seem a little petty to some, but this author stays very true to a traditional(?) form of poetry--does it very well! But. I'm board with it. I'm sorry. I just am. The four-line free standing stanzas, the run-on blocks of prose -poetry. Sigh... I get it, it's a challenge. Or I don't get it, and I'm going to regret this review.
Either way, I still recommend this one.
".... One more thing,
when they call you a bitch, say thank you,
say thank you, very much."
It was more than just a little book. It was growing up with blood seeping through your teeth. It was falling in love while watching them die horribly. It was looking at trash trampled by the everyday commute and finding a way to dine on it by candle light.
I wish I could've voted for this one. The only reason I'm not giving this five stars may seem a little petty to some, but this author stays very true to a traditional(?) form of poetry--does it very well! But. I'm board with it. I'm sorry. I just am. The four-line free standing stanzas, the run-on blocks of prose -poetry. Sigh... I get it, it's a challenge. Or I don't get it, and I'm going to regret this review.
Either way, I still recommend this one.
".... One more thing,
when they call you a bitch, say thank you,
say thank you, very much."
August 12, 2019
I heard one of her poems and was impressed. I bought the book. I was less impressed. This didn't strike me as clever or witty. There were a few moments that caught me, but overall my impression was one of bored disappointment. Much of it isn't poetry as much as it is random short sentences stuck together with little rhythm or effort.
The tone of the poems left me cold; I find little interest in periods, panties, lipstick and tampons in honesty. I don't find my own interesting to write about and I would be equally bored by a male poet waxing bloody lyrical about wet dreams, hair gel and raging hormones. Much of it felt immature and two dimensional, with perhaps two poems having actual poignant moments at the end.
I need to read some Felix Dennis now. He is a superbly clever and dryly witty poet who cam capture humanity at it's best and worst... and with barely a breath between lines.
The tone of the poems left me cold; I find little interest in periods, panties, lipstick and tampons in honesty. I don't find my own interesting to write about and I would be equally bored by a male poet waxing bloody lyrical about wet dreams, hair gel and raging hormones. Much of it felt immature and two dimensional, with perhaps two poems having actual poignant moments at the end.
I need to read some Felix Dennis now. He is a superbly clever and dryly witty poet who cam capture humanity at it's best and worst... and with barely a breath between lines.
November 18, 2018
Amazing poetry.
Some of it I read, some of it my girlfriend read to me, and another bit I listened to Olivia Gatwood's performances in Button Poetry. It was perfect in every way. Every person, female or male or in between, should read this.
Some of it I read, some of it my girlfriend read to me, and another bit I listened to Olivia Gatwood's performances in Button Poetry. It was perfect in every way. Every person, female or male or in between, should read this.
May 8, 2020
this is one of the best poetry books i've read in a while. one of the few i've read where i'm actually invested in what the poet is saying instead of feeling like i'm staring and turning the pages.
March 21, 2023
i don’t typically read a lot of poetry, but this really resonated with me
September 11, 2019
Definitely a poetry book full of powerful messages and important themes but it just wasn't for me. Like her mother, I believe, said in one of the poems, this doesn't seem "unfazed" but rather "very fazed" to me.
December 1, 2019
I want to be Olivia Gatwood when I grow up.
September 10, 2022
“when they call you a ‘bitch,’ say, ‘thank you, thank you very much’.”
favourite:- an ode to the women on long island
favourite:- an ode to the women on long island
June 20, 2023
6/20/23:
i get such a specific feeling of nostalgia from this book. childhood summers, sophomore year of high school, it makes me look back and cringe at all the things i used to care so much about that really didn't end up mattering at all.
but mostly i reread this bc i discovered alternate universe when i was like 14 or 15 and still think about it all the time. if you just didn't care about what men thought of you – if you didn't spend hours wondering and waiting and bargaining and not listening to men when they showed you they didn't love you – imagine all those hours you would get back!! what could you have done with all that time!! arguments about god or a full night's sleep or a novel read in one sitting.
also really loved bitch face this time around – "bitch face is cutting off the ladder / willing to burn in the apartment / if it means he can’t get in.”
7/22/22:
i reread this all the time to relive tenth grade and also for the feeling of finally getting to alternate universe & the women on long island at the end - so good
“but left over from the other universe are hours and hours of waiting for him to kiss me and here, they are just hours. here, they are a bike ride across long island in june. here, they are a novel read in one sitting. here, they are arguments about god or a full night’s sleep.”
“the women on Long Island won’t
put it past any man to be guilty, even their kin who,
after all, have their husband’s hands and blood and
last week, when a girl was murdered while jogging
in Queens, the women on Long Island were un-startled
and furious, they did not call to warn daughters.
They called their sons. Took their car keys, their coats,
locked the door and sat them at the kitchen table,
If you ever, and I mean ever, so much as
make a woman feel uncomfortable
I will take you to the deli and put your
hand in the meat slicer, you think I won’t?
You hear me? I will make a hero out of you.”
i get such a specific feeling of nostalgia from this book. childhood summers, sophomore year of high school, it makes me look back and cringe at all the things i used to care so much about that really didn't end up mattering at all.
but mostly i reread this bc i discovered alternate universe when i was like 14 or 15 and still think about it all the time. if you just didn't care about what men thought of you – if you didn't spend hours wondering and waiting and bargaining and not listening to men when they showed you they didn't love you – imagine all those hours you would get back!! what could you have done with all that time!! arguments about god or a full night's sleep or a novel read in one sitting.
also really loved bitch face this time around – "bitch face is cutting off the ladder / willing to burn in the apartment / if it means he can’t get in.”
7/22/22:
i reread this all the time to relive tenth grade and also for the feeling of finally getting to alternate universe & the women on long island at the end - so good
“but left over from the other universe are hours and hours of waiting for him to kiss me and here, they are just hours. here, they are a bike ride across long island in june. here, they are a novel read in one sitting. here, they are arguments about god or a full night’s sleep.”
“the women on Long Island won’t
put it past any man to be guilty, even their kin who,
after all, have their husband’s hands and blood and
last week, when a girl was murdered while jogging
in Queens, the women on Long Island were un-startled
and furious, they did not call to warn daughters.
They called their sons. Took their car keys, their coats,
locked the door and sat them at the kitchen table,
If you ever, and I mean ever, so much as
make a woman feel uncomfortable
I will take you to the deli and put your
hand in the meat slicer, you think I won’t?
You hear me? I will make a hero out of you.”
March 25, 2017
Hello everyone, today I am writing about a book that is a little bit different. Normally, I only talk about fiction on here, but there will probably be more poetry in the near future. I will admit that going into this I was already a little bit biased. I have watched Olivia Gatwood’s slam poems countless times. I was ecstatic when I learned of her book and I am extremely biased. With that being said, I highly recommend reading this book.
My Rating: A
Poems: This book includes some of my favorites including, Alternative Universe,Ode to My Bitch Face, Ode to the Woman on Long Island, and Manic Pixie Dream Girl. These all address women’s issues and sexism. Quite honestly, they are very moving pieces. Accompanying these, there are also many new poems, most of these documenting the female experience. The words have a point and an edge. They cut at you until all you are left with is something raw and real. This unforgiving method of detailing experiences that women share is extremely effective. It makes rampant sexism and misogyny hard to ignore. In fact, I have felt as though I cannot be complacent since I’ve read it.
Composition: New American Best Friend is arranged to tell the story of growing up female. The series of poems is carefully arranged, meant to lead you through the stages of Olivia Gatwood’s life. However, many of her stories are ones that I have seen played out with a slightly different flavor in my own life. It captures this gritty and honest tone of being female that is often glossed over and made pretty. The things that we never talk about are not kept secret and hidden here. There is something about reading these poems that makes you painfully aware that being a woman has its blatant truths, ones that we knew of but never openly acknowledge. These include, period underwear, hair in the drain of the shower, unfulfilling sex, and being jealous of the conventionally attractive women. Overall, it was a fantastic read.
Ending Rating: 9.5/10, I wish it was longer. I wish that there was more.
Would I recommend it? Yes, read it. It’s so good.
Is this book on your to-read list? Thoughts on Slam Poetry? Do you prefer reading or listening to poetry?
My Rating: A
Poems: This book includes some of my favorites including, Alternative Universe,Ode to My Bitch Face, Ode to the Woman on Long Island, and Manic Pixie Dream Girl. These all address women’s issues and sexism. Quite honestly, they are very moving pieces. Accompanying these, there are also many new poems, most of these documenting the female experience. The words have a point and an edge. They cut at you until all you are left with is something raw and real. This unforgiving method of detailing experiences that women share is extremely effective. It makes rampant sexism and misogyny hard to ignore. In fact, I have felt as though I cannot be complacent since I’ve read it.
Composition: New American Best Friend is arranged to tell the story of growing up female. The series of poems is carefully arranged, meant to lead you through the stages of Olivia Gatwood’s life. However, many of her stories are ones that I have seen played out with a slightly different flavor in my own life. It captures this gritty and honest tone of being female that is often glossed over and made pretty. The things that we never talk about are not kept secret and hidden here. There is something about reading these poems that makes you painfully aware that being a woman has its blatant truths, ones that we knew of but never openly acknowledge. These include, period underwear, hair in the drain of the shower, unfulfilling sex, and being jealous of the conventionally attractive women. Overall, it was a fantastic read.
Ending Rating: 9.5/10, I wish it was longer. I wish that there was more.
Would I recommend it? Yes, read it. It’s so good.
Is this book on your to-read list? Thoughts on Slam Poetry? Do you prefer reading or listening to poetry?
June 6, 2017
Olivia Gatwood is everything I like about poetry. I have been a huge fan of her poetry from YouTube videos. Her delivery and performance is absolutely amazing. I was worried that a reading her poetry on paper wouldn't be as good as seeing it performed. I wonder if I would have enjoyed her poetry as much without seeing her perform. But either way I really enjoyed New American Best Friend.
Olivia Gatwood has one of the best voices I have ever read in poetry. Olivia Gatwood is super intelligent, full of sass, and very strong. Maybe I am not the target audience for her poetry but I think that is what makes it more impressive to me. Sure, I've never had a lot of experiences expressed in this book but she uses strong language to make me understand her and why she feels this way. I just loved all of these poems. I wish there were more.
I would recommend this to just about anyone. It is very in your face and doesn't beat around the bush or shy around topics. I would also suggest watching any and all videos of Olivia Gatwood. She is definitely one of my favorite poets.
Olivia Gatwood has one of the best voices I have ever read in poetry. Olivia Gatwood is super intelligent, full of sass, and very strong. Maybe I am not the target audience for her poetry but I think that is what makes it more impressive to me. Sure, I've never had a lot of experiences expressed in this book but she uses strong language to make me understand her and why she feels this way. I just loved all of these poems. I wish there were more.
I would recommend this to just about anyone. It is very in your face and doesn't beat around the bush or shy around topics. I would also suggest watching any and all videos of Olivia Gatwood. She is definitely one of my favorite poets.
September 17, 2017
I can't think of a better review of this than Carrie Fountain's, which is blurbed on the back of the book: "these poems are the future." The last time a book hit me this hard was Melissa Broder's SO SAD TODAY, and I think the two of those books are truly exciting in the way they carve out space for women to speak about their experiences with sexuality. I really wish this had been called something more evocative though, like "Ode To My Bitch Face", which speaks better to the raw, visceral quality of the poems here.
October 19, 2017
Gatwood is real and raw and unafraid to address the uncomfortable. Her introspection into coming of age has something in it for everyone. She has a voice that is all her own, even when that voice doesn't quite know who it is. You may just find yourself coming to appreciate the world around you and things you hadn't before in a new light after having briefly glimpsed the world through her lens.
March 13, 2018
Okay, I'm not a fan of poetry, like, at all but Olivia Gatwood's poetry is fundamentally badass and please read it. You'll see why when you do.
Read for the 2018 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge: A one-sitting book
Read for the 2018 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge: A one-sitting book
November 16, 2017
I'm consistently amazed by Olivia Gatwood
April 30, 2019
I love all Olivia’s performances on Button Poetry so I picked this up. Not mind blowing but not bad either. A 3,5 stars read.
October 9, 2024
me acuerdo que encontré el libro usado en punto y coma hace más de un año, pero nunca lo leí completo. ya conocía a olivia por el canonic event que es el rabbit hole de slam poetry youtube recommendations en años formativos. hoy lo agarré, y me gusto (pero me gusta más como los lee ella).
May 24, 2021
A short collection of poems retracting little rites of passage for women, facets of impactful life events for the author.
The one about resting bitch face was worth the entire book for me.
The one about resting bitch face was worth the entire book for me.
March 12, 2025
„ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE IN WHICH I AM UNFAZED BY THE MEN WHO DO NOT LOVE ME“ alone makes this deserve five stars
(But the others are good too)
(But the others are good too)
August 26, 2017
Amazing loved every piece of it! If you love poetry this is a must read. Just bought it and read it. Going to buy the non kindle version to hold in my hand. I need more. A few favorite lines "Like maybe he is the kind of man who only screams when he is underwater or lets me feel how strong his fingers are without actually touching me.".... "left over from the other universe are hours and hours of waiting for him to kiss me and here, they are just hours."..... "head spun three-sixty exorcist bitch just trying to buy a soda just trying to do the laundry just trying to dance at the party then someone asks you to smile."
November 25, 2022
i’m sad to have to rate this so low, but i just could not find a single enjoyable poem. this is a prime example of instagram poetry at its finest. some of the poems genuinely made me laugh or ridicule at them, but props to the author for getting it published and i hope that there is someone out there who will enjoy this poetry collection more than i did.
October 18, 2017
Absolutely astounding.
April 4, 2024
Leído para el maratón #GuadalupeReinas. Un libro se poesía.
June 2, 2025
“one theory is that you were born like this
but i don’t believe it. you came out screaming
and alive and look at you now, look at how
you’ve learned to hide your teeth.”
Slam poetry has, and will always do it for me. It never fails to make me cry, or hit me where it hurts. I went through a phase in middle school where I'd watch performance after performance about lesbianism or feminism or whatever injustice someone had faced and turned into art—and this collection is all of that wrapped up into one. This was a good poetry collection. Even the ones that were a little "cringe" or silly.
but i don’t believe it. you came out screaming
and alive and look at you now, look at how
you’ve learned to hide your teeth.”
Slam poetry has, and will always do it for me. It never fails to make me cry, or hit me where it hurts. I went through a phase in middle school where I'd watch performance after performance about lesbianism or feminism or whatever injustice someone had faced and turned into art—and this collection is all of that wrapped up into one. This was a good poetry collection. Even the ones that were a little "cringe" or silly.
December 15, 2021
Olivia Gatwood is largely responsible for reigniting my passion for poetry and this book does not disappoint
May 19, 2022
4.5 stars
Olivia Gatwood made me a much better feminist.
Olivia Gatwood made me a much better feminist.
July 20, 2022
really really impressive! gatwood can truly pack a punch in her verse
Displaying 1 - 30 of 532 reviews