4 Stars (I received an e-arc from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review)

This book was originally published in 2014 and this cover change is such a vibrant almost Betty Crocker cake mix box. I loved reading this collection especially since the author has had relationships with both men and women. She is half black, half white and a lot her poems relating to her experience with being called "a half breed" and white people's obsession with saying the N word right to her face. All of which are still very relevant to this day especially with the recent riots and protests. Her writing is lovely and all the positive self love towards being a fat girl. Something I think every young woman should read.

Funny, fierce, moving and powerful poetry in this collection. Wiley typically does spoken-word, and while reading many of these, I could imagine how it would sound spoken (awesome, in case you were wondering). Some of the poems could've used a little more refinement, but overall, a fantastic little book.

*Thank you Net Galley and Button Poetry for this advance copy*

As someone who loves reading and writing about body positivity and acceptance, the title of this book grabbed my attention. In this anthology, Rachel Wiley covers societal and personal issues (body images, race, feminism, relationships, family) from multiple perspectives. The poems that I enjoyed the most were written from her perspective. In Paper Babies, a poem about feminism and motherhood, Wiley recalls taking her first pregnancy test. She writes about coming to terms with a breakup in In Which the Poet Learns to Wake up Alone. Proof, another poem about relationships contained my favorite line "I wanted you to know that best I am okay, a choreographed apology." The poem that resonated most with me was 10 Honest Thoughts on Being Loved by a Skinny Boy. Having been in that position myself, even the smallest interactions had cause for me to feel fear and embarrassment. There are poems that are better suited for the stage than the written page. "On the Bus" paints a vivid picture of mass transit commuting that would resonate with those that have never rode a city bus.

Overall, this a fairly solid collection. I'd love to see the author perform some of her work and look forward to reading more poem anthologies in the future. I would recommend this to girls and women struggling with their body image and readers looking for a fresh voice.

“Medusa was born so beautiful, made ugly by another’s demands”
Let me take a second and say I was snapping my fingers because I can relate so well to the words written in this book. It makes you say yes! with pride and feel happiness, it’s body positivity and I’m all for the movement. This book is an anthem and inspiration for the plus size, the. It’s the anger and shame they are meant to feel be put aside. It’s to tell all plus size people (the ones people call fat) that they are valued, they matter and standards the world keeps trying to force on them don’t matter.
I really enjoyed this book, it’s a cool read
#VeryTada #BookReview

I wanted to read some poetry and as a person who has sometimes been considered overweight, I was attracted by the title of this collection. I hadn't heard of Rachel Wiley and it took me a few poems to get into her style. Once I googled her and watched some of her videos on YouTube, however, her poetry really came to life for me.

There are some truly powerful poems in this book. I particularly enjoyed Conversations With My Father In A Dunk Tank, Hoarder and Naked Atonement. But I'm sure every reader will be drawn to different poems, which deal with issues such as relationships, gender, race, and mental health as well as the physical body. Poetry works well when it's digested gradually over time and this is one book I'll keep coming back to in future.

I'll be honest that I had slightly higher hopes for what this book would be. That's not at all to say that I didn't enjoy it; I very much did. The words are lyrical in many cases, pulling the reader in, and it's a delight to read.

This was a fun, sad and fascinating call to arms about the body positive movement, discrimination against fat people, eating disorders and trying to exist in a world that tells you you need to be smaller. These poems spark off the page, but I think you need to watch them performed to get the full impact. But god, I wish i had these when I was younger.

I first heard of Rachel Wiley when her poem "10 Honest Thoughts on Being Loved By A Skinny Boy" went viral 7 years ago.
I was in my freshman year of college and I remember being in awe of this strong and honest woman.

Fat Girl Finishing School brings back that feeling with a beautiful collection of perfectly human and genuine moments, told through Wiley's very fresh perspective.

This the book for that bad day. The hand to hold your when when you feel alone.
Self love and self acceptace is a daily battle, a constant struggle, there's a learning curve and it takes practice.
I find that learning from people like Wiley helps me an enormous amount and makes me feel less alone.

I didn't like all of the poems in this collection. For example, the Bette Midler one went completely over my head. So why 5 stars? Because I did like several, and loved several, and found many notable lines, and in a collection of poems, finding multiple you love gets 5 stars.
"My excuse is pumpkin ice cream and three seasons of Luther on Netflix."
"I wanted to love you like a landmark
Now you just be some Fotomart."
The beginning of, "Blood Tongue".
Lot's of great lines in "Wife Material".
An interesting introduction to a lifestyle very different from my own.
I got a chance to free this free through Netgalley's ebook program.

I have seen Rachel perform some of her poetry on YouTube and was interested in the full book of poetry.

I would recommend it to girls or women who struggle with their bodies. The poetry is extremely body positive and accepting of those that are different. Some poems were much better than others but overall, a good book.

3.5/5.

★★★½

I wish I had read this book sooner because it screams self-love and that's exactly what I need. Topics like feminism, body positivity and being POC were addressed amazingly and the author's passion comes across so well. The poems either made me feel heard or educated me on something.

The poetry form wasn't my cup of tea however it's clear that she knows what form she wants to use and that makes it a lot better. Even though I prefer something more traditional, with lots of rhyme, I would love to have a physical copy of this book for when days are rough and my self-image could use a boost.

Beautifully written and powerful words.

"My excuse is my body needs no excuse to be loved,
No excuse to be seen,
No excuse to be touched, enjoyed, celebrated."

Rachael Wiley speaks volume about body positivity and feminism in this beautiful poetry collection.
I loved her way with words and her unapologetic way of being. It's a thought-provoking collection that should be read, enjoyed and reread.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an arc! I really enjoyed reading this poetry book. This is such a bold book about loving and accepting one's body as it is. It's raw, painful and hits where it hurts. There's no sugar coating or downplaying the difficulties faced by fat people. Some poems in this book were so boldly written that they send shivers down my spine. However, I also felt that some poems could've been more refined? But it was a great read, nonetheless. I would recommend this to everyone as beauty standards affect everyone and they should also be aware of the experiences of a fat person in this world which is constantly making them feel unworthy.

I picked this up because I had heard some really interesting things about this book and thought it would be something I would enjoy.
Many thanks to Rachel Wiley, Button Poetry and Netgalley for providing me a copy of the book, in exchange for an honest review.
Fat Girl Finishing School is a collection of poetry on topics such as fatphobia, queer culture and family. I found the collection really interesting and there were some poems that resonated with me a lot.

Funny, not quite crude anthem to one's own self at unapologetically being, the Fat Girl. This collection of poems, provide a humorous in-depth look into the life of a 'fat girl'; a sincere, witty visual through love letters, thoughts, and public admonition as written by the entertaining, sidesplitting and amusing Rachel Wiley

Unfortunately I do not have the ability to download books in this form. Sorry about that. Will make sure to pay attention to the format availability.

Fat Girl Finishing School explores themes such as self-love, gender stereotypes, and fatphobia as well as making commentary on societal norms in blunt and lyrical verses that express Rachel Wiley's thoughts with no apology. An interesting contemporary poetry compilation though I feel some of these compositions would've been better hearing them spoken and not read.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Button Poetry publishers for providing a free ARC

5 stars

I have loved following Rachel Wiley on Button Poetry and was so excited to get a full-length copy of Fat Girl Finishing School. This is an incredible volume filled with poignant pieces dealing with self-love, heartbreak, fatphobia, being biracial, and so much more. As a plus-size woman who deals with many of these issues every day, it touched me very deeply.

She has such a unique voice and I cannot wait to hear more from her in the future!

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

I first became a Rachel Wiley fan when I discovered her video on facebook late one night where she was performing 10 Thoughts on Being Loved by a Skinny Boy. It was as if I wrote the words myself. As a fellow "fat girl" I could relate on so many levels. It was if she were me and I were her in that moment.

I love reading her work, but I love even more hearing it performed...for her words truly are meant to be a performance. She is witty, raw, and unapologetic. Her poems speak to me in a way that leaves me exposed, understood, and emboldened all at the same time. She makes me realize that I don't have to apologize for my body, or change who I am to make things more convenient for other people. That I am deserving of love just as much as anyone else. And for those things alone, her words are important and impactful. I encourage anyone with self-doubt, self-hate, or body image issues to read it and take it to heart. <3 <3 <3

This was my first book of poetry and I really enjoyed the honesty and bluntness from this author.

There was a lot of relatability throughout the book. I particularly enjoyed ‘10 honest thoughts on being loved by a skinny boy’ and ‘Naked atonement’.

I did have initial issues in trying to download and open the file but for anyone having problems just download Adobe Digital Editions.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review