I got this book from NetGalley as an audio and I'm really glad.

The audio is read by the author, and I feel these poems are meant to be read, screamed, shouted. These are powerfully feminist poems rooted in empowering the disenfranchised.

The poetry covers a variety of topics, from body positivity to rape culture. Some talk about the wage gap, asserting yourself, relationships, and the love between daughters and parents. Aija Mayrock's definition of feminism is inclusive, discussing issues that would be beneficial to all women, including trans women, and also beneficial to men.

Mayrock has a beautiful lyrical voice that really took this experience as an audiobook in particular up to the next level. I couldn't believe this author was so young! They speak with an older soul, and years of life experience to feed their poetry.

I definitely recommend reading or listening to this book! I'm hoping to get a copy for my classroom.

This poetry book is so beautiful. And it really speaks to my soul. The words are beautiful and not hard to understand but are also deep. And this book talks about feminism in the very next level. It teaches equality towards male and female. And this book didn't just tackles "women" but also black women and trans-women. I didn't expected that I will love this one. This is the first ever poetry book that gives me chills and instantly became my fave. Definitely recommend this to everyone, not just for women but also for men.

This is the first time I have listened to a poetry collection in audiobook format. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to hear the poet narrating her own poems, as they came across in the way she intended. She is an excellent narrator and has lovely rhythm to her voice.

My only critique is that I enjoyed her softer tones more than the impassioned tones. When she was speaking faster and more "motivational speaker" I found it difficult to engage with the detail of the poetry and felt a tiny bit like I was being preached to. But I am splitting hairs with that comment, as the impassioned aspect is likely to appeal to many as a rally call.

The focus on what it is to be a girl / woman really resonated with me and she was very candid in her use of language. She addresses the sexualisation of women and our role in society well. I am keen to read the poems so that I can take more time to ponder over them and fully digest them.

As my library is in an all girls' school I feel this would be a solid addition to my collection.

Thanks to the publishers, author and netgalley for this ARC.

Dear girl is a collection of poetry exploring girlhood and womanhood. I enjoyed the feminist undertone across these poems.
My favorite was the stand up poem where she articulates the need for feminists to support black and brown women, and LGBTQIA+ women and non-bindary folx.
Overall, these poems were lovely, but left me craving more. Many of the poems felt very surface level, making it difficult for me to truly connect to it and feel moved by it. That however might just be a person preference, as I connect better to deeper more vulnerable works of poetry.
One aspect of the audiobook I did not enjoy was the music, especially while she was reading the poems. Some of the music didn't feel in sync and removed me from feeling the poems as strongly as I would have liked.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this poetry collection. The words are so beautiful and important, and the the passion behind the narration was so empowering.

I loved to hear the emphasis and tone to the poems, as read by the poet. This is something I feel is hard to appreciate when reading the words on a page.

The soft background music goes so well with the poems and at first I thought I wouldn’t like the noise behind the voice, but I ended up loving it.

I would recommend this audiobook to everyone. I can definitely see myself purchasing a physical copy of the book, and listening to the audiobook again in the future.

"I am not an object. I have a voice, something to say."

Listening to this poetry collection was an absolutely wonderful experience that made me feel empowered and motivated. It was so beautiful to listen to and I could honestly spend months just quoting line after line from these poems because they are all so gorgeously composed.

Between the narration of the poetry itself combined with the soft piano music in the background, I was immediately enraptured into the lyrical beauty of the words being spoken. I would, and most likely will listen to this audiobook more times than one because it is just that astonishing.

The entire thing speaks of truth and is not afraid to go into tough subjects which I appreciate. It is honestly a must-read.

I got chills many times while listening to this collection, there are so many short but strong poems that I know will be on my mind for a good while.

To end off I just have to note this quote, among so many others this was one that stood out to me and related to the most:

"I wrote to find the answers, instead I found myself."

Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel for providing me with an unabridged audiobook arc.

I am not an avid audiobook listener (or audiobook reviewer) due to my spacing out issues. It caught me by surprise when I didn't space out while listening to this audiobook and it is all thanks to the compelling narration of Aija! The reason why I took this audiobook is that I loved this book the last time and I quote saying, "Whatever Aija puts out next, I am getting my hands on it!".

Narrated with perfect eloquence and the right intonation, Aija expresses life into her exceptionally empowering collection, which explores the raw endurance of womanhood-with inclusivity to women of POC and LGBTQ+.
I loved the intro and outro music: it suited the poems and Aija's narration! I have heard people say how sometimes the only narrator who can bring life to a certain work is the author. And it is the case when it comes to this one. There was such power in the voice of Aija that brought the best out of her poetry!
My favourite part of her narration was when she read the sarcastic lines that point of hypocrisy and blatant truth of the society we lived in. They had me chuckling!

I have no idea if I sound justifying in this audiobook review but you know you definitely have to try it when I, who:
i. constantly space out
ii. has only ever made it to the end of one audiobook: Dear Girls by Ali Wong
recommends it because
i. not once did I space out and was, in fact, transfixed paying it my attention WHILE I was writing back to emails
ii. made it to the end and the first thought was: THAT WAS FORKIN' AMAZING!

I feel like this poetry collection was actually extremely powerful! It was geared towards women so that we could feel empowered and confident within ourselves no matter the situation you’ve been in! I listened to the audiobook and at first it took away from it because of the double voice but, I got used to it! I definitely recommend it to anyone who would like to read or listen to it!