Through every word you can feel Tanks emotions. The poems are relatable and at times had me crying and also angry at over how much I related to her and the words she spoke. Listening to the audio is nice because you know you’re not alone going through your problems.

Tarriona (Tank) Bell has never been in love according to others. But in reality she bares her emotions and soul are on display in this work. It read very honest and real. Listening to the audio, narrated by Tank herself I think elevated the experience.

We are treated to both her poems and her "storytime" prose. The work would be relatable to anyone who has ever been in a relationship that burned bright and faded. I think it would be a great read for high school age kids to see the brief snips and high emotion as so many high school relationships came to mind as I listened.

My one complaint is it was too short. I understand it was focused on one point but I wanted the book itself to be more collections on more topics.

4.5 stars

If you are a person experiencing the ups and downs of relationships Vulnerable AF is a great place to get lost, reflect, and cry. The audio version is a special treat because it's read by Tank, who, if you are a fan of her music, like I am, you will LOVE. Highly recommend!

Top 5 Themes:
-Love
-Breakups
-Black love
-Insecurities
-Self Identity

Poetry collections are often so much more enhanced on audio and this one definitely falls into that category. I also have a physical copy of this book, but I'm glad I listened to the audiobook. It was quick and engaging and really packs a punch in such a short book.

Summer 2021 (August);
~ Netgalley Audio Arc

Thank you to Tarriona Ball, Andrews McMeel Audio, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and Netgalley for this free arc for an honest review.

A new writer, and narrator (done as well by the author), to me, this was a leap toward another newness in the poetry options. I very much like the stark honesty in these pieces, between men and women, and women and women. The rawness of the emotions was nice to see, but sometimes came off a little jarring. I definitely like the little story pieces between them, as they made interesting passes between each section. While I wasn't entirely enamored with this one, I am interested in see the forthcoming works of this poet.

I enjoyed this poetry collection. Some poems I connected with more than others but ultimately, I think this style of poetry is accessible and will be universally enjoyed.

For all its vulnerability, it’s not raw. It’s almost overly polished.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it felt risky while she was writing it. I’m sure it felt dramatic for her. But it didn’t feel dramatic for me. It felt all too rote and safe to read.

It was specific without being specific enough. It was broad and generalized without being universal.

Mind you, I might not be the ideal reader for this material. Maybe it would be better suited for someone who has recently loved and lost—especially if it was their first love.

All the poems in <i>Vulnerable AF</i> revolve around the author's past relationship with one man, whose name we are not given. She definitely makes herself vulnerable through this poetry, opening up all of her raw emotions surrounding the relationship. I really enjoyed her poetry, and getting to listen to Ball narrate the audiobook herself was an added bonus. My only complaint was how short the book was! I wanted there to be more. I hope she comes out with more books of her poetry collections in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

The author’s poems are an interesting interpretation of certain situations in her life. Through her metaphors, she tells of her specific vulnerabilities. Her narration of the audiobook is excellent and adds an additional feeling to the poems that might not have otherwise been conveyed.

As a fan of Tank and the Bangas, I loved every second of this audiobook. Tank is definitely a master of words. Every poem was gripping, heart-wrenching and full of emotion. It left me wanting more art from this wonderful being.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Audio for an ARC copy of this book. I loved the audiobook read by the author. I loved her soothing voice and how she exuded emotion with her reading. The poems were honest, relatable, vulnerable. I enjoyed the way each poem felt connected and independent of the others. I thought this was a really great collection of poems, ones I would listen to or read over and over.

Another poetry book that is just phenomenal. This spoken word poetry is just what some women need.

Within this poetry book there is so much sadness and so many other emotions. Hearing Tank tell her stories and speak her mind honestly made me teary eyed at times.

Recommend to anyone who loves poetry

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

I really enjoyed this book, I'm not a huge fan of poetry so I'm always overjoyed when I find a collection I can understand and relate too. I feel as though anyone who has been through a relationship that was maybe a little doomed right from the start will be able to relate to this book. I have quotes from "Swings" & "Survival Guide" written in my journal now.

I recommend this book if you want a quick read that is going to leave you a little emotional.

Vulnerable AF is a relatable poetry collection focused on love, infatuation, and loving yourself. I listened to the audiobook and Tarriona "Tank" Ball reminded me why I love poetry and spoken word. I enjoyed her reading and the music really brought the collection of poems to life. I found myself snapping and cheering "Yes girl!" as I listened.

I definitely could relate to her poems and vulnerability around dating, break-ups, love and infatuation “My Infatuation led me to believe that I was in actual love with someone I barely knew.” Yes girl! I felt that to my core. Her words are powerful, real and leave you to reflect on your own life.

I loved this collection and highly recommend the audiobook. You will be a Tank Time fan after you read this for sure! Thank you to NetGalley for a digital copy in exchange for my honest review. #VulnerableAF

I listened to this ARC. it was a very shirt poetry collection narrated by the author.
I really enjoyed the narration, though, at the beginning, there was some pretty loud music and I couldn't really hear the poems.
All in all, I enjoyed that. it's centered around a breakup and I really like how it all worked together. However, I found it hard to really relate to most poems and some of them didn't really felt like poems at all when listened to.
Still, I'll be on the lookout for more poetry for Tarriona Ball.

this poetry book was very relatable, especially if you've been in a relationship where you value the other person more than they value you. the audiobook was very well narrated. some of the poetry felt a little duplicated or more of the same "rant" but still very well written

I really appreciated the passion and vulnerability Tarriona Ball clearly brought to this poetry collection. I found the last poem in particular to be the most powerful. I do wish the collection was a little longer, and because I listened to the audiobook (which was narrated greatly by the author herself) I felt like I wasn't able to sit and appreciate the words as much as I would have liked. I would still recommend this book to anyone looking for a collection about self-love and toxic relationships, particularly coming from the voice of a black woman. I would definitely be interested to read anything new Ball writes!

Vulnerable AF is a poetry collection by "Tank", Tarriona Ball. I received a pre-release copy of the audiobook from Netgalley.

Unabashedly focused on the heart aches of young love, Ball's poems shine an unflinching light on romance, growing up and making mistakes. Ball's narration is strong and forceful, with a wide range of emotion. It was easy to follow the separate pieces and hearing her speak the words with power and passion made her poetry feel that much more personal. I have not seen the print edition but I can't imagine it can offer the same experience; I feel like Vulnerable AF really needs to be experienced as an audio book.

Some of the pieces feel young and almost naive but that accentuates the vulnerability; she doesn't attempt to present herself as more than she is. Each poem is quite short and I frequently longed for her to spend more time on a subject, to dig deeper. But perhaps even the speed with which we move onto the next thing is a part of the power and relatability of her poetry.

I understand that the author is now fronting a ten-man band with a New Orleans focus. Her vocals are sure to have special power when set to music and I am looking forward to hearing their work.

I have been a huge fan of Tank and the Bangas for years, and always loved the songs where Tarriona would incorporate her slam poetry. Her rhythm was decadent, her choice of words: infallible. So when I saw that Tarriona was releasing a book of her poetry. I was ecstatic, and admittedly, I put her on a high pedestal because I had first hand experience knowing her poetry could translate emotions so effortlessly. In Vulnerable AF, her heart is definitely on the page, but her angst and passion are hidden behind a collection of words that would read as amateur musings to someone unfamiliar with "Tank." I experienced each poem at least three times. Listening to Tarriona read it on the audiobook, reading aloud with Tarriona, and reading it on my own. It's only when it is heard through Ball's voice, do the poems resonate, but unfortunate.y, they do not resonate sufficiently to justify their existence. The pages alone do no justice to the work. The audio gives a sample of Tarriona's talent but still leaves much more being wanted from a person I very well know could deliver it.

I've fallen in love with Tarriona Ball's poetry. The images are powerful, the emotions raw. The poem I kept going back to again and again described her lover in terms of a colour, a poem, a book in such an original way my breath kept catching.

This was an audiobook, and the fact that the author read her own words added to the experience. Like a top-notch open mike event.