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

First off - I too, had problems opening the file but a quick google search told me that all I needed to do in order to open this file is download Adobe Digital Editions, so if you're having problems, give that a go.

Now on to this lovely collection. Wiley's style is quick-witted, to the bone honest, evocative and memorable. There were many passages in her poems that I've highlighted to go back to because they struck a chord in me, from:

"No, I have earned each one of my sins and I will keep them"

to "You are deserving of war cries and soft love both,/ of gentle hands and unbracing", Wiley's poetry worms its way into your heart.

Her series of love letters to her body is very moving, "The Fat Circus Lady Eulogizes Mary the Elephant" made me cry with how vivid the images were, full of anger, anguish, desolation and promise to do better. The first haiku of "The Unbearable Likeness of Being on OkCupid" made me chortle with laughter.

What Wiley gives us here, is a love letter to the sidelines, to the ones who are on the edges, treated with scorn and shameful desire. She's not afraid to talk about bodies in all their glorious grossness - like the poem where she talks about vaginal yeast infections. This collection is unexpected, in the best of ways.

While I did not enjoy this one as much as Nothing is Okay, I had been looking forward to reading this for awhile and appreciated Rachel’s ability to write about her feelings about society’s expectations of women without apology.

Fat Girl Finishing School is a dynamic book of poetry that has themes of body positivity, self acceptance, and insightful social justice and feminist commentary woven throughout. My favorite poems were Americana, Ode to Tracy Turnblad, Hoarder, The Circus Lady Eulogizes Mary the Elephant, and Blood Tongue. Rachel Wiley is a gifted poet and I highly recommend this book.

Advanced reader's copy provided courtesy of #NetGalley for an honest review.

This book was beautiful and so emotionally resonant. Would recommend to anyone who's looking for a poetry collection that leaves you thinking about it for hours afterward.

As with the other reviewers unfortunately the download does not open. It is a real shame!
The cover, concept and overall vibe I got from was interesting and alluring.