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'Hollie McNish's words always sweep me away' Giovanna Fletcher

Hollie McNish

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Hardback

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English

Fleet
16 October 2025

Poetry by individual poets; Literary studies: poetry & poets; Society & Social Sciences; Sociology: family & relationships; Birth control, contraception, family planning

'Like Pam Ayres on acid' LEMN SISSAY

'Energising, fearless and joyful' SARA PASCOE

'Hollie has such a wonderful voice. Warm, relatable, smart and funny' SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR

'Funny, so smart and refreshingly honest' SARAH MILLICAN

'One of the best poets we have' MATT HAIG

Virgin snow

Virgin mojitos

Virgin mother

Virgin Mary

Virgin: one little six letter word that holds such incredible power. The power to pressure, to judge, to harm, to praise, to profit, to punish. But virginity is also just a concept, a

label that has been pressed upon people for centuries in numerous cultures worldwide.

In this highly anticipated collection of poetry, Hollie McNish unpicks the role this word has played in her own life, as well as others, with her trademark mix of humour, fury and compassion. Whether considering if Mary was a fan of her own nick-name, to rejoicing her annual excitement in ice cream vans, to looking back on how ridiculously she ate creamy mashed potato with her family after apparently 'losing' her own virginity, she examines in her own inimitable way the tracks this concept makes throughout so many minds, and the possibilities of freedom.

At times hilarious, at times harrowing, always hopeful - a poetic love letter against the more nefarious effects of purity culture packed with stacks of honeycomb, hand holds and early morning light.

By: Hollie McNish
Imprint: Fleet
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 218mm, Width: 158mm, Spine: 24mm
Weight: 340g
ISBN: 9780349127446
ISBN 10: 0349127441
Pages: 160
Publication Date: 16 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Hollie McNish is an award-winning poet based between Cambridge and Glasgow. She is the author of the Sunday Times bestsellers, Slug and Lobster, the Ted Hughes Award-winning Nobody Told Me and poetry collections Plum, Cherry Pie and Papers. She has also adapted Greek tragedy Antigone, and co-wrote Offside, a play, with fellow poet Sabrina Mahfouz. She loves writing.