Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to review this ARC.

I'm coming at this book from a weird perspective—I'm a white woman who is largely unfamiliar with a lot of the pop culture and celebrities discussed in this book. I can't remember ever seeing the phrase "carefreeblackgirls" online (though to be fair I probably did and just don't remember). That said, I am so glad I read this book. These essays address so many things that are crucial to society as it exist right now. Blay handles topics like stereotypes, representation, "problematic" celebrities, body image, and sexuality, with so much nuance. She balances what is good and bad about ideas, actions, phrases, people, and media, without ever letting anything be oversimplified. I really respect her commitment to seeing the full story, even when it may not be in her best interests.

I learned a lot from this book, and I think Blay's insights are incredibly valuable. This book is a critique, and maybe a memoir, but also a tribute and celebration. 

I do have one extremely small complaint, that I wouldn't mention here if I weren't reviewing an ARC, at it is really just a small phrase said once in the entirety of the book: at one point she says "women-identified people." I find it hard to imagine a scenario in which that phrase is helpful, and cannot be replaced with "people who experience misogyny," "people who are read as women in public," or simply "women." I will allow that there may be a context in which that phrase is helpful, but this was not one of them. It just felt odd and trying too hard. Are there any "women-identified people" who are not women, in the author's mind? I don't believe so, as throughout the rest of the book she discusses transness and transphobia in ways that feel consistent and respectful. But in that case, just say "women," or whatever it is that is really meant by that.