"It's not often that fat women feel such thorough representation of themselves not only in poetry but in any media and not only in the beautiful moments but in the sorrowful ones, ranging throughout life. James does a brilliant job of portraying this and all her themes brilliantly; highly recommended."

-Starred review by Library Journal

"Song of My Softening by Omotara James is a fierce tour-de-force by a debut voice who I'm certain will be around to continue to thrill readers with her language, vulnerability and bravado"

-Joseph O. Legaspi

"[James's] poems explore the experiences of a Black queer woman whose life and body are routinely dismissed and disparaged. But she persists until she can sing in full-throated celebration, "Today we are alive / in summer. Unencumbered." This is an intimate, vulnerable, and ultimately triumphant collection."

-Ron Charles, Washington Post