Mama Needs a Minute is a part comic, part memoir look at motherhood. I wasn't sure what to expect from that genre mix, but it might have been a little more text-dense than I was anticipating. Even so, the content was highly relatable for a lot of people in the throws of mothering tiny humans.

From the cover (I've had conversations with other moms about this exact thing), to the discussion on how household obligations unintentionally change, to the weight of the mental load, there is so much that people may see in their own lives. This is not to say that parenting is terrible but to say that it's not always easy. I think a lot of people in this phase of life would agree.

Thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

I thought this was going to be more "graphic novel" style. In reality, it's more of a memoir, with a lot of comics thrown in - most of them from the various points in her story that she was highlighting in a given chapter. This was not a bad thing, mind you - just a warning that there was more text in this one than I anticipated.

The author highlights the disparities in moms and dads being the kids' "preferred parent," and all the extra work that comes with that status. She points out that, obviously, her experiences are just her own... but also, that when she shares a comic about them online, she receives a lot of confirmation that other women feel the same way.

The cover art and title might suggest a certain lightheartedness, which does show in some of the comics... but by and large, I felt like this one was less goofy/fun than expected. It's a story we've read elsewhere - that women do so much more of the "emotional labor" of the household - but it's at least told here in a way that's visually appealing.

I feel like this would be a fine read for someone who's wading into this topic, but doesn't yet want to be hit over the head with a ton of statistics.

I NEEDED this book after I had my son in 2021. Knowing other moms will have someone telling them what they're dealing with is normal makes my heart happy. The author approaches the realities of mom life with humor, but never diminishes the challenges we face every day. Highly recommended for all libraries, and parents.

I felt so seen and understood reading this one! A great book for new moms or moms who've been doing it for awhile - just makes you feel validated in your big feelings.

This was soooo long, too long. And, I would agree with other reviewers that she really makes her husband seem worthless.

Book 094 of 350 ~ 2025

🌟🌟🌟💫

I am not a mother. Having read this, I can't help but feel glad that I am not one.

Unless the relationship is healthier than this one.

In fact, it reminds me of a couple of friends of mine.

if I was able to have kids, I reckon it would be a way more balanced relationship, having seen how Jerrid is with me being so sick all the time.

A relationship like this author's made me fear getting married in the first place.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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This book would be great for any mom or soon-to-be mom. It follows a mother as she navigates everyday life—balancing the responsibilities of running a household and managing her marriage. Told in a relatable comic style, it captures moments that many moms will see themselves in. The artwork beautifully supports the tone of the story and really brings the atmosphere to life.

Mama Needs a Minute! by Mary Catherine Starr is a refreshingly honest and delightfully humorous comic memoir that perfectly captures the chaos, exhaustion, and hilarity of modern motherhood. With sharp wit and relatable illustrations, Starr peels back the curtain on the daily struggles and small victories of parenting young children. Her candid storytelling—often told in quick, punchy comic panels—resonates deeply with moms who often feel unseen or overwhelmed. Whether she’s tackling the mental load of motherhood, sleep deprivation, or the emotional rollercoaster of raising tiny humans, Starr’s voice is both comforting and laugh-out-loud funny. A must-read (and gift!) for any mom needing a moment of solidarity and a good chuckle.

As a mom, I can commiserate with much of this book. Being a mom, especially when they are young feels like you are no longer you. Mary Catherine Starr’s book looks at the difficulty mixed with humor and illustrations. Should be required reading for anyone who asks what a mom did all day!

This book was very interesting! I am not a parent, so I couldn't personally relate to it. But I had heard of these things happening in relationships. I liked that the book went back and forth between narrative and comic strips. I also liked how the book addressed the disparities between mothers and fathers with both humor and seriousness. Thank you!!

I breezed through it! Felt totally understood. Knowing these struggles are universal makes motherhood feel more doable. Loved the comics, felt super relatable!

This is different from a lot of books I read, and I think this was a very thoughtful, insightful read. As I am in the part of my life where my partner and I are contemplating children, this brought up a lot of interesting perspectives and situations that you don't realize you're in until, well, you are in them, and even though I found myself saying 'that would never happen to us', so did the author at some points. Getting knowledge from someone who has been through similar struggles and seeing how communication can easily break down and cause resentment on both sides highlights the importance of taking time, making space, and being on a team together and not against one another. As we move towards our next stages in life, I plan to own this book and show it to my partner so that we can avoid falling into the same pitfalls others before us have, and I am grateful that this book came across my dashboard.

Thank you Mary Catherine Starr, Chronicle Books, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Reading this book as a mother is such a relief. It made me feel as i wasn’t alone in these feelings.

This is truly an insightful memoir about family, especially parenting. As the title has suggested, it’s mainly highlighting the mom’s experience. All the ups and downs with no details spared.

Even though I don’t have a a family of my own, the contents of this book still made me reflects on the family dynamics I grew up in. Mary Catherine managed to deliver the topic of parenting struggle in an easy and succinct way, brutal honesty peppered with humor, wrapped with illustrations and also analogies that make perfect sense. Highly recommended for moms, or soon-to-be moms, or anyone who wants to glimpse into life as a mom

So on point, from the cover to the last page. Even if I close the door, 9 times out of 10 there is a child on the other side of it carrying on a conversation with me, sliding pictures under the door, and rattling the handle asking when I'll be done going to the bathroom...In all fairness, my husband does all of the kids' laundry and most of the cooking so the division of labor is a bit better in my household, but it was still very relatable concerning the husband's reactions to daily life, and the emphasis on the mother's mental load!

This was a really honest look into the joy and difficulty of parenting as well as dealing with unbalanced responsibilities when it comes to parenting between partners. I really appreciated how honest the book was, as well as acknowledging that there are no easy answers to fixing this problem. I appreciated that it shared both the author and her husband's perspective.

I enjoyed the unfiltered view of what motherhood and co-parenting can be like. I wasn't familiar with the author before so this was a fun and unexpected treat to read. I do think it was a bit wordy, even some of the comics but not enough to stop me from reading the whole thing. I commend the brave author for putting herself and her family out there for all to judge. Her story also made me realize how lucky I am to have a husband that is truly a partner because not everyone is as lucky.

I've been a mom life comics fan for some time, and have laughed and cried and commiserated with Mary Catherine Starr's depictions of motherhood. I was delighted when she announced she was writing a book, and extra excited to get an advance copy of the book.

Listen, though many comics were repeats of things I've seen before, the way Starr synthesized all of these comics with the story of her relationship and motherhood was a beautiful work of art. I appreciate her honesty and I identify so deeply with her experience of marriage and motherhood.

Thank you Mary Catherine Starr for this lovely work. I enjoyed it so very much

A hilarious look at what motherhood is but also informative about what co-parenting could look like with sharing parental responsibilities. Starr uses her own adventures and learning to showcase a successful relationship. The book explores splitting household tasks, sharing the mental load. A valuable look at pregnancy through parenting for parents and parents to be.

I agree with many other readers when I say this was less graphic novel and more novel with pictures.

This author MISSED EVERY OPPORTUNITY to put humorous motherly situations into art. Instead we get a LOT of narrative. I was so bummed about that.

The book isn’t necessarily bad, it’s just not at all what I was hoping for or expecting.