Based on the cover, I thought this book would be a collection of comics documenting the ups and downs of motherhood. Is it not exactly this. It is actually an illustrated yet wordy recounting of the author’s journey from fresh, single young woman to harried, overworked, overtired, over-everything mom/wife. It’s cute but way more wordy than I was expecting. This is not a bad thing, but it was a surprising thing. Clearly I did not read the description of this book closely enough.

The illustrations are very cute, and what they depict are painfully accurate. I loved the “what I thought it would be” vs “what it really was” comparisons sprinkled out. I think I will make my husband read the parts where she illustrates the dad experience at things vs mom’s.

I highly recommend this for anyone, but it will probably be most meaningful for couples and parents.

(ARC received from NetGalley)

Mary Catherine Starr writes and illustrated such poignant comics about modern motherhood and the mental load that comes with it. She does such a fantastic job of expressing this and giving hope for ways that we can work with our partners to address it.

This was a relatable memoir which I appreciated as sometimes motherhood stories don’t quite show the hard stuff (part of that I’m sure is because everyone has different experiences!). It made me feel validated. I liked the comics and formatting as it made it a quicker read. I think some of it felt like she was really digging into her partner and it left me feeling weird (and don’t get me wrong - some of these experiences with him were relatable to my life!!) but just felt uncomfortable. Overall the book was pretty good!

Top notch. I’d give this book more stars if it were possible. Mary Catherine portrays an honest view of mothers and primary caretakers in our society. It’s raw, and real. Sometimes absolutely hilarious. This book is perfect for your new mom friend about to lose her ish. I cannot say enough good things. I had a great time and loved reading it.

This was a very relatable book! It was nice to hear from another mother who also suffered from the crazy postpartum anxiety and depression that comes after having a child! I loved how the book was laid out, with both passages and comic portions of the book. I did feel there were a few parts that went very slow and I felt it talked a lot about laundry, almost too long about it. But, overall I really enjoyed this book and loved being able to feel seen and heard by a fellow mom who went through the same struggles I go through!

Motherhood is rough. I have long enjoyed Mary Catherine Starr’s comics on Instagram so when this came up on NetGalley I was thrilled. Starr shows her personal journey to motherhood, the double standards we face in society, and the sheer craziness of it all. Love her voice, the style of art and the relatable content. I would love to gift this to friends on their first pregnancy journey.

I couldn’t get into this graphic memoir. I was expecting a lighter, more humorous take on motherhood, but it felt more serious from the start. While some mothers may find it enjoyable and relatable, it wasn’t for me.

This book is everything you'd hope to be and more. It's about being a woman, wife, mother, and how the self disappears in all of that. I didn't really expect to cry and laugh as much as I did reading this. It felt like all my vulnerable thoughts about those moments which I feel guilty for resentment were talked about without shame, and for that, I love this book.

The first moment of sudden realization of "this person knows how I feel, think, and my experiences" was the comic where the dad couldn't find anything during the first few weeks of baby.

The comics are brilliant. I really liked how it felt like a consistent interview throughout the book. The comics are really what takes this book from good to brilliant. So much more to the story is conveyed through the comic strips, like dirty dishes or the messy bun. It's a reflection of me.

This would be perfect for anyone who wants to be a mom, will be a mom after pregnancy or adoption, is a mom, or knows a mom. Really, it's a fantastic book for anyone to get a good idea of being a person who balances it all while society always has expectations about it.

I felt like this book offered a lot of insight into things in my life that I could look at through a different lens. I really enjoyed it, and liked the illustrations as well.

As a longtime fan of Mary Catherine Starr’s @momlife_comics on Instagram, I couldn’t wait to dive into Mama Needs a Minute!—and it absolutely delivered! This illustrated memoir captures the hilarious chaos of motherhood with Starr’s signature wit and relatability.

From sleepless nights to endless toddler interruptions, Starr perfectly encapsulates the joys, frustrations, and absurdities of mom life. Her comics had me laughing out loud, nodding in solidarity, and occasionally tearing up at how seen I felt. The blend of humor and heartfelt moments strikes a perfect balance, making this a book that feels like a much-needed chat with a mom friend who gets it.

Whether you’re a fan of @momlife_comics or just looking for a lighthearted gift for a mom in your life, Mama Needs a Minute! is a delightful and relatable read that will leave you feeling less alone in the chaos of motherhood. Highly recommend for anyone who’s been covered in sweet potato and wondered if they’ll ever pee alone again!

This was a pretty good essay comic. The art style is...fine. It doesn't need to be special, but it doesn't stand out.

A funny, honest look at motherhood and marriage. Real and raw it talks about what it’s like being the mom and the father not doing as much. It’s sad and the truth. I do feel bad for how much she dogged on him throughout but then I remember that that was exactly how my partner acted and it sucked LOL.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book for an honest review. This is raw and a comical take through comic analogies. I related to the authors experience in motherhood and honestly found a few moments that I could share with my husband and it led to some decent discussions.

@momlife_comics is one of my favorite instagram accounts. I absolutely love this, it would be the perfect gift and a must for moms. Hilarious, accurate, relatable and informative. From dating all the way through the kids and the mental load. (The divorce tree was also (weirdly?) relatable.)

I definitely enjoyed this book and Starr's take on motherhood. Not exactly what I was expecting but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

I like the overall vibe of the book. The comic idea made it faster to read. However it wasn't what I expected. I couldn't relate to it like I hoped I would because I'm a single parent.

As soon as I saw the title, I knew I needed this and it did not disappoint! Most books like this almost make the mom look like she's complaining and awful but I loved this one.

As a mom, I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't. I don't want to minimize the author's experiences, but holy hell, do you like your spouse? So much of this book felt like it was just a hit against her husband; he's sleeping, how dare he, he's not cleaning as I expected, I'm laboring and he's not, how unfair, ect. I felt anxious just reading this, like take a breath! I don't know, maybe this is a good read for some people, but definitely not for me.

This book, like the author’s comics, made me feel less alone in my parenthood journey. I appreciate her take on motherhood and the struggles it contains.

Very eye opening for not only the joys of motherhood but it fully encapsulates struggles of everyday life in general. I’m honestly not the biggest fan of the format, it got a little wordy for me considering that it is a graphic novel. Overall though, a great book.