DARBY, LOVE...:

by Darby Hudson

“Darby, love...” is a magical collection — equal parts wonder, chaos, and aching humanity. It’s a conversation between the living and the dead, mum and son, steeped in love, loss, and the quiet beauty of life's messiness. Born from a series of viral Instagram posts about Darby's mum that captivated millions.

Darby Hudson is a poet and writer whose work has previously appeared in Best Australian Poems (Black Inc. Books) in 2012 and 2013.

Genres: Nonfiction

90 pages, Paperback

Published April 10, 2025

About the author

Writer from Melbourne, Australia.
"Darby, Love..." published by Andrews McMeel.
Previously published in Best Australian Poems.

Instagram: @darby_hudson
Substack: @darbyhudson

Reviews

[Katy Wheatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this after reading some of Darby's posts about his mum on Instagram. This is a collection of conversations and sayings from his mother. It's simple but funny, loving and powerfully affecting.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just so adorable, whimsical, and philosophical. It's a wonderful legacy to Darby's mum by sharing a clearly vivacious personality with strangers in the most unique way.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in less than half an hour, but what a gorgeous little book. There aren’t that many words in it, but the ones in there are more than enough. Please see a few that I loved below -

‘Darby, love, never apologise for something, then fart. It’s not a time to relax.’

‘Darby, love, let’s go open my overdue bill on the beach while watching an incredible sunset and see which emotion wins.’

‘Darby, love, I was out for a walk, and a senior citizen - older than I am - asked me what day it was, and I said Tuesday. And moments later, I realised it was a Monday. So as she walked away, I chuckled to myself, thinking I’d accidentally given us both an extra day to live. I-have-no-idea-what-day-it-is is always my favourite day of the week.’

[Gaby Mejia · Rating 5 out of 5]

How could you not give this book five stars. I could feel the love coming from each page. Beautiful.

[Sam Ravenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cried multiple times especially at the last poem. My favorite books are the ones that I come out of feeling grounded. I wasn’t expecting it, but this cute little poem book did it for me. I’m inspired to talk to strangers and walk in the rain and see beauty and magic in every experience. The world needs more Patricia’s.

[Cathy S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely!

But I wish there were pages and pages more of these quirky, insightful musings. I’d love to have met her for a walk in the park in our house robes to dish about the state of the world and feed the birds together. At least we have these “Alive things” she said to help us realize we aren’t the only divergent thinkers:) I love Darby’s mum!

[Andrea Janov · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was inspiring, amazing, uplifting. I wanted to know Darby's mum, I wanted to be Darby's mum. This collection made me see how magical it must have been to be in her orbit. May we all be lucky enough to find someone as caring, kind, and creative as she was. May we all find ways to see the world as she did.

[Emil Jeppesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small masterpiece about the wonders of life from the point of view of the sweetest mother. A small masterpiece I could read again and again

[Glottie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ouing (hopefully je suis elle dans disons 40 ans)

[Natalie Renick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little spot of glowing light during a dark time.

[MiaReadsMMBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patricia had some absolute pearlers.

What a joy it is to be able to witness these tiny love letters.

[Maddy Neshad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and makes you just feel good. It makes you take a step back and realize life really isn’t that serious. Can’t recommend this enough.

[Darby Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started and finished this today after seeing a promo video from the author on facebook and being immediately interested because we share the same name. A few pages in, I wasn’t sure this book was for me but I am so glad I kept going. I feel so lucky to have had the immersive, magical experience of feeling it was speaking directly to me. I was brought to tears twice:

“DARBY, LOVE, I’M LATE BECAUSE I LOST MY CAR KEYS. BUT I WASN’T EVEN FRUSTRATED. IN FACT, I WAS THRILLED! FOR A MOMENT, THERE WAS NO LOGICAL EXPLANATION. IT WAS THE DIVINE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING CAR KEYS, AND THE WORLD IS LACKING IN SMALL MYSTERIES. BUT THEN I FOUND THEM IN MY CAR DOOR, AND IT WAS SADLY BACK TO REALITY AND TURNING UP LATE”

and

“DARBY, LOVE, BECAUSE WE DIE AND JUST VANISH, TECHNICALLY ALL OUR FRIENDS ARE IMAGINARY FRIENDS. BUT THAT DOESN’T MAKE THEM LESS REAL. IT MEANS WE’RE ALL MADE OF MAGIC”


I found this book to be relatable, cute, and beautifully sad. It left me with a lot of things to think about and ways to express things I’ve been thinking about. I will certainly share some of these quips with my own son as he grows. Thank you to the author for sharing your mother with us, may you continue to pass through the atmosphere of her lingering smiles.

Love, Darby

[Brad B · Rating 5 out of 5]

"DARBY, LOVE, ONE DAY ALL THAT WILL REMAIN OF YOU WILL BE THE ATMOSPHERE OF A LINGERING SMILE YOU LEFT IN THE STREET FROM A MOMENT OF UNEXPLAINED HAPPINESS. A HAPPINESS THAT ARRIVED WITHOUT A PLAN, A BEAUTIFUL GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM. AND A LIFETIME FROM NOW, SOMEONE'S GOING TO STROLL THROUGH THE SAME SPACE WHERE YOU PLANTED THAT SMILE AND FEEL GOOD FOR SEEMINGLY NO REASON AT ALL."

Lit something up in me. Utterly magical.

"EVERY PERSON IS AN INCREDIBLE WORLD IN A VAST GALAXY. WHEN I TALK TO SOMEONE, I'M ON THEIR PLANET, AND THEY'RE ON MINE."

[Red · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is poetry. It captures the heart, mind and soul of a person I don’t know, but by the end of it, through these words, I feel like I know her.
I feel really nostalgic and sentimental reading this book, because there’s so much wisdom inside it. It’s gorgeous and really heartfelt.
An excellent read.

[Rhys Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book. You will smile as you read one or several of the lovely things Darby's mum said. She sounds like someone you'd love to have met, such a character. I think this is a perfect book to gift to anyone who needs a pick-me-up, a smile, or just a reminder that it's the little things that make life magical.

[joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Darby, love, an adult will place a flower next to a dying bee to commemorate it. But a child will place a flower next to a dying bee to give it the will to live.”

I miss being a child. Most importantly, I miss the way I thought as a child. Sometimes I wonder if I lost that certain edge I had in my soul; the recklessness and the freedom. Damn…

[Khuloud Surour · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of deeply integrated expression of a beautiful human being who understood life as it is, as it was and made a irreplaceble fingerprint to this world. Its funny, random, sentimental and spiritual. I love it.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of love, this gem is something I’ve kept for morning coffee. I’ve read it several times through. Even though I always think I’ll just take in a couple of pages I can’t stop once I crack open the cover.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant wisdom from Darby's Mum Patricia.
I loved every single word.

[Martina Huijsmans · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have to read it to feel it. ❤️

[Fofi Meehan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I loved this book- so full of love and wonder and whimsy - the perfect antidote for the troubled times we live in - as for me I’m feeling a little leafy so I’m off to read a tree ❤️

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally delightful and thought provoking. Quick but deep read. Darby, your mom was/is a treasure.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such whimsy and wisdom in one short book. It was delightful reading Darby’s mom’s musings on life as she had such a wonderfully unique outlook and way of interpreting things.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful 😩

[imks]

A sweet declaration to his mom. A short read that put a smile on my face.

[Jennifer Fackenthall · Rating 5 out of 5]

CHARMING!

[Andrea Bogojević Nikodijević · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨