Just a Busy Season: Essays on Motherhood, an Unexpected Comedy

by Taylor Wolfe

Comedian and author of Birdie & Harlow @thedailytay shares an honest and hilarious essay collection on parenting young children, navigating social anxiety, and being a millennial woman.

"It's just a busy season," we say to ourselves after a chaotic morning (that we've had every day for the past three years). It turns out that season is actually just life, and here Taylor Wolfe explores the funny and dark side of all a busy life can entail. We've all found ourselves at a highway rest stop allowing our child to pee directly into our hands because she's scared of the toilet, right? Right? In her trademark voice—hilarious, poignant, and real—she dishes about everything from motherhood to the roots of anxiety (childhood and tornados, obviously), to the highs and lows of getting through whatever season we find ourselves in.

Just a Busy Season dispenses a necessary dose of hope and relatability as Taylor candidly reflects on how we cope, or don’t, with the stress and unrealistic expectations of being a mom, daughter, woman, and person in the world without losing ourselves—or our sense of humor.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Parenting, Essays, Memoir

Audible Audio

Published April 28, 2026

Reviews

[Caley Braun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book mirrored my own postpartum brain in an almost creepy way. I love Taylor’s honesty and humor and relatability. This book felt like a warm hug from your best friend.

[whatjordanreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just A Busy Season
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
📚 Memior
🎶 Who You Share It With - Layup

Synopsis:
Comedian and author @thedailytay shares a collection of essays that humorously explores the challenges of motherhood, social anxiety, and the experiences of being a millennial woman.

Book Review:
There is only one person that I will ever not be secretly annoyed and covertly roll my eyes at when they tell me “enjoy it while you can”, “just you wait”, or “time slow down” when talking about having kids. And that person it turns out is Taylor Wolfe.

Taylor has this unique ability to take every day parenting experiences and make them relatable, hilarious, and introspective all at the same time. It perfectly captures the vulnerability of motherhood, the guilt of not feeling like you’re doing enough, and also the unexpected ways that’s joy creeps in when you least expect it.

Sometimes you just need to hear someone else’s experiences to help you put your own into perspective. And what better way that to read a book that will have you laughing out loud and crying all in the same paragraph. If that doesn’t describe motherhood, I don’t know what will. I’ve also never quite felt so seen as to when she describes her social anxiety. You mean to tell me I’m not the only one that when they spots someone they know in the grocery store, they turn and hide before the other person to see them?!

I absolutely loved her first book, Birdie and Harlow. I think that one is my most gifted book. This one I have a feeling will be giving it a run for its money.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A relatable memoir about the exhaustion of motherhood told in a humorous way that is sure to hit for fans of books like Fair Play, Honest Motherhood or When good moms feel bad. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

[readwithmichele · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK: 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊 𝙱𝚞𝚜𝚢 𝚂𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗: Essays on Motherhood, an Unexpected Comedy
AUTHOR: @thedailytay
PUB DATE: April 14, 2026 by @harperonebooks
PAGES: 240 pages
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GENRE: Autobiographical Essay Collection/Memoir

🙏🏼THANK YOU to @harperone for gifting me a hard copy and digital copy of this book! Taylor is a favorite of mine, and after reading her book from 2 years ago, I jumped at the chance to read this new one! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

📖 QUICK SYNOPSIS: 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊 𝙱𝚞𝚜𝚢 𝚂𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 follows a Taylor Wolfe trying to keep her life from unraveling during what’s supposed to be just a hectic stretch of time. Between complicated relationships & old baggage creeping in, “busy” starts to feel like an understatement. As the chaos builds, she’s forced to confront what she’s been avoiding & what actually matters. It’s a relatable, slightly messy look at how life rarely slows down when you need it to.

✍️QUICK & SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: If you read Taylor Wolfe’s last book or follow her on social media, you already know how funny & entertaining she is. I loved her last book, 𝙱𝚒𝚛𝚍𝚒𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚘𝚎, and this one just reinforces why I wanted to get my hands on this new one. Her mix of humor & those slightly awkward, very human moments make everything feel so relatable & honest. It’s the kind of writing that feels effortless but hits in all the right ways. Honestly, I’m fully on board. I’ll read anything she puts out!

[Briana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every page of this book so much. Taylor is my age, her kids are the same ages as my kids, she was a fur mama first who lost her fur baby around the same time that I lost my fur baby - I just resonate with her books so much and was even sending excerpts to my husband. (We have 8 thermometers that we think don’t work, too - give me a good old fashioned mercury thermometer, haha!) Every doubt, fear, criticism, and anxiety that I have felt in motherhood is expressed here with a comedic twist. This book is like a wink and a hug from one millennial fur-mama-turned-human-mama to another. I am still talking about my beloved dead dog too, Taylor.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does such a great job of capturing the dichotomies of motherhood in a hilarious and relatable way. I was laughing out loud through so much of this, because someone else talking about the ridiculous things their toddler does is both healing and hysterical. It felt like Taylor was in my head throughout most of the book (for good and for bad, ha). If you’re a mom, you’ll appreciate this one.

Audio was 10/10.

5 ⭐️
Author narration

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book almost as much as her first. Had to stifle many belly laughs while up in the middle of night feeding my newborn. The whole book makes you feel a connection and validation of the challenging experience of anxiety during pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood while mixing her humor in

[Noelani · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Taylor Sandvick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilariously relatable. Always enjoy Taylor’s expression of humor in motherhood and life!

[Brenna Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a relatable (and funny) memoir of marriage and parenting in those early years. Very much appreciated the “realness” of it all!

[Taylor Jadack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good read! I found myself laughing out loud and relating to so many moments. Highly recommend to all the moms out there!

[Megan Brink · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest and hilarious book about the amazing and chaotic journey of motherhood and all the complicated feelings that come with it. I love the author’s writing style and it’s rare a book is “laugh out loud” funny for me. Recommending for all my mom friends!

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

@thedailytay is one of my all time favorite follows on Instagram - she is so genuinely herself and talks through her thoughts in a way that is so similar to the way I think, and worry, and even speak. I love the way she shows up (especially in her stories) with self awareness, empathy, and so so so much humor. She is so funny!

And now onto her book - this is her second book (Birdie and Harlow is her first and also 5 stars!) and it is so well written. (Quick aside --- if you're an audiobook girlie, you absolutely need to listen to her narration. She is so so so good!!! Honestly - she should look into doing this for more than just her own books. She is an excellent narrator!) The essays interspersed with poems in somewhat of an arbitrary order - truly just works!

While this is not necessarily the book format I'm drawn to or typically read, it really does work well for this book. It took me a minute to get my bearings, but once I did, I actually appreciated it. It kind of felt like truly being in her brain with her. A bit of stream of consciousness with so much heartfelt raw truth just flying off the pages.

She had one poem in there - I think it would have been called Just You Wait and it made me so emotional. It was just beautiful and a total reminder that we all need to quit it with the shitty "oh you think two is hard? Just you wait -- three is even more fucked!" Like how is that helpful and WHY shit on someone's hard moment or "busy season" just because you "know" what's ahead because you are further down the path? And how is this the actual norm? I suppose it has to be human nature - but ew. Can we all be more mindful and quit it?! The poem Taylor writes as it relates to this is so tender and just beautiful. It is so powerful to have someone point out that there are some really really good things ahead!

As a mom (who is writing this review on Mother's Day!) of kids older than Taylor's girls - I want to tell her - if she so happened to read this review, that there is even more fun and amazement in store for you as your sweet girls get older. Just you wait - you will continue to watch in awe as you see them become real life humans that don't need you to wipe their asses (maybe you'll still need to get skid mark stains out of their undies - but hey, no ass wiping for the win, eh???!!) You will see them struggle and find their way - and make it to the other side of the struggle better for it - you will all of the sudden have kids that are somehow taller than you and that you will look up to both literally and figuratively. Just you wait - your girls are going to somehow become funnier than you and you will be passing on your wigs and fake cigs for them to make up their own characters. Just you wait - there is so much God damn goodness headed your way.

If you are reading this review as a reader, trying to decide if this is a book you should read - here are my thoughts: If you are a mom, read it. Right now actually. Go buy the audio and read it. If you're not a mom and you like dogs - read this book. Right now. Go get the audio. If you're not into dogs and don't want to read about Mom stuff - you should buy the book to support this lovely author and maybe just skip reading it? 🤷‍♀️

And if you are Taylor reading this review -- Thank you for writing this book while in a wildly busy season and adding so much thoughtful discussion to the experience of Motherhood. I am such a fan - but definitely not in a creepy way. Like in a one-sided running Instagram DM chain cheering you on hoping one day you will see one of my DMs but not think oh shit, this chick is nuts that for five years she's been DMing into this void that I have either never seen or have seen everytime and ignored bc she seems like a weirdo. I really hope that's not the case. Haha! I am like so normal. And chill. And funny. And clearly a weirdo.

Lastly - if you are reading this review and you are Taylor's mom, Sandy - Hi!! You raised such an amazing human. Will you tell Tay to check her DMs from @Whitneystreamlined or @urbradymama (both me!) and tell her how sweet and normal I am? Def not a creep and truly just cheering her on. Every "woke liberal" story, every real mom moment, every almond stick wood scratch step of the way. Lol!!! Thanks!

I lied - that last paragraph was not lastly. But this is.... If you are reading this review and you know me in real life - can you believe what a weirdo CREEP I'm being in this review? What is happening? I am apparently a fan girl who fan girls too close to the sun.

The end.

[Sarah Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to the author and HarperOne for a gifted finished copy of this book!

I have followed Taylor Wolfe on Instagram (@thedailytay) for years and find her to be relatable and funny and was so excited for a chance to read her sophomore book. I have to tell you, as a fellow anxious mom, so much of this resonated with me.

I especially loved the chapter on breastfeeding that honestly had me crying so hard I was tearing up: "I switched her to my other boob, then tried the football method, the dangle, the bangle, side step, hopscotch, kick the can, ghost in the graveyard. Nothing was working! My boobs grew more furious and fierier as I kept them waiting, my power boob (the left one) began foaming at the mouth in anticipation" (36). The whiplash of new motherhood is so keenly felt in her vivid and entertaining descriptions. The author has a knack of making experiences that make her very uncomfortable or stressed and turning them into very humorous anecdotes that we can all relate to. And later on, the chapters about her late dog Vinny made me cry!

I do think if you suffer from anxiety or you're a mom, this book would be particularly appealing. But I also think it would be ideal for a reader who isn't a mother or who isn't anxious, because the author does such a great job of putting us in that headspace and allowing us to see what it feels like to walk in her shoes.

This is a funny, fast read. It is technically non-fiction, but it reads like a comedy show transcript with nuggets of real wisdom threaded throughout. I liked getting to know the author a bit more through this book, especially seeing how fiercely she loves her children.

[Lorren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I craved books like this when I was in the thick of mothering small children, and even though I’m now in a different season—although certainly still a busy one—I found Wolfe’s words about the dizzying feelings of overwhelm and adoration competing in an often hormone-addled state to be totally relatable.

Taylor Wolfe has an online presence—I picked up this book because I think her humor skits are funny—and it’s always interesting to learn more about the person behind the online persona. Online, she’s funny and sharp and gives every indication of confidence; in these pages, she writes of at times debilitating anxiety and introversion, though keeping the same humorous, self-deprecating tone I’m used to in her online content. I missed her first book, but I think I’ll give it a listen after this one—I enjoy her perspectives and certainly feel less alone in some of my own experiences, especially early postpartum days wrestling with mental health. This is a book that will make readers laugh, but it’s also real and vulnerable—exactly what new mothers need.

I received a copy of JUST A BUSY SEASON from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Brittany Strehlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taylor! OMG!

Just a Busy Season is full of SO MUCH emotion it's hard to find the right words to describe just how much I loved and understood it. It felt like she put all the words inside my head on paper and into a book...but she's obviously way funnier and wittier than I am. As a mom of two toddlers (also a 1 and 3 year old like the girls were when she was writing this), every story, every anxiety, and every other feeling was just so incredibly relatable. I laughed, I went "awwww", I though "heck yeah mama", and during the Arby's story I openly sobbed like a baby.

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us all Taylor. Your words matter to all of us out here fighting the toddler motherhood fight daily. We all know it is going to go fast, we just can't fathom how fast until it's gone. Now I'm off to hold my babies hands until they no longer want to hold mine.

Huge thank you to Taylor herself for answering my DM, the Netgalley team and HarperAudio/HarperOne for the chance to listen to the audiobook prior to publication.

[Penelope Bloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a funny, insightful book that captures the absurdity, humor, and tenderness of girlhood, womanhood, and motherhood. This should probably be mandatory reading for anyone who knows anyone who is or may someday become a mother. ESPECIALLY people who love to give out unsolicitied and judgmental and fundamentally unhelpful advice. This book is for you to read with an open mind and to think about your life choices. And also for anyone who is or may someday be a mother. I’m a pretty self aware person, but I felt quite seen in this book, especially in the extensive, neurotic inner monologue wracked with mom guilt and all of the things. I also am quite certain that I will inadvertently do something at some point to at least one of my children that will also get me uninvited from one of their birthdays.

[Sara (Sjthroughthelookingglass) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up to start reading after having to have my eye taped shut (because, life) thinking I would just rest and read. Turns out reading with one eye is harder than you think. A few days later I picked up a cup again with both eyes wide open both figuratively and literally.

This book is a relatable and delightful memoir from a mom going through the busy season of life, balancing anxiety, kids and the day to day but with a comedic twist.

Could I see this as a delightful coming of age (the age being motherhood) movie in the vein of Bridget Jones? Yes! Yes, I could.

I physically read this book. I will probably reread it by listening to the audiobook as it is read by the author and I want to hear her inflection (yey!) Sometimes listening is easier than finding the time to sit and focus on physically reading.

[Kaity · Rating 3 out of 5]

I followed Taylor's blog in it's early days and always enjoyed her humor. Her writing voice is honest and witty. She has a way of making you feel like you've been longtime friends. I have to be honest- I liked this book, but I didn't love it. As an anxious person, I read to escape the racing thoughts and I struggled to voluntarily step into another person's anxious mind- it felt like it should come with a trigger warning. In her online presence, I feel like she does a good job of balancing the harder things with infusions of her trademark goofiness and snark. But this book felt heavy on the postpartum anxiety and light on the comedy.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Emily | bookwhispererem · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Just A Busy Season” was chicken soup for this recently-postpartum mom’s soul! Through a collection of essays on all things motherhood (and life generally), Taylor Wolfe hilariously and authentically immerses the reader into her chaotically beautiful journey into and during motherhood. Discussing everything from pregnancy to dogs to marriage, by the end of the book, the reader will feel as if they’re friends with Wolfe due to her vulnerability and relatability. She’ll have you laughing out loud, vigorously nodding your head in agreement, and feeling all the feels right along with her. This is a must read for all the moms out there!

Thank you to Taylor Wolfe, HarperOne, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn’t really heard of Taylor Wolfe before picking up Winnie and Harlow on a lark a few years ago and instantly connected with her writing style. Now she is back with Just A Busy Season, an almost spiritual sequel to her initial tales of motherhood and dog ownership. Taylor is as funny and engaging on the page as she is online, even when tackling topics like not immediately connecting with a dog or making big life decisions in the latter half of pregnancy. Highly recommended for anyone who likes Taylor’s online presence.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Such a funny quick read from Taylor Wolfe. This was my first encounter with her work and now I want to go back for more. Loved her honest perspectives tied in with humorous commentary. I honestly could not stop laughing about how the pet psychic influenced her life and she is now committed to this wild and crazy dog, especially the moments during pregnancy and turkey poop. Candid feedback on her life as a mom, dog mom and a move to a new state.

[Beth Hunsberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book.

As a follower and fan of Taylor on Instagram, I have always enjoyed her stories which are interspersed with a good deal of humor and a strong dose of reality. This collection of essays contains a variety of topics that readers can relate to - from social anxiety to new motherhood to finding success to growing up with tornado warnings in the Midwest. These stories are a good mix of humor and real, raw emotions.

[Cecelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I selected this randomly on Netgalley because it's about motherhood. I was not familiar with the author prior to getting an ARC of this book. There are some funny parts. I did laugh out loud. But, there's nothing particularly memorable or special about it. She mentions her online store several times, and it felt like she was definitely trying to push her merch. The book is also very disjoined. The essays are all completely random, and they don't follow a consistent timeline.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

You 100 percent don't need to be a mother to enjoy the heck out of this essay collection. It's hilarious, sharp, and refreshingly real. While Taylor might live with many fears and a lot of anxiety, she's definitely not afraid to give you her honest thoughts and takes on parenting - and much more. I imagine a lot of readers will take a deep "thank god it's not just me" breath, while also laughing at Taylor's antics and commentary. This was a fun and entertaining read, that will probably be especially enjoyable for parents of young kids.

[Melanie Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't think of a better book to give to all of the friends you call "Mama" (or like, just their regular names), than this one!

Taylor's essays are hilarious (I laughed out loud over and over again), and heartfelt and emotional (I went from laughing, to full-on crying within a span of two pages and I am not exaggerating).

"Just a Busy Season" is so relatable, so genuinely funny, and sweet. I loved it!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt so sad, and not in the extremely heart warming way that Birdie and Harlow was sad. The entire book was Taylor sharing about postpartum depression and anxiety, grief about Harlow, marriage struggles, doubt and frustration about adopting Vinny (which absolutely did not age well) and trying to throw a layer of humor over the whole thing. Relatable, sure, but was it too soon to write this book - while still in the midst of everything?

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a beautiful tribute to a journey through motherhood with young children. It does feel a little ‘jumpy’ at times (stream of consciousness style, rather than chronological) but it just kinda works. It made me laugh and cry at times - and as someone with a toddler myself (and currently pregnant) definitely served to remind me to enjoy every moment we have. Now if only I could convince my husband to move somewhere like the PNW! 😅

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I am a big fan of the author’s work on IG, though I haven’t read her first book. This was laugh out loud funny while still containing some truly beautiful and heart-wrenching writing - a rarity! I will reread at some point in the future.

[Kacie McMackin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taylor is funny, vulnerable, and weaves a tale of motherhood that is so relatable in its hilarity, but also in its anxieties and strains - and underneath all of, the story of a “mistake” that turns out to be the biggest blessing which is a universal experience as a human. I feel less alone after reading this wonderful book.