Does This Volvo Make My Butt Look Big?

by Annabel Monaghan

In a perfect world, mothers would unionize. The next best thing — they’d treat themselves to a break and read this book. Does This Volvo Make My Butt Look Big? is an honest and hilarious peek behind the curtain into the messy, wonderful moments of family life. And not the lightly staged and heavily filtered ones you see on Instagram.

Columnist Annabel Monaghan writes with enough empathy to cut through the hushed gossip of the playground and enough humor to disarm a toddler with a sugar habit. Undoubtedly, her words are the ones you need when you send your oldest child to college. Written with crisp prose that diffuses the illusion of the perfect mom, Annabel will remind you that when we peer over the tall fences that divide families, much of our experiences are shared.

If you’ve ever lied your way through a parent-teacher conference or marveled at the cluelessness of teenagers, this book is for you. If you’ve ever quietly rooted against your own child when he was trying to win a goldfish, you’ll certainly find your truth here.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

199 pages, Hardcover

Published December 6, 2016

About the author

Annabel Monaghan is the New York Times bestselling author of IT'S A LOVE STORY, SUMMER ROMANCE, SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER and NORA GOES OFF SCRIPT. She is also the author of two novels for young adults, A Girl Named Digit and Double Digit.

Reviews

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one under read gem--it's funny and great for anyone who has raised children, and perhaps others as well. Monaghan, best known for newer novels such as Nora Goes Off Script demonstrates how she used humour in nonfiction and essays before she wrote those. However, there isn't one essay involving an Volvo and I'm not sure who came up with that title--the subtitle is "Thoughts for moms and other tired people" but since the title is what made me take a look at the book, it is effective at least some of the time.


The essays aren't in chronological order of her parenting years although, and this really isn't a spoiler since we all know kids grow up, near the end she has one about how she's planning to act when her eldest got to his college application year the one following when she wrote that essay. If he followed through, he's most likely a college/university grad by now because this is from 2016, but other than the fact that cell phones and tablets are far more advanced by now, this book is still quite contemporary.

[C.B. Lyall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny and entertaining view on motherhood through the school years. I would recommend it.

[Susie Schnall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annabel has, to coin a phrase, a way with words. She is able to articulate what we are all feeling. Her insightful observations of the mom life we are inhabiting are spot on and often left me in tears or hysterically laughing out loud (mostly trying to stifle those laughs when I was reading while my husband slept). Her essays are poignant, smart, and beautifully written. I devoured them, marking my favorites to return to. Highly recommend.

[Colleen Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ delightful, relatable essays about parenting, marriage, raising boys, life! Lots of good humor

[Cliona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every story as will any Mom. Annabel
articulates the mundane with charm and humor. Can't wait for more! Always think of her everytime I'm in the CVS parking lot!

[Annissa Joy Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of essays is one of the funniest books that I have ever read!!! Annabel had me laughing and crying within the same page!!! Every mom needs to read this book!!

[Morgan Stoker Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve fallen in love with Annabel Monaghan’s recent romance novels, so I picked this up knowing I already adore her voice—and it didn’t disappoint. This collection of essays is warm, funny, and spot-on in its portrayal of the chaos and beauty of motherhood and everyday life. This book is full of those perfect little observations that make you feel seen. Highly recommend for moms and anyone who appreciates sharp, heartfelt writing.

[Jackleen]

I laughed a lot- I loved her novel "Nora Goes Off Grid", and this collection of essays was a really nice read.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I felt like every essay was about my life! I loved laughing out loud when reading it, chuckling in my car when thinking about it and getting teary at times because of it.

You should read it... and Digit, and Double Digit! Please write a Triple Digit, I'm dying to know what's going on with her.

[Melina Maresca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this collection!. So glad Monaghan pulled together all of her best pieces! She takes topics we are all thinking about, but not necessarily talking about, and dissects them with humor, originality and most important, honesty.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short essays let you grab a quick chapter here and there- which is just about all the time for which new mom life allows. I didn’t want this book to end. But I do want all my friends to read it. Such a hilarious and fresh “mom book” that wasn’t trying too hard.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightfully written collection of essays full of humor and wisdom on motherhood, raising boys and ordinary life. Relatable, warm and cozy, like sitting down for coffee with a dear friend. Sharing with all my girlfriends!

[Anna Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? Annabel Monaghan is my hero. This is a quick, MUST read for every mom out there. I read it in nearly one sitting, but you could easily read an essay at a time, whenever you find a few minutes. Just read it, you won’t be disappointed!

[Kim Nicastri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had so much fun reading this book. Totally relatable. Read passages to my husband that were so spot on in our lives. We had some good laughs.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh so relatable...and hilarious!

[Marcia Wesle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast read that gives a real insight to the struggles we all have in our everyday lives and what we learn from ourselves. Witty and cleverly written.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun light-hearted book to read. Don't miss this one!

[Leah DeCesare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, raw, vulnerable, truthful - I LOVE this book of essays. I laughed out loud.
See more of my review here: http://mailchi.mp/ca8aa5771158/book-l...

[Christine Guthrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

very funny - she gets it

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annabel sums it all up so well! At one point in the book, she suggests making up a packing list for the kids and putting an extra copy in your purse. Put the responsibility on them to pack their stuff and if they don’t, you can pull the list out of your bag to prove it wasn’t your fault that their stuff didn’t get packed. Here are some of my favorite parts:

“Teenagers fool us with their size, vocabulary and swift mastery of new devices…So it’s always shocking to find out that they don’t know how to address an envelope or open a can opener.”

“…My kid got a job…It’s like he’s going to free daycare and coming home with a pocket full of minimum wage.”

“I’m relieved to announce that my midlife crisis has come to an uneventful conclusion…When we finally have a subset of what we set out to achieve, we are shocked to find that what we’ve really been doing is amassing a big pile of responsibilities.”

“Success in parenting business hinges almost entirely on one’s ability to put the details on autopilot.”

“I dream of a world where invitations come with visual aids…”

[Elizabeth • LizziePageReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had a penny for every time I laughed so hard while reading this book that I woke up my dog, I’d have 5 cents — which isn’t a lot of money, but that’s a lot of dog-waking belly laughs.

Y’all this book is hilarious. It’s relatable, especially for moms, charmingly self-deprecating, and refreshingly earnest. Annabel’s humor is exactly the kind that makes me howl — dry and sarcastic and delivered with a deadpan punch you can feel through the page.

The only downside is now I desperately want to be best friends with Annabel but she doesn’t even know who I am. Sigh.

[Lizz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun read for any mom. Annabel Monaghan is such a smart, clever writer and this collection of essays elicits a lot of laughter and nods as she touches on so many real elements of motherhood and adulthood. I’m a big fan of her rom coms. After hearing her speak in person, I found this book (out of print and not at my library) and will definitely share it with others in this life stage who I think will enjoy it.

[Sally Stanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book totally by accident while browsing through favorite authors. I started reading it on Mother’s Day and it was such a treat, better than breakfast in bed!
For me, reading this was like watching a great standup comic joking about motherhood and family dynamics. I loved every chapter.

[Hallie Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love her writing! Each essay was hilarious yet very relatable. She brings humor to the everyday as only she can. A super fun page turner!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annabel’s brilliant perspective and flair for words pop off every page. Recommend this fun read.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny stuff

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoke right to my teenage-mom heart and made me laugh a lot.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun… Honest… Short read… About motherhood, loved it!

[Kaitlin Huntington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the essays! A fun change.
I loved her humor and honesty- much was super relatable and delivered in a engaging way

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hysterical and felt like a giant hug.