For anyone experiencing the contradictory chaos and joy of early parenthood, illustrator Rani Ban offers no-bullshit wisdom and sparks of hope from the postpartum universe. Combining raw honesty and humor with the warmth of classic parenting memoirs, Rani Ban’s debut will reassure any new parent that they are not alone. Designed to be read in stolen moments between feedings and diaper changings, this modern take on early parenthood offers a candid but validating perspective on the highs and lows of postpartum life. With short, hand-lettered essays and poems and Ban’s evocative illustrations, This Is Terrible, This Is Wonderful is an affirming, unfiltered self-purchase or shower gift for new parents in the thick of it. Rani Ban is a writer and artist based in the Hudson Valley, where she owns an art supply store called The Little Art Shop. She shares an old farmhouse with her partner, toddler, and a circus of rescue animals.