**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

Babe in the Woods: or, The Art of Getting Lost by Julie Heffernan was an artsy, stream-of-consciousness feeling memoir about family, loss, and appreciating nature. Sadly, I can't say I enjoyed it after stopping halfway through; it just wasn't the book for me. The color palette was interesting, but the writing was somewhat difficult to read, and it was mostly a sad, depressing memoir that I wasn't expecting from the plot description and I didn't want to be reading about. This book probably should also have trigger warnings included as well. I do appreciate all the hard work and courage that must've gone into making and telling this story though.

This was a preview of the first third of "Babe in the Woods" by Julie Heffernan. That was not clear in advance so it was jarring when it ended. Beautifully illustrated and tender story. I look forward to finishing it. Thanks to Netgalley and Algonquin Books for the preview.

This was an incomplete preview, which wasn't indicated anywhere before download. It was intriguing with really elaborate art. I'd like to know where it's going.

On Goodreads:

4.25/5⭐️

This is probably one of the most beautiful graphic novels I’ve laid my eyes on. Julie has an incredible talent in conveying the story through both words and art.

This follows a woman obviously dealing with post partum. She’s also at an in pass with dealing with a husband who seems oblivious to her and an art career that seems to be stalled.

Looking for escape she takes off with her baby boy to enjoy a hike in the woods to find some type of nurture for herself. Without realizing, and in the middle of sharing stories, memories and art history with her son, she loses track of time and the trail and becomes lost. What just started as a hike becomes a journey to make it through the night.

Each page is filled with incredible detail. (I can only image how it will appear in book format because in digital it was stellar.) So much so that it even becomes overwhelming at times. The sharing of women experience was real and raw and most of the time you see that mostly in poetry. At least in my reading adventures.

Thank you netgalley, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill and Julie Heffernan for the opportunity to read this ARC.

"Babe in the Woods" by Julie Heffernan is a perfect fit for readers who appreciate the visually stunning storytelling of graphic novels with themes of self-discovery, resilience, introspection, growth and the power of art. It is a work of autofiction capturing the vulnerability and confused state of post-partum depression.
The surreal interpretation allows the reader to watch as she cycles through artistic and personal reference points, It is truly compelling work of art, education, and tension.

A mother of an infant goes on a hike through the woods to get away from her personal troubles (marriage problems, death of a parent). What follows is a stream of consciousness style narration that shows the main character’s memories and life experiences, especially during childhood. There’s topics of religion, sexual experimentation, puberty, power and authority, artwork, grief, motherhood. A beautiful art style that goes from muted colors of memories to vibrant colors of imagination. There’s also small parts of historical artwork analysis, which I really loved. This feels deeply personal and reminds me of the graphic novel My Favorite Thing is Monsters in how it is so detailed and jumps from topic to topic but still touches on universal experiences and truths.

The art 10/10. I think in book form it will be really gorgeous. It was a little confusing at parts but i think the art makes up for it. It does stink that this felt like a preview not the full graphic novel like most books from netgalley. I don't think this is great as an e-book, some of the text is so small i had to bust my computer out to read it. other then that...

I was enjoying the story. Some of it did confuse me a little bit on the direction it would be going but I also enjoyed learning about art composition and different art things.

Artwork is very good. Emotional upheaval
Of new mother is very raw and real.
I was with the mom the whole way through the twisty woods. I enjoyed the whole experience

Babe in the Woods is a graphic novel and work of autofiction that captures the vulnerability and fever dream like state of post-partum depression.

A woman escapes the city heat and strained relationship with her husband by driving to and hiking in the mountains with her infant son. Struggling with the fresh grief of losing her parents, a stalled art career, and the various life traumas drummed up by becoming a mother—she gets lost in the woods, completely unprepared. Frankly and deeply negligent. What ensues is a tale of survival and mental fortitude immersed in the surreal inspiration that flows through her from the natural world. We watch as she cycles through artistic and personal reference points, gathering strength in unexpected places. The stories she tells her son to keep the quiet filled and him calm, feel on the brink of breakdown. Juxtaposed with Heffernan’s absurd and surreal paintings, it feels at once deeply concerning and vividly inspired. The tension of what she might do next; how she might put her son in harm’s way; what we might discover about her own past; what could go wrong, keeps a fear and dread thrumming below the surface.

A really compelling work of artistic inspiration, education, and tension.

I thought this was going to be the full graphic novel, but it's actually a preview of around the first third of it. Which is fine, but a teeny bit disappointing since most creators/publisher either state it's a preview or post the entire story for reviewers.

The art is gorgeous. Dreamy. Classic Flowy. The lettering was a bit difficult to read at times as someone who has mild vision problems. But it wasn't enough to take me out of the story.

From a netgalley ARC.

Not sure what this will look like in a physical form. But in a digital form this is gorgeous. But also a bit confusing. It reads like a memoir and it is not absolutely clear if it is a memoir or not fully fictional. The book is clearly set in a specific time and place.

The coloring is stunning. The lettering is beautiful but still readable. The story reads a bit like a horror story, though the hint is that it ends fine. The plot goes a bit off the rails is it backtracks into flashbacks and art history. And then it ends abruptly on page 82 with a message that says - can't wait to share more, send us an email.