Well written, smart, moving and enjoyable! This novel is a fresh and up to date take on the complexities of a modern woman's life. Engrossing and relevant!

HOW HARD CAN IT BE is a funny, irreverent return to the life of Kate Reddy, heroine of I DON"T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT. You don't need to have read the first book to enjoy this one, which stands on its own. I loved following Kate's adventures both at home and work as she nears her fiftieth birthday. She's a relatable character and the author's writing is breezy --touching in places, hilarious in others. A light women's fiction offering that not only entertains but brings us close to a woman who feels like someone we might know in real life. This is an easy beach read, perfect for the summer!

Will leave 4 star review on Amazon under name of Connie.

Modern day life with the added stress of social media turned dark for teen. Actually laughed out loud at some of the situations that I could relate to.
Lots of plot twists to complicate a seemingly normal life.

My literary twin sister lives in the pages of Allison Pearson's books.! First, with "I Don't Know How She Does It" I saw my life laid out in hilarious glory - the competitive PTA moms, the crazy hours at work, dealing with a demanding child, trying to keep my head above water as a parent, wife, and worker. I'm sure millions of women declared, "I don't know how she does it, but she just wrote my story" Thank you Allison. That would have been enough, a glorious cupcake and a glass of wine cheers that said that our experiences are real and recognized, and freaking hilarious sometimes. But the author came back, just in time to capture the glories of menopause, raising teens, career upheaval, and living in a marriage stretching into decades as I was experiencing them.
Pearson made me laugh at myself again and again in this book. And made me wonder how long she's been spying on my life, taking notes. ;)
It was refreshing to read a book that placed value on the ability of a woman to handle so many crazy obstacles in her way without losing her mind. Maybe her memory (Roy!) but not her mind, and not her dear friends.
I will recommend this to every one of my "older" friends. I don't want to scare the young ones. LOL
Have a glass of rose or a lovely cup of tea, kick back, and enjoy this book. Or, more likely, read it on your phone in the bathroom between clients or between taking the teens to soccer. What a wonderful treat!

How Not to Approach Midlife

This book is a follow-up to Pearson’s I Don’t Know How She Does It. I did not read the first book, nor will I after reading this one.

Kate Reddy is a woman ready to take on the world. Actually, she already is. She is on the cusp of turning fifty, approaching menopause and all the clichés that go along with it, firmly sandwiched in by aging parents and in-laws with failing health, dealing with a crumbling marriage that has been relegated to the back burner while she frantically job hunts in a market that proudly practices ageism. Oh, and her two teenage kids are putting her through the ringer as well as a resentful sibling with issues of her own. The issues with her daughter alone and her responses to them are disturbing and show a real lack of proper parenting. Sorry Kate, but that party you allowed her to throw was completely inappropriate on every level.

There is no slowing down for a woman like Kate. She must stay at the top of her game. She is the breadwinner for her family as her useless louse of a husband seems to be going through a midlife selfish phase and seeks to “find himself” while simultaneously shirking all his responsibilities to his family. This guy really deserves to get his.

Kate comes across as self-deprecating and over indulging of her family who frankly could all use a swift kick in the ass. She is an attractive woman though she believes herself to be over the hill and completely faded. She is apparently too old to embrace her beauty but not old enough yet to not be the object of affection to the man of her dreams and MILF material to the snarky younger wads that work in her office. The entire thing is just sad. It also sends a confusing message to the reader. Just who is Kate supposed to be? It seems that she herself is desperate for the answer. She shaves seven years off her age to land a job for which she is over-qualified on the advice of pretty much everyone though no one will outright admit that is what she needs to do in order to play the game.

Though this story is supposed to shine a light on a mid-life woman and perhaps celebrate what such a woman takes on and how she should be revered, it misses the mark by kowtowing to the disempowering societal beliefs that a woman of a certain age is literally like a carton of expired milk. The book adds to that perception instead of detracting from it. It’s disempowering to watch Kate, a smart capable, and attractive woman buy into the notion of needing HRT, lunchtime lipo, and a host of other “fixes” to get her back onto a horse she hasn’t even determined she wants to be riding in the first place. In regard to HRT, the book acts as champion for a woman to not suffer through the rougher symptoms of peri-menopause however offers no lifestyle interventions and refuses to address the dangers of HRT and that for some woman, it may not be their best option. This is irresponsible. Lastly, the over cited and completely cliché data retrieval system that Kate names “Roy” aka her lapsing memory is supposed to come off as funny but was nothing more than an endless irritation. Point taken without the 9,000 reminders throughout the book.

BRB Rating: Skip It.

Allison Pearson brings humor and thoughtful insights into this very funny book about mid-life disasters, long term marriage, angsty teens, social media, re-entering the workforce, parental senility, and fighting the aging process.

There are so many relatable and hilarious moments in this book! It’s uncanny how accurately this reflects real life situations and feelings. Kate and Richard have been married for 17+ years and the heat is gone, baby. Couples can easily slip into this pattern of a stale marriage if they don’t work to keep the romance up. Kate’s new job and dealing with a younger workforce are definitely real. I learned what a belfie is, and how a belfie can go viral! Also, Kate’s trials and tribulation with perimenopausal aging made me laugh out loud… and educated me. The author definitely understands what women face in the aging process.

But the book didn’t work for me completely. There were many funny moments and I enjoyed those, but the book lacked the ability to engage me consistently. It dragged in between the humorous parts. The pace was so up and down for me – alternating between funny and boring for the entire book. The book is 480 pages and I think that it could have been 100 pages less.

I think that women audiences in their fifties will really enjoy this story and will relate to it. Younger women get a sneak peak into the life that awaits them in their middle age. It’s perfect for someone wanting to pass the time with a light, funny, and entertaining book.

What a fun, clever book! I enjoyed the story and the writing, and though it felt a little long given what it is, I would recommend it as a light, easy read:-)

Kate Reddy is 50, jobless, with a money pit of a house, an unemployed husband, and two teenagers. Her life is in a bit of turmoil as she tries to find a job and cope with everything going on in her life. Unfortunately, I didn't love this book as much as I wanted to. I found Kate's whining about being 50 grated on my nerves and I wanted to tell her to just "Deal with it already".

I laughed and cried- i think very women over the age of 40 can identify with this book. the author nails menopause and relationships in the family and workplace. sometimes she get too repetitive but I just skim those pages.

While I found this book hilarious, I also found that it dragged on endlessly that I eventually gave up. I literally laughed out loud during sections but also found that the author went on a tangent so many times that I found it hard to stay in the story.
Again, very funny but it's not often I give up on a book, but this one I did have to stop half way through.

I couldn't finish this book. I'm not sure if it's because I'm not the demographic portrayed but it was really boring. I din't care about the main characters struggles, I didn't care about her family.

The writing was good, the overall story just didn't grab me

How Hard Can it Be is a sequel to I don’t know how she does it.

After a discouraging interview with a headhunter, Kate decides to pretend she’s younger.

One of Kate’s struggles is her teenage daughter and social media. A picture gone wrong, mean girls and other issues.

I would recommend this book, however it is bot necessary to read the first one.

It is not necessary to read book 1 before reading this book, but book 1 is so good it outshines book 2.

Kate Reddy, 49, finds herself returning to the investment firm she left 7 years ago now that her husband, Richard, is unemployed and back in school. Someone has to keep the family afloat.

Raising teenagers in a digital world presents problems not heard of a decade ago and it is easy to miss the signs of problems.

It is still a man's world and youth is prized in the investment industry until Kate's experience saves accounts from leaving the firm.

Menopause arrives in all of its gory mess adding to Kate's challenges.

Jack Abelhammer has never left Kate's heart. When they reconnect Kate has a lot of decisions to make; to put everyone else first, or choose a life with Jack.

Unfortunately I was unable to finish this book. I struggled with the primary character and was unable to really engage in a way that lead me to want to know more. Perhaps some other readers might enjoy and connect, but this was not for me. Thank you for the opportunity.

Book was okay, felt like main character was a little whiny about turning 50.

I loved this book! And now, need to go be and re-read I Don't Know How She Does It! When we last saw her, Kate Reddy had left her high stress and demanding career in the City to stay home with her two young children. Fast forward a number of years, she finds herself in the position of needed to return to work when her husband undergoes a career transformation of his own. Kate finds herself as "The middle aged mammal who once had a tiger in her tank and now has a slightly hesitant vole."

Her characters are spot on - from today's teenagers to aging parents and, of course, the lovely symptoms of menopause! I can't imagine a woman over a certain age who won't be able to relate to any number of the characters and situations. The book is laugh out loud funny in many parts, and poignant and entertaining. The only downside is that if you're younger...the book may scare you!

Not necessary to read the first book to enjoy the follow up. Fun read. It is where am at in my own life. (turning 50 in August) Kate is turning 50,, after being a stay at home mom she is returning to the workforce. You will laugh at loud and cry at times, as she tries to balance being a "super mom" and a success at work. How hard can it be.....?Kate's husband is having a mid life crisis, her kids are teenagers and the grandparents (his and her parents) are having some health concerns.

Having read the first book in the series ‘ I don’t know how she does it’ I was keen to read this continuation. Like real life, Kate finds new responsibilities ( keeping teenage kids safe on social media, caring for aging parents/ in-laws ) a challenge. Throw in going back to work after a career break, unhelpful husband and going through the menopause and you have the recipe for disasters, laughs and heartwarming moments. This book makes you realise your not alone and see that things are only really obvious when you take a step back and look from the outside in.

I did not know that this was a sequel till I had finished the book, but it did not detract from this particular story. The eternal quest of how do women juggle mother hood and a career and most importantly in this case get back to a career after a seven year gap! Especially when one is 49!

Tackling going back to work as a necessity (a husband who is finding himself for over two years), an enormous house which needs repairs, two teenage children full of needs and demands Kate finds herself at a crossroad. I think any mother could empathize with her at some stage of this book with the various stages Kate is forced to go through. Teenage angst, sheer laziness on the part of all who have been pandered to by said mother, indifference on the part of a husband who has learnt that to be helpless and pathetic has worked to his advantage in the past and Kate who now finds herself in the field of high finance, albeit as a junior has to juggle several balls in a field of all young, selfish workmates who look on her as an old fossil

When Kate is able to land a lucrative contract, the envy and jealousies start and her mates now hope that she will fall flat on her face with subsequent sales pitches. Kate needs the job and now has to work doubly hard balancing her two lives especially since she now finds that her eldest child is in a world of her own and has excluded her mother from what is happening. Added to this an in law with dementia (who is ignored by her own son), her own elderly mother and Christmas around the corner adds to Kate's burden.

The only bright spark on the horizon is the return of Jack - someone whom Kate loved in days gone by and who now appears on the scene.

So many elements in this story appealed. Women breaking through the glass ceiling (this was a high class hedge fund we are talking about), the attitudes that still exist that women have to look good all the time never mind that middle age spread is inevitable and menopause adds to their misery. That women still consider this so very important (Kate went in for lunch hour lipo!!) and death inducing misery with shaper undergarments!!!!, green eyed jealousy and undercutting that was rife in the office because Kate was not willing to fall in with lecherous offers are all very much out there and still exist.. Adding to that, was the actual physical work involved in running a home where it was understood that children and household work was still part of her responsibilities. I know this has changed considerably but it was not so in this book. Richard was a husband that another woman would have cheerfully strangled.

I loved the story but only wished that Kate would have had a little more gumption to handle her husband and teenage children before the eventual collapse. She certainly knew how to handle her work colleagues well.. I was glad that Kate's story ended very happily too! Richard got his just desserts!

Goodreads and Amazon review posted on 17/3/2018. Review on my blog posted end April.

I can’t be distracted while reading this book because I don’t want to miss a word Kate says!

Kate is pushing 50, dealing with her daughter’s “belfie” (butt-selfie), returning to the workforce now that her kids are teenagers by shaving 7 years off her age à la the t.v. show “Younger”, remodeling a house, dealing with aging parents and a cycling-obsessed husband who has shaved off all his body hair and gone back to school to pursue his dream. She has so much going on as all women do, and she is handling it with as much aplomb as possible and a whole lot of humor!

I am so glad the character of Kate Reddy is back in action. She is one of the most relatable characters in women's fiction. And although some additional familiar faces are around from I Don't Know How She Does It, this How Hard Can It Be could be read completely as a standalone and enjoyed just as much.

As a woman of 42 (Kate's pretend age in the book) I highlighted more passages in this book than any other I have ever read. Highly recommend!

Put it on your To Read List - from St. Martin’s Press June 5th!