Bloody brilliant! In 2002 Allison Pearson wrote I Don’t Know How She Does It and introduced Kate Reddy. A working mother with young children. I loved it so much because Kate Reddy was me. I identified with everything.

16 years later Kate Reddy is back! She is funny with a snappy wit. The kids are older and she has taken seven years off of work to care for them and aging parents and in laws. She and her husband, Rich have bought a house that needs a lot more fixing up than they realized. Rich is not working. He invests most of his time in biking, meditating, and going to counseling. He’s a douchebag. Bills are piling up so it’s up to Kate to get back to work. She is looking at her 50th birthday soon and isn’t confident about entering the workforce again.

If you’ve ever gone back to work after taking time off, for whatever reason, you’ll identify with the fears and obstacles that Kate faces. I laughed a lot and teared up at the end and as a parent when we can’t shield our kids from every kind of hurt, especially the kind we know little about as our kids dive in head first into the social media shark infested waters.

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Allison Pearson for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

Well, I didn't get quite the laughs that I'm sure other people did with this book due to the fact that I lived a lot of it (still am, with a late 20 something still acting like a teenager). Well, at least I didn't have the "belfie" to contend with. Thank the Lord for that!!!

However, I did enjoy the book. The scenes with boy toy (was it boy or toy? Ha!!) I found especially funny. Kate's mother-in-law definitely gave her son the correct name. I certainly would not have put up with his crap!! My last line he would hear from me would be "Don't let the door hit ya, where the good Lord slit ya". Ha!!

I didn't read this author's first book, "I Don't Know How She Does It", but I did see the quasi good movie. And after reading this book, I am sure that the first book was a good one. Why can't Hollywood get it right? Is it really that hard?

I did learn something that I really needed to know from reading this book though. I NEED HRT!!!! I said yes to most of her questions. (shocked face!)

A very entertaining book that I did enjoy after I got through the teen angst. I especially loved the career side of the story. I could definitely relate to that working in a mostly men's industry of natural gas for so many years. I may have had a few up in the air fist pumps (well okay, several) while reading this part. And yes, there were a few tears at the end (see I need that HRT).

I'm really wishing now that I had read the first book, however, I can't read a book after I've seen the movie. I am, however, looking forward to the next one!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I had forgotten how much I liked Kate Reddy, and it was great to be back with her as she faces a new challenge: parenting a teenager who has made a really stupid mistake. This was the perfect read for my recent weekend vacation and reminds me how wonderful chicklit can be when done well.

Title: How Hard Can It Be?
Author: Allison Pearson
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Series: Kate Reddy, #2
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"How Hard Can It Be?" by Allison Pearson

My Thoughts....

Well how 'How Hard Can It Be" for Kate Reddy who is close to her 50th birthday? Let's see just what all she has before her: having to lie about her age as she is returning to the workforce due to the fact that her husband [Richard] is out there where he has distant [self-centered], into self help books and bike riding [midlife crisis]. Along with this Kate's daughter has gone on internet and posted a 'inappropriate photos' of herself, then we go on to aging parents [his parents and her mom] and lastly having to deal with menopause. So, just from all of this the reader can see that a lots has been thrown on Kate. Oh, I don't want to forget to add more to Kate's woes, a person [Jack Abelhammer] from her past has come into the scene so what will that bring to this story? So, will this story be a 'recipe for disaster, laughs and some heartwarming moment?

"How Hard Can It Be?" was quite a engaging, poignant read where a lots of what Kate Reddy had to go through was very relatable for many who have tackled many of these issues. I thought this novel was a good read that was not only well written, , clever and yes very real' that I would recommend as a good read.

A humorous look at motherhood, working, aging and juggling it all. Although I am not quite at the same age as Kate, and my child is under a year, rather than teenagers, I found I could still relate to what she was going through. This book was hilarious and I liked Kate as a character. She was relatable and entertaining. The story was well paced and well written. I hadn’t read the first book in the series but this work perfectly well as a standalone too.

This was an OK sequel to IDKHSDI, but for the most part, this book stressed me out. It seems Kate's life is constantly in a downward spiral--her kids treat her bad, her husband is non-existent when at home, she can't find a job, her "new" house is falling down around her, and she's trying to get her body back at almost 50. I think there was just TOO much being thrown around for me to be able to really enjoy the story, but I did feel sorry for Kate. I hated her husband--I wish she would have stayed with Jack from the first book. I think her kids are awful, and I really hope that getting a job at her age isn't as hard as this book makes it seem. BUT!! I think if you are in this stage of your life, you would probably relate to this book much better than I could.

Kate Reddy is approaching 50. Her husband, Rich, has lost his job and spends his time taking “mindfulness" classes and riding his expensive bike for miles. He is rarely at home and takes on no responsibility. In addition, their sex life has become totally nonexistant. They have two teenage kids, Emily and Ben. For years, Kate had started and run a successful financial investment firm until she decided some seven years ago to leave it all behind to focus on her family. Now, with Rich out of work, she needs to get a job.

She takes a course to help her prepare her CV for returning to work where she makes some good friends. The biggest thing she knows she has against her is her age, so she says she is 42 instead of 49. She has also worked hard to try and diet to get back into shape. She applies at the very firm where she previously worked which is now staffed by a number of fresh-out-of-college people. She tries to downplay her knowledge somewhat but also proves that she knows her stuff. Shortly, after starting back, she hears from Jack, a guy she met not long before she quit work. He is an American, hot, and rich. But, she pushed all that aside to be at home.

At home, she has a large, old house that is constantly in need of repair. Her kids are typical teenagers who push her every button. She is also worried about her mother who lives alone and her husband’s aging parents.

We see Kate handle all the awful things that the pre-menopausal time of life can bring. She is juggling so many things that it’s almost impossible to keep up with it all. There are lots of laughs and some tears as the reader nods their head in understanding of what Kate is going through. So, when Jack pops back into her life, will she be able to push him away a second time?

This is a great book. I had a difficult time getting into it, but it really began to grow on me. I did not read the author’s first book about Kate Reddy. so I’m sure this can easily serve as a stand-alone novel.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Kate Reddy is no longer the hard-driving hedge fund manager who is determined to have it all. In her earlier novel, "I Don't Know How She Does It," Allison Pearson showed her heroine juggling deadlines at work while trying to tend to her family's needs. Now that she is approaching fifty, Kate is feeling a bit depressed. The house that she and Richard bought is more of a money pit than she had anticipated; her children have become surly teenagers who are wedded to their cell phones and video games; as she approaches the big five-o, her hormones are acting up; and Richard is unemployed and obsessed with cycling.

Now Kate frets over her body (it's okay, but not as toned as she would like). Her daughter, Emily, is getting into trouble with social media, Kate and Richard are drifting apart emotionally and physically, and although Kate wants to go back to work, she wonders if she should shave years off her age in order to get hired. Pearson finds comedy and pathos in Kate's situation, although the laughs are often bittersweet.

"How Hard Can It Be?" should find an appreciative audience among middle-aged women who struggle to balance their personal and professional lives. They will identify with this desperate housewife who tries to make ends meet without losing the romantic spark she and Richard once shared. There are aspects of this novel that are entertaining and amusing. The spirited dialogue, mockery of Richard's new age pretentiousness and egotism, Kate's attempts to fit in with a younger staff, and her reunion with Jack Abelhammer, an amiable and attractive hunk who won Kate's heart with his wit, intelligence, and kindness, keep us invested in the story. Ultimately, however, this novel, which shines when the author satirizes the sexism and ageism of our times, is weakened by its excessive length, contrived and cluttered plot, and wildly implausible conclusion.

5 ”50 Is The New 30” Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Kate! You are absolutely being added to my book BFF list! Not sure when the last time was I read a book with such a relatable character... Kate and I are almost the same age... our kids are about the same age going through the same things as are our parents.... such a wonderful book, filled with laughter, tears, and love...

Kate is quickly heading towards her 50th birthday... she also needs to reenter the workforce, because hubby Rich has decided to take a two year internship... rich seems to be more interested in his bike and mindfulness than Kate and the kids... Kate‘s kids Emily and Ben are typical teenagers dealing with typical teenage angst.... Ben is glued to his electronics never too far from his phone or his video games... Emily is concerned with what everybody else thinks.... and now with social media that adds an entire new level to this age old teenage dilemma.... cannot even tell you how many times I found myself agreeing with Kate‘s many insights on being the parent of a teenager today....
To add to the stress of being the only present parent and main breadwinner Kate is also going through menopause... i’m not quite to this point in my life yet (and if I am I am in complete denial about it) but nothing about it sounds all that fun.... but as Kate does with all aspects of her life she adds a splash of humor to it(Intentional or not) that I just absolutely loved in this book... this book is a sequel, but it absolutely can be read as a standalone, I don’t believe I lost anything having not read the first book... however I plan on eventually reading the first book so I can visit a younger Kate....

Absolutely recommend to women of all ages! Because even knew my friends in your 30s... someday you will be knocking on the door of 50! And the insights and humor in this book are perfect!

*** many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***

How Hard Can It Be? Is the second book in Alison Pearson’s Kate Reddy series. I haven’t read the first book, I Don’t Know How She Does It, and I had no problem diving right into How Hard Can It Be?; this book can definitely be read as a standalone novel.

I say novel, but it had <i> so, so many truths</i> in it for me. At times, I thought I was reading my biography! Whether your next significant birthday is 30, 40, or 50, you’ll appreciate Kate Reddy’s take on life and all of its inconveniences. Her teenagers’ issues may not be exactly what you or your children experienced, but their problems are universal enough that everyone can relate to them. If that isn’t enough fodder for sarcastic satire, Kate Reddy’s husband is out of work and possibly having a midlife crisis. He chooses a major shift in careers, and that requires Kate to return to the workforce and become the primary breadwinner. No problem, she was brilliant and successful pre-children, so how hard could it be to do it again?

In a rather light-hearted way, Ms. Pearson presents a wide range of issues that middle-aged women are truly dealing with. Lest you think the author has haphazardly thrown in the kitchen sink, I felt that Kate Reddy’s challenges were incredibly realistic. Trying to do it all, make everyone happy, putting your needs last, and constantly feeling like you just can’t catch a break sounds a lot like daily life to many a working mom or over-achieving-used-to-work mom.

When growing up, my mother read Erma Bombeck. Her hilarious take on life and parenting was fun, sweet, and sentimental. Reading Ms. Pearson’s version of life and parenting reminded me of my mother’s affinity for Ms. Bombeck’s books. Ms. Pearson’s book hit home for me. I enjoyed her humorous take on the daily challenges of the sandwich generation.

Seven years have passed since London financial executive Kate Reddy attempted to maintain the perfect balance between work and home in Pearson's I Don't Know How She Does It; unfortunately, nearing 50, Kate discovers that the job market does not favor those with "experience" and she finds herself desperately trying to fit in. Thanks to her "returners" support group, and other hilarious anecdotes, I found myself laughing out loud on multiple occasions in this highly relatable follow up; don't worry, you need not have read her previous novel to fully enjoy this one.

I loved Allison Pearsons first book, I Don't Know How She Does It. I was ecstatic to get my hands on the sequel, How Hard Can It Be. I wanted so badly to like this book but unfortunately, I had to muck my way through it and almost DNFed it. In this installment, Kate Reddy is middle aged with a house in need of constant work, no job, a husband in what seems to be a mid-life crisis, and 2 moody teenagers. She must return to the workforce as a 49 year old, struggle with menopause, and keep up with life. I could not connect with any of the characters and in fact, found them intensely unlikable. Her children are ridiculously spoiled and while I don't judge others parenting skills, reading about Kate clipping her teenage sons toenails for him and writing her daughters school paper for her made me cringe. Kate finds herself overwhelmed with juggling work and home and keeping up with daily demands. Reading this made me feel overwhelmed and anxious alongside Kate, which is a testament to the authors writing skills. For me, this was ⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Good writing, good premise, but unfortunately a cast of unlikable characters. Thank you @stmartinspress for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Rolling around on the floor in stitches with little bits of wee escaping ! it is really the only way to describe this book...i loved every moment of it .
Thank you

I enjoyed I Don't Know How She Does It, so I was excited to spend some more time with Supermom Kate Reddy in Allison Pearson's sequel How Hard Can It Be? The answer to this question is, of course, pretty freaking hard. Approaching 50, Kate is juggling going back to work, a husband with a mid-life crisis, teenagers, and aging parental figures in declining health. Kate navigates the challenges of being a woman holding it all together with humor and grace. This is one that women of many ages will understand and see themselves within the pages.

The funniest book I've read all year, and brilliant writing too! A spectacular follow-up to “I Don’t Know How She Does It.”

Perfect. Especially for those of us who are 50 and older. Kate is so relatable- her husband is having a second adolescence, her kids are doing stupid teen stuff, her house is a wreck, her mom and in laws have health issues, and she's trying to re-enter the job market. And she's perimenopausal. I bow my head to Pearson for the scene in the oligarch's bathroom because only someone who has lived it could have written it and it was on point. Kate has one advantage over many in that she has some good and loyal friends and one long lost love. Pearson is a good storyteller. This one passed in a flash for me. I found what happened to Kate at the fund most satisfying. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Recommend this for a good read.

In all fairness, Kate Reddy is about to turn 50. Her husband, Richard, lost his job. Instead of finding another, he decided to change careers and become a counselor, a course that takes a couple of years with no income. And a cash outlay for his own counseling in the process. In addition to all the money he is spending on his new obsession with cycling. Kate gave up her career to raise their kids, who are now snarky, expensive teenagers. Kate and Richard also bought an old house that is making The Money Pit look like a bargain. The renovations are draining their remaining savings. Her own mother is aging, but Richard's mother is in a state of steady decline due to Alzheimer's and Richard's frail father simply cannot care for her. Richard shirks all responsibility, leaving it to Kate to cope with the challenges of balancing her own household with parental needs. And, as noted, Kate is having a bit of an existential crisis as she stares down 50, which is considered practically prehistoric in the competitive world of investment management.

After hilariously padding her resume and squeezing her rounder body into iron-like undergarments, Kate secures an entry-level temporary position back at the very firm where she was previously employed -- and where she founded a hedge fund that has, in the interim, been badly mismanaged. And where, of course, she is now answering to so-called managers who are years younger and infinitely less wise not just about investment portfolios, but also about life and the lessons it provides.

When a former client for whom Kate had strong feelings shows up, she finds herself at the breaking point and questioning the choices she has made but, more importantly, what she wants from her life on the other side of 50.

How hard can it be to become the primary breadwinner, manage home renovations, teenagers, financial stress, and a crumbling marriage all while deciding whether you want to risk it all for a shot at happiness with a man who contends that, despite 7 years apart, he has never stopped thinking about and desiring you?

Allison Pearson presents Kate's struggles with those dilemmas in a fast-paced, often sarcastically hilarious narrative with which every woman -- especially those who have already experienced the joys and changes that accompany aging into the 50's and beyond -- will relate. But Pearson's breezy, laugh-out-loud writing style should not be dismissed because under the often ridiculous situations in which Kate finds herself lie troubling and thought-provoking truths about the ways in which women are expected to conform to societal and relationship expectations, the consequences for not doing so, and the very real pressures upon women to "do it all" with little or no assistance from emotionally absent husbands and resentful family members. In other words, there is a depth of emotion contained in Kate's story -- and readers will find themselves cheering for her & hoping that she finds her happily ever after. Because after everything she has put up with, she deserves it.

I haven't read very many books specifically aimed at middle-aged women, but I had the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley. This book definitely resonated with me because I am reaching that age (gasp). The main character of this novel, Kate, is fast-approaching her fiftieth birthday and her life is very hectic. Her teenage children are driving her crazy, her unemployed husband is studying to start a second career as a mindfulness counselor, her extended family has a multitude of problems that they look to her to solve, etc. Because she needs to start making some money to keep the family afloat, she decides to try to go back to work in the London money management firm that she left when she had children. But in order to land the job, she lies about her age and claims to be seven years younger than she actually is.

All of this is dealt with very humorously. The protagonist's dry witticisms about the minutiae of the daily grind (disrespectful teenagers, hot flashes, failing memory, exercising, etc.) kind of remind me of Erma Bombeck's writing from years ago. Only Kate must deal with modern day problems such as her teenage daughter's photographed bum going viral on Facebook, Skyping with her mother, and figuring out text message language.

This is obviously an adult book, not for the elementary classroom library. But for women that are dealing with many of the issues addressed in this book, it's a fun summer vacation read!

So many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Allison Pearson for the opportunity to read and review her sequel to the wonderful book, I Don't Know How She Does It.

I loved the first book in this series about Kate trying to navigate her life with a high-powered job, a marriage and two small children. Of course, since I'm now even older than Kate in the sequel, while I remember how much I loved that book, that's about all I remember! (Where is Roy when you need him?) As the years have passed, Kate is now pushing 50, her husband lost his job and is reinventing himself with trying to become a counselor, the kids are older, and she's worrying about their parents, trying to find a job, and entering menopause.

Because this is Allison Pearson, everything is so relatable, so funny, yet has serious undertones. I found myself highlighting passage after passage. It's all here - ageism, sexism (lots of #METOO moments here!), social media, guilt, raising children today, and still trying to have time for you. In short, for a woman, while time passes we are still dealing with very full plates. Thankfully Pearson is here once again to make us laugh and cry.

Highly recommended - I loved it!

It was a brilliant story it touched me in so many ways!The story was entertaining and fun I loved most of it! I laughed out loud through out the entire book as I so identified with Kate's dilemmas and her concerns about her family .I loved Kate's vulnerability, constant guilt complex and insecurities. I admired her and I think many women will relate with her!