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How Hard Can It Be?

By: Allison Pearson
Narrated by: Poppy Miller
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Summary

Kate Reddy is back! The follow-up to the international bestseller I Don’t Know How She Does It, the novel that defined modern life for women everywhere. This time she’s juggling teenagers, ageing parents and getting back into the workplace, and every page will have you laughing and thinking: It’s not just me.

Mail on Sunday’s Books of the Year

Kate Reddy is counting down the days until she is fifty, but not in a good way. Fifty, in Kate’s mind, equals invisibility. And with hormones that have her in shackles, teenage children who need her there but won’t talk to her and ailing parents who aren’t coping, Kate is in the middle of a sandwich that she isn’t even allowed to eat because of the calories.

She’s back at work after a big break at home, because somebody has to bring home the bacon now that her husband Rich has dropped out of the rat race to master the art of mindfulness. But just as Kate is finding a few tricks to get by in her new workplace, her old client and flame Jack reappears – complicated doesn’t even begin to cover it.

This is a coming of age story for turning fifty. It’s about so much more than a balancing act; it’s about finding out who you are and what you need to feel alive when you’ve got used to being your own last priority. And every page will leave you feeling that there’s a bit of Kate Reddy in all of us.

As funny as Helen Fielding and Caitlin Moran, this is straight-up brilliant fiction about how to have it all and not end up losing yourself on the way.

©2017 Allison Pearson (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

‘Made me laugh, wince, shudder and shed a tear!’ SOPHIE KINSELLA

‘Revolutionary … Both funny and unflinching’ ELIZABETH DAY, Daily Telegraph

‘As sharp and witty as ever … hugely enjoyable’ Daily Mail

‘How Hard Can It Be? is that rare thing: a sequel that matches and even surpasses the original’ Daily Telegraph

‘Once again, countless women will recognise themselves … Pearson has a gift’ The Times

‘Filled with smart insights into ageing parents, female friendships, tricky family dynamics and failing marriages … Kate makes good company’ New York Times

‘Ms. Pearson writes with great wit and verve’ Wall Street Journal

‘Pearson features menopause as nearly its own character in this laugh-out-loud yet all too realistic romp through midlife concerns about aging, sexual appeal, careers for older employees, and family care issues. Spot on’ Library Journal, Starred Review

‘Brilliantly well observed’ INDIA KNIGHT

‘Written with a light touch and verve … Pearson makes a sharp point about the lack of value and status that society places on the onerous job of a stay at home mother … in these pages, there is a raw honesty’ Financial Times

‘Sparkling, funny and poignant, this is a triumphant return for Pearson and hopefully not the last we will hear of Kate’ Daily Express

‘It is this relatable quality of Pearson’s story, along with laugh-out-loud zingers on nearly every page, that makes this sequel shine. How Hard Can It Be? is witty, current and a good reminder that age can be a trump card, even if you need reading glasses to see the deck’ Washington Post

‘Few sequels beat the original, but How Hard Can It Be? does so hands down … zesty, razor-sharp and hilarious. It’s full of such quotable casual profundity on the female condition I couldn't read it without a pencil to underline the abundance of great lines. Get ready for Kate!’ TINA BROWN, magazine editor and bestselling author

‘Funny, heart-breaking, wise and delightful’ SOPHIE HANNAH

What listeners say about How Hard Can It Be?

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One if my favourite

A must read if you need cheering up, especially if 50th birthday looming or past!

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May be even better than “I Don’t Know How She Does It”

Kate Reddy is back in middle age and she is exactly like you’d expect her to be.

Alison Pearson has created a beautifully written emotional sequel which will make you laugh, make you cry with sadness and joy and make you wish this book would never end.

For every woman who has a “Kate” inside her. Bravo Alison - I don’t know how you did it.

P.S. It is beautifully narrated by Poppy Miller - I must find other books read by her on Audible.

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Utterly fabulous!

Don’t even think twice about getting this one ladies I absolutely loved it - the narrator was perfect and I will be seeking out more by Poppy Miller but Allison Pearson totally nailed this story I am not about to give any spoilers it’s a tale of modern life so well observed and written particularly dealing with the sandwich generation - women in their 50s dealing with everything family can throw at them.
I also loved the author’s original book I don’t know how she does it which deals with younger family life and juggling careers.
Allison Pearson does not seem to release books very often but when she does boy it’s worth the wait! This is a wee stoater and I don’t know what to do now it’s finished I suppose I’ll just have to start it again!

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Loved it....

Completely relatable. Witty, fun and well written. I couldn’t get enough of it and didn’t want it to end.

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fantastic book I highly recommend it

The character was a very likeable strong woman facing challenges we can all identify in a no nonsense way. A fantastic refreshing read .

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You will not be disappointed...

Hilarious, moving, spot on. If you enjoyed the first book, you will love this one even more

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it's a challenging topic dealt with truth and hone

I was recommended this book by a client I massaged as we were discussing hormones and learning about how to live with all the constant changes and learn more about our body's. I realised I hadn't read a novel for enjoyment for a really long time so decided to download it on Audible so I could listen to it on journey's. I've absolutely loved it! and found myself also listening over breakfast and at bedtime. Allison Pearson's writing draws you in with all the emotions and feelings that you recognise because you've felt them yourself and Poppy Miller reads beautifully. I don't usually download books not narrated by the Author, but Poppy's timing, expression and voices for different characters in the story have been a delight. it's a challenging topic dealt with truth and honesty but with a sense of respect and just the right balance of humour to leave you with a strong sense of connection to all other women, the author, the narrator, the characters and the peace and strength to carry on carrying on with your own story.

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50 and fabulous

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - especially as I'm approaching 50 myself! Would recommend it

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Made me both laugh out loud and smile poignantly

This is a funny, and at times poignant account of a woman’s approach to mid- life. Some aspects of the story are hilarious and I find myself having my own conversations with my own ‘Roy’. There were aspects, though, particularly at the beginning when I found Kate such a frustrating victim in her approach to her work and family that I found myself feeling quite cross. Some of her mishaps became a little predictable as she would inevitably be the all giving self maligning victim in a situation. She gets there in the end, but I did want to give her a good shake and tell her to ‘wake up’ sometimes. Overall a good read and I would definitely recommend it.

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a witty take on life as 50 year old mother

loved this book which captured the trials of life as a working mother in her 50's coping with menopause, tricky teens, useless husband, needy in-laws & an old flame!
not intellectual but fun!
great narration from Poppy Miller

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