What did you think of How Hard Can It Be? by Allison Pearson?

I have read a couple of chapters of this book, up to now. It is not my usual type of reading but I have to say up to now I am enjoying it. The story is good and is very entertaining and I really like the style of writing. Will update when I've read it all but it's great u[ to now.

I have read a couple of chapters of this book, up to now. It is not my usual type of reading but I have to say up to now I am enjoying it. The story is good and is very entertaining and I really like the style of writing. Will update when I've read it all but it's great u[ to now.

i have just started it today , really looking forward to getting stuck in.

from first glance i know i will like it

About 50-60 pages in, I thought I was going to hate the book. I read and enjoyed the first one, but couldn't really believe that someone like Kate, who was well-educated and had held down such a responsible position, could be so clueless about social media/technology and also that she could be such a wet blanket when it came to her husband's selfishness and complete self-absorption. Really? However, I thought she wrote very eloquently and with great wit about the menopause and the trials of the "sandwich woman" in general. Again, not sure I could believe the nicely- wrapped happy ending. For me, the book would have been much improved and more believable with a bit less of the "permanently teetering on the edge of a domestic disaster" scenarios which made me feel it had been written with one eye on turning it into a movie again. Overall, although I didn't like the plot line much, I thought there were definitely parts where I found myself nodding in agreement as a fellow menopausal woman and some of the musings about menopause, parenting and aging parents resonated and have stayed with me.

It was so lovely to be reacquainted with Kate Reddy. I always thought of her over the years when presented with a school "Bake a Cake" plate and was so looking forward to seeing how her life had turned out. I was not disappointed. Kate Reddy was wiser but still relatable. The novel was warm, funny and poignant. The main character is someone I can easily identify with being a "Sandwich woman" with a teenager now myself. It was a convincing read but with enough humour. It was also refreshing to have a novel which did talk about "Perry" - but in such a way that didn't make it feel like I was reading a BMJ article! The novel addressed the challenges that many of us face at a certain point in time and I enjoyed every page of it!

Mine still hasn't come

read in about two days once started was eager to finish. Kate seems to be juggling so many things which are not portrayed as in a poor me cliché ridden dialogue but with humour and a little self deprecation , caught in an impossible situation to hold down a job learning that theres no need to disguise who you really are thoroughly enjoyed it

I'm almost halfway through. It's been a while since a book made me laugh out loud. this is fabulously funny and so real. Can't wait to read the rest.

About to begin reading - thanks

Thank you for my free copy mumsnet. I'm not very far into it yet as only received it last week so will write a full review when I've finished.
My initial thoughts are that as my children are small I can't relate to all of this yet but I do have elderly parents and all that part. Things like the gran calling with an emergency that is the carpet choice is the sort of thing my parents do "caps lock is on the computer!"
Enjoying it so far but only about 100 pages in.

I received the book but haven’t had chance to read it yet.
Will post feedback as soon as I do though. Looks like a good read from reviews upthread

A fablulous read, so personally relatable to woman and modern life! Excellently written and completely engaging throughout. There are parts of this book that are quite amusing and also parts that are quite moving. Highly recommended, thanks for the giveaway copy.

I've devoured this over the last few days, really enjoyed it. Easy to read, a page Turner, didn't drag it out. It was both funny and sad and as the mum of a young child I did feel like it gave me a bit of an insight into what will come with teenagers, elderly parents etc
Really enjoyed it and grateful to have received a free copy. Will pass on to another mum to enjoy

Mine still hasn't come, have just emailed hq

Mine's arrived - looking forward to it immensely!

Mine hasn’t come yet....

Haven’t wanted to put this down. A really enjoyable book that really resonated with me. There were moments of great humour but also story lines that really made me think. I’m still in the “young children” phase of life and reading this made me realise how fast that time will slip from me.
I’m so pleased I read this book, I’m going to be recommending it to all my mum friends.

I like to come away from reading a book feeling a little bit wiser, and I really felt that with this book. I also enjoyed the various characters, they felt very believable and relatable. There were laugh out loud moments and moments when I wished I could high-five Kate.

Just finished this. I haven’t read ‘I don’t know how she does it’ and will go and do that now, having really enjoyed this book. It was witty, quick and at the same time poignant. Even though the story is told by Kate, the reader can see things Kate can’t and I found myself willing her to realise what was happening within her family and cheering her on from my sofa (admittedly with one of herbal teas she doesn’t like)! The book is full of characters we’ve probably all met IRL and so they all feel reassuringly familiar. A lovely, positive book for the ‘Sandwich Women’ so they don’t feel so alone.

Finished this already! In spite of the blurb I was expecting this to be mainly a comedy - in actual fact I found it to be much more than that. At times so painfully true, at others sad and heart-wrenching. I read this just after I finished Marian Keyes new book, The Break, which also has a central character around the same age, facing similar challenges. Both books were fantastic, I hope this is a sign of more fiction along these lines - I am now a little old for the twenty something PR executive type novel! Highly recommended.

Mine arrived yesterday! I’m excited to start reading, thank you :)

Thanks for my copy. Will post the review soon.

Got home to find mine waiting! Excited to start reading - where will we post feedback?

I was just about to comment also that I haven’t received mine. Glad I’m not the only one

I’ve had an email and v excited to read it but haven’t received it yet?

The email which I think was dated 18 October said arrival within 10 days so it should be here soon.