Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Summer Reading List: How Hard Can It Be?

When I Don't Know How She Does It was published in 2003, I fell in love with Kate Reddy. As a young working mother myself, I could totally identify with Kate, who felt pressure to "do it all" both at home and at work.  

I've thought about Kate from time to time, and I've recommended Pearson's first book to many friends.






And now readers everywhere get to check in with Kate again.  She's older and wiser now, has teenage children, a marriage that is suffering, symptoms of peri-menopause, and is trying to get back into the workforce which is more difficult than one can imagine.

Pearson does a fantastic job of showing readers what it's like to be a 40-something woman today.  And not only does she do it accurately, she also does it with humor.  How Hard Can It Be? is serious, without being too serious.  Pearson sprinkles nuggets of wisdom throughout this story, right along with the humor that offsets the seriousness of what it feels like to be middle-aged.

This new book is one that can stand alone, but I also think that plenty of readers who are just meeting Kate Reddy for the first time now will go back and pick up I Don't Know How She Does It.  

I don't know how Pearson managed to create a follow-up that is just as marvelous as her first novel, but somehow she's done it.  This is a must-read for women everywhere, perfect for the beach or book club.



3 comments:

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

I bet you could relate to some of the humor in this story LOL I should tell my daughter to try it as well.

Ti said...

I've not read either book but they do sound fun and I can relate to the peri-menopause topic! My doc said I am not even close but my body thinks she is wrong.

Ti said...

Wait, I think I did read her first book. Didn't Sarah Jessica Parker star in the movie version? If so, I liked the book but not the movie so much.