How Hard Can It Be by Allison Pearson
Narrator: Poppy Miller
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (Macmillan Audio)
Release Date: June 5, 2018
Length: 384 pages (13 hrs. 40 min.)
Amazon

{A Bit of Backstory}

Single Sentence Summary

Re-entering the work force at 49 can be terrifying for anyone, but added to Kate’s terror are her teenage daughter who’s become an internet sensation and her husband trying to “find” himself aboard a bike.

From the Publisher

“Kate Reddy had it all: a nice home, two adorable kids, a good husband. Then her kids became teenagers (read: monsters). Richard, her husband, quit his job, taking up bicycling and therapeutic counseling: drinking green potions, dressing head to toe in Lycra, and spending his time―and their money―on his own therapy. Since Richard no longer sees a regular income as part of the path to enlightenment, it’s left to Kate to go back to work.”

The Draw

• Catherine from The Gilmore Guide to Books (one of my go to sources) liked this very much.
• I always enjoy some lighter, summer reading.
• Story about a woman of an age I can easily relate to.

{My Thoughts}

What Worked For Me

Humor! – Throughout How Hard Can It Be? Allison Pearson tackles difficult subjects with laugh-out-loud funny humor. In Kate Reddy she’s created a character who looks at herself with a critical, yet self-deprecating eye. Whether it’s annoying children, raging hormones, juvenile colleagues, or a clueless husband, Kate finds something funny in every situation. On her daughter texting with friends (who are in the same room):

“I feel like Charles Darwin observing finches on the Galapagos Islands. Where is all this communication without speaking going to end? My great-great-grandchildren will be born with prehensile texting thumbs, no vocal cords, and zero capacity to read human facial expressions. I’m struggling to see any of this as evolution for our species. If, evolution means progress.”

Female Aging – How Hard Can It Be? is a perfect book for any woman in her 40’s and beyond. Kate is 49 and experiencing all the physical and mental joys that come with that age. Her hormones are waning which she’s blaming on her friend “Perry,” as in peri-menopause. He’s causing sleeplessness, anxiety, irritability, daytime napping, and most of all forgetfulness. Kate relies on “Roy,” her underworking, slow-to-respond memory valet to assist her in retrieving once easily accessed information. On top of that, Kate’s body isn’t what it once was, she can no longer put herself in the MILF category, and she’s posing as a 42-year old in her new job. I don’t know about you, but I’ve definitely been there!

“…and then I got older. Look, I’ve studied the financial markets half my life, that’s my job. I know the deal. My sexual currency was going down and facing total collapse unless I did something to shore it up. The once proud and not unattractive Kate Reddy, Inc. was fighting a hostile takeover of her mojo. To make matters worse this fact was rubbed in my face everyday by the emerging market in the messiest room in the house. My teenage daughter’s womanly stock was rising while mine was declining.”

Family Relationships – Kate’s urgent need to return to work grew from her husband’s mid-life desire to find a new path for himself. Kate has accepted this with grace and humor, knowing she’s had a long break from work. Of her two children, Ben and Emily, Kate’s biggest concerns revolve around 16-year old Emily. Emily longs to fit in with the girls at her new school, but girls can be mean, and like most 16-year olds, Emily’s choices often baffle Kate who worries about Emily’s tender young heart. This real mother-daughter relationship shone throughout the book.

“I wanted what, in fact I have wanted every single hour since that magic day when my first baby entered the world. I wanted her to be happy. How desperately we want them to be happy.”

Narration – Consider me a new Poppy Miller fan. How Hard Can It Be? is told in first person, and Miller’s narration made Kate vividly real. Her pacing was excellent and her inflections perfect. She moved Kate from serious situations to humorous ones, always keeping the character real and believable. Thanks to Poppy Miller’s narration, I can highly recommend the audio version of How Hard Can It Be?

What Didn’t

Richard – I found Kate’s husband, Richard annoying on so many levels: his not working at all, his obsessive cycling, his sniping about money, and his apparent oblivion to his family. But, what bothered me the most about Richard was Kate’s ease with all his flaws. It felt a little out of character to me.

Neat & Tidy Ending – If you’ve read this blog before, you already know that I’m not a huge fan of neat and tidy endings, and this one was no exception. That being said, How Hard Can It Be? resides firmly in the chick-lit genre where neat and tidy is almost expected, so my discomfort at the ending was only minor.

{The Final Assessment}

How Hard Can It Be? is a book almost any woman will love. It’s the perfect break in a busy day. From the prologue, to the funny chapter titles, to Pearson’s razor-sharp take on the problems facing women of a “certain-age” this book is sure to leave you with a smile on your face. Grade: B+

Note: Though this is the author’s second Kate Reddy book, How Hard Can It Be? definitely stands on it’s own. I have not read the first.

If you liked this audiobook you might also enjoy:

• Fitness Junkie by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza – A snarky send-up of the fitness/diet industry through the eyes of Janey, a woman at a crossroads in her life. (my review)
• The Book of Polly by Kathy Hepinstall – The story of 10-year old Willow and her cantankerous much, much older mother. (my review)

Disclosure: There are Amazon Associate links included within this post.