How fantastic to catch up with our heroine, Kate, after all these years!
I don't know how she does it is one of those books that stays with you, even though I was a single twenty something at the time. As a mother, I refound my new hero, in this compelling novel. Read in one sitting, and I'm so glad I did!

Kate Reddy is heading towards a significant birthday, and it's a birthday that she's not quite ready to embrace - it's the big 50!

She's living in a large rambling home that requires the constant services of Polish builder Piotr, together with the never ending amount of cash being thrown at it. She has a husband who she's unable to communicate with, two teenage kids who have problems similar to most teens across the Western world, and also ageing parents and all the relevant problems that come with entering the winter of ones lives. On top of all that, she now has to start searching for a job because hubby Rich has decided to opt out of the rat race in order to master the art of mindfulness! Someone has to pay all the bills, but the workplace isn't exactly crying out for women of a certain age, so she'll just have to lie about her forthcoming birthday! Add the menopause into the mix with its debilitating symptoms, and you've got one crazy lady, desperately trying to keep her head above water.

This is a story that will be familiar to many women, the act of juggling so many commitments while trying to hold down a full time job at the same time. For Kate though, it's also about reaching this important milestone and discovering who she really is - who she'd like to be if she wasn't so concerned with making everyone else happy.

Allison Pearson writes with great insight - the characters literally come to life in her hands. It's funny, it's sad, it's delightful, and as a woman it's easy for me to recognise the challenges and conflicts that Kate has to face. Loved it!

*Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for my ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I really enjoyed reading this - although I was forcibly reminded of Bridget Jones Diary several times. the format was similar. It was very true to life with some laugh out loud moments. I felt it went on a bit - at times I was wishing for faster progress through the story and then everything fell into place at the end. little too tidily.

Knowing that this was a sequel book I did wonder how much i would need to catch up on to be up to speed with this one. The answer is not at all. Whilst you dive straight in there is more than enough to help you understand the current situation, so it works perfectly as a standalone book. That being said, I have already added the previous book - I don't know how she does it to my reading pile.
This is the story of Kate Reddy, middle-aged, broke, and struggling to cope with various aspects of co-parenting with an easily unlikable husband. There's lies, deceit and just the right amount of romance for it to be a lovely story.