I loved this book! Although I didn't realise it was a sequel it can be read as a stand alone book with no problem.

Kate is such a loveable character and being almost my age I could fully relate to her and the problems and challenges she faced in the book.

The sandwich generation is well explored and Kate's struggles with ageing parents, adolescent children and menopausal husband all struck a chord with me.

This book had me nodding in agreement, laughing out loud and willing Kate on in her quest for happiness,

I would strongly recommend this book and will look out for future books by the author who relates the human story exquisitely.

What a read! I so empathised with Kate Reddy though nearly two decades older. My 50th saw me in a state of depression and I can remember my feelings at that time. I laughed so much sometimes quietly to myself sometimes loudly. It did make me google testerone patches though. An excellent read which would have been five stars except for the slightly gooey end.

Kate Reddy is back......rapidly approaching her half century, with different challenges to overcome. But she does, with a witty, heart warming and immensely funny book. I lost count of the times that I gaffawed in public reading this novel. Being in my late forties myself and having a teenager in the house, I could relate to Kate so much. But to be fair, so could every woman who has tried to get things right and put others before herself. It's a fantastic read, I didn't want it to end. Clever, real and well written. I highly recommend this book to any woman who has ever lived...it's THAT good

I didn't realise this was a sequel when I requested it and was a bit worried I wouldn't be able to get into it when I did realise. But it hooked me right from the start. And I had no problems at all reading it as a stand alone. I'll probably read the first one at some point as I enjoyed this one.

I'm a way off the big 50 yet but still found I could relate to Kate quite a lot. She's a very believable character. She has her strengths and her weaknesses, she does things she shouldn't, she makes mistakes. Basically, she's human. Her family and friends are too. I can't say it's done a thing to make me look forward to the menopause though! I'll just keep burying my head in the sand and pretend it's never going to happen to me! Although I'd quite like an elderly archivist called Roy living in my head digging things up out of the dark recesses of my memory, he could be pretty useful. Especially if he could tell me where I'd put my phone. Which, as usual, is on silent and nowhere to be seen.

My hubby asked several times what I was laughing at while I was reading this book. I loved the way it was written, I liked Kate and her friends and family and really hoped things would work out for her in the end. Will definitely be looking for more books by this author.

I read the first book that dealt with Kate Reddy's life, " I don't know how she does it", and really enjoyed it. So it was great to read this sequel and catch up with her and her family several years later.
The book struck a chord with me in respect of the two themes of menopausal symptoms, the negative effect these can have on your life, and caring for an elderly relative with Dementia. I have experienced both of these situations and they were dealt with very well in the novel.
Kate's life is just as chaotic as in the first book, and she is the main family member dealing with all the problems that can occur in family life, trying to keep the home running, teenage children happy, taking responsibility for elderly parents, including her in laws. Meanwhile her husband has taken time out to retrain as a counsellor, and is happy to leave Kate to cope with everything.
Many different themes are explored throughout the story, teenage angst, the advantages and pitfalls of using social media, trying to juggle home and work commitments, ageism, and the consequences of growing old, adultery, and the problems of long term marriage.The book is sad at times but also quite funny and upbeat in places.
I found the first quarter of the book a bit hard going but then everything seemed to click into place, and I enjoyed reading it, in fact I was sorry to finish it and wanted it to continue!
Many thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins publishers for an ARC of this novel.

I was predisposed not to like this book, being half a generation older than the author and finding the subject matter too much fuss about nothing. However, she managed to overcome my prejudices and I found myself not only laughing but empathising. The mother, teenage daughter relationship was well drawn and touchingly true, with all the frustrations and powerlessness this entails. I have to say, the mother was far more saintly and forgiving, and considerably more forgiving than I would be, particularly regarding the son's credit card transgressions. I can understand why the previous book was so popular and am sure that this one will be equally successful. It is very reassuring to see in print the evidence that all these strange and very mixed emotions are shared by other women. And laughing at the absurdities of our daily juggling acts is definitely better than crying.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was so observant to modern mid life dilemmas of women trying to juggle everything to keep family life functioning. Allison is very observant with characters who, may not be in one's own family/workplace or friends, but who I am sure we can all relate to. I found myself smiling with certain descriptions of people have in my circle. I realise this is a sequel and I shall have to track the first book down and would certainly read other novels by this author. She tackles the menopause brilliantly as with dealing with aged parents and teenagers and there is scope for a future book, ten years on with addition of retirement and grandchildren within the mix.

Essential reading for anyone who enjoyed I Don't Know How She Does It, this sequel is page-turning and cringey in equal measure, so accurate is Pearson's portrayal of the grind of daily existence. Shouldering the burdens of her entire family, Kate Reddy is back trying to keep the family ship afloat while managing an endless stream of every day disasters. I want to send a copy to every mother I know...

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.

Kate is fast approaching 50 and is lost. She has a ramshackle house which is permanently being worked on by a Polish builder, a husband she can't communicate with because he prefers cycling to being at home, and a pair of typical teenagers who are struggling with school and social media. Add in to the mix aging parents, a functioning alcoholic best friend, and a desperate need to get back to work and it's no real surprise that the peri-menopausal Kate is in a bit of a state.
She's constantly juggling all of the people in her life and feels that none of her actions are good enough. The year in her life this book covers sees her go on something of a journey of discovery, changes will result but will Kate be able to make sense of herself as wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend and professional woman? This is a wonderful read, although a little close to home sometimes as, even though Kate has ten years on me I can recognise some of the conflicts and challenges she faces.
This is a real story of womanhood, the importance of women of all ages and the notion that women become invisible as they age is writ large. Kate is determined not to be invisible but is very aware of taking the gauntlet from her mother's generation, as they start to pass on, and adding to it before handing it to her own daughter. Relationships between the women in this book are very important and the difference in circumstances for all of these is beautifully written.
I must admit I was surprised to see that this is a sequel and I will definitely be seeking out the first Kate Reddy book. She's an engaging heroine and I'd like to read where the woman we meet at the start of 'How Hard Can it Be?' (answer - very!) has come from.