Rating: 
Summary: Obviously, emotion evoking
Review: There is so little interesting fiction written about the struggle working parents have I was hopeful for the read. It's worth reading for the well-written paragraphs that do sum up a working woman's emotions about leaving a sick child, watching your baby cry as you leave and spending time away from family. I also identified with her passion for her career and managing the home details. Why is it so hard to understand that a woman can also WANT to work or not want to stay at home? Her best writing was when she questioned the double standards in our society about mom/dad roles and what is expected. How many of us have had to put up with the in-law remarks and all the double standards that come down so hard on women? Loved the analysis of stay at home moms as I have encountered all of those women and still don't understand why they hate women who work. I will never understand why men aren't asked "Why don't you want to stay home and raise your kids?" Agree with all the criticism from other reviews but guess I was so desperate to read about another working mum, I was willing to wade through the issues and applaud the good bits. Would enjoy a male viewpoint.
Rating: 
Summary: A slow read
Review: Being a working mom who constantly feels guilty about said work, the title of Pearson's novel caught my attention. But I was disappointed to find I couldn't relate to Kate at all and it was a long slow read on the stair stepper. The only reason I kept at it is because I don't like to leave anything unfinished. In the story, Kate always puts her job first. I've made it clear in my place of employment that I have higher commitments, my family; and I have no intention of traveling or staying for late meetings. I give my all when I'm in the office, but don't impose on my personal time. That said, I'll say I didn't feel sorry for Kate. I would love not having to work. I would love it if I felt I had a choice, but as one reviewer put it, I work so my child can live in a nice house, a good, safe neighborhood, so I can send him to college when the time comes. I think the story would be more interesting if the main character was a mom who HAD to work. That's more realistic. That would be someone I could empathize. There were a few (very few) chuckles, but overall, I did not enjoy this read.
Rating:
Summary: not reality
Review: I had heard wonderful things about this book. I had heard that it was the 'grown-up Bridget Jones', which initially turned me off. I decided to try it from my local library on a boring weekend. The inital review of Bridget Jones isn't too far off.It was amusing at first, but quickly became predictable. .... The moral of this story is 'if one is a working mum, one is a bad mum'. It has funny moments, but I think that, in reality, the story would have worked out much differently. I am a woman working in a man's world as well. I handle myself very professionally without resorting to her tactics and certainly without meekly accepting the sexual harassment. I am divorced and love it. I am not Kate Reddy and I don't want to be. Women, do not let your daughters read this book or Bridget Jones!
Rating:
Summary: Missing Out On Something Wonderful!
Review: As a working Mom, I identify with the tongue-in-cheek humor and frustrations of Kate...BUT I think this book misses the point made so beautifully in THE GRAVEL DRIVE by Kirk Martin (a MUST READ for ALL PARENTS!)....that our children have amazing and wondrous hearts to be explored...that will satisfy us (and more importantly, them) more than any career track or other pursuit. If you want to really understand the heart of a parent and a child, read The Gravel Drive. Then you'll see this work in a whole new light.
Rating: 
Summary: If You Work Outside the Home - Don't Buy This Book!!!!
Review: If I can stop one mom who works outside the home from buying this book I will be happy. Yes, there are funny moments but on the whole, this book was written to make working moms feel selfish, guilty and all in all bad mothers. I could barely read this book without crying. I only work 40 hours a week and rarely travel - but by Kate Reddy's standard - I am a bad mother because I don't keep a spotless house or cook every meal my children consume. Do children of working moms really hate them? Is it really impossible to have a balanced life? I hate to give away the ending but it will make any mom who has to work outside the home sick. If she put as much time into finding a balance - spending more time with her children and less climbing the corporate ladder or getting even with her stupid male co-workers - the book would have been more realistic. By the end of the book Kate Reddy is the perfect mother - her house is cleaned by her and she cooks every meal for her children. Luckily she also starts a successful home business that I am sure will require her to work only moments a day and that she will make a million dollars from. Trust me working moms - DON'T do it to yourself!
Rating: 
Summary: Working mums will TRULY relate to Kate
Review: As a fellow working mother I laughed (and cried) right along with Kate Reddy. The events and dialogue ring true, and sometimes I thought Allison Pearson had read my mind. Kate is British, so some references must be figured out by context, but any Anglophile will love this book. I didn't want this one to end; Kate is now a friend I'd like to receive hilarious emails from. When's the sequel coming out??
Rating:
Summary: Frustrating
Review: As a new mother, I had looked forward to this book, thinking it would give me insight regarding how to balance work and motherhood. Instead, the main character spends most of her time complaining about having too much work, yet hating spending vacation time with her kids (who drive her crazy.) The end was far fetched too. I would not recommend this books for new mothers.
Rating:
Summary: This gives ALL working mothers a bad rap
Review: I read this book because I am a full-time working mother with a 6 & 3 year old & because it was recommended on the Today Show, Oprah, radio, you name it. I was extremely angered & dismayed by the portrayal of Kate as the "typical" working mother. First of all, UNLIKE Kate, I do not put my job above all else. I don't travel much & my life is much more organized than Kate's. I don't work because I want to, I work because I have to. I work because I want to give my kids a good life, in a nice house & I want to have a savings account & send them to college & buy more than just macaroni & cheese for dinner. I have a supportive husband who helps out quite a bit & I don't have a cleaning lady or nanny. Would I like more time in my life, yes! Absolutely! But, I thought Kate's behavior throughout the book was shocking & quite unrealistic. Overall, I feel this book gives all working mothers a bad rap. Although it was well-written & evoked some happy & sad emotions while reading it, the message it sends to all mothers, whether they work or not, is terrible! Basically it says to be a really bad mother, put work above all else (at the sacrifice of everything in this life that means something), & ignore everyone's needs but your own to the detriment of your children, family & friends. No THANKS! You can keep it. Don't waste one minute of your time reading this book. It will only make you want to scream at the horrible portrayal of working mothers that is presented & shake some sense into Kate.
Rating: 
Summary: Funny in a Weird Way
Review: I think the author has captured our lives in a funny but weird kind of way. People who read the book have to admit to its truths and dead on correct explanations. Most women would like to work if they do not do so at this time, and most women would like to stay at home, if they do not do so at this time. Give it up ladies - we always want what we do not have. There are just certain books everyone INCLUDING spouses must read - as a book reviewer some of them in my home library are: I Don't KNow How She Does It, Mom They're Teasing Me, by Michael Thompson, Ph.D., The Price of Motherhood, by Ann Crittenden, Mommy-CEO ( Revised Edition), by Parent Educator and Family Columnist, Jodie Lynn, and Your Baby and Child to Age 5, by Dr. Penelope Leach and any book by Dr. Brazelton. These are the main stays of parenting. They are mostly positive leadership qualities and build incredible plans, goals and add unsual depth and meaning to the word and work of "raising a family." Ann Crittenden whines a little and this one is a bit whiny - but for a suggestion from one who must review books for a living - these are some of the best titles out on the market today that helps us all. It's just like anything else in life, take a little or take a lot of the author's words and use what works for your family and don't get so bent out of shape over books. They are only opinions and that's what makes the whole world go around. The authors I have mentioned have done an excellent job and you might want to consider in providing your family as well as yourself with the titles listed here.
Rating:
Summary: I Don't Know How She Does It
Review: I liked this book, although I did expect a funnier, more Bridget-Jones type of book from all the rave reviews it has received... I think this book is something any mother can relate to -working or not. It really is about the struggle between being a good mother & trying to balance out every aspect of your life. Worth reading.
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