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I Was Told It Would Get Easier
"Abbi Waxman is both irreverent and thoughtful."--#1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin Squashed among a bus full of strangers, mother-daughter duo Jessica and Emily Burnstein watch their carefully mapped-out college tour devolve into a series of off-roading misadventures, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill.
Jessica and Emily Burnstein have very different ideas of how this college tour should go. For Emily, it's a preview of freedom, exploring the possibility of her new and more exciting future. Not that she's sure she even wants to go to college, but let's ignore that for now. And maybe the other kids on the tour will like her more than the ones at school. . . . They have to, right? For Jessica, it's a chance to bond with the daughter she seems to have lost. They used to be so close, but then Goldfish crackers and Play-Doh were no longer enough of a draw. She isn't even sure if Emily likes her anymore. To be honest, Jessica isn't sure she likes herself. Together with a dozen strangers--and two familiar enemies--Jessica and Emily travel the East Coast, meeting up with family and old friends along the way. Surprises and secrets threaten their relationship and, in the end, change it forever.
Jessica and Emily Burnstein have very different ideas of how this college tour should go. For Emily, it's a preview of freedom, exploring the possibility of her new and more exciting future. Not that she's sure she even wants to go to college, but let's ignore that for now. And maybe the other kids on the tour will like her more than the ones at school. . . . They have to, right? For Jessica, it's a chance to bond with the daughter she seems to have lost. They used to be so close, but then Goldfish crackers and Play-Doh were no longer enough of a draw. She isn't even sure if Emily likes her anymore. To be honest, Jessica isn't sure she likes herself. Together with a dozen strangers--and two familiar enemies--Jessica and Emily travel the East Coast, meeting up with family and old friends along the way. Surprises and secrets threaten their relationship and, in the end, change it forever.
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First published June 16, 2020
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About the author
Abbi Waxman
12 books4,801 followersHi there. I'm a chocolate loving, dog loving writer living in Los Angeles. I sit down if I can, and lie down whenever possible. If you enjoy my book and would like a personalized, signed bookplate to go in it, email me your name and address and I'll send you one! abbi@amplecat.com
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March 6, 2021
Be sure to visit Bantering Books to read all my latest reviews.
Quick! Raise your hand if you’re a Gilmore Girls fan. (I am! I am! I am!)
Come on now. Don’t be shy. I know I’m not the sole remaining devotee of the show. 😉
I still, to this day, watch Gilmore Girls reruns. I love the unique relationship between Lorelai and Rory. I enjoy the snappy, witty dialogue. I wish Stars Hollow existed, so I could visit it. And when I was much younger . . . and single . . . Jess Mariano made for my ideal bad-boy boyfriend.
I have a feeling that if Abbi Waxman were here with me now, then she, too, would raise her hand. For her newest novel, I Was Told It Would Get Easier, clearly strives to be reminiscent in style and tone of the famously clever TV show. But alas, Jessica and Emily Burnstein, our mother-daughter protagonists of the novel, are no Lorelai and Rory Gilmore.
Embarking on a bus tour of various colleges on the East Coast, Jessica and sixteen-year-old Emily have a difference of opinion regarding what they hope to individually accomplish on the trip.
Jessica views the college tour as a growth opportunity for her relationship with Emily. She and Emily are not close, and they repeatedly misinterpret the other’s words and actions. They argue often and seem to relentlessly be at odds. At this point, Jessica is uncertain as to whether Emily likes her, much less loves her, and she is desperately praying that the trip will bridge the ever-widening gap between the two of them. Bonus, too, if Emily figures out which college she would like to attend and what she would like to do with her life.
Emily, on the other hand, is hoping the college tour will provide her with a glimpse of her future and rapidly approaching newfound freedom away from her mom. Emily isn’t even positive she wants to go to college, and she is crossing her fingers that perhaps the trip will shed some light on the subject either way. It also wouldn’t be a bad thing if she makes some new friends . . . or, you know, meets a cute boy.
Shenanigans ensue. Secrets are exposed. Personal revelations are manifested. And Jessica and Emily’s relationship is forever changed, in ways both wonderful and unexpected.
So, I have yet to read Waxman’s popular novel, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. But I’ve seen many rave reviews for it, and I’ve always felt confident that it would be to my liking. Therefore, I am a bit stunned to discover that I Was Told It Would Get Easier is just, sort of, blah. It’s kind of bland; it’s very vanilla. As a novel, it doesn’t really do much of anything or offer much to the reader in terms of interest and excitement.
The one thing the novel does do, and does moderately well, is quick, witty dialogue. Hence, my Gilmore Girls reference. Waxman admirably attempts to replicate the Lorelai and Rory relationship dynamic, by way of Jessica and Emily’s verbal sparring, and the narrative overflows with a similar brand of dry humor to that found in the TV show. Sometimes it works – the book has quite a few charming, fun, banter-filled moments. But other times it feels forced, almost as if Waxman’s true intent is to instead write another episode of Gilmore Girls, rather than a fresh and original novel. (And she even unwittingly reinforces this point by blatantly name-dropping both Stars Hollow and Gilmore Girls a handful of times throughout the story.)
Waxman unspools the narrative by switching back and forth between the viewpoints of Jessica and Emily, which works effectively. Both mother and daughter are likable and developed well, but unfortunately, there are occasions where their individual voices lack distinction. Numerous times, I found myself flipping back a few pages to remind myself of whose point of view was currently in front of my eyes.
My mind also wandered (A LOT) while reading. Sadly, the story is just not very compelling, and Waxman’s writing is noticeably simple and of a plain style. Absent from the narrative is the requisite depth to create full investment in the characters and story line.
Still, I Was Told It Would Get Easier is, I suppose, enjoyable enough. It’s a light, quick read that doesn’t require much effort and thought. And that’s not necessarily a negative, is it?
Three stars, it is. But I’m definitely not jumping to recommend it.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy from Edelweiss and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions included herein are my own.
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Quick! Raise your hand if you’re a Gilmore Girls fan. (I am! I am! I am!)
Come on now. Don’t be shy. I know I’m not the sole remaining devotee of the show. 😉
I still, to this day, watch Gilmore Girls reruns. I love the unique relationship between Lorelai and Rory. I enjoy the snappy, witty dialogue. I wish Stars Hollow existed, so I could visit it. And when I was much younger . . . and single . . . Jess Mariano made for my ideal bad-boy boyfriend.
I have a feeling that if Abbi Waxman were here with me now, then she, too, would raise her hand. For her newest novel, I Was Told It Would Get Easier, clearly strives to be reminiscent in style and tone of the famously clever TV show. But alas, Jessica and Emily Burnstein, our mother-daughter protagonists of the novel, are no Lorelai and Rory Gilmore.
Embarking on a bus tour of various colleges on the East Coast, Jessica and sixteen-year-old Emily have a difference of opinion regarding what they hope to individually accomplish on the trip.
Jessica views the college tour as a growth opportunity for her relationship with Emily. She and Emily are not close, and they repeatedly misinterpret the other’s words and actions. They argue often and seem to relentlessly be at odds. At this point, Jessica is uncertain as to whether Emily likes her, much less loves her, and she is desperately praying that the trip will bridge the ever-widening gap between the two of them. Bonus, too, if Emily figures out which college she would like to attend and what she would like to do with her life.
Emily, on the other hand, is hoping the college tour will provide her with a glimpse of her future and rapidly approaching newfound freedom away from her mom. Emily isn’t even positive she wants to go to college, and she is crossing her fingers that perhaps the trip will shed some light on the subject either way. It also wouldn’t be a bad thing if she makes some new friends . . . or, you know, meets a cute boy.
Shenanigans ensue. Secrets are exposed. Personal revelations are manifested. And Jessica and Emily’s relationship is forever changed, in ways both wonderful and unexpected.
So, I have yet to read Waxman’s popular novel, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. But I’ve seen many rave reviews for it, and I’ve always felt confident that it would be to my liking. Therefore, I am a bit stunned to discover that I Was Told It Would Get Easier is just, sort of, blah. It’s kind of bland; it’s very vanilla. As a novel, it doesn’t really do much of anything or offer much to the reader in terms of interest and excitement.
The one thing the novel does do, and does moderately well, is quick, witty dialogue. Hence, my Gilmore Girls reference. Waxman admirably attempts to replicate the Lorelai and Rory relationship dynamic, by way of Jessica and Emily’s verbal sparring, and the narrative overflows with a similar brand of dry humor to that found in the TV show. Sometimes it works – the book has quite a few charming, fun, banter-filled moments. But other times it feels forced, almost as if Waxman’s true intent is to instead write another episode of Gilmore Girls, rather than a fresh and original novel. (And she even unwittingly reinforces this point by blatantly name-dropping both Stars Hollow and Gilmore Girls a handful of times throughout the story.)
Waxman unspools the narrative by switching back and forth between the viewpoints of Jessica and Emily, which works effectively. Both mother and daughter are likable and developed well, but unfortunately, there are occasions where their individual voices lack distinction. Numerous times, I found myself flipping back a few pages to remind myself of whose point of view was currently in front of my eyes.
My mind also wandered (A LOT) while reading. Sadly, the story is just not very compelling, and Waxman’s writing is noticeably simple and of a plain style. Absent from the narrative is the requisite depth to create full investment in the characters and story line.
Still, I Was Told It Would Get Easier is, I suppose, enjoyable enough. It’s a light, quick read that doesn’t require much effort and thought. And that’s not necessarily a negative, is it?
Three stars, it is. But I’m definitely not jumping to recommend it.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy from Edelweiss and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions included herein are my own.
Bantering Books
August 19, 2020
Sweet, sassy, emotional, entertaining story about #metoo movement dances with tight pressure about college applications, generation gap, communication breakdown and sweet mother and daughter’s journey about breaking the barriers and reforming their tight family bonds!
I’m a big fan of the author’s incredible sense of humor and original approach to help us get lost in her characters’ different functioning minds. I liked two versions of a mother and daughter’s POVS to the same events emphasizing their differences, resentfulness which slowly damages their relationship.
Successful, ambitious, tough lawyer Jessica, 45, single mom, stands for her colleague to get the promotion she deserved and threats him to quit her job before leaving for the tour to East Coast Colleges she’ll take with her teenage daughter (16) Emily. And Emily just runs away from something she did at the school. She just doesn’t want to face it and has no intention to share with her mom.
Their trip turns into something enlightening, meeting with old friends, some of the colleagues. So we’re introducing so many livid, likeable and well-drafted characters.
This is a sweet, soft, enjoyable, feel-good, women’s fiction and lovely mother and daughter relationship story. I have to admit I enjoyed “Bookish Life of Nina Hill” more. It was one of my best reads of the last year. But this book is also well-written, easy to read with lots of funny quotes and we catch so many sparkles of author’s unique witty mind as usual. I both love Emily and Jessica. And the supporting characters are also adorable. So I’m giving four shiny, soft, swoony, lovely stars. Abbi Waxman did again! She made me put a big smile on my face! Atta girl!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this incredible ARC in exchange my silliest dance moves, of course I’m kidding, in exchange my honest review. (I was checking to make sure you’re reading my thanking part!)
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I’m a big fan of the author’s incredible sense of humor and original approach to help us get lost in her characters’ different functioning minds. I liked two versions of a mother and daughter’s POVS to the same events emphasizing their differences, resentfulness which slowly damages their relationship.
Successful, ambitious, tough lawyer Jessica, 45, single mom, stands for her colleague to get the promotion she deserved and threats him to quit her job before leaving for the tour to East Coast Colleges she’ll take with her teenage daughter (16) Emily. And Emily just runs away from something she did at the school. She just doesn’t want to face it and has no intention to share with her mom.
Their trip turns into something enlightening, meeting with old friends, some of the colleagues. So we’re introducing so many livid, likeable and well-drafted characters.
This is a sweet, soft, enjoyable, feel-good, women’s fiction and lovely mother and daughter relationship story. I have to admit I enjoyed “Bookish Life of Nina Hill” more. It was one of my best reads of the last year. But this book is also well-written, easy to read with lots of funny quotes and we catch so many sparkles of author’s unique witty mind as usual. I both love Emily and Jessica. And the supporting characters are also adorable. So I’m giving four shiny, soft, swoony, lovely stars. Abbi Waxman did again! She made me put a big smile on my face! Atta girl!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this incredible ARC in exchange my silliest dance moves, of course I’m kidding, in exchange my honest review. (I was checking to make sure you’re reading my thanking part!)
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March 31, 2021
Jessica is a one-woman powerhouse. Lawyer and mother, she's thought she's seen it all...but nothing and I mean nothing could have prepared her for this.
“Beauty always fades, but it lasts so much longer if you lay a thick layer of intelligence and integrity underneath it.”
Not the courtrooms, nor the late nights could have ever gotten her ready for a teenager.
They love to criticize us for being on our phones, despite the fact that their generation created the phones, marketed the phones, and are profiting from the phones.But all that's going to change on Jessica (and Emily's) college-tour-roadtrip.
There will be fights.
It's what you do with it that matters! It's all the goddamn same!!There will be mayhem.
Regret is one of those emotions that outpunches reality: Even if you 100 percent could not have done things differently, it still pops up and takes a jab.It's the world's most wonderful and most terrible job, and if you do it well enough, you get fired.Oh man. This was a wonderful little book.
It took me back to those times where my teenage self was coming to terms with adulthood.
How I simultaneously needed my mom for every aspect and needed a continent's worth of space between.
I loved the way the book developed and how the mother and daughter's relationship changed.
Such a truly unforgettable book!
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June 15, 2020
Abbi Waxman explores a mother-daughter dynamic in this humorous coming of age story of a college tour that whilst seeing miss-steps, goes on to see them reconnect, understand each other better, with both developing a stronger sense of self as a result. 45 year old single mom, Jessica Bernstein, is a high powered lawyer and partner at a prestigious LA law firm, a position she has gained by sacrificing spending more time with the apple of her eye, her 16 year old daughter, Emily. Jessica feels she needed to do this to give Emily every advantage, private school, nanny, and now ensuring that she can fund what she feels is an essential college education. Well grounded, with a strong moral compass, just like Jessica, Emily is feeling insecure when it comes to her mother's love, feeling she comes last in Jessica's priorities.
Both are keeping key aspects of what is happening in their lives from each other as they embark with uncertainty on a college tour, amidst which they meet friends, family and an ex-lover, with Emily unsure about what she wants and feeling that college is more than likely not for her. On the tour are Dani and Alex Ackerman, an unpleasant surprise, along with some other competitive, elitist and judgemental parents and their pressurised teens. College places are fiercely fought over, with some parents willing to cross lines to ensure their child gets the scarce and coveted place as they trample over the rights of others. However, the stage is set for Jessica to see that her worries about being a poor parent are unjustified, as her perspective is broadened by the eye-opening knowledge that other parents experience similar issues when it comes to their relationships with their children.
Waxman skilfully depicts the fraught family drama between Jessica and Emily, who have more in common than they realise, particularly when it comes to values they share. The current environment when it comes to college admission places huge if differing pressures on parents and their children, this is sharply observed, with the inclusion of parents breaking the law as we have seen in our contemporary world. Both Jessica and Emily are addicted to their phones and posting on social media, a crucial avenue to connecting with friends and the world, whilst for Jessica, it is a medium through which her law firm has her continuing to work, despite it being her time to be with her daughter. This is a fun and entertaining read, whilst simultaneously exploring the serious issues that afflict parents and teens in the modern world. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
Both are keeping key aspects of what is happening in their lives from each other as they embark with uncertainty on a college tour, amidst which they meet friends, family and an ex-lover, with Emily unsure about what she wants and feeling that college is more than likely not for her. On the tour are Dani and Alex Ackerman, an unpleasant surprise, along with some other competitive, elitist and judgemental parents and their pressurised teens. College places are fiercely fought over, with some parents willing to cross lines to ensure their child gets the scarce and coveted place as they trample over the rights of others. However, the stage is set for Jessica to see that her worries about being a poor parent are unjustified, as her perspective is broadened by the eye-opening knowledge that other parents experience similar issues when it comes to their relationships with their children.
Waxman skilfully depicts the fraught family drama between Jessica and Emily, who have more in common than they realise, particularly when it comes to values they share. The current environment when it comes to college admission places huge if differing pressures on parents and their children, this is sharply observed, with the inclusion of parents breaking the law as we have seen in our contemporary world. Both Jessica and Emily are addicted to their phones and posting on social media, a crucial avenue to connecting with friends and the world, whilst for Jessica, it is a medium through which her law firm has her continuing to work, despite it being her time to be with her daughter. This is a fun and entertaining read, whilst simultaneously exploring the serious issues that afflict parents and teens in the modern world. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
August 5, 2020
This was fine! Not a necessarily a new favorite, but as someone who is about to go back to school for the first time in seven years (😬😬😬), it was fun to read about the pre-college experience/excitement and I definitely recommend if you want something light and and fun to dip into!
June 21, 2020
"The Beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." - B.B. King
Kids, inevitably they grow up. But before they do, they leave that cute cuddly phase and enter the eye rolling, talking back, pushing the limits phase which occurs right before flexing their wings and leaving home. In this book, successful attorney and single mother, Jessica is looking forward to the college tour she and her daughter are about to embark on. She hopes that they will do some bonding, spend special moments together while her daughter decides where she wants to go to college. For Emily, the college tour is about deciding where she wants to go to college while (insert eye roll) she has to spend time with her Mother who is a successful attorney who is glued to her phone and seems to have more time for the woman she mentors than for her own child.
Once the college tour begins, they are thrown in with strangers and a familiar mother daughter duo who neither Jessica or Emily or too thrilled to see. But one of them has a secret and while visiting colleges, getting into tiffs, some Kvetching, and eye rolling, the two manage to visit family, get work done, make new friends, and in the end learns some truths about each other.
Abbi Waxman blew me away with The Bookish Life of Nina Hill and I went into this book with very high hopes. Perhaps my hopes were a tad too high. This book was just missing that little bit of something which would have made the book more enjoyable for me. Nevertheless, I enjoyed how she portrayed Jessica and Emily's relationship. Both had her own issues going into the college tour. I enjoyed their back and forth and reading each's thoughts about their interactions and motivations. Their relationship felt realistic and believable.
I found this to be an enjoyable light read. Well written, nicely paced and realistic.
I received a copy of this book from Berkley Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 25, 2020
After having loved quirky Nina Hill and her bookish life, I could not wait to see what Abbi Waxman brought us next in I Was Told It Would Get Easier.
Emily has her sights set on college when she and her mother, Jessica, schedule a big college tour all over the east coast.
Jessica is excited about the tour with her daughter, thinking they’ll have time to bond and reconnect before Emily leaves the nest. They have grown apart as often happens with teen daughters; friends becoming more important. Jessica turns inward, though. She’s unhappy with herself and doesn’t blame her daughter for not liking her much.
Emily has her own share of personal struggles. She feels like no one at school likes her, and she wonders if college will be more of the same.
I enjoyed this glimpse into mother-daughter relationships. Jessica and Emily insightful, and they share their innermost thoughts with the reader. I found the tour set-up entertaining, where they see different relatives and friends along the way, and Jessica’s wittiness kept me smiling.
Overall, I Was Told It Would Get Easier was a thoughtful, clever, feel-good read, and I’m ready to see what Waxman brings us next!
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Emily has her sights set on college when she and her mother, Jessica, schedule a big college tour all over the east coast.
Jessica is excited about the tour with her daughter, thinking they’ll have time to bond and reconnect before Emily leaves the nest. They have grown apart as often happens with teen daughters; friends becoming more important. Jessica turns inward, though. She’s unhappy with herself and doesn’t blame her daughter for not liking her much.
Emily has her own share of personal struggles. She feels like no one at school likes her, and she wonders if college will be more of the same.
I enjoyed this glimpse into mother-daughter relationships. Jessica and Emily insightful, and they share their innermost thoughts with the reader. I found the tour set-up entertaining, where they see different relatives and friends along the way, and Jessica’s wittiness kept me smiling.
Overall, I Was Told It Would Get Easier was a thoughtful, clever, feel-good read, and I’m ready to see what Waxman brings us next!
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
May 12, 2020
3.5
Truly a case of “It’s me and not you!”
Lawyer and Single Mom Jessica, and her 16 year old daughter Emily
are about to spend a week together, touring potential colleges.
Emily doesn’t want to go college, but she hasn’t told her Mother yet.
She does however, want to get away from her school and a “sticky situation”so she figures a week away might be good..
This was a VERY dialogue driven story, told from the alternating perspectives of Jessica and Emily.
Mother and daughter both have a witty “sense of humor” and to the author’s credit, when I was reading Emily’s chapters they had a YA feel to them, so each character definitely had a distinctive voice.
But, where I could totally connect with “The Bookish Life of Nina Hill”, this just wasn’t a story that I could relate to personally, despite the talented writing!
I do think that Mothers and Daughters, especially those who have spent time touring schools together, will definitely find this more satisfying than I did!
Thanks to the Publisher for providing a digital ARC through Edelweiss, exchange for a candid review!
Expected publication date is June 16, 2020!
Truly a case of “It’s me and not you!”
Lawyer and Single Mom Jessica, and her 16 year old daughter Emily
are about to spend a week together, touring potential colleges.
Emily doesn’t want to go college, but she hasn’t told her Mother yet.
She does however, want to get away from her school and a “sticky situation”so she figures a week away might be good..
This was a VERY dialogue driven story, told from the alternating perspectives of Jessica and Emily.
Mother and daughter both have a witty “sense of humor” and to the author’s credit, when I was reading Emily’s chapters they had a YA feel to them, so each character definitely had a distinctive voice.
But, where I could totally connect with “The Bookish Life of Nina Hill”, this just wasn’t a story that I could relate to personally, despite the talented writing!
I do think that Mothers and Daughters, especially those who have spent time touring schools together, will definitely find this more satisfying than I did!
Thanks to the Publisher for providing a digital ARC through Edelweiss, exchange for a candid review!
Expected publication date is June 16, 2020!
July 20, 2020
Abby Waxman does it again! This was another humorous, relatable, entertaining, and brilliant book! I had the pleasure of meeting Abbi Waxman at a book event this past year and she is as delightful and funny as you would think. Now I think I will be in the minority on this but I found this book even more relatable than Nina Hill. While I really understood Nina‘s love for books, I’m not really introverted. I do however completely understand the complicated dynamics of the mother daughter relationship, having both been a mother of a daughter and a daughter myself. This was the story of mother Jessica and daughter Emily on a college tour trip. Jessica is a hard-working single mother and even though her job as a successful lawyer might not allow her to spend as much time with her child as she would like, it’s all so Emily can have the best possible life. Emily is pretty sure her mother completely does not understand her and isn’t even entirely convinced that she even likes her. To make things more complicated Emily is not certain she wants to go to college. The tour goes to most of the best schools on the East Coast including Jessica‘s Alma mater Columbia. It is a trip full of bonding,self discovery, secret sharing, truth telling, old friend visiting, Old loves, first loves, unexpected friendship, family, and laughs. The book also touched on some current events including the admission scandals and #MeToo.
The story bounced between Jessica and Emily‘s perspectives, and I thought this was so well done. Abbi Waxman did a wonderful job with the teenage perspective. Book even had a different kind of younger vibe when you were reading it from Emily‘s POV. I really liked both of these characters and enjoyed getting to know them better. I also really wanted them to realize how much they truly meant to one another and all it really would take is a few honest words. I also really enjoyed all the secondary characters especially Danny and his son Jack. Another warm, whimsical, and witty tale from this talented author.
This book in emojis 🚌 💅🏻 👩👧 🕶 🧳
*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
The story bounced between Jessica and Emily‘s perspectives, and I thought this was so well done. Abbi Waxman did a wonderful job with the teenage perspective. Book even had a different kind of younger vibe when you were reading it from Emily‘s POV. I really liked both of these characters and enjoyed getting to know them better. I also really wanted them to realize how much they truly meant to one another and all it really would take is a few honest words. I also really enjoyed all the secondary characters especially Danny and his son Jack. Another warm, whimsical, and witty tale from this talented author.
This book in emojis 🚌 💅🏻 👩👧 🕶 🧳
*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
January 26, 2021
I love being a mom, and when Emily was little, it was wonderful. She was a fat, round, good-humored baby, like sunshine dipped in butter. When she said her first word, and it was Mom, I felt like I won the lottery.I Was Told It Would Get Easier tells the story of Jessica and Emily Burnstein, a 45-year-old single mother and her 16-year-old daughter, as they spend a week on the East Coast on a series of college tours.* Their relationship has been a bit rocky lately, and both see the trip as a chance to reconnect. But the timing couldn’t be worse. Jessica just put her law firm partnership on the line trying to do the right thing for her mentee. Meanwhile, Emily is stressed because ... well, I better not say, as her secret drives quite a bit of the story.
...
Sometimes she has so much faith in me it freaks me out. Unconditional love is cool and everything, but not when you suspect you’re unworthy of it.
The best parts of the story for me are Jessica and Emily’s inner monologues and banter. Both characters are intelligent and funny and easy to root for. The book alternates between their first-person perspectives, so we often see moments from each of their sides and see how often they misunderstand each other. The book hits on themes that are timeless: the relationships between mothers and daughters, the emotional roller coaster that is adolescence (and trying to raise a teenager), and the additional pressures on kids today due to social media. This book also—and uniquely in Ms. Waxman’s books so far—has a lot to say about a topical news story: the college admissions process and its recent scandals, and the ugliness of the competition between parents to get their kids into the “best” schools.
I thought the ending of the book was pretty abrupt, with a few plot threads left unresolved, though I did like Emily’s decision about college. And while the FBI was certainly vital to the actual Operation Varsity Blues (still an awesome name), their presence here is a bit odd. Still, I Was Told It Would Get Easier is an entertaining, charming, feel-good read. Recommended, though you should start with The Bookish Life of Nina Hill if you haven’t read anything by Ms. Waxman before. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
*Specifically, they are on a professional tour package winding their way up the coast from Washington DC to New York City and touring 11 colleges in 6 days. With ten other families. And theme breakfasts. I’ve taken two kids on college tours, and you’d have to pay me to go on a tour package like the one in this book. It sounds like a tenth circle of hell that even Dante couldn’t have imagined. 😄
June 11, 2020
Jessica Burnstein is a single mum to Emily and a very successful attorney in Los Angeles. Emily is 16, considering her future, is not enamoured of school or the idea of college though she is hardworking. The two go on an organised college tour of prestigious east coast colleges with other aspiring parents. The story is told in alternating perspectives by Jessica and Emily.
This is an enjoyable read with some smart, funny dialogue with plenty of irony. Jessica is a principled high achiever and is very prepared to stand up for herself, her daughter and those she mentors at work. Like most parents, Jessica beats herself up but she really does the best she can for Emily. The depiction of the pendulum of a mother/daughter relationship is captured really well - the unpredictability, the ability to half say, not say, the treading on eggshells and so on. At least Emily didn’t ‘communicate’ in grunts!! I love reading Emily’s thoughts , she’s a really good character possessing an excellent moral compass and honesty, she’s wise, true to herself and knows what she really wants. I like how the time spent on the tour allows them to properly see each other and to remake a connection. I enjoy the alternating points of view and it’s interesting that their thoughts align more than oppose.
What can I say about the tour? I think I’d rather stick pins in my eyes that be stuck with some of those parents! One of the best moments is when Cassidy the tour guide rips into some of them at the end of the book to a round of applause from me! We have snobbery to the nth degree, we must get the ‘right’ school, the prefect scores and so on. No wonder teens are stressed with all that uber competitiveness and pressure from parents. It also made me think about how much harder it is to be a teenager than in my day as apart from anything else we didn’t have social media scrutinising and judging our very move.
Overall, a really entertaining book with moments of humour some of which made me laugh out loud, there’s empathy with the difficulties of being both a parent and a teen and with ideas to reflect and ponder on.
With thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC.
This is an enjoyable read with some smart, funny dialogue with plenty of irony. Jessica is a principled high achiever and is very prepared to stand up for herself, her daughter and those she mentors at work. Like most parents, Jessica beats herself up but she really does the best she can for Emily. The depiction of the pendulum of a mother/daughter relationship is captured really well - the unpredictability, the ability to half say, not say, the treading on eggshells and so on. At least Emily didn’t ‘communicate’ in grunts!! I love reading Emily’s thoughts , she’s a really good character possessing an excellent moral compass and honesty, she’s wise, true to herself and knows what she really wants. I like how the time spent on the tour allows them to properly see each other and to remake a connection. I enjoy the alternating points of view and it’s interesting that their thoughts align more than oppose.
What can I say about the tour? I think I’d rather stick pins in my eyes that be stuck with some of those parents! One of the best moments is when Cassidy the tour guide rips into some of them at the end of the book to a round of applause from me! We have snobbery to the nth degree, we must get the ‘right’ school, the prefect scores and so on. No wonder teens are stressed with all that uber competitiveness and pressure from parents. It also made me think about how much harder it is to be a teenager than in my day as apart from anything else we didn’t have social media scrutinising and judging our very move.
Overall, a really entertaining book with moments of humour some of which made me laugh out loud, there’s empathy with the difficulties of being both a parent and a teen and with ideas to reflect and ponder on.
With thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC.
August 6, 2020
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Who knew that a week-long trip to look at colleges would be so full of drama?
There’s an old “Far Side” comic which had a split screen of a man and a woman. The man is thinking about the woman, wondering if she's thinking about him, too. The woman is thinking about ice cream. The caption of the comic is “Same Planet, Different Worlds.”
I thought of that comic a lot while reading Abbi Waxman’s new book, I Was Told It Would Get Easier .
Jessica has worked hard to provide a comfortable life for her daughter, Emily. Sure, working those long hours meant she couldn’t always be there for her daughter, but Emily was able to go to an excellent school and has a great future ahead of her. So what if the live-in nanny raised her a little bit more than Jessica did?
The two participate in a week-long, cross-country tour of colleges. But while Jessica wants Emily to get into a good school, Emily isn’t even sure she wants to go to college, and doesn’t have a clue what she wants from life. Plus she's hiding a secret from her mother, and her mother has something she's not sharing with Emily either.
Of course, this only ratchets up the tensions between them. Emily feels that Jessica only cares about her job; Jessica feels like she’s always walking on eggshells with her daughter. And as they deal with a tight schedule, ultra-competitive parents, and visitors from Jessica’s past, the two will learn a lot about each other—and themselves—on this trip.
This was a sweet book which looked at the always-complicated relationship between mother and daughter (particularly teenage daughters). It alternated narration between the two, so it was interesting to see how differently each perceived what was happening and their interactions. (Hence my thinking about the "Far Side" comic.)
It’s not fun to spend a lot of time with a sullen, unhappy person, so at times Emily’s behavior—however understandable—took a little of the enjoyment out of the book for me. But I love the way Waxman writes, so I kept with it, and in the end, was left with a fun story. (And speaking of Waxman's writings, her last book, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill was excellent!)
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Who knew that a week-long trip to look at colleges would be so full of drama?
There’s an old “Far Side” comic which had a split screen of a man and a woman. The man is thinking about the woman, wondering if she's thinking about him, too. The woman is thinking about ice cream. The caption of the comic is “Same Planet, Different Worlds.”
I thought of that comic a lot while reading Abbi Waxman’s new book, I Was Told It Would Get Easier .
Jessica has worked hard to provide a comfortable life for her daughter, Emily. Sure, working those long hours meant she couldn’t always be there for her daughter, but Emily was able to go to an excellent school and has a great future ahead of her. So what if the live-in nanny raised her a little bit more than Jessica did?
The two participate in a week-long, cross-country tour of colleges. But while Jessica wants Emily to get into a good school, Emily isn’t even sure she wants to go to college, and doesn’t have a clue what she wants from life. Plus she's hiding a secret from her mother, and her mother has something she's not sharing with Emily either.
Of course, this only ratchets up the tensions between them. Emily feels that Jessica only cares about her job; Jessica feels like she’s always walking on eggshells with her daughter. And as they deal with a tight schedule, ultra-competitive parents, and visitors from Jessica’s past, the two will learn a lot about each other—and themselves—on this trip.
This was a sweet book which looked at the always-complicated relationship between mother and daughter (particularly teenage daughters). It alternated narration between the two, so it was interesting to see how differently each perceived what was happening and their interactions. (Hence my thinking about the "Far Side" comic.)
It’s not fun to spend a lot of time with a sullen, unhappy person, so at times Emily’s behavior—however understandable—took a little of the enjoyment out of the book for me. But I love the way Waxman writes, so I kept with it, and in the end, was left with a fun story. (And speaking of Waxman's writings, her last book, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill was excellent!)
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
March 13, 2020
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
I Was Told It Would Get Easier is all about how . . .
Parenting teenagers is something of a shit show.
Jessica and her daughter Emily are taking a week long trip with a group of other parents and children to tour various East Coast colleges. The intention was for a bonding experience, but not only do Jessica and Emily seem to no longer speak the same language, but Jessica is dealing with multiple work crises and Emily is waiting for the shoe to drop regarding a cheating scandal at her high school.
While I'm sure you don’t have to be a parent to enjoy this one, it sure adds another dimension due to its relatability. Finding a balance between work and home life, raising a “normal” kid in a world full of overachievers and other types of parents . . . . .
And praying the worst thing that happens is you have someone like this living in your house . . . .
Rather than someone like this . . . .
Bottom line . . . .
It’s the world’s most wonderful and most terrible job, and if you do it well enough, you get fired.
And the greatest thing of all? My best friend Frances from Other People’s Houses makes a cameo appearance. To that I have only one thing to say . . . .
Waxman is definitely the queen of the "momcom."
Advanced copy provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
I Was Told It Would Get Easier is all about how . . .
Parenting teenagers is something of a shit show.
Jessica and her daughter Emily are taking a week long trip with a group of other parents and children to tour various East Coast colleges. The intention was for a bonding experience, but not only do Jessica and Emily seem to no longer speak the same language, but Jessica is dealing with multiple work crises and Emily is waiting for the shoe to drop regarding a cheating scandal at her high school.
While I'm sure you don’t have to be a parent to enjoy this one, it sure adds another dimension due to its relatability. Finding a balance between work and home life, raising a “normal” kid in a world full of overachievers and other types of parents . . . . .
And praying the worst thing that happens is you have someone like this living in your house . . . .
Rather than someone like this . . . .
Bottom line . . . .
It’s the world’s most wonderful and most terrible job, and if you do it well enough, you get fired.
And the greatest thing of all? My best friend Frances from Other People’s Houses makes a cameo appearance. To that I have only one thing to say . . . .
Waxman is definitely the queen of the "momcom."
Advanced copy provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2020
I was Told It Would Get Easier is a sweet, heartwarming and extremely entertaining story of what it's like to be a teenager in the modern world and what it's like to be that teenager's mother.
Jessica Burnstein is a 45year-old high-powered lawyer and a single mum by choice. It is impossible not to love this character. Jessica is smart, witty (actually, the beginning of the book reminded me of stand-up comedy), kind, supportive, humble, and strong. She stands up for two of her female colleagues who are about to miss being made partners in her law firm on the absurd pretext that people would think it was a token gesture due to unsavoury behaviour by one of the former partners. Jessica threatens to quit unless her boss makes the board see how wrong this sexist decision would be. She has one week to consider possible consequences during a college tour trip with her sixteen year old daughter Emily. Emily is also keen to keep a low profile for a few days due to mysterious trouble at school. Jessica knows their relationship isn't as straightforward as it used to be before her sweet kid became a moody sulky teenager. However hard she tries to communicate, more often than not their conversations turn into arguments.
This is a character-driven story. The plot is just based around Emily and Jessica's college tour and their interactions with other college-obsessed parents and children and meeting a few of Jessica's old friends, but the characters... I absolutely adored them. The story is told in alternating POVs and this dual mother-daughter perspective gives you a great insight into how similar their reactions to various events are and what is happening in their relationship. Jessica reflects on the fact that her job as parent seems to be almost done- Emily is about to leave the nest and start living her adult life- and how for all parents on this trip their obsession with colleges may be their last chance to protect and ensure a better future for their children. She also thinks a lot about her own parents who helped her a lot when Emily was a baby which allowed Jessica to build her professional career by doing something she loved.
I would of course recommend this story to parents of teenagers or young adults who would strongly identify with the pressures and dilemmas the main characters are grappling with. The pressure to be a perfect parent whether you are a stay at home full time mum who is afraid that she hasn't taught her children to be independent because she was too available, or a working mother whose daughter is jealous of her co-workers because they get to see her more often. Or the pressure of being a teenager who has to fit in and stand out in the right way to be interesting, not weird, with perfect grades and perfect online image. All of this while trying to figure out what to do in future.
I am a big fan of Abbi Waxman's sense of humour. The banter is fabulous. I really couldn't help laughing out loud. The whole book is just sweet, light-hearted and enjoyable, a perfect summer read.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Jessica Burnstein is a 45year-old high-powered lawyer and a single mum by choice. It is impossible not to love this character. Jessica is smart, witty (actually, the beginning of the book reminded me of stand-up comedy), kind, supportive, humble, and strong. She stands up for two of her female colleagues who are about to miss being made partners in her law firm on the absurd pretext that people would think it was a token gesture due to unsavoury behaviour by one of the former partners. Jessica threatens to quit unless her boss makes the board see how wrong this sexist decision would be. She has one week to consider possible consequences during a college tour trip with her sixteen year old daughter Emily. Emily is also keen to keep a low profile for a few days due to mysterious trouble at school. Jessica knows their relationship isn't as straightforward as it used to be before her sweet kid became a moody sulky teenager. However hard she tries to communicate, more often than not their conversations turn into arguments.
This is a character-driven story. The plot is just based around Emily and Jessica's college tour and their interactions with other college-obsessed parents and children and meeting a few of Jessica's old friends, but the characters... I absolutely adored them. The story is told in alternating POVs and this dual mother-daughter perspective gives you a great insight into how similar their reactions to various events are and what is happening in their relationship. Jessica reflects on the fact that her job as parent seems to be almost done- Emily is about to leave the nest and start living her adult life- and how for all parents on this trip their obsession with colleges may be their last chance to protect and ensure a better future for their children. She also thinks a lot about her own parents who helped her a lot when Emily was a baby which allowed Jessica to build her professional career by doing something she loved.
I would of course recommend this story to parents of teenagers or young adults who would strongly identify with the pressures and dilemmas the main characters are grappling with. The pressure to be a perfect parent whether you are a stay at home full time mum who is afraid that she hasn't taught her children to be independent because she was too available, or a working mother whose daughter is jealous of her co-workers because they get to see her more often. Or the pressure of being a teenager who has to fit in and stand out in the right way to be interesting, not weird, with perfect grades and perfect online image. All of this while trying to figure out what to do in future.
I am a big fan of Abbi Waxman's sense of humour. The banter is fabulous. I really couldn't help laughing out loud. The whole book is just sweet, light-hearted and enjoyable, a perfect summer read.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
June 24, 2020
3.5 stars!
A mother-daughter college tour that tests their relationship in hilarious ways—with a few surprises along the way.
Humor: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★ 1/2
POV transitions ★★
Jessica Burnstein doesn't know how to talk to her daughter anymore. She barely understands her, she's not sure how to help her understand that all she wants is for Emily to be happy, and she sure as heck isn't sure how to fix where they are now.
Emily Burnstein doesn't know how to talk to her mother anymore. She doesn't understand why her mother barely talks to her, she's sick of coming in last in her mom's priorities, and she resents the pressure to be perfect.
This mother/daughter duo is about to be tested in ways that they never expected: it's time for a college tour road trip. Jessica and Emily are signed up for an exclusive, only-for-the-best college bound students tour package with students with more extracurriculars and special skills than empathy, and parents that make the term "Helicopter Parent" seem too kind.
Will they bend and break, or will this tour finally get them to let their guards down?
What I liked:
The selling point of this novel, for me, was its humor. This is a funny novel, no doubt about it. If you need a conversational pick-me-up or a distracting afternoon, this is the perfect pick. I loved the antics, the humor, and the utter relatability of family dynamics gone sour.
What I didn't like:
I really had a hard time with the choppy POV transitions. It was nice to have both Jessica's and Emily's POVs, but it was not chapter to chapter... it was almost page to page in some spots. It was too much for me—I'd barely get my grip on one scene and then have it flipped for me as we switched perspectives. It was a bit like generational whiplash, as these rapid-fire transitions were meant to give us a window into the daughter's AND mother's point of view as close to the event as possible.
Thank you to Berkley for a giveaway ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A mother-daughter college tour that tests their relationship in hilarious ways—with a few surprises along the way.
Humor: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★ 1/2
POV transitions ★★
Jessica Burnstein doesn't know how to talk to her daughter anymore. She barely understands her, she's not sure how to help her understand that all she wants is for Emily to be happy, and she sure as heck isn't sure how to fix where they are now.
Emily Burnstein doesn't know how to talk to her mother anymore. She doesn't understand why her mother barely talks to her, she's sick of coming in last in her mom's priorities, and she resents the pressure to be perfect.
This mother/daughter duo is about to be tested in ways that they never expected: it's time for a college tour road trip. Jessica and Emily are signed up for an exclusive, only-for-the-best college bound students tour package with students with more extracurriculars and special skills than empathy, and parents that make the term "Helicopter Parent" seem too kind.
Will they bend and break, or will this tour finally get them to let their guards down?
What I liked:
The selling point of this novel, for me, was its humor. This is a funny novel, no doubt about it. If you need a conversational pick-me-up or a distracting afternoon, this is the perfect pick. I loved the antics, the humor, and the utter relatability of family dynamics gone sour.
What I didn't like:
I really had a hard time with the choppy POV transitions. It was nice to have both Jessica's and Emily's POVs, but it was not chapter to chapter... it was almost page to page in some spots. It was too much for me—I'd barely get my grip on one scene and then have it flipped for me as we switched perspectives. It was a bit like generational whiplash, as these rapid-fire transitions were meant to give us a window into the daughter's AND mother's point of view as close to the event as possible.
Thank you to Berkley for a giveaway ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2020
I Was Told it Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman
Contemporary fiction. Chick lit.
A mother and teen daughter deal with their relationship with each other and their current life issues during a scouting college trip.
Alternating chapters from both the mother and daughter’s point of view.
Well written from both perspectives showing work and life conflicts of a teenager on the verge of adulthood and a mother with career questions.
I loved the story and the relationships. True to life arguments and self discovery.
Sweet with a bit of humor and wit.
“OMG, I’m turning into my daughter!”
“OMG, the boy showed up and offered my furious daughter some chocolate. There goes her virginity.”
Contemporary fiction. Chick lit.
A mother and teen daughter deal with their relationship with each other and their current life issues during a scouting college trip.
Alternating chapters from both the mother and daughter’s point of view.
Well written from both perspectives showing work and life conflicts of a teenager on the verge of adulthood and a mother with career questions.
I loved the story and the relationships. True to life arguments and self discovery.
Sweet with a bit of humor and wit.
“OMG, I’m turning into my daughter!”
“OMG, the boy showed up and offered my furious daughter some chocolate. There goes her virginity.”
February 28, 2021
I have really enjoyed Waxman’s books, each one has been better than its predecessor, her humor hits just the right note.
Until this one.
It felt as if she was trying too hard to be funny or maybe it’s because half of the narrative came out of a teenager’s mouth and as she writes in her acknowledgements, raising teens is a sh*t show…BUT I’ll take humor in any form these days, so I finished it. Not the best, not the worst.
The Garden of Small Beginnings
Other People's Houses
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
Until this one.
It felt as if she was trying too hard to be funny or maybe it’s because half of the narrative came out of a teenager’s mouth and as she writes in her acknowledgements, raising teens is a sh*t show…BUT I’ll take humor in any form these days, so I finished it. Not the best, not the worst.
The Garden of Small Beginnings
Other People's Houses
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
July 1, 2020
3.5 Stars
To start off...I loved the idea of a book centered around a mother and daughter going on a college tour road trip together. Jessica, the mother, is an extremely successful lawyer who hardly sees her daughter anymore. Emily, on the other hand, isn't even sure if college is her thing. Of course, being that Emily is a wonderful teenager, there is a lot of bickering and fights along the way.
The chapters were told in alternating POV's, and that's one of my favorite ways to read a story. It was sometimes funny and interesting to see how Jessica and Emily felt about the same things that happened throughout the day - so differently! Along the way they skip out on some of the tour itinerary, and meet up with some of Jessica's old friends. I thought it was so sweet how meeting some of her mother's best friends back in the day made the two grow closer to each other. Emily was able to see her mother in a whole new light! Sometimes it's hard to imagine that your own parents were so different when they were young. My Mother was always my very best friend, and I enjoyed getting to read about another mother-daughter relationship. Other than that... there wasn't much else to this book. It is a very light read and well-written.
**eBook won in a Goodreads Giveaway - All opinions are my own***
To start off...I loved the idea of a book centered around a mother and daughter going on a college tour road trip together. Jessica, the mother, is an extremely successful lawyer who hardly sees her daughter anymore. Emily, on the other hand, isn't even sure if college is her thing. Of course, being that Emily is a wonderful teenager, there is a lot of bickering and fights along the way.
The chapters were told in alternating POV's, and that's one of my favorite ways to read a story. It was sometimes funny and interesting to see how Jessica and Emily felt about the same things that happened throughout the day - so differently! Along the way they skip out on some of the tour itinerary, and meet up with some of Jessica's old friends. I thought it was so sweet how meeting some of her mother's best friends back in the day made the two grow closer to each other. Emily was able to see her mother in a whole new light! Sometimes it's hard to imagine that your own parents were so different when they were young. My Mother was always my very best friend, and I enjoyed getting to read about another mother-daughter relationship. Other than that... there wasn't much else to this book. It is a very light read and well-written.
**eBook won in a Goodreads Giveaway - All opinions are my own***
February 26, 2022
I laughed out loud while reading Other People's Houses so I was eager to read everything she wrote. Abbi's a mother of three children and with the exception of this one, all her stories are of suburban, carpooling mothers with young children. With this book, the story is of a single hard working mother whose teen daughter Emily, will be graduating high school. Chapters toggle back and forth with the POV from both of them. With the premise established, they fly to the east coast for a group college tour. As typical, Emily is weary of school like most teens so she's anything but attentive. As luck would have it, one of the mothers is a trophy wife with an opinionated snarky daughter that at first tangles with Emily, only to. befriend her days later. The repetitive nature of chapters, coupled with lackluster humor was disappointing to say the least. Put simply, if the reader happens to be a mother with teens, it may be worthwhile, but I can't recommend it otherwise. Nice try Abbi, but this one just doesn't fly.
December 22, 2020
3.5 stars
I definitely preferred I Was Told It Would Get Easier to Waxman's last novel, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, even though, judging solely by their synopses, you would think the latter would have been more my speed.
At its heart, this is a book about mothers and daughters and how they navigate the relationship between them—though it does tackle other subjects too, like the challenges of maintaining a work/life balance, being female in a male-dominated industry, and the competition surrounding college admissions, among others. It was really funny at times, which was an unexpected but welcome surprise since I didn't remember The Bookish Life of Nina Hill being especially humorous. I also appreciated how Waxman portrayed the relationship between Jessica (a.k.a. the mom) and Emily (a.k.a. the daughter). Their relationship was neither entirely contentious nor entirely harmonious (extremes which characterize the mother/daughter relationship in too many works of fiction), capturing a more nuanced and true-to-life portrait of the fluid, everyday dynamic of mother/daughter relationships that I think more people can relate to.
I wish this book had been around when I was Emily's age and going through similar shit. I think my mom would've appreciated it back then, too.
I definitely preferred I Was Told It Would Get Easier to Waxman's last novel, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, even though, judging solely by their synopses, you would think the latter would have been more my speed.
At its heart, this is a book about mothers and daughters and how they navigate the relationship between them—though it does tackle other subjects too, like the challenges of maintaining a work/life balance, being female in a male-dominated industry, and the competition surrounding college admissions, among others. It was really funny at times, which was an unexpected but welcome surprise since I didn't remember The Bookish Life of Nina Hill being especially humorous. I also appreciated how Waxman portrayed the relationship between Jessica (a.k.a. the mom) and Emily (a.k.a. the daughter). Their relationship was neither entirely contentious nor entirely harmonious (extremes which characterize the mother/daughter relationship in too many works of fiction), capturing a more nuanced and true-to-life portrait of the fluid, everyday dynamic of mother/daughter relationships that I think more people can relate to.
I wish this book had been around when I was Emily's age and going through similar shit. I think my mom would've appreciated it back then, too.
June 16, 2020
*Now available!
3.5 Teenage Angst Stars
This tale has us along for the ride as a single mom and her teenage daughter swing through the East Coast on a guided college tour trip. The chapters alternate voices between the mom Jessica, a successful lawyer who works way too many hours; and her daughter Emily, who is not sure she wants to go to college, but it seems like the path that everyone is taking. It is interesting to see how the same events are interpreted differently by them.
At the start of the book, the two seem to be at odds, but the adventures along the way bring them back together. Emily gets to see a new side of her mom as Jessica connects with some old college friends on the trip. Jessica gets more insight into Emily when she sees her with some of the other teens and a situation from high school rears its head.
This was an easy light read that was the perfect one to read in between darker reads. I really enjoyed “The Bookish Life of Nina Hill” by this author. With two teenagers of my own, this one had some aha moments for me as I have had some of these conversations.
Thank you to Jayme for another good buddy read. Thank you also to Edelweiss, Abbi Waxman, and Berkley for an early copy of this one to read in return for an honest review.
3.5 Teenage Angst Stars
This tale has us along for the ride as a single mom and her teenage daughter swing through the East Coast on a guided college tour trip. The chapters alternate voices between the mom Jessica, a successful lawyer who works way too many hours; and her daughter Emily, who is not sure she wants to go to college, but it seems like the path that everyone is taking. It is interesting to see how the same events are interpreted differently by them.
At the start of the book, the two seem to be at odds, but the adventures along the way bring them back together. Emily gets to see a new side of her mom as Jessica connects with some old college friends on the trip. Jessica gets more insight into Emily when she sees her with some of the other teens and a situation from high school rears its head.
This was an easy light read that was the perfect one to read in between darker reads. I really enjoyed “The Bookish Life of Nina Hill” by this author. With two teenagers of my own, this one had some aha moments for me as I have had some of these conversations.
Thank you to Jayme for another good buddy read. Thank you also to Edelweiss, Abbi Waxman, and Berkley for an early copy of this one to read in return for an honest review.
June 27, 2020
"It's just as well parents get a decade of cute and cuddly children before they turn into teenagers, otherwise humans would have died out long ago."So, my 16-year-old son, who I thought would be the exception to the teenager stereotype, has in fact become that which I feared. It's not all bad, but I do very much miss my sweet boy. This is the natural order of things, and I must grow along with him and understand that these years aren't easy. Afterall, I remember how I felt about my parents at that age. Karma.
I Was Told It Would Get Easier was an enjoyable reading experience about parenting a teenager, being a teenager, single parent stressors, preparing for college, and being open to the road less traveled. This book is spot on and I could relate to much of it. Excellent women's fiction. Abbi Waxman is a sure thing ❤️
My favorite quote:
"We're all doing the best we can, for ourselves, for our kids, for the whole shebang."
June 5, 2020
A timely novel featuring a single mother and her sixteen-year-old daughter on a weeklong tour of east coast colleges. Includes college admissions issues applicable to recent news and #genderequality elements. I really enjoy Abbi Waxman's style. This is quite different from "The Bookish Life of Nina Hill," but the quirky humor underlying the narrative is very similar. In this new book, the juxtaposition of mom and daughter POVs shows many of the situations from both sides and WE know before they do how wrong many of their assumptions about each other have been. It's always fun to have that upper hand. That inside scoop. Includes discussion questions that will be helpful for book groups.
Thank you to Berkley and Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Berkley and Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2020
A fun heart warming and sometimes funny story about the bonds between mothers and daughters. I loved the strong sense of girl power in this as well as what it takes to keep a family going in these times and also be a working women in a sometimes very much, male dominated world.
Woman has a wonderful ability to dive into tough subject matters with quirky characters and very real feeling situations and events and still inject a fun loving sense of humor along with all the tough serious heart felt moments.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Woman has a wonderful ability to dive into tough subject matters with quirky characters and very real feeling situations and events and still inject a fun loving sense of humor along with all the tough serious heart felt moments.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
August 10, 2020
Loved loved this book I checked out from the library and read on my Libby app!!! Timely too as I am just getting ready to take my youngest daughter to college tomorrow morning!!
Characters were on point: quirky, fun, intelligent, and insecure in their own ways. Love the way they work through conflict and all the fun adventures that happen on their college tour trip! Jessica needs to be my BFF!
Characters were on point: quirky, fun, intelligent, and insecure in their own ways. Love the way they work through conflict and all the fun adventures that happen on their college tour trip! Jessica needs to be my BFF!
October 17, 2020
I was needing a small break from the crime and thriller books that are my normal read. After reading and loving Nina Hill last year I was excited to read the new book by Abbi Waxman. It was exactly what I hoped it would be and more. A fun and relatable read to clear my head this week.
This is the story of a mother and daughter travelling on a college tour of the East Coast. Jessica is a single mother who works in a high pressure, long hours job as a lawyer in LA. She does everything for her daughter, Emily, to give her the best start in life. Emily is 16 and feels like she never sees her mum. The pair are close but have grown apart in recent years. This is a chance for them to reconnect and spend some time together. They are both keeping secrets from each other about what is happening in their lives.
As the mother of a 15 year old daughter, an Emily as well, I could relate to Jessica's struggles with a teenage girl. Her obsession with her phone, not talking about what is going on in her head - it all spoke to me. It was cleverly done with alternating perspectives.
Highly recommend this one
This is the story of a mother and daughter travelling on a college tour of the East Coast. Jessica is a single mother who works in a high pressure, long hours job as a lawyer in LA. She does everything for her daughter, Emily, to give her the best start in life. Emily is 16 and feels like she never sees her mum. The pair are close but have grown apart in recent years. This is a chance for them to reconnect and spend some time together. They are both keeping secrets from each other about what is happening in their lives.
As the mother of a 15 year old daughter, an Emily as well, I could relate to Jessica's struggles with a teenage girl. Her obsession with her phone, not talking about what is going on in her head - it all spoke to me. It was cleverly done with alternating perspectives.
Highly recommend this one
January 3, 2021
Spoiled whiny teenager and her semi-workaholic mother go on a college tour together, where they both learn what it means to be a team and to follow your career ambitions. *cue heartwarming music*
If you choose not to read this, there you go! Trust me when I say you DID NOT miss anything.
I think I am just ready for another Nina-esque story from Waxman, chock full of wit and charm. Hopefully her next book will be back in that lane.
3 ⭐️
If you choose not to read this, there you go! Trust me when I say you DID NOT miss anything.
I think I am just ready for another Nina-esque story from Waxman, chock full of wit and charm. Hopefully her next book will be back in that lane.
3 ⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2024
"I wondered how we're supposed to be everything at once."
This book felt like a reflection of every mother daughter relationship with the added twist of: every form of that relationship you can think of. There's the typical misunderstandings with the twist of seeing both sides, and how that misunderstanding occurs. There's the companionship with the twist of how even when steaming mad at each other, you will always have a partner when needed. Someone to stand up for you. It's kind, it's funny, it's unfair, and it's a reflection of everything you don't want to remember about your own teenage years.
It's How We Treat Our Parents When We Didn't Know Any Better and making sure we never take advantage of their love and kindness again. Jessica, the mom, thinks how Emily, her daughter, takes advantage of her friendships, believing they'll always be there, and how her and Frances never do because they know better. And that really stuck with me because growing up is hard, "it's a little hideous, that first part of adulthood," and the things you realize along the way only make you into a better person along the way.
Jessica and Emily go on a college tour together, and Jessica just wants some time to bond with her daughter. Emily wants to find some independence, to see that she can go out into the world without her overbearing mother. It's a trying, and exciting time. There is so much expectation put on such young shoulders, and the pressure of that is clear in every page of this book.
It's like a little love letter to the moms that think they are along, and a reminder to to the kids that our parents may be thinking the same things we do. They don't know how to react to our moods any better than we do to theirs. There should always be an opening for communication, and if one isn't there, it needs to be made.
I loved watching Jessica and Emily come to terms with their feelings about the other and work it out. I love how the pressure, the love, and the fun was all handled in such an entertaining way. I love the way Abbi Waxman writes.
I will never get enough.
This book felt like a reflection of every mother daughter relationship with the added twist of: every form of that relationship you can think of. There's the typical misunderstandings with the twist of seeing both sides, and how that misunderstanding occurs. There's the companionship with the twist of how even when steaming mad at each other, you will always have a partner when needed. Someone to stand up for you. It's kind, it's funny, it's unfair, and it's a reflection of everything you don't want to remember about your own teenage years.
It's How We Treat Our Parents When We Didn't Know Any Better and making sure we never take advantage of their love and kindness again. Jessica, the mom, thinks how Emily, her daughter, takes advantage of her friendships, believing they'll always be there, and how her and Frances never do because they know better. And that really stuck with me because growing up is hard, "it's a little hideous, that first part of adulthood," and the things you realize along the way only make you into a better person along the way.
Jessica and Emily go on a college tour together, and Jessica just wants some time to bond with her daughter. Emily wants to find some independence, to see that she can go out into the world without her overbearing mother. It's a trying, and exciting time. There is so much expectation put on such young shoulders, and the pressure of that is clear in every page of this book.
It's like a little love letter to the moms that think they are along, and a reminder to to the kids that our parents may be thinking the same things we do. They don't know how to react to our moods any better than we do to theirs. There should always be an opening for communication, and if one isn't there, it needs to be made.
I loved watching Jessica and Emily come to terms with their feelings about the other and work it out. I love how the pressure, the love, and the fun was all handled in such an entertaining way. I love the way Abbi Waxman writes.
I will never get enough.
March 30, 2020
I received an Egalley from Berkley Romance in exchange for a honest review.
After reading The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, I was so excited to read Abbi's next book. Like super excited. Nina Hill was so romantic, funny, uplifting, and the perfect feel good novel and after the whole mess the world has gone through, I thought I Was Told It Would Get Easier would be the same realm.
It kind of was? But it fell flat due to an overdone story line. A mother and daughter who grew apart because one is in the process of becoming an adult and a workaholic mother who can't understand the teenage hormones. I thought the main downfall of this book for me was definitely the outdated teenage stereotypes. I mean, I snap pictures of my food and my walks but I don't post 100% the time like our daughter. I'm addicted to my phone but I don't use it all the time especially when someone is in front of me, talking to me. The whole 'i don't know what to do with my life' is relatable but so overdone by the time the book was ending and she still was crying on about being passionless and not good enough. And the whole epiphany of them finding that they're not so different was a let down. It didn't hit the right spot for me.
With that being said, this book is definitely not targeted to an age group like mine. I don't have a daughter who i'm prepping to go to university. I don't feel like I'm missing out on my teenager's life. It's just not the book for me but it could be for you if you're in a similar situation.
Also, can we also talk about this book played HEAVILY on the college admissions scandal that swept up america in a storm in 2019?
After reading The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, I was so excited to read Abbi's next book. Like super excited. Nina Hill was so romantic, funny, uplifting, and the perfect feel good novel and after the whole mess the world has gone through, I thought I Was Told It Would Get Easier would be the same realm.
It kind of was? But it fell flat due to an overdone story line. A mother and daughter who grew apart because one is in the process of becoming an adult and a workaholic mother who can't understand the teenage hormones. I thought the main downfall of this book for me was definitely the outdated teenage stereotypes. I mean, I snap pictures of my food and my walks but I don't post 100% the time like our daughter. I'm addicted to my phone but I don't use it all the time especially when someone is in front of me, talking to me. The whole 'i don't know what to do with my life' is relatable but so overdone by the time the book was ending and she still was crying on about being passionless and not good enough. And the whole epiphany of them finding that they're not so different was a let down. It didn't hit the right spot for me.
With that being said, this book is definitely not targeted to an age group like mine. I don't have a daughter who i'm prepping to go to university. I don't feel like I'm missing out on my teenager's life. It's just not the book for me but it could be for you if you're in a similar situation.
Also, can we also talk about this book played HEAVILY on the college admissions scandal that swept up america in a storm in 2019?
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