So Hard To Do: About the Book
Suze Foster has always been devoted to her daughter. As a child, Jannie required extra support in school, but now-at age 29-she’s a rising executive. Suze, thrilled with Jannie’s success, is finally free to follow her own dreams.
Without Suze’s dedicated attention, though, Jannie flounders. In a careless moment, she floods her apartment. Enter our hero, Aram-her hot but significantly older neighbor. He saves the day, and for Jannie, it’s love at first sight.
Not so much for Aram, though, who falls head over heels for Suze when they accidentally meet. Unaware of Jannie’s feelings, Suze is equally smitten.
In this twisted triangle, can a happily-ever-after be achieved? Or will someone’s heart break and the mother-daughter bond be severed forever?
The Review
So Hard To Do is so hard not to like. Sally Basmajian’s debut offering in the contemporary female fiction space is that feel good, easy to read book that is perfect to curl up with on a cold winter’s day. The story is told from the perspective of a mother, Suze, who is finally ready to break free of a semi-co-dependent living situation with her on the spectrum daughter, Jannie. A devoted mother, she sees that her daughter is ready to live on her own, and Suze is ready to finally make herself a priority.
It is also written from the perspective of Jannie, who may struggle to make a meal and read social cues, but has managed to have a very successful career in media sales. Basmajian, who worked in the media world at Canada’s leading broadcaster, uses what she knows best to create probably the most interest part of the plot – Jannie’s work life. A lot of the fun comes from Jannie’s whiplash attempts to either be a boss, or less frequently a friend to her colleagues. As skilled as she is with her work, she lacks people skills and watching her attempt to be a leader, but yearn to be one of the gang is both hilarious and touching.
The “love triangle” with Aram is a fun plot point too, and although it is clear who will couple up at the end, it doesn’t make the ride any less enjoyable. This is such a gentle, relatable book on so many levels. It explores people on the spectrum in the kindest way possible. As a reader, you will be laughing with them, but not at them. It is also refreshing to have one of the female characters in the book be from Gen X. This is a must read for lovers of The Rosie Project.
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