Karen Alpert

*3.5 / 5*

I follow Karen Alpert on social media, so I was familiar with her style of writing and humor before I picked up this book. And I have to say, I WANT MY EPIDURAL BACK delivered exactly what I expected. It’s a light, fluffy, quick read (it took me just a couple of hours to get through, cover to cover) with lots of quirky doodles, plenty of white space, and just enough content to make you feel productive while you’re quickly flipping pages.

I can see how this book would rub a number of people the wrong way. Alpert pulls no punches about the difficulties of raising children, which is one of the things I really love about her - and this book! If you can relate to her unapologetically blunt parenting style, you’ll enjoy her truthful stories and appreciate that she doesn’t sugar-coat anything.

I laughed out loud a few times, which I have to admit I didn’t expect. I don’t typically find humorous essays very funny, but Alpert has a way of bringing her anecdotes to life that rings so true. The humor is never forced, but rather it comes across as authentic - and any mom currently in the little-kid-raising trenches will appreciate Alpert’s hilarious observations about life with children.

Overall, this is a quick, easy, funny read but without a ton of substance (which may be a good thing, depending on what you’re in the mood for). Recommended to Alpert’s current fans and any mom who doesn’t take herself too seriously.… (mais)