I Was Told It Would Get Easier

Stuck in a bus full of strangers, mother-daughter duo Jessica and Emily Burnstein watch their carefully mapped-out college tour devolve into something far less predictable.

Jessica and Emily have very different ideas of how this college tour should go.

For Emily, it's a last-ditch effort to get excited about her future, because every day in the present feels like such a slog. Can’t she just skip straight to the adulting part? It looks so much easier…at least on social media.

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 entirely 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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Reviews

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"Waxman shines at creating characters that feel like best friends, inspiring compassion, laughs, and cheers…fans of Katherine Center and Linda Holmes’ Evvie Drake Starts Over will adore this."

‍—Booklist

“Waxman expertly navigates the fraught shoals of college admissions in this spot-on tale…. Waxman’s alternating first-person narration from Jessica and Emily rings true, while a memorable supporting cast…provide excellent support…This sweet treat doesn’t require a college-bound child to enjoy, though anyone who has helped their offspring weather the admissions process will definitely appreciate this sharp send-up.”

‍—Publisher's Weekly‍

“Funny and insightful.”

‍—BookRiot

“We’re forever fans of Abbi Waxman’s sweet, witty, feel-good novels. Her latest, about a mother and daughter making college visits along the East Coast, is her best yet.”

‍—HelloGiggles    

“This book’s strengths are the exploration of the mother-teen daughter dynamics and relationship and the author’s remarkable gift for realistic, witty dialog. VERDICT: Recommended for fans of mother-daughter fiction with both lighthearted and serious moments.”

‍—Library Journal