So yes, the assembly sucks. BUT. It’s a great, sturdy, functional bed. It has a million features that moms with toddlers will LOVE (ie - stairs instead of a ladder, storage in the stairs which is great for toys etc., sturdy railing for the top bunk, and a trundle for friend sleepovers!). So honestly, for a bed with that many bells and whistles, I’d say you should expect a long assembly process! Just set aside a day to work on it and remind yourself the end product really is worth it -)