What's the grade of these hills you are struggling on and how long a climb are they? As mentioned knowing what your front is currently would be helpful.
If you are riding 6% grades and only 1600 feet of distance for a 100 foot gain, then a 32 on the back with a 52 on the front really shouldn't be a problem if it's just you on a 17 - 24 pound bike. Running a front with much smaller than a 50 for the large will leave you spinning out on a modest down slope. I find that when I'm tired the 36 small on my front and the 32 back is more than sufficient for anything less than 8 to 10% depending on how long I'm actually on that steep stretch.
If you are pulling a load with paniers and/or a trailer then that would be good to know too.
I've been running a 52/36 front with a 11-32 rear for several years and am thinking of going to a 53/39 front and 11- 34 rear. It surprises me when I see others recommending smaller fronts and bigger rears.
Last edited by Iride01; 05-02-19 at 01:36 PM.