Do you know 'momspringa'? No? Me neither. But when you consider that this book is set in Pennsylvania, close to the Amish county, and know that their youth go on a 'rumspringa' it suddenly makes a lot of sense and is the perfect word for when a mom has a free day/weekend/whole vacation to let her hair down.

This is exactly what Amy Byler is doing. When her ex offers to take the kids (which he hasn't seen for three whole years) for the whole summer holidays to make up for the lost time, Amy packs her suitcase and goes up to the City. To New York City that is. And there she throrougly enjoys her carefree, childfree, guiltfree time. But she didn't consider the fact that after several weeks of living a glorious life she might not want to get back to her old one...

In the first quarter of the book I struggled a bit, and I think that was mainly due to the writing style. But once I got into it, I sincerely enjoyed this story. The idea of a momspringa is great (but also has his downsides, as Amy realizes), and I especially liked the wit & banter in the conversations. The fact that Amy is a librarian and book nerd adds to the 'Pro'-List. Only the letters from Cori to her mother are like nothing a like 15-year-old would write. I mean, really, like nothing. Except maybe for like, the constant use of the word "like". Seriously!

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler was, without a doubt, a remarkable read. I do not usually read books about moms or marriages because, well I am neither a wife nor a mom and sometimes it is hard for me to relate to the characters. However, I read great things about this book and thought I could try it.
I was pleasantly surprised when from the very beginning I could relate to Amy, she was a librarian, she was dorky and funny and it was easy to like her. I liked her friends, they were a good addition to the story, I loved Cori and her journal (loved Daniel as well, of course). The story was so light and easy to read, very enjoyable and super funny. Please do not tell my boss this but I was reading while I was in class with my students and had to stifle a laugh in more than one occasion, because it was indeed funny.
However, the story is not just funny and light, it talks about important things as well, it was nice to see Amy’s perspective to life and it was interesting to read about her journey and the problems she was facing.
I really liked and enjoyed the book; it was the perfect read for a rainy day, something you can read in one afternoon with a glass of wine or a cup of coffee and I surely recommend it.

I loved this book. It is a great look at what it means to be a mother and how easily mothers can lose who they are when they have children. And how hard it can be to cope with mom guilt.

I also really enjoyed Amy's dating life and the romance that ensued. I would definitely recommend this for a light summer read by the pool.

Amy Byler—and her equally quick-witted author, Kelly Harms—will make you laugh. Then, she'll make you cry... in a good way. I went into this book expecting a light, fun read, but really, it was so much more: An achingly earnest and refreshingly humorous look at contemporary motherhood, how easy it is for a woman to lose her sense of self, and how we just might get it back. Authentic, fast-paced, and satisfying, from start to finish. (With thanks to Netgalley and the author for an advance copy.)

A delightful novel centered areound secrets, family, and forgiveness. I loved loved this book and wished it could have gone on a lot longer.

This was such a funny book. I liked that they called it a mom rumspringa. I'm not a parent but could see how mom's would want to have one at some point and especially single moms.
I enjoyed the dating/romances that Amy had in the book and how she found herself in the end. I do find myself wanting to know what happens to the character and to the others in the book next. Wonder if there will be a sequel? Please??

I thought this book was very cute. As a librarian I liked the very specific parts about getting young adults to read books more. I also liked the momspringa hashtag parts, very realistic to the Twitterverse. I thought the ending with the daughter's accident was a bit out of left field but I guess something needed to happen in order for David to come back in the picture. All in all I liked it a lot and read it very quickly.

Cute little romance with just enough twists to keep it interesting. This book was graciously provided by the publisher via netgalley.

This was a really fun novel - relatable for moms of any age children. I enjoyed all of the characters - her friends, kids and the “hot librarian.” The literary references were enjoyable to find throughout the book. Funny, smart, a great summer read!

I had been reading a lot of heavy fiction. A lot of books that, while great, didn't exactly leave me in an upbeat place. I knew I needed to throw something light and fun into the mix and this was the perfect choice. 

Amy Byler is a single mother to two kids who doesn't ever take time for herself. Three years ago, her husband left on a business trip and never came back. Although he has called and occasionally sends money, he has been absent in the kids lives. Now he's back in town and wants to reconnect with his kids. Although hesitant, Amy agrees and is suddenly, unexpectedly, childless. 

What ensues is a fun romp of a story with underpinnings set firmly in reality. As a mom who also works in a library, I loved the literary references and book nerdiness scattered throughout. Amy ends up finding herself during this summer away from parenting and soon has to reconcile these two halves of herself that have been separated for far too long. 

Perfect light summer read, I look forward to seeing what this author does next. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was great. I can’t believe I put it off for so long. The title stared at me from my kindle, daring me to read it. But for some reason I kept putting it to one side and choosing something else. But man I wish I’d read it earlier. It was fun, light, uplifting and believable. I really fell in love with the main character Amy and felt like I understood and rooted for her throughout.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Three years ago Amy Byler’s husband of 18 years went on a business trip and never came back, leaving Amy with a 12 and 8 year old to raise on her own. Now he’s back, looking to make amends with the children by taking them for a week over their summer break. What’s Amy to do with her newfound freedom?

*GIRLS GONE WILD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

Just kidding. She signs up for a librarian conference at Columbia University in NYC. But while she’s there she does rediscover she’s more than just a mom, freshens up her look and even dabbles back in the dating scene. After all . . . .

“This is your momcation.”

“That’s not a word.”

“You’re right. Ok. Your . . . Your momspringa.”

“My what now?”

“Momspringa. Like rumspringa? Where the kids go wild before they settle back down to buggies and monochrome dressing? You’re the Amish one; you know what that is.”

“I’m not Amish. I’m from Amish country. And this isn’t a momspringa. It’s a trip to New York by myself for a few days, not an extensive exploration of the outside world that exists far from my insulated, isolated existence among my family.”

“You say tomato . . .”

And while anyone who is currently living with or has formerly lived with a teenaged human probably wants to wring their neck on a weekly basis - this is fiction and Amy’s daughter Corinne (and more particularly her journal communications with her mother regarding the summer reading list Amy has assigned her) was a delight . . .

After careful consideration I have decided NOT to read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which is probably “Very Important” but definitely not “Very Interesting.” And instead I am going to read Five Days in Paris by Danielle Steel, which let me tell you is already off to a very exciting start.

The “Mom Com” has become my jam. I find the light and humorous to be the perfect buffer between heavier reads. Not to mention these are also perfect selections when your day can be spent beachside, poolside, parkside - pretty much anything but workside.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Broken rules of not quoting quotes since I suck at being timely and this has already been released (quite some time ago - again Suck = Me). Just note that these might not be accurate since I had a reader copy and not the final product.

Amy Byler and her children have survived on her librarian’s income since her husband left three years ago. An opportunity surfaces to attend a conference in NY, and she devises a plan to parlay the work trip into a mini-vacation. Before her plans reach fruition, her estranged husband shows up to reconnect with their children after being MIA for three years.

Her frustration is warranted. While he’s lived with a mistress in Hong Kong, Amy’s sacrificed personally, professionally, and financially. She’s reluctant, but after a brief reunion, she agrees to let the kids stay with him while she attends the conference, adding extra days to play around with her old friend, a magazine editor.

As soon as she lands in NYC, hope floods her veins, reminding her of days gone by. Luckily, she remembers how to survive in the big city when her plans go south. She’s rolling with the punches, pleasantly surprised by her children’s experience with their father. Soon, a handsome librarian helps her find her groove.

Just when we think Amy's fun might wrap up, it gains new traction. Amy becomes the subject of her friend’s magazine article. Taking a cue from the Amish Rumspringa, where adolescents enjoy a period of freedom before committing their lives to their Amish communities, the magazine uses Amy as its #momspringa guinea pig. Along with a makeover and new clothes, Amy enjoys city experiences she’d never be able to afford on her librarian’s salary. Amy’s children become closer with their father, comforting and terrifying Amy at the same time. When her children report their father's excellent care, Amy extends her trip.

All this fun becomes too much, especially after she becomes attached to the handsome librarian. Unafraid to find the humor in her frequently crumbling circumstances, Amy is humble, relatable, and funny. Amy learns to trust herself, take risks, and reposition her priorities to include much-needed self-care.

Author Kelly Harms entices us to fear, celebrate, and root for this character. Kudos for creating a masterful blend of tension and exhilaration into one splendid adventure readers will enjoy until the bitter end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read an advanced review copy of this novel. #theoverduelifeofamybyler #netgalley

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

This book was predictable, but that didn't keep me from being highly entertained, and enjoying this book. #mymomspringa would involve coffee, thrift shopping, reading, and exploring somewhere alone and unfamiliar.

Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Kelly Harms for the e-copy of this book to read and review.

A good summer read! It was a bit boring in parts, but the characters kept me entertained. I found that I liked the plot, but again it was a slow at times.

I thought that this book sounded like a book that I would like...but I really did not enjoy it. I actually did not finish the book.

This title will have limited appeal-despite a cute premise-the technical collection development aspect of a school librarian is not something that will be interesting to folks outside of the library world. Readers should stick with The Bookish Life of Nina Hill or The Printed Letter Bookshop for cozy, literary romance this summer.

What a cute book! I was immediately drawn to Amy and her family and friends. She was engaging and funny and I spent the whole book rooting for her to get what she wanted--- whatever that may be! I would definitely recommend to a friend!

This was a decent enough summer read, but lacked any real depth. Amusing enough, is recommended it for a beach read while your toes are in the sand.

I loved this story. Th story of a woman who’s husband decides he’s just going to not come home and day and then shows up three years later and wants parts of his or his old life back. The story is well told and paced perfectly. The building and nurturing of old and new relationships as Amy finds parts of her old self is excellent. I’m so glad I was given the. opportunity to read this. This has been added to one of the books I’ll recommend frequently.