I really wanted to love this book, hoping it would be as good as Limelight by Amy Poeppel, but at 30% decided not to finish it. The main character--her old life and new adventure--just weren't engaging to me.

I really enjoyed this book.

The author illustrates with a lot of humour the everyday life of Amy Byler and her family. Within well organised chapters and in very readable way, we follow Amy’s resilience trying to recover from the unexplained and unexpected leaving of her husband three years ago.

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler was an interesting story and enjoyable read. It is about self-confidence, mutual support, coming-of-age, family relationships and more. The author managed to explore brilliantly the challenges (single moms) (parents) face when they sacrifice everything for their children and family.

The characters are well designed and I personally enjoyed Amy, her friends, her children and her ex-husband (yes, even him!). I also liked the letters from Cori's personal diary. In my point of view, these letters have expressed the point of view of children in the book and gave more strength to the novel. Even Though the plot was a little bit predictable and sometimes seemed like a TV show, I kept reading because the book is really well-written.

I recommend this book to those who are looking for something quick, fun and with a deep meaning to read.

Another funny, light story about a Mom trying to get her life back together after her husband leaves her and the two kids.

A cute, witty book. I enjoyed the New York setting. A fun beach read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

"So the change you'll see when we all get home is that I show you how creating an enjoyable life...is just another important part of being a mother, like serving vegetables once a week or lecturing your kids about slouching."


-Amy Byler

A light, funny but also thought-provoking book with an exciting New York setting! A relatable story to all mothers which serves as a reminder not to lose ourselves to motherhood and to always put ourselves first.

This book funny at times, but I have to admit it was not a story I kept wanting to run back to finish. On average I can read a cute book like this in a couple of days, but I had a hard time getting into this one. Maybe I just need a major mom break to New York City, So yes, cute book, but slow.... in the end I’d still pass it along to a friend.

This book surprised me. I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. Sure, it could have been predictable in so many ways, but it wasn't. It felt genuine. Every mom wishes they had friends with magazine connections who can put them up in NYC for the summer and give them makeovers, new wardrobes and set them up on dates (if they are single). However, this didn't seem to be over the top, in that Amy still worked to keep her life as 'normal' as it could be for her, especially with being away from her kids for such a long period of time. I enjoyed this book and would read others by the author.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Amy Byler is an overworked and underappreciated single mom that could use a break. Three years ago, her husband went on a business trip to Hong Kong and never returned. So naturally Amy is skeptical when he shows up and offers to take care of their kids for the summer. With no one to answer to, Amy decides to head to New York City—her former college stomping ground—for a librarian conference.

On her kid-free escape, Amy thinks she's in for catching up on sleep, lots of reading, and some professional development. Instead, she lets her hair down and has a fling with a handsome librarian. She also reconnects and stays with Talia, an old friend from college. Talia is a successful magazine editor who talks Amy into a makeover which she dubs as a "momspringa" (a take on Rumspringa) and documents the experience as a feature in the magazine.

With one man capturing her heart, and the summer coming to a close, Amy has to decide how this is all going to play out. What is going to happen to this new Amy and the life that she has carved out for herself? Before she can decide, past and present collide and Amy may lose a lot more than either of her identities.

This book was incredibly charming! I loved the dynamic between Amy and her teenage daughter, Cori (who the reader gets to know through her journal entries). Harms's writing is relatable, endearing, and witty. She is particularly effective in capturing the struggles and challenges of a mother—from mother's guilt to constantly worrying about your children. Women regularly sacrifice themselves for their children and oftentimes it is at the expense of their own happiness. This can be detrimental to the relationships that they have with their partners and their friends.

Are you in need of a momspringa? I know a lot of women that are...so if that's you, grab your girlfriends, and grab a cocktail, this book is for you!

This book was such a fun, heartwarming story! In The Overdue Life of Amy Byler, librarian Amy finds herself face-to-face with her separated husband John, who’s requesting permission to visit their children, Cori and Joe, after abandoning the family 3 years earlier. Amy is torn: dealing with her own unresolved feelings about John, and considering what’s truly best for their children. After discussions with the kids, Amy agrees to let John spend time with them in rural PA now that it’s summer.

While John catches up on dad duties, Amy goes to New York City to attend an educational conference and visit an old friend. She’s been out of the game, both socially and romantically, but attempts to come (back) into her own, slowly but surely.

A few of my favorite quotes from the book:

-”He looks like that dad from a diversely cast CW show. In short: dreamy.”

-”Look at me throwing around my money like an oil heiress...”

-”I get this now. I get now that you can love what you have, love your kids and your life and your friends, and still want more. I get that it’s ok to go out out and get more, more love, more friendship, more fulfillment, and still be a wonderful mom.”

Though I’m not a mom, there were a lot of relatable elements in Amy’s story and I liked her as a character. The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is cute and funny yet also fairly realistic. The truth is, we all just need a break sometimes!

This was an entertaining and (mostly) light-weight summer read, fit for bookworms and moms in need of a #momspringa. I liked the concept of the book and the diverse cast of characters.

This was absolutely epic. I enjoyed everything about it and the story and main character resonated with me so deeply. Absolutely wonderful.

I loved the concept of this book, I mean which mom wouldn't love a #momspringa? Somewhere between concept and delivery I think something was lost in translation and the book didn't live up to it's potential for me. It's a light summer read that many will enjoy.

Amy Byler is a single mom who works as a librarian at her kids Pennsylvania private school.
When her ex husband abruptly returns, looking to build a relationship with their children, Amy finds herself with an entire summer to herself.
Its not long before Amy is torn between missing her family, and letting loose in New York.

This was a light-hearted, easy read.
I think I liked it so much because as a book lover, I liked how many books/book titles were worked into the story. And the letters from her daughter about what book she was/was not reading, was always fun.

While I did not find this "laugh-out-loud" funny, it was definitely a cute story.
A light and fluffy read.

I absolutely loved this book!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Okay, let me just say, this book was fantastic! I found myself going through so many emotions right along with Amy. And come on, the hashtag #momspringa ... genius and so appropriate! Doesn’t every mom need one? 🙋🏻‍♀️

Cori’s character may well have been my favorite. She’s so spunky and sweet and mature, I really found myself endeared to her very quickly.

What a great book!!!

This is the book to read for any and all moms!!!!! Momspringa will become the newest trend I guarantee it. As a mom of a 7-year old I could totally relate to Amy. We don't get enough sleep, take enough showers, take care of ourselves or even have "me" time. What mom doesn't joke that we look forward to having to use the bathroom so we can get five minutes of peace and quiet. This book is brilliant!! Kelly Harms really knocked it out of the park big time with this book. The characters are all fantastic, the story is beautifully executed and I loved her quirky writing style with the journal entries. It's hip, it transforms you just like Amy gets transformed on her momspringa. This book is absolutely hilarious, it's entertaining, it was delightful, it's engaging, it's encouraging, it has so much heart, but more important it's perfectly relevant and relatable to all moms, single or married. This is a quick and fun read you won't be able to put down. I literally laughed out loud on so many occasions, cried at a few and was high-fiving Amy as she rediscovered herself. Just like the book and the title, Amy has a lot of sass that was so enjoyable to read and get to know.

I'm so in love with this book, I want to buy copies for all my mom friends. Pick it up and read it, you won't be disappointed!!!! Now I'm off to plan my momspringa!!!!

My thanks to Kelly Harms, Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the early copy!

I went into this novel blind and solely because of the cover. And I was glad that I did because it ended up being a great read.I really liked the writing, the characters, and the plot. I loved how it included books in what felt a natural way instead of just name dropping. I will be checking out more from this author in the future.

I recommend checking out this well-done romance/family centered novel.

This was such a fantastic novel! Amy is a librarian in a small PA town raising her 15-year-old daughter, Cori and her 12-year-old son, Joe. Three years earlier, her husband John went on a business trip to Hong Kong and then proceeded to inform her that he was unhappy and wasn’t coming home. Then she runs into him in the drug store. Thus begins a hilarious tale of a father trying to earn the forgiveness of his children and a mom that suddenly gets time to herself. Of course, being the responsible parent and librarian that she is, she decides to take this opportunity to go to a conference in New York to earn some continuing education credits, but ends up doing so much more!

Without giving spoilers, let me say that this one has a fabulous cast of characters that are so different and so developed that it blew my mind. Amy was a great main character, however, I truly feel like her daughter Cori stole the show. Each of her children was wonderfully quirky and smart in their own ways, lending amazingly funny and insightful banter between them. Her best friend Lena (nun turned teacher) was incredible, funny, blunt, and just amazing. Amy, herself was also hilarious, but something about Lena just kept me laughing from beginning to end.

And speaking of laughing, this is truly a laugh out loud book that had me in tears several times. Everything wasn’t always obviously funny, but I would be reading, stop, go back, then be doubled over laughing at the situations. The events and dialogue were just so brutally honest and relatable at times, I just couldn’t help myself! And I good amount of these moments are within Cori’s reading journal entries. Loved that girl… Just loved her!

In some ways, The Overdue Life of Amy Byler has a vibe similar to How Stella Got Her Groove back, but in other ways, it’s just a purely entertaining read and doesn’t really have any life-changing message embedded into Amy’s story. Yes, she got screwed over by her husband and had to pick up the pieces. She gets the opportunity for a break from her everyday life and has a big time in the city. Things change with her and with her children. But when it’s all said and done, she’s still a mom and a librarian – but may just have a refreshed perspective on her life and a new pep in her step.

My only criticism at all, and this is minor, is that I felt the book was a bit longer than necessary. Things were fast-paced for a while, but then it started to drag a bit during the last part of Amy’s visit to New York. Other than that, I found this one to be absolute perfection from beginning to end!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing this copy in exchange for my honest review!

The Overdue Life Of Amy Byler was really a very fun to read story that was relatable (when it comes to the character and her personality and flaws - all of which make her more lovable) and enjoyable on a lot of levels. It was definitely somewhat of a modern fairy tale, but it was fun to see how the story unfolded and enjoy the ride as the main character reinvented herself.

Loved the premise of this book that moms need to always remember to take care of themselves. A single mom of two has been struggling for three years on her own when her husband up and leaves her. My favorite line was " moms need to change how they think. You need to understand that to take care of your children well, you must never forget to take care of yourself." Loved how her role as a school librarian was woven through the story. Amy Blyer was brave to leave her children with their father as she went to celebrate her "Momspringa". Great easy read.

Thank you to Net galley for sending me this book in exchange for a honest review.

I’d give this a 3.5. Half way through I did think that it would be a solid four but I lost interest around three quarters of the way in then became interested again towards the end. I liked the concept behind the story of Amy getting some time to herself, it sends a positive message to mums out there. I also liked the references to books and literature with Amy being a librarian. The father annoyed me by throwing money at everything then disappeared off again. Cori did make me laugh though she was a breath of fresh air in the story. Overall a new and refreshing read and definitely a recommendation.