I chose The Overdue Life of Amy Byler as purely escapist reading, and it fit the bill. I spent an enjoyable weekend with well drawn characters. Kelly Harms writes with humor, and though I am not a mother, I could still relate to the main character's "Momspringa" moments. This novel is a light, gentle read. Yes it kind of pigeonholes "moms" at times, and women's vanity in general, but it hits close to home quite often. If you're looking for an escape from psychological thrillers (as I was) TOLoAB fits the bill quite nicely. I'm already casting the movie in my mind!
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

A solid 4 star book, I really enjoyed it. I fell in love with the characters and the storyline. Amy is relatable. Every mom dreams of a momspringa ❤️ A great read. Now off to New York.

#arc #netgalley #theoverduelifeofamybyler

I read this book on Mother's Day and I think it was a perfect read for that occasion. We all take our mothers for granted. She doesn't asks for much and is willing to give everything for us. Mother's deserve to go out and have fun. This doesn't equal to them not loving their children or being a bad parent. When we don't think that about our fathers then why are mothers given that of reaction?
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This book talks about a topic (#momspringa) which is not even a thing but should be made into one! All mothers should get a summer off or a week off to be themselves and have fun!
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The reason I gave it three stars was because Amy's children were too perfect. She does talk about the times when they are being regular siblings but during most of the story they seem too understanding and too good to be true.
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I loved that Amy and Daniel both love books, their nerdiness and the references to classics. All their dates/meet ups are so adorable and are a book lover's dream date.
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Thank you so much for approving the ARC for me to review.

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms is an Adult Contemporary/Romance which I received as an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) from @NetGalley (& Lake Union Publishing!) in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. (Release Date | 01-May-2019)

SYNOPSIS | Amy Byler is a single mum of two teenage kids as her husband decided 3 years ago that they would be better off without him in their lives so he essentially abandoned them and moved to Hong Kong. Randomly whilst buying some essentials at the drug store she bumps into her husband again. He has returned to rural Pennyslvania and wants to get to know his children again. Amy reluctantly agrees thinking she can use the opportunity to go to a conference in New York but soon finds that she has come a long way from the girl that she used to be.

MY THOUGHTS | I was surprised how much I could relate to Amy. I do not have teenage children, but I do have a 4 year old stepdaughter and I know how easy it is to compromise little and often and ultimately feel like you aren't "you" anymore. I thought this was a lovely story of self-discovery and there was moments where I chuckled out loud. Overall I felt like the writing was witty and the characters were real & most important multi-dimensional. My only criticism is that I often confused the voices of her teenage daughter and her best friend as they both used extremely similar language and grammar.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley!!

As a mom myself, I could definitely relate to single mom Amy Byler.. I'm sure all of us moms can, right?!
The book was funny, easy to relate to, and geared towards moms!

Read it, you won't regret it.

Smart, savvy writing turns a predictable plot into a humorous and heartwarming read about a single mother’s journey to self-awareness.

Amy Byler is a single mom who does what it takes to provide for her children--in doing so, she has lost herself as she only sees herself as a mother to Cori and Joe. Three years ago, her husband walked out on her and their two teenage children. When he suddenly returns, he attempts to make amends by having their kids stay with him for a week over the summer. WIth no one to take care of, Amy finds herself attending a librarian conference in NYC. While in the city, she reunites with an old friend who convinces her to take a momspringa (a play on the Amish Rumspringa). Away from her children and ex-husband, Amy slowly learns to come to terms with her failed marriage and being a mother. At the same time, she opens her mind to a new kind of life and new love.

Amy’s character is likable and relatable, but her quick wit is what I loved best about her--she has a way with words. Kelly Harm’s witty writing style makes The Overdue Life of Amy Byler a standout. Amy’s snappy banter coupled with witty side characters gives this book a Gilmoreesque quality. In addition, there are tons of literary references that will be sure to make any book nerd smile with glee! This is a light and charming read elevated by Harms' sharp, witty writing!

#momspringa!

This book is so much fun! I don’t have kids so I can’t really relate to Amy on that front, but I definitely understand the need for a break from regular life. I love the characters - Lena and Talia are such great friends, and Daniel is amazing. I really enjoyed the author’s style of writing. It’s not over complicated and it’s flows really well. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but it won’t be my last.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

I wanted to read this book with just the cover alone, the blurb was an added bonus. This is the story of Amy's holiday. It is something that has been pending for a long time and she has well-meaning friends who are trying to give her the best break she could have. Amy is a librarian and there is a concept she shares in a seminar/presentation (something I will let Amy elaborate in the book) that sounded very interesting to me. I am not a librarian and would probably not be in the field in the near future so I cannot comment on the plausibility or authenticity of the plan she formulates but it sounded fascinating. There are a few other things that endeared the book to me:

1.Strong (at the same time, reasonable) friendships. Well written friendships are few in real as well as fictional lives and they should be treasured.
2.Family. I should technically include the friends in this as well, but I specifically mean the relationship Amy has with her children.
3.References to reading as a good way to spend time
4.Last but not least, New York. I sort of lived in the city during my Masters (sort of because I was not very social or adventurous and did not see too much of it) but the reminiscing that Amy does reminded me that I did actually have some good times in the city and actually was fond of a few of the things she mentions, especially the Brooklyn Bridge. 
It was a good book, with some serious conversations and a few not-so-serious ones and I had an enjoyable time with it.

A warm fun delicious read a single mom whose absentee husband appears after three years and tells her he’ll watch the kids she is free to leave take a break.So this wonderful story of Amy Byler tome off from single motherhood begins.Inlaughed enjoyed highly recommend.#netgalley #lakeunionpublishing

This was a very enjoyable read that hooked me from the very beginning! Amy is a single mom of two children whose husband left her three years ago. When her husband returns offering to watch the children for the summer Amy makes plans in NYC. While in New York, Amy's plans change and what follows is a fun and engaging story I think many moms will be able to relate to!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

At her local drugstore, Amy Byler runs into her husband, who went on a business trip to Hong Kong and stayed for three years. He’s returned to make things right and be the father his children deserve. School Librarian Amy signs up to present her reading program at a conference in NYC, where she plans to reconnect with her college roommate, during the kids’ week with their father. She meets a hot librarian, makes a new friend, and starts a movement. Harms cleverly uses the modern-day epistolary of email and texting in this humorous exploration of a single mom becoming her own woman. Fans of Ann Garvin, Katherine Center, and Kerry Anne King will appreciate Harms’ voice. I received a digital copy of this wonderful story from Lake Union through NetGalley.

Kelly Harms has written a light, fun read about a middle aged librarian who gets a chance to have a summer to herself while her estranged husband re-bonds with his children.

When Amy Byler's husband went on a business trip to Hong Kong three years ago and never returned, she suddenly found herself a single, unemployed mother of two children with a large mortgage and no child support. Life gradually got better once she got herself a job as a school librarian and re-mortgaged the house, but she and the kids have had to budget carefully and she has got used to being a single parent, always on call as driver, carer and worrier.

Out of the blue, her husband has returned with a wish to spend the summer reconnecting with the kids. Angry at first and then hesitant about handing over her kids, Amy goes to stay with her old college friend Talia in New York who is editor of a fashion and lifestyle magazine. She's looking forward to spending some time on her own sleeping in and reading books but Talia decides Amy needs a makeover, an agenda of activities and some hot dates. Talia calls it the 'momspringa' (like the Amish rumspringa) and decides to feature it in the magazine as something all mothers need now and again. Reluctant at first but with encouragement from Talia, her best friend ex-nun Lena and Daniel, the hot librarian she befriends at a librarians convention, Amy soon finds that she is enjoying her new improved self and breaking out of the stasis she has been in for the past three years.

This was an engaging read with interesting characters who love talking about books and plays. Beware though, it may make you want to have a 'momspringa of your own!

A well written funny book with good characters and fun dialog. Not more what more needs to be said, particularly since there are so many other reviews. Recommended.

I really appreciate the copy for review!!

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is an absolute delight. Full of humor and heart, Kelly Harm's writing pulled me in from the very first page and didn't let go until well after I finished the book.

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler was such a nice surprise! Amy is a mother of two, who was left by her husband three years ago. Her kids now in their teenage years have developed quite different personalities. Joe is the 12 year old smarty pants, while Cori is a typical Fashion loving, boy obsessed 15 year old. Amy has learned to be a single mother and take care of the bills as a librarian. One day, John decides to come back and wants to take the kids for a week. Amy, being rightfully upset, struggles with the decision but ends up agreeing. Amy gets ahold of her friend in New York and plans to spend a few days at a Literary Conference and the rest of the week with Talia. However, Amy's plans of reading and lounging around in yoga pants are disrupted when Talia's magazine decides to fund a makeover for her. Amy's vacation now turns into a #momspringa! Soon, Amy is doing things she never dreamed she would be doing as a single mom. Amy finds herself in New York but can she return back to her normal life with her new found confidence? The ending of this book will tug at your heart strings!
I Just have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you like witty banter and book references this book is for you! I fell in love with Amy's character and felt for her. Sometimes life gets busy and I think we can all relate to needing a break sometimes! Amy's momspringa will be a thing that I think many moms will do after reading this book! I think almost all women, mothers or not, would love to be pampered in NYC, eating take out from trendy restaurants and exploring the city! If you haven't read this book yet I recommend you do!

The Overdue Life of Any Byler is a unique fantastic story that is a must read book. The storyline and characters are are wonderful. I will read more from this author.

Amy Byler, has been a loyal and compassionate wife to John for 18 years. They have a comfortable home in suburbia, where they have raised 2 wonderful children, Cori and Josh, who attend a first class private school. Amy has a masters degree in library science, but, given John's success, she has opted to be a stay at home mom. It was all lots of fun, until it started not to be...and then... John left them, to live on the other side of the world, with a woman twenty years his junior. In a flash, Amy's life, and her kids' lives, changed dramatically. To keep the kids in school, and to stay in their house took some quick thinking, luck, and a full time position as a librarian in the kids' school. Amy and the kids settle into this new reality, with some help from Amy's friend Lena. Then, after 3 years of being on their own John comes home, and Amy bumps into him in HER pharmacy. At first, she's not sure whether to even acknowledge him, but that simply is not the kind of person Amy is. She never bad mouthed John in front of her kids and decides to give him a chance to explain. He wants to spend time with his kids is what he tells her. She, Amy Blyer is free to do as she pleases, at first, for a week. But to Amy, even a week seems like winning the lottery, and as long as her kids agree, she will gladly take John up on his offer. Her dream week, which becomes her #momspringa, turns out to be a week in New York City, starting off with a 2 day librarian convention, and the rest of the week 'reading' and vegging, in her college friend Talia's apartment. And so her fantasy begins. What unfolds is very different to what she planned, thanks to Talia, who has other ideas about how her overworked friend should spend her time, and rightfully so. The #overduelifeofamybyler is about the lengths that moms go to to make sure their kids lives are as perfect as they can possibly be, often sacrificing everything to do so, if need be, as the hero of this story, Amy Byler did. It was only when others encouraged Amy to step away, that she saw, everyone deserves a break, and it does not make that person any less of a parent. Great book and a great message. 5 stars @kellyharms.Thank you #netgalley for the opportunity to read this e-arc on shelves 05/19. I absolutely love the cover design!

I really enjoyed this very entertaining book with great characters and a different storyline. I found myself laughing out loud, but then feeling sad for everything that the main character Amy was going through. I was so caught up in the story that i kept turning the pages to see what might happen next and had a hard time putting it down. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read an arc of this book. The review is my own honest opinion.
Congratulations to the author on writing this delightful book, I'm sure it will make the best seller list soon!

I can't even begin to describe the love I have for this utterly adorable, fun and refreshing book! This book had everything you want in a solid, enjoyable story and so much more. Amy is one of the most lovable and fun characters to follow. She is extremely warm and relatable - which is quite funny in itself - as I have absolutely NOTHING in common with her! (OK... I lie a little - we DO both love books a lot.)

Amy is WAY overdue for a break. Her husband just up and left her and her 2 kids and it's been a rough ride - but she survived it and did a pretty darn good job on her own. So when Doug returns as suddenly as he left 3 years prior, she takes the opportunity to get that break she so desperately deserves. Enter the #momspringa !!

A whirlwind summer in New York City follows with old friends, a whole new look, and a VERT hot librarian! THIS is how Amy Byler gets her groove back! The #momspringa is exactly what she needed to find her true self and I was swept up in her adventures! The story is chock full of book references that any book lover will adore and each chapter begins with a letter from her teenage daughter Cori - a sweet start to each development in Amy's journey of divorce, dating and parenthood.

The book is an engaging and hysterically fun journey of Amy's self discovery - full of witty charm and endearing characters, and I loved every single word!