The Overdue Life of Amy Byler

A Novel

by Kelly Harms

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.

Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org

*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

Pub Date May 01 2019 | Archive Date May 29 2019

Lake Union Publishing

General Fiction (Adult) | Women's Fiction

Talking about this book? Use #TheOverdueLifeOfAmyByler #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!

Description

An Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestseller, and a Goodreads Choice Award finalist.

“A laugh-out-loud funny, pitch-perfect novel that will have readers rooting for this unlikely, relatable, and totally lovable heroine, The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is the ultimate escape—and will leave moms everywhere questioning whether it isn’t time for a #momspringa of their own.” —New York Journal of Books

Overworked and underappreciated, single mom Amy Byler needs a break. So when the guilt-ridden husband who abandoned her shows up and offers to take care of their kids for the summer, she accepts his offer and escapes rural Pennsylvania for New York City.

Usually grounded and mild mannered, Amy finally lets her hair down in the city that never sleeps. She discovers a life filled with culture, sophistication, and—with a little encouragement from her friends—a few blind dates. When one man in particular makes quick work of Amy’s heart, she risks losing herself completely in the unexpected escape, and as the summer comes to an end, Amy realizes too late that she must make an impossible decision: stay in this exciting new chapter of her life, or return to the life she left behind.

But before she can choose, a crisis forces the two worlds together, and Amy must stare down a future where she could lose both sides of herself, and every dream she’s ever nurtured, in the beat of a heart.

An Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestseller, and a Goodreads Choice Award finalist.

“A laugh-out-loud funny, pitch-perfect novel that will have readers rooting for this unlikely, relatable, and...

A Note From the Publisher

Kelly Harms is an author, a mother, and a big dreamer. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her sparkling son, Griffin; her fluffy dog, Scout; and her beloved Irishman, Chris. Before this midwestern life, she lived in New York, New York, and worked with many of her author-heroes as an editor at HarperCollins and then as a literary agent. When she’s not lost in a book that she’s either writing or reading, you can find her on the water, in the water, or near the water. Say hello anytime at www.kellyharms.com.

Advance Praise

“Kelly Harms tackles modern single motherhood with flair, swoons, and the most perfect date ever written. In The Overdue Life of Amy Byler, readers will connect with the titular character’s unexpected journey of freedom and self-discovery, all told with Harms’s signature humor…I’m a fan for life!” —Amy E. Reichert, author of The Optimist’s Guide to Letting Go and The Coincidence of Coconut Cake

“The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is a charming, relatable, and entertaining look at parenthood, divorce, dating, and everything in between. No one cuts right to the heart of life—in all its hilarity and heartbreak—quite like Kelly Harms. This is easily one of my favorite books of the year!” —Kristy Woodson Harvey, author of Slightly South of Simple

“Amy Byler’s life isn’t easy—what with an absentee husband suddenly showing up and reclaiming some getting-to-know-you time with their two teenage kids. But what follows is pure wonder. Kelly Harms brings the mom-makeover story to a whole new level, with twists and turns and dialogue that is so funny you have to put down the book and simply allow yourself to laugh. It’s well written, it’s original, and I fell in love with Amy and all her well-meaning friends on her journey to find out who she really is. So much fun!” —Maddie Dawson, Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners

“Amy Byler’s husband ditched her and their kids three years ago, so when he shows up, full of regret, we can forgive her for being less than welcoming. Still, she could use a break—and a life. What follows is so engaging, I had to clear my calendar. Harms dances on the knife edge between snort-your-coffee humor and bull’s-eye insights, often in the same sentence. As a card-carrying curmudgeon, I resist such tactics, but here I never felt played. Instead, I was swept up in Amy’s Everymom dilemma, her quest for a full life without sinking into the swamp of selfishness. Whip-smart and honest to the core, The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is a thoughtful, nimble charmer. Did I mention the hot librarian?” —Sonja Yoerg, #1 Amazon bestselling author of True Places

“Kelly Harms tackles modern single motherhood with flair, swoons, and the most perfect date ever written. In The Overdue Life of Amy Byler, readers will connect with the titular character’s...