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!

From the title to the premise and the #MOMSPRINGA (oh and that cover!) I was in right away! This is a book everyone should read. When you are left high and dry with kids and a mortgage, in NYC, and your estranged husband returns 3 years later from Hong Kong- well it can be told in the most hilarious way and Kelly Harms did just that. A relatable, fun read that is a one sitting book, because you won't want to put it down.
I loved that books, the love of books, the love of reading played a role in this story too!
Mom's are the unsung heroine's and we've all felt overdue for a little #momspringa! Such a brilliant and fun story.
This book is being gifted to a few moms I know!

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for my early review copy.

I am going to start off by saying that I loved this novel. I am a Mom, a bookworm, and also struggling to get my yOung teen reading (she loves the books when she starts, but geez the struggle to get her to sit down!)…and my life seems to be mostly be about my family. Until a few months ago, any time away was with at least one kid in tow.
Amy Byler has done heat she needs to keep her kids’ lives from changing too much after their father decided he wasn’t coming home from his business trip. Three years later, he realizes his mistake and comes back, asking for a week with their kids. Not knowing what to do with herself, she finds a conference relating to her job as a librarian (she may as well get her Continuing Education credits) and visit a friend she hasn’t seen. She packs her bags and her books, and heads to NYC. Things don’t go as she plans as she meets new people and battles her guilt of doing things just for her.
As she starts to find her way, there are moments that kept me laughing out loud and turning pages. Kelly Harms did a wonderful job at writing the internal struggles Amy faces. Surrounded by wonderful friends, both new and old, books, and fun situations, Harms delivers a novel that is so relatable that you will be pulling for Amy. When it comes down to it, will she choose her new life, go back to her old life, or find a way to meld the two into a new life that is way over due? It will have you asking: What will you do for your #momspringa? Whether it’s a few hours or a few days, everyone deserves the chance to take time for themselves. We just need to remember that!
#tallpoppywriters #bloomreads #momspringa #LakeUnionPublishers @KellyHarmsAuthor

Amy Byler is a Private School Librarian whose husband left her and their two kids three years ago. When he suddenly returns at the end of the school year, he offers to take the kids for the summer
so she can get a break and he can reconnect with the kids. Amy takes him up on the offer and goes to her friend Talia's in New York. What ensues is what every mother always dreams of, a Momspringa!
What is a Momspringa? You will just have to read this book to find out. I fully enjoyed this laugh out loud story and the great characters. It is about romance, family, and finding yourself again.
Thank you to Kelly Harms, Netgalley, and Lake Union Publishers for an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

I had so much fun reading this novel. It's a story about a middle aged mom, Amy, who has been raising her two children by herself after her husband, John, took off and left with no warning three years earlier. Now he's back and Amy Byler isn't so sure that's a good thing. He wants to reconnect with his kids and Amy isn't initially convinced about it but her kids, Cori and Joe, want a chance to be with their dad. Amy has a friend who lives in NYC and offers Amy a place to stay. It's also an opportunity for Amy to present a reading program she's developed to a convention of teachers. She decides to accept and her #momspringa begins.
I love the character of Amy and her quirky and hilarious wit. The situations and different circumstances she finds herself in made me LOL at times. I enjoyed going on this summer "retreat" with Amy and experiencing the ups and downs she found herself in. This is a great story of a woman finding herself again and starting over after her first husband leaves her. It's a process of trying to figure out what's right for her and her children. The emails in between chapters from Cori to Amy were a hoot! They made me laugh, too. I loved them.
I think this book connects with me because I, too, am a mom. There are times when we all need time away and just "me" time. My girls are grown but I sure could relate to wanting a break now and then. This story makes it ok to do that. Moms shouldn't feel guilty about taking some time to enjoy themselves.
I want to thank Netgalley, Lake Union and Kelly Harms for this entertaining and fun read in exchange for my honest review! GREAT BOOK!

Amy is a single mom and not by choice. Her husband left her and her two young children three years ago. She had to learn to cope. She got a job, she refinanced her house, she even got food assistance. So, to say she is stressed is an understatement. Then she sees her “runaway” husband in the drug store. Yep! You guessed it. He wants to visit the kids. After much debate Amy agrees to let John keep the kids for a week. Amy runs off to NYC! Then the fun begins.

I adored Amy! She has had so many obligations and she has carried such weight on her shoulders that she has put herself on the back burner. When she gets to NYC she has a hard time letting go. With the help of her friends Talia and Lena (Lena is a nun!), Amy realizes she can be something other than a librarian and a Mom! Her transformation just made my day! I wanted her to succeed on so many levels and boy did she ever!

Y’all! This book is super! It hit me at the perfect time and was exactly what I needed to read! There were places I laughed out loud and places I wanted to cry and scream. Add in the literary references, book nerds and the Litsy app and I am head over heels in love with this book.