Amy’s life as a wife and mother was going along as smoothly as can be expected with John, a mostly absent husband, Joe, an eight year old genius son and the diver, Cori, her twelve year old daughter. But on the day John rolled his suitcase out the door and got on a flight to Hong Kong, stable, stay-at-home mom, Amy, became a single mother with two children to raise. Quite quickly, according to Amy’s BFF, Lena, Amy snagged a job as school librarian at the private school Joe and Cori attended, refinanced the house and barged on with her life.

Kelly Harms recreates the topsy-turvy life and emotional roller coaster ride of a single mom with her quirky accounting of conversations that Amy Byler has with herself, in her own head. Amy’s actually quite convincing and has you choosing her side of the argument, and then just as swiftly your emotions flip-flop and suddenly her rationionalizations have you siding with John! (There were times I didn’t know if I’d “kiss ‘im or kick ‘im” if I actually ran into him.) The BIG issue arises when John returns after three years in Hong Kong, in order “to spend time” and “get to know” his children. (Oh brother, picture lots of really mad faced, exasperated emojis in Amy’s texts.)

John wants to spend a week with his children-just a week! What could go wrong? Amy’s friends, Lena and college roommate, Talia, are in cahoots when Amy decides to spend that same week in NYC at a conference for librarians, earning continuing education units and presenting at the conference. ( This is a “get away” on which planet?) Amy’s sensible financial strategy is to stay with Talia, editor of Pure Beautiful Magazine, in order to save hotel expenses. When Amy’s phone calls and texts go unanswered she reverts to their old college days and the tricks she and Talia used to get into hotels. This is the point where Amy’s “overdue life” begins to get REALLY expensive-it’s NYC, not rural Pennsylvania. Credit cards are for emergencies, right?

Amy’s attempt to enthuse and enthrall Cori with reading begins with summer book suggestions and journaling. This “grateful reader” simply adored the journal entries Cori writes to her mother at the beginning of each chapter. The references to authors, book titles and plays are a luscious treat for book lovers of all ages.

Amy does experience life in NYC. And it was certainly “overdue.” You’ll need to read the book to find out the bits about the “make over of Amy”, the clothes, the dates, the restaurants & bars, the plays, the museums; the crying & heart-breaking decisions that have to be made. Read Kelly Harm’s newest book and you will experience the pain of abandonment and the false elation of martyrdom; regret and forgiveness, the thrill of a new love, and even the realization that children grow up and become independent -which is both joyful and bittersweet. You might need your own ” momspringa” after you read The Overdue Life of Amy Byler.

Check out: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41723475-the-overdue-life-of-amy-byler

I really enjoyed this book. The style is breezy and humorous, despite the somewhat serious subject, and I loved the heroine who goes on a Momspringa and rediscovers herself in the process. Will definitely recommend and It should find many fans with readers of this type of fiction.

This book is hilarious. Amy rides a rollercoaster of emotions from living the life of a single mother the last 3 years because her husband couldn't handle life and just took off leaving her with 2 young kids. When he decides to return she has to decide if she can enjoy a week in NYC at a conference while he cares for them. This starts the summer of having fun, trying to rid herself of self guilt and falling love. It's a great book and I couldn't put it down. Make sure you put it on your TBR list and grab it when it comes out.

When a mother who’s been all the parent, all the time for three years gets a week off, everything falls into place.

“Could it be this easy? Could life be this aligned for once?”

Amy leaves her small-town life for a week of responsible-only-for-herself time. #momspringa

“The tablet blinks again, and I click back to the message app. Talia, in her succinct way, doubling down on her cool in four little words: this party is on”

There are makeovers (“I promise you will be thrilled. You look like … like the perfect version of yourself.””) and dinners and walks in the park. There’s romance, friendship, and self-reflection. There are literary references and reading adventures. And, probably my favorite, there are LIBRARIANS.

But momspringa doesn’t last forever.

““Amish rumspringa ends with a big decision. Go home or never turn back. I’m not sure how your momspringa is any different.””

I suspect many mothers will find Amy’s time of complete freedom fabulously relateable. Recommended for mothers looking for a fun, funny, and touching story about love, family, friendship — and being yourself.

Amy Byler's husband ditched her and their kids three years ago, so when he shows up, full of reget, 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?