n amusing and fun look at a single mom who goes to New York for a much needed break from her two children. Her trip goes viral through the magazine her friend edits and single mom dates and contemplates status of relationship with her estranged husband. Many literary references and a clever use of a daughter's reading journal enhance the narration. Gets a bit bogged down with the explanation of a library reading program. Otherwise, this is a delightful quick read that will make you smile.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

‘When you get better - and you’re going to get better, baby- you’re going to date a lot, and go to college, and meet someone wonderful, and have a kid, maybe even in that order. And you’re going to remember me and never, ever sell yourself down the river to be some kind of perfect mom. Not for a second. When you feel the urge, you are going to put on that well fitting bra I bought you fifteen years earlier and leave the kids in the care of a moderately competent person and go do something that is only for yourself, and if you don’t know what that should be, then you’re going to think about it until you do.’

First, I love that quote! Wise, wise words from Amy in The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms.

This book is about a middle-aged children’s librarian with 2 kids. It was pretty clear I was going to be reading it 🙋‍♀️

At first glance, I put it it firmly in the fun and light camp - which for the record I love. (There are room for allllll kinds of books in my heart.)As I delved in, i realized it had much more depth and analysis of modern motherhood than I realized. This is about a mum who has been abandoned to raise and provide for two kids on her own. When her ex comes back wanting to make amends with their kids, she gets the opportunity to away for some me/self-care time. Although it sounds dreamy, the reality is it’s hard for mums to disconnect from the small and huge tasks they do everyday. We can all look around at friends and say/think - she really needs a break. But it’s more complicated (emotionally and logistically) than just getting the time away.So when Amy, who has been sole parenting for many years, is presented with this opportunity for real rest, self- care and discovery, she has to figure out how to navigate it. I highly recommend it for your summer vacation TBR. A perfect combo of fun but real. Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for allowing me a free copy for the purpose of an honest review.
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The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is the story of so many women. I've always found it ridiculous that men just dump everything on women, including children, and walk away! But, women are weaker, right? Seriously? Poor Amy Byler. Suffocating under the weight of her daily life. Miraculously, the man actually shows back up after three years, and she gets a break. Amy finally has a moment to breathe, and she can actually do something for herself. I'm so glad she ventured forth and lived for some fun and adventure. This is an inspiring story about the triumph of one woman over the bad hand life dealt her. Full of warmth and laughter, this is a must read. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Loved the humor and the warmth of this book. Title character Amy Byler is a single mom who always puts her kids needs above her own, so when she's given the chance to take care of herself for once, she is understandably out of her element. What follows is a truly heartwarming look at reclaiming yourself, and how our perceptions of who we are can be altered. It's a really fun read, but also manages to be full of relatable wisdom. Plus, the book is peppered with literary humor which is great for book nerds!

A humourus read about a single woman’s self discovery
Amy’s character is likeable and relatable but it’s her wit that made me warm to her.
The authors witting writing style makes this a standout read
This is a light and charming read

I am in charge of our Senior School library and am looking for a diverse array of new books to furnish their shelves with and inspire our young people to read a wider and more diverse range of books as they move through the senior school. It is hard sometimes to find books that will grab the attention of young people as their time is short and we are competing against technology and online entertainments.
This was a thought-provoking and well-written read that will appeal to young readers across the board. It had a really strong voice and a compelling narrative that I think would capture their attention and draw them in. It kept me engrossed and I think that it's so important that the books that we purchase for both our young people and our staff are appealing to as broad a range of readers as possible - as well as providing them with something a little 'different' that they might not have come across in school libraries before.
This was a really enjoyable read and I will definitely be purchasing a copy for school so that our young people can enjoy it for themselves. A satisfying and well-crafted read that I keep thinking about long after closing its final page - and that definitely makes it a must-buy for me!

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler was delightful! I enjoyed the humor and the spot on look at being a mom complete with the out of date clothes, hair, and sometimes nonexistent fun. Amy’s kids are going to spend time with their missing father who has decided to show back up in their lives. So, she’s headed to a library conference in New York City and is going to stay with an old friend there. From the minute she arrives in the city, Amy is immersed in adventures! She meets interesting people, has herself made over, and has some fun. Amy’s relationships with her children are wonderful. Her friends are the kind of friends you wish you could have. Her missing husband, well, I’m sure some of you can relate to what he seems like.

Amy Byler is a single mom whose husband left her and their children 3 years ago because life was getting too overwhelming for him. Now he's back and he wants to make amends. While he does that, Amy gets to go on a #momspringa in New York and experience a vacation that helps her realize who she is when she's not a mom.

I found the plot of this book to be pretty original and refreshing from the usual mommy fiction type books I read. Kelly Harms' writing style is witty and quick-spoken. She does not break things down for her readers, she just assumes they are intelligent, which I really appreciate.

It's good light reading with a nice family plot and a pretty good romantic plot line. I thought Amy was a likable main character, although it did make me roll my eyes that a little bit of makeup and a well-fitting bra made her the hottest woman in New York. The secondary characters are also fairly likable, including Lena, an ex-nun who is also Amy's best friend. The female friendships are very positive and supportive.

Overall, a good light read. The ending is a little bit too neatly tied up, as the main characters just have a, "Duh, why didn't we think of this extremely easy solution before?" moment. Otherwise, good characters and good writing. A solid 4 stars.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book to read by this author.

I throughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. It had lots of good feelings and of course some sad along the way too. But it made me laugh out load in places so that was great. I think this one is for every mother and daughter to read. I have my daughter reading it now and she’s enjoying it too.

Great characters, great setting and I loved that she main character was a librarian. I love books also.

Thank you to NetGally and Lake Union for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

It’s a big 4.5 stars.

Amy is a single mother of two teenage children. Overworked, stressed, worried how to manage expenses with an aging house and two children who need stuff, a lifesaver in the form of a seemingly dejected husband turns up. Missing for three years, abandoning Amy to a sudden change in lifestyle she is now firmly in grip of her life but all the time feels that something is missing.


When an opportunity comes to attend a work related event which she likes in New York, she takes it albeit reluctantly wondering how the two children are going to cope without her. To her chagrin they manage themselves very well, seemingly getting on with their absentee father as if he was never absent. Getting in touch with her friend Talia opened a new world for her - a momspringa - a reawakening of herself and of her interests and of things she wants to do for herself. That she found plenty of romance was an interesting element to the story but the main theme of Amy's revival of spirit was the best part of the book.

This was the first book I've read by Kelly Harms but it defintiely won't be the last. You'll laugh throughout this story as Amy, a librarian, takes some much needed time off in New York. It's charming and relatable. The perfect summer read! If you enjoyed "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" you'll love this read!

Funny, funny book. It’s funny because it’s true. Kelly Harms has captured what it’s like to be a single mom trying to do it all. The challenges, the regrets, the joy. Amy, the main character is humorous, kind, love able and relatable. She is easy to cheer for, as she rediscovers herself during a summer without her kids. It’s a perfect summer “Momspringa” read.

I loved the momspringa coming to fruition! What a fantastic book of a woman seizing back the life she his from for three years. In addition, Cori diary entries were hilarious and Talia and Lena were a great duo. I would rea!my like a sequel.

(3.5/5 stars) Given as an arc from netgalley
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is quite a fitting title! I loved how the protagonist is a librarian, and that the events that occur are plausible. However, I feel that I wasn't quite the target audience since I am neither forty years old nor a mother of two. This definitely would probably be more enjoyable for my mother. I could totally seeing her be like wow, I couldn't relate more! The characters are all interesting and unique, but the diversity is kind of thrown in there. Like I had no idea one of the main characters was black until like the last chapter. I also thought some things were just too perfect for Amy. Like of course the friend from college she hasn't spoken to in like thousands of year is a successful head of a magazine and has no problem letting Amy come and live in her apartment for like 3 months! Or that the hot librarian she meets totally falls for her! I don't some things were too good to be true. I also didn't really like Amy because she had "too many thoughts". The novel was very wordy when it had no need to be. But I guess some people enjoy that. ALSO Cori is 15, but it seems like she acts like a 12 year old. Meanwhile Joe who is 12 years old acts like a 15 year old. Cori sounded very immature in her letters, and I cannot fathom myself sounding that way in letters I would write. The letters that opened each chapter were a sweet gesture, but did literally nothing for me.

Overall, nice read. I finished it in a day because it was entertaining, but nothing mind-boggling.

My Thoughts...

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler was just what I needed. A seemingly lighthearted comedic drama tale of motherhood, but filled to the brim with witty insight. At times while reading this book, I was almost certain that Kelly Harms had put cameras in my house and could read my mind. Her stuff was that on point.

Amy and I are the same woman I’m pretty sure. Her kids are a little older than mine, and she’s a single mother, but otherwise, we are soulmates. What mom hasn’t dreamed of a week away without the kids??? A week to find yourself again. A week to remember what you were like before spit up became your go to accessory. A week to eat out on a Tuesday like its normal. A week to let your husband understand just how hard it is to be Mom.

I read this book voraciously, probably because I felt it so much. I connected on a deep level with Amy, and it’s not just because we have the same name (but that was fun too). I knew how she felt and wanted what she wanted, and completely understood the irrational wave of mommy guilt that hit her like a ton of bricks. Where does that even come from? It’s like your cruising along, enjoying life, and BAM! A semi-truck full of ridiculous feelings t-bones your minivan full of educational dvds (or paw patrol). Suddenly, nothing you’ve ever done or will do is good enough and you’ve basically ruined your kids’ lives forever.

Even if you aren’t a mom, I do think you can get a lot out of this book. The story is adorable and honest, unflinchingly honest. Plus there is a makeover and a really hot guy. What’s not to like?

* Special thanks to Kelly Harms, Lake Union Publishing, and TLC Book Tours for providing a copy of The Overdue Life of Amy Byler in exchange for an honest review.

This book came recommended on a podcast that I love, and then the cover won me over, and Netgalley was kind enough to provide me with a free review copy so I was excited to read it. It was SO good!! There were some VERY funny moments. It was definitely slightly predictable at times but not too much, in my opinion. I definitely did not know how it would all end up.

The basic premise of the story is that Amy Byler, SAHM turned private school librarian, who was left unexpectedly by her husband for three years, runs into said husband at the supermarket and he wants to be back in his teenage children's lives. As a do-it-all amazing mom forced reluctantly into single motherhood overnight, Amy is hesitant and angry at her (still) husband and wants to refuse him. Then, she searches for library conferences to attend and finds one nearby in NYC and decides to go on her own for the week.

Her children are fabulously wonderful and so fun to read about and she is exactly the kind of mom (in many ways!) that I would love to be, so I saw myself in Amy in many ways. Her daughter writes her letters in a journal throughout their time apart and those lines were some of my favourites in the book.

Amy's wonderful friends and the people she meets along the way are the icing on the cake in this book and they are all so endearing and fun to read about. Though I'm not the kind of mom (at present) in need of this kind of mom getaway, I can certainly see the appeal and I think this was very funny that way.

Can't recommend this book enough for a lighthearted and enjoyable summer read. Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union publishing for the complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. And thank you Kaytee, for recommending this on Currently Reading!!!!

I received this book as an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

I really had high hopes for this book, based on the title and the synopsis.
But I struggled with the dialogue, the characters and the cliche story line.
It's an easy read, nothing too in depth, but I just didn't enjoy it.

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms was just a fun read. It focuses on Amy Byler (obvs) who is a librarian. For the last three years, she's been a single mom as her husband is estranged and off around the world. When her husband finally returns and wants to get to know his kids once more, Amy is able to head off to a conference in NYC, as well as some needed vacation time for the summer. With her time in NYC, Amy starts to explore who she wants to be, what she could do, and wonders where she might go with relationships, career, and life in general. While Amy is exploring this, she is hesitant. She's been so plugged into her life back home that she hasn't focused on herself much. It was exciting to read how Amy worked to reclaim herself and her space in the universe. She is truly torn between where she's been and where she wants to go which also made this one captivating as she tried to decide where she best fit. Also, BONUS, she was a librarian, so there was some book stuff!! This was a light read which I dug. It had some drama and some complicated relationships, but really it was just a story of a woman trying to figure it all out. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to check this one out!

I really enjoyed this book! The style is easy, breezy and humorous, despite that there is somewhat of a serious underlying subject, and I loved the heroine who goes on a vacation and rediscovers herself in the process.

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I expected to enjoy this book, because the premise was appealing: a mom of teens gets an opportunity for a week on her own in NYC and struggles with the idea of freedom vs responsibility. I got the enjoyment I expected and so much more. Not only does the main character struggle with her feelings about her children, but also her estranged husband, friends, new people she meets in NYC, and her feelings about herself.

The story hooked me from the start and I found myself relating to some of Amy’s thoughts. Looking forward to more books from Kelly Harms!