The Overdue Life of Amy Byler
Kelly Harms, 2019
Amazon Publishing
332 pp.
ISBN-13: 9781542040570
Summary
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. (From the publisher.)
Author Bio
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. (From the publisher.)
Book Reviews
Readers will be rooting for Amy as she navigates the dating world and makes friends who will stick with her…. [Readers] will fall for Amy… [and Harms's] great light read full of tears, laughter, and charming, relatable characters. —Jane Blue, Davie Cty. P.L., NC
Library Journal
In [an]easygoing, character-driven style…, Harms’s warm and witty novel will tickle fans of Where’d You Go, Bernadette and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
Booklist
The story is unevenly paced and has some cliched characters and a contrived setup. In the end, convenient compromises make everyone happy…. Worn-out moms might enjoy this escapist story of a runaway mother's fantasy "momspringa."
Kirkus Reviews
Discussion Questions
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