[REVIEW] The Overdue Life of Amy Byler

title: The Overdue Life of Amy Byler

author: Kelly Harms

genre: adult, chick lit
published: May 1st 2019 by Lake Union Publishing
my copy: kindle, 328 pages
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
rating: 4 / 5 stars
goodreads

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.

it's about finding oneself and realizing that you don't have to take the world alone.

This is one of those books I picked up on Kindle Deals because I was thinking, "why not?" It sounds okay and it really seems like something I can speed though. It's not a story I can relate to given the single mother aspect but why not?

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler follows Amy Byler (duh!) whose husband suddenly left her three years ago. Since then, she's grinded on every single day of their life to give her kids the life they think she needs and deserves. She's good at it. Really good at it. But suddenly her husband contacts her out of nowhere and decided that he wants to reconnect with them, with the kids. Amy gives him a chance to see the kids, spend a week with them while she unwinds, go to this library conference over at New York while staying with her college friend.

I really like the family aspect as well as the single mom aspect of the novel. As a single mom who was suddenly forced to be one because her husband suddenly left her, Amy was pushed to do everything she can for her children. She didn't give time for herself. It's always about her children. Thus when the opportunity to unwind and have her husband finally fill in the parent shoes for her, Amy can't fully put her mind into an actual vacation mode until after a couple of weeks. But even then, she constant worries about her children. Then there's the part where she feels threatened that because her husband is rich and can give their children possibly a lot more than she can financially, they'll want to be with him more. It kind of feels painful for her given that she's been there with them for three years while her husband run off somewhere else.

This book is also such a fun read!! A few fun things about this: (1) It's really got me really happy with all the bookish talks because Amy's librarian background and the fact that she has this project on encouraging young adults to read. (2) there's a "hot librarian!" and damn a romance involving two bookworms is just the most fun thing to see! Also, Daniel, the hot librarian, is such a sweet and nice man. There's really more to him than just being bookish and good looking. (3) The "momspringa" is an enjoyable read! To be honest, I don't know the refence (and I can't remember it now. omg sorry) but the relaxation Amy got is such a fun thing. There are beautiful clothes, workout, dates, and relaxing times to read. What more can you ask for?, (4) Cori's, Amy's daughter, journal entries are enjoyable reads. Every chapter, we get to read Cori's thoughts. It's an update on what's going on at home. How are they, what are the things her dad is doing for them, her thoughts on her mom's vacation. We also get to know Cori and believe me, you'll love her! Such a fun, sassy, smart child.

OVERALL, The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is a fun read about a single mom who, after three years, finally gets the much deserve break she needs and finds what she really loves at the end of it all. It's got books, family, New York City!, finding oneself, and realizing that you don't have to take the world alone. It made me feel happy, excited, and sad at really appropriate times. Really recommend this if you want a quick fun chicklit read.

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