The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms

Book 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.”

My Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My Review:

I chose The Overdue Life of Amy Byler from Amazon First Reads last month. If you want to learn more about what First Reads is, you can read my blog post about reading on a budget, HERE. I was definitely drawn in by the cover and the book summary as I am intrigued by any books that incorporate motherhood and reading. I have had pretty great luck with First Reads choices, in March I read I’m Fine and Neither Are You by Camille Pagan and it was one of my very favorites so far of 2019.

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler was fun, engaging and witty. This time of year I tend to gravitate towards “easy reads” and this fit the bill. I enjoyed the premise of this book and loved the unique twist on a mom realizing that you can be a great parent and also still make time to be “yourself’. Amy’s character was multidimensional and I enjoyed seeing her process of rediscovering herself after many years of feeling like “just a mom”.

“I get this now. I get now that you can love what you have, love your kids and your life and your friends, and still want more. I get that it’s ok to go out and get more-more love, more friendship, more fulfillment-and still be a wonderful mom…I finally understand that traditional math does not apply to mothers: I can be 100 percent a mother and, though it isn’t easy, still be 100 percent myself as well. It means changing how I think. It means understanding that to care for my children well, I must never again forget how to care for myself.” -Kelly Harms, The Overdue Life of Amy Byler

Kelly Harm’s writing is relatable and although the story is a bit predictable, this book is a very enjoyable ride. Harms nails womanhood and motherhood and the constant and usually rarely successful struggle to “balance it all.” I definitely recommend adding this to your summer reading list!