![The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by [Harms, Kelly]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51CUy6NuYSL.jpg)
published: 2019
pages: 314
read: 5/19-30/2019
book: 40 in 2019
Sometimes a book about other people's problems is way better than your own.
SYNOPSIS
Overworked and under appreciated, 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 THOUGHTS
SHORT VERSION
i liked this read even though it took me a while to read it.
i think because part of it hit home....
LONG VERSION
I'm not sure why it took me a while to write this down but
honestly, I think it boils down to sheer laziness.
Buuuuuuut good things come to those who wait I guess.
I liked this book. I really did.
I'm happy that Amy gets situated so to speak, at the end of the book.
I'm glad that she was able to find what she was missing at the end of the book even if it happened a bit backwards.
I'm glad that she realizes that her relationship with her husband was what it was and maybe at some point she also had a fault in the falling out but I'm glad that at the end of it all, she realizes that no matter the time and history they had, that it's over. That shes worth AND deserves more just like he does as well. No animosity.
There's a line towards the end where she mentions John going to sleep in order to process and deal with a dire situation while shes left in the real world to actually process and deal with what is going on at the moment...and that was, wow. Honestly, I didn't even realize that that could a) be a coping mechanism and b) how hurtful it could be to another person.
I'm not married so I cant really speak on that. I just, That blew my mind because in my head it's a partnership and I can see where at times one has to carry more than the other but, imagine all the time? i think we both realized then and there just how damaged her marriage was.
I'm not sure why it took me a while to read this. It was a good book and even though I'm also not a mother I can see what it meant for her to have this #momspringa. I think maybe it took me a bit longer because it was an emotional read of some sort.
While I am not a mother or a wife, I am the daughter of a woman that has gone through this.
Overall, I'm happy for everything that Amy went through.
It hurts to hurt at the moment and it's such a fucking cliche, but everything does happen for a reason and while you can't handle it at the moment, the reward is so much better than you could've imagined.
the only thing that bugged me was that the kids had to stop being kids and be grown ups.
and that's such a shitty thing to do. a kid should have the time to be a kid no matter the situation. they should be adults when its their time to be adults. not when shit hits the fan...in Amy's case, i understand the need for their assistance but it just broke my heart because i also understand that feeling of needing to grow up before it's your time.
anyway, its been soo long....so ill try to do spoilers as best as possible.
"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."
thanks for reading,
Buuuuuuut good things come to those who wait I guess.
I liked this book. I really did.
I'm happy that Amy gets situated so to speak, at the end of the book.
I'm glad that she was able to find what she was missing at the end of the book even if it happened a bit backwards.
I'm glad that she realizes that her relationship with her husband was what it was and maybe at some point she also had a fault in the falling out but I'm glad that at the end of it all, she realizes that no matter the time and history they had, that it's over. That shes worth AND deserves more just like he does as well. No animosity.
There's a line towards the end where she mentions John going to sleep in order to process and deal with a dire situation while shes left in the real world to actually process and deal with what is going on at the moment...and that was, wow. Honestly, I didn't even realize that that could a) be a coping mechanism and b) how hurtful it could be to another person.
I'm not married so I cant really speak on that. I just, That blew my mind because in my head it's a partnership and I can see where at times one has to carry more than the other but, imagine all the time? i think we both realized then and there just how damaged her marriage was.
I'm not sure why it took me a while to read this. It was a good book and even though I'm also not a mother I can see what it meant for her to have this #momspringa. I think maybe it took me a bit longer because it was an emotional read of some sort.
While I am not a mother or a wife, I am the daughter of a woman that has gone through this.
Overall, I'm happy for everything that Amy went through.
It hurts to hurt at the moment and it's such a fucking cliche, but everything does happen for a reason and while you can't handle it at the moment, the reward is so much better than you could've imagined.
the only thing that bugged me was that the kids had to stop being kids and be grown ups.
and that's such a shitty thing to do. a kid should have the time to be a kid no matter the situation. they should be adults when its their time to be adults. not when shit hits the fan...in Amy's case, i understand the need for their assistance but it just broke my heart because i also understand that feeling of needing to grow up before it's your time.
anyway, its been soo long....so ill try to do spoilers as best as possible.
"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."
thanks for reading,
#lesreads on IG
John left Amy to go to Tokyo or somewhere out there for work.
he went for work with the intention to come back and just stayed.
its later revealed that he found someone out there.
so Amy is left at home with the kids and all the responsibilities.
its been this way for a couple of years when all of a sudden John wants to come back for a summer to be with the kids.
reluctantly, Amy says yes and after arguing with her best friend (who used to be a NUN and who i ABSOLUTELY LOVE!) she hits up her friend from New York who happens to work for a magazine.
to cut it short, her friend decides to write an article about her taking a #mumspringa and how mothers deserve a time out from time to time without guilt.
she ends up realizing she can date so they set up a few for her.
she meets Daniel, sleeps with him, freaks out, and ends up ending it with him (at the end of the book)
she goes back home, John asks for more time. she goes back to NYC (BTW, she went to NYC because there was this teacher thing that she could attend there so she was also there for work purposes) continues working with her library book thing (she's trying to get kids to read more and something about funding for books so that there's variety for all ages and things that kids want to read) ends up meeting Daniel after one of her dates.
they talk about it and "realize" it wont work because she lives in Pennsylvania and he in NYC and there's kids involved and all that.
i forgot how it transpires but her daughter is away at swim camp when she dives head first into the pool and gets a concussion but because she's dumb and afraid doesnt say anything til the next day when her teammates tell coach.
she needs surgery.
back to PA she goes, she meets John there.
John shuts down, she goes into overdrive. eventually the surgery ends up great, her best friends and Daniel end up showing up.
and it ends with Amy & Daniel deciding to give it ago.
im sure there's lots i left out but hey, what can you do.
to cut it short, her friend decides to write an article about her taking a #mumspringa and how mothers deserve a time out from time to time without guilt.
she ends up realizing she can date so they set up a few for her.
she meets Daniel, sleeps with him, freaks out, and ends up ending it with him (at the end of the book)
she goes back home, John asks for more time. she goes back to NYC (BTW, she went to NYC because there was this teacher thing that she could attend there so she was also there for work purposes) continues working with her library book thing (she's trying to get kids to read more and something about funding for books so that there's variety for all ages and things that kids want to read) ends up meeting Daniel after one of her dates.
they talk about it and "realize" it wont work because she lives in Pennsylvania and he in NYC and there's kids involved and all that.
i forgot how it transpires but her daughter is away at swim camp when she dives head first into the pool and gets a concussion but because she's dumb and afraid doesnt say anything til the next day when her teammates tell coach.
she needs surgery.
back to PA she goes, she meets John there.
John shuts down, she goes into overdrive. eventually the surgery ends up great, her best friends and Daniel end up showing up.
and it ends with Amy & Daniel deciding to give it ago.
im sure there's lots i left out but hey, what can you do.
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