January 9, 2021

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler

 


Fiction
2019 Brilliance Audio
Narrated by Amy McFadden
Finished on January 1, 2021
Rating: 2/5 (Fair)

Publisher's Blurb:

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.

Meh.

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is a very light, fluffy read. Normally, this would have been a perfect choice for December, when I'm typically too busy to focus on a meatier book, but with so little going on at the end of 2020, I should've gone with something with a bit more substance. The narration by Amy McFadden is fine, but the storyline is more romancy than I care for. And yet, I kept listening. I don't remember why I chose to purchase this audiobook, but I need to remember that romantic comedies really aren't my thing. Don't waste your time.

10 comments:

  1. I appreciate your opinion... this has been on my radar for a while.

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  2. Thanks, JoAnn. As I wrote this review, I was a little worried that I might have been too harsh, but glancing at reviews on Goodreads, I notice that I am not alone. This book might be a great beach read for some (or maybe an enjoyable read for someone a bit younger than me), but it was almost a waste of my time. The audio narration bumped it up just enough to keep me engaged while I rode my bike.

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  3. I loved this book!

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    1. Vicki, I'm so glad you did! I really wanted to and there were parts about it that I liked, but overall, it just wasn't my cuppa tea.

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  4. I'm pretty sure I have this on my long list of eGalleys that I've been acquiring. Will definitely have to go in with low expectations.

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    1. Iliana, it might be a good choice for a summer read, if you're looking for some brain candy. :)

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    1. Deb, this doesn't strike me as the type of book you typically read, so good call.

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  6. First time I've seen it but it does seem a little too light for me. I need more conflict and depth.

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    1. Ti, I find that I'm gravitating more toward literary fiction, which is surprising since you would think fluffy reads would appeal right now.

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