Amy Byler is an overworked and underappreciated single mom that could use a break. Three years ago, her husband went on a business trip to Hong Kong and never returned. So naturally Amy is skeptical when he shows up and offers to take care of their kids for the summer. With no one to answer to, Amy decides to head to New York City—her former college stomping ground—for a librarian conference.
On her kid-free escape, Amy thinks she's in for catching up on sleep, lots of reading, and some professional development. Instead, she lets her hair down and has a fling with a handsome librarian. She also reconnects and stays with Talia, an old friend from college. Talia is a successful magazine editor who talks Amy into a makeover which she dubs as a "momspringa" (a take on Rumspringa) and documents the experience as a feature in the magazine.
With one man capturing her heart, and the summer coming to a close, Amy has to decide how this is all going to play out. What is going to happen to this new Amy and the life that she has carved out for herself? Before she can decide, past and present collide and Amy may lose a lot more than either of her identities.
This book was incredibly charming! I loved the dynamic between Amy and her teenage daughter, Cori (who the reader gets to know through her journal entries). Harms's writing is relatable, endearing, and witty. She is particularly effective in capturing the struggles and challenges of a mother—from mother's guilt to constantly worrying about your children. Women regularly sacrifice themselves for their children and oftentimes it is at the expense of their own happiness. This can be detrimental to the relationships that they have with their partners and their friends.
Are you in need of a momspringa? I know a lot of women that are...so if that's you, grab your girlfriends, and grab a cocktail, this book is for you!
KELLY HARMS a former editor, lived in New York and worked with many of her author-heroes as at HarperCollins and then as a literary agent at the Jane Rotrosen Agency.
Harms lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her sparkling son, Griffin; her fluffy dog, Scout; and her beloved Irishman, Chris.
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