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Liz's Reviews > The Overdue Life of Amy Byler
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler
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by
2.5 stars, rounded up
When will I ever learn? I keep thinking I’ll enjoy a romantic comedy. I WANT to like romantic comedies. But in truth, I tend to find most of them too simplistic for my taste. They usually start ok and then get dorky. This one tried to be more than just a rom-com with some single parent angst and a family crisis towards the end. But it just didn’t work for me. A little too simplistic and saccharine sweet.
The book is told from two viewpoints, Amy’s narrative and her daughter’s journal entries. Amy, a single parent, finally gets a week to herself when her missing husband returns home after three years away and offers to watch the teenage kids. I’m not sure who irritated me more, Amy or her daughter. Neither came across as real.
I am clearly in the minority here. Lots of other readers have given this high ratings. So, consider this the raving of an old grump that can’t appreciate a rom-com.
Kudos though to the narrator who did a good job differentiating the voices.
When will I ever learn? I keep thinking I’ll enjoy a romantic comedy. I WANT to like romantic comedies. But in truth, I tend to find most of them too simplistic for my taste. They usually start ok and then get dorky. This one tried to be more than just a rom-com with some single parent angst and a family crisis towards the end. But it just didn’t work for me. A little too simplistic and saccharine sweet.
The book is told from two viewpoints, Amy’s narrative and her daughter’s journal entries. Amy, a single parent, finally gets a week to herself when her missing husband returns home after three years away and offers to watch the teenage kids. I’m not sure who irritated me more, Amy or her daughter. Neither came across as real.
I am clearly in the minority here. Lots of other readers have given this high ratings. So, consider this the raving of an old grump that can’t appreciate a rom-com.
Kudos though to the narrator who did a good job differentiating the voices.
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Comments Showing 1-50 of 74 (74 new)
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Paige
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Aug 20, 2019 06:23AM
Good review, Liz! And, I feel the same about the genre. I want to like it so bad.
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I’m not a fan of the subgenre either, Liz. Nice review
Paige wrote: "Good review, Liz! And, I feel the same about the genre. I want to like it so bad."Thanks Paige. And it’s the same with movies as well as books! Maybe even worse since so many of them quickly fall into silly territory.
Tammy wrote: "I’m not a fan of the subgenre either, Liz. Nice review"Thanks Tammy. Looks like there are a few of us out there.
Great review. The book has an interesting title, but it doesn't sound like something I'd like either, so I'm glad I read your review.
Marty wrote: "Great review. The book has an interesting title, but it doesn't sound like something I'd like either, so I'm glad I read your review."Thanks Marty. Yes, I was taken in by the title...
Apprciate your thoughts Liz. Im the same way most of the time!
I feel the same way Liz, although there are occasional exceptions. I DNF’d so many this summer.
Liz, with a few exceptions, I don’t usually read this genre either. Based on your review, I’ll skip this.Thanks.
JanB wrote: "I feel the same way Liz, although there are occasional exceptions. I DNF’d so many this summer."You were smart. I kept debating giving it up, but I guess hope springs eternal, I kept thinking it might get better.
Angela M wrote: "Liz, with a few exceptions, I don’t usually read this genre either. Based on your review, I’ll skip this.Thanks."Glad to help.
Carolyn wrote: "I'm the same, I really want to enjoy rom com but have stopped even trying because it is always a big fail."Holly wrote: "Apprciate your thoughts Liz. Im the same way most of the time!"
Good to know it’s not just me.
Well... the effort is noble.. but I stay away from them as well. I used to get along with them fine. So we evolved I guess. Great job on at least realizing it.
Shaina wrote: "Well... the effort is noble.. but I stay away from them as well. I used to get along with them fine. So we evolved I guess. Great job on at least realizing it."Its been a slow realization for me...
Liz -"I keep thinking I’ll enjoy a romantic comedy. I WANT to like romantic comedies. But in truth, I tend to find most of them too simplistic for my taste."
Um hm...
Crap. Is this a rom com?? I don’t know why I thought it would be something smart and quirky . I’m not sure if I should keep reading. I’m on page 12.....
Amanda wrote: "Crap. Is this a rom com?? I don’t know why I thought it would be something smart and quirky . I’m not sure if I should keep reading. I’m on page 12....."You and I both, Amanda. I was taken in by the title.
Hope your next one is better, Liz
Jen wrote: "Hope your next one is better, Liz"Thanks Jen. Luckily, It is!
I found the book a read that kept my interest and which I didn’t abandon after a few chapters. Read it to the end. However, some of the references “tried too hard” to impress us about literature and a mixed race love interest. I think we were supposed to greatly empathize (and don’t) with Amy about her supposed massive struggles with a wealthy husband, who takes off. Presumably, the U.S. courts could have intervened since she knew where he was. All that aside, the desire, as a parent, to have alone time is familiar, but her relentless “mommy” thing got somewhat tiresome. Most childless women who want children could not relate and would trade places in an instant.
Margaret R. Butler wrote: "I found the book a read that kept my interest and which I didn’t abandon after a few chapters. Read it to the end. However, some of the references “tried too hard” to impress us about literature an..."I agree with all the points you make.
Great review, Liz! The title has also captured my interest, and the cover is appealing to boot! Thanks for the warning that this is a rom-com, and I’ll plan on skipping this one. Like you, I always want to like the genre but never really do.
Julie wrote: "Great review, Liz! The title has also captured my interest, and the cover is appealing to boot! Thanks for the warning that this is a rom-com, and I’ll plan on skipping this one. Like you, I always..."Glad to help. So funny how many of us want to like rom-com’s and are repeatedly disappointed.
Ha, I am one of those lucky enough to enjoy some of these type of books, Liz. They provide a great change of pace for those intense books we both like!
Sorry it was just an k read for you, Liz. I’ve become much more selective with lighter fiction and rom-coms in the past few years, but did enjoy this one! Hope you love your next read!
Christine wrote: "Ha, I am one of those lucky enough to enjoy some of these type of books, Liz. They provide a great change of pace for those intense books we both like!"Christine, I think that’s why I keep giving them a chance. I want that bit of lightness.
Brandice wrote: "Sorry it was just an k read for you, Liz. I’ve become much more selective with lighter fiction and rom-coms in the past few years, but did enjoy this one! Hope you love your next read!"Thanks Brandice. Glad you enjoyed it. Heaven knows I’ll keep trying to find rom-coms I enjoy.
Oh, that's too funny. Be loud and proud about not liking rom-coms, there's a lot of us out there.
Pat wrote: "Oh, that's too funny. Be loud and proud about not liking rom-coms, there's a lot of us out there."Pat, loved your comment. Going forward, I will be unabashedly proud about my stance.
Good review, and right there with you. I had a hard time getting into this and really didn't get all the high reviews.
Whitney wrote: "Good review, and right there with you. I had a hard time getting into this and really didn't get all the high reviews."Thanks Whitney. Glad to know I have company.
Gear review. I too have been reading a lot of heavy duty books, and wanted a light fast read, but truthfully I had to force myself to finish it. It was just TOO light, and really too unbelievable. I should have abandoned this book and added it to my DNF pile, but I kept hoping it was going to live up to all the great reviews. It just wasn’t the right book for me; at least not the right book for me at this time.
Jean wrote: "Gear review. I too have been reading a lot of heavy duty books, and wanted a light fast read, but truthfully I had to force myself to finish it. It was just TOO light, and really too unbelievable. ..."Thanks Jean. It’s a fine line between light and fast and frivolous.
I feel exactly the same way about these kinds of books - I’ve outgrown the genre or something. Make that two “old grumps!” 😂. Love the review!
Dianne wrote: "I feel exactly the same way about these kinds of books - I’ve outgrown the genre or something. Make that two “old grumps!” 😂. Love the review!"Thanks Dianne. Two old grumps it is!
Add another old grump to the list, plus I am a school librarian so I guess I am a little extra critical of this one. I am going to stick to my rom coms being in the films! I enjoyed your review. After reading the others I wondered what I missed.
Jacquie wrote: "Add another old grump to the list, plus I am a school librarian so I guess I am a little extra critical of this one. I am going to stick to my rom coms being in the films! I enjoyed your review. Af..."Glad to see we were on the same wave length.
Another Thank you. I'm a third of the way through and went to check reviews. After seeing all the four star reviews I was relieved that I'm not the only one who is shaking their head. I'll still finish it just because but I wouldn't recommend it.
Judit wrote: "Another Thank you. I'm a third of the way through and went to check reviews. After seeing all the four star reviews I was relieved that I'm not the only one who is shaking their head. I'll still fi..."Hope your next book is a five star one!
I appreciate you sharing this! I was willing to give this book 3 stars for some of the relatable plot moments. Like many people commented, I was also looking for a lighter read to throw in my mix of TBRs (and, this was available on Prime Reading, so I figured why not). I’ve tried reading a few rom-coms and contemporary fiction books, but I find that their lightness leaves the story a bit dragging and I struggle to make it to the end. Overall, not a terrible read, but I think this may be my last rom-com for a while.
Sarah wrote: "I appreciate you sharing this! I was willing to give this book 3 stars for some of the relatable plot moments. Like many people commented, I was also looking for a lighter read to throw in my mix o..."Yes, I’ve been taking a break since this one, too. It’s the rare rom-com that I actually end up enjoying.
Grdt review Liz thank god i didnt decided not to buy this one. 🤗
Lisa wrote: "Grdt review Liz thank god i didnt decided not to buy this one. 🤗"Thanks Lisa. Yes, way too many good books out there.
I definitely agree with you. I do the same thing. If you find a really good novel, please let Us know. This was not it.
Joanie wrote: "I definitely agree with you. I do the same thing. If you find a really good novel, please let Us know. This was not it."
Have you read Ayesha at Last?
I agree with you completely.
Anne wrote: "I agree with you completely."Thanks Anne.
I agree! The book annoyed me. I actually would have preferred a book about her two friends. They seemed very interesting. Amy annoyed me so much.
Annielou wrote: "I agree! The book annoyed me. I actually would have preferred a book about her two friends. They seemed very interesting. Amy annoyed me so much."Exactly. I can dislike a character but I don’t want that annoys me!
If you’re looking for literary fiction, this is not it. This just a fun read, simplistic, and meant to be light at heart. You should have looked elsewhere. Just saying—writing a review that you don’t like a book because it’s “too simple” is a tad pompous. Stick to literature if it suits you then and refrain from light reads.just my two cents.
