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“Harms writes a great light read full of tears, laughter, and charming, relatable characters.” – Library Journal

Kelly Harms is the bestselling author of several novels, most notably, The Overdue Life of Amy Byler and The Goodluck Girls of Shipwreck Lane. Her books explore the inner world of women whose lives did not turn out as planned, women who are thrust into incredible, often hilarious situations like winning a new home only to find out you have to share it with a woman of the same name, or a cocktail party that has some seriously Freaky Friday-like consequences. Her books have topped the charts on Amazon, Washington Post, and USA Today, and The Overdue Life of Amy Byler was a Goodreads Readers Choice Top Ten pick (2019).

A former literary agent, Kelly traded the New York hustle and bustle for the dream of being an author in a quieter life in Madison, Wisconsin with her sparkling son, Griffin; her fluffy dog, Scout; and her beloved Irishman. When she’s not getting lost reading a book, she’s either writing, or on the water, in the water, or near the water.

Kelly's Featured Titles

The Seven Day Switch

Lake Union Publishing |
Novel

Celeste Mason is the Pinterest stay-at-home supermom of other mothers’ nightmares. Despite her all-organic, SunButter-loving, free-range kids, her immaculate home, and her volunteering awards, she still has time to relax with a nice glass of pinot at the end of the day. The only thing that ruins it all is her workaholic, career-obsessed neighbor, who makes no secret of what she thinks of Celeste’s life choices every chance she gets.

Wendy Charles is a celebrated productivity consultant, columnist, and speaker. On a minute-by-minute schedule, she makes the working-mom hustle look easy. She even spends at least one waking hour a day with her kids. She’s not apologizing for a thing. Especially to Celeste, who plays her superior parenting against Wendy whenever she can.

Who do Celeste and Wendy think they are? They’re about to find out thanks to one freaky week. After a neighborhood potluck and too much sangria, they wake up–um, what?–in each other’s bodies. Everything Celeste and Wendy thought they knew about the “other kind of mom” is flipped upside down–along with their messy, complicated, maybe not so different lives.

The Bright Side of Going Dark

Lake Union Publishing |
Novel

As one of the most popular influencers on social media, Mia Bell has lived her life online for years. With her celebrity dog and gorgeous fianc , she is planning the ultimate virtual wedding–expensive, elaborate, and entirely paid for by sponsors. But off-camera, her world is far from picture perfect. After being jilted by her fianc and faking her nuptials to please her sponsors, Mia finally has had enough. She heaves her phone off a cliff, ready to live–and maybe find love–offline for a change.

Mia’s sudden absence doesn’t go unnoticed, especially by techie loner Paige Miller, who hacks Mia’s account and begins impersonating the internet celebrity. Paige has her reasons. Her half sister, Jessica, idolizes Mia and desperately needs something to believe in. If taking over Mia’s online persona is Paige’s only means of connecting to her sister, so be it.

Creating a like-worthy life is more fun than Paige expected. But when she grows too bold and is caught in the act, a fiasco ensues that could forever change Mia, Paige, and the people who love them. Because somewhere amid the chaos is an invaluable lesson–one that only real life can teach.

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler

Lake Union Publishing |
Novel

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.

The Matchmakers of Minnow Bay

Wheeler Publishing |
Novel

The perfect feel-good read. Don’t miss this delightful novel ” -Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author of Starlight on Willow Lake

Lily Stewart has reached a crossroads in her life. Her painting career hasn’t taken off, her best friend has changed beyond recognition, her relationship is a constant disappointment, and now she can’t keep up with the rising cost of living in the city. With no one to turn to, Lily is forced to move from her beloved apartment, but while packing she comes across a piece of mail that had slipped to the back of her junk drawer: a letter detailing further action needed to finalize the annulment of a quickie Vegas wedding. From ten years ago

Lily decides it’s time to gather up the pieces of her life, and the first item on her list of things to fix is that annulment… but you can’t just send a text ten years later reading, “Hey BTW we are still married.” This is something that must be addressed in person, so Lily decides to track down her husband – the charming, enigmatic man she connected with all those years ago.

Ben Hutchinson left a high-profile dot-com lifestyle behind to return home to his family and the small lake town he loves, Minnow Bay. He’s been living off the grid with the express purpose of making it hard to be found so the last thing he expects is a wife he didn’t know he had making her presence known.

By chance, Lily finds her way to the magical Minnow Bay Inn. There she will discover not just a place to lay her head, but new friends, new inspiration, and maybe even a new chance to fall in love.

Kelly Harms lights up the page in this story of the surprising beauty of past mistakes and the unexpected pleasures of correcting them.

The Good Girls of Shipwreck Lane

St. Martin’s Griffin |
Novel

This year’s lucky winner of a brand-new dream home: Janine Brown of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

For heartbroken Janine “Janey” Brown, this announcement has the hallmarks of one of her Aunt Midge’s harebrained plans to lure her from her tiny kitchen, where she’s been submerging her grief in the pursuit of the perfect pot-au-feu. Meanwhile, across town, Janine “Nean” Brown couldn’t be more thrilled. She just knows that this house is her destiny, the chance to escape the latest in her revolving door of crappy jobs and drunken boyfriends.

When both Janine Browns descend on Christmas Cove, Maine, to claim the prize they both think is theirs, however, they discover that more than just a dream home awaits them at the water’s edge. Filled with wit and charm, The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane is Kelly Harms’s enchanting and heartfelt debut—a testament to the many ways love finds us, the power of a home-cooked meal, and just what it means to be lucky.

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Why What You Read Will Change Your Life: How Books are Discovered by Readers and Why it Matters

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Self-Care for Martyrs (or Mothers)

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10 Lessons from 20 Years: My Messy, Marvelous Life in Book Publishing

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When Your Soul is the Product: How to Roll with Criticism, and When Not To

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What You Wish For: How to Get Ready for Greatness

Kelly’s Newsletter

Honors, Awards & Recognition

The Washington Post Bestseller
USA Today Best Seller

Media Kit

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where you can download author photos and cover images.

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