2.75
Although this was a cute read, I did find it to be a little all over the place. From where the novel started to where it ended off was a huge leap for me. I didn't quite understand some choices, such as Kat and I feel like she could have been omitted and it wouldn't have made a difference. I didn't feel the need to DNF the book but it did take me a lot longer to finish it then it usually does with a romance. I did however appreciate the clear communication and healthy relationship example between the FMC and her ex. Overall, I'm sure this book is for someone but it's not me.

Its a cute book that has cute characters. The plot was easy to read and there wasn't anything too bad/good about the book. Average romance book for me.

I loved this book, I was a big fan of Perkins' YA romance as a teen and still recommend them to friends! I loved the setting, which felt very grounded and real, as well as the characters, who quickly endeared themselves to me. It is definitely a slow burn, but the ending feels very earned because of the path to get there.

This book starts out with Ingrid and her boyfriend deciding to take a one month break, so they can date other people. Honestly I agreed with all her friends and co-workers that this idea was totally ridiculous. I found Ingrid to be naive, and hard to like.

I know that this book is marketed as slow burn, but honestly it just drags. The plot is quite bumpy, and clunky and the characters are a bit 2D.

I DNF’d this book at the 50% mark.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins press for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review.

I keep waffling between a 2 and 3 star rating for this one. I was so excited to get an advanced copy of this one because I LOVED Anna & The French Kiss series by Stephanie. Also I'm a librarian so YAY how cool this book would have been! It wasn't, this one just did not do it for me! Not only was it slow going (I kept waiting to fall in love with it) but I also really really didn't like the FMC. Like not even a little bit. To the point where I just didn't care about the story anymore.

Awww this was sooo good.
I don’t read a ton of romance because most of the time, they feel flat, unoriginal or empty of real substance however this felt mature, real and it was absolutely sweet.

What a sweet and refreshing story! I typically go for suspense/thriller or more of a dark romance, but I have to admit the cover of this one sucked me in, and I am glad it did.

Such a joyful story about a woman who finds her person in the way she least expected. I really liked the main character someone who finally understands that she wants and needs more in life and with some gentle nudging and encouragement from her stellar support system makes the really hard decisions to make it happen.

I think we all know a Macon and are always rooting for him. He was definitely not your typical alpha male romance hero and that was quite a delightful change. Looking forward to more works by this author!

I think this was trying to hard to be very cute and bookish, I DNF after I lost interest maybe I will pick it up later

I really enjoyed this book once I hit the 1/4 mark. I just couldn't get into the experiment the MC was on at the beginning. The emotions behind it just didn't feel authentic. But once the story changed from romcomish to women's fiction, I grew to love it. I'm not sure what the MC saw in Macon, but I was glad for her happy ending. Oh, and all the bookish content? So on target. I loved the library talk, the bookshop details... All of it!

Overdue by Stephanie Perkins is a slow burn romance with memorable characters and a unique, but relatable premise. Ingrid and Cory, who have been a couple for eleven years, since freshman year of college, decide to date others for the month of January. Neither has ever dated anyone else, and before Cory pops the question, he wants to make certain his decision is the right one by “trying something else.” Ridgetop, in the Carolinas provides a quirky, but cozy setting. Ingrid’s journey of self growth is beautifully written.

Ingrid is happily employed at the gorgeous library in Ridgetop, North Carolina. She’s also basically happy with her personal life, having lived with her one and only boyfriend, Cory, for eleven years. Then her younger sister announces her engagement, and Ingrid and Cory are stunned. Shouldn’t they be getting married before the younger siblings? But---they’ve neither one ever been with anyone else, and they are afraid they will regret it.
So, they agree to take a break of one month, where they are each free to sow their wild oats as it were, and then fully expect to reunite and get engaged.
The reader gets to follow Ingrid, who has only one person in mind she feels she’ll regret not …trying out. It is her close work friend, Macon, her best friend actually, and when she determines her feelings are not reciprocated, we get to cringe along with Ingrid as she explores the world of other men.
It’s a delightful, classic romance, written with enough old school yearning and new school sizzle to keep the pages flying. Overdue will be released October 7, 2025, by St. Martin’s Press. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

💥 Pub Date: 10/7/2025

⭐️⭐️.5/5 (rounded up)

• this cover 😍
• slowwww burn
• workplace romance

I really enjoyed the first 30% of this book. The setup was great, I liked the cozy setting... then it just went downhill for me. While it was overall too slow for my taste, I did find the characters likable!

🗣 Thank you to Saturday Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC invite! All opinions are honest and my own.

Ingrid and Cory live in the mountains of North Carolina, although they met in their hometown of Orlando. They've been dating/living together for 11 years. Cory proposes that they take a break to see what dating is like before making a further commitment. The reader can only imagine where the story goes from there. Besides the social and romantic complications of living apart, Ingrid must also face the financial realities of living alone. She also faces stark decisions about her less than fulfilling position as a librarian. Great read that is hard to put down!

I really liked this.

Overdue follows Ingrid through a year of change, including a "separation" from her boyfriend of 11 years. The couple agrees to take 1 month apart to experience relationships with other people, and at the end of the month, they'll get back together and get engaged, or they'll break up.

This book is a slow burn romance and would be great for fans of Mariana Zapata as the book follows her character growth more than the actual relationship.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

I rooted for the couple from the start and absolutely loved the cozy library setting — it gave the story such a warm, comforting vibe. If you're a book lover, that part alone makes this worth picking up.

The romance was a slowburn in the best way — emotional, tender, and hopeful. There was real depth to their connection, and by the time things unfolded, it felt earned. The MMC was especially lovable; kind, thoughtful, and the kind of guy you want the heroine to end up with. He carried a lot of the emotional weight of the story and made me smile more than once.

That said, the writing still felt very YA at times, even though this was clearly meant to lean more adult. Some of the descriptions and dialogue were a little cringey, and the way the ex was written? I actually gagged a little, lol.

Structurally, it kind of felt like two books in one. The tone and pacing shifted enough that it lacked cohesion, and I wish the author had smoothed that out( it would've made everything feel tighter and more intentional.

Still, despite the messiness, I liked it. It was heartfelt, a little chaotic, but ultimately hopeful. If you’re in the mood for a soft romance with emotional layers and a charming bookish setting, this one might be for you.

I absolutely adored this one. No notes!! I can’t believe I waited so long to read it. Thank you for this e-arc

I keep hesitating to describe 'Overdue' as "charming," even though it IS--because it feels like relegating the book to a single-word categorization, when it's much more than one thing. It's funny and frustrating and hopeful and peripatetic and rewarding, just like the time of life it recounts.

Ingrid Dahl is comfortable in her years-long relationship with Cory, her job at the public library in her small North Carolina town, and her close friendship with her coworker, Macon. Her relationship gets thrown into a blender, her romantic overtures to Macon suffer a mortifying rebuff, and she can't seem to commit to pursuing her advanced degree in library science. Reluctantly, she's thrown into a two-steps-forward-one-step-back period of growth and retraction, realizing her courage, and getting to know the self she is now, not the person she thought she was or would be.

It's a coming of age that can come at any age, and Stephanie Perkins heartfully captures the aggravation of feeling like a total beginner in the middle of your life. Ingrid's suffering is real, but so is the springing hope of carving new possibilities out of the stubborn woodwork of her old existence. Enough romantic breadcrumbs are paced throughout Ingrid's personal growth that a sense of mounting impatience builds into a satisfying ending, cheered on by endearing supporting cast.

Many thanks to St. Martin's, Saturday Books, and NetGalley for the eARC.

A slow burn romance of sunshine verses grumpy centered around books. Ingrid and Macon have a strong friendship until Ingrid’s experiment with her soon to be ex-boyfriend makes her realize she’s always had feelings for Macon. Macon’s grumpiness makes it hard for Ingrid to tell if he’s interested in her or not. Set in a town inspired by Asheville, NC Ingrid’s friends help her realize her dreams while finding love and happiness. Macon goes through his own challenges as he admits his love for Ingrid and finds his happiness. Oh, and to live in Macon’s house would be so delightful!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I'm not usually a fan of slow burn tropes, but it was so sweet. The mfc and mmc were adorable, the quintessential grumpy vs sunshine! It was very hallmark-y with the exes staying friends, but glad they were able to do that.

Excellent book, five out of five stars! I can’t wait to recommend this. Thank you for providing the ARC.