i thought i would love this book BUT it just wasn't my cup of tea. it also could've been right book, wrong time.

Ingrid Dahl loves her cozy life as a book-loving librarian in the mountain town of Ridgetop, North Carolina. At 29, she’s been happily dating her college sweetheart for eleven years. When her sister suddenly announces she's getting married after just two years of dating, Ingrid starts to wonder if she is really happy with her long time boyfriend.

To bring some excitement in their lives, Ingrid and Cory agree to take a one month break to date other people.

My Review:
The book started off grabbing my attention in a good way, and I was excited to see where the story would go. But then it just dragged on. It’s definitely a slow burn romance, but unfortunately, nothing fantastic or exciting ever happened with the characters. I kept hoping for a moment that would really pull me in again, but it never quite delivered. It felt like it had potential but never fully took off.

3.5 stars

Library staff member Ingrid doesn’t know it but she’s trapped in a dead-end end job (she doesn’t want to go to library school and finds lots of patrons stressful) and in a dead-end relationship (she’s stuck in neutral with her boyfriend of over a decade). When he sister gets engaged to a WNBA star, she and boyfriend Cory have to decide if they’re ever going to get married, and when he proposes a month-long break to date and sow some wild oats, Ingrid eagerly agrees. A pass at her cute but curmudgeonly coworker Macon ends disastrously, and nearly destroys their friendship. She goes on a few dates in January, but at the end of month when she and Cory meet to assess, instead of getting engaged they extend the experiment a month. Then two. And then before she can break up with him, he confesses he’s met someone.

Ingrid buries her sorrow into helping Macon do some interior decorating—his charming cottage, surrounded by beautiful gardens, is still empty from when his last girlfriend moved out a few years ago. Macon grants Ingrid free reign, and they regain some of their closeness while she contemplates business school, decides not to renew her lease, moves into a friend's crappy AirBnB while it’s mid-construction, and opens a bookstore. All the while, Macon keeps her sane and fed and rebuffs any overture—but she often catches him staring at her…

Perkins excels at descriptive writing. Macon is a superlative home cook and food is his love language; he keeps Ingrid well-fed and the descriptions of his meals sent me snacking. The book is well-organized, following the course of a year, with all the trimmings, from waiting for the email edict from the director to close the library due to inclement weather, to hot and muggy summers. Details of seasonal plantings and produce, decor and clothing abound. The pacing is good, the supporting casting is multicultural and diverse, and there are deeper issues of trust, learning to ask for help, agoraphobia, and hoarding that deepen the story.

I found the characters rather immature, and Ingrid’s dating adventures didn’t appeal much, but it was an opportunity to explore modern dating and check off some boxes (getting additional sexual experience, getting ghosted, etc). As a librarian, I didn’t love the plot device of looking up dates to see if they had accounts and then judging them based on times they read, fines, inactive cards etc—and dating patrons is rarely a good idea. I didn’t believe the frequency of book banners coming in and causing a scene, but other library details (strange patrons) rang true.

For other library/bookstore themed romances, try Roommating by Meredith Shore, Battle of the Bookshops by Ali Brady, Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander, Love At First Book by Jenn McKinley, or anything by Emily Henry or Ashley Poston, whose novels often star editors or writers, and feature bookstores or libraries.

I received a free advance readers review copy of #Overdue via #NetGalley, courtesy of #StMartinsPress in exchange for a fair and honest review; a review will post to HLBB in October 2025.

I was excited to read this book because I remembered liking other books of Stephanie Perkins. This book did not disappoint! It was a super cute story. Little bit of a slow burn, but not enough that I was annoyed or bored with the story. I loved Ingrid’s journies - her personal and professional - throughout the book. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital arc of this title.

Overdue was a contemporary romance that leaned a little towards women's fiction. It followed librarian Ingrid and her life after she takes a break from her long time boyfriend. During this break Ingrid wants to act on a crush she has had for awhile on her co-worker Macon, but he turns her down. This causes Ingrid to realize that she is a little lost and doesn't really know herself and what she wants. So what was supposed to be a one-month break turns into more and more time until they break up.

This is an extremely slow burn romance, where Ingrid dates other people but can't get Macon off her mind. They start a friendship and this is some of my favorite parts of the book. There is the constant romantic tension, however their interactions are just so lovely and honestly just what Ingrid needed.

It takes a little while to get into this story because of how slow the romance build up is, but I promise its worth it! The bookish setting and no third-act breakup make it a really nice refreshing romance read. Like a cozy blanket and I give it 4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the oppurtinity to read this arc!

Slow burn, grumpy-sunshine, and heavily revolving around books? Ummm, yes please, sign me up!

Ingrid is a librarian who decides to start an experiment with her long term (11 years!!) /first and only boyfriend to see if they are ready to marry each other. They decide to separate for one month to hook up with other people and then come back together and get married. Ingrid however, is not as successful as she hopes when she is turned down by her favorite coworker. This experiment leads a lot of life changes for Ingrid.

This is a funny, dramatic, and warm coming of age story (even if that age is 30), that will have you rooting for Ingrid and her new journey. Even if she makes some rough choices along the way, they are all necessary for her to truly find herself and her happiness.

The slowest of slow burns.. the whole time I’m screaming at the main character who just seems super oblivious and not perceptive to social cues. If homegirl was on the spectrum I’d get it and it would make sense. Gee I wonder why my bestest guy friend I have chemistry with doesn’t want a one night stand with zero commitment he must not like me like that 🙄. If you have the patience and enjoy slow burns to escape the chaos that is reality then I totally recommend this novel. It’s not bad, it even has some decent reflective moments but overall it wasn’t my cup of tea. That being said thank you to NetGalley for the ARC so I could come to this conclusion on my own :) You are the best!

I loved everything about this book!! The characters, the setting and of course being about a library and bookstore!

I could relate with Ingrid as I too found myself in a similar place relationship wise

I didn’t want this book to end but enjoyed the ending as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-arc in return for this review.

When Ingrid and her boyfriend take an experimental break to date other people with plans to reunite in a month, she immediately thinks of her library coworker, Macon. The premise of the book is a little troublesome. What couple would actually think this would be a sustainable plan for a reunification without any hard feelings? How does Ingrid not see a problem with the fact that she already had someone in mind? However, I pressed on to give the book a chance because Ingrid is a librarian, which originally drew me to the book.

I am a librarian too, as I’m sure many readers drawn to the book will be. However, I am often bothered by books that use that term loosely, and unfortunately this was one of them. Ingrid works at the checkout desk at the library, but I failed to see how her job was actually “librarian” and not “works at a library.” The terms are not considered synonymous when applying to library jobs, and thus should not be when writing about them. But setting aside Ingrid’s career description, I did really enjoy the book.

While the experimental breakup seems like the main plotline of the book (and I would still say it is) the book continues on for a lot of time after that. The “experiment” is set for a month and yet the book doesn’t end until a year later, so obviously there is more that happens. Ingrid really grows as a main character throughout that time, and I felt almost proud of her by the end.

The book description warns it is a “slow burn” romance, and it isn’t kidding! Don’t expect much forward momentum with a romance to happen until the last half to third of the book. If slow burn romances with a hurried conclusion bother you, this may be one to skip. But if you like character development, humor, and lots of background, it’s great. It reminded me of Katherine Center’s style, which I love. All in all, a good read and I will be watching for more from this author!

While it took me a little bit to be hooked, I really enjoyed the untraditional format of this book. It was my first read from this author and it won’t be my last!

Thank you to St.Martin’s press and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had to DNF. I might come back to it, but it was just too tedious to read. As a librarian, I was so excited to read this, but the main character is so immature that it takes away from the story. He inner monologue was hard to read because her thought process never made any sense and she made bad decisions, so it was hard to push through. I would’ve continued if I could’ve at least had some attraction or interest between Macon and Ingrid. I DNFed at 21%.

I enjoyed this, but can understand how its atypical structure may not be everyone's cup of tea.

The first part introduces all the main characters and then mainly focuses on Ingrid's relationship rumspringa (for lack of a better word). All the dates and men (some of whom weren't assholes!) moved the pace along so well that by the time I felt like things were wrapping up, I wondered how she was going to sneak the actual romance in.

Welp, what I thought was the 80% mark was actually 40%.

I shrugged this revelation off because Macon (rhymes with Bacon, also: the MMC), who lurked in the background for the first part, seemed intriguing. And I was enjoying the library-as-workplace setting ( cause "Librarian" isn't just a personality shorthand here, you guys!).

The second part focuses on the main romance arc and the establishment of a retail business. The latter happens to one of my (very few) triggers. But I powered through cause I love me a brooding, pining, nerdy, introverted MMC (with glasses and hints of a six-pack). Despite not even really starting until the second half, the relationship remained a friends-to-lovers slow burn. But anything else would have felt out of character, tbh.

I will say that the denouement felt way too drawn out and introduced a minor internal conflict that felt out of character and unnecessary (and seemed based on a misconception that marriage absolutely guarantees lifelong commitment).

All in all, I would recommend this to readers who have grown wary of the conventional contemporary romance structure. I'd probably also rec this to anyone looking for introverted characters (especially MMCs).

Oh! And competence porn. Lots and lots of competence porn. Dude can garden and cook and build stuff and takes care of his mom and is adopted by a cat and....

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was utterly adorable. This was my first time reading a Perkins book and I plan to read everything else by her.

Overdue is slow burn love story after Ingrid and her boyfriend of 10 years decide to take a hiatus to discover if they are still right for each other.

The build up was a perfect mix of me screaming at the book to go faster and me needed the book to be longer. I greatly appreciate how there is no villain in this story, everyone made mistakes, and there are genuine friendships outside of the love story. For the first time in a while I was completely satisfied with the decisions made and this book felt real, like I was ease dropping on a conversation.

Thanks to St. Martin's and NetGalley for this eARC!

Loved this! Stephanie Perkins shone as a YA author, and her adult debut is similarly sparkly. The premise here is that Imogen and her long-term boyfriend have a kind of relationship Rumspringa, before they plan on deciding if they want to get married. Their "experiment" is supposed to last a month, but we actually see a year in the life in Ridgetop, NC, so this book proceeds far past this premise. The town (based on Asheville) had the charm of a larger Stars Hollow (and the fixation on snow), and the main characters, Imogen and Macon are charming and lovely. This book also really inspired me to think about some changes to the old apartment, plus, a library and a bookstore!

Though I did love this, I had 2 issues: I think it could and maybe should have been a little shorter, and I think people know what bildungsroman means. Otherwise? A pretty great contemporary, and an excellent comp for Emily Henry.

Overdue took a little time to hook me. The dating experiment felt a bit drawn out at first, and I found myself waiting for the story to really pick up. But once the pieces started falling into place, I became much more invested. What really stood out to me was the emotional depth that emerged later in the book—especially as the main character began to reconnect with her family and, more importantly, with herself. Watching her grow into someone more grounded and self-aware gave the story real heart. While it may have started slow, the payoff in the end made it a worthwhile read.

First I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book! And thank Stephanie Perkins for writing this beautiful age gap slow-burn romance. At first I wasn't sure what to expect but as the book goes on and Ingrid learns to love herself and be herself it's an inspiring story of how to move on from a failed long term relationship and find yourself after being a couple for so long. The romance is slow but so satisfying and wonderfully written. Macon is a wonderful man supporting Ingrid in all her endeavors.

Occasionally, the main character appears so oblivious and wrapped up in their own world that you can’t help but root for the love interest to find someone truly deserving of their affection. This narrative unfolds as a journey of self-discovery, inviting the reader to explore the soul's deepest desires and needs. As the story unfolds, it encourages a shift in perspective on the part of the female lead, urging her to look beyond herself and recognize the person right before her, who has been waiting for her to see him all along. That’s the enchanting feeling I experienced while immersing myself in this heartwarming romantic tale.

Unfortunately this one was too slow for me to get into so it’s a DNF for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC

I found the start of the book to be pretty slow going but once it hit the stride of her making it through the first month I feel the speed/chapters moved quickly and was really enjoyable reading through this book.

Overdue is a slow-burn contemporary romance that follows 29 year old librarian Ingrid Dahl as she navigates life changes in the small town of Ridgetop, NC. When Ingrid and her longtime boyfriend decide to take a one month break to date other people before committing to marriage, she immediately knows who she’s interested in. She has had a longtime crush on Macon Nowakowski.

Spanning a year, the novel explores Ingrid’s journey as she comes to terms with her true feelings and reevaluates what she wants from her career to her relationships. The story has a cozy, reflective quality, and while things between Ingrid and Macon don’t go smoothly at first, their relationship develops in a meaningful way. The presence of a small age gap allows for thoughtful discussions about marriage and children, adding emotional depth to their connection.

With up and downs and light humor, Overdue delivers a heartfelt exploration of love, growth, and self-discovery.

Thank you NetGalley and Saturday Books for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.