Many thanks to NetGalley & the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

First of all, can we talk about the cover art?! OMG! It's amazing. As for the story, this is definitely a slooooooooow burn. The book is over 400 pages and you definitely feel it. That being said, you are taken through a year of the protagonists life and it kinda works. I mean, you go through so much that you sort of forget what had happened earlier because it felt like a lifetime ago. It was definitely entertaining, but it did drag in certain spots. There were also a few too many character names so that I lost track at times. Overall I liked the character growth and the chemistry, but the book could be edited down some as there were a lot of filler details that weren't necessary.

DNF at 30%

I’m sorry this is the craziest premise for a book. I knew pretty much from the beginning this wasn’t gonna be for me but I kept pushing through hoping it’d get better and I just… don’t care enough to continue. The girl is annoying. The plot is dumb. If Macon is supposed to be the main love interest stop making him sound like such a loser? And Cory? Gross. The fact that they even wanted to do this means they’re not supposed to be together so… hope they don’t end up married lol definitely not for me

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

Overdue was exactly the kind of quiet, cozy romance I didn’t know I needed. Stephanie Perkins delivers a beautiful, slow-burn love story full of emotional honesty, rich atmosphere, and genuine heart.

Ingrid is such a relatable protagonist, who is loyal, bookish, and quietly stuck in a life she’s outgrown. Watching her navigate a relationship "break," rediscover her sense of self, and slowly fall (or maybe realize she’s already fallen) for Macon was so satisfying. Their dynamic—grumpy, broody contractor meets emotionally repressed librarian is gold.

This isn’t a flashy rom-com; it’s a thoughtful, character-driven story about choosing yourself, embracing change, and finding love where you least expect it. The library setting, the small-town vibes, the nuanced portrayal of relationships, and everything worked for me.

Perfect for fans of Emily Henry or readers who love a good, introspective slow burn. I adored it.

Librarian lead is an exciting idea, but this title was not my cup of tea. I will recommend it to those seeking out romance novels.

I loved the Anna and the French Kiss series and was really excited to read an adult contemporary romance from this author! I really related to the main character and the slow burn romance was so good to watch grow and unfold. I loved the format of this book as it chronicles a year split into months - you really get to know the main character and just loved reading her journey and growth throughout the novel. I also really appreciated the sapphic rep (her sister is sapphic who's planning her wedding) and there's a non-binary character as well so yay for queer rep. Overall, I really loved this book - the romance was really cute, great character growth, fun scenes, very bookish, and just such a good read to sink into.

Read if you like:
- Bookish books
- Books featuring librarians and a bookshop
- Dating life
- Cute cats
- Slow burn /grumpy vs sunshine / workplace romances
- Gardening
- Mild spice (door slightly open)
- Books like Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, Taylor Jenkins Reids' contemporary romance novels, Beach Read & Book Lovers by Emily Henry, and Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

Definitely recommend picking this up when it releases on 10/7/25

*Thank you to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review*

Ingrid and Cory have been dating for eleven years and are perfectly content until Ingrid’s sister announces her engagement. Suddenly Ingrid and Cory have decided to take a “Ross and Rachel” kinda break to explore the field before possibly getting engaged. Ingrid is forced to take the time to discover what and who she really wants in her life.
The promo for this book says “slow burn”….yeah you could say that for sure. Nice story in the end but kinda painful to get there.

This one was a slow burn. The first part of the book I didn’t love the main character but she grew on me in the end. A cute love story for book lovers.

Loved this romcom by a first time author for me. Ingrid is a small town librarian who after 11 years together decides to take a one month break from her long term boyfriend to make sure they really want to be together and get married. During that time all Ingrid wants to do is date her co-worker Macon, however when he turns her down on the first night of being single she starts to see what else is out there. The book is about self discovering and learning that sometime the ring you thought you wanted to most might not be what you wanted at all. This book was fun, romantic and very poignant, I also might have dread a year or two while reading. This book would make a great cozy fall read!

This was such a cozy read. I really enjoyed Ingrids development as a character. She grow so much and finds herself.

It took my a little to get into this book but the payoff was worth it. The authors descriptions were sometimes odd and hard to process.

Overdue by Stephanie Perkins is a romance that perfectly blends small-town coziness with heartfelt longing. Ingrid’s journey from a safe, long-term relationship to unexpected new love is tender and full of emotional depth—a delightful story about taking chances and finding the courage to rewrite your future.

Overdue is a very slow burn romance. It's marketed as a contemporary romance but definitely fits in more with the women's fiction genre.

This book follows Ingrid as she navigates an experiment with her long-time boyfriend Cory, where they briefly spend a month apart to experience dating, as they've been in a long-term relationship for years, and neither of them has ever been with anyone else. However, at the end of the month of separation, both Ingrid and Cory agree that they'd like to extend their break.

Overdue wasn't quite what I had expected it to be. It was definitely very, very slow going, and then when the romance in the book actually begins, it's almost at the end of the book. In fact, it goes from zero romance to love so fast I almost got whiplash!

Although this book wasn't what I had expected it to be, I did still enjoy it. But if your expectations are that this is a romance, be prepared for some disappointment because the romance is truly a very small part of the book.

Expected Publication Date: October 7th, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was seriously such a refreshing read. Both the MMC and FMC work at a library and share a love of books. They both were into each other for five years but had been in relationships at different times so it never worked.

I loved the fact the FMC was into older men but by like 10 years, nothing insane. We always see the MMC into barely legal women and it’s just not my thing. I can also appreciate that Ingrid did not want children, it’s perfectly fine that women don’t want kids.

I thought this was a great slow burn romance and really enjoyed the grumpy/sunshine vibes.

DNF @ 23%
I went into Overdue expecting a quirky, fresh take on romance—something that explored the complexities of taking a break from a long-term relationship and possibly finding a new spark (hello, cute library coworker!). Unfortunately, the pacing was way too slow for me to stay engaged.

Rather than diving into the emotional tension or romantic potential, the story focused heavily on the main character’s relationship with her apartment, cleaning habits, and friendships. That would’ve been fine if this was marketed as general fiction, but as a romance, it felt like a misfire.

As a romance reader, I was disappointed by how long it took the main character to even start exploring other relationships. I think some readers might connect with her journey of personal growth and self-discovery, but I personally needed more emotional tension, romantic development, and momentum to keep turning pages.

Overdue is a refreshing story that is not just one thing. It’s a story of love, romantic, platonic and self. Ingrid’s year of self discovery resonates with I think anyone, at any time in their life.

If you are looking for a cozy read to give you the feels, look no farther than Overdue.

Overdue is more the story of Ingrid during one year of her life and the changes she goes through, rather than a romance. The romance burns so slowly which was not altogether a bad thing, but the build up could have been shortened, and I don’t see why we needed the details of her two other quick romances, which put her in a selfish and bad light. All in all though I enjoyed the read.

Overdue leaned much more toward being a general fiction book than a romance given how slow the romance built. This would have been a more enjoyable read with the expectation of this being a fiction book with some romance rather than a romance. That being said, the book is reflective and explore the idea of what one's life should look like. Overall a good book, if a bit slow.

Set against the charming backdrop of a small-town library, this book explores friendship, forgiveness, and the quiet power of stories.

The slow-burn tension was perfectly balanced with emotional depth. I loved the way the characters unraveled — especially how past secrets were slowly revealed through letters. It’s more character-driven than plot-heavy, but the atmosphere and introspection kept me hooked.

:Overdue is a quick, nostalgic read that blends small-town charm with a cozy sense of longing. It follows a librarian navigating life, love, and the kind of missed chances that quietly haunt you. Stephanie Perkins captures that very specific ache of what-could-have-been in a way that feels honest, even a little bittersweet.

It’s more reflective than romantic—about timing, growing up, and how sometimes the right person comes along at the wrong moment. I appreciated the quiet emotional depth and the comforting backdrop of books and libraries. It’s not flashy, but it’s tender and real.

Perfect if you’re in the mood for something heartfelt, gentle, and a little melancholic.

Overdue is a beautifully written, introspective romance that surprised me with its emotional depth. Stephanie Perkins does a wonderful job capturing the uncertainty and vulnerability that comes with outgrowing a long-term relationship and stepping into the unknown.

I really enjoyed following Ingrid’s journey—she’s relatable, warm, and thoughtful, and I loved the small-town library setting, which gave the whole story a comforting charm. The slow-burn connection between Ingrid and Macon had just the right mix of tension and tenderness, and it felt grounded in real, complicated emotions rather than easy romantic tropes.

This isn’t a whirlwind love story—it’s quieter, more reflective, and all the more powerful for it. It’s about the courage it takes to question the path you’ve always been on and choose something new, even when it’s scary. A lovely read for fans of character-driven romances and emotional, second-chance stories.

I have never read a slow burn novel that burned this slow, but dang if it was worth it in the end. Ingrid and her longtime boyfriend Cory decide to take a break before committing to marriage because they hadn’t dated anyone other than one another. After a few failed dates, Ingrid really only has her eyes set on her coworker, fellow librarian Macon. Can Ingrid drop enough hints that she’s interested that Macon will act on it? Or will these two friends stay just friends forever. Full of quirkiness and career advancement that has you cheering for our leading lady, Overdue is the slow burn of the year.