I loved the parts of this story set in the library with quirky patrons. Macon was my favorite character with his shy, nurturing ways and incredible garden.

The first few chapters were shocking. From the book description, I expected the couple would be casually dating others and exploring the strength of their relationship. I did not expect it to turn into a goal of sleeping with many partners and cheering each other on. Ick ick ick. Plus Ingrid treated the guys she dated terribly!

The book picked up mid-way through. I liked her relationship with her friends. But I did have a hard time following some of the dialogue due to grammar issues.

If you can get past the first four months, you’ll probably love the book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

This book was delightful and a 5/5 for the second half, but maybe 2/5 for the first half, so I settled on 3/5. The beginning felt stunted and underdeveloped in a way that had it hard for me to get into, but once the transition happened to fixing up Macon’s house, it was a completely different novel and very enjoyable. I wish some of the elements were pulled into the first half. It felt literally like two separate novels woven together- enjoyable and great character development in the back section and I flew through the back half once things started clicking.

This was such an excellent and surprising love story. Such an enjoyable and quick read. I would highly recommend this for someone looking for a great romance.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like "Overdue" -- I’ve been a longtime fan of Stephanie Perkins’ YA romances, so I was excited to see her dive into adult fiction. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.

The premise had potential: a librarian stuck in a long-term relationship, a moody coworker with slow-burn chemistry and a classic “what do I really want?” moment of reckoning. But the execution left a lot to be desired.

Ingrid, the main character, is supposedly almost 30 but reads like a teenager -- naive, immature and emotionally all over the place. Her choices throughout the book made it hard to root for her, and while I don’t mind flawed characters, it felt less like “realistic messiness” and more like aimless drama. And Macon, the love interest, just didn’t click for me. He was more awkward and off-putting than intriguing or charming. Their chemistry was supposed to be a slow burn, but by the time it started to simmer, I had already checked out.

The writing style also still felt very YA, which might appeal to some readers but didn’t quite match the themes or age range of the characters. And at over 400 pages, it was just waaaaay too long for the story it was trying to tell.

There were some solid moments -- the library setting was cozy and well done, and I could see glimpses of the Perkins magic I used to love. But overall, this one just didn’t land. I’m still curious to see what she writes next, but "Overdue" wasn’t it for me.

Regardless, thank you to Stephanie Perkins, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this story! East to follow along and had a relatable storyline. I really liked the characters.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Librarian Ingrid and her long-term boyfriend are on a break. The plan is to see other people, then reconvene after a month and get back together. She sees this break as the perfect opportunity to hit on her crush, Macon, who happens to also be her coworker, When he turns her down, Ingrid is crushed. She keeps replaying the fateful moment in her mind. What's worse, Macon keeps giving off vibes that he really is interested in Ingrid, but he's always holding back. One month becomes two, and Ingrid and her boyfriend realize that their relationship can't survive. Ingrid keeps spending more and more time with Macon. As her feelings continue to grow deeper, she wonders if she could have a future with Macon.

This was a sloooooow burn with a satisfying ending. I rated as 3.5 stars because while Ingrid could sometimes seem like her age, other times she seemed immature to me. Also, it seemed glaringly obvious to me why Macon initially turned Ingrid down, but she was so obsessed over not understanding why. She described him as a serial monogamist, yet couldn't make the connection as to why he wouldn't want a short-term fling with his coworker. Overall, this was a fun read. I enjoyed reading about Ingrid's business venture and the HEA ending.

I read so many great reviews about this book, and unfortunately for me, the book was way too slow for my liking. I understand the concept of a "slow burn" romance, but maaaaan, this book was so slow that it took me over a week to read when I typically read a book in a couple of days. I kept losing interest in the plot and I really disliked Macon's character (sorry for those who are Macon fans). I thought that he was standoffish and grumpy, not shy and loving like he was supposed to be. The only thing I enjoyed was the library and bookstore settings as I absolutely love books. But overall, this was not a hit for me.

Haven’t read a Stephanie Perkins book in forever. I was so excited to be approved for this one. I found the first half to be extremely slow, but I’m proud of pushing myself and finishing it. All in all it was as cute and an enjoyable read.

This is a slow-burn as it's meant to be, tremendously well done! It's always one of my favorite tropes in theory, but rarely is it executed to such extraordinary effect as it is here. Being in Ingrid's POV the entire time is the perfect choice, especially since Macon is so obviously down bad for her. We didn't need his POV to know how far gone he was, and it made it that much more delightful watching Ingrid start to get it.

I also really enjoyed that there were really two plots here - Ingrid's personal and professional journeys made total sense in concert with each other, and both stories felt so fully developed and thematically in line.

I just loved this so much. It had me kicking my feet and giggling from start to finish!

Five enthusiastic stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Ingrid and her long-term boyfriend, Cory, decide to break up for a month to date other people before getting engaged. Ingrid immediately knows that she wants to date Macon, her work husband, but he is shy and misunderstands the situation, and she comes on too strong. This leads to a month of random dates and one-night stands for Ingrid while she nurses her wounds from being rejected by Macon. As they rekindle their friendship, and become more connected, she begins to realize that maybe the best things in life are worth waiting for.

I really liked this book. It did move pretty slow for me, but it was worth sticking with it.

A sweet slow-burn friends to lovers romance. Two introverts, one grumpy & one sunshine. The middle dragged a bit, but flowed well enough to keep my attention. The ending was heartwarming.

Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC e-book!

Overdue was a delightful and heartfelt read that perfectly captured the complexities of love, change, and self-discovery. Ingrid’s journey from the comfort of her long-term relationship to the uncertainty of new possibilities was both engaging and deeply relatable. Her chemistry with Macon was a slow build, filled with tension and longing that made every moment between them feel earned.
The author brought her signature warmth and charm to this adult debut, creating a cozy yet emotionally rich story. The small-town setting, the library atmosphere, and the endearing side characters made the novel even more enjoyable. While some moments felt predictable, the depth of Ingrid’s emotional growth kept the story compelling.
For those who love slow-burn romance with plenty of heart, Overdue was a thoughtful and satisfying read about knowing when to turn the page to a new chapter.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars

Overdue is a story about second chances, love, loss and finding your person. Ingrid and her boyfriend Noah, have been together for 11 years and never talked about getting married. However, when they are forced to talk about it, they realized that they have never been with anyone else. They decide to separate and date other people for a month and then come back together to get married. Ingrid has someone to date during her month break in mind, her coworkers, Macon. Ingrid and Noah realize they aren't right for each other while Ingrid's having complicated feelings about Macon. Honestly, I never really felt the passion for Macon and Ingrid. They seemed more like friends than anything but this story had lots of emotional moments.

Overdue was such a poignant modern take on coming of age! This book was the best surprise. Stephanie wrote this book in a way that is so realistic and really highlighted true themes of love and friendship. I also loved the way she wrote how Ingrid found her way, the feelings she had and how she knew what she should do.
There is so much change that happens between your 20s and 30s and this described that transition in a very genuine way.

Ingrid, Cory and Macon are all wonderful people. I really enjoyed how Stephanie portrayed them and the honesty with which they all interacted. I cried reading Cory and Ingrid realizing that they were not right for each other, but deeply cared for one another and wanted it to be right. It was beautiful and heartbreaking, but so true.

Macon is a hot grumpy Martha Stewart! Ha! I loved him. The way he shows his love for Ingrid by caring for her and knowing what she needs in such small but consistent ways was beautiful. This is definitely one of the slowest burns that I have read, but included so much growth. I also loved how Ingrid channeled her energy into being with him and caring for him as well.

Basically I LOVED IT. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

## About *Overdue*

Be prepared to swoon over Stephanie Perkins grumpy/sunshine romance *Overdue*.

Ingrid Dahl is doing just fine, thank you very much. She and her college boyfriend, Cory, have been together for eleven wonderful years and couldn’t be happier. They are the couple that everyone envies. Things couldn’t be going better, right?

That is until her younger sister gets engaged after dating for only two years. Now, Ingrid and Cory must confront the question of why they haven’t gotten married yet. They always knew they would, but they just hadn’t gotten around to it. They decide to take a short break for some fun, after which they will surely get married.

Ingrid knows exactly who she wants to have fun with: her adorably curmudgeonly co-worker, Macon Nowakowski. All she has to do is make her first move. No big deal! Mustering her courage, Ingrid goes for it, but Macon makes it clear in no uncertain terms that he is not interested.

Hurt and confused by Macon’s rejection, Ingrid stumbles through a series of disastrous dates just in time for her and Cory to reunite. When they meet up to discuss their month apart, they both realize that they are not quite ready to end their experiment.

As time passes and the break stretches on, Ingrid and Cory come to the realization that they need to end their relationship. Just as Ingrid feels her life is unraveling, Macon reaches out to her with an emergency; his aunt is in the hospital, and he needs someone to watch his adorable black tuxedo cat, Edmond Dantes. During his absence, Ingrid begins to develop a fondness for his grouchy cat and falls in love with his charming storybook cottage, complete with a magical garden.

As Macon gradually opens up and includes her in his life, Ingrid realizes that there may still be hope for her to find her happily ever after with her shy, bookish colleague.

## Who Should Read *Overdue*

**✅ Read if:**

- You enjoy slowburn romances
- You love romances centered around books
- You enjoy grumpy/sunshine romances

**❌ Don't Read if:**

- You need a lot of spice in your romance
- You need payoff in the first half of the book
- You don’t like cats 🐈‍⬛

**✏️ Similar Authors:**

- Christina Lauren
- Abby Jiminez
- Laurie Gilmore

## My Review

- **0.5** ⭐️ **Plot & Pacing**
- *Overdue* may be the slowest slow-burn romance I have ever read. It felt as though Macon was a reluctant hero. He shot down Ingrid's advances so forcefully that it made it very difficult for her to regroup and try again. However, the payoff was worth it. He is the world's most considerate boyfriend; he is always feeding her, bringing her flowers, and making her feel at home. I just wish he had been a little clearer about his intentions!
- **0.5** ⭐️ **Characters**
- **Ingrid** - Ingrid undergoes an incredible transformation in *Overdue*. She goes from being a cheerful, carefree person to crying on the bathroom floor at work. However, she lifts herself off that grimy floor and decides to manifest her dream life. With the support of a fantastic cast of supporting characters and the adorably awkward Macon, she makes her dreams a reality.
- **Macon** - As a woman in her forties, I find it a bit frustrating to see the lack of emotional growth in Macon. He is a grown man who struggles to express his feelings. While I understand that this isn't uncommon for men—after all, I'm married!—I wish he would meet her halfway instead of making her do most of the work to advance their relationship.
- **1.0** ⭐️ **Prose & Style**
- Stephanie Perkins uses emotionally charged prose and character-driven narratives that pull readers into Ingrid’s hear and mind. She brings us along on Ingrid and Macon’s emotional journey from friends to lovers.
- **1.0** ⭐️ **Emotional Impact**
- I believe Perkins provided clear explanations for the issues that Ingrid and Macon face. Ingrid’s parents are terrible! It’s surprising that they chose to have children given the way they treat her and her sister. While Macon comes from a family struggling with mental illness. His mother is a shut-in, his aunt is an addict, and his father was never involved in his life. As a result, he has had to take on the role of primary caregiver for the two women who raised him.
- **1.0** ⭐️ **Intellectual Stimulation**

Give me books, give me sweet little books

Give me books

Givel me, give me books


## Final Thoughts

Let me wrap up this review by expressing my deepest love for romances that revolve around the enchanting world of books. If it’s a story set in publishing, count me in! Tales about writers? I can't get enough! And when it comes to heartfelt discussions about bookshops and libraries? Seriously, need I say more?

**Here’s a short list of some of my favorites:**

- *Book Lovers*
- *Beach Read*
- *Funny Story*
- *The Love Haters*
- *Meet Me in the Margins*
- *By Any Other Name*

**Bonus: Movies centered around books:**

- *You’ve Got Mail*
- *Notting Hill*
- *Serendipity*

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book as it sounded in a similar vein to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s One True Loves, which I loved - but I ended up having to DNF Overdue at 25%.

Ingrid comes across as incredibly immature and naive for a character that’s supposed to be pushing 30. I can understand that she doesn’t have a lot of experience in asking men out/dating, but it came across like she’d never been with a man at all and had never gone on a single date. And Macon just creeped me out. I feel like the author was trying to make him into this quirky character (black tape over his phone camera?!), but the way he’s described completely turned me off. The writing itself also felt more in line with a YA book than adult and a lot of the descriptions read very juvenile.

I wish this had worked out, but unfortunately this wasn’t a hit for me.

A new romance by Stephanie Perkins was long 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘂𝗲. (HA! that was dumb)

Ingrid Dahl and her boyfriend have been in a mostly-platonic-less-romantic relationship for the past eleven years and they've decided to take a month longbreak to see new people then get back together to marry (icky).

And Ingrid only has the perfect man in mind... her co-worker and best friend Macon. But suddenly she does not want to get back together again. She's seeing her life anew and realising all she ever wanted has been right in front of her.

~

Let me begin by saying Ingrid, the fmc, is not exactly virtuous she definitely has made some questionable decisions but damn if I didn't have fun reading this.

The entire plot, although icky at times, was so well executed I'm giddy. The jealousy scenes, the pining, the chemistry, the angst and the confession... beautiful beyond words.

I will say though, keep your mind open going into this because you'll likely want to leave off after the first half (where the character's integrity is questionable) but I promise the slowest of all slow burns is quite worth it.

~

4.01 / 5 ★

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is 10000% the BEST slow burn romance I have ever read! The setting and characters were all fantastic and I loved the depth of the characters. Such a sweet book!

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc. I really enjoyed this romance novel. It was sweet. Ingrid and Corey have been in a relationship for eleven years. They have only been with each other and dated each other. Ingrid's sister is getting married to someone she just met and Ingrid and Corey rethink their relationship. They agree to take month break and date other people and see if they see each other the same way after the term is over. So much happen within that month and Ingrid realizes she might just be in love with someone new.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book! Had no idea what I was going into and I really enjoyed this. I flew through it and I think that speaks a lot to how well it was written and that I picked it up at such a great time. I’m excited to share this one as we get closer to publishing date!