Overdue by Stephanie Perkins is about a twenty-nine-year-old librarian, Ingrid Dahl, who has been dating and living with her college boyfriend, Cory, for eleven years. When her younger sister gets engaged, she starts to question her relationship with Cory. One of the biggest questions is, why weren't they married? Did she love him enough to stay together for the rest of their lives? An experiment with them living separately and dating other people doesn't go as planned. Ingrid has had a crush on a colleague, Macon Nowakowski. They work side by side, and when she goes to kiss him, he rejects her advances. The month-long experiment turns into three, and the break-up is uncomplicated. We follow Ingrid's journey for over a year, and the slight changes that happen to her are more of a self-discovery than a romance story. This slow-burning "romance" introspection takes a long time to reach its climax.

This book had its moments, but the main character made me break out in hives. Almost nothing she did was humane or professional. The insta love and bookstore owner tropes are too tired for a book that didn't have enough else going for it.

I started this but will not be continuing at this time. This is not the right fit for me now but I hope to return to it again in the future.

Themes: Slow Burn Romance, Friends to Lovers, Self-Discovery,Opposites Attract, Quirky Protagonist, Small Town Setting, Life Transitions


Rating 3.5/5


Spice: 2/5


Publish Date: October 7th, 2025


My Book Review:
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy! I recently had the chance to read Overdue by Stephanie Perkins, and it was a refreshing dive into contemporary romance with a touch of quirky charm. Known for her ability to create lovable characters and relatable emotions, Perkins does not disappoint in this heartfelt story. The novel follows a young woman in her late twenties navigating the ups and downs of life, love, and self-discovery while working in a small-town library.

While I really enjoyed the premise and the overall tone of the book, I did find that the character's name, Ingrid, didn’t quite align with my expectations for a character of her age group. For a woman in her late twenties, the name felt a bit outdated or perhaps more typical of an older generation, which made it difficult to immediately connect her to the modern, relatable personality the book was trying to convey.

Additionally, the word flow in the narrative felt choppy at times. I understand that this might be a reflection of the character’s energy—a confused young adult navigating big life changes—but as someone with a love for books, I expected Ingrid to be able to verbalize her thoughts a bit more clearly. A character who works in a library and has a strong connection to books would likely have a better grasp of expression, and at times, the writing didn’t fully reflect that.

The beginning of the story, separated by months throughout the year, took me a while to fully get into. These months felt as though they should fly by almost like Ingrid is simply existing, stumbling through the motions of life without much direction. I felt disconnected from the early parts of the story as Ingrid’s daily struggles and her growth didn’t feel immediate. But once Ingrid and Mason's friendship started to unfold, the pace slowed down, and the story really began to pick up. The slow burn between Ingrid and Mason, with their growing curiosity and connection, was much more engaging.

In the end, despite the slow start, the book turned out to be a sweet, cute romance that wrapped up nicely. The gradual build of their relationship made the payoff all the more rewarding, and I was glad to see the characters find their way.

As a fan of character-driven stories, I found the interactions and relationships in this book to be both warm and complex. Perkins has a talent for making her characters feel real, and once the relationship dynamics between Ingrid and Mason deepened, I was drawn more into the world she created. What stood out most to me was how Perkins managed to balance the lighthearted elements with deeper, more thoughtful moments.

Overdue by Stephanie Perkins is a love story to libraries and indie book stores, hidden in a story of a late bloomer being brave and shooting for new beginnings.

Ingrid is a librarian and has been dating her college boyfriend, Cory, for ten years. They have been living together and things are easy. But when her younger sister announces that she’s engaged, it has Ingrid wondering why she and Cory haven’t gotten married. They decide to take a month-long break and date other people, thinking they may be in a rut and worried about missing out on life experiences. Once the month is up, they will either get married or break up.

But, when one month becomes two, becomes three, Ingrid wonders if she needs more. If she needs more than just ‘easy’ and ‘familiar.’

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ four out of five!
This book left me feeling all the warm fuzzies and wanting to visit my local library and indie book store. In fact, all my favorite parts were centered around the characters being in or talking about libraries and book stores.

I am a huge fan of slow burn and yearning in my romance stories and this had plenty of it. In fact, it might have been a little too much of a slow burn at times. There is a moment that happens really early on that had me cringing so hard, I almost didn’t get over it as Ingrid didn’t get over it either. There were also parts that dragged a bit, but they pick up quickly.

I really liked that the story tackled the fact that just because you’re in a relationship, it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a ‘happily ever after.’ You have to work towards that and find what YOUR happily ever after is, not what you think it should look like.

Stephanie Perkins’ lighthearted and fun romance Overdue is about every book lover’s (or at least this book lover’s) dream of being a librarian and having a career surrounded by books and serving the community. While the premise was engaging,the story, at times, fell flat with the characters’ chemistry for the majority of the book and the decisions that the FMC made. However, this book was a fun read and a cute story.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Saturday Books for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

3 ⭐️

The story has a charming premise and I appreciated the romantic moments and lighthearted tone. However, the plot felt a bit predictable and some character decisions didn’t feel fully developed. I found some moments to drag, even for a slow burn this was a veryyyy slow burn. It’s a solid book if you’re looking for a casual romance, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression.

Overall, “Overdue” is fun and sweet- but lacking a bit in depth.

Overdue by Stephanie Perkins. I didn't know what to expect when I started this story. I've read past books by author and really enjoyed them. Overdue is her first adult book. This story was just okay for me. Having enjoyed books by Stephanie Perkins in past I was disappointed not to like Overdue just as much.

I just finished reading this book. The plot was absolutely fantastic! It was quite the page turner, and I could not put the book down once I began reading it. I can't wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

This book stole my heart Stephanie Perkins’ writing feels like a warm hug, it’s honest, heartfelt, and beautifully nuanced. I how the story isn’t just about romance but about real life, the messy emotions that come with change, and learning to listen to your own heart. Ingrid’s journey feels so genuine, full of longing, hesitation, and that bittersweet ache of wondering what could be. The slow-burn romance with Macon had me hooked. Their chemistry simmered with just the right mix of tension and sweetness. It’s the kind of romance that makes you sigh, smile, and sometimes even tear up, because it captures the complicated emotions of love and desire without rushing or forcing anything. I loved every moment of it.

This is a true slow burn in the best way! The author makes me feel like I am truly friends with the main character. The author makes you feel like you are a part of these characters lives. Wonderfully written!

This was one of her first novels I have read. However. It was a very slow read for me. I loved the characters working in a library and opening a bookstore. But in this story it was such a very slow burn romance I found myself getting bored.

A charming, slow burn love story set in small town North Carolina in and around a library and a bookstore. Ingrid and her boyfriend of 10 years, Corey, plan on marrying but before they do, they agree to something unusual….they will take a 1 month break from their relationship and Corey will move out of their apartment. No questions asked about what they do with other partners, they want experience with others (they’ve only been with each other) before they marry. Ingrid and Corey mutually agree to extend the arrangement for more months and, eventually break up (what a surprise) although Ingrid seems more heartbroken even though she bin on a number of dates and a few one night stands during their time apart. Ingrid does have a secret crush, Macon her librarian coworker but she believes that he’s not interested in her. She’s going through a lot…her little sister is marrying a WNBA star in a huge wedding ceremony, she’s quit her job to go after her dream of owning a bookstore and she can’t afford her rent and needs to find a new place to live within 2 weeks. As Ingrid turns 30, what’s in her future…is Macon really not interested or just a shy guy, will Ingrid’s new bookstore succeed, will she get out of her post Corey funk???

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this e-arc in exchange for a honest review.

Ingrid, a librarian, decides to take a month long break from her long term boyfriend before they decide to wed. This book is an extreme slow burn and if you have the patience, it can be well worth it. The side characters are delightful and make the slow burn sort of enjoyable. Macon, the mmc, is charming and it was nice to see their friendship evolve.

Overall, the pacing was very slow and it did take me awhile to finish reading but it was a nice experience!

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I have read all of Stephanie Perkins’ books so I was so excited to see that she had written an adult novel! I hate to say this but I just didn’t love it. I really disliked the storyline between her and Cory and it kind of left of bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the story.

Ingrid the librarian is taking a break from her long-time boyfriend. Ingrid has never been with anyone but him, so she decides it's time to see what else is out there. And what's out there is her secret crush and grumpy co-worker Macon. Soon things get complicated as lines blur.

This book is, as advertised, a slow burn, so be prepared to simmer and stew for a while. I loved the setting and the side characters, but I had trouble liking Ingrid. For that reason, I'm giving this book three stars.

Super cute! I love Stephanie Perkins's YA books so I was very excited to see she had an adult romance. I hope she keeps writing adul titles.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in response to my unbiased opinion.

I might be getting old because I was very bothered that Brittany had to be described as fat and it was jarring to read ‘fuck’ so many times. I also got a leering vibe from Macon for a bit of the book, but that could just be me.

Stephanie Perkin’s first adult novel absolutely nails it.

It is the best, most glorious slow burn romance, but not in a slick, fast fiction way. Every character in this book has depth and purpose and shows growth in their own way. The setting is delicious and vibrant and is as much a love letter to my beloved North Carolina mountains as anything else. I’m such a lover of Stephanie’s young adult work, but I hope she stays in the adult section for a while.

I'm giving this book 4.5/5 stars only because of some of the slow pacing and a little bit of rushing at the end, but for me this felt like nearly a perfect read!

I really didn't know what to expect with this book as I'm not familiar with Perkins' writing. I was so delightfully surprised when I opened it and was immediately immersed into a rich, cozy world with fleshed-out, diverse characters, complex emotions, and a narrator who deeply understands people and observes the world around her carefully.

If you're someone who enjoys a cozy, slow-burn romance (I literally gasped when they held hands for the first time 80% in) then I think you will love this. The pacing felt a little bit slow at times, but that's not something that I minded too much because I felt like the time was well-used to explore Ingrid's growth as a person and really get into her mind. I think the pacing mirrored how life often feels - when months can fly by and others really linger. The time we spend with Ingrid in this book allows us to understand her, to hold her hand, to sit with her as she cries and to cheer for her as she celebrates her successes. My favorite thing about romance often isn't even the romance itself; it's getting into a character's mind and watching their growth through the story, and then getting to see how the romantic interest fits into that life, how they view our character, how they add onto what they already have. This story explores that beautifully. I love how much nuance is added to the complex situations presented in this book as it makes it feel more real.

Macon is a wonderful MMC. I think sometimes an MMC feels like they were just inserted into a story to be the perfect man for the FMC, and Perkins did a great job of avoiding that. Macon is your classic grumpy character, but a grumpy character done well (sometimes they tend to be written as assholes to everyone except the FMC, which I hate) - he's gentle, careful, and thoughtful, and it's clear throughout the book that while people generally like him underneath his grouchy exterior, Ingrid has a way of just deeply appreciating who he is at his core that he clearly needs and loves.

I really grew to love Ingrid, Macon, and their cast of friends throughout the book. The characters are diverse and I loved the discussions of their backgrounds and who they are. Their stories were nestled in comfortably alongside Ingrid's and I loved the way we got to see all of them go through life changes with her.

All in all, this story was a celebration of life's changes, what it means to be young and figuring out what you want in the world, and ultimately felt like a love letter to the people in your life who ground you. I will definitely be re-reading and I can't wait to buy a copy!