This book has everything I love: librarians, libraries, book stores, books! Sunshine and grumpy love. It's sweet and joyful and I love that all the secondary characters are fleshed out, lovely and memorable. I love that the cat is too!

If you love books as much as I do, it will be hard not to love this book! My favorite part was how she knew whether each of her dates had a library card or not! :) :)

with gratitude to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read Overdue! As someone who still remembers the butterflies from Anna and the French Kiss, I was curious (and cautiously hopeful) to see how Stephanie Perkins would translate her YA magic into an adult debut. Spoiler: it’s a cozy, flirty ride—but not without a few overdue notices of its own.

Let’s start with the charm: Overdue has small-town vibes, library nerdery, and the kind of slow-burn tension that builds like a late fee—quiet, persistent, and impossible to ignore. Ingrid is a bright, book-loving librarian who decides to hit pause on her 11-year relationship with her college sweetheart, Cory, to see what (or who) else might be out there. Enter Macon, the resident grump at the library with a secret soft side and just enough romantic angst to fuel several overdue romance holds.

The setup is rom-com gold, and the banter between Ingrid and Macon delivers. Perkins excels at the kind of yearning that simmers just below the surface—if longing looks were a Dewey Decimal category, this book would be filed under Swoon 101. But…

Ingrid’s internal back-and-forth about her relationship with Cory sometimes overshadowed the chemistry she shared with Macon. And while I appreciated the mature exploration of long-term relationships and personal growth, I couldn’t help but wish for a little more momentum (and a few more sparks) to propel the story forward.

Still, Overdue has its moments of genuine warmth, self-discovery, and quiet triumphs. If you’re a fan of small-town romances with a cerebral, slow-burn twist, this may be your cozy cup of tea. It just didn’t quite hit the “check out immediately” status for me—but it’s a solid hold-worthy read.

3 stars. Library lovers and grumpy-sunshine stans, your hold is ready!

2.75 🌟
this was a lot (i think positive?) and I was worried that I would DNF nearly the entire time but the truth is that I did really enjoy reading Ingrid girlfail through the worst year of her life and the relatability of her character growth was a lot more fun for me to read than I expected it to be! That being said, the reviews were correct and this was such a mega slow burn that it sometimes felt like we were standing absolutely still but Macon was also a character that I loved instantly and found myself waiting for his re-emergence on the page from the start.

Ultimately, I did feel a bit “what the hell sure!” about the turn the book took in the later half despite it making sense, it just felt a little jumbled compared to the first half (which felt slow…so perhaps it was a pacing switcharoo) but I also haven’t read a book by Stephanie Perkins since I was literally in middle school so... I felt as a venture into adult fiction, it was pretty solid (This really read quite women’s fiction-y to me, and specifically reminded me a little of All Fours by Miranda July without the menopause) but not quite groundbreaking to me.

I did skim a bit towards to the end even though I was happy for those crazy kids even though…Justice for Dani a little bit! (She got Sarah Torvey’d just a bit at the end right as I was starting to make the comparison that AlexPoppy’s slowburn was far messier than this so I didn’t mind the Cory of it all)

thank you so much to netgalley and st martin’s press for this arc to review!

I’d like to note that I DNF’d this book at around the 20% mark. I’m very grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC, but something about the writing and the story didn’t quite click with me. I had some issues with how the story was presented and did not finish reading. While the premise had potential, this particular book just wasn’t the right fit for me.

While I do think this book is way too long, I really enjoyed the story. As a fellow librarian around the same age as Ingrid, I loved getting to read her story and see her figure out what she wants in life and decide it's never too late to start over.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

I've read Stephanie Perkins' YA romance novels back when I was a teenager in high school, so I was very excited to pick this book up.

This book is slow burn, and I mean very slow burn. So if you're looking for a fast, sexy, spicy book, perhaps looks elsewhere because while there are sex scenes, they are not super graphic at all. I loved how this is not only a romance book, but a story about a woman who grows into who she wants to be. Perhaps you can call it a coming-of-age story? There are family relationships involved, which adds to the dynamic of the story. I also love how there is no negativity between the exes. Everyone (mostly everyone) seems to be on the same amicable page, like mature adults!!!

I really enjoyed this book, and I hope Stephanie Perkins writes more!

Ingrid and her boyfriend have been together for years. That must mean something right? But when it comes down to it neither is ready for a long-term commitment. They agree to a one month break to see what’s out there and well… maybe what’s out there is just a little more exciting.

This book has an interesting premise. It kind of reminds me of that Netflix reality show the Ultimatum but with only one couple. Can’t say it was my favorite idea, but the story was fun and writing was good.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC im exchange for an honest review.

I have read few books in recent memory that could be generally classified as a palate cleanser, but Stephanie Perkins’ Overdue most certainly qualifies in the best way. Charmingly written, Perkins lays out a plotline that many book lovers often dream about: two librarians working in close proximity with one another only to eventually fall in love. More than the sweet simplicity, though, she makes each of her characters relatable in a way that feels grounded in reality.
Ingrid Dahl begins as a somewhat naive twenty-nine year old whose only experience of the world has involved her long-term boyfriend, Cory. Long-term in the most literal of senses: having met in the first minute of their first Psych 101 class during their freshman year of community college. Eleven years later, they had remained attached at the hip until Riley, Ingrid's–Iggy, to both Cory and Riley–younger sister gets engaged to her WBNA player girlfriend of only two and a half years. The Christmas engagement serves as the catalyst to a hardly-thought-out, half-cocked experiment where Ingrid and Cory separate for a month and try to date other people.
While Ingrid’s first (and initially only) choice for the arrangement is her storm cloud of a coworker, Macon Nowakowski, her approach leaves much to be desired and he runs from her with a plea of "No, Ingrid, no," that colors their future interactions for the vast majority of the rest of the novel. Truthfully, if a similar experience were to ever befall me, I’d wish nothing more than to throw myself into the nearest body of water and never wish to resurface. Luckily, Ingrid doesn’t take that approach. Instead, with the support of her long-distance Australian best friend, Kat, Ingrid dives head first into an admittedly shallow dating pool.
Perkins crafts a story that is the slowest of burns, one which had me hooked as I waited on bated breath until Macon and Ingrid finally took the leap. Granted, I wasn’t expecting to wait that long for the two to even so much as hold hands, but everything leading to it felt incredibly realistic. Ingrid needed to figure out what she’d wanted–from dating and from life–and her friendship with Macon needed to be rebuilt from the ground up. Shy and uncertain, Macon–though ten years her senior–could not put himself out there just for Ingrid to eventually return to Cory. Naturally, he’d had much of his own trials and tribulations to work through with his agoraphobic mother and an aunt in constant need of rehab.
Ingrid’s struggles to find herself were mirrored by Cory’s, both of whom seemed to share parallel journeys despite little communication once the experiment had begun. The tables at which they sat within the diner-themed diner felt like they followed the growth and changes within them. That aspect seemed rather clever to me. The two had rarely spent any time apart in the eleven years of their relationship, but in just a few short months had learned just how far their paths had divulged. Ingrid had never seen herself as a bookstore owner and Cory had changed his mind about having kids. The experiment clearly showed that both had had a lot to learn before they could be the people they were by the end of the novel.
I highly appreciated the idea that it seems to never be too late to head in a new direction in life. With characters close in age with myself, it’s always nice to see that I am not alone in my insecurities about the future, about where I am in life. Sometimes it’s necessary to look at those around you and reevaluate the things you thought you may have wanted at one point in time. It’s okay for minds to change or to allow for certain choices–like that of not having children–to dig deeper roots within you. No one’s journey is the same, but having a supportive community to lift you up, no matter what your choices are in the end, makes all the difference.

Ingrid and Macon are co workers at the library. she is on a break with her boyfriend to try dating new people. This book happens over a year and Ingrid and Macon go through many different changes in their life. It took over to 80% for something to happen with the couple over even sexy times. Thanks to netgalley for letting me read this book

This slow burn romance felt incredibly realistic, which made me deeply connect with the characters. It was a cozy and heartfelt read - perfect for when you want something warm and emotional. Definitely a solid 4 star read!

DNF - I loved the cozy atmosphere, but that's about all that worked for me. The writing felt juvenile, as did the concept of taking a break to date other people in order to decide if Ingrid and Cory should get married, but the most immature and unlikable aspect of this book is Ingrid herself. She makes her decision to take a break with Cory everyone's problem - dragging her friends out to a bar during a blizzard, assuming her coworker will want to be her 30 day experiment before she resumes her relationship like nothing happens and they have to continue to work next to each other... She was just so out of touch and self absorbed. The other characters weren't memorable at all and the attempts at humor and witty dialogue (the Friends reference and the "sprite" old man singing Grand Old Flag come to mind) felt stilted at best.

DNF @ 15%.

The premise of this book was interesting to me and I had read another book with a similar vibe so I thought I would enjoy this. I did not however. I found Ingrid to be very annoying and unlikable. As well I did not like the writing style and the extensive imagery that was used.

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-arc!

The slowest slow-burn I’ve ever experienced, but worth the wait. Lovely MCs and setting! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Overdue is Stephanie Perkins’s adult debut about Ingrid, a cheerful small-town librarian who agrees to take a one-month break from her longtime boyfriend so they can explore dating other people. Ingrid sets her sights on Macon, her grumpy coworker and longtime secret crush—but things get complicated fast. As feelings deepen and decisions loom, Ingrid must figure out what (and who) she really wants.

I really liked this book. The slow burn between Ingrid and Macon was incredibly satisfying—it felt natural, full of longing, and rooted in years of shared history. The extended friend group added depth and warmth to the story, offering a sense of community that leaned toward found family, even if it didn’t quite land there. Stephanie Perkins also does a wonderful job with atmosphere; I could easily picture the library, the cozy town, and all the little corners of Ingrid's world. It made me want to curl up with a blanket and a stack of overdue books.

Tropes you’ll find in this book:
• Grumpy/Sunshine
• Slow Burn Romance
• Found Family
• Small-Town Setting
• Second Chance at Love
• Bookish Heroine

Okay, WOW! I have to admit I went into this book wary, convinced I was going to hate it. I even wondered if I made a mistake requesting the ARC. But the writing grabbed me and pulled me along unwillingly until I was laughing and sobbing and falling in love with all of the characters. This was an exceptional book, and I'm so happy I got the chance to read it.
Thank you very much to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC!

Overdue has a thoughtful premise: Ingrid and Cory have been together for over a decade, having only ever dated each other. After Ingrid’s sister gets engaged, they start to reexamine their relationship and realize marriage might not be where they’re headed. So they take a one-month break to date other people, with the plan to come back together and decide if their future still includes each other.

It’s an interesting setup, but since we don’t actually see their relationship play out on the page—the book begins after they’ve already decided to take the break—it’s hard to feel fully invested in that part of the story. At the beginning is when we usually feel invested in our MC and their journey, but it felt like we jumped in at the middle of Ingrid's story and missed out on so much character.

Ultimately, the book is really about Ingrid being brave and claiming what she wants. Her feelings for her coworker Macon are finally able to live and breathe, and while I appreciated the slow-burn approach, the pacing felt off and awkward from the start. There are some good character moments and cute details, but I wish we’d gotten more time with Ingrid and Cory’s relationship and character development before everything entered the phase where the novel takes place. That may have upped the stakes and made me feel more invested in Ingrid getting a win.

Also, <spoiler>The quitting your librarian job to start a bookstore felt really unrealistic, especially with the store making big $$$ practically right away and her having a full-time assistant manager on payroll from the start.</spoiler>

Overall, it just didn’t fully land for me although I'm happy that Ingrid and Macon got their HEA.

This book took me a while to get through. I truly think it could've been 100 pages shorter and still captured everything the author intended. In the end, I felt it was just ok. The super slow burn to fast forward relationship left my head spinning and made me want to just finish it already.


**Thanks to Saturday Books via NetGalley for providing this book in exchange of my honest opinion.

I've been a fan of Stephanie's books since her Anna days, so naturally, I was very excited for her adult debut. However, I was so disappointed by this book and it crushes me to write a negative review!

The book is SLOW. I'm talking like the first 200 pages almost put me to sleep. The lead up to the actual romance plot is too much. Too many unnecessary details, too much back story and frankly, too wordy. About halfway through the book, the actual romance between Macon and Iggy starts. Once they are together, it almost feels rushed? The pacing of this book was off.

The book is 200 pages too long and slow. I hope Stephanie writes another adult romance novel, but please keep it 250-300 pages!

The premise of this book was intriguing because it’s a story that hasn’t been told in many books to my knowledge. The stalemate that can come in a long term relationship. I was hesitant about it but figured I’d give it a go. Very much a slow burn and a slow pace. Read more like literary fiction than romance. A solid 3 star for me. There were emotional moments but also some funny moments!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Overdue by Stephanie Perkins.

I was excited to read this one because I’ve enjoyed reading Stephanie Perkins in the past. She is also the editor of my favorite holiday anthology, My True Love Gave to Me, which I re-read almost every year.

This book has a fairly predictable premise, but really, what romance doesn’t. The main characters all grow and develop and support each other, which is good. The journey is interesting and the characters are likable, but it’s a very slow story. I would have like it to move faster. I’d still recommend it, but prepare to be patient. A solid 3 star read.