I really, really enjoyed this. It’s refreshing to read about different kinds of people- these characters are flawed and not the most popular. They have flaws and they acknowledge them. They find love anyway, and it’s a refreshing take. It’s not the same girl-falls-in-love-with-the-gorgeous-athlete-that-somehow-loves-her-back trope and it was a lovely change.

A very cute contemporary romance. I always love bookish characters. I also enjoyed that the romantic leads were a bit older being in their 30's. It was a bit slow paced and times and could've been 50 pages shorter to cut some of that out but it kept me up until 2am because I couldn't put it down towards the end.

I really loved this book! It’s a wonderful story of self realization and getting out of your comfort zone to reach for something that you really want but might be afraid to try.
The characters were all believable and down to earth. And thank goodness that Ingrid and Macon finally learned what everyone else seemed to know, that they were meant to be together.
Thanks NetGalley for a chance to read this ahead of its publication date in exchange for an honest review.

Overdue is a delightful slow-burn romance that's perfect for readers who love quirky characters. While the romance is very slow, there is enough comedy and other events along the way to keep you entertained. Perfect if you are looking for escapism at its finest!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I had to DNF TBIS AT 26%. It’s incredibly slow and filled with large information dumps that don’t feel relative at all to the story. I cannot connect with Ingrid at all.

Overdue is low-key Where the Heart Is coded. There’s so many similarities! The woman who needs to rebuild her life, the shy librarian responsible for caring for his family members, and the slowest of slow burns. I absolutely adored Ingrid and Macon!

I loved how the book was broken up into months. In some ways it felt like watching Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, with all the ups and downs we experience in a single year. The story starts out with a bang and then, when Ingrid’s relationship implodes, gradually slows down as she picks up the pieces, before jump starting again.

This story really hit home for me. Believing your life is on one course, with all the expectations of events ahead, only to veer utterly and completely off course. I loved Ingrid’s journey of self-discovery - learning who is she is, what she wants, and who she wants. This was about taking a chance and pursuing passions long overdue. That transition from your 20s into the surety of adulthood that is your 30s. It’s such a sweet story and I highly recommend checking it out in October!

Thank you to NetGalley, Saturday Books, and St. Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A very readable book with so many things I love in it – libraries, bookstores, bad dates and good friends. Sadly, I did not like the romantic partners. I thought the Ingrid and Macon relationship just had too much ick factor.

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for this DRC.
#Overdue #NetGalley

Overdue didn't work for me. Wasn't engaged with the characters and it was way too slow. Your mileage may vary.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

When Ingrid and her longtime boyfriend, Cory, enter the new year, they decided to take pause from each other. They had been with each other for so long they wanted the freedom to explore before settling down together, and as anyone could imagine, it does not go as planned. Ingrid uses the time to learn more about herself as an individual. The novel spans the year New Years to December and we see how both of their worlds change.

This book didn't pass the vibes check for me. The whole premise of this book starts out as an experiment with the FMC and her long-term boyfriend taking a month long break to date other people, that they extend and extend and extend. Which...please just have conversations people. If I had a nickel for "if we just talked" moment in this book, I feel like I would be rich.

Also the slow burn, slowest burn romance between the FMC and her love interest at the library she works at, should have been the recipe for a fun fast-paced read, however, it was painfully slow and
majorly fizzed out for me. Can't say I would recommend for my friends who love a slow burn!

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin's/Saturday Books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reading this book was such a funny experience. It's SO meandering and slow and yet I found myself laying in bed at night thinking "I wonder what color they're going to paint the living room." The stakes are SO low, but it's such an effective character study that I was totally immersed. I also felt like Stephanie Perkins understands public library work, and it was the first book featuring librarians I've ever read that didn't give me anything to complain or nitpick about. It's a relaxing and cozy story and I'm kind of sad it's over, even after 400+ pages of not much happening.

My one issue is that by the end, Macon strikes me as a bit of a weenie. He makes some choices in the name of his own comfort that I really don't agree with, and it soured me a lot on his character. Ingrid babies him and excuses him when she really shouldn't.

A very, cute and enjoyable read. It did take me a little bit to get into but it was worth it. This was definitely a slow burn but once it got to the point for Macon and Ingrid, it was sweet and romantic.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced readers copy. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Saturday Books for the ARC!

Honestly? Watching paint dry might’ve felt like a more productive use of time at moments — this one redefined slow burn. I’ve had candles melt faster.

That said, this book was also incredibly sweet, tender, and genuinely heartfelt. If you’re a lover of books and stories centered around authentic emotional connection, this one will definitely hit the spot. I adored the grumpy x sunshine dynamic, and the age gap? Chef’s kiss. Macon was such a breath of fresh air — a love interest with depth, heart, and the kind of quiet passions (cooking, gardening, reading… and Ingrid) that just warm you right up.

My only real hang-ups: the pacing dragged a bit — it’s set over the course of a year, and at times it really felt that long. I also struggled with the beginning. Some of Ingrid’s behavior didn’t quite line up with her character later on, and her dismissiveness toward a few early love interests felt unnecessarily harsh.

Still, this was a cozy, emotionally rich read from an OG storyteller who knows how to pull on heartstrings. She’s definitely still got it — keep an eye out for this one in October!

Overdue, by Stephanie Perkins

I think I liked this book?! I did not expect to like it as much as I did. I didn’t really love the premise, but I love books about people who love books, so I wanted to give it a shot. The first fourth I just didn’t agree with Ingrid’s choices (I wanted her happy and safe!) and also it is clear that the author and I have a different outlook on certain things. Not a deal breaker, though.

The first 25% I had to trudge through, and then once the book got to April, I began to want to keep reading and I couldn’t put the book down.

I LOVED Ingrid’s personality, and I loved the dynamic she had with all of her friends. I also loved watching her character development, and seeing her begin to like herself and find her purpose.
Macon is the perfect grumpy cinnamon roll, and his patience and kindness is outstanding.
This was a perfect slow burn romance.

I think Stephanie Perkins is a really talented author. The story flows well, and she was able to hook me- when I wasn’t sure I even wanted to be reading! I will be looking forward to reading more books by her.

And I will be dreaming of that living room for the rest of my days. IYKYK.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Saturday Books for the opportunity to read Overdue by Stephanie Perkins.

Thanks to the author, their publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I read the synopsis and decided to give this book a try. It starts off fairly slow as you see the FMC decide to take a break from her long term boyfriend. The only guy she has ever been with/dated. Then the story fast forwards pretty quickly through her life without him. Then it pauses when she meets the MMC and it was just instalove (which is not my fave trope). It just didn’t feel real to me.

I think I would’ve appreciated this book more with a dual POV and some more polished writing. I also would’ve liked to see the FMC without a man more. I don’t love stories where it’s like the FMC can’t be anything without a man. That’s what it felt like as we sped through her time without one. Maybe had it slowed down and dove in more, it would’ve added some more substance.

I hadn't heard of this book but I've enjoyed the author's other work and the title/cover jumped out at me, so I took advantage of a 24-hour window to read the book for free. I got through the first chapter and then actually went back and read the synopsis, and this book just isn't for me. I don't like the idea of "we've never been with anyone else and so we need to experience that in order to commit to each other" tropes, they weird me out. And I don't personally sense any chemistry between the protagonist and the love interest, and I also hate that the protagonist has apparently been harboring this secret crush for years while in a happy, committed relationship (that's how it's described to us). Blegh. I won't keep reading.

thank you NetGalley for the arc!!!

hmmm okay so I almost liked this but parts of it were just really …. strange. The writing was a little convoluted. I kept getting lost in the paragraphs, not having a clue what I just read. There were also moments that occurred that left me so confused like in the beginning when our fmc makes her neighbors go out with her 😭 I was like what is happening. The writing is by no means bad it just needs a little polishing. I also felt like it took so long for the book to get going, like the first 40% needs to be narrowed down a bit. Like take out the weird scene where she makes Brittany go to the bar with her IN THE MIDDLE OF A SNOWSTORM. It made me laugh tho bc her reasoning was that people in Minnesota do it all the time (drive in the snow) and I was like true but we have 4 wheel drive & snow tires u have a Volkswagen beetle. However I would still give this a try when it comes out! A little bit more polishing and this would be a great romance!

This really puts the slow in slow burn. The premise had so much promise, it gave me after I do by Taylor Jenkins Reid vibes. However, the execution was lacking for me. I wonder if duo POV could have helped to flush this story out some? I did end up really enjoying the ending though.

Expected more from this one. It starts out so slow and then the romance is so insta- lovey. Would’ve liked some dual perspectives or some more character development

Listen, if you feel the need to take a break from your significant other to “see what it’s like” to date other people before you get married, you don’t want to get married. That being said the beginning of this book sloooowly show us Ingrid and Cory taking a break from their relationship. And honestly, you probably don’t need to think too hard about how that turns out.

The rest of the book felt like a fast forward through the rest of the year while Ingrid tries to figure out her life while watching everyone around her - friends, family - hit new milestones she’s not sure she will reach.

Overall the book was fine. The pacing felt off, slow at the beginning then full speed ahead. There was also a moment where one character seemed to have a personality change in an instant and I just don’t believe it.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the ARC of this book.