Someone once told me that "a romcom with depth is an oxymoron." I disagreed then, and this book just reaffirms my opinion. An Overdue Match introduces you to an "unlikely heroine" (in her opinion). After a disastrous breakup with a shallow, sorry-excuse-for a guy fiance who can't see past flowing locks of keratin-coated dead skin cells--um, I mean hair, she's sworn off romance (for herself anyway) and determined to live vicariously through the matches she's sure she'll make.

Let's just say things aren't as simple as she expects them to be.

Monzon did what she does best--she gave us laugh-out-loud moments mingled with the reality of living with permanent and total hair loss in a society that spends billions of dollars every year trying to keep women's hair silky, shining, and flowing.

One of the most beautiful aspects of the story is how "bad boy" (in some people's opinion, anyway) Tai knows exactly what he needs to do to reassure her and give her the sort of self-confidence she needs.

Look, usually it wouldn't work. he'd be too "perfect." But he's been there in his own way. He gets it. And that makes him perfectly suited rather than just too perfect. Genius.

Also, so many authors overdo the "consent" thing to the point that it's unnatural, stilted, and kind of insulting to guys. With any other characters in any other situations, I might even think so for this one. But Tai knows what he's doing. He gets her. He understands. And because of it, that works GREAT. I didn't even cringe over sizzling moments of raw attraction etc. For me, that's unheard of. Somehow, in this book, it just worked. Period.

And can I add how thrilled I am that this is just book one in a SERIES? EEEP! Send me more!

Recommended for anyone who wants a fun, quirky story with rich faith and characters you won't want to say goodbye to.

An Overdue Match by Sarah Monzon follows Evangeline, a funny and dedicated librarian who decides to matchmake her patrons based on their shared interests (and checkout history!). She quickly learns that people are a bit more complicated than they are on paper, so she agrees to get advice and insider details from Tai, a long time resident of the town. His advice comes with a stipulation: He’ll only help Evangeline match people if she agrees to go out with him. This story touched my heart and made me cry tears of happiness, and I cannot recommend this book enough.

My thoughts as I was reading: I’m already a fan of her character before she’s even named. I agree that harming a book should have consequences. I’m an early fan of Hayley as well, she’s funny! Tai is appealing from his very first appearance (and subsequent description by Evangeline). This is my first time reading anything by this author and I’m enamored with the writing style. It’s set in southeastern Tennessee!! I grew up near there! I absolutely love the way Tai teases her, very cute. Their chemistry is… electric. Palpable. Delectable. I’m in love with kitty purry and she reminds me a lot of my own cats. Absolutely love the fact that Penelope (Evangeline’s sister) and their grandpa recreate true crime murder scenes in miniature. Not only is this book a heart wrenchingly sweet romance, it’s a love letter to Tennessee. I love love love it. 4.5/5 stars, rounded up to 5!

I would recommend this to anyone who loves books about books, or lovers of rom coms. Thank you so very much to Netgalley and Bethany House for allowing me to read this delightful e-arc!

This is about a young woman, Evangeline, who struggles with her self-esteem after her ex-fiancé called off their wedding when her hair fell out due to alopecia, and believes that no one will love her anymore. But she still wants love to be in her life, so she takes it upon herself to be the town's new matchmaker... only she's new in town and doesn't know anyone that well. In comes Tai, the town's resident "bad boy" turned good. He offers his services to help Evangeline pair up the right people in exchange that she goes on dates with him, determined to convince her that despite his tattoos and reputation, he's the complete opposite.

I personally struggled reading this. There were two different kinds of POVs- 1st person for the fmc, and 3rd person for the mmc. It kept throwing me off as I was reading and I wasn't able to be as immersed in the story because it felt like zooming in & zooming out every time a new chapter pov started. I wasn't a fan of Evangeline's character, it was difficult to relate to her because her portrayal changed so much; at first she was this sheltered, almost innocent girl then she was controlling and snappy, then she was sweet, then back to being rude... I just kept getting whiplash reading her chapters. There were also a ton of literary references throughout the book, which got kind of tiring towards the end of the book, and made it less realistic (ie. there was a point where a character was upset/having a breakdown, and they immediately compared themselves to a fictional character from a dystopian world).

There were good parts to the book; it mainly focused a lot on improving how you view yourself, and highlighting self-love over everything. There was a nice religious component to the book that would definitely speak to religious readers, although it mainly came up towards the end.

I wanted to like this book, especially because of the unique representation of alopecia, which was handled beautifully. The male lead, Tai, was a standout for me—he was supportive, loving, and genuinely had a heart of gold.

However, I struggled with Evangeline's character. From the start, she felt a little immature to me, especially with her matchmaker antics. I found her actions at the beginning a bit annoying, and I really had to push through the first few chapters. Thankfully, her character did improve as the story progressed, but I still couldn't shake off that initial irritation.

Another issue I had was the narrative style. Evangeline's point of view was written in the first person, while Tai’s was in the third person. At first, the difference felt jarring, and it took me out of the story for a while. As I continued reading, I eventually got used to it, but the switch still felt a bit distracting in the beginning.

Overall, while the story did have its redeeming qualities, particularly with Tai’s character and the portrayal of alopecia, I personally struggled with Evangeline’s personality and the inconsistent narrative style. It's a decent read if you're patient enough to get past the initial hurdles, but it's not a book I’d rave about.

I was really excited to read this book because the author tends to write fun lighthearted novels. This story is simply delightful! I love the characters and all of their many quirks. I so appreciate the focus on alopecia and creating characters that aren't "cookie cutter" perfect-whatever that seems to mean. Tai is my favorite in this story because he doesn't give up on Evangeline or himself for that matter. He has a lot of people look down on him and he carries on despite what others think. The library setting is superb and I enjoy every small detail that makes this book full of heart. It is a sweet romance but the bigger overall picture of Evangeline and dealing with her image is what makes this book worth reading. It is a pretty quick read and I am eager to read what Monzon comes up with next!



Four stars.



"I received a complementary copy. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

This was both a fun rom-com and a serious look into the underlying impacts that looking "different" in any way might have on a person. This story follows Evangeline Kelly, who has recently moved to a small town to escape the people who witnessed her shame when she lost all of her hair due to alopecia, especially an ex who shattered her self-esteem. Having given up on love for herself, she takes on a matchmaking scheme to help her ever-romantic heart. When she finds she needs help in her schemes, she begrudgingly accepts Tai's help, even though she "knows" she should keep her distance. Will letting him in completely ruin her? Or can she find healing in the love of another?

This story had me both laughing and crying - feeling ALL the feels. I really liked the quirkiness of the characters - from Evangeline's sweet nature, lack of stealth, and love of bookish tees, to Tai's artistry, tattoos, sheltered childhood and great big heart, to Hayley's exuberance and fun-loving spirit, to Penelope's no-nonsense sisterly support - each character, whether main or secondary had their own unique personality that fed directly into the story itself. The character growth and development throughout the story was stellar and Evangeline's tale brings to mind the Casting Crowns song, Voice of Truth. Though only popping up periodically, there was a solid faith thread as Evangeline comes to recognize that she's always been loved by the One who sees her and knows her best. And there was a fun little twist surrounding the matchmaking she was trying to do on her own as well. Though I tend to not like heroes who "manipulate" to get the girl to go out with them, the humor in this one offset that icky feeling I get with "pushy" heroes and I ended up adoring Tai in spite of myself (once you read this one, you'll understand why I put those words in quotation marks!). All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable story with wonderful characters and a beautiful message of seeing who one truly is in the eyes of God. And I definitely recommend reading the author note at the end to get an understanding on how this heroine came to be. This is a story I can easily recommend to fans of any type of genre, but particularly contemporary rom-coms. Special thanks to the author and publisher for an advance copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

An Overdue Match is a super fun, fantastic rom-com! I absolutely loved everything about it! The banter and flirty conversations between Evangeline and Tai are so cute. I wanted to rush through to see what would happen, but also read slower and savor it so it didn't end too fast at the same time. As a cancer survivor, I am thrilled at the representation of a bald character struggling with her self-esteem because of appearance differences. Losing your hair is so traumatic, and Sarah Monzon handled the topic with gentleness and grace, and gave readers a strong character to look to for encouragement and inspiration. It is fabulous to watch Evangeline grow confident in who she is under Tai's adoring attention and love. And the way he not only patiently loved her until she could believe it, but lovingly pointed her back to the God who had loved her the whole time... *chef's kiss* This book is a perfect mix of swoony and sweet, laugh-out-loud funny and poignant. Love, love!

A heroine with Alopecia, a hero with Asthma—yes and yes! This is now my favorite romance. The banter is absolutely perfect and the characters raw and real.

Evangeline has moved to a new place to start over. Working in the library is the perfect job for a book lover and romantic at heart. She may never have a romance of her own but she’s decided she can play matchmaker for the community.

Tai was constrained by his asthma as a child, rebelled as a teen, and is now back home running his own business. He fought his way out of the mold he was forced into and now wears the advertisement for his tattoo parlor in a sleeve running up his arm.

The author has written their first encounter in way that had me smiling and already rooting for Tai to get the girl, and for Evangeline to have the romance her heart is yearning for.

This book is a testament to the fact that outward appearances are only skin deep and underneath we may have more in common that we ever dreamed.

There’s a thread of faith that flows through the story giving depth and foundation to the characters. I loved it.

I was given a copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of the book.

I love reading stories about libraries and all things bookish. If you do, too, then this is one book you won’t want to miss. It’s also a tender, beautiful story of one woman’s struggle with a physical issue that changed her life and made her doubt she’d ever experience love. Evangeline never thought she would ever be the heroine of her own story, but then she meets her “hero.”
And if I ever wanted to be in a story and have a hero, I’d wish for Tai to be mine! Even though he initially seemed to be a rake, rouge, and bad boy, what is seen on the outside isn’t really what’s on the inside.
This book had so much packed into it.
There were lots of fun times and also some very deep, tender moments. The author knows how to draw out all the emotions of a reader. After reading this book, I needed to wait and let it sit in my brain and heart. It was a sweet picture of tender love and acceptance.
Sarah Monzon has given us another delightful and deeply moving story. She is a skilled storyteller who uses colorful images and events to tell her stories.
This story was full of fun, laughter, and a bit of romance. It also weaves in a lesson to help us realize that we are beautiful just the way God made us.
The author provided me with a copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own. I highly recommend it.

An Overdue Match, by Sarah Monson, is a light-hearted look at how not to judge a book by its cover.

Evangeline Kelly is a librarian with an autoimmune disease that has caused her hair to fall out and her self-esteem to plummet. Because of the actions of her ex-fiancé, who called off their wedding when she went completely bald, Evangeline believes no one could ever love her. So she swears off love and takes up matchmaking instead, basing it on the books people read. The result is, of course, a disaster. Then she meets the tattoo artist Tai Davis.

Tai may look like a bad boy with all his tattoos, but he is the exact opposite. He realizes Evangeline has a secret and low self-esteem. When he figures out her secret, he is determined to make her realize she is worthy of love. His love and God’s.

At first, I thought I would hate this book because I dislike first-person POV, but thankfully I kept reading and was delighted by the humour, the quirks of Evangeline and Tai’s genuineness. He is the type of guy every girl longs for. The faith element was also good, and I loved how Tai showed God’s love through his words and actions to someone who felt so unworthy of love.

The sensitivity to the subject of alopecia was especially moving after discovering the author’s mother suffers from it. If you like Contemporary Romances, I highly recommend An Overdue Match.​

I received a complimentary eBook courtesy of Bethany House Publishers via Net Galley for my honest review.

Romcoms aren’t generally my thing. As much as I want to sink into something sweet and cozy with a guaranteed happily ever after, I tend to find them too cutesy, too saccharine, just too much in general. An Overdue Match is all of those things. And yet, I still enjoyed my time with it. Between the characters, the periodic book references, and the subtle strands faith, this little book kept me reading in spite of my qualms.

Our main perspective character is Evangeline, a librarian hiding her alopecia and the hurt she’s suffered because of it behind wigs and armored smiles. Tai, our romantic lead, is a Jesus-loving tattoo artist who falls for Evangeline almost as soon as he meets her, and he’s determined to break down her defenses with kindness and humor. Alas, he finds himself stonewalled by her still-broken heart. But when Evangeline’s attempts at matchmaking library patrons goes awry, he finds himself with a perfect excuse to blackmail her into “dating” him, in hopes of scaling the walls she has built around her heart and hopefully helping it heal enough to love again.

The storytelling is super cute in tone right off the bat. Love the bookishness, and our main character's deep abhorrence of the mistreatment of books. I found it a little silly and over the top with some its descriptions, but the cute factor makes that forgivable. The humor is a bit heavy-handed, as are some of the metaphors and similes, but all of those things combined with the cheesiness of the dialogue and inner thoughts somehow work. Though, I have to confess, it's overall a little too cutesy for my personal taste.

Monzon did a wonderful job with her characters. Tai is such a great romantic lead. I love his seemingly hard exterior paired with his soft, sweet heart. Evangeline is actually the harder of the two, as she's built hard armor around herself after heartbreak, but she’s a compelling lead who softens as the story progresses. The secondary characters were lovely, as well. I was especially fond of Grampie and Granny, who are just adorable, as well as Hayley, Evangeline’s best friend and fellow librarian. Her story is next up in the series, and I find her intriguing enough to pick up that second installment when it releases.

An Overdue Match is just a good time. It could use a little tightening up, grammatically speaking, but as I read an advance copy I’m pretty sure that will be addressed before the book makes its way into the world. The romance get pleasantly steamy in the last 1/4 of the story, but things are never taken further than kisses, so this would be a safe read for those who prefer their romances clean. The faith element is a bit sparse, but sweet. It doesn't feel entirely organic, but it was still a lovely addition to the story. This was light when I needed something light, while still wrestling with some difficult topics and offering disability representation for those living with alopecia or severe asthma. I would recommend it if you’re looking for a clean, bookish romcom, and I can see myself continuing the series.

Evangeline is a librarian who was dumped by her shallow fiance after developing alopecia, and she is still coping with the emotional fallout. Tai is a tattoo artist running a thriving business in his home town. He's a cinnamon roll in bad-boy packaging, and a library patron who doesn't make a great first impression on Evangeline. But sparks fly as their relationship deepens in this small-town romance.

I liked it but didn't love it. The writing was a little clunky at first but it mostly evened out and turned into a quick and emotional read with hints of dry humor. Dual POVs, 1st-person for Evangeline and 3rd-person for Tai, which was a little jarring whenever the POV shifted. Their relationship development seemed a little uneven and I had an easier time warming up to Tai than I did Evangeline, who lacked emotional maturity. I love the concept of matchmaking based on library books checked out! However, I didn't love the clear invasion of privacy and manipulation since the matchmaking is happening without library patron's consent. For such a strict librarian, Evangeline sure doesn't have trouble bending the library rules herself. That aspect of the story made me uncomfortable and definitely impacted my overall enjoyment.

With relatable characters, this is a sweeter read with a focus on thriving with chronic illness and looking past preconceived ideas. There is strong Christian messaging that some readers will enjoy. If you're looking for a small-town opposites-attract new-adult romance with low heat and chronic illness representation then this is the book for you. Publishes February 18 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House for providing an eARC of this book, this is my objective review.

it was great . cool story but cancer reference was not my cup of tea. I honestly wished it had more faith coming from a christian publisher

When I saw that the cover had a library and the main character was a librarian, I knew I had to read An Overdue Match. Evangeline, a librarian, is a matchmaker and likes to sit on the sidelines where it's it safe because she has alopecia. She has listened to lies about her beauty because of her alopecia, yet Tai convinces her otherwise. He patiently, gently, and lovingly reminds her about her worth and wants to fight for her. This is a story of finding one's worth, of not judging someone by their cover, and of true love. Monzon also wove faith elements throughout this story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In terms of memorable characters, I'd say that Evangeline Kelly and Tai Davis rank fairly highly for me because of how well their characters are developed and how vital their voices are in a story about looking beyond appearances. The themes of God's unconditional love and His unending pursuit of us are certainly reflected in Tai's pursuit of Evangeline. Aspects of their relationship have a tinge of Redeeming Love to it, including her nickname, with much more of a modern-day twist. At the same time, this story is uniquely their own due to how sensitively the effects of alopecia are portrayed. I appreciate the author's call to show grace, along with her heart in enlightening readers about this condition in a poignant way. Getting to meet underrepresented characters by Sarah Monzon is both delightful and eye-opening when she opens people up and gifts us with the ability to peer inside their thoughts and emotions.

I love that Tai draws what he does back to what Christ has done for us, demonstrating God's persistent and fervent love for His people. This book does focus more on physical attraction between the main characters; however, it makes sense as it is in keeping with the messages about beauty and appearance and how people can struggle with what society has deemed to be beautiful. I also appreciate that the topic of consent is identified and discussed, for both romantic and arranged relationships. Privacy implications suspended and set aside (which you would have to as there are major transgressions with FOIP), An Overdue Match is a fun experiment picturing what matchmaking could look like based on readers’ tastes and book tropes, with expected results not always being what's expected. If you are looking for a literary escape that explores the qualities and conditions for falling in love, Tai and Evangeline are characters who easily jump off the page and leave an indelible impression on your heart.

What a sweet journey! One that is at the same time a wonderful rom-com with fun banter and swoony moments, and yet also a serious look at a condition that makes the main character look and feel different. Evangeline Kelly is still reeling from her fiancé calling off their wedding when she lost her hair to a condition called alopecia. In fact, she moved to this town to maintain some anonymity. Tattoo artist Tai Davis is my absolute favorite book boyfriend! He has learned to manage a life-long asthma condition, survived a helicopter mom, and has gained a lot of wisdom along the way. His artistic talent is unsurpassed, and he takes a keen interest in the local librarian, who can be described as a wall flower, someone who in bookish terms will only be a sidekick, never a heroine.

I love how Tai sees Evangeline for who she is, and helps her remember the truth of how God sees her, and loves her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating tale, and I highly recommend to to lovers of romantic comedies with substance. And what a beautiful cover!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own. I can't wait for book two in the series!

Full disclosure, I received an advanced reading copy from NetGalley and Bethany House (Thank you!!) but this is my honest review of this book. This review does not contain any spoiler.

Did I ask for this ARC after only reading the title and the first sentence of the synopsis? Of course I did. A puny book title and a book that has a librarian as a main character! I couldn't pass this book. Now, you would be surprise about the number of books I've read that features a librarian that is not accurately portrayed but this one did it right. Mostly. Patrons confidentiality is super important in a library and while the intention behind her breach is cute, I am mad at Evangeline for her actions. That being said, I forgive her because she is a book character and not a real-life librarian.

This story is more than just a romance, it is about loving and accepting yourself. It made me think about how a lot of people go through life as a side character for various reasons and it breaks my heart. I hope this book helps people grow. Yes, I know, it is a big ask for a 320-pages book.

Finally, have in mind that this book is set in the south of the US. It had been a while since I've read a southern book, but thankfully it wasn't my first so I wasn't really bothered. What I am trying to say is that it is very Christian forward and doesn't have any spice. It doesn't need the spice because the heat and attraction is still there.

So if you are looking for a cute romance with A LOT of book references (which I loved) in a small town setting and with a great personal growth story, this one is for you. I mean, there are a lot more tropes in this book, but I am keeping it spoilers free so you will have to read it to know them.

I was so excited about this premise (which delivered!) but the actual meet-cute was a super fun surprise - plus he falls first, which I love. Monzon's characters were layered with great chemistry, fun-to-watch banter, and a beautiful arc for Evangeline. These characters had fresh, unique personalities. This was a hilarious, romantic, out-of-the-box read with swoony tension and laugh-out-loud moments.

*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher, and this is my honest opinion.

This novel is leaving me with a book hangover with all the feels. I can tell the author has an emotional attachment to this story.
First of all, Tai is my new book boyfriend. I can't imagine anyone being better. He sees Evangeline, his Angel for who she is. He pursues her with loving-kindness and witty flirtations. The perceived bad boy with tattoos is not the typical hero in Angel's mind. He conveys to her truth through words and actions, that God loves her.

Secondly, I love not only Tai, but Evangeline. She is a librarian. I want to be her best friend. She is so sweet and loving to her family and friends. However, she has listened to lies about her beauty because of Alopecia and doesn't realize her worth. She wants to stay on the sidelines where it's safe.

Lastly, I love all the characters, except Brett, the antagonist of course. The author has written a world of awesome characters and I can't wait to hear from them again!

I am so glad there will be a sequel! Yay!!
As you can tell from all the gushing, that I loved the book and I highly recommend it.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher, and this is my honest opinion.

I loved the characters and the author's writing style. But as a librarian, I was disturbed by the main character's lack of ethics. At most libraries, staff caught searching through or using someone's checkout history would be severely reprimanded at best or fired on the spot.

Note: I did not review this book on my Goodreads account or on any of my social media accounts.