Big thank you to St. Martin's Press, Saturday Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Overdue definitely ventures into slightly new territory than most romance/contemporary fiction novels out there. We have a couple who decides to take a one month break before getting married, which... let's be honest... we all know how that is going to end, right?

Anyhow, we get to see Ingrid date for basically the first time all the while she is pining both subconsciously and consciously for her coworker, Mason -- who is ten years older than her (which is totally fine IMO in case you were wondering).

It's a big 'will they or won't they?' slow (very slow) burn with a career change and family drama mixed in.

And.... it just didn't work for me.

Ingrid seemed slightly younger than twenty-nine and as a recently thirty-nine year old myself I just couldn't picture Mason in real life. He just seemed too over the top, too immature, too yuck. I didn't get the appeal both with him and Cory (aka the dude who at 29 only eats chicken nuggets).

Additionally, Ridgetop is basically Asheville (the author states this in her acknowledgements) and it was somewhat distracting to me that it was basically a carbon copy of it. Like why not just make it Asheville then?

Also, I'm all for left-leaning fiction (seriously love it!) but it came off like a check list of liberal topics to slightly mention throughout the novel: book banning (which legit made sense), climate change, unhoused people, LGBTQ+, veganism, child-free, anti-marriage (I'm sure there is a better way to describe that but I'm blanking on it) and more. The issue wasn't that they were included but more so that they felt forced, awkward, unnecessary, and distracting from... you know... the plot of the book.

Lastly, there was more than one "steamy" scene that came off creepy or weird more than steamy.

Anyhow, this book wasn't for me. It's bones were good but the characters and the secondary plots were just too much to overcome.

I was asked to review “Overdue” by Stephanie Perkins.

I love books about librarians and avid readers. Here, the protagonist, Ingrid, is in a long term relationship with her boyfriend, Cory. Yet, unsure whether marriage should be the next step, they decide to take a month apart so they can decide if they want to marry. This opens the door for Ingrid to connect with a few frogs but also Macon.

Stephanie Perkins is apparently a prolific writer, though I have never come across her work. However, I thought she handled the plot in a thoughtful and delightful well. Yes, the reader as some idea of where the story is going but it doesn’t mean they won’t enjoy the journey to get there.

I look forward to reading more by this author.

Four out of five stars.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a chance to read this book.

I loved Stephanie Perkins books when I was younger - they were some of the first young adult books I obsessed over! So I was really excited when I was invited to read her new adult novel, Overdue. Unfortunately, it ultimately fell flat for me and I didn’t finish. First of all, it’s way too long. It could have been wrapped in 250 pages, but it was over 400. Second, the writing still felt like she was trapped in YA mode. It isn’t bad, I just felt it was a bit too immature for me. Third, the plot - and this is the most important - was just…dumb. A long term couple, Ingrid and Cory, have spent over a decade together decide to take a month apart so they can decide if they want to marry. If you don’t know if you want to marry someone after a year, the answer is probably no. 10 years? Definitely not. So we all know where this is heading. Ingrid works at a library, which is my favorite part of the book and why I read more than I wanted to. Macon is her grumpy coworker that she clearly loves. She tried to kiss him and he put a stop to it, so she pretty much hides from embarrassment for the rest of the month, only to find out Cory has been sleeping with someone and wants to take another month off. Relieved, because she doesn’t really want to be with him and definitely doesn’t want to marry him, she agrees. Then she starts dating around and sleeping around the second month, and I’m pretty sure she hurt a guy or two because she was still hung up on Macon, so that was lame. And then…Macon just doesn’t do it for me - not that Cory made me swoon either. I could be totally wrong, but Macon makes me think of a short pudgy guy who wears a lot of turtlenecks and khakis and has a bad bowl haircut and always looks and smells greasy. And maybe it’s because he’s awkward but he just doesn’t seem that nice. Anyway, I just expected more. More from Ingrid, more from Macon, and more from Stephanie Perkins.

2 stars because I like the library aspect and the cover is gorgeous!

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

This book was sweet. It was romantic and sweet. I think I wanted a little more in this because it was an adult romance from this author. I really wanted something more grand and sweet exciting and HUGELY romantic at the end. So that part felt somewhat lacking to me. But overall it was a sweet romance that I enjoyed reading but might not remember completely.

This was a slow burn romance that I was needing in my life. I loved Ingrid and really all the characters, even mister grump. This book felt like real life and real people problems which I actually enjoyed and want to read about. This was overall just such a nice feel good book that I can not wait for the next one!

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin’s Press for the advanced E-copy in exchange for this review.

Some books just feel like a warm hug. They wrap you up in their embrace and you gratefully sink into the comfort they provide. Overdue by Stephanie Perkins, is such a book. I wanted to linger in the world she created, to be friends with the characters and stay in their lives.

Ingrid is one of my favourite FMC’S that I have read recently. I found her struggles with self doubt, and her feeling of being defined by a romantic relationship to be wholly relatable. I was rooting for her every page, wanting her to find what would truly make her happy.

The slowburn romance was perfectly executed. When people say we want yearning brought back in books, this is what they’re talking about. I lived for the tension between Ingrid and Macon, and every little crumb that indicated their feelings for each other.

I appreciated the mental health representation in this book. The struggles of the characters were handled with sensitivity.

This was a five star read for me, and I’m looking forward to future releases by Stephanie.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Ingrid, librarian extraordinaire, coming to terms with a "break" from her boyfriend of 11 years, makes a move towards her longtime crush and coworker, Macon, and is quickly shut down.

Thus, Ingrid embarks on a long adventure of trying dating others, within the confines of a pact with her boyfriend, they will have a month of free dating before setting down.

This was the slowest of burns in a wonderful way. I kept thinking of this story as warm blanket, a hot cup of tea, a cozy cardigan that I never wanted to part with.

I loved the world Perkins built for Ingrid and would love an off shoot if possible.

When I say that this book was slow burn... it was sloooooooooooooooow burn at its finest. I don't think I've ever read a book that was slow burn but so impeccably done. Wow - kudos to you Stephanie! *chef's kiss*!!!!

What to expect:
- slow burn... duh
- shy MMC
- he falls first
- sunshine x grumpy
- age gap (10 years)

Overall thoughts is that this book was well written but had instances that felt quite juvenile. I didn't realize that the author was originally a young adult author which now makes sense because things felt very "young adulty" in sections.

Thanks to NetGalley and the published for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Now this is how you do a slow burn!!! I was giddy reading this book and couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters and their growth. The concept could have been cringe but instead it was heartwarming and beautiful. So thankful for the ARC!

Pros: the characters! I truly loved Ingrid and Macon. I enjoyed following Ingrid through her development and opening of her store.

Cons: I think the book was a bit too long. And while I truly enjoy a good slow burn, this was really stretched out.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Saturday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I felt like if Abby Jimenez and Emily Henry had a book baby, this would be it. This book will pull at your heartstrings in all the right ways. This man is the greenest of green flags and I am so in love with this character. It took me away from the hell that is reality while also writing some of the realest characters and story I've read in such a long time. I normally hate single POV since I love the read both perspectives, but Perkins' talented writing, which hooks you from the first page, completely made up for the lack of dual POV.

I loved Ingrid (FMC) and Macon (MMC) chemistry. I loved how attentive and kind he was with her and to her despite his grumpy personality.

Read if you like:
- Slow burn
- Sunshine x grumpy
- Mental health rep
- Single POV
- Age gap (10 yr)
- Closed door

** spoiler alert ** 2.5 ⭐️ rounded up

I am so sad that this book was so underwhelming for me. Anna and the French Kiss was probably my very first romance book ever (!) and I was hoping that feeling could be recreated for me more than 10 years later. Alas, I did not have the same butterflies feeling reading Overdue that I discovered then. For starters, this book was way too long- the "will they won't they" burn dissolved after about 30% in when she was still with Cory. Because it was so long, there were a lot of plot points that seemed unnecessary or irrelevant-- I did really like the amicable breakup aspect, but by the end of the book when Ingrid and Cory reunited for their road trip, it felt like their relationship had been eons ago (which is a testament to how the story really did span efficiently over a year, but I felt like they were two completely different books at that point). Kat is the best friend introduced at the beginning, but Mika is introduced halfway through and completely takes over that role, kind of leaving Kat in the dust for the rest of the story. And Gareth and Justin were developed way too far for them to end up being completely pointless.

I did love Macon, but man, I felt like all of the yearning and pining they were doing for each other ended in a fizzle-- I really wanted a grand, romantic, out-of-his-comfort-zone gesture or a small and kind one that fit his personality to confess his love, but the way that that it actually developed was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, which was really sad. I also wasn't feeling the slow burn at that point any more, so that contributed.

This is not meant to be a harsh review or anything- Macon and Edmond themselves earned this book an extra half star. But I think I would brand it as lit fic, not romance. The story trended a lot more towards Ingrid's (positive, no doubt) character development than the relationship between her and Macon because it just dragged on for a bit too long and then established itself in a split second.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wow! This was seriously the slowest of slow burns and I loved every second of it. I loved Ingrid's bubbly yet introverted personality. I loved Macon's grumpiness but also just how genuinely kind and attentive he was. I loved how the main characters were older than most romcom characters. loved how the author had such a variety of characters from all different backgrounds and different lifestyles, I loved how mental health was a background topic that was so delicately talked about. Basically, I just loved this book so much and I think you should read it.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Ingrid is going along in her life without any bumps - she is 29, a librarian, and has been dating her boyfriend for 11 years. The engagement of Ingrid's sister after dating for two years prompts Ingrid and her boyfriend, Cory, to take a break for a month to re-assess their relationship. Their goal: to date others, come back together, and take steps toward marriage. Except that plan winds up with a rather large wrinkle when the two realize they may not want to reunite.

This was a nicely executed plot. It was a bit slower to start; the page length could be culled slightly. But Ingrid was a wonderfully written character, and a lot stronger than me, as I would have never spent 11 years with one person only to discover they were not my person. I loved the introduction of Macon, written in a way that was realistic, something that seems to lack in a lot of romance stories recently. As an aside, I adored the descriptions of the various settings in this book; very vivid writing that puts you write into things.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Saturday Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a sloooooow burn but a great, lighthearted read! I loved Ingrid and Macon even when I wanted to shake them silly.

Ingrid is 29 years old and living a relatively safe life. She has been dating her boyfriend Cory for over a decade and has a stable job she likes working at the library. But when her younger sister gets engaged, Ingrid and Cory start to wonder out loud why they've been in no rush to get married -- and decide to break out of their respective comfort zones to take a break and see other people to make sure this is the right relationship for them.

Ingrid knows the first person she wants to date with her new "hall pass" is her co-worker Macon. Older, grumpier, and more introverted than Cory, he's been the subject of her secret and previously forbidden crush for years. But when he soundly rejects her advances, she has to pivot to Plan B. A string of mostly bad dates from dating apps has her re-evaluating not just her romantic life, but her career as well. And she learns that it is never truly too late to start over, to try something new, or to take a few steps backward to launch in a different direction.

Very sweet and readable! Could have been a tad bit shorter (we really did wait foooorever for these two to get together) but had me thoroughly engaged from beginning to end.

Okay. I DEVOURED this book. I am obsessed. First of all, the name Ingrid is PERFECT for this character. She honestly had me wondering why I wasn’t a librarian. Which, I guess I could still be. ANYWHO.

Ingrid and her long-term boyfriend have never discussed marriage, until her sister gets engaged and they’re both like “wtf are we doing.”
So, they decide to take a month-long break to see other people, and experience new things, with the plans to get back together and get married and everything that comes with it. Ingrid immediately sets her sights on her coworker, Macon. But he turns her down AS HER EYES ARE CLOSED AND HER LIPS ARE PUCKERED. *cue the lasting humiliation*
How does she go on?! How can she keep working there?! What is she DOING with her life!? Buckle up, Ingrid, you’re in for a ride.

This book made me laugh SO hard. I felt her embarrassment. I felt her fears. I felt her love.

Macon is my spirit animal. He is cranky, he hates people but is also exceptional at helping those in need. He loves fiercely, but he’s also guarded. He is an animal lover and has an otherworldly green-thumb (okay, I can’t relate here). But overall he’s a 10/10.

Ingrid finds herself here and I really loved the journey she went on. I loved the plot. The writing kept me engaged even though it played out slowly over the whole year. The supporting characters remind me so much of my real life friends.

I absolutely will read this book again. And I will recommend it to all my book loving friends :)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book. Clever grab and hook for this story "Is it time to renew love or start a new chapter?"

3.75 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Descriptors: BOOKS! slow burn, decisions, awkward, helping hands, community, friendship.
Favorite or least Favorite character? What I liked about some of these characters were there unique traits. Ingrid's parents and their philosophy of life, Macon's Mom and Aunt.
Spice: No
Standalone? Yes
Would I recommend? Yes, especially if the slow burn no spice is your jam.

Having recently read "After I Do" I couldn't help but make some comparisons. This book is in no way related. I wasn't really invested in the first half of the book. The turning point for me and when I binged it is when the big decision FINALLY came and life began again. Life decisions are hard, feelings are hurt but in the end, what's best for YOU?

I really enjoyed this book and recommend it wholeheartedly. The romance was a realistic delight, and the larger story of 29 year old Ingrid figuring out what she wants out of life rang true and was interesting.

I have to confess, I liked, not loved, the book in the beginning. Because Ingrid and her longtime boyfriend have never dated anyone else, they try an experiment to see other people for a month before moving on to marriage. This seemed like a bad idea to me, as it was. Meanwhile, she does have a crush on a co-worker, but believes the attraction is one-sided. As she is coping with her new reality as a single person and trying to meet men, I cringed a bit at the awkwardness of it all.

However, after she decides to “date herself” and gets back to being close friends with her co-worker, the book really got me, and I couldn’t put it down. The supporting characters are all likeable, as are the main characters.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St, Martin’s for this ARC! I love the cover and it’s a very sweet story. Ingrid is unhappy in her long term relationship so she and her boyfriend, Cory, agree to a trial separation. Meanwhile Ingrid has a bit of a crush on her grumpy coworker Macon.

I enjoyed learning about the library staff and their dynamic and enjoyed seeing Macon open up throughout the book. However, I felt that the separation with Cory took up a fairly significant portion of the book when I was really wanting to see the romance develop between Ingrid and Macon.
It felt like it dragged on.

The beginning of this book was a struggle for me, and I seriously considered not finishing it. Around 40-50% through I started to enjoy it and the end made it worth it. The beginning of the book dragged, and I felt the initial plot of seeing other people and not breaking up went on for way longer than necessary.