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My new rule to remaining don’t kiss the sexy math teacher.



Books have always been my emergency escape. Whether I’m tuning out the chaos of my boisterous family or recovering from a cheating ex-boyfriend, the joy of reading calms my anxious heart.

So what if I prefer to live in fictitious worlds to protect myself from heartbreak—it’s no big deal. Until the jagged wounds of my last relationship heal, the only man I’m interested in meeting is my next book boyfriend.

But then all my resolutions start to crumble when a modern-day knight in shining armor rescues me from the side of the road, sweeps me onto the back of his motorcycle, and drives us off into the sunset.



My endless responsibilities have me struggling to function most days—school, town meetings, family drama, and keeping my business afloat. The thought of dating is so far down my list that it’s practically nonexistent.

Women have never made sense anyway, not the way numbers do. Females are like inconsistent equations with changing variables. They aren’t worth the hassle of solving, so I just stay away.

That is…until I meet Maya. Now I’m daydreaming about her smile and stopping by the library to conveniently bump into her. But the closer we get, the more she insists on keeping me at arm's length. How can I earn her trust before she leaves town? There has to be another solution…one where we both end up together.

Will one tender kiss change everything?


***The Overdue Kiss, a closed-door learning to love again novel, is book 4 in the Give a Bookish Girl a Biker multi-author series, a sweet romance collection of overlapping stories set in the picturesque mountains of Colorado. Alongside humor and faith, you’ll find sizzling chemistry between book-obsessed girls and their handsome bikers. Perfect for readers who prefer swoony, no-spice stories that sweep them off their feet.***

245 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2025

90 people are currently reading
619 people want to read

About the author

Callie Thomas

8 books314 followers
* Write From the Heart *

Callie Thomas is an indie author who loves all things fairy tales—including twisting tales of her own. Her favorite stories have a mix of sweet romance, laughter, and a pinch of magic. When she's not writing, she enjoys playing board games, reading at the beach, and traveling the world with her husband and two boys. Since she can't live at Disney World, you'll find her near the historical battlefields and lush woodlands where her family lives in Fredericksburg, VA. She recently published her first Vella series, A Forest of Stolen Memories & A Sea of Golden Chains, and has more stories on the horizon.

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5 stars
301 (52%)
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189 (32%)
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76 (13%)
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8 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
Profile Image for Morgan Giesbrecht.
Author 2 books192 followers
June 25, 2025
Well, this was darling! 🫠

Despite having never been a motorcycle enthusiast, I’m loving the biker guy x bookish girl casting trope! Add to that the academic side of the cute math teacher and the spunky librarian? Just take my money already. 😂

I think my favourite thing was how spectacularly slow burn this was! I mean, that first kiss? Literally takes place in the last chapter or two. Excellent proof that you don’t need spice to make a good love story or chemistry. *chefs kiss*

Maya and Des were absolutely adorable. Super relatable. Altogether lovely.

And small town vibes always sell me, haha. Seriously, this book took half of my favourite things and just said, “Enjoy!” 😍
Profile Image for MAndy.
81 reviews
June 2, 2025
I loved reading Maya and Desmond's story! It was sweet, funny, swoony, and full of all the biker boy/bookish girl moments you could want. Des fell so fast and hard. His instant ease with Maya and her trust in him led to a friendship that's the dream foundation for any relationship. I loved their story, and I'll definitely be reading it again!
Profile Image for Ella Noellee.
92 reviews16 followers
January 4, 2026
⭐️5

Aaaack!🤭🥹🥰 I don’t even know where to begin!
This book had no business being this adorable! I loved Des and Maya from the beginning! They are one of my fav couples ever! I never knew I was a biker type of girl until I read this series!
Absolutely adore every single one of them 🩷
Des was such a sweetheart and I loved that he was there for her, always!🥹 And OH MY the tension between them!!! Was SO GOOD! I really really loved how he was always patient with her and how he said that he would kiss her only if she wanted him to, and if it was real!🥹💗 such a sweet man I tell you!😭😆
He was so kind and thoughtful, it was seriously the cutest thing ever! Swoon on every page🤭
Maya was also a great character I loved getting to know her! I really enjoyed how they were biking together and she knew she could always trust him🥹😭
Seriously read this book, people! Love it!
I cannot wait to get into Callie’s other books!🤩


tropes:
📚strangers to friends to lovers
🛵sweet MMC
📚bookish FMC
🛵math teacher x librarian
📚bike rides
🛵small town
📚tension and banter
🛵he takes care of her
📚dual pov


CONTENT:
- kisses only (closed door)
- no language


。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚

I know I'm staring, but I can't tear my eyes away even if I try. My brain is refueling on her image, soaking in all the details.
How can she think she is anything but stunning? Curse Felipe and all the emotional baggage he dropped in her lap. I can't believe he brought up her weight. Please! Her curves only add to the allure.

。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚

I'm drawn to her-to the warmth of her smile, the merriment in her laugh, and the twinkle in her eye. Even as she hides, I want to coax her out of her shell so she feels comfortable with me. To trust me. To see me. To want me as much as I want her.
Oh, man. That desire to reach out and touch her screams in my veins. How is it getting more intense the more time I spend with her?

。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚

"Need a ride?"
"Saving me again, are you?"
"It’s my new favorite hobby."
"I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing."
"It's good-very, very good.”

。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚

"Just a reminder, our helmets are synced. But if you want to tell me I'm good-looking again, I won't stop you."

。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚

"Maya. First you admit to ogling me and now this? I'm shocked. It's like you can't get enough of me."
"¡Ay! You tricked me." I laugh and shove playfully at his shoulder.
"Hey, now. Don't abuse the driver."
"Aww." I rub his shoulder in mock sympathy. "Did I hit you too hard? Need me to kiss it and make it better?"
He sucks in a breath and responds with a deep and gravelly "yes" that surges through me.
The silliness of the moment is replaced with longing, his silver eyes almost metallic as they drop to my lips.

。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚

"If it's another book box, I can't take it. I'm running out
of bookshelves."
"I’ll build you as many shelves as you need."
I fan my cheeks. "Des, that might be the most swoon-worthy thing you've said to me. I have literal goosebumps."

。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚

"I'm your backpack for life, Mr. Brooks. And don't you
forget it."

。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚。゚•┈୨♡୧┈• 。゚。゚•┈୨♡୧┈•
482 reviews9 followers
June 2, 2025
Can I give this book 6 stars? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I've been loving the multi-author, Give a Bookish Girl a Biker collab, and The Overdue Kiss comes in HOT as the fourth release.

This time, our boy, Des, gets his happily ever after when he is struck by Cupid's arrow (or Cupid's roadside flare?). This is both a slow burn and an instalove... how did I never know that I needed both in my life in the same story? When Des rescues Maya, it is an instant connection that he can't shake, and he inadvertently activates the old lady watchdogs to locate where Maya has gone. Nothing gets by anyone in a small town romance!

Maya is in town to either rescue or shut down the local library and promote her mobile library while Book Tocking her heart out. She and Des can't fight their magnetism, but there is a lot to work through before they can be together.

Des, who thinks he doesn't want to date, learns how to woo a woman worthy of being wooed. It is MAGNIFICENT. Every interaction and every touch is charged on the page. I have never been so thankful for the slow burn to drag out this beautiful courtship. Des is so intentional and trustworthy that you can not help but fall in love with him.

I've loved every book in this series, but if I had to pick a favorite, this might be it. It hit all the right notes for me!

I received a complimentary copy of the author's story to read and review. All thoughts contained here are my own.
Profile Image for Catey.
161 reviews8 followers
June 3, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! First of all the cover is absolutely stunning! I have been a huge fan of Callie Thomas for a long time and her fantasy books are some of my top favorite books ever. She writes such great romance books. I really loved the chemistry between the main characters and how they cared for each other. This book is a must read.

I received an arc and am reviewing voluntarily
Profile Image for Kysa.
187 reviews6 followers
August 26, 2025
Another very sweet read!

This one had me squealing and throwing the book down in embarrassment so many times! 😂 But I enjoyed it all so much and chuckled to myself constantly. Sweet and swoony.
Profile Image for Celeste.
1,238 reviews2,552 followers
July 20, 2025
Actual rating: 4.5 stars

I think it’s going to be impossible to choose a favorite Give a Bookish Girl a Biker book. But just in terms of sweetness and how deeply I relate to a character, The Overdue Kiss is going to be hard to beat. Even considering how much I read, it’s rare to find such profound kinship with a fictional character. That’s what I found with Maya, who is a bookish girl after my own heart.

And she drives a bookmobile!

When we meet Maya, said bookmobile has broken down on the side of a dangerous stretch of mountain road, and it’s starting to get dark. Des, our male lead in this story, comes to Mia’s rescue when she flags him down with a flare. He offers her what will be her first ride on a motorcycle, and she loves it.

The two have an instant connection, but Des is incredibly shy, and Maya has sworn off dating for a year after being heartbroken by a cheating boyfriend. Who just so happens to be a radio host on a local station, so she can’t even escape the sound of his voice. Des finds that his shyness isn’t an issue around Maya, who is the first woman whose attention he has ever actually wanted. She’s going to be in his small town of Rocosa for a while, trying to save the local library from having to close its doors. Can he use that time to win her over? He’s determined to try, no matter how long it takes. Because Maya is more than worth the wait.

Maya is a book nerd of the highest caliber. She creates bookish earrings in homage to her six-star reads. She has a bookish social media page dedicated to book reviews and pretty pictures of her shelves. And her heart is to spread that love of reading as far as she can. That’s why she crafted a bookmobile for her master’s degree final project. It’s also why she is determined to save the rundown library that should be the heart of a charming small town like Rocosa. I related to her passion for books, her big, loud family, her curves, and her curly hair.

And then there’s Des. As much as I adored Christian and Thor, Des might just be my favorite biker of the series. He is such a sweetheart of a man. He's a math teacher who makes jams following his grandma's recipes during his free time. And he has a heart for his students that are struggling with poverty, as he experienced those same struggles growing up in Rocosa.

This book very kindly and tastefully addresses some heavy topics—such as infidelity and alcohol addiction and growing up in poverty—in a way that manages to not weigh down the story. I thought Thomas did a beautiful job with that balance, and with the subtle thread of faith woven through the novel. She also painted a vivid picture of Rocosa, with all of its charms and failings. Her supporting cast was so much fun, especially Reese, Des’s mechanic sister, and Mr. Sherman, the cantankerous librarian.

I had such a good time with this story. I hated for it to end. But this is exactly the kind of comfort read that I see myself returning to again and again, when I’m sick or stressed, or just exhausted by life and looking for a literary oasis of respite. For now, it’s time to finish out the series with The Inn Dilemma!
Profile Image for Brittney (booksta.britt).
177 reviews19 followers
June 10, 2025
Des + Maya

This book is apart of the multi Author Give a Bookish Girl a Biker series. Maya has been hurt by her ex boyfriend and made a resolution not to date for a whole year. She breaks down coming into town and Des is the one who rescues her. They definitely catch each other by surprise. Des is kind and so good. Maya has a book mobile and helps libraries. These two together were so very sweet together. I appreciated how patient Des was & never pressured her into anything. I loved getting to see the other guys from the biker gang too 😂
I loved this one!

He’s always observing—watching the world around him—yet somehow I’m interesting enough to warrant his beautiful gaze.

“You consume my thoughts. Where the noise and chaos of the world force me into my shell, you are the only one who knows how to coax me out.”


Content -
Death of family members (off page)
Grief
Alcoholism
Infidelity
No foul language
Kissing only
Profile Image for Katelin Ross.
121 reviews
June 2, 2025
The Overdue Kiss is @authorcalliethomas_romance first romance book and she nailed it!! I instantly fell in love with both MFC and MMC. Their personalities were authentic and realistic and the story was so well written. Desmond is the dreamiest biker guy and Maya definitely is the cutest bookish girl. I loved the little things in this book like Grammy’s jam and the bookmobile! Loved the book! There are two specific parts that made me giggle and you just gotta read it yourself! The synced helmets part and the interrupting class part. Hehe! Loved the development of the story and characters and that kiss was seriously overdue… cause the tension and longing between the two is swoony! Closed door, sweet kisses and lots of bookish and bikeish things lol. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Jen.
182 reviews7 followers
June 1, 2025
I love Callie Thomas’s fantasy books and was super excited to read her first RomCom book. This book was adorable and sweet! The plot was engaging with so many sweet and funny moments. Furthermore, I loved all the faith elements. The characters were relatable and had great character development. The chemistry and tension between Maya and Des was well done. Des had my heart from the beginning! He is a sweetheart. All the side characters were fantastic! I really hope Reese and Tristen will get a book. As well as Julia! The romance was closed door and only had swoony kisses. Highly recommend this book!

I volunteered to read an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Ashlyn Sanders.
113 reviews3 followers
June 1, 2025
I did not know what to expect from this sweet book, but I am happy to report that I adored it! Not only was the plot so cute and swoony, but the setting of the book was SPOT ON! Living in Colorado (actually near where it takes place) I knew the references to different areas and even the radio station which made it that much more enjoyable! Even if you aren't from Colorado, you can absolutely enjoy this adorable, no-spice romance following a bookaholic and a handsome biker who is sure to make you swoon!
Thank you for the arc!
Profile Image for Glenda  Hendershott.
264 reviews
January 24, 2026
4 🌟
Kindle Unlimited

This was really cute. I really liked both MCs and their chemistry. My only complaint is the FMCs parents. She was cheated on by her ex and after her telling her parents what he did and that she wanted nothing to do with him, they tried to persuade her to give him another chance. Even saying things like... he's going to go places in life and he's the kinda guy you marry. EXCUSE ME MA'AM! THAT MAN HURT YOUR DAUGHTER! WHY WOULD YOU WANT HER TO BE WITH HIM! WHY WOULD YOU PUSH HER AGAINST HER WISHES??? Thankfully it was such a small portion of the book and it didn't permeate through it the whole story.
104 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2025
Adorably cheesy and sometimes a little cringe, but still such a sweet story that I enjoyed very much. I love how the author included Des’ and Maya’s faith
Profile Image for Maggie Blankenship.
57 reviews56 followers
July 14, 2025
5 ⭐️ Closed-door Biker Romance

🖊️ “The Overdue Kiss” by Callie Thomas

🫑 CONTENT & ROMANCE RATINGS / CONTENT WARNINGS:
* Kissing: 16&up
* Fade-to-black: none
* Violence: 13&up
* Assault: 16&up
* Language: none
* Alcoholism
* Toxic ex-boyfriends
* Anxiety
* Death of closed family members

#️⃣ 4th book in the “Give a Bookish Girl a Biker” multi-author series. Can be read as a standalone.

🗓️ FORMAT / AVAILABILITY
* available now
* Paperback
* Kindle
* Kindle unlimited

♥️ TROPES:
* curvy FMC
* Librarian + math teacher
* Introverted couple
* Small town
* Nosy “grandmas”
* Learning to love again
* Instant attraction
* Slow burn
* He falls first

📝 REVIEW:
I could have read this book forever. I know it had to end, but I wish it never did! There is just something about this quiet couple that I loved. From the start they were perfect for each other and I enjoyed watching them fall in love. There were so many sweet moments that had me squealing, swooning, and sitting on the edge of my seat. The instant attraction, though, made for the best meet-cute.
Also, Callie’s writing is amazing! Everything flowed together perfectly and often I couldn’t even remember I was only reading a book.
I highly recommend this book!!

*thank you Callie Thomas for the early copy (these are my genuine thoughts)*
Profile Image for Olivia Grace .
56 reviews4 followers
November 15, 2025
This was amazing!
This book checked all the boxes for a good romance. 😍😍
The town was so cute and the sibling banter was perfect!
At the beginning I thought I might die of embarrassment for Maya but it all turned out OK. 😂
I love that the characters aren't perfect, they have their flaws and they help each other through them.
I don't think I have ever swooned over a Romcom before.. 🫣 but this book got me. 😂

Oh, and I can't forget that Callie snuck a reference to one of her other books in! But she didn't come out and directly say it either! So only people who have read the book know it. 😂If that is not pure genius I don't know what is.
Profile Image for Kaci Bonar.
389 reviews11 followers
June 2, 2025
Let it be said, I have never read any of Callie Thomas’ other stories, but this one was sweet!  While this pairing on the surface seems highly unlikely, once you drill in and get to know Maya and Des on a more personal level, you realize that assumption is wrong.  Let’s look at what happens.

Maya, a gentle natured, Latina librarian who drives a book mobile breaks down on the side of a mountain and eventually gets rescued!  Once taken to the nearest town, she lets a local mechanic know what happened and arranges to have her bestie come pick her up (now that she’s back in cell range)!  Her thoughts can’t help but wander back to her biker hero and hopes that their paths will cross again! 

As fate would have it, Des, Maya’s hero, works as a math teacher in the same schoolhouse her bestie!  Yay!  She’s baked cookies and makes a bit of scene for them both when delivering them, but the magnetism between the two is amazing!  The two are drawn to each other despite him being mostly closed off from the world and her getting burned in love recently!  Des is willing to move heaven and earth to make sure the numbers add up (pun intended) for him to earn a chance with Maya!  He’s willing to play the long game and it's a good thing too!

The little things that this pairing does for each other and for the others around them is beautiful!  Des is an amazing brother to Reese, and it comes out multiple times throughout the story, he could easily have given up on her, but he refuses to do so!  Love that!  Maya shows her family love but also grace despite their overbearing tendencies and desires for her to get back with her ex!  Not on your life Felipe!  The incorporation of crossover from the series and even subtle references to other books was fun!  Overall, this was such a charming story and hope I can read something else written by Callie in the future.  Perhaps I can try to twist her arm into writing a story for some of the supporting characters!  Either way, job well done!

TW:  alcoholism (mentioned but not read), physical abuse
Profile Image for Sian.
135 reviews112 followers
June 3, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up to 5! This was absolutely adorable. I was smiling so hard at the cuteness and read this in one sitting. The chemistry between Des and Maya was CUTE and felt natural. I could barely handle their banter. I wasn't sure what to expect from Des's love story but it is always the quiet ones who surprise you huh? I ate this up. I also thoroughly enjoyed how the friend group appeared in this story. This is my first book from this author and I felt like I could picture the writing well. The small mountain town was a great switch up for the setting. Ultimately I wish this had been longer! Maybe like another 30 pages or so, just dragging out those long awaited moments a little bit more. When I think about my rating and mainly why I couldn't give it a complete five stars it is because there is a moment between Maya and her mom, that also happens to be the only time I think her mom was on-page, that rubbed me the wrong way. I loved Maya but her mom was not likeable to me in that scene and it just seemed unnecessary and could have been written differently. I skimmed the epilogue (a habit of mine) so maybe it was reconciled there? I was sent an eARC to read and review, but this is my honest review, and I'm so sad this series is almost over! Ugh, Des and Maya are CUTE together, I cannot overstate that.

In this book:
-bookaholic FMC
-curvy FMC
-biker MMC
-he falls first
-dual POV
-librarian x teacher
-slow burn
-no dating rule
-small town

Content Guide:
Romance- clean
Language - clean
Violence - non-descriptive & off-page concerning a side character

CW:
alcoholism, infidelity, and physical abuse, all off-page, and by or concerning side characters.
Profile Image for funkelbunt.liest.
369 reviews5 followers
June 2, 2025
4,5 stars rounded to 5

I was really excited for Des’s book, since he is such a quiet character and I personally never understood the appeal of the excessively flirty guys.
Please don’t hate me! Yes, I do love Thor, but Des was pretty early on the character I was most looking forward to getting to know better.

And he didn’t disappoint! He was really so sweet, how he cared for his sister (I do love well written sibling relationships!) and how he talks about his grandmother… I could relate to him a lot and his silent kindness made him such an awesome character!
Of course he is equally as caring, thoughtful and patient with Maya who is still healing from her last breakup.

I also loved Maya and would love to spend some hours in her bookmobile!

Des and Maya are an adorable couple and they both help the other heal and to feel safe.
To be honest it was a bit too much insta love for me. I love a bit of angst in my romances, but they certainly had chemistry. The slow burn would have worked better for my taste if it wasn’t obvious from the first chapter they were into each other. And I don’t mean obvious for the reader but so obvious that everyone already knew after they just had met.

As expected the side characters were just great! We know most of them from the previous GABGAB books and I love to read about them throughout this series, but I also hope Reese, Des’s sister, will get her own book. There were just too many things happening through this side plot to leave us hanging!

* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.
66 reviews
June 3, 2025
The Overdue Kiss is well written, modern and clean romance set in a small town with some faith elements. The story is full of heart-warming and beautiful moments as the protagonists blossom in their relationship centered in the cozy charm of a small town. I really enjoyed watching the male protagonist develop through his connection, while the female protagonist works through her own past difficulties with the help of others. In addition to the romance, I also liked how Callie highlights a wide range of issues in the population and how community and faith can be at the heart of repairing these problems.

There are points in the story where too many events happen in a short time that stretched the believability. I also thought there were some lines that were telling rather than showing that hindered my immersion. Though only in the story briefly, the mother aggravated me, and we saw no signs of the mother understanding where she was wrong, which left me pulling away from the story. Additionally, during the climax, the female protagonist’s rapid progression between emotions and her thoughts undermined the relationship. These reasons are why I’m dropping the rating to a four.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this book. Callie does a great job with building a connection between two characters through their budding romance. Many of the scenes are a complete delight and left me eager for more. I also like the inclusion of some faith elements, as well as showcasing the value of community. I’m glad to have read this clean, modern romance by Callie Thomas.
Profile Image for Shawna Z.
556 reviews7 followers
June 11, 2025
Okay, modern-day cosy romance isn’t always my thing- I prefer additional sub genres involved, but never pictured a motorcyclist as part of the ride….

But then I have adored other works from this author (A Forest of Stolen Memories, A Sea of Golden Chains, Mask of Deception and Sacrifice and Jacklyn and the Twisted Beanstalk. So what if this isn’t a fantasy setting, because it charmed the socks off of me just as it is.

Our leads, Maya, who is working on her thesis project for her degree as librarian and Des, a local math teacher with an disinterest in dating have a meet cute where her bookmobile breaks down in the Colorado mountains and she literally stops his motorcycle by running towards him swinging a road flare in a desperate attempt to be spotted.

Naturally, sparks fly, even if Des is shy and Maya has a few more months to go on her self-imposed break from men…. and the temperature slowly builds while Maya is staying in town to work on her project, and Des finding himself unable to stay away from the vivacious and curvy book lover.

No spoilers, because this is far too sweet to want to ruin for others, but it’s a slow burn that will not fail to enchant you as you follow along.

Adorable banter, bashful awkward moments, iff-the-charts attraction and acceptance for those who’ve struggled along the way. I want more of Des’s friends as well as Maya’s huge family should the author return to this region or if her fellow authors (it appears to be five authors revolving their stories about bikers) decide to return to this little slice of Colorado!
Profile Image for Randi Sampson.
1,794 reviews97 followers
May 28, 2025
The Overdue Kiss is the fourth book in the Give a Bookish Girl a Biker series. This is a multi-author interconnected series with each book focusing on one member of a biker group... and the bookish girl they fall for. While I absolutely do recommend reading the series from book one (it's an amazing series, and you might have a better understanding of the family-like dynamic of the group), I do believe this one could be enjoyed as a standalone as well.

Simply put, I LOVED this book. Callie Thomas is known for her YA Fantasy (which she does so well), but she absolutely knocked it out of the park with this contemporary romance debut! I am completely obsessed. First of all, the title could not be more fitting for this book... yes, it's a nod to Maya's role as a librarian, but also so fitting for the delicious slow burn of this story. There is so much tension built up before we finally get that first kiss, but oh boy, was it worth the wait! The chemistry and the pining between Maya and Des was so very good. I loved their first meeting and her accidental confessions. Their story just had me smiling right from the very beginning (honestly, I was hooked from the very first mention of the bookmobile, reminding me of some great memories of my childhood visiting my home county's bookmobile!) ... but it was also tender and emotional with some mentions of harder topics like grief, alcoholism and abuse. There were also beautiful messages of faith weaved in perfectly as well. All of this worked together to create a beautiful romance that I absolutely could not get enough of. This is one absolutely not to be missed!

The Overdue Kiss is a closed-door romance with kisses only, no language, and faith themes.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Betsy And The Books.
301 reviews16 followers
June 5, 2025
🩷🏍️Favorite Quotes🏍️🩷

“A true friendship doesn’t hold debts.”

I want to stay and binge every season of Maya’s life like some Netflix addict.

I never understood those historical romances where females swooned over men. Overdramatic, I always said. Now here I am, fanning my hot cheeks because this man put on my helmet.

“You two are going to burn the jam. I’m not sure if I should leave you unsupervised.”
“Go home,” Des tells Reese, not breaking eye contact with me.
“Fiiine. But at least stop google-eyeing each other until the jam is finished.”

He sees me. All of me.

🩷🏍️My Thoughts🏍️🩷
Another hit in the multi-author collab, Give A Bookish Girl A Biker series! I loved this one so much! I love how patient and sweet Desmond was with Maya. I absolutely loved their meet cute where he rescued her.
I love how Desmond wasn’t afraid to get vulnerable with Maya. I love even more how Maya prayed for him after that moment of vulnerability too! It was such a beautiful moment seeing them get closer and open up more to each other.

I absolutely adored all the little faith moments in this book. I loved the slow burn of how they were friends first because he didn’t want to date and she was burned by her ex and wasn’t looking to date either. This was such a sweet and swoony romance that I just ate up!! I can’t wait for the next book in this collab!!

🩷🏍️Disclaimer🏍️🩷
Thank you Callie Thomas for sending me a copy to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Dev G.
382 reviews9 followers
June 2, 2025
¡Holy Guacamole!

I was sucked into this immediately. Callie Thomas is a new to me author, with this being my first, and I’m excited to catch up on her previous books. I love her writing style and how easily I was swept into Des’s and Maya’s story from the get-go.

Des. Oh Des. Sweet, steady, swoony Des! Dream man!! How he grieves his grandmother, how he watches out for his sister and her well being, how he cares for his students, how he shows up for and supports Maya.

“I'm drawn to her—to the warmth of her smile, the merriment in her laugh, and the twinkle in her eye. Even as she hides, I want to coax her out of her shell so she feels comfortable with me. To trust me. To see me. To want me as much as I want her.”

Maya. I loved her from the first chapter. Sparks fly when she meets Des, well technically it’s a flare, but she for sure felt something. She thinks her time in the small town of Rocosa will be short, but she didn’t expect a broken down bookmobile and she for sure didn’t expect Des.

This small town is full of lovable, albeit quirky characters. Perfect for this sweet and swoony story to unfold. Watching Des and Maya gave me the biggest smile. Touching on some sensitive and emotional topics that were handled with love and care made this story even richer and deeper.

Highlights:
🏍️ End of first chapter
📚Cookies
🏍️Jam
📚Book earrings
🏍️Biker gang group 🤣

Some favorite quotes:

"Maya, you're my backpack. If I'm here, then I'm your ride. Always."

"You're going to be all right, Des. You just have a big heart, and big hearts bruise the easiest."

I adored this story so much!

Thank you to Callie Thomas for the copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Megan Crofton.
354 reviews44 followers
June 2, 2025
I really enjoyed this one! I loved the biker and bookish vibes, they were done so well. Des and Maya were adorable. I have been curious about Des from the beginning because he seemed like the strong, silent type so I am so glad he gets his story.

I loved how Maya helped Des come out of his shell and how he made her feel safe. I am normally not a big fan of instant attraction but this one worked so well. And their meet-cute was so adorable! Loved all the biker vibes and details the author included and how she featured bookstagram as well. I loved all the library features and Des as a teacher was so cute! Des and Maya were the sweetest slow burn and I really enjoyed the sweet things he said to her when she felt the upset because of her past with her ex. And how she helped him feel safe when he was overwhelmed by social situations.

The side characters were great and I loved the added subplots of Reese and her ex, really hope she gets a book!

This series has my heart and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the biker boys and their ladies. So glad the authors got together to make this series possible!
Profile Image for Hannah Crawford.
299 reviews3 followers
June 3, 2025
This story was so sweet and so real at the same time. It is like taking a bite of your favorite cookie only to discover that someone added peanut chunks and have made the cookie that much better. This can be read as a stand alone, but I really enjoyed getting to know Des after meeting him in the rest of the series.

Maya is an outreach librarian traveling to one of their smaller branch libraries when her bookmobile breaks down. Des rescues her off the side of the road with his motorcycle. Can they both move through their pasts and find true love and acceptance?

Highlights:
Helmet flirting (IYKYK)
Surprise in the library 😂
Jam making

I love Maya for her passion for books and her desire to share that with others. I love her kind heart.

I love Des for being so thoughtful and supportive. I love his care for his students and pay it forward mentality.

“I never understood those historical romances where the females swooned over men. Overdramatic, I always said. Now here I am, fanning my hot cheeks because this man put on my helmet.”
THis was an ARC, all thoughts and feelings are my own.
Profile Image for Angeline.
748 reviews23 followers
June 5, 2025
4.5 stars
I devoured this book, it was so good! The Overdue Kiss is written by Callie Thomas and it is the fifth book in the Give a Bookish Girl a Biker series.
This was cute and I really enjoyed getting to know Des and Maya. They both had to work through their fears in order to make a relationship work. They were so sweet together and helped the other be better. They were able to be themselves together without fear.
The romance was sweet and I like how Des was willing to wait for Maya. He didn’t push her but instead was patient with her. He was so kindhearted. I love how Maya brought Des out of his shell and how he could be himself with her.
I would totally recommend this book! The characters were sweet and the story was interesting. I loved seeing old characters and how they have become family together. I am hoping that Des’ sister will get her own book because I know that her story would be amazing. I also can’t wait for the last book in this series. The Overdue Kiss is a clean contemporary romance.
Teacher MMC
Liberian FMC
Latino family vibes
Siblings
Found family
I received a complimentary copy
Profile Image for Camille Mosemann.
218 reviews39 followers
June 6, 2025
This book had no business being so adorable!!! Each book I read in this series captures my heart and fills me with joy. They’re all SO DANG CUTE!

Des and Maya though are so sweet and kind and just so perfect for each other. I really related to Maya as she struggled with leaving her past relationship behind and not putting those experiences and emotions onto Des.

And Des. He was so cute and awkward and sweet. Ugh everything about him was just so perfect for Maya. And he learned Spanish for her?!?!? I had tears in my eyes reading that scene!!

I also loved the saving the library storyline and how she had a book bus. That’s like one of my dreams!!

The last thing I loved about this story was the strong family culture. When I realized that Maya was Hispanic, I immediately knew that we’d get to meet a large, loud family and I was not disappointed!! I come from a small family, but husband has a large family so I knew how Des felt!!

Go read this book y’all!!! Your cheeks will hurt from smiling through the whole thing!!!
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