Overdue: A brand new slow burn small town library romance

by Stephanie Perkins

"Stephanie Perkins is the reason we write romance. Overdue is the book her readers have been waiting for." -Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The Paradise Problem

Ingrid Dahl is a cheerful, twenty-nine-year-old librarian living in the cosy mountain town of Ridgetop. She and her boyfriend since college, Cory, have never discussed marriage; they're perfectly happy with the way things are. But when Ingrid's sister announces her engagement to a woman she's only been dating for two years, Ingrid and Cory suddenly feel pressured to start thinking about the marriage and kids.

The thing is, neither of them has ever been with anyone else. Shouldn't they sow their oats before settling down?

They make the unorthodox decision to separate for a month to date other people, assuming that at the end of it, they'll reunite and start planning their nuptials. And Ingrid has the perfect man in mind for this relationship sabbatical--Macon Nowakowski, her cantankerous and completely adorable coworker for whom she's had a crush for years.

But of course the best laid plans often go awry, and when Ingrid and Cory meet at the end of the month to resume next steps in their relationship, it's clear neither of them is ready to get back together...

"Overdue is a beautifully human love story - my favorite Stephanie Perkins book yet." - Rainbow Rowell, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Slow Dance

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Adult, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit

417 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 7, 2025

About the author

Hi, there! I'm Stephanie Perkins, and I'm a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author. My next novel is called Overdue, and it's a sweet and swoony romance for adults that will be published on October 7, 2025. I'm also the author of three YA romance novels, Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and Isla and the Happily Ever After, as well as two YA horror novels, There's Someone Inside Your House, which was adapted into a film for Netflix, and The Woods Are Always Watching. I also edited (and contributed a short story to) a romantic holiday anthology called My True Love Gave to Me and its companion anthology Summer Days and Summer Nights.

I don't check my Goodreads inbox! Better ways to reach me are listed here on my website: http://stephanieperkins.com/about/, and you can also find me on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/naturallyste...

Reviews

[Leah (Jane Speare) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I cry in absolute happiness? Yes, yes I did.
What a nice escape from this hellscape.

[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading) · Rating 2 out of 5]

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

Let me preface this by saying as I deeply enjoy the majority of St. Martin's books I have read I am not sure if this is an outlier or if I'm just not in a good mood and after a while this will grow on me.
Now to the review.
In this book we follow a woman who decided to take a one month break with her boyfriend so they could date other people before deciding to get married. We pick up after this decision, which surprised me and led me to believe this would be a fast paced read, which it was NOT. We spend a year following Ingrid, and let me tell you, it felt like it.
There is slow burn and then there is whatever this is. From 14% I could tell this wasn't for me, but I persisted because I thought it would get better. The writing style is so slow and we spend a lot of time in parts we really didn't need to. At 80% the main character was still fixated on something that happened in the very beginning, and then from nowhere everything was resolved and we moved to the honeymoon phase. I just don't think it worked for me.
At the halfway point something happens with her boyfriend and I realized the book would be much less boring if we followed him, or did a split pov between them both. It is too long and while I like slow burn romance this was done in a way that didn't work at all.

If you decide to read it, just keep all this in mind, it might be helpful to know beforehand.

[Liana Gold · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 2.75 ⭐️ I generally like slow burn romances but this one felt like it was never ending. It was too slow, too unevenly paced and overdone. It was like reading another Mariana Zapata book where nothing literally happens until 80-90% mark. I am simply not a fan of this format and structure. I need a little more love and chemistry in my books and not a story that keeps beating around the bush.

The story takes us through a year of Ingrid’s life. We meet her coworkers, her best friends and their partners. Do we really need so much info about secondary and tertiary characters? We meet the people she dates and most importantly two love interests—Cory and Macon. One is her ex and one is her coworker (who she is pinning after). Cory and Ingrid take a break and date other people and during this time apart she grows through life lessons and finds her own way.

Even though I liked how the author portrayed the dating scene (it’s kinda crap nowadays isn’t it?) and its’ humor, I felt like pages and pages was full of filler and content that was not of promised lust and longing. We also don’t get to know Macon at all and I wish this book had dual POV to help elevate the feels.

Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martins Press for this eARC!

Publication date: October 7, 2025

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ingrid Dahl is a librarian who has been with her college boyfriend, Cory for eleven comfortable years. They have never discussed marriage or the future. After Ingrid's sister gets engaged to her girlfriend after two years of dating, Ingrid and Cory feel the pressure to re-examine their relationship. They decide to take a month off to date other people before getting back together and getting married. Because nothing says I want to spend the rest of my life with you than taking a breather to sow some wild oats, but I digress.

Overdue is a slow burn romance and you all know that I struggle with slow burns. I am not fond of them to say the least. Had I know this would be a slow burn I would not have selected this book to read, but I hung in there as I enjoyed Ingrid's character. This book is a friends to lovers' romance but it is also about Ingrid and her desire to own a bookstore. With romance books it is all about the journey for me and I did enjoy Ingrid's journey of going after her goals, taking chances, and putting herself out there. Along the way she opens up to her friends, finds a connection to Macon her grumpy but charming co-worker at the library where she works in the beginning of the book.

I did enjoy how the author had her characters dealing with real life issues, they were mature and handled things that came their way in realistic ways. I enjoyed how Ingrid grew in this book, and I enjoyed the community of friends that she had to lean on and to commiserate with. For me, the romance was nice, and I was happy that it wasn't rushed.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Breanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

post reading thoughts: thank you to Netgalley and Saturday Books for the arc!

watching paint dry would've been a better use of time. this took slow burn to a whole new level. i've had candles melt faster than this.

that being said, this was really cute and sweet and heartfelt. if you're someone who loves books and loves genuine connections, this will be your perfect read. i loved that it was grumpy x sunshine and i LOVED! the age gap. macon was such a refreshing love interest and his passion for cooking, gardening, reading and, of course, ingrid fill your heart with all the warm and fuzzies.

my only real qualms with this one were the fact that it was set over a year and felt just as long as an actual year. i also didn't love the beginning just because i didn't feel like the sleeping around was true to ingrids character and she treated some hopefuls pretty poorly.

overall, a great little read from an og. she's still got it! look out for this in october!

-

the tween-teen writer to romance author pipeline is too good

[TheConnieFox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very slow burn romance read. This book was told from the female main character’s perspective. It is lighthearted, emotional and hopeful. This also came with some humor in it as well! This book is in the fictional contemporary romance genre. I felt like it was more of a women’s fiction novel than a romance read. The romance does happen in the book, but it takes a while to get to that part. It is medium paced, has lovable characters and animals, and I found this to be a cozy read. Furthermore, it is also a grumpy and sunshine romance. This is about new beginnings and finding true happiness!

“Overdue” is centered around the female main character, whose name is Ingrid. She is a librarian who has been dating her college boyfriend for eleven years. Ingrid and her boyfriend take a one month break from each other to see if they were meant to be together forever. Be sure to read the content warnings. Overall, I found this to be a reasonable read. I give it a 3 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Stephanie Perkins and St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on October 7, 2025!

[Liz Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars- a bit too slow for me.

If you’re a fan slow burns, a la Mariana Zapata, this may be your kind of book. But if you’re looking for a fast-paced or escapist romance, Overdue might not hit the mark. I’d actually classify it more as women’s fiction than a traditional romance—it’s realistic, emotionally grounded, and sometimes heavy.

There’s a lot to admire here: the friendship between Ingrid and Macon is quirky and endearing, and I appreciated how the story explored the pressure of not meeting conventional life milestones. The library setting also gave the book a cozy, heartfelt backdrop.

That said, the pacing really held me back. The beginning dragged quite a bit—I didn’t feel invested until around Chapter 6. While I ended up appreciating the single POV (Ingrid’s), I still wished for a bit more insight into Macon earlier on. The emotional payoff was there by the end, but getting there felt like a bit of a slog.

Thank you to NetGalley, Stephanie Perkins, and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

[Tatiana]

I tried, but couldn’t get over the we-are-on-a-break ick. If you are in an 11-year long relationship and have hots for your co-worker, you are not on a break, you are looking for an excuse to cheat. I don’t do romance with cheating.

[Sarah (bookofsari) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so excited for Stephanie Perkins’ return to romance—I devoured her books as a teen, and Overdue feels like a thoughtful, grown-up evolution of her earlier work. While the book is marketed as a romance, it’s just as much a story of personal growth and rediscovery.

Ingrid, a small-town librarian in a long-term relationship, agrees to a one-month break to explore what she’s been missing—and yes, she has a certain grumpy coworker in mind. But what unfolds is not a whirlwind office romance (though that slow burn is glorious), but a journey of self-reflection, mistakes, longing, and ultimately learning to prioritize yourself after spending years doing the opposite.

I really appreciated that this wasn’t overly dramatic or sappy. It doesn’t try to force a “happy ending” in a traditional romance sense—it earns its payoff by focusing on Ingrid's evolution first. The pacing might feel too slow for some, but I personally loved how grounded and realistic it was. Watching Ingrid step outside the only relationship she’s ever known, navigate dating again, and reevaluate her career and family relationships made her feel incredibly real.

And Macon? He’s prickly, hilarious, and just the right kind of emotionally complicated. I do wish we got a little more from his POV, but staying in Ingrid’s head made the payoff feel more satisfying.

If you’re into slow burns, emotional honesty, and stories that center women finding themselves, this one’s for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[L.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Overdue is a beautiful, slow-burn romance full of lust and longing about new beginnings and finding your way."
A cute little librarian love story! Ingrid, 29 years old, has an 11 year relationship with Cory. When a disagreement occurs, they decide to take a break from each other and date other people.... then get back together. Her eyes are on her coworker Macon. When lust and love blur the lines, a different ending then the beginning happens. Things change and sometimes the grass may be greener.
Some people have really enjoyed this one so read their reviews. I'm not the usual rom-com reader.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do you do when comfort starts to feel more like a cage than a choice?

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

Ingrid, a 29-year-old librarian, has been with her boyfriend Cory for over a decade. When her younger sister suddenly gets engaged after just a couple of years, Ingrid starts questioning why her own relationship has never moved forward. One VERY uncomfortable conversation later, she and Cory agree to something unexpected: a month apart, living separately, with permission to explore dating other people to make sure they’re actually the right fit for each other. (I’m gonna be honest this whole idea threw me off. Like is that normal??? who does that???)
But what’s supposed to be thirty days of freedom slowly stretches into months of experiment that forces Ingrid to confront what she really wants from love, life, and herself.

At first, Ingrid’s attention shifts to Macon, her 39-year-old grumpy coworker at the library. Their friendship has always carried a flicker of something more, and though Ingrid tests those boundaries with an impulsive kiss, it backfires and creates an awkward distance between them. (I cringed so hard reading this part 😭 poor Ingrid) To cope, she throws herself into dating apps and new experiences, but Macon lingers in the background… bristling, jealous, and yet unwilling to act. (he annoyed me gosh. just GO FOR HER) Over the course of the year, Ingrid wrestles with heartbreak, self-discovery, and the messy in-between of letting go and stepping into something new.

The strongest element of the story is Ingrid’s growth. Watching her evolve from someone clinging to a long-term relationship out of comfort to someone brave enough to face change felt rewarding. The book highlights how endings can open doors to new beginnings, often in ways that aren’t immediately clear.

That said, the pacing left A LOT to be desired. The story covers an entire year of Ingrid’s life, but much of it felt unnecessarily drawn out. Chapters dragged, and while a slow burn can be powerful, this one was stretched to the point where the effect was dulled. A sharper focus or even alternating perspectives might have kept the story more engaging. The book just seemed unnecessarily long. 🥲

Overall, this story shines in the way it explores change, self-discovery, and the realization that not every long-term plan is meant to last forever. Ingrid’s journey feels genuine and her growth is satisfying to follow, but the drawn-out pacing made the book lose some of its strength. It’s a solid read with meaningful themes, just not one that left a lasting impression.

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

"Second of all—his face softened as he took
me in—"you are everything. You're literal sunshine. You light up my life and bring color into my world, and all I've wanted since the day we met is to bask in the warmth of your glow."

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

things to know about the book ↓

📚 single pov (hers)
🐈‍⬛ grumpy x sunshine
📚 slow-burn (EXTREME)
🐈‍⬛ friends-to-lovers
📚 found family

A huge thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Stephanie Perkins for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!
~~~~~~~
I am usually not a huge fan of a slow-burning romance. I mean, I get it. You have to have the buildup and all of the details to build a relationship. I’m cool with that, but to stretch something all the way to the extreme ending of the book, I am not that big a fan of that type of structure. So, knowing that with this review upfront, you can understand why this reader got a little frustrated.

I loved the female main character. She was a little gutsy, but definitely beat herself up constantly. She was completely in lust and in love with Macon. She was also a bit confused as she was taking a break from her long-time boyfriend.

The male main character, on the other hand… it took me a really long time to warm up to him. He didn’t have any endearing characteristics that I could find at first. It was a little baffling why the FMC was heartsick over him at first.

He had minimal conversation skills. He was awkward; secretive. He didn’t speak much or interact much until the last half of the book. It would’ve helped if we had his point of view dropped in every so often to balance the loooong day-to-day yearning.

The plot itself and what the FMC was building were great. I love the fact that they became really good friends, and Macon was such a huge support to her. It certainly made up for the first part of the story when his qualities did not come through.

Overdue is a sweet story. There are some really great parts, and the author added in humor, hope, and lightness to balance out this slow-burning romance. The ending truly made this story.

~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/overdue-by-s...

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book probably didn’t have much of a chance with me. I really hate the “let’s take a break from our relationship and date other people to prove we truly love each other” trope. It’s just the worst idea ever. It never works. Ingrid and Cory have been together forever but haven’t taken the next step towards marriage. So they decide to date/sleep around for a month and then they’ll be sure they want to get married. I just can’t buy the entire set up. If they actually wanted to get married, they would have. End of story. There’s a whole series of dates that just bored me and a fairly bland and tensionless relationship with her co-worker that we’re supposed to root for and I don’t get it.

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is just one of the most boring romances with some blandness characters. Totally forgettable book that wasn't for me.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overdue by Stephanie Perkins
Contemporary romance.
Ingrid Dahl and boyfriend Cody have had an easy and comfortable romance since college. They’ve been together for eleven years. When Ingrid’s sister gets engaged, Ingrid wonders why she and Cody have never discussed marriage or their future. They decide to take a one month break to date other people and then get back together and discuss marriage.
Ingrid has had a crush on coworker Macon Nowakowki for awhile. She’ll ask him out on this one month break.
At the end of one month, neither Ingrid nor Cory are quite ready to get back together. Two months, three…
Ingrid has had a few outings with Macon that have been fun but she has to decide what she wants. Longtime boyfriend Cody or intriguing coworker Macon?

What a decision. No conflict, college sweetheart Cody is comfortable. Macon is anything but comfortable. Plus her heart speeds up every time she’s with Macon whether they are researching for the library or ice skating in the park.
We know what the right decision is!
Cute, fun and nail-biting decision time.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I had a difficult time getting into this book for a long time. I just am not that interested in a couple together for over a decade and then decide to take a break for a month and then get married. If you want to end a relationship and pursue others, then do.

The worst part was it got pretty dull for 50% of the book. Ingrid sees this guy, then that one, ruminates why doing a quick hook up doesn’t work for her and on and on. It definitely is a slow burn romance book, but also getting on with her life as well.

The book got quite good 60% in and has many charming parts. I like that Ingrid starts to own her decisions and has found happiness. It is not always clear what the right choice is and Ingrid needed to time to appreciate this. Sometimes, the best person for you is the one you have known all along.

Beyond that, loved that Ingrid is a Librarian and her for the future involve books. She grows as a person and develops into someone I admired. This was my favorite part of the book and that Ingrid finds her happy ending in more ways than one.

So, wish this book got into the heart of the book and Ingrid’s character development much sooner. So, this one was mixed for me, it just dragged way too much for too long of the book to give it 4 Stars. If some were cut out, I would have. That the fictional town was set in Ridgewood, North Carolina was a bonus since this is based on Asheville, NC and have been there and was really sad all the town went through after the Hurricane. It is obvious the author knows this area and always appreciate that.

Thank you NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book. I always leave reviews of books I read.

[Fateemah · Rating 1 out of 5]

This might be the biggest disappointment of the year.

Most of the reviews for this book say the same thing: it moves at a snail's pace. And then they rate it anywhere from 1-5 stars depending on how nice they are. Well, trust it. This was an absolute snoozefest. I almost DNF'ed multiple times.

I was so excited to get an ARC for Stephanie Perkins's first ever adult novel. I mean, Stephanie Perkins! Her YA books were magic! But this book, Overdue, was not only devoid of magic, it also sucked out the magic from within me while I read it. STAY AWAY FROM THIS BOOK!

The entire book could have been ten pages long if the main girl whats-her-face, when attempting to kiss her coworker that she was in love with, had said "hey I like you I'm not just horny" instead of going on a dating rampage and then friendzoning this guy for a year before telling him she actually liked him all along.

Like obviously this book is about a girl who is going through a full life upheavel and learning lessons and growing up. But does it all have to be so boring while we do that? No fun shenanigans, no drama, no pranks. All seriousness all the time.

Next, this book was written for a very small group of people who fill all of the following characteristics: they wish they worked in a bookstore or library, are very politically and socially liberal, would walk around outside barefoot without caring about the germs, hate money, and are most likely white. Because of this, I did not relate or care about either of the characters or their decisions or lives. They were neither "the people's people" nor "people we aspire to be."

Stephanie Perkins what the hell is this. If this book isn't a flop, the world is doomed.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC.

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Overdue, by Stephanie Perkins, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Ingrid Dahl is a librarian in North Carolina. Ingrid and her boyfriend decide to take a break to see if they really want to continue their relationship. This book was way to slow. I did not care for Ingrid either.

[Jessica Rodriguez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ingrid and her boyfriend have dated for 11 yrs and have never dated anyone else. When her little sister
gets engaged- they decide to take a month long break and try dating other people before deciding whether they’re spending the rest of their lives together.

The premise of the story was interesting, and it was well written and had a good cast of characters- I did appreciate the side characters did seem interesting and well developed.

But I have never read a romance book where
the two leads have so little chemistry. I don’t understand why Ingrid was so obsessed with Macon. I love good slowburn, but the vibe between them very much gave off platonic soulmates (until like the 20% ). I liked the other guys that she went out with better. I was very much not invested in the romantic relationship-and thought it was boring. I honestly thought the side
plots/projects were a lot more interesting.

I did not like Ingrid, she was really self-absorbed, when she reached out to her friends it usually was because she needed something from them and didn’t seem to take much interest in their lives. I also thought it was kind of messed up how she treated the guys from her dating experiment. I also just thought she was boring (and I say this as also someone who loves
staying home to read).

I was also confused by her spiral towards the middle of the book- the book starts with her and Cory already on their break, we don’t see them interact all that much and it seemed like both had checked out of the relationship ages ago. So I was confused by the crisis she was going through. It was way too dramatic. This was the entirety of Ch 17:
“And then my tears dried up, and I was empty.”

And in the subsequent chapters she kept referring to herself as a shell, like the “my shell did
this,” “shell did that.” It was cringey.

I feel like Ingrid is a co-dependent person, she’s been with someone since she was like 18. And
even when they're not together there’s still someone there, I don’t think she knows how to be by
herself. And I don’t think this was addressed very well in the book.

It also should’ve been shorter, was way too long. Did not need to be 400+ pages

[hamna · Rating 4 out of 5]

happy valentine’s day to me!!! i’m weeping tears of joy. stephanie perkins has been one of the authors that created my sanctuary when i was younger; i remember long days and tiresome nights rereading anna and the french kiss until i felt okay again, whole again. i’ve always loved her books, her writing, the way she paints romance, and how two people together, in her stories, meld together and can lighten each other up and make everything just right. i’ve always loved this about her. this book is then, somehow, more of the same and yet an even more extrapolated story: we get to follow the fmc from the start to the end of one of the most harrowing years of her life. this is more than a romance book— it’s a love letter to reading and to readers, to booksellers and to librarians. it’s a love letter to books. and it’s a love letter to me, who has grown up and matured with this author’s work, from apprehensive young adult to tumultuous and wonderful adult fiction.
(and i cannot stop myself from sighing happily: there was no third act fallout!!!! which might seem immaterial, now, but god, when everyone reads this book and experiences firsthand the exquisite torture this book wields—angst upon angst upon angst. i was begging for relief and weeping in my bed reading this) (it is surreal) (very lukelorelai) 4.5/5 stars and thank you so much to saturday books for the arc.

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THESE TWO IDIOTS SO MUCH

[Monica Hills · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a slow burn romance for people who love books. The story is told over the course of a year from the point of view of Ingrid. She is a librarian who has been in a relationship with her boyfriend for ten years. Their relationship has grown stagnant and when she learns of her sister's engagement, her boyfriend and her decide to take a break. Ingrid starts to go on dates but realizes that her grumpy fellow librarian, Macon, might just be the one she was meant to be with all along.

This was a sweet story and a good escape after a long day of work. I enjoyed Ingrid's story and the changes she made in her life. There were some laugh out loud moments for me. I also always enjoy a story that features a cat and yummy food. After finishing this book I do kind of what to make a career change as well. My only complaint is that it did feel long. The book took place over a year and at times it just felt like the pacing could move a little quicker. Overall, this was a heartwarming story that I think book lovers will like.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Saturday Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

[abby :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

lets give this four stars, its probably a 3.75 but i read it so fast

clearly i did not read this synopsis in depth enough because i was shocked by what the actual plot was. we're following ingrid as her boyfriend of ten years decides they need to take a month "break" and see other people. from the very beginning i was not a fan of cory, the cory scene at the end pissed me off. i'm a cory hater if you can't tell. yes, this is a slow burn romance but i think it was a coming of age story first. coming to age seems strange because ingrid is not a teenager but we see her whole life change in this book, her job, her love life, her sister bond. she grows so much in these pages and i was really rooting for her.

the romance was strange to me just because it was a mariana zapata level slow burn. we see slight interest between her and macon in the very beginning, enough to know he's who she ends up with, but their romance stops from there until 80%. i did like the moment they get together and i feel like the slow burn made sense, i just wanted more. or i wanted less issues regarding marriage once they finally get together. i enjoyed seeing them grow together, make up the house together, and fall in love. for an adult debut this was really well done.

my issue with this book is very individual and not a real problem. this is me being overwhelmed by the amount of main characters in books being book lovers, and wanting to open their own book stores. its a lovely plot line that the author writes very well but i just couldn't care. i was excited for ingrid to find a passion but the amount of bookish themes in books has been weighing heavy on my shoulders as an avid romance reader.

*thank you netgalley and saturday books for the copy!*

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. Ingrid and Cory have dated for eleven years, their only dates EVER, and decide to take a break and see other people before settling into marriage. Ingrid has had a longtime crush on Macon, and when she attempts to kiss him he abruptly shuts it down. From there the novel dives into a slower-burn during which Ingrid’s various attempts to hook-up fail, so after the month is up they extend their agreement. That too ends in heartbreak. I just wish Ingrid’s love life was cut back a bit, it just felt too long. What I really liked was how Perkins gave Ingrid a realness through learning who she is and what she really wants. ❥ Pub. 10/7/25

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.


📖🎧

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

The slow burn, the engaging characters, and a story that just gets into your blood drove me to finish this in one happy go. Romance fans will cry, "More! More!"

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this would be a very different story than it turned out to be. Librarian Ingrid and her longtime boyfriend Cory have been together since college. Ingrid's now 29 and with her younger sister getting married, wondering why she and Cory haven't done the same. The two agree that they need to take a month-long "break" to date other people before settling down, since they never had a chance to do so before meeting one another.

But after a month, neither is ready for marriage. And while Ingrid was turned down by her co-worker, Macon, her crush on him isn't going away. So Ingrid and Cory extend their break...

This is such a slow burn romance, and I would argue it's a book about finding yourself that turns into a romance. Ingrid has spent so long with Cory that she realizes she doesn't really know herself, so before she can commit to anything, she has to learn about herself. After Macon rejects her, she does date other people, but can't help always returning to Macon. The two start up a friendship, but it oozes with the undercurrent of their tension, and they have some pretty good banter going as well.

Of the two, I certainly preferred Macon and found myself wishing we heard from his POV once in a while. He's dealing with a lot--family members with various mental illness--and I just identified with his gruff, sarcastic manner. While Ingrid presents as cheerful, she often came across as ungrateful to me. I understand that her unhappiness was somewhat the point; she's finding herself and working out what truly makes her happy, but sometimes you wanted to shake her.

It takes a while to get into this story; you certainly want the Macon and Ingrid romance to happen right away. Still, I eventually warmed up to the way the plot was going. The end made me smile, and there's a cat, which is always a plus. 3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press/Saturday Books in return for an unbiased review. Look for OVERDUE on 10/07/2025!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, 4.5 stars, this book was so realistic and gave me all the feels.

**Fans of Mariana Zapata will probably love this book. If you don't like a slow burn romance, then this is not the book for you. Overdue is more realistic than most contemporary romance reads, it's not really an escape book, I would put it more in the Women's Fiction genre than romance.**

I loved so many things about this book, the friendship between Ingrid and Macon and the quirkiness of their friendship, Ingrid's change in career path, the burden of aging parents, the library setting, and most of all, Macon. Macon is so prickly but in such a charming way. This book did a wonderful job exploring the idea of an "ideal" life trajectory, college, job, marriage, kids, happily ever after, but that doesn't exist for everyone. Ingrid measured herself against her friends and found her life lacking. I enjoyed seeing her finding her way through trial and error and some mishaps along the way. The friendship between Ingrid and Macon was so special and I just loved them so much. During the book I really wanted a dual POV to see Macon's side but boy, I was happy that it ended up being just Ingrid's POV, it would've taken away from the ending. The only downside to this book was the beginning, I felt that the book started way too slow and I almost lost interest, it started to pick up around Chapter 4.

Format: ebook and audiobook

Thank you so much NetGalley, Stephanie Perkins, Macmillan Audio, and St.Martin's Press for this arc.

*Friends to lovers
*Slow burn
*Grumpy/Sunshine
*Single 1st person POV - Ingrid

"Libraries were a safe and warm space for vulnerable people, and our downtown location received the highest volume of them by far."

[Jaime Arkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

oh how I absolutely wanted to love this ... unfortunately, it just fell flat for me. I think this one wins the slow burn award for 2025! I liked the premise, though as a reader, you almost always know that 'taking a break' from a long-term relationship will never go as planned. I never really clicked with these characters like I have with others that Perkins has written. Macon and Ingrid just didn't seem to have any chemistry on the page, and the storytelling itself felt very bland ,and I just didn't find myself turning pages to learn more, instead just to get to the end... and not in a good way.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy for review, and I'll look forward to whatever Perkins writes next!

[Sophie (lambsbooks)]

DNF @ 6%

Which looks bad but chapter 1 was like 25 minutes 🫠 the book was saying 8 hours and I can’t read another contemporary that’s so long and drawn out.

This is a “it’s not you, it’s me” case. I don’t like the concept of taking a break and finding someone new, means I don’t trust those people but it also had an age gap, and I didn’t know that.

There are very few tropes I don’t like, and cheating (adjacent) and age gap are 2 of them.

Take this review with a grain of salt.

Maybe I’ll try again in the future 🤷‍♀️

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.