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Overdue: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 7 Oct 25A SPARKLING ADULT DEBUT FROM BELOVED NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR 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
Is it time to renew love or start a new chapter?
Ingrid Dahl, a cheerful twenty-nine-year-old librarian in the cozy mountain town of Ridgetop, North Carolina, has been happily dating her college boyfriend, Cory, for eleven years without ever discussing marriage. But when Ingrid’s sister announces her engagement to a woman she’s only been dating for two years, Ingrid and Cory feel pressured to consider their future. Neither has ever been with anybody else, so they make an unconventional decision. They'll take a one-month break to date other people, then they'll reunite and move toward marriage. Ingrid even has someone in her charmingly grumpy coworker, Macon Nowakowski, on whom she’s secretly crushed for years. But plans go awry, and when the month ends, Ingrid and Cory realize they’re not ready to resume their relationship—and Ingrid’s harmless crush on Macon has turned into something much more complicated.
Overdue is a beautiful, slow-burn romance full of lust and longing about new beginnings and finding your way.
"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
Is it time to renew love or start a new chapter?
Ingrid Dahl, a cheerful twenty-nine-year-old librarian in the cozy mountain town of Ridgetop, North Carolina, has been happily dating her college boyfriend, Cory, for eleven years without ever discussing marriage. But when Ingrid’s sister announces her engagement to a woman she’s only been dating for two years, Ingrid and Cory feel pressured to consider their future. Neither has ever been with anybody else, so they make an unconventional decision. They'll take a one-month break to date other people, then they'll reunite and move toward marriage. Ingrid even has someone in her charmingly grumpy coworker, Macon Nowakowski, on whom she’s secretly crushed for years. But plans go awry, and when the month ends, Ingrid and Cory realize they’re not ready to resume their relationship—and Ingrid’s harmless crush on Macon has turned into something much more complicated.
Overdue is a beautiful, slow-burn romance full of lust and longing about new beginnings and finding your way.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 7, 2025
23 people are currently reading
29.7k people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Perkins
16books27.3kfollowersHi, there! I'm Stephanie Perkins, and I'm a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally 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 ŷ inbox! Better ways to reach me are listed here on my website: , and you can also find me on Instagram:
I don't check my ŷ inbox! Better ways to reach me are listed here on my website: , and you can also find me on Instagram:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
Want to read
January 22, 2025the tween-teen writer to romance author pipeline is too good
February 6, 2025
Did I cry in absolute happiness? Yes, yes I did.
What a nice escape from this hellscape.
What a nice escape from this hellscape.
March 9, 2025
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.
(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.
March 30, 2025
This is just one of the most boring romances with some blandness characters. Totally forgettable book that wasn't for me.
Want to read
April 4, 2025Overdue, that’s a Good Title for Me and my Books and Life in General. It’s Set in North Carolina where I live, so going to give it a try.
📖 👍🏼👎🏽 ?
📖 👍🏼👎🏽 ?
February 28, 2025
Overdue was screaming to me when I read the synopsis. I loved the homage to book lovers, the realistic aspect of what dating is like in modern day, and the longing for someone that someone with the uncertainty of ruining friendship. I will say this book was a slooooooooow burn and I also found certain adjectives/descriptions off-putting and even juvenile at times.
March 23, 2025
A new romance by Stephanie Perkins was long 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘂𝗲. (HA!) (that was dumb)
Ingrid Dahl and her boyfriend have been in a mostly-platonic-less-romantic relationship for the past eleven years and they've decided to take a month longbreak to see new people then get back together to marry (icky).
But Ingrid has the perfect man in mind... her longtime co-worker and best friend Macon. Now she's started to see her life anew and she doesn’t wanna get back together with her ex again and realises all she has ever wanted might have been right in front of her.
~
Let me begin by saying Ingrid, the fmc, is not exactly virtuous she definitely has made some questionable decisions but damn if I didn't have fun reading this.
The entire plot, although icky at times, was so well executed I'm giddy. The jealousy scenes, the pining, the chemistry, the angst and the confession... beautiful beyond words.
I will say though, keep your mind open going into this because you'll likely want to leave off after the first half (where the character's integrity is questionable) but I promise the slowest of all slow burns is quite worth it.
~
4.01 / 5 �
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ingrid Dahl and her boyfriend have been in a mostly-platonic-less-romantic relationship for the past eleven years and they've decided to take a month longbreak to see new people then get back together to marry (icky).
But Ingrid has the perfect man in mind... her longtime co-worker and best friend Macon. Now she's started to see her life anew and she doesn’t wanna get back together with her ex again and realises all she has ever wanted might have been right in front of her.
~
Let me begin by saying Ingrid, the fmc, is not exactly virtuous she definitely has made some questionable decisions but damn if I didn't have fun reading this.
The entire plot, although icky at times, was so well executed I'm giddy. The jealousy scenes, the pining, the chemistry, the angst and the confession... beautiful beyond words.
I will say though, keep your mind open going into this because you'll likely want to leave off after the first half (where the character's integrity is questionable) but I promise the slowest of all slow burns is quite worth it.
~
4.01 / 5 �
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 10, 2025
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.
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.
Shelved as 'arc-tbr-2'
April 8, 2025It's pretty and bookish....
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Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
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Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
March 19, 2025
watching these two fall in love with each other was a little like watching paint dry, and I don’t mean in a delicious, angsty slow burn type of way.
� 3.5 stars, Étienne St. Clair is her best book boyfriend. you may argue with the wall if you would like.
thank you to St. Martin's Press and Saturday Books for the ebook arc in exchange for an honest review
platform: netgalley ebook arc
� 3.5 stars, Étienne St. Clair is her best book boyfriend. you may argue with the wall if you would like.
thank you to St. Martin's Press and Saturday Books for the ebook arc in exchange for an honest review
platform: netgalley ebook arc
April 1, 2025
That was delightful and frustrating and wonderful.
Want to read
April 5, 2025STEPHANIE?!?!? Anna and The French Kiss fans RISE UP
January 30, 2025
Read most of this on the plane back from NYC - a perfect experience. It makes sense that Stephanie, who has given us so many book boyfriends, has given us the best book husband in Macon.
January 25, 2025
Received an ARC courtesy of the publisher via Edelweiss.plus
I am a fan of the author's young adult romances, so I was really looking forward to this. It did not hook me right away as I was expecting more of a love story at the beginning. The main romance did not start until about half-way through the book. By the time I get to that point, I had come to appreciate Ingrid as she faced some tough realizations. I look forward to future books by this author.
I am a fan of the author's young adult romances, so I was really looking forward to this. It did not hook me right away as I was expecting more of a love story at the beginning. The main romance did not start until about half-way through the book. By the time I get to that point, I had come to appreciate Ingrid as she faced some tough realizations. I look forward to future books by this author.
March 19, 2025
Two books in one. Both good stories, but wish it would have focused on one or the other.
Read
March 21, 2025DNF @ 25%
I was really intrigued by the premise of this book as it sounded like it would be in a similar vein to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s One True Loves, which I loved - but I ended up having to DNF.
Ingrid comes across as incredibly immature and naive for a character that’s supposed to be pushing 30. I can understand that she doesn’t have a lot of experience in asking men out/dating, but it came across like she’d never been with a man at all (when she’s been with her boyfriend for a decade) and had never gone on a single date. And Macon just creeped me out. I feel like the author was trying to make him into this quirky character (black tape over his phone camera because he doesn’t trust technology), but the way he’s described completely turned me off. The writing itself also felt more in line with a YA book than adult and a lot of the descriptions read very juvenile.
I wish this had worked out, but unfortunately this wasn’t a hit for me.
I was really intrigued by the premise of this book as it sounded like it would be in a similar vein to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s One True Loves, which I loved - but I ended up having to DNF.
Ingrid comes across as incredibly immature and naive for a character that’s supposed to be pushing 30. I can understand that she doesn’t have a lot of experience in asking men out/dating, but it came across like she’d never been with a man at all (when she’s been with her boyfriend for a decade) and had never gone on a single date. And Macon just creeped me out. I feel like the author was trying to make him into this quirky character (black tape over his phone camera because he doesn’t trust technology), but the way he’s described completely turned me off. The writing itself also felt more in line with a YA book than adult and a lot of the descriptions read very juvenile.
I wish this had worked out, but unfortunately this wasn’t a hit for me.
February 9, 2025
Cozy, romantic perfection. I absolutely adored every page of this book. It’s so sweet and earnest. It’s a book lovers dream. I adored every description of libraries, downtown streets, gardens, kitchens, and coffee shops. And what I loved most is that it’s a story of real people. Real romance. Real life which involves feeding people’s cats, taking your car to the shop, and order g chicken tenders and fries at a favorite local restaurant. Love love love love love!!💕
April 8, 2025
Ah, I absolutely loved her previous books, which was why I really wanted to read this one. Ingrid and her long-term boyfriend, Cory, decided to take a month-long break from their relationship to see other people. She has had a long-time crush on her co-worker Macon. When she tried to kiss him went awry, she turned to online dating apps. The main story is about her self-discovery of who she was and what she truly wanted in her life. I have to be honest, the first few chapters were a bit slow and boring. I almost gave up. But I kept reading because I thought it could be exceptionally great like her previous books. This book leans more of a women's fiction than a romance. Also, it’s obvious from the beginning that Ingrid and Cory wouldn’t end up together after a weird pause in their relationship. After 11 years together it should be obvious where it’s going. Which made it a little baffling that Ingrid kept referring to this as temporary. I felt bad for some of the guys she was dating because she never really gave them a chance nor was honest with them. Ingrid’s love interest, Macon, was a hard character to connect with at first. He gave clues to his feelings along the way. I did enjoy the second half of the book. Her journey to happiness and romance was beautiful. And I enjoyed how she and Macon finally got together. The ending was pretty adorable. Overall, it was a nice surprise of a book. I just think it was a bit too long of a book. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.
April 9, 2025
I got an email from NetGalley about this book, with a link to download it for 1,000 people. I jumped on it and am so glad I did; this was a thoroughly enjoyable read about librarian Ingrid who is forced to reckon with who and what she really wants when her longtime boyfriend suggests they take a short break.
I feel like other authors would have ended it at certain instances, but we were not deprived of anything , which made it all the more satisfying.
This also has major book lover vibes .
Thank you to NetGalley and Saturday Books for the ARC.
I feel like other authors would have ended it at certain instances, but we were not deprived of anything , which made it all the more satisfying.
This also has major book lover vibes .
Thank you to NetGalley and Saturday Books for the ARC.
March 31, 2025
I loved the parts of this story set in the library with quirky patrons. Macon was my favorite character with his shy, nurturing ways and incredible garden.
The first few chapters were shocking. From the book description, I expected the couple would be casually dating others and exploring the strength of their relationship. I did not expect it to turn into a goal of sleeping with many partners and cheering each other on. Ick ick ick. Plus Ingrid treated the guys she dated terribly!
The book picked up mid-way through. I liked her relationship with her friends. But I did have a hard time following some of the dialogue due to grammar issues.
If you can get past the first four months, you’ll probably love the book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
The first few chapters were shocking. From the book description, I expected the couple would be casually dating others and exploring the strength of their relationship. I did not expect it to turn into a goal of sleeping with many partners and cheering each other on. Ick ick ick. Plus Ingrid treated the guys she dated terribly!
The book picked up mid-way through. I liked her relationship with her friends. But I did have a hard time following some of the dialogue due to grammar issues.
If you can get past the first four months, you’ll probably love the book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2025
I absolutely ADORED this book! I wasn’t going to read the whole thing yet (I try to wait until closer to release date) but I was HOOKED from the first page.
The characters! The setting! The whole stinking book was amazing! I will be thinking of these characters (every single one of them) for a long, long time! I hope the author brings them back somehow in another story because I can’t imagine not spending time with them again.
Oh and I totally need that living room. When you know you’ll know.
The characters! The setting! The whole stinking book was amazing! I will be thinking of these characters (every single one of them) for a long, long time! I hope the author brings them back somehow in another story because I can’t imagine not spending time with them again.
Oh and I totally need that living room. When you know you’ll know.
March 20, 2025
ARC REVIEW
Sorry, DNF at 15% This was way too info dumpy and descriptive. Plot nowhere in sight. She also described her bestie as fat? Like you couldn’t have said it a nicer way?? I dont Care why a minor side character prefers to drive a truck over a sedan, I don’t care about potential MMC neighbors cat, I dont Care about all the old people who come into the library!
Sorry, DNF at 15% This was way too info dumpy and descriptive. Plot nowhere in sight. She also described her bestie as fat? Like you couldn’t have said it a nicer way?? I dont Care why a minor side character prefers to drive a truck over a sedan, I don’t care about potential MMC neighbors cat, I dont Care about all the old people who come into the library!
December 17, 2024
Excited is an understatement. I’m shits over the moon!
March 13, 2025
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.
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.
Read
March 17, 2025DNF at 49%.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. Thank you St. Martin Press. All opinions are my own and given freely.
Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me. I was so intrigued by this blurb. I went anticipating something similar to a love triangle perhaps... but what it ended up being (for me) was a very unromantic feeling story between two first loves who want to try other people before they commit to marriage. As well as two people who have this underlying chemistry, but just can never seem to communicate. It all felt very juvenile if I'm honest. I went in for the praised romance, and perhaps it's yet to come, but I'm just not invested unfortunately. Not the story for me, but it might be for you.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. Thank you St. Martin Press. All opinions are my own and given freely.
Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me. I was so intrigued by this blurb. I went anticipating something similar to a love triangle perhaps... but what it ended up being (for me) was a very unromantic feeling story between two first loves who want to try other people before they commit to marriage. As well as two people who have this underlying chemistry, but just can never seem to communicate. It all felt very juvenile if I'm honest. I went in for the praised romance, and perhaps it's yet to come, but I'm just not invested unfortunately. Not the story for me, but it might be for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2025
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
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
March 11, 2025
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!
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!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2025
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.
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.
April 1, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Saturday Books for the opportunity to read Overdue by Stephanie Perkins.
I went back and forth about if I would give this a five-star rating or not, but ultimately, it made me feel all the feels while I was reading, so five it is. I'm a sucker for a story about a book lover and this story had two! The premise was intriguing, Ingrid has been with her long-time boyfriend since they started college and neither have experienced being with anyone else. Given the point they are at, it only seems logical to take a break gain some of that missed experience and then get back together and proceed as planned (cause that seems like it will work...). Nothing ever goes according to plan. I loved the way the story was set up, chapters broken up into the months of the year. I don't feel like it is a spoiler to say that Ingrid and Cory obviously split, you catch that vibe very early on. Ingrid's feels for her long-time coworker, Macon, made him her first choice to be her "new experience" during the separation. Much to her dismay, he vehemently declines. As she moves on to find her way in the dating world that she has never experienced before, she realizes her feelings are deeper than she knew. Entering this new phase in her life, Ingrid makes some changes and pretty bold choices to open a business that could cost her everything. She finds herself helping Macon redecorate his homey little cottage (to her specifications, but still doesn't see that he is into her) to quitting her job at the library and having to leave her apartment for a tiny studio and opening her new bookstore with the help of some friends. Watching Ingrid and Macon sloooooowwly "fall" for each other was one of the reasons I waffled on giving this five-stars. It really was a bit slower paced that I would have wanted. I would have loved for them to realize how perfect they were together earlier on and seen a bit further into their future. Alas, I still loved their story and the bookseller/librarian couple won my heart.
I went back and forth about if I would give this a five-star rating or not, but ultimately, it made me feel all the feels while I was reading, so five it is. I'm a sucker for a story about a book lover and this story had two! The premise was intriguing, Ingrid has been with her long-time boyfriend since they started college and neither have experienced being with anyone else. Given the point they are at, it only seems logical to take a break gain some of that missed experience and then get back together and proceed as planned (cause that seems like it will work...). Nothing ever goes according to plan. I loved the way the story was set up, chapters broken up into the months of the year. I don't feel like it is a spoiler to say that Ingrid and Cory obviously split, you catch that vibe very early on. Ingrid's feels for her long-time coworker, Macon, made him her first choice to be her "new experience" during the separation. Much to her dismay, he vehemently declines. As she moves on to find her way in the dating world that she has never experienced before, she realizes her feelings are deeper than she knew. Entering this new phase in her life, Ingrid makes some changes and pretty bold choices to open a business that could cost her everything. She finds herself helping Macon redecorate his homey little cottage (to her specifications, but still doesn't see that he is into her) to quitting her job at the library and having to leave her apartment for a tiny studio and opening her new bookstore with the help of some friends. Watching Ingrid and Macon sloooooowwly "fall" for each other was one of the reasons I waffled on giving this five-stars. It really was a bit slower paced that I would have wanted. I would have loved for them to realize how perfect they were together earlier on and seen a bit further into their future. Alas, I still loved their story and the bookseller/librarian couple won my heart.
March 22, 2025
Be prepared to swoon over Stephanie Perkins's grumpy/sunshine romance Overdue.
Ingrid Dahl is doing just fine, thank you very much. She and her college boyfriend, Cory, have been together for eleven wonderful years and couldn’t be happier. They are the couple that everyone envies. Things couldn’t be going better, right?
That is until her younger sister gets engaged after dating for only two years. Now, Ingrid and Cory must confront the question of why they haven’t gotten married yet. They always knew they would, but they just hadn’t gotten around to it. They decide to take a short break for some fun, after which they will surely get married.
Ingrid knows exactly who she wants to have fun with: her adorably curmudgeonly co-worker, Macon Nowakowski. All she has to do is make her first move. No big deal! Mustering her courage, Ingrid goes for it, but Macon makes it clear in no uncertain terms that he is not interested.
Hurt and confused by Macon’s rejection, Ingrid stumbles through a series of disastrous dates just in time for her and Cory to reunite. When they meet up to discuss their month apart, they both realize that they are not quite ready to end their experiment.
As time passes and the break stretches on, Ingrid and Cory come to the realization that they need to end their relationship. Just as Ingrid feels her life is unraveling, Macon reaches out to her with an emergency; his aunt is in the hospital, and he needs someone to watch his adorable black tuxedo cat, Edmond Dantes. During his absence, Ingrid begins to develop a fondness for his grouchy cat and falls in love with his charming storybook cottage, complete with a magical garden.
As Macon gradually opens up and includes her in his life, Ingrid realizes that there may still be hope for her to find her happily ever after with her shy, bookish colleague.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Ingrid Dahl is doing just fine, thank you very much. She and her college boyfriend, Cory, have been together for eleven wonderful years and couldn’t be happier. They are the couple that everyone envies. Things couldn’t be going better, right?
That is until her younger sister gets engaged after dating for only two years. Now, Ingrid and Cory must confront the question of why they haven’t gotten married yet. They always knew they would, but they just hadn’t gotten around to it. They decide to take a short break for some fun, after which they will surely get married.
Ingrid knows exactly who she wants to have fun with: her adorably curmudgeonly co-worker, Macon Nowakowski. All she has to do is make her first move. No big deal! Mustering her courage, Ingrid goes for it, but Macon makes it clear in no uncertain terms that he is not interested.
Hurt and confused by Macon’s rejection, Ingrid stumbles through a series of disastrous dates just in time for her and Cory to reunite. When they meet up to discuss their month apart, they both realize that they are not quite ready to end their experiment.
As time passes and the break stretches on, Ingrid and Cory come to the realization that they need to end their relationship. Just as Ingrid feels her life is unraveling, Macon reaches out to her with an emergency; his aunt is in the hospital, and he needs someone to watch his adorable black tuxedo cat, Edmond Dantes. During his absence, Ingrid begins to develop a fondness for his grouchy cat and falls in love with his charming storybook cottage, complete with a magical garden.
As Macon gradually opens up and includes her in his life, Ingrid realizes that there may still be hope for her to find her happily ever after with her shy, bookish colleague.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
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