Publication Date: October 7, 2025
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 mind: 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.
Overdue by Stephanie Perkins is a slow-burning, small town romance set in North Carolina. The story unfolds over the course of one year, from January to December, with each month playing a significant part.
After dating Cory for eleven years, Ingrid and Cory decide to take a one-month break to see what else is out there. At the end of the month, they’ll meet up and decide if marriage is their next step. Since they lived together, it meant living apart during that time, and while Ingrid immediately thinks of her coworker Macon, they never do get together during the hiatus.
Ingrid does have a couple of dating mishaps during their time apart, and one month turns into three. When she and Cory decide they’d rather not continue their relationship, it was heartbreaking, even though the writing was on the wall. Ingrid has her ups and downs as she tries to decide what her next steps are, and it’s an emotional process.
She makes several life changes, and every step of the way, Macon seems to be there as a friend, but could there be more down the road? As her life changes from being both a librarian and a favorite coworker at a small branch library to owning and opening a bookstore, she takes significant steps into adulthood. Through it all, Macon is her sounding board, and they get closer as she helps him redecorate his house.
Family and friends who are always there to support her, but she and Macon need to be brave and let the other know how they really feel. They seem to take one step forward and so many more back as they slowly try to figure out what they each want out of their lives—both separately and together. There are missteps and miscommunications, especially when they backpedal so often. They do know they don’t want to lose their friendship, but could there ever be more?
Multiple stories are being told and are woven together nicely. There are vivid descriptions, which brought life to the story. The past seems to catch up to her, as people from her past who are essential to her tend to play a significant role in her dreams of opening the bookstore.
Many touching moments made the story come to life. There are romantic encounters, as well as steamy ones. There’s a happily ever after, which was surprisingly portrayed, and there is some closure. However, an epilogue would’ve been the icing on the cake, giving us a little more insight into their future. Miss Perkins is an author I hope to read more of.
Overdue takes us on a journey through Ingrid‘s life over the course of the year. Some highs and lows invested me in the story.
Stephanie Perkins is the New York Times bestselling author and anthology editor of multiple books, including There’s Someone Inside Your House, Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and Isla and the Happily Ever After. She has always worked with books—first as a bookseller, then as a librarian, and now as a novelist. Stephanie lives in the mountains of North Carolina with her husband. Every room of their house is painted a different color of the rainbow.
