Stephanie Perkins makes a timely return with her new romance Overdue (Zaffre), an unconventional and deeply humane love story about a long-term couple who take a one month relationship sabbatical. We spoke with the author to discuss her latest novel and the inspiration behind the story.
What sparked the idea for Overdue? Was there a particular moment or theme that inspired you to explore Ingrid’s story?
I’ve worked as both a librarian and a bookseller, and I’ve always known that one day I would write about these people and professions. I have such a strong love for them.
Ingrid and Cory make a very unconventional decision to “date other people” as a way of moving forward. How did you land on that concept, and what excited you about writing it?
Many years ago, I heard an episode of This American Life where a couple had done a similar experiment, and it struck me as so interesting and unusual. I tucked it away in my mind as a, “Maybe I’ll write about that someday.” And then in the ensuing years, I ran across a handful of similar stories! It showed me there was something to explore and dig into there.
Macon is such a great romantic foil — cantankerous but caring. What drew you to pairing Ingrid with someone like him?
Macon is a type that one runs into frequently in the professional book world, and I have an enduring fondness for these deeply kind but cantankerous souls. I also relate to them. I hope (and try) to project a friendly vibe to the world, but in my natural state, I’m much more of a raincloud. My husband is the sunny one who balances us out. He’s the Ingrid, and I’m the Macon.
Ingrid is a librarian in the mountain town of Ridgetop, which feels so cosy and lived-in. What do you love about writing small-town settings?
I love creating and writing settings, full stop. It’s maybe my favourite part of the entire process because I’m always interested in how our surroundings impact our lives. Ridgetop is based on my hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. It’s this beautiful little artsy pocket tucked away in the mountains that draws a lot of tourists. I’ve been wanting to write about life here for a long time, but eventually I realized that it would be more freeing to write a fictionalized version with its own quirky locations and locals. It felt comforting to spend time in Ridgetop, and I’ll certainly be visiting it again someday.
This book really explores questions many couples face — marriage, kids, and “have we experienced enough before settling down?” What did you want readers to take away from that journey?
What a great question! I suppose I always want my readers to know that: (A) it’s okay to not know what you want, (B) it’s okay to change your mind, and (C) it’s also okay to be sure about something, even if it’s not the choice other people would make. There’s no one right way to live a life.
You’ve written sweeping romance (Anna and the French Kiss), spine-tingling horror (There’s Someone Inside Your House), and now a very grounded, grown-up love story. How does writing romance at this stage in your career feel different from when you first started?
This might sound odd, but it hardly felt different at all. Because Overdue is a coming-of-age story (about somebody who is already technically an adult), it has quite a bit in common with my YA romance novels. I’m interested in these periods of re-evaluation and great change in our lives. Ingrid is more mature and responsible than Anna or Lola or Isla, but she still has plenty of growing to do. Because we all do!
Libraries and bookshops play such a central role in Ingrid’s life. Do you have a favourite library memory of your own and how important do you think they are for communities?
Browsing the shelves of the public library was my favourite activity as a child, and this all blurs into one big happy memory. As an adult, my favourite memories are of my co-workers. I love librarians. Yes, sometimes they—and I certainly include myself in this—can live up to the stereotypes and be awkward or even prickly, but they’re also the most empathetic, curious, and compassionate people I’ve ever known. Most of them care intensely about the community they work in, and they serve a vital function in providing necessary resources to the people who need them. It’s a noble profession.
And finally what’s currently on your nightstand, and what’s the last book that made you swoon?
I’m halfway through Mornings Without Mii by Mayumi Inaba, a quiet memoir about a woman and her cat. It’s beautifully written and tasteful. Not cheesy at all! And though it’s actually quite difficult these days to make me swoon, Curtis Sittenfeld’s Romantic Comedy did the trick. It’s a perfect novel that lives up to its name—a love story that is genuinely, sharply funny. I’ve gifted it to so many friends.
