I feel the opening chapter set me up to not get on with this book. The whole set up of chapter 1 I feel jumps into things without fully explaining all the issues that Sara has, that for me then made it difficult to fully get into the story.

It's a good book but I'm not sure i can say I enjoyed it exactly. The subject matter is a bit of a tough one.
Sara struggles with lots of things, in particular with sex. As the book progresses it becomes clearer what is going on. The exploration of that is done in what seems like a very realistic way. I totally believed in what was happening and the way it played out.
The author has managed to get the pace just right, the story moved along but didn't feel rushed.
I'll be thinking about it for a long time.
Worth a read for sure but do check out the trigger warnings.

2.5 rounded up

The start is challenging for me with its discussion of bodily issues that 25-year-old Sara suffers from. She hasn’t been in a relationship since Nick and has only had a few dates, partly because of her body issues. Now, she starts to date Miles, she has to explain her psychological problems and initially he’s very understanding. How can she overcome a serious condition in order to truly be with Miles?

I’m not the right reader for this, I don’t enjoy the topic under discussion and I believe it’s suits a much younger age profile than mine. I find it very hard to read is it is extremely frank, upfront, honest and painfully raw about Sara‘s issues. It’s a bit too brutally honest for my taste. Her painful struggles come across very clearly and it certainly thought provoking and I’m sure that it’s a novel that will resonate with many. When the truth that lies at the heart of it all emerges it’s shocking yet in another way it’s not, because it has to be something very traumatic. It does make me feel terribly sorry for her which leads to greater understanding.

Although it’s well written but at times I find the pace is too slow and it doesn’t hold my interest. It’s an effort to push on in the hope that the pace will pick up.

Overall, it’s not for me as I find the subject matter makes me too uncomfortable.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins: Akan Books for the early copy and apologies that it doesn’t work for me.

I am not sure this book was intended for me but I really enjoyed it. Well worth reading and highly recommended to all

Overspill by Charlotte Paradise is a raw and poignant exploration of trauma, grief, and the complexities of relationships in the face of personal struggles. The novel follows Sara, a twenty-five-year-old woman grappling with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) and a deep sense of bodily detachment. She has never been able to use a tampon without experiencing a panic attack, and her struggles with her body affect her ability to connect with others, even as she desires love and intimacy.

When Sara begins dating Miles, a man who respects her boundaries, they navigate a relationship that is anything but conventional. For three months, they don't touch, but their emotional bond grows. While Miles longs to break down the walls between them, Sara struggles to reconcile her need for love with the trauma that keeps her body and mind at odds. As they navigate their connection, the novel examines Sara's journey to reclaim her body and find a sense of self-worth in a world where her own body feels foreign to her.

Paradise’s prose is beautiful and evocative, capturing the essence of Sara's emotional turmoil and the complexity of human relationships with sensitivity and depth. This book is a sincere portrayal of the challenges of living with trauma, showing how two imperfect individuals can come together and try their best, without the need to label their struggles as "toxic" or full of red flags. Overspill is a deeply emotional and difficult read, but it is ultimately a journey worth taking. Readers should be aware of the trigger warnings, as the book deals with sensitive and challenging topics, but it offers a powerful and honest depiction of the realities of trauma and the human experience.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Overspill follows Sara who is twenty-five. She has PTSD, can’t use tampons and suspects she has vaginismus. She starts dating Miles and for three months they don’t touch. Sara wants to be with Miles but her body gets in the way and Miles agrees to wait until Sara is ready. Sara wants to be in love but a lot holds her back and it’s hard for someone to understand her situation.

This is an important novel with some difficult topics. Sara really struggles and that’s hard to read. I’m not sure what to make of Miles, he tries to be patient and understand Sara but I’m not sure he really got it. I can see people enjoying this. It wasn’t a new favourite for me but I think this is something people will connect with and this type of representation is necessary.

Overspill by Charlotte Paradise is one of those books that gets under your skin in the best way. It’s raw, honest, and beautifully written, tackling trauma, love, and self-acceptance with so much heart.

Sara’s story feels painfully real; her struggles with intimacy are written with such care that you can’t help but root for her. And Miles? He’s the kind of love interest that makes you believe in patience and understanding. Their relationship isn’t perfect, but that’s what makes it so compelling. I can understand that the pacing could be somewhat slow for some readers, however, I think despite this, the result is rewarding, and it will be a book that if you find connections with the themes, you'll fine that it reflects your own thoughts and feelings, in such a well written format.

The writing is gorgeous, sometimes tender, sometimes brutal, but always deeply human. It’s the kind of book that will stay with me for a very long time.
I look forward to what Charlotte will write in the future and what stories she looks to tell!

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Overspill, and I have to say, Charlotte Paradise’s writing is absolutely beautiful. The prose has a lyrical quality that pulls you in, making even the most complex emotions feel raw and tangible. That said, this is a book that requires patience. But if you stick with it, the story unfolds in a way that feels deeply rewarding.

The pacing wasn’t always my favorite, with some moments dragging more than others, but Overspill remains bold, intimate, and sometimes unsettling, but that’s what makes it so compelling. Definitely check the trigger warnings, but if you’re looking for something beautifully written and thought-provoking, that tackles female desire, trauma, and self-identity in a way that encourages reflection and introspection... then this one is worth picking up.

4.5 🌟
Overspill is one of those books you really need to stick with because the further you delve into the story, the more invested you become.
I'm so glad I preserved because this actually turned out to be a heartbreakingly stunning novel that I didn't want to end.

Flawed, realistic characters, beautiful writing, emotionally devastating scenes between Sara and Miles. I mean, I was a MESS towards the end. I just found myself so immersed in their journeys. I've also never read a book which highlights the trauma of cptsd before, and I was so impressed with how Charlotte handled this in such a raw, honest yet sensitive manner.

The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is because it did take me quite a while to find my flow but I will still be recommending this to all my book friends.

Just finished *Overspill* and WOW. 😭 This book is raw, beautiful, and so real. Sara’s journey with love, her body, and Miles (the sweetest, most patient guy) hit me hard. The writing? Stunning. 💌 It’s tender, heartbreaking, and will stay with you forever. 10/10, but be ready to feel ALL the feels. 💔✨ #MustRead

Sara dates Miles whilst struggling with her own journey through trauma, grief and bodily detachment - her limbs, her mind, her organs don’t belong to her - yet, she so wishes them to allow her to experience Miles’s love.

A raw portrayal of living with cptsd and trauma’s sway over one’s crumpling world. It felt so good to read about the realities of a genuine relationship, to see two imperfect individuals come together and try their best, to not feel the need to label them toxic or red flags. The prose was beautiful and made the experience of this novel that much special. Finally, a sincere representation of the footprints of trauma and the complexity of human nature.

Definitely be aware of the trigger warnings for this one, it was a difficult read but worth the journey.

I spent 50% of this eye rolling at Sara and the other 50% not wanting to let her out of my sight, wrap her in a blanket and hug her when needed. Overspill was a complex read, with many triggers so check these before reading. I don’t find many of these human stories often but when I do they break me a little bit and remind me what it’s like to be alive. Overspill did that for me. I can tell this will be a story that divides readers, it did me while reading but the subject matter and topics covered in the book need to be talked about more openly so I’m grateful to Charlotte for writing this book as a starting point for these topics to be spoken about without fear or judgement.

Thank you to HQ, Akan Books + NetGalley for the opportunity to read Overspill before it’s released 24th April 2025! 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

Sorry to say that this didn't work for me. The 1st chapter which practically only talked tampons cheapened the read which immediately switched me off. I did know the subject matter before reading but this felt too much of a jolt into a book followed by very slow pacing afterwards. Not for me.

Overspill follows twenty-five-year-old Sara as she tries to navigate the trials and tribulations of womanhood whilst feeling at odds with her own body. When she meets Miles, there are challenges anew, as she longs to bring down her walls and allow him in, but she doesn’t know how.

Although at face-value Overspill can be compared to works of those brought to you by your favourite literary fiction authors, in many ways Overspill feels like it’s breaking new ground. Paradise doesn’t shy away from the difficult, taboo conversations and for many women, it could provide a first real chance at seeing themselves reflected in the pages of a book. While certain moments may be difficult to read, that only underscores the importance of the topics explored.

Overspill is definitely for the miscommunication, ‘were they lovers? worse’ readers, as Miles and Sara’s relationship is not of the fairytale variety. Instead, it is refreshingly honest and allows for both characters to show depth. In an era where social media is flooded with highlight reels and unattainable romance goals, Overspill is a much-needed breath of fresh air.

There's a lot to like about this book. I thought tje writing style was stylish and lyrical. The characters felt vivid and well realised.
I especially liked that the author chose to talk about a health issue that's rarely discussed and this was done with sensitivity and explored carefully. The depictions and descriptions of Sara's anxiety were so well done.
The issue I had with the book was pace. I found the story too slow for me and struggled to find anything that pushed me to read on. It started to feel a bit of a chore at times to pick up the book.

This was incredibly written and drew me in from the start. As someone who works in adult mental health, it felt like a familiar and authentic narrative, and I enjoyed how the therapy was portrayed and the sheer discomfort that it is to be so open and honest with a professional stranger.
I felt deeply throughout, whether it was frustration or anguish or tenderness towards the characters.

A gorgeous, aching, generous novel about a side of female desire that is woefully unexplored in fiction - and a perfect evocation of what it is to be young in London. This is the kind of book that demands to be passed between friends. Charlotte Paradise's prose is beautiful and precise. Readers will want to wrap Sara in their arms. Erin Kelly

Twenty something Sara is full of anxiety. Despite the support of best friend Anji, and her mother Lillian, Sara still struggles. Meeting Miles is a breakthrough for her, but will he understand Sara’s trauma?

Oh my goodness am I in the minority!!

A slow burner of a start that did pick up a little when the Sara/Miles relationship kicked in, then petered out. Sadly, not enough of a page turner for me to get invested, and I did struggle to finish the book. Not one for me, with apologies to the author.

Thank you NetGalley and HQ.

This is a thoughtfully devastating read, about a woman dealing with unhealed trauma, while falling in love.

An incredibly emotional and moving story, filled with lyrical prose, Paradise writes about mental health, trauma, and triggering topics with grace, sensitivity, and compassion.

Overspill is required reading!

Initially, it took me a while to get into the writing style of this one. But then, as Miles and Sara's story started to begin, I was really absorbed. Thematically similar to What A Shame (another book I loved), but I felt so connected to Sara - huge empathy and the prose felt so realistic. I particularly appreciated the ending - I won't spoil it for anyone but I thought it was the most moving wat to finish the novel.

Five stars.