Brave and honest, a raw look at love alongside trauma. The first novel I've read in a long while that unashamedly explores the barriers to female desire and the ways our bodies tell us what we've been trying to ignore. So authentic I felt like a fly on the wall of Sara's life.

This book is beautiful and I absolutely devoured it, but the central relationship hit really close to home for me. I think I’ll have to curl up in a corner after this. Such amazing characterisation and so moving, I really loved it. An excellent read.

Hugely moving. Sara's journey to try to "cure" herself and have a meaningful relationship is both heartbreaking and admirable and I like the fact the book did not shy away from how difficult the relationship was for both parties and how Miles struggled to understand and hold back.
Sara is a truly astonishing character and I did not want the book to end.

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

Thank you so much to Akan Books for the ARC!

4.5 stars rounded up!

I needed a moment to gather my thoughts and feelings of this when I finished. I got the ARC and began to read & annotate and only stopped when I needed to sleep.

The writing within this is something that is so raw and familiar. Brutally honest and relatable that you get dragged into it relating to maybe everything that Sarah herself mentions, has experienced, or even just little parts.

The subject matter within the story is deep and crushing. Extremely crushing. Especially to witness a character we have been on a journey with try to gain some control on things, understandings of herself and her new relationship with Miles, we see the changes she tries to make, the things she does, the way she thinks, etc. and yet it just seemed to be piling up and up until it would actually overspill into a different yet related level that Sarah herself and the reader is now confronted with.

The writing is stunning and looking back on things that are scattered here and there and how they were within the story to where it leads to and ends just makes everything hit you with force even more. I loved how talking about bodies was so natural as well and the love/hate with bodies within it. You can't help but find at least something you have thought about. I found several LOOOOOL

I will say this, the way I was absolutely taken by Miles. Wow. He has his flaws don't get me wrong lol
What a debut!

This book is not an easy read but it is very well written. Basically it deals with CPTSD. The trauma is revealed slowly through the book but it is nevertheless a page turner. The book is very sad but there is hope. I was glad to be offered the book in advance of publication in exchange for an honest review. It is not a book I would normally have picked up but I learnt a lot from it. The characters are well depicted and relatable.

Let me first preface by saying that I think this book is well written and should be read by most people. It has insights into important topics that are shaping the reality of 20 year-olds these days, and it is likely beneficial to all to learn more about these.

The book is the story of a young woman in her 20s, trying to understand the physical and emotional barriers that make it hard for her to be intimate with men, despite having the usual desires and passions of any woman her age. At the beginning of the book our protagonist meets a young man roughly her age, and the story follows their relationship growing and struggling. These struggles, in their own right, help our protagonist learn more about herself and discover more about traumatic events that plague her on a daily basis.

For me the story and the writing were illuminating. I learned a lot about what dating these days looks like for young people, how they deal with trauma and stress, and what shape honestly and clear communication take in this day and age.

I did find myself struggling with the book and myself as the story progressed. This struggle, on a meta level, is the reason I would recommend reading this book, actually. On the one hand, I found myself annoyed with the apparent self indulgence of the protagonist, and her need to have everyone around her understand her, accept her, and adjust to her. This was equally applicable to the larger things, as well as to the smaller ones (like veganism). The book was full of hyper sensitivity, hyper awareness of self, and an overwhelming amount of psychological self diagnosis. On the other hand, I had to face the reality of the trauma afflicting the protagonist, and the fundamental inseparable truth of the need to heal it. On balance, it was an educational experience for me, even though I finished the book feeling that, while the trauma is ubdeniable, it doesn't mean the the person suffering from it is expemt from the need to be empathetic to others.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an opportunity to read the book ahead of its release in return for an honest review.

Overspill is an incredibly powerful and well-written debut novel that explores C-PTSD, navigating love alongside trauma, female desire and self-reclamation. Another element I found really interesting involved the reflections on Miles’ religious upbringing and the impact it had on him around desire and the shame that follows. I really do recommend Overspill; as you can imagine it can feel suffocating at times due to the subject matter but at the same time it’s an overwhelmingly raw, honest and brave book that reminded me of Jaded by Ela Lee (one of my favourite books from last year.) It’s being published just under a month today in the UK on the 24th April 2025 so one to add to your radar. A big thank you to Akan Books/Harper Collins - via Rachel Quin Marketing - as well as Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this one.

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 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!

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

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.

Sara is a normal girl in her twenties living in London. Except she’s not. Feeling chronically alone, and unable to do a standard task like putting in a tampon, Sara knows that something is wrong but she can’t quite put her finger on it. When Miles shows up and the two share undeniable chemistry, Sara is forced to face her trauma, one devastating trigger at a time. The two are desperate to make things work, but Miles has his own experiences to deal with, and their individual fears set them up for an emotional collision course.

To call this book dark would be an understatement. It is soft and light in places, and the short chapters make it easy to get into. However, as the story builds momentum, the darkness does too. Charlotte Paradise does a good job at propelling the narrative forward whilst holding back on key details, letting them build gradually. I struggled with this slightly as Sara’s increasingly intense reactions were growing exponentially faster than the very valid reasons she had for them. I found myself getting frustrated with the character and then feeling guilty as there was definitely something lurking behind the tense tone. I really liked Sara and Miles’s relationship and I think the author really captures the loving and tumultuous sides of their relationship well. Sara’s relationship with Miles isn’t the only relationship the author explores. I also really liked Sara’s relationship with housemate Anji.

Overspill is a tough hitter that deals with very dark themes. It’s written with care and skill. A raw and emotional debut.

Wow. Wow. Wow. I devoured this. Overspill is messy, intimate, feverish, like wading chest-deep into someone else’s grief and girlhood and not quite knowing how to get back out. Charlotte Paradise’s writing is sharp and slippery, almost dreamlike at times, but it cuts deep.

It’s full of decay and longing and the kind of female obsession that feels both dangerous and tender. The atmosphere is so thick you can almost taste it — waterlogged, sticky, impossible to shake off. I found myself rereading entire passages just to sit with them a little longer.

I genuinely can’t believe this is a debut. It’s so self-assured, so precise in its strangeness, like it knows exactly what it’s doing, and it does. This reminded me of everything I love about weird, visceral, poetic fiction. It left me feeling undone in the best way. One of those books I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

I don't even know how to put my thoughts into words about this one— it was one of the most tender, powerful and emotionally heavy books I've read. I couldn't give this any less than five stars and I'd recommend it to everyone, just take note of the content/trigger warnings.

This was such a raw look at trauma, grief, recovery and self love. I can see how this will resonate with a lot of readers and even though I couldn't relate to some of what Sara was going through, with Paradise's amazing writing, I still found it easy to empathise with her all the way and just wanted the best for her. I loved the occasional switches of perspective between Sara & Miles, getting to see the man's POV in certain scenes was interesting but also making sure this story was Sara's alone instead of focusing on the male counterpart more than what's necessary.

The writing in this was beautiful, almost lyrical. Right from the first few lines, I was gripped and knew this was going to be a special book. The further in we get, the heavier the plot becomes which I hadn't fully expected and there were plenty moments I had to take a breath before carrying on, but I think the rawness is what makes this book what it is. It doesn't hold back and I think that's important for the context of the story.

I'm in awe at this being Paradise's debut, I can't wait to see what else she does in the future. If you liked Gold Rush by Olivia Petter & Normal People by Sally Rooney, this is one to get on your radar.

Thank you to the publishers & Netgalley for my free eARC!

First of all, I would just like to thank NetGalley, Charlotte Paradise and HQ for an ARC of “Overspill” in exchange for an honest review.

A raw and unfiltered debut, exploring the complexities of the mind when processing past trauma, and how it can impact you for the rest of your life.

I cried so many times whilst reading this book that it almost became routine. I related to Sara so much in so many different ways, and my heart broke for her every time the story progressed and a new aspect of her trauma was revealed.

The lyrical prose and the frank way the novel is written add so much to the story- I think it was an ingenious choice on the author’s part. Even the fact that it’s written in third person helps to elevate Sara’s sense of detachment.

It’s hard because I honestly think it’s best to go into this one blind- but I can acknowledge that’s not really possible because of the number of trigger warnings this book deals with. So please, do check them before delving into this one- I did find parts to be very triggering and I would hate for you to be blindsided.

Honestly, I wish everyone could read this book. It’s eye-opening and heartbreaking in a way that can only be understood if you experience it with the characters on the page. A number of lessons in patience and comprehension lie within these pages, and I think that’s invaluable.

A brilliant book that I will be thinking about for a long time to come. I’m not sure I’ve ever related to a character more in my life- and Sara will hold a special place in my heart. Highly, highly recommend.

Wow. Where to start with this one...

Overspill, is one of them once in a while books that beautifully encapsulates a lot of feelings and experiences that are hard to put into words. This is a tender exploration of coming to terms of your own healing after experiencing unforgiving trauma.

I feel like each character has their place within this story and highlights the importance of having the right people by your side when taking the challenging steps into healing.

A stunning debut novel, Charlotte Paradise is absolutely one to keep an eye out for and has immediately been added onto my auto-buy list.

I read Overspill by Charlotte Paradise over a few days and was gripped from the first pages. It is a totally unique novel and I don’t think I’ve read anything like it before. The story is about Sara and her relationships, mainly her second serious boyfriend, Miles. Some chapters are seen through his eyes and some are the discussions between Sara and her therapist. The book deals with abuse in a really powerful and unexpected way. I think most women will find something they relate to in the character of Sara and her friends. Highly recommended reading.

Also thank you to the publishers for making the best formatted book I’ve ever downloaded from Netgalley. I’ve probably read close to 100 books that I’ve downloaded to kindle and this is the only one that reads like a proper e-book with chapter timings and well formatted chapters. Thank you!

Overspill is the intricate and delicate story of Sara. When she meets Miles, she believes he might be the one to break the curse of her issues with intimacy and finally make her feel normal. It is at times, uncomfortable asking the reader to imagine interactions through Sara's eyes. Slowly, the reader is given insight into what has happened to Sara to stop her from being able to experience intimacy in her relationships. She self-deprecates and fills herself with shame around not being able to give Miles what she knows he needs. Yet, Miles is just as complex as Sara with his own issues from his past which weigh on his mind and influences his behaviour in the relationship. The plot will make you miss your stop on the tube.

For as much as you are rooting for Miles and Sara to find their way through both their pasts, you are hoping Sara is able to find her own voice and understand herself better. At times, you will sway between her staying and leaving and in the end the reader is rewarded with an ending that feels authentic to Sara. After all, perhaps the best ending is not the one you expected but the ending you deserve. Beautiful book and such an important issue covered with thoughtfulness and care. Read it.

A powerful debut about trauma, healing, and intimacy. It follows Sara, struggling with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, as she tries to build a relationship with Miles. This isn’t a light read, but it’s an important one — thoughtful, emotional, and impactful.

This book is so special. A raw, suffocating, spectacular debut dissecting the relationship between love, trauma, shame and the complexities of living with C-PTSD.

What an incredible thing it is to read about characters who are so raw and real and complex that you can’t help but root for them despite their flaws. Sara and Miles are so special and so deeply flawed both individually and together. Their relationship is so real and heartbreaking.

The ways in which Charlotte wrote about mental health and desire and wanting and one’s relationship with their own body - when it feels foreign and not like your own - was so insightful, tender, intimate and deeply upsetting that it felt so suffocatingly real.

What a spectacular debut - a must read for anyone and everyone but please check your triggers.

Thank you so much to Rachel Quin for reaching out and introducing me to Overspill and to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC and chance to review ✨