Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher: Foxglove Publishing

Release date: April 19th 2022

Pages: 352

Representation: NA.

Trigger warnings: Drug abuse, Addiction, Suicide, Death of a parent, mention of ED (starvation), suicidal fantasies, suicidal thoughts.

Summary: Matty is an addict. He’s lost his friends, family, and girlfriend because of it. When his brother gives him one last chance for redemption, he has to fight his cravings for pills and the life he left behind. When a friend’s wedding means seeing an ex-girlfriend, it might be the push Matty needs to finally get his life back on track.

Purchase the book using the following links to support Indie bookshops, and me:
US: https://bookshop.org/a/85337/9781501161933

A hard-hitting second chance story that gives an honest look at life, love, and cravings.

‘Don’t Overthink This’ shows its intentions on the first page. It’s heavy, dark, and doesn’t shy away from the truth of addiction. The love bleeds through the cracks and paints a story of hope and second chances.

Piazza handles addiction and struggles in such a good way. I’m always wary of going into stories that handle such important topics; they’re very easy to get wrong. Piazza gets it right.

Matty is a complex character; he’s likeable, but we find it difficult to sympathise with a lot of his decisions. The first person storytelling helps his characterisation because we can see Mattys’ thought process and motivation.
I didn’t find myself rooting for Matty and Keelie. I liked them both, and I wanted them to be happy, but I didn’t necessarily care if they were together. That’s not great for a love story. In all areas relating to relationships, it seemed lacklustre.

It’s a brutal but beautiful story. I wouldn’t call it a romance. It’s a story of struggle and personal growth with a hint of romance mixed in. I read this book in e-format, but It’s one I would consider buying a physical copy of to put on my shelf.

Shining glory: The portrayal of addiction is highly realistic. It shows the internal arguments and thought processes of every decision and how it’s not just as simple as “you want to stop, so stop.”

Fatal flaw: It’s a heavy-handed romance that’s marketing misleads readers, focusing much more on Matt’s internal conflicts and struggles than the moment and intimacy of his relationship. (This may not be an issue for you, but romance audiences will want to be aware)

Read this if: You like complex characters whose characterisation focuses on internal conflicts. You like an un-traditional second-chance romance.

Skip this if: You have any issues with heavy topics or mention of drug abuse. You don’t like books that use flashbacks regularly. You prefer characters that have clear, black and white motivations.

Purchase the book using the following links to support Indie bookshops, and me:
US: https://bookshop.org/a/85337/9781501161933