Welcome to Jen’s Jewels, a weekly column where we dive into the heart of storytelling with today’s most exciting authors. Whether you’re looking for your next must-read or curious about the creative sparks behind your favorite books, you’ve come to the right place. This week, we’re checking out AN OVERDUE MATCH by Sarah Monzon, a delightful romance that turns library check-out histories into a matchmaking tool. With a heroine who’s beautifully resilient and a hero who’s more than meets the eye, this charming novel is sure to steal your heart. Let’s chat with Sarah about the inspiration behind her latest release!
Jennifer Vido: Using library check-out histories as a matchmaking tool is brilliantly original. What creative spark or real-life observation led you to develop this charming and unconventional approach to romantic connections?
Sarah Monzon: I wish I could say that I had a fun story behind this idea, but really, it just kind of popped into my head one day. I was thinking about the character of Evangeline, and I might have just watched Jewish Matchmaking on Netflix a couple of weeks prior, then, poof, the idea of using the books that library patrons check out as a matchmaking tool came to me and I thought it was fun and unique and built on the idea from there.
Jen: Evangeline's journey with alopecia and her resilience after a broken engagement seems deeply personal. Can you share the inspiration behind her character's emotional arc?
Sarah: The character of Evangeline came from my desire to write a heroine with alopecia in honor of my mother who is bald and beautiful due to the autoimmune disease. I used some of her own journey in the story, so that’s why the emotional arc seems to come from a more personal space.
Jen: Tai appears to challenge typical "bad boy" stereotypes. How did you develop his character to be more nuanced than the standard romance novel hero?
Sarah: Tai is what I call a sheep in wolf’s clothing. He may have an edgy exterior, but he’s really just a cinnamon roll type of guy. His backstory is really where a lot of his character development comes in. And it’s in that backstory and the fact he’s previously learned some of the same life lessons Evangeline going through on the page, that prove he’s the perfect hero for her.
Jen: What’s Evangeline’s initial reaction to Tai’s bargain?
Sarah: I would definitely say that she isn’t a happy camper. She’s been keeping him at arm’s length to protect the walls around her heart, and with the bargain, she’s forced to spend time with him and see past her preconceived notions of who he is which she’s stubbornly held on to, so she won’t get hurt.
Jen: What are you currently reading, and what’s on your TBR stack?
Sarah: I am currently reading The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz while impatiently waiting my turn for When Stars Light the Sky by Elizabeth Camden that I have on hold at the library.
Jen: What’s one thing people might not know about you - something surprising that would intrigue your readers?
Sarah: I’m technically a 7th grade dropout, although I graduated Magna Cum Laude with my Bachelor’s degree. Strange, I know. I was pulled from school in sixth grade, and I taught myself seventh grade at home. Math became too hard to teach myself, so I didn’t really do any type of schoolwork (unless you count reading a lot) until I turned 16 and received my GED. Then I started community college classes at night and eventually transferred to a university where I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education.
Jen: Can you tell us about the project you're currently working on?
Sarah: I just turned in edits for Hearts in Circulation, book 2 in the Checking Out Love series, and I’m a little over halfway writing the first draft of book 3 in the same series.
Jen: If An Overdue Match were to be adapted for the big screen, who would be your dream casting for Evangeline and Tai?
Sarah: I am not good at knowing actors’ or actress’ names, so I had to do a little research to answer this question. That said, I think Charles Melton would do a good job playing Tai and Lucy Hale has a similar look to how I imagine Evangeline.
Jen: The book explores themes of judgment and perception. What message do you hope readers take away after finishing the story?
Sarah: Fiction is such a great tool to develop empathy and broaden viewpoints. I think we all have been guilty of making snap judgements based solely on physical appearances, and I hope that we all can grow from that and not make the same mistakes in the future. Every one of us has a story. We are more layered than what our outward appearance shows upon first glance.
Jen: Thank you so much for chatting with us today—best of luck with your fabulous new release.
Sarah: Thank you so much for having me!
Checking Out Love #1
Can a librarian's matchmaking mischief lead to a love that rewrites their stories?
If the covers of every romance book ever published didn't convince librarian Evangeline Kelly that she isn't heroine material, her fiancé calling off their wedding when she lost her hair to alopecia did. But what's a girl head over heels for love to do when her feelings are unrequited? Matchmake, that's what. Armed with library patrons' check-out histories, she's determined to make at least one love connection--even if it's not her own.
Tattoo artist Tai Davis is used to people judging him with a single glance, so it doesn't surprise him when the town's quirky new librarian believes his bad-boy reputation without giving him a chance. He can't help being intrigued by her, though, so when he discovers Evangeline's secret matchmaking scheme, he's not above striking a bargain with her. She just has to agree to one date with him for every time she uses his hometown knowledge to set up library patrons on a romantic rendezvous. The deal is made, but in the process, they both might learn you can't judge a book--or each other--by the cover.
Romance [Bethany House Publishers, On Sale: February 18, 2025, Paperback / e-Book , ISBN: 9780764243745 / ]
Winner of the Holt Medallion and Selah Award, Sarah Monzon is a stay-at-home mom who makes up imaginary friends to have adult conversations with (otherwise known as writing novels). As a navy chaplain's wife, she resides wherever the military happens to station her family and enjoys exploring the beauty of the world around her.
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry, earning acclaim as the award-winning author of the Gull Island series. Her debut novel, "Serendipity by the Sea," secured the prestigious Best First Book award from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest. In 2024, Vido's talent garnered further accolades, with Baltimore Magazine readers naming her Best Local Author in their annual Best of Baltimore poll, while the Baltimore Sun acknowledged her with an Honorable Mention in their Best of 2024 Author category. When not writing fiction, she interviews authors for her weekly Jen’s Jewels column, leads water exercise classes, and directs a legal nonprofit. Currently residing in Maryland, she and her husband are proud parents to two grown sons and a rescue dog named Fripp.
No comments posted.
© 2003-2025 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy