I really enjoyed this book, as I have every book that I’ve read published by 831Stories. I really enjoyed the deepening layers of sexual identity explored in Comedic Timing. As a bisexual person myself, though I’m in a different phase of life than our FMC, it was so refreshing to see another bisexual woman grappling with the complexities of being romantically attracted to both genders while also wondering if her feelings are her own or if they are influenced by society and societal standards. On the other side of the coin here, the MMC could be a little aggravating from time to time (when he wasn’t being charming and literally cooking for our FMC) and had me literally yelling at him… out loud in my apartment. All in all, this was such a wonderful read from Upasna Barath and I hope to read more from her.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book. Such fun and quick, easy reads from this publisher. This one was unique!

This was a cute read for what it was. I loved the setting and the nightlife, along with the MMC David. I think Naima was really relatable in that she picked up her life and was struggling to transition to a new city, a new job, make new friends. However, I don't think we focused enough on those aspects of the transition. She has a terrible boss, and she's an aspiring writer, but the author never really digs into that. Instead, the majority of the story is dedicated to Naima's struggle with self-discovery post breakup and in the midst of developing feelings for someone else. While I think this is a great topic to explore, the execution fell flat for me. Instead of feeling multifaceted, her struggle with discovering her sexuality felt incredibly centered around biphobia. For pages and pages, she went on about how the only reason she could have feelings for this man was because she was seeking male validation. While, comp-het is a real thing, it felt veryyy surface level here, and there was little to no growth from this struggle until the very end of the novel, which even then I don't feel like she ever completely acknowledges her bisexuality. It just felt like a very one dimensional treatment of an issue that is so multi-faceted, and overall there was little character development even up until the end.

Felt so relatable and loved the nyc vibes. The flaws mc’s were really well done. I enjoyed Naina’s internal conflict with her queerness, that felt super authentic and fit that characters way of thinking. The overall glow and tone of the novella was great and super easy to read! 4.5⭐️

✨ The Vibes ✨
A witty and philosophical exploration of identity and situationships (in less than 200 pages)

📖 Read if…
✨ You’re craving a good pasta dish
✨ You’re looking for a quick read
✨ You won’t shy away from a romance that gets philosophical

Continuing on with my journey of reading everything 831 Stories, Comedic Timing is their latest, following Naina as she navigates a move to NYC, questions about her sexual identity, and a new situationship with someone unexpected.

This book is classic 831 Stories: excellent line level writing, a swoon-worthy romance, and characters you can’t help but root for. Comedic Timing did have a greater focus on personal identity than Big Fan and Hardly Strangers, but it felt really organic within the story, as Naina’s growth and development was intertwined in her blossoming relationship with David.

As much as I enjoyed this one, this is the first from 831 Stories that wasn’t an instant five stars from me, mostly due to how philosophical and existential some of Naina and David’s conversations got. Maybe my brain was fried, but I found that those scenes really took me out of the story. Still, I really enjoyed reading this one, and can’t wait to check out the online extras!

Comedic Timing is out now. Thanks to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Comedic Timing is a witty and heartfelt debut that blends humor, cultural identity, and personal growth in a fresh and engaging way. Upasna Barath brings a unique voice to the page, full of sharp observations and relatable moments.
The main character's journey through stand-up comedy and self-discovery is both funny and touching. I especially appreciated the blend of humor with more serious themes like family expectations, mental health, and the complexities of finding your place in the world.
This is a great pick for readers who enjoy character-driven stories with smart, laugh-out-loud writing and emotional depth. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this clever and thoughtful novel!

I love what 831 is doing but this one wasn't my favorite of theirs. I thought the writing was good but found the character to be a bit immature for my liking and didn't quite buy into the romance of it all.

We love a bi queen! This book was so wild I loved it! Like all 831 titles don't be fooled by how short it looks there's so much going on! This book does a perfect job of showing how people make mistakes and how complicated life can be in your 20s. I wish David was real and that he would make me pasta
:,(

Thank you so much to Netgalley and 831 Stories for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

all girls do is eat hot chip, be bisexual and cheat. this was fine, it was nice and short and sweet. bisexual woman was a nice touch. I liked that she started being in a relationship with a man so late in her life and didn’t have sexual experience.

Does 831 ever miss? I love these romances so much and find so much enjoyment in them. This one tackles something a lot of people deal with today: sexual identity. I think it holds very important conversations and was a great twist on a typical copy and paste romance.

My favorite of the bunch! Naina Rao moves to NYC after ending a relationship with her older girlfriend, Sofia. As she chases a creative career, she meets David, an aspiring filmmaker, and their connection forces her to question her sexual identity and life goals. I adored the friends-to-lovers trope here and the friendship between the main characters. I’ve never read anything with a plot quite like that and it was chef’s kiss, perfection.

I am once again the target audience for everything 831 publishes about messy millennial women.

This was so honest and so tender and hit all the right notes. The lead character Naina felt so real in her uncertainty and her journey was extremely relatable. 831 has a knack for publishing stories that feel expansive even though they’re novella length. They also sure know what they’re looking for, this is another 5 star for me.

Naina just broke up with her long-term girlfriend and moved to New York for a fresh start. She ends up at David's birthday party through connections with mutual friends. They both stick their feet in their mouth during their first meeting and can't let it go. The relationship continues to develop from there, giving Naina an identity crisis as she's never developed romantic feelings for a man.

I've enjoyed all of the 831 Stories as quick, cute reads. However, I don't love a (spoiler alert) cheating trope. I empathize with Naina's identity crisis and completely understand it could be argued that Naina didn't cheat when she slept with her ex. On the other hand, I despise the logic that "sleeping with someone else made me realize my feelings for you were real." Overall, I did enjoy the story and the characters, but my dislike for that trope is a personal preference.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I read set piece as an arc and loved it so much!! I also read big fan by 831 stories for my book club and was a big fan *wink wink* but this one just didn't hit it for me! I felt no connection towards the characters or chemistry between them!


thank you net galley and 831 stories for the e-arc though!

This is the third book from 831 Stories and I love how they are all so different and so satisfying. Comedic Timing is the story of Naina, who has just broken up with her girlfriend—her only one ever—by moving to NYC. She goes to a party at a friend of a friend’s apartment and meets David, who she feels drawn to. The book is Naina working through her feelings and David working through his as they navigate friendship and the possibility of more.
Barath’s story is funny, sad and romantic. I couldn’t put it down! While I was rooting for Naina and David to end up together, I also rooted for Naina to come into her own and sort through her feelings. All in all, a solid, enjoyable read!

I did not finish this book as I couldn't get past the drug use in the first chapter. Just not my thing. In the spirit of reading for pleasure, I did not continue reading the book. That said, the cover and branding of the book were eye catching, and I actually liked the relatively short length because sometimes it's nice to just finish a fun read in one sitting, so I would be interested in trying other books from this publisher in the future. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book!

i really enjoyed comedic timing. something that’s hard for me with novella’s is to get the buy in that the characters actually like one another in an authentic way but comedic timing definitely had me convinced. i think the pacing was great and i enjoyed the themes it explored. naina is a bit of a messy & relatable bi queen and i loved her sm.

831 forever!

A book that celebrates not only discovering a new kind of love, but also friendship and New York City.

I didn't love Comedic Timing -- and it's likely just because it wasn't what I wanted it to be. This would be more accurately marketed as a "finding yourself" book which isn't what I was necessarily in the mood for; there is very little romance in this. The writing is good so I still breezed through it!

Honestly it was a lot of fun. It was a great read for valentines . Highly rec it to romance lovers everywhere