Great read from 831 stories, per usual!

I love the shorter length- leaves in all of the fun romance tropes (and realness) without filler scenes.

This book was both fun and flirty while also touching on serious themes like grief and forgiveness. 831 books tend to toe the line perfectly between fluffy fun and real characters. Thoroughly enjoyed!!

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this! Very One Day esque, taking place across many years as the two main characters lives intersect, come together, fall apart, go through hardships, but ultimately, come to a conclusion. The writings didn’t immediately connect with me but it definitely improved later on as the characters became more fleshed out and developed. This one has reasonably stuck with me and I can’t wait to eventually be able to get a physical copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for the arc!

I LOVEEEED THIS!!!

I laughed, I cried (!), and I blushed throughout this sweet story of two “friends” who are bound to end up together—no matter how much (or how long) they deny it.

I’m not a When Harry Met Sally fan (I’m sorry, but Billy Crystal is just not it), but I do agree that this book has those vibes. And One Day vibes 😭😭

I preordered this one, but… how am I supposed to wait until September???😩❤️

(Thank you, 831 Stories and Netgalley, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

I really enjoyed this 'When Harry Met Sally' inspired novella. Somehow Erika Veurink manages to convince me of Marin and Teddy's insta-love and that they still felt the same way about each other for eight years despite not having much to do with each other over that time. Teddy was an utter sweetheart, pining for Marin who just willfully refused to get out of her own way, to a point where she was downright hurtful to Teddy at a very vulnerable time. At times the pace did lag a bit, and I honestly wasnt sure if Marin deserved forgiveness for what she did (THREE YEARS? Come on), but it was well executed.

Thanks to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is one my favorites of these novellas, as I love right person, wrong time and it taking years to get together. I don’t think this is for everyone. There is cheating (with each other), they see other people throughout the years, the last reason they weren’t together was annoying, and Marin was frustrating from the beginning. Still glad Teddy and Marin got their HEA.

I can’t get enough of 831 Stories! This may be my favorite one yet.

This is a beautiful character driven story that reminded me of Normal People meets Harry Met Sally. I devoured this book! I loved the depth and growth of Marin and Teddy’s characters. I found myself frustrated with them but really rooting for them to make it. I don’t know how 831 stories manages to infuse such depth and detail into these novellas, but I LOVE it!

Thank you to Net Galley and 831 Stories for the ARC.

Might be my favorite book published by 831. The ultimate slow burn that shows exactly how the universe has things that are out of our control. Seeing the relationship build and unravel between Teddy and Mar was everything and more.

As an ardent fan of When Harry Met Sally, it certainly has the same storyline of two people, Teddy and Marin, who embark on their journey to New York from University of Iowa with a feeling of trepidation as to what will come next. Coupled with the track of Danger Zone by Keith Loggins, they explore what they could mean to each other both physically and emotionally. However, at the end of the trip, it was a mutual decision that they will both be friends and the possibility of seeing each other is low. Of course, they run into each other at a keraoke bar, and all emotions resurface. I understand that Marin relocates to Copenhagen for job enhancement but she is lonely without a lack of a social life. Only does work sustain her. Teddy showing up reminds her of what truly love can look like, but she runs away. I found her reason at that age due to her dad to be feeble and I was glad that Sloane said how disappointed she was in her. No one who is suffering and opens themselves up to someone that vulnerable deserved to be alone. The book with 8 years and 50 miles has a happy ending but I wish Marin was stronger.

Thank you NetGalley and 831 Stories for the arc!!

151 pages of being infuriated with Marin but I think that’s the point?!?!? (it’s also OK to not vibe with a character - let’s learn empathy:) Being in our 20s where we’re aware enough of our self destructive habits but not strong enough to break them?!?!??

This read like a tragic love story (though still an HEA) with Marin always on flight mode and Teddy feeling that settling down is what life’s all about. In equal part, this short story also spotlights facing our triggers, failing, failing again, and then release.

I can’t tell if I love it (though I definitely don’t hate it), but Erika Veurink brought out visceral emotions from me which is a sign of the author doing a good job!!!

3.5 stars because the time jumps sent me into orbit each time, and also the way that some of the confessions were worded felt too poetic and pulled me out of the story.

Raw emotion and gripping writing that sucked me into Marin and Teddy's little world. Very 'Normal People'-esque (but with a happier ending).

For those who love One Day, you will love this book. It is sad and sweet and romantic. And I always love a story where he falls first and HARD!

Just like all of the other stories in the 831stories collection this one did not disappoint! I loved everything about this from the character development to the plot and flew through it!

I am a huge fan of these novellas by 831 stories. They pack so much story in an assessable number of pages. As someone who also graduated from a Big Ten school in the Midwest, I could relate to the protagonists desire to get to the 'big city' immediately upon graduation. The "when Harry met Sally" vibes were there, but not in an unrealistic set-up. Highly recommend this new nugget from 831.

I received an Advanced Reader copy via NetGalley.

I’m always so pleasantly surprised by how much story is packed into these novellas. Based on how the book started, it was not at all what I anticipated (in a good way) and I enjoyed where the story went from there. I appreciated the depth and growth of the characters. Another excellent read from 831 Stories.

Thank you to Net Galley and 831 Stories for the ARC.

This was a really wonderful and emotional read. I usually really dislike a character that can’t get out of their own way but I didn’t dislike Marin. I think that had a lot do to with the writing and that Teddy was a very hopeful character. I really like that despite him being a bit of a simp, we still got to experience his pain at Marin’s rejection, without glazing over it too quickly. The pacing was great too!

Rating: 4.75 out of 5

Thank you 831 stories for sharing another ARC, and one that I have to say is my favorite! Whew, “Exit Lane” had me on an emotional rollercoaster…like I was doing my best to not cry in the hotel gym while walking on the treadmill.
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Speaking to the writing, I really enjoyed the dual POV and how we were able to get all points of the story. Marin and Teddy go for stretches of time not interacting so we’re able to catch up with their lives. As much as I wanted Marin and Teddy to just get together immediately, Veurnik was very good at building the tension of will they-won’t they…despite it causing some heart burn. So I adored Teddy but found Marin annoying (eek). Teddy was communicative and a romantic and Marin was an avoidant.
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Regardless, this was a perfect read and I’m eagerly praying for this to be adapted to screen!

Save me new 831 story, save me new 831 story.... I swear I just eat every 831 novella up, and this one was certainly no exception. I can only dream to find a love who yearns for me like Teddy and Marin lust for each other.

My gosh, 831 does it again - every release keeps getting better! This was an emotional one - grief, illness, pining, angst. Even though they seemed like an unlikely match, I was rooting for Teddy and Marin from the start; the banter was too good. Every time they separated I was screaming for them to "figure it out" but I think they both needed that time to grow up a bit in order for their relationship to really work. I do not know how I got so attached to these characters in so few pages, but I hope an update on their lives is coming.

my first 831 Stories and it did NOTTT disappoint. I love offshoots of other pieces of media I already love, and this one is heavy on the similarities to people we meet on vacation and when harry met sally. I loved the angst over the years, the yearning, the bi FMC—like this one was kind of made for me.

thank you to Erika Veurink, 831 Stories, and NetGalley for this advance copy!