I can always count on 831 Stories for publishing a delectable morsel of a romance and Exit Lane by Erika Veurink is no exception. A bit of a star-crossed lovers situation, we are treated to the story of Teddy and Marin as they meet on a fateful road trip from Iowa to NYC after college graduation and how their lives begin to intertwine throughout the intervening years. We get some lovely character development coming from both Teddy and Marin as we see how they learn what they really want out of their lives. Both characters are nicely balanced by a supporting cast, including Carter, Teddy's best friend, and Sloane, Marin's best friend.

If you want a great, lightly spicy romance with incredible character development in a small package - Exit Lane is it.

Thanks so much to 831 Stories and to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Thank you to Netagalley and 831 Stories for the advanced reader copy!

This was EASILY a five star read for me! Let me start by saying, this book is everything I have come to know and love about an 831 Stories novella. These novellas are short but pack a huge punch and flawlessly capture everything we love about romance without committing to a week long read. Exit Lane is certainly no exception to this.

Marin and Teddy meet through mutual friends as they both are heading to New York City from Iowa City. While they think their paths end when they reach their destination, they find themselves coming back together randomly over the next 8 years. And boy, are those 8 years messy and hard for them. This was such a honest representation of post-grad life, and figuring out how you’re going to make it out there on your own. As well as exploring grief in its many forms. Seeing Marin and Teddy’s messy lives come together and fall apart, all while yearning for one another was so frustrating but also so satisfying to watch unfold. Both Marin and Teddy, and the situations they faced, were extremely relatable, and watching them navigate and grow through the chaos of life was heartwarming.

I will always have 831 Stories on my TBR, can’t wait to see what’s next from them!

I devoured Exit Lane and was left in that rare, bittersweet haze where you both feel fully satisfied and desperately wish there was just more. Erika Veurink’s writing is razor-sharp and quietly devastating, with a voice so distinct and emotionally resonant it clings to you long after the last page.

The story is both precise and meandering in the best way, like following someone’s real, messy thought process as they try to make sense of longing, identity, and the quietly disorienting ways we drift in and out of connection with ourselves and others. There’s a cool, detached elegance to the prose that somehow still manages to cut deep, and Veurink has this incredible knack for balancing wit and melancholy.

I wanted more. More pages, more unraveling, more time in this character’s head. But maybe that’s also the point. Exit Lane isn’t about resolution so much as it is about inhabiting the in-between. And it does that beautifully.

This novel nails the “right person, wrong time” vibe, serving up years (!!) of tension and yearning that seriously keeps you invested. Even though it’s a quick read, it packs an emotional punch. Marin had me wanting to shake her and slip her a therapist’s number, while Teddy’s forgiveness is borderline saint-level (maybe a bit too quick to feel totally earned).

Thank you 831 Stories for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

A "When Harry Met Sally"-esque Romance from 831 Stories follows Teddy and Marin from college to adulthood, as they navigate relationships, jobs, and growing up. Graduating from the University of Iowa, Teddy and Marin are connected by a mutual friend to road trip together to NYC as they start new jobs. The road trip sets up a "what if" romantic connection that follows them over the years, as chance keeps having them run in to each other. However, with multiple life challenges -- work, health, general ~feelings~ -- it's an open question whether Teddy and Marin will stop fighting the connection they have.

There were multiple parts of this book that I really enjoyed! Similar to all 831 Stories characters, Marin (and Teddy) are extremely freaking good at their job. Romance novels don't always have characters excelling professionally, so I really appreciate this. Additionally, all characters act like adults. On the flip side of that, I had a really hard time with Marin's character. She has understandable trauma, but also lacks the insight to see when it's coloring her behavior and making her act terribly. The main conflict comes from this, and I found it very off-putting. There was also a health storyline that was a lot to fit in in a novella, it felt a bit rushed.

Overall, Big Fan remains my #1 favorite from 831 Stories, but I did enjoy Exit Lane and look forward to more works by the author. Many thanks to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the opportunity to review!

I’ve been a big fan (!!) of every 831 Stories novella I’ve read, but I was especially drawn to this one because I live in Iowa City where Exit Lane starts. I wasn’t as drawn in by Marin and Teddy’s story as some of the other novellas, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it and would heartily recommend!

this was a very mature love story that spans a lot longer than the road trip i expected. despite the shortness of the novel, it felt long--not entirely in a bad way. i liked seeing the way the two reconnected over the years and how they changed. i liked how other people revolved within their lives and how opinions can change, sometimes for the right person. and the writing was pretty good. my favorite parts were when they were getting closer together. the two have good chemistry and, from each other's perspectives, are so sweet. i really liked the connection with their friends, too. the one person who tied them to each other no matter the years and distance.

i did have some issues at the end. i felt like the problem was resolved a little too simply and quickly, which i can sort of understand given the nature of their relationship. it would have been nice to watch them slowly go through it together, but overall still good book!

Exit Lane follows Teddy and Marin as they embark on a long road trip to New York City after graduating college, and their run ins over the course of the eight years after. As these moments remind them of their agonizing road trip, they also start to notice a draw that will always lead them back to one another.

Teddy and Marin were the kind of characters that were so vivid during the reading experience, that they jumped off the page. I understood their motivations and desires thoroughly, which I commend Erika Veurink for! While the characterization of both Teddy and Marin was incredibly distinct, I found myself not intrigued by either one and therefore struggling to connect to the story. This is a definite "me problem," but it did overall impact my enjoyment of the story. I loved the When Harry Met Sally inspired plot progression and really appreciate how Erika was able to explore such a broad timeline in such a short book!

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!