I will be honest, I really did not enjoy this story. The pacing and timeline was all over the place. There was both insta-love and an incredibly annoying and unnecessary slow-burn. The back and forth felt childish, and I couldn't understand how Teddy could become so obsessed with a woman who truly gave him nothing to obsess about. The kiss might have been good, but Marin seemed absolutely uninterested in him, at least from his point of view. I liked the idea of Teddy having cancer being used as a way to make Marin confront her own trauma, but it didn't play out in a way that made sense at all. Maybe if that idea was explored a little sooner, and we didn't have strange multiple year time skips, this story could have panned out the way I know the author was going for, but I really thought it was the weakest 831 Stories has had so far.

3.5/5

Marin and Teddy have never met before their graduation day from college, but their mutual friend Sloane connects them since they're both heading to New York, Teddy's already driving there, and Marin needs a ride. On the ensuing road trip, they connect more than they expected to, but then say goodbye upon arrival in New York and expect to never see each other again. This story takes place over the span of 8 years, which is a wide range for a book that's less than 200 pages long. Marin and Teddy's connection felt a bit too instantaneous for me - The few chapters at the beginning that covered their road trip didn't leave enough space for me as the reader to feel the chemistry between them. I also struggled to feel sympathetic toward Marin's character in the last third of the book, for reasons I can't mention without spoilers. But Teddy was a lovable Midwestern boy and the story was good for a quick romance read with a bit of spice - I read it in about 24 hours.

Thank you to 831 Stories for the eARC!

I’m heartbroken and simultaneously so happy. I want to vomit. My body can’t stand feeling so many feelings - especially all of these…


I just, I don’t think any words I have will do this story justice. It should be read, by every lover and every dreamer. By every heartbroken person. Because humanity resonates throughout these pages, as does forgiveness. Forever can be simple if you let it; yet, most of us fall short despite this truth.

This is my favorite 831 read, my favorite short story, my favorite….my favorite cluster of feelings this year.

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC. This is a book that deserves ownership, if not to read it every so often, at least to look at the cover, the spine, and remember it’s there.

Thank you to Netgalley for this advance copy! First I want to say that this is the third novella I have read from 831 stories and I have been thoroughly impressed. Often I don't feel that a novella gives me enough satisfaction of a complete story but I have enjoyed all 3 that I have read so far.

This is a story, despite its brevity that takes place over about a 10 year period. The characters cross paths, lose contact and grow up in the meantime but never can forget each other. It is a case of right person, wrong time and the story has quite a bit of emotional weight to it. This is my first story by this author but I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely read another by her.

Many thanks to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the e-ARC of Exit Lane. I’m grateful for the chance to read this novel ahead of its release.

Hit home so hard. Its a powerful exploration of post-grad uncertainty and the complexities of modern relationships. The protagonist’s journey felt deeply personal, capturing the nuances of navigating adulthood with authenticity and grace. Veurink’s prose is both sharp and poetic, making even the smallest moments resonate.

Exit Lane is a compelling read for anyone who appreciates character-driven stories that delve into the intricacies of human connection and self-discovery.

this was such a poignant, well developed read! I loved how the characters' relationship progressed over time. I swooned and I cried and I couldn't put it down. Definitely will recommend!!

Absolutely loved this one! The parallels to "When Harry met Sally" are obvious but I found both characters reasons for not pursuing each other to be so valid. I found their motivations to be understandable and loved the story being told from both perspectives. I'd definitely read this if you're a fan of Bridget Jone's Diary or One Day!

An enjoyable, modern take on "When Harry Met Sally". I loved all the characters—they were distinct, charming, and easy to root for. Some of the resolutions felt a bit rushed, but that might just be because they need the time gaps to mirror the movie, or because I didn’t want to say goodbye to the characters just yet.

God, I loved this story sooooo much! It was such a treat and really worked with the shorter format that 831 Stories has been working on. Highly highly recommend!

Couldn’t put it down! The depth of emotion👏🏼👏🏼 My chest physically hurt reading this.

The imagery was done very well. The character development was too. The conflict irked me a little but I also understand. She wasn’t ready to face it yet and the perfect excuse not to was handed to her. Anxious avoidants will feel seen.

Thank you to NetGalley, 831 Stories and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness, I adored this book! Set over nearly a decade, Marin and Teddy's love story is one for the ages. They meet after college graduation when Marin gets a ride to NYC from Iowa with Teddy. After a drunken conversation in a bar where Marin says men and women can't ever be just friends, there's a life-changing kiss.

We go from the right place/wrong time to the right time/wrong place and finally to the right time/right place, but emotional trauma and medical scares threaten to tear them apart.

I loved the ending, giving call backs to their first night together, loved Marin's notebook, and their happy ending being different from how they both anticipated. 831 Stories is putting out some phenomenal stories and I can't wait to see what's next!

eARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review!

I enjoyed this book, it was a very solid, quick read. I really enjoy the 831 Stories as their quality of book is not reduced by the length. I had some frustration with these characters and their stubbornness but overall very much enjoyed!

Oh my goodness! This book!

I’ve said it before (and will again), if 831 puts it out I’m going to read it. Exit Lane is now my favorite of a very strong line up of stories. How was this book so layered and deep in a novella format? I was excited to pick this up because When Harry Met Sally is my favorite movie and I saw some parallels. Marin and Teddy are strangers that carpool from Iowa to NYC to start their lives after college. Their lives intersect over about a decade afterwards and we see those periods. This made me laugh and cry. It was so emotional and the ending was perfect. If you’re going to read one 831 Story it should be this one (but you should not read one and should read them all).


All opinions are my own - thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

If you know anything about me, then you know that my go-to comfort movie is When Harry Met Sally. When I first picked up Exit Lane, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel. I got sucked in fast- I love a forced proximity trope! While this book is short, it's captivating. I can always count on an 831 Stories novel to get me out of a reading slump.

This book follows Marin and Teddy- two new college graduates who are both traveling to NYC from Iowa City. There's immediately chemistry between the two of them, but they swear that they're "meant to be old friends who lost touch." Their paths continue to cross over the span of 8 YEARS, their journey's always somehow perfectly coinciding. Books like this always give me such a false sense of reality- but it's heartwarming and hopeful to think that when something is meant to be, it'll be.

This was a heart warming story with some unexpected twists throughout. While this was a quick read, I did feel like it was easy to relate to both Teddy and Marin. They both presented as people with different types of "baggage" making the characters feel real. I really enjoyed reading their journey.

Thank you again to Net Galley, Erika Veurink and 831 Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’m a sucker for love stories spanning years and this one is no different. Teddy and Marin will win you over swiftly and beautifully. Huge fan ⭐️

Thanks to Net galley for the arc! Overall an enjoyable read. Something of a unique take of a relationship over the years starting in Iowa and to NYC.

Exit Lane, Erika Veurink - ★★★☆☆

Thank you to @831storieshq and Net Galley for this Arc! Out in September.

After they get set up by a mutual friend to share a post-graduation drive from Iowa City to NYC, Teddy and Marin share a chance encounter that will stay with them forever. Over the eight rocky years that follow their lives remain intertwined, punctuated by chance encounters and transatlantic visits, to eventually bring them right back to where it all started.

There were moments of absolute beauty in this book. I highlighted some lines as I went that were dripping in gorgeous sentiment and meaning. The author’s turn of phrase was brilliant and I really did enjoy reading it. It had Normal People levels of yearning and frustration, but at only 150 odd pages long, there just wasn’t quiiiite enough time for this to embody the slow burn I really wanted from it.

Overall though, Exit Lane delivers emotion really well, as we explore a journey filled with love, loss, and, ultimately, healing. Readers who, like me, enjoy angst-heavy romances with complex character struggles may find this one particularly moving, but I imagine will also, like me, be left just wanting that little bit more!

I recently discovered 831 Stories and instantly became obsessed with their brand so when I was approved this arc and two other upcoming releases I was super excited !

This book hit in so many ways for me, probably one of my fave reads of this year. At just under 200 pages, 'Exit Lane' follows Teddy and Marin as their lives become intertwined as they lose and find one another again. It's like right person, wrong time, every time and the yearning is crazyyyy. 'Before Sunrise' trilogy, 'People We Meet On Vacation' + 'Serendipity' vibes for sure.

Reading this book was literally like watching a comfort rom com movie and I cannot wait to get to the other arcs and the three previous 831 Stories releases which I will defo be purchasing soon !!!

A When Harry Met Sally modern retelling. This novella follows two college graduates as they road trip from Iowa to NYC to start their post college adult lives. It follows them through the subsequent decade of law school, new jobs, romances, etc and their continued run ins. I loved the romance of this novella however I did struggle with the FMC's screw up. I had a really hard time forgiving her with the ease of the MMC and so I had a harder time buying back into their rekindled romance. What she did felt so unforgivable and he forgave her without much show of growth from her other than she kept a journal showing she thought of him. Despite that I still loved the novella and wish we had years more of this couple!

Thank god it’s over. I have never read about two protagonists who are as insufferable, idiotic, and self-sabotaging as these two. Only redeeming parts of this book is the 100% true midwest rep.