For the yet unindoctrinated, 831 stories is a publisher of unrelated, romantically compelling novellas by different authors. Hardly Strangers is our second effort from this team. With online content and epilogues, fanfiction on their website, and delicious storylines, 831 stories is a fresh, modern take on the romance genre. And, for the record, I am HERE for it.

Shera, an LA based writer, is waiting for a guy she's been pining over for months at a trendy Silver Lake bar when she feels eyes on her. Her friend recognizes him as Max King, infamous leader of an Irish punk band. Their connection is instan, cutting and filled with banter and attraction. In the same vein as Before Sunrise, what unfolds is a winding night of confessions and realizations that will leave Shera changed.

This is a fun amuse bouche of a story! It's an easy single sitting read. These novellas are the perfect escape! Thank you to Netgalley and 831 stories for the advanced copy!

Thank you to NetGalley, author A.C. Robinson, and publisher 831 Stories for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

831 Stories has been taking over my social media feeds recently, and I decided to check out their first novella, Big Fan, last month. To my surprise (as I am not always a romance girly), I devoured it and have still been thinking about it. I immediately went to get my hands on Hardly Strangers, since it was being published soon. Unfortunately, I was not quite as obsessed with this one, although I do believe that is more on my personal taste than with the novella as a whole. As with Big Fan, I flew through this and am absolutely LOVING the format!! Robinson has a perfectly paced story here that is all plot, no filler, and it makes it just a joy to read!! Even though I read it quickly, I didn't feel like I necessarily ~needed~ more because what was there was expertly done, and I enjoyed it for what it was. I really liked Robinson's writing style, and I thought Shera was an interesting character. I appreciate 831 Stories for publishing romances that feature such cool, mature women that even when not always fully self-confident, they read as having an innate sense of who they are. For me, what was a miss with this was the male protagonist, Max King. I do believe this is more of a personal problem as 1. I am a lesbian lol and 2. I am kind of picky with my personal tastes in romances. However, I just thought he read as too controlling/demanding. I didn't like how he was always assuming what Shera needed or wanted, and there were several times where it seemed he wouldn't necessarily take no for an answer. This didn't come off as attractive to me, and instead, read a little weird since he as a character was SO critical to the other male character Shera was interested in doing the same thing. I didn't necessarily buy Shera and Max's "insta-love" connection because of this. I personally wanted to see even more of Shera as an individual too, as I think she had an interesting story, and I would have loved even more of her friends present, as they were fun! This is where the limitations of a novella fall since there's only so much you can fit in the length. With this being said, I do think Robinson did a great job writing this overall, and I will still continue to pick up 831 Stories novellas, as they are a lot of fun and well crafted!!

831 Stories is doing it like no one else. Ate this up at the hairdresser and then recommended to her. Perfect if you currently have a short attention span and need a little escape.

this book made me book a therapy appointment and cry for the first time in... well months, over my own trauma and similar experience. I did not expect to be sobbing and needing therapy on a random friday morning because of a book

Hardly Strangers is the next installment in 831 Stories' lovely collection of romance. We meet Shera who has finally (maybe) scored a date with the guy she's been lusting after for ages, when things take a little turn and she instead meets Max King, the frontman of an Irish punk band.

I enjoyed Hardly Strangers, it's a great quick romance with some great spice and interesting characters. I liked getting dropped into Shera's story and was able to get a good sense of place and her friends (even if they should have told her to ignore Michael) pretty much right off the bat. I will say I did a bit of a double take with some of Shea's reactions to Max, but on the whole, it's a fun romp and I recommend.

Thank you very much to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I didn't like this one as much as the first story from 831 Stories but nevertheless enjoyed the writing and relationship between Shera and Max. I appreciated the honesty and openness that Max approached Shera with throughout much of their evening together. Ultimately, a quick read but wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for the ARC!

I am an avid romance reader and I appreciate what 831 Stories is doing with romance novellas, but Harly Strangers wasn't for me.

The writing was pretty good, and the pacing worked. I struggled to fully buy into the relationship, which is often the case for love stories that happen over one day. I was bummed during the second convenience store scene in which Max's fans weren't "sharp enough" to keep up with him. It gave 'Shera's not like other girls' vibes. I also didn't necessarily think Max and Shera's rapport was especially sparkling despite the book trying to tell me that was the case.

Although I didn't love Hardly Strangers, I think folks who appreciate more dramatic romances will really like it.

Hardly Strangers by A.C. Robinson is a heart-stealing, tender, and irresistibly sexy romance that captures the magic of unexpected love. Shera Benoit, our protagonist, is a brilliantly crafted character—strong, independent, and deeply relatable. Her journey is one of rediscovery and vulnerability, especially as she meets Max King, the steadfast, compassionate, and utterly swoon-worthy hero. Their connection feels genuine and raw, evolving from strangers to something undeniably powerful.

The story balances deep, tender moments with steamy scenes, making it impossible to put down. And when I thought it couldn’t get better, Robinson delivers a fantastic epilogue that wraps up Max and Shera’s love story in the most heartwarming, unforgettable way. Hardly Strangers is a love story you’ll want to savor, with characters who’ll stay with you long after the final page.

While I liked 831 stories' first book better, this was still very good and very different. I just wish it was longer! I need more from these characters as much as I loved this in this one, brief moment. I am so excited for more from this publisher because so far, they are FANTASTIC! Give this a try!

Hardly Strangers comes out next week on November 12, 2024 and you can purchase HERE.

Under different circumstances, maybe I'd be excited. Maybe I would be giving myself over to youthful optimism, listening to music, having a drink, and savoring the ritual of getting ready. Unfortunately, as it stands, I've surrendered to nerves and worry, staring at my own reflection in total silence like I'm preparing to deliver a dramatic Shakespearean monologue.

Hardly Strangers is everything you want in a romantic novella - it took my breath away with the methodical pacing taking place over the course of around 10 hours we follow Shera as she begins her night hoping for a date with the handsome man she met at a party to her encounter with punk singer Max King. It is fresh and smart and the banter between Max and Shera is outstanding. At times I felt like I shouldn't be there that the conversations were too personal and too intimate - but you just could not look away as they revealed themselves to each other. Truly I am amazed at how easily I fell into this world and how much I wish I could stay there, these characters are so rich and full of life.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6948453698

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I didn’t love this quite as much as the first novella from 831 Stories but despite the somewhat unlikeable characters, I found myself wanting more at the end!

Shera and Max have a night of romance that really reminds me of Before Sunset and uses the famous person/normal person trope in the best way! By the end you'll believe people can fall in love in one night. 831 Stories continue to be the only thing I want to read in difficult-t0-read times.

Thank you to Netgalley and 831 Stories for the ARC.

Hardly Strangers by A.C. Robinson 5/5✨

“Hardly,” I snort.
“Hardly strangers or hardly acquainted?”

Max>Michael

Hardly Stangers is the second book from @831storieshq and it was not at all what I expected and yet it was everything I didn’t know I needed and more!!

I’m not going to compare this to Big Fan, because you really can’t. This was a great discussion on identify, recovering confidence from a partners infidelity, and chance encounters. I absolutely loved it!

Thank you so much to @831storieshq and NetGalley for the ARC. I’m making it my mission to read everything you publish. THANK YOU.
#hardlystrangers #acrobinson #booksbooksbooks #831storieshq

I thoroughly enjoyed this cute novella about two strangers finding themselves after challenging relationships. While the pacing slowed a bit towards the end, it was still a captivating read. I'm eager to learn more about the characters and appreciate how the author leaves that option open. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing this wonderful ARC!

I enjoyed this intense and emotional novella! It has a Before Sunrise vibe and it was really interesting watching a potentially chance encounter turn deeper and more meaningful as the characters delved into each other’s secrets and insecurities. Not a typical celebrity-normal person romance, just two kind of messed up people coming together and learning about each other for a brief moment in time.

A.C. Robinson draws you into the lives of honest, flawed characters whose tangled stories pull you deep into an addictive plot. It’s a journey of connection and redemption that’s hard to put down and one of my standout reads this year.

** A copy of Hardly Strangers was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **

Hardly Strangers is a second offering from 831 Stories and it’s a very different novella from Big Fan. Hardly Strangers happens over the course of one night, Max and Shera are flawed and complex characters and their story is so angsty and messy!

3.5

Shera and Max’s story sounded so intriguing, a modern day Before Sunrise but something felt lacking in this new installment from 832 Stories novel, Hardly Strangers. It may have been their meet-cute, or over all circumstances of their meeting, but the connection between Shera and Max took a while for me to get invested in.

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really love 831's concept of short romantic novellas for those days when I just want a quick happy read. This one was a little intense though, definitely more so than their first book. The entire story happens in one night and it feels like the entire potential relationship is crammed into that one night. It's also VERY angsty with both characters (Shera and Max) having a lot of baggage that they unload on the other person over the course of the night. While I love the novella concept, the ending felt a bit abrupt -- kind of like wait, there's no more pages, what happens next? Overall I would read anything 831 publishes because I do think they're on to an interesting concept but this one just didn't click for me personally.

The dialogue is ::chef's kiss::, which is crucial as this story happens over the course of one evening, relying more on said banter than on any inner monologues. I'd love to see what A.C. Robinson would be able to do with a longer format novel, as the characterizations here are impressive for only having 160 pages to work with. Certainly angstier than Big Fan (831 Stories' first offering), but I can't tell if that is because it was what the plot demanded or if if was due to a new authorial voice. 3-1/2 stars.