Naina moves to New York after breaking up with her long-term girlfriend, only to find herself attracted to a man for the first time. I thought this was a really thoughtful meditation on what it means to be queer and experiencing attraction to the opposite gender for the first time. I really liked seeing Naina's thoughts on her own queerness and her discussions with David. I do think that sometimes the characters over-intellectualized some of their conversations in a way that doesn't work quite as well in a novela as it would in a full-length novel.

Overall the 831 Stories project is pretty similar to Amazon's holiday short stories, but so far they've been a higher quality than the Amazon ones (no shade to all the authors doing the Amazon ones, they're their own type of fun and I loved the Christina Lauren Valentine short story). Comedic Timing was a great way to be introduced to Upasna Barath's writing and I look forward to trying whatever she publishes next.

as a bisexual woman dating a man, i absolutely loved the bisexual representation in this novella i felt so seen!! 831 novels are the perfect treat -- short enough to read in one sitting and so so so sexy

I was not a fan of COMEDIC TIMING - I think the writing style just wasn't for me. I loved 831 Stories' first book, BIG FAN, so I was excited to grab the ARC of COMEDIC TIMING. However, I found the writing stilted, the characters underwritten, and the story boring. 831 Stories' mission statement about producing romance for people who don't read romance is probably accurate for this book. It feels a bit more like literary fiction than romance, in that it's slightly esoteric, not very propulsive, and and doesn't seem to care about the reader.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of Comedic Timing! I’m enjoying sitting with the 831 stories as they unfold, and the characters within them. I loved the pacing of the friends to lovers arc, with Naina and David building a solid friendship as Naina explores her identity and New York. As with other novellas, I wish I had more time to get to know these characters, or wish the author had spent more time with these two characters rather than build out some of the minor characters in such a short story. Still, I loved Naina and David’s meandering existential talks about relationships and art. It was an easy, one-sitting read for a Sunday - 3 stars!

This story was so fun! It is very New York-y and funny and deeply charming - Naina is relatable in her insecurity but not irritatingly so, and I loved the relationships with her friends and the slow burn with David. So excited to see what 831 Stories will do next!

3.5 stars! I fell in love with 831 stories with BiG Fan and I was super excited to read another novella by 831! This was a very normal people romance with the sparkle of NYC & being in a new town. It felt so realistic and our main character had anxiety/identity struggles which were very relatable. I also really appreciated how her queer identity was explored! Even though it's a novella and short I feel like I knew our characters ! Was perfect for my short flight! Thank you Net Galley for the arc, will forever be a 831 fan!

Naina and David have nothing in common and everything in common when they meet at his roommates birthday, and I really needed this quick friends-to-lovers romance right now. Naina has just moved to NYC so we get all of the woman in a new city energy and excitement and finding her place in a new home. I need 831 Stories to keep it up with their romances, I cannot get enough and this really helped me this week.

Comedic Timing is the next installment in 831 Stories' series of romance novellas. We follow Naina Rao who has just moved to NYC after breaking up with her long term girlfriend, Sofia, back in Chicago. However, her perception of herself gets turned on its head when she meets David, an aspiring filmmaker, and they strike up a friendship trying to encourage either to do more writing.

I did not enjoy this novella as much as I have others from 831 Stories, I had trouble with Naina and her insecurities that seemed to dominate a lot of the novella where we're in her head. I also felt like the pacing was a bit off in the book with how Naina and David's relationship unfolded, specifically toward the end when Naina starts really being mean to David. There felt like a lot of comparison of the "wrongs" that Naina and David had perpetrated when they really weren't equivalent. That being said, the smut in this book was fantastic and it's a really quick read.

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

It’s the day after the election and I’ve been struggling to focus on anything for longer than a few seconds until I started reading this book! I absolutely loved it.
Naina’s character grew so much throughout the story in a way that was realistic, messy, and beautiful.

The love story was also slow but steady in a way that was so tender. I particularly loved the exploration of grief, trauma, life transitions, and identity.
My only wish for this book is that it was longer.

I really enjoyed this novella by 831 Stories. It is very thoughtful and quite romantic. I liked that you get a very well rounded picture of what Naina and her life are like, even in such a short book. You really feel the chemistry between Naina and David and understand what brings them together, which is essential to a good romance. I liked the way the book depicted breakups, roommate relationships, finding your footing in a new city and making new friends. The added layer of a bisexual woman being attracted to a man for the first time and dealing with that part of her identity changing seemed very authentic and true to life, like it was actually happening to a real person. This is an excellent first novel and I look forward to what Upasna Barath and 831 Stories have to offer in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and 831 Stories for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Naina has moved to New York after breaking up with ex-girlfriend of six years and, at her first New York party, finds herself allured by the birthday boy David.

'Comedic Timing' is an engrossing character study of a young queer woman wrestling with her attraction to a man who is known for his hook-ups. The chemistry between Naina and David is palpable as they form a beautiful friendship. I loved how flawed, messy and real they felt, thanks to the sharp and naturalistic dialogue.

With its well-paced plot development and crisp writing, I devoured this novella, wondering how these two crazy kids would work it all out, given their internal battles. If I had any quibble, it would've been perhaps wanting more of David's backstory fleshed out more with regards to his romantic and family relationships.

I really hope one day someone pays to adapt this to a film because I would watch it, hell just reading this book felt like a movie. Upasna Barath, you're on my auto-buy list.

Thanks to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the ARC.

Naina isn't looking for love as she moves to NYC - she just wants to move on from her heartbreak. So when she unexpectedly develops feelings for a friend of a friend (or friend of a friend's friend?!), her life becomes more chaotic than she'd like.

Naina and David are cute together and I thought this was an engaging and ultimately sweet read!

Thank you very much to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Comedic Timing by Upasna Barath was my least favorite book so far from 831 Stories. I found the characters to be unlikeable without any redeeming characteristics. The romance between the two main characters was not at all to my liking which was sad because as a bisexual, I always look forward to seeing a bi character. Overall, I just didn't like this. I found the story to be both unoriginal and boring.

3.5 stars

Oh boy. Comedic Timing may be a novella, but it takes you on quite a ride. While I enjoyed a majority of the book, with Naina and David’s friendship blossoming… and becoming something more, some of the book felt hectic and unnecessary (to me).

Thank you NetGalley and 831 Stories for my ARC of Comedic Timing!

What I found inspiring about this book is that Naina realizes her self worth and that she is not defined by how others perceive her. She felt so lucky to be in a relationship with Sofia that she truly went along with what she wanted including living with her to make her happy. It was a strong move for her to leave Chicago and come to New York to take a new job in marketing. Similar to comedic prose, timing is everything! It is in New York that she met David, Chloe and Christian and realized how worthy she is to find love and not tag along in the hopes of being appreciated and seen. She knew herself as valued and as a result, her self esteem grew. She said no to Sofia and yes to David even when they took time apart. I think this is a good book to read if one is lacking in confidence at a certain point in time because that type of confidence will always come back to those who choose it too.

Barath’s writing feels super real—like it could be based on true experiences. It follows Naina, who moves to NYC from Chicago after ending her first-ever, five-year relationship. Starting fresh, she meets David, a friend of a friend, and sparks fly in an unexpected way. Naina’s never been into guys before, but the chemistry is undeniable, leading to a friendship that slowly turns into something more.

I really connected with Naina, especially when David leaves for a two-week trip just as their connection heats up, throwing everything into chaos. Her struggles with a tough boss and roommate drama add to the story’s relatable edge. While I enjoyed it, it didn’t quite grab me like the first two novellas in the series. The plot could’ve had a bit more going on, but the dynamic between Naina and David was enough to keep me hooked. I’d definitely pick up more of Barath’s work down the road.

Barath presents these distinct honest, flawed characters that immerse you in their world. Following how they navigate the challenges that they face. However as the characters and the plot are messy in a good way, to reflect on the main character's flaws and how she navigates them. But personally, the plot just got chaotic and confusing to understand where the romance was going between the two main characters. I also think for a novella there was just too much happening with the plot and how many characters were being introduced. Which then minimises the characterisation and dynamic between the two main characters
2.25

The third book from 831 Stories (and the second with first person narration!), this novella follows the youngest protagonist so far as she navigates a breakup, moving to a new city, and potentially finding love again. Naina has broken up with her girlfriend of 5 years, and in the aftermath has decided to leave Chicago and move to NYC. There, she goes to a friend's party where she meets David. They strike up a friendship, and Naina slowly starts to realize she's feeling something more for him.

What impressed me the most about the book was the pacing of Naina and David's relationship. This novella isn't long, but the relationship growth and changes feels organic -- it's given a chance to breathe before moving on to the next step. What felt oddly paced, was Naina's emotional response. It's possible the author was trying to make a point about being in one's mid-20s, but the volatility sometimes felt like it came out of nowhere. I also don't think a decision in the third act was well motivated, it seemed like it came because they needed something to move the plot along, not because any decisions had led to this point.

Overall, 831 Stories continues to build a strong library of romance novels. I appreciate the opportunity to read this one, and look forward to the next installment from the publisher!

So fun! I love the lesbian turned bisexual trope (plz see The Bisexual/Desiree Akhavan’s work) and the pacing of this was great. Just enough movement through time without being unrealistic. Another win for 831 Stories 💘

COMEDIC TIMING is a novella with a very believable take on anxiousness centered around dating and vulnerability. After a breakup and moving across the country, Naina finds herself attracted to a man for the first time, a friend of a friend named David. Due to Naina's triggers and anxiety, for admitting her feelings to David (which was quite hard and uncomfortable for her), not hearing from him on a trip after feeling very exposed and knowing his wild past where it seems like everyone Naina meets slept with David, Naina feels out of her depths and is experiencing a lot of emotions all at once. I appreciated how aware and honest Naina is with herself and the work she needs to do to heal to allow love to be easier for herself.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

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