The author did a wonderful job describing Naina's inner, honest thoughts as she wrestled with what it meant that she, who identified as gay, was attracted to a man. Brava!

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I struggled to get through it, mainly because I didn’t feel for the FMC. She got out of a long term relationship, moved to NYC, and started meeting people. That’s great, but then I didn’t understand her motives. Why was she the way she was? What caused it.

The “relationship” was filled with problems, and it feels like it was weirdly resolved, and I don’t know if it’s going to go the distance.

I will say, it is accurate to the real world, so if you like to read romcoms about relationships that are true and messy, you may enjoy this!

Thanks to 831 Stories for an eARC in exchange for my honest review #Team831

I’ve been really into @831storieshq’s marketing—I love the simple but catchy covers!—and was excited to read my first book from them, Comedic Timing by Upasna Barath. I REALLY liked this novella! It follows Naina, a 25 year old who recently moved to New York after a breakup with a woman. She finds herself confused when she’s attracted to a man: David, who initially upsets her by making assumptions about her sexuality based on the way she dresses (he expressed surprise that she had dated a woman).

I thought the burgeoning relationship between Naina and David was really well-written. Their connection feels genuine, they have great banter, and their dialogue felt really natural to me. I feel like I read a lot of books with unlikeable protagonists (which I love!), and it was so nice to spend time with Naina and David, who were (mostly) really likeable.

I don’t tend to read a lot of romance (but I’m working on it!), so dipping my toe into the romance genre with a novella was really perfect. It was short and I read it in just a couple of sittings, but the characters felt fully fleshed-out. It was sweet AND a sharp look at gender politics and sexual fluidity.

Thank you to @831storieshq and @netgalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review! I’ll definitely be on the lookout for 831 Stories’s next outing!

Thank you to 831 Stories for this ARC!

If you’re looking for a fun, flirty, perfectly-paced burn that you can read in a night look no further! The characters are people I’d definitely be friends with!

I found the amount of characters and complexities of the narrative easy to follow. I also really love the way the characters were fleshed out in this shorter story. Sometimes I find the male characters in romance novels to come off as a bit cliche or cheesy but love the way these characters were developed! Definitely not cheesy, they were well-thought out! The underground comedy scene of it all was also a fun angle!

I really loved the way Naina’s sexuality was expressed and talked about. Def rooting for her and David!

4.5/5 stars!

I have loved all of the 831 Stories so far and Comedic Timing is no different! I would recommend this book to any romance reader, but especially to one who is trying to break out of a reading slump. The Bi representation in this book was very realistic and I believe the romance will resonate to many in their 20s and 30s.

3.75 rounded up to 4 stars

This was my first delve into a romance novella and I was worried that things would feel rushed and inauthentic like this whirlwind romance, but that wasn't the case at all. This novella does a great job of spanning a decent amount of time without feeling like you lose any detail despite the length.

As a bisexual woman I felt very seen by this representation. The need to prove your queerness as a straight passing queer person is draining and very real. This story felt raw and true to that experience in a way I really appreciate, I think honestly I just would've wanted more of their story

Ok so much happened in less than 200 pages and felt so realistic to dating in your 20’s/30’s, figuring your life out, and growing with someone. Even the frustrations of each other Loved exploring Naina’s identity crisis after her break up and her fluidity of sexuality.

David is perfect, no notes <3 <3 <3 Yes, he def smells good and knows how to ask women questions and go after someone he likes. They don’t make men like him anymore (except in fiction)!

3.5/5⭐

Thank you to 831Stories and NetGalley for this ARC!

This novella was easy to digest, and with the material that was a big draw. Out of the two novella's that I've read from this publisher, this one didn't seem as well-rounded and balanced. The two characters were relatable but I felt like their core issues never really seemed unique enough to pique my interest beyond finishing the book.

I would enjoy seeing more from this author thought!

Again, thank you to 831Stories and NetGalley for this ARC!

Still love how bitesized 831s stories are, though this one could have been expanded into a full novel. There were a lot of compelling side characters and Naina's life was so full beyond the romance we were meant to be focused on. If anything, I'd like to see Naina's world expanded. I enjoyed reading this but would have liked a little more.

Comedic Timing is out TODAY!!

Naina is reeling from a break up. So what does she do? Flee Chicago and move to NYC of course. She always thought she only liked girls until she meets David and is instantly enamored. This story follows Naina and David as they navigate life, love, and friendship all in under 200 pages.

831 stories has made me fall in love with their romance novellas. I have no idea how these authors make me fall in love with their characters in a short amount of time, but I devour their stories and this one was no exception. @upasnabarath has created a story that captures navigating your mid 20’s post breakup so well and I loved Naina and David’s story. I really enjoyed Naina’s self discovery and character development. I feel so much of myself in her at that age even though we had different experiences. Also, maybe a Christian and Chloe story next or even a Sofia story???? 👀

Also I love @831storieshq so much I belong to their “The Ones” membership and how cute is the stamp in my book that I somehow just noticed now?

Thank you @831storieshq for the eARC for this book, and I’m glad I added a physically collection to my 831 Library.

#team831 #romance #novella #tbr #books #booksta #bookstagram

Comedic timing was a fun novella! I loved the friends to lovers romance between the complicated characters as they work on conquering their flaws. Can’t wait to read what 831 has in store next

I thought this an original and interesting take on contemporary romance. There could have been a little more exposition on the fmc's identity crisis but given the brevity of the story i thought it was handled pretty well overall. I would be interested in reading more from this author.

these 831 novellas are sooo easily digestible, but this might be my least favorite of the bunch. both naina and david are flawed in their own ways (relatable) and naina struggles with attachment to a new relationship (also relatable) after the ending of a previous relationship (again… relatable).

I don’t know why this novella didn’t quite hit the spot for me, though, beyond that the writing style felt a bit choppy and there were weird lapses in time (three days here, almost two weeks there).

thank you to netgalley and 831 stories for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Comedic Timing is a fun, tenderhearted novella about how it takes more than just putting yourself in a new situation to break bad patterns and how allowing your identity to be an ever-changing, fluid thing in the journey toward self-discovery can be hard.

This bite-sized romcom is often quite embarrassing, and that’s how you know it’s REAL. Following Naina, our leading lady, around NYC as she navigates a new city, a new job, new friends, and a new crush was a whimsical escape from reality that I deeply enjoyed.

This book was so good! It felt fresh and real. I felt immersed in the city and Naina's life. I also enjoyed the plot, which was unique from anything I had read before. It was an interesting look into the lives of stand-up comedians! I would love to read more by Upsana!

Thank you to 831Stories and Netgalley for the e-arc. #Team831

I really, really enjoyed this one! This is a relatively short story about Naina, a woman fresh off a breakup with her long term girlfriend and new to NYC. We follow her as she navigates all the big life changes, and falls for someone unexpected in the process.

I loved Barath’s writing style. The world felt very full and lived in for such a quick read, which isn’t an easy thing to do. The navigating of Naina’s queer identity was handled beautifully and didn’t shy away from exploring the complexities of what that looks for Naina. I also really appreciated that the main “conflict” for the couple in this book wasn’t miscommunication or anything like that, but really was just two people trying to sort out their own shortcomings so they can do things differently in the future. Gimme more of this!

BIG fan of 831 Stories and NetGalley for sharing an ARC with me. I found Comedic Timing wildly relatable and comforting. Seeing a Queer BIPOC FMC warms my heart and it exploded when that same character was allowed to be messy, confused, and three dimensional. My favorite was when our queen Naina said NO to dating apps and instead jokes one can “corrupt the dynamics of your friend group.” I felt PERSONALLY ATTACKED. Being a young woman figuring out identity isn't always linear and that's OKAY.

Overall would HIGHLY recommend reading this, it felt like a gentle reminder that you don't have to know exactly who you are or who you're going to love so having patience with yourself and remaining open is vital 💌❤️‍🔥

This was my first novella that I have read by 831 stories, but I can already tell that it isn't going to be my last. I thought this was an entertaining read that had more depth than I anticipated for a novella. It was a super quick read, which I appreciated, almost like a palate cleanser after some heavier reads that I have participated in this month. I appreciated out main character Naina's growth over the story. It is obvious that she had some demons and trauma from her past, and I felt like by the end of the novella the reader could appreciate that she was putting effort into maturing and working through her problems. I wish we got a bit more of the romance element and sometimes the writing was lacking a bit of heart, but overall I did have fun reading it. I definitely enjoyed this one, and look forward to more novellas in these series in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

3.5/5

This was an interesting story! I enjoyed the way the author grappled with the fluidity of sexuality and the complicated feelings that can come along with that. I found both main characters to be frustrating at times and underdeveloped but overall I enjoyed the plot!

*3.5* Thank you NetGalley & 831 Stories for this ARC!

Barath portrays the very real struggle of your mid 20’s in this novella- whether you’re grieving a life that once was, navigating your identity, or just getting too drunk & feeling jealous! While I related to Naina in many ways, her relationship with David felt sooo toxic! It was like the characters were on the edge of a breakthrough about unhealthy cycles & relationships the entire time, then just hurdled to this conclusion following Christian’s accident. This made it hard for me to root for them, but I guess it also gave these characters a very realistic & complex relationship. I think I just would have liked some more self realizations from the two of them before the end. The writing is great in this one, though, and I felt Naina’s struggles like my own! I think fans of Sally Rooney would really enjoy this!!