Save me new 831 story, save me new 831 story.... I swear I just eat every 831 novella up, and this one was certainly no exception. I can only dream to find a love who yearns for me like Teddy and Marin lust for each other.

My gosh, 831 does it again - every release keeps getting better! This was an emotional one - grief, illness, pining, angst. Even though they seemed like an unlikely match, I was rooting for Teddy and Marin from the start; the banter was too good. Every time they separated I was screaming for them to "figure it out" but I think they both needed that time to grow up a bit in order for their relationship to really work. I do not know how I got so attached to these characters in so few pages, but I hope an update on their lives is coming.

my first 831 Stories and it did NOTTT disappoint. I love offshoots of other pieces of media I already love, and this one is heavy on the similarities to people we meet on vacation and when harry met sally. I loved the angst over the years, the yearning, the bi FMC—like this one was kind of made for me.

thank you to Erika Veurink, 831 Stories, and NetGalley for this advance copy!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and 831 Stories for this advanced copy and a chance to review this book. I had such a fun time entering the world of Teddy and Marin.
These two characters meet on a road trip from their college town to their destination of NYC. The story takes you through the ebbs and flows, the highs and lows of their stories in a way that leaves you wanting more of their respective POV, but giving you enough detail to hold you over until you meet again.
Their stories touch on illness, love, loss, and trauma in a beautiful way that left my heart aching with the characters, but also rooting for their ultimate love story.
This is my second title from 831 stories, and while short, they both have me hooked from the start.

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.