Found Time

by Caroline Goldstein

In the vibrant landscape of 1990s New York, Broken Time weaves a poignant second chance narrative of midlife romance and family dynamics. In 1993, Lili and Reid lock eyes across the room at a Jeff Buckley show at Sin-é in New York’s East Village, and their connection is kinetic. After spending a week together closing down dives and crashing at Lili’s shoebox-sized apartment on Avenue A, Reid settles back home in LA, and they lose touch—cell phones and emails don’t exist, after all. Thirty years later, Sin-é is reopening for a one-night-only tribute show for the late Jeff Buckley. Driven by memories of the past, Lili and Reid, now both single parents, decide to go—each dragging along Gen Z daughters along with them. When Lili and Reid spot each other across the room yet again, it feels like no time has passed. But can their romance withstand the demands of midlife and complicated family dynamics, or is it best left as a memory?

Genres: Romance

240 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 31, 2026

Reviews

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little corny nostalgia disease at first but then it turned into something very sweet. A good book to read if you are happy your divorced mom is dating someone who is nice to her :)

[Cait · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite 831 story yet!!

It’s 1993 and Lili meets Reid at a show in the east village and they connect immediately. The only problem? He’s leaving NYC in just a few days. 30 years later, they find themselves in the same place at the same time, with their daughters.

The 90s NYC nostalgia in this book!!!! Was I here in the 90s? Definitely not. But who doesn’t love to romanticize? There were no insta-love vibes between Lili and Reid, just a beautiful example of the type of instant chemistry you can build with the right human. The way the flash forward is handled is so lovely. There was just the right doses of romantic and realistic. And their daughters? THE best side characters.

CW: emotional abuse, death of a loved one

Thank you to the publisher and author for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. This was such a reflective, emotional little novella that kept me interested the whole way through. Lili and Reid had this instant spark that didn’t feel like instalove, it felt true to who they were at the time. Their chemistry held up decades later, and I loved how believable that “what if” connection felt.
The ’90s details were done really well, not overdone, and I enjoyed how emotional the writing was without being dramatic. Their journeys as single parents in midlife felt real, valid, and true to parenthood. The theme of getting out of your own way and allowing yourself to be happy really stuck with me.
A sweet, hopeful second-chance romance about timing, healing, and choosing yourself.
Thank you to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Lizzie Chalpan · Rating 5 out of 5]

831 Stories does it again! Found Time is such a fun second chance romance! It follows Lili and Reid who meet in 1993 at a Jeff Buckley concert in the East Village. They are young, in their early twenties and have their lives and dreams ahead of them. Their instant connection sparks a brief, fiery fling until work and responsibilities take Reid back home to the west coast.

The story picks up again in 2023, with Lili taking her teenage daughter to a tribute concert honoring Jeff Buckley 30 years later. Here, Lili and Reid meet again. Lili must reconcile who she is now with the uninhibited, dreamer she once was.

Yes, the Jeff Buckley storyline at the beginning was a little cheesy, but Lili was so relatable and the characters were so likable, the cheesiness was very easy to overlook.

This book was nostalgic, spicy, and heartfelt… making every page enjoyable to read! If you’re a fan of romance or you’re looking for a shorter novella to break out of a reading rut, this one will not disappoint!

Thank you to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Megan Yanchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet second-chance romance. Lili & Reid meet at a Jeff Buckley concert in the 90s, and run into each other again years later. I felt like this had quite a bit of depth for a novella, I enjoyed my time with this book!



Pub date: March 30, 2026

[Aysia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found Time by Caroline Goldstein felt like a hug from a friend you haven’t seen since college. I’m usually not a big second-chance romance person, but this one had such a wistful, tender quality that I ended up loving it. The 30-year time gap put these characters in an age range I don’t read often (as a 20-something), but it gave me insight into a stage of life I haven’t lived yet — and I found that really beautiful.

The book follows Reid and Lili, who meet during an intense, meaningful week in 1993 New York City before life pulls them apart. Thirty years later, they run into each other at a tribute concert for the same band they saw when they first met. From there, the story explores whether the connection they once had can survive time, distance, and who they’ve become.

The romance feels like a warm breeze on a 75° sunny day: soft, full of possibility, slightly nostalgic. And the writing is gorgeous. Goldstein somehow makes intimacy feel poetic instead of overdone, and it worked so well for this story. I am such a fan. Highly recommend this one.

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

[Aida ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
This is a story about what happens when you don’t get over your situationships. She could’ve paid an Etsy witch to do a tie breaking thing and be done.

[Jen Ross Plude · Rating 5 out of 5]

831 Stories delivers another fantastic unputdownable romance. I've truly never read a book from 831 Stories that I didn't love and this one is no exception. Found Time is the story of a 30-year love between Lili and Reid that begins when they meet in 1993 and picks up again in 2023. The story spans 30 years, but most of their time was spent apart. During this time, both Lili and Reid were married and had children, but after becoming single later in life, they unexpectedly reunite at a music venue with their respective children (notably, a reunion show for the artist that brought them together in 1993). This book gives Lili and Reid a second chance at love and aims to find out what-could-have-been... with a little help from fate and a parent-trap-esque set up by their teenage daughters.

Aside from 831 Stories, I'm generally not a fan of romances - but these books never fail to reach deep into my cynical little heart and grab on. At its heart, this story and the characters are relatable - these people have jobs and lives and responsibilities. No one is throwing away their lives and the goals they worked towards to casually jet off into the sunset together. These characters are complicated.

I think that this story has universal appeal because it's something most people have in common - wondering 'what could have been' is a universal experience. This book quenches that thirst for Lili and Reid without being cheesy (but includes a lil spice, which never hurts). While the outcome was somewhat predictable, the point wasn't to be surprised by the ending, it was to enjoy the ride (er, read).

Hands down, my FAVORITE part of reading this book was the subtle crossover event. When I read the line that said Jack Felgate would be starring in a movie written by Reid, I scrambled to Google SO FAST to make sure I was correct - and I was!! IYKYK - BUT if you don't, I'll happily explain - Jack Felgate is a character from Set Piece by Lana Schwartz. I'm not an expert and I have not read all of the 831 Stories available (yet!!!) but this is the first crossover event that I've seen that spans completely separate stories and completely separate authors within the 831 Stories universe. I nearly lost my damn mind.

I need more 831 Stories immediately.

THANK YOU, 831 Stories and NetGalley for the eARC!!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of second chance romances and this didn't disappoint. 'Found Time' is a well-paced, character-driven novella steeped in 90s nostalgia (I, too, was devastated when Jeff Buckley died) tinged with the bittersweet memories of first love. Lili and Reid meet in their early 20s at a Jeff Buckley performance at Sin-é and have an instant connection, the rare sort where they know and understand the other and their potential, but sadly the timing and location was wrong.

While there's an insta-spark in both timelines, I completely bought that even thirty years later Lili and Reid had the sort of chemistry to sustain a relationship. Young and middle-aged Lili and Reid were perfect for each other as they bared the wounds of their past. Reid was a sweetheart, even as a young man he was a clear communicator and just got Lili, and even in the present day he was willing to take the leap. Though Lili really got in her own way to a point where she was downright hurtful to him! Thankfully her wise teenage daughter and best friend put her to rights.

I loved how the author structured it to contain 1993 to the start with 2023 after instead of constant back and forth which I really detest in second chance stories. Though the 1993 section was tense to read because you know they aren't going to see each other for another 30 years, so I felt this should’ve been shorter. I also could've done without the visit to Lili’s parents as I wanted to keep the two alone to finally catch up. Supporting characters - Cat, Nisha, and parent trapping teens Gracie and Emme as the were also fabulous.

With its cinematic-like descriptions, I was engrossed to see how they'd work it out. I'm greedy for an epilogue though! I'd love a time jump to 2025 to see where Lili and Reid are now.

Poignant, tender and heartfelt.

Thanks to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Victoria Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and 831 Stories for this advance reader copy, in exchange for an honest review. Found Time is a second chance romance, told in dual timelines. The first quarter of the book introduces us to Reid and Lili, who meet and get swept up into a once in a lifetime romance over the course of a week. 30 years later, they’ve both lived a full life, now both with teenage daughters, and they meet by chance again.

I’ve enjoyed nearly all of the 831 novellas I’ve read and this is no exception. Given that it’s a novella, the pace of the story was swift but, it was full of heart and charm. The first portion of the story, where Lili and Reid fall in love, took place over a relatively short number of pages but, it felt convincing and the tone was wistful and bittersweet, perfect for the romance that was time boxed from the start. Plus, the New York City setting was perfect for this story and endeared to me even more. The second part of the book was where I struggled a bit; the plot was largely predictable, which I didn’t really mind, but it moved extremely fast. It felt like there were too many tropes and plot points shoved into too little time, which took me out of the story as I struggled to suspend my disbelief.

Overall, despite this, I think there is a lot to love in this story. It’s infused with nostalgia and feels like a good rom com. I think lots of contemporary fiction and romance readers will enjoy this story, plus it’s an easy, quick read. I’d definitely recommend!

[phantom · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I wish I had met you earlier, I want to say. I wish we hadn’t wasted so much of our summer not knowing each other.”

ˋ°•*⁀➷ 4 stars

Thank you to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I can always count on a fun time with a little 831 novella but this one really hit me in the emotions out of left field and just kept doing so for a good majority of the book. I will start this by saying that this novella really needed an extra 40-50 pages. It was good. I enjoyed it. But I think the story would have worked a lot stronger with that extra time.

That being said, this was the best insta-love/connection I’ve read. It’s not the kind of insta-love where they automatically would like die for each other but just that immediate connection that’s written so well that you mourn the loss of it when the novella goes for 1993 to 2023. It feels like a very realistic way to portray something as fantastical as soulmates in a contemporary romance. I really enjoyed the side characters as well and think they complimented the romance a lot… which makes sense because it’s their daughters for the most part so they are very similar in a few regards that make all the dialogue really flow well.

Overall, this was another great 831 novella to add to my collection and I’m so grateful for the chance to read it early!

[Anna Gergerich · Rating 3 out of 5]

In case you weren’t aware, I’m a big fan (pun intended) of the tried and true, short and sweet 831 formula for writing amazing romance. This time, we’re in for a second chance treat with Found Time!

While not my favorite trope/sub-genre, Found Time was still pretty lovable. Our main couple meet in New York, fall for each other, and then can’t make their geographical circumstances work. Thirty years later, they run into each other again, both now single parents, and sparks fly!

While the characters were super well written and relatable, there really isn’t much of a conflict in the later part of the story. Obviously our main couple wants to be together, and there’s nothing really standing in their way this time, so, to me, there’s really no great reason why they shouldn’t try to be together? It mostly turns into a quick mental sabotage that’s immediately remedied. So there wasn’t too much of a point? Regardless, I had a lovely time rooting for Lili and Reid and getting a kick out of their witty daughters.

As always, I’m grateful to 831 Stories for the ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my thoughts.

[Monica Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It’s like we have this found time, and all I could think about was when it was going to run out.”

This was my first time reading an 831 story, and it did not disappoint! I love the second chance trope, so I went into this with eager anticipation for their meeting 30 years later. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions. Since we often get 20-30 year olds in romance books, it was refreshing to see how their flirting and bedroom intimacy would look like in their 50’s, and the answer is, “hot.” Lili’s fears were frustrating but realistic. I could relate to many moments of this book related to young love, marriage, and motherhood. Another aspect I enjoyed was the setting. Even though I do not have firsthand experience with the city, I could picture this couple roaming around NYC. I couldn’t put this book down! The ending was wrapped up nicely.

Thank you to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

831’s short novels have been mostly hits for me with a few misses but Found Time was one of my favorites. Told in two time periods, we meet Lili and Reid as early 20-somethings at a concert in New York circa 1993. They have a whirlwind weeklong romance before he goes home to LA, both of them always kind of wondering what could have been. When we meet up with them 30 years later, it’s a chance encounter after another concert when both have their teenage daughters in tow. Now both single, they revisit whether they could work now or if it was always meant to be a short-lived thing between them. I’ve really enjoyed these pint-size novels but, as a woman in her 40s, I really appreciated the viewpoint on this one. It really talks about getting older and still trying to figure out important life lessons, answering questions about our futures and where our lives have gone. Also, the perimenopause references lol. So relatable! Out on March 31!

Thanks to NetGalley and 831 for the ARC.

[grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Special thanks to 831 Stories for sharing this reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions!

Lili and Reid's chance encounter at a concert in the 90's has haunted both of them. They spend a whirlwind week together, but lose touch when Reid goes back to LA. Fast forward 30 years later, and they fine each other again at the tribute show for the artist that brought them together all those years ago. Now they are both single parents, and they are faced with a choice: try again or let their history stay in the past.

Such a unique read for romance and music lovers. Lili and Reid's story was a raw and authentic look into parenting in the digital age, while also trying to navigate it yourself. Caroline Goldstein doesn't flinch away from the gritty and hard parts of life as she brings Lili and Reid back into each other's lives, creating a great blend of romance and reality.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. I struggled to understand how they could be so hung up on each other. They spent so little time together originally (around a week), didn’t see each other for 20+ years, never tried to get in contact with one another, and then reunite in an equally short amount of time. I also don’t believe Lili wouldn’t known about Reed’s life as she would look up his career, how would she miss he was married with a child to an actress? It was a quick and fun read, but would’ve made more sense with more time spent together (in the past or the present).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen Wu ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

I love a good second chance romance, especially when it finds people later in life who are more grounded and a little bruised by experience. Found Time captures that idea well. It’s a quick read with no unnecessary drama, and I really liked the dynamic between the daughters. The story moves in a predictable way, but I wish I could feel a bit more in the writing. More ache. More pull. Still, it’s a comforting read about timing, growth, and the quiet hope that love can return when you are finally ready for it.

Thank you NetGalley and 831 Stories for the ARC!

[Sarah]

Second chance romance. When Lili and Reid meet at a concert in NYC in college, they spend a meaningful one week together. After Reid returns to LA, they do not keep in touch. Fast forward to Lili and Reid, both single parents, crossing paths again at a tribute concert to the artist from their original meeting. With their daughters trying to emulate Parent Trap, they explore what a second chance might look like for them. While this is not in my tops of 831 novellas, I still enjoyed reading it. 3.5 stars

I received an advanced reader copy via NetGalley.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet second chance dual timeline romance set in the 90s/current day New York.

They have a chance meeting at a Jeff Buckley concert and a whirlwind week long fling before losing touch for 25+ years. Once they meet again at a tribute concert as single parents to teenage girls they find that the sparks and connection are still very much there.

This was the perfect blend of nostalgia and chemistry. I only wish there was a bit more of a peek into their future lives.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book. Lili and Reid captured my heart from the start. Everything from the plot, to the characters had me hooked from the beginning. I really also loved the dynamic between their daughters, they added such a fun and interesting layer to their relationship.

The way they were reunited all those years later and immediately fell back into rhythm with each other was so special. It almost felt like you could feel that their souls were somehow still connected. You could tell that they both knew how special their bond was. I absolutely love when a romance is very heavy on emotional connection and this definitely had that. The way they were so able to express their emotions and talk to each other so openly was really refreshing. Lili and Reid were such a beautiful couple and you can tell their families would blend so well together because of the incredible characters they were.

Thank you Net Galley and 831 Stories for sending me this arc.

[mh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the second chance trope and set against the East Village backdrop was even better. Liked the characters here. They really felt like they belonged together and the insta-love in the fist 50 pages or so made sense for the rest of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.

[Rachel Brackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

90s nostalgia and a second chance romance? Sign me up. Perfect little novella that left me wanting more. New York City is also a great side character. I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite 813 books. Usually not into the I barely know you, but I love you tropes, I like the way this was done. Would rec, very quick read.

[randi rush · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5
i had a fun time with the concept of this one, where two people meet in the 90s and find their way back to each other 30 years later. i especially liked the themes that were explored, as well as the music influence, parent-daughter relationships, and backdrop of nyc here!

i was really really having a good time until one small thing happened around 80% that threw me off a little. there was a conflict, but there was no tangible reason for it to happen other than for the sake of having a conflict, so that was a little annoying. another small thing that i didn’t love was how little time they actually spent together. they were together for only a couple of days as young adults, and then they spent a couple more days reunited when they were older. i guess i would’ve liked to see them together a little more, in order for them to realistically be able to build the strong connection that they seem to have formed so quickly.

but this was still a fun read, and i definitely recommend 831 stories for shorter, yet very well done romances!

thank you to netgalley and 831 stories for the arc!