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, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

Expected publication April 7, 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.

[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!!

[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

[NRC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably closer to a 3.5. Just fine.

[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.

[y ੯‧̀͡⬮ · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and 831 stories for the e-arc! all opinions are my own :)

this was such a cute story worth finding time for! seeing the chemistry they developed years ago transcend the years was so nice, and i loved the relationship their daughters had after their initial squabble lol

overall, a reaaaally good novella <3

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

yet another 831 stories novella I adore!! this was such a refreshing read & definitely helped get me out of a reading slump (as would any other 831 stories novella I imagine!). perfect read for anyone who is obsessed with the feeling that watching 2000's rom-coms gives you.

[kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I want people to be nice to you.” - Chapter 3

This is the second 831 Stories novella that I have gotten to read, and I had a good time with this one! There is always something so deeply melancholic in reading about the passage of time, characters reconciling with who they once were and who they are now, and having to navigate that individually, but also with one another. Found Time sets out to do this with Reid and Lili, and it accomplishes it well enough.

There’s a lot to love about this novella. It works for the length, albeit of course some parts could have been spread out in a novel length instead. I liked getting the few chapters in the past, then moving forward to the present, though I will say Lili’s narration did not feel as though I was reading from a woman of her age’s point of view. The chapters when she was younger felt it, but I had a hard time fully connecting with the narration. Still, I found Lili to be interesting, and the novella gives you just enough information about her to understand the way she is and why she would act the way she acts. You could say a choice of hers is a little immature for her age, and I am still grappling with how I felt about it, but it worked fine in the end.

I liked Reid, too. The way he felt so visceral in the text really reflects how visceral Lili feels for him, which is a great thing. I do think their connection felt a lot more lust-focused than falling in love. I don’t think it’s impossible to fall in love in the time they originally spent together, or at least be on the road to it, especially at the ages they were, but there was little in the text to make me believe this was true, and not just lust-based. This probably could have been adjusted better in a full-length novel. The only issue I had with Reid’s character was the background we get on his wife, and I don’t think his actions after it is mentioned are fully understood. Again, this was hindered by the length.

Their relationship to their daughters was definitely a highlight of the present-day chapters, and I loved the overall message of the novella.

Thank you to Netgalley & 831 Stories for the ARC!!! Book publishes March 31, 2026!

[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.

[Amber | backinthebookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, 831 Stories, and Caroline Goldstein for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of "Found Time." The top three themes for this novel are: second-chance romance, dual timelines, and set in New York. We follow Lili and Reid during their whirlwind, week-long romance in the 90s - only for Reid to go back to LA, resulting in both of them losing touch. Until they run into each other again 30 years later through an encounter from their daughters. They have both lived different lives since then - but is the spark still alive after all these years?

I love a second-chance romance, and I thought the writing was fantastic for this book. Great banter, well-paced, and detailed descriptions of settings and food. It's also nice to see a romance novel with middle-aged main characters, and to see them navigate the realities of adulthood and the fantasy of being together.

However, there were a couple things that fell flat for me. The first is that I can't quite believe that they never got in touch again, especially with the rise of social media. Lili even admits to searching him on the internet regularly, so this felt like a major plot hole to me. The second was the ending - SPOILER AHEAD ----- as adults, they should not have to rely on their children to bring them together and have an adult conversation about their relationship. I think this was a weak ending for the book and was disappointed. If they can't come together on their own and talk through their issues, then they aren't ready to be together. ----- SPOILER END.

This book was still fun to read, and I think is a good option for rom-com fans. I ultimately enjoyed my time other than the ending!

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Found Time” is a romance about grown ass people, for grown ass people.

Twenty-somethings Lili and Reid meet in 1993 at a Jeff Buckley show in NY. They have immediate chemistry and spend one week falling head over heels in love before Reid has to leave and return to his home and his life in CA. And Lili is still in school at NYU and can’t follow him.

Thirty years go by, they both meet other people, fall in love, have daughters, and then find themselves thrown together again when they reconnect in NY when Reid brings his daughter to visit NYU. Can they make it work this time?

This is one of my favorite 831 Stories romances so far. I really enjoyed the grounded vibes of a second chance romance between two people in their 50s. I liked all the characters, including the daughters, and the pacing of the story was great.

Up until the 80% mark this book passed my major romance test which is that there were no conflicts keeping the love interests apart that felt overly manufactured. But I felt the author fell into that trap with Lili a little bit in the last 20%, and the ending felt a little abrupt.

That said, I really enjoyed this book and think romance readers in their 30s, 40s, and 50s will like it too. (And readers who like a strong sense of place, because the author really makes you feel as if you’re running around NYC with Reid and Lili) As always, 831 Stories books are great for any reader who wants a quick and fun read that they can devour in one sitting.

PS: Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

[Megan Heginbottom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in two timelines (the first few chapters in 1993, the rest in 2023) we meet Lille and Reid at a cafe in the East Village. For a week they have a whirlwind romance, falling in love day by day, until it ends. Reid gets on a plane back to LA and Lille begins her junior year at NYU.

30 years later, a second-chance meeting puts the two of them in the same place for a limited time. Will they get it right or is their romance only meant to exist for fleeting moments in time?


While I did like this book, there were some inconsistencies that kept throwing me off. The book is set with a concrete 30 year gap (1993 to 2023), but almost all the references to time felt…off? In some parts it was 20 years since they’d seen each other…then it was 30. Lille mentions how Reid doesn’t seem old enough to have a teenager…but he’s 52. Maybe these will be edited before the book comes out in March, but it kept tripping me up.

I also have a reallllllly hard time with novella’s that end without giving insight into how the story truly ends. It feels like a theme with 831 Stories to end books with a happy ending that also feels incomplete. If you’re only giving me ~200 pages of a story, at least give me a 5 page epilogue.

That all said, I did enjoy the characters (especially the daughters, Gracie and Emme). Reid was WONDERFUL and I could have easily read a full 400 page book with him as the MMC. Lille…not so much 🤣 Worth picking up if you need something short & easy to read.

Thank you to NetGalley & 831 Stories for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Grab this book when it comes out this March!

[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!

[Mallory Moureau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, 831 Stories and Caroline Goldstein for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn’t stop reading this book. For 240 pages it felt very satisfying.

When two young 20-something’s meet and have a connection only to realize one is moving across the country at the end of the week - they are left with only one option, make the most of that week.

It so easily could have felt like insta love (which isn’t my favorite) but somehow it didn’t.

My one complaint is not having more backstory on if they tried to keep in touch or if they didn’t try due to distance and circumstances.

I loved the way they found each other again in present day and how it started because of their daughters.

I’m obsessed with Grace and Emme in general but serious respect for Parent Trap inspired moves.

I could totally relate to the mental gymnastics and self sabotage Lili was doing and loved how Reid did his best to call her on it (while he was scared too). They both were trying to protect themselves and their daughters from potential hurt but also hoping to make something work that they have wondered about over the years apart. Despite there being a small conflict they handled it really maturely and respectfully.

I know it’s a short story but I still wished it had an epilogue but in my mind they all life happily ever after, always!

[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.

[Debby Nachmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when the one who got away comes back 30 years later?

Lili and Reid met in 1993 at a Jeff Buckley concert at the end of summer right before he is set to go home to LA. They spend an incredible week together full of longing, the naivety of a first love, the excitement of finding your way in the world and connecting to the bravery needed to figure out who you are in your twenties. It is nostalgic for the 90's in the best possible way.

With the burden or benefit, depending how you see it, of 30 years more experiences and life they get a second chance to meet. They have to navigate the complexity of being the adult they were working so hard to become. I loved the look at the responsibility and awe of parenting along with the reminder that you are still an individual with needs and goals simultaneous to being a parent.

I loved reading main characters in their 50's with life experiences, they felt real. The book is short but packs such a vivid and well-rounded story in its pages. It made my heart ache and will definitely stay with me.

Thanks to NetGalley and 831 Publishing for the Chance to read the ARC!

[Megan megmakestimetoread · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me all the 90s era Gen X feels! It really captured the grit and the beauty of NYC in the 90s. Even the names Reid and Lilli were perfect. Everything felt so real, so important back then. I appreciated how beautifully flawed these characters were. How they grew and yet were still the same, same love, same fears. Their daughters were effortlessly cool in the way all teenage girls wish they were. This book really resonated with me and I saw myself in the characters, even though I am a few years younger. I loved when Nisha said that the boy isn't why Lilli had a good summer, its because she trusted herself and allowed herself to live. This is the truest sentiment! Perimenopause brings more hormones than puberty, so it really is a time in which you feel like you need to find yourself again among the imbalance. I love the truth of that here, but also that Lilli was able to be seen as sexy. I'm such a fan of this imprint and these perfect little snapshot novellas. Thanks to Net Galley and 831 stories for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. 4.5 stars

[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.

[Dayvn Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was so cute and sweet. I especially loved the first few chapters and seeing how they originally met, and then later on, when they found each other again, seeing how they overcame those struggles and fears that they both had. I do wish it had a little bit more at the end. I also understand it is a short story so that it might have more of an open ending. I also want to mention that some of the slang, while it did bother me, was kinda accurate for parents with teenagers. Usually, I dislike kids in any way in books, but the girls in this one were amazing. They were a great representation of how parental situations really affect kids. Emme was my favorite because I relate to her a little bit more. Overall, I did enjoy this book; while I wish it were longer, I still enjoyed what I got. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an E-ARC of this story.

[Erin Ballinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley for the chance to read this! 4.5 / stars
I REALLY enjoyed this. I feel like I'm hitting my novella era thanks to some great works that are managing to deliver on heightened tension and real emotion in short bursts.
This follows Lili and Reid as young adults when they meet for a whirlwind week in NYC. They fall in love, and maybe a bit of lust, but navigate choosing to go their separate ways to pursue their careers. It's deep and chemistry filled but also clearly the right choice, so though not 'happy', it makes sense.
Fast forward and they're in their late forties and happen to meet again at a concert with their young adult children in tow. This is an example of the power of a spark between two people, and I really enjoyed the navigation of their chemistry, their respect for their children, their growth (they aren't the same people now and i think thats important) and the loves they've had since their last encounter. It's incredibly well balanced, sexy as can be, but also very realistic. The emotions grab you: without looking at page count, I never would have guessed this was a novella!

[Kaylie Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows Lili and Reid when they meet in 1993 and their reconnection in 2023. In 1993, they spent a whirlwind week together in New York before Reid had to go home to LA. What if he never gone back and stayed with Lili in New York?

Thirty years later, they run into each other outside a tribute concert for the musician whose concert was where they met in 1993. Things have changed over the past thirty years. They both have teenage daughters, are single, and wonder what would have happened if they hadn't spent 30 years apart.

The author created a story that was reflective and made the reader attach themselves to the hopefulness of these two being together again. Lili and Reid have dealt with tragic marriage endings. Would you let those tragic endings get in the way of the future staring you in the face?

I think this is in my top 3 831 stories published! Thank you for the e-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.

[Cara Niehoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book from 831 Stories!!
This is a dual timeline book following Lili and Reid, who first meet at a Jeff Buckley concert in 1993. They spend a week together before going their separate ways. Now, in 2023, they find each other again and have a second chance with the help of their daughters.
I immediately felt the connection between the two and was hooked from their first meeting. I loved every bit of the 1993 timeline!
Skipping ahead to 2023, both Emme and Gracie were so thought out as characters and the “parent trap” scheme was so cute! Having them be so supportive of their parents finding love was sweet to read.
Lili and Reid both deserved their happy ending and are definitely the coolest parents!

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

[Sirenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I requested this from Netgalley because 831 made it sound like they were doing something different with romance and I was intrigued. Instead, I finished this very underwhelmed. It was all show, all dialogue, and none of the passion or yearning was convincing. Also, I don't read for the spice but the on screen sex was not even spicy, which I thought I'd seen in an article that 831 wants these to be spicy. It wasn't even sensual or romantic. Writing felt very basic, drawn out, and was often too repetitive in not a crafty, intentional way. For example: we understand it's been 30 years. Trust the reader a bit more. I came for the Jeff Buckley meet-cute premise, but this just didn't live up to using his name and legacy in such a way.