Fable - Shop now
To share your reaction on this item, open the Amazon app from the App Store or Google Play on your phone.
Your audiobook is waiting!
Enjoy a free trial on us
$0.00
  • One credit a month to pick any title from our entire premium selection to keep (you’ll use your first credit now).
  • Unlimited listening on select audiobooks, Audible Originals, and podcasts.
  • You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
  • $14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel online anytime.
Learn more about membership
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company
List Price: $1.99
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible’s Conditions Of Use. and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company

The Exception to the Rule: The Improbable Meet-Cute Collection Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Christina Lauren (Author), Marli Watson (Narrator), Andrew Gibson (Narrator),
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 40,262 ratings
See all formats and editions

On February 14, an accidental email to a stranger opens the door to an unexpected relationship in a captivating short story by the New York Times bestselling authors of The Unhoneymooners.

One typo, and a boy and girl connect by chance. Wishing each other a happy Valentine’s Day isn’t the end. In fact, it becomes a friendly annual tradition—with rules: no pics, no real names, nothing too personal. As years pass, the rules for their email “dates” are breaking, and they’re sharing more than they imagined—including the urge to ask…what if we actually met?

Christina Lauren’s The Exception to the Rule is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute, irresistibly romantic stories about finding love when and where you least expect it. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Let’s make a date of it.

Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 6
    The Improbable Meet-Cute
  2. Listening Length
    1 hour and 56 minutes
  3. Author
    Christina Lauren
  4. Narrator
    Marli Watson, see all
  5. Audible release date
    January 23, 2024
  6. Language
    English
  7. Publisher
    Amazon Original Stories
  8. ASIN
    B0CRVW82FB
  9. Version
    Unabridged
  10. Program Type
    Audiobook
  11. See all details
Next slide of product details

Read & Listen

Switch back and forth between the Kindle book and listening to the Audible audiobook.
Get the audiobook automatically with the Kindle book as part of your Kindle Unlimited membership.
Audible Free Trial
Discover top titles, podcasts, and more on Audible. Try 30 days free.

Product details

Listening Length 1 hour and 56 minutes
Author Christina Lauren
Narrator Marli Watson, Andrew Gibson
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date January 23, 2024
Publisher Amazon Original Stories
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0CRVW82FB
Best Sellers Rank #5,501 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#150 in Romantic Comedy (Audible Books & Originals)
#490 in Contemporary Romance (Audible Books & Originals)
#1,268 in Romantic Comedy (Books)

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
40,262 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers enjoy the story and find it cute. They describe it as a sweet, easy read that is delightful and light-hearted. Readers appreciate the short length of the book. The characters are relatable and easy to connect with.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
Story qualityCuteReadabilitySweetnessShortnessPacingCharacter developmentFeel good
771 customers mention "Story quality"738 positive33 negative

Customers enjoyed the story. They found it cute, sweet, and well-paced. The love story was simple and sweet, with a great read.

"...I loved reading this great story - and I love the love story it tells. If you are a romantic at heart - you'll love it too! Well done, ladies!" Read more

"...email someone I didn’t know as long as they did, but it made for a cute premises. Gratifying ending. Short and sweet!" Read more

"Love these little quick novellas! Definitely sets the mood for upcoming Valentine's day!..." Read more

"...so. cute! Super quick read. The characters were instantly fun and entertaining...." Read more

558 customers mention "Cute"558 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it cute, nice, and easy to read.

"What a cute format - to start out with emails back and forth! It's cleverly written and full of humor...." Read more

"That was cute. So 1/2 the book you can skim because it’s emails. I started with audio but got annoyed real fast...." Read more

"...This novella was different with the emails back and forth but made for a cute and quick read!" Read more

"...was. so. cute! Super quick read. The characters were instantly fun and entertaining...." Read more

324 customers mention "Readability"321 positive3 negative

Customers enjoyed the book's readability. They found it well-written and easy to understand, with a nice feel-good message. The book was described as a quick, easy read that restored their hope in humanity and love. It was delivered in an episodic format through emails, which some readers found jarring at first.

"What a cute format - to start out with emails back and forth! It's cleverly written and full of humor...." Read more

"...was different with the emails back and forth but made for a cute and quick read!" Read more

"...was. so. cute! Super quick read. The characters were instantly fun and entertaining...." Read more

"...It was super cute however and a fast read but also predictable and repetitive so just keep that in mind...." Read more

199 customers mention "Sweetness"199 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the sweet and delightful short story. They found it a great read and thought it was part of an amazing romance novel. The dialogue was described as good, like a good play. Overall, customers were satisfied with the book's sweetness, praising it as the best book they have ever read.

"...Gratifying ending. Short and sweet!" Read more

"If you’re looking for a short love story - this one is cute . Simple , sweet & to the point ." Read more

"This is the definition of “feel good reads” it’s short and sweet. Very well written, truly loved it, and would definitely recommend." Read more

"It was a sweet, albeit predictable, short story. If I had known it was a short story, I would not have read it...." Read more

169 customers mention "Shortness"138 positive31 negative

Customers appreciate the book's shortness. They find it sweet and adorable, describing it as a cute read for Valentine's Day.

"...Gratifying ending. Short and sweet!" Read more

"...story that was definitely improbable so it's a perfect fit for this collection of short stories...." Read more

"This is the definition of “feel good reads” it’s short and sweet. Very well written, truly loved it, and would definitely recommend." Read more

"I’ve listened and read this book so many times within a week. It’s short and sweet and brings me joy." Read more

132 customers mention "Pacing"132 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book. They find it heartwarming, lighthearted, and enjoyable. The characters are relatable and endearing. It sets the mood for Valentine's Day with its emotional and dreamy content without drama or misery.

"Love these little quick novellas! Definitely sets the mood for upcoming Valentine's day!..." Read more

"...It’s short and sweet and brings me joy." Read more

"...I loved it, and couldn’t stop reading. It was such a happy, feel good heartwarming book with the perfect ending." Read more

"Loved every minute of it!! A quick read that had me smiling the entire time!! Can't wait to read more of her books!" Read more

87 customers mention "Character development"84 positive3 negative

Customers find the characters relatable and easy to picture. They enjoy the book and find it fun. The voice actors did a good job, and the story is smooth.

"...It's cleverly written and full of humor. These characters are so cute but real, and I want to be friends with them both!..." Read more

"...was. so. cute! Super quick read. The characters were instantly fun and entertaining...." Read more

"...The way the characters were developed was amazing and I fell in love with both T and C. Great read !!!" Read more

"Such a cute, sweet, funny story! The characters absolutely came to life!..." Read more

84 customers mention "Feel good"84 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's feel-good vibe. They find the story relatable and easy to read. The characters are relatable and the flow is smooth. Many readers say the book makes them feel invested and captivated by its engaging storyline.

"...Lauren duo are some of my fav authors and I enjoy all of their feel-good books...." Read more

"This is the definition of “feel good reads” it’s short and sweet. Very well written, truly loved it, and would definitely recommend." Read more

"...I love love and this is such a feel good read. I highly recommend!" Read more

"...I loved it, and couldn’t stop reading. It was such a happy, feel good heartwarming book with the perfect ending." Read more

Audiobook perfect company during chores or commute
5 out of 5 stars
Audiobook perfect company during chores or commute
I listened to the audiobook during tedious filing in my home office, and the narrators and story were great company. It’s epistolary style through emails so the beginning was a tad jarring as both male and female narrators read the precise email addresses and subject lines and dates for each exchange but, after a few, I got into the rhythm and understood what the story was all about. The story was sweet and pacey, and the characters likable. It is a foregone conclusion in Romance that the principals will get together, but I was absolutely invested in how that would eventually happen after nearly a decade of annual email exchanges between two people who had never met in real life. Super sweet ending that brought all the feelz. Excellent narrators, too. Well done! Easy to recommend this super short audiobook. Perfect company during chores or commutes.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Ashley Elise McNeil
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Novella
    Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Love these little quick novellas! Definitely sets the mood for upcoming Valentine's day! Christina Lauren duo are some of my fav authors and I enjoy all of their feel-good books. This novella was different with the emails back and forth but made for a cute and quick read!
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Cat
    4.0 out of 5 stars read VS audio
    Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    That was cute. So 1/2 the book you can skim because it’s emails. I started with audio but got annoyed real fast. So I switched to the kindle version and it was less annoying. I would never email someone I didn’t know as long as they did, but it made for a cute premises. Gratifying ending. Short and sweet!
    Helpful
     Report
  • P. Creery
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    What a cute format - to start out with emails back and forth! It's cleverly written and full of humor. These characters are so cute but real, and I want to be friends with them both!
    The story is a delight and has enough mystery, romance, and fun to make a great movie! I loved reading this great story - and I love the love story it tells. If you are a romantic at heart - you'll love it too! Well done, ladies!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kelli Santos
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Adorable
    Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I’ve never read a book with messages in between like this but glad I pushed through it because it. was. so. cute! Super quick read. The characters were instantly fun and entertaining. We obviously know how it is going to end, but it was not at all in the way I thought! Loved every minute of it!
    Helpful
     Report
  • A Lady
    3.0 out of 5 stars THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE: A Short Story by Christina Lauren (Improbable Meet-Cute Collection #1)
    Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This was a cute story that was definitely improbable so it's a perfect fit for this collection of short stories. Unfortunately the format just didn't work for me and it's more for a YA audience. The story itself is told almost entirely in email format too, which got really old after a while. I'd guess that 3/4 of the story is told in this manner with full email addresses included every single time which felt like a waste of space/words and became rather annoying.

    That being said Terra and Callum were both great and really sweet and charming. They accidentally meet online at the tender ages of 14 & 16 and an annual email message every year on Valentine's Day is the gist of this romance. Their emails go on for 10 years before they finally meet in person and readers are given an update two years later too. Sadly there were simply way too many coincidences which I saw coming and thought "no way" but it was a yes every time.

    Nevertheless I didn't hate this story but I definitely feel like it's for a certain audience, mainly those under the age of thirty. It was super cute however and a fast read but also predictable and repetitive so just keep that in mind. I did like the actual ending though and thought these two were made for each other, fate just had to step in and get the timing right. All in all a witty little romance that I'd recommend to young adults and am glad I read even though I didn’t fall in love with it.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Ailani
    4.0 out of 5 stars A V-Day short story
    Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this quick read. The ending was rushed for me but I get it is a short story. Overall very cute.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kristin Sian
    5.0 out of 5 stars short & sweet
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    If you’re looking for a short love story - this one is cute . Simple , sweet & to the point .
    Helpful
     Report
  • Krisney
    5.0 out of 5 stars I love this
    Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This is the definition of “feel good reads” it’s short and sweet. Very well written, truly loved it, and would definitely recommend.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Isabel (Kapitel für Kapitel Buchblog)
    5.0 out of 5 stars it was so sweet I giggled
    Reviewed in Germany on January 15, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Haven’t read anything by Christina Lauren before, but this…this was it. I loved it. ❤️
    And I am going to pick up more books to read by Christina Lauren. Can’t wait to devour them too.
    Report
  • Eta
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely
    Reviewed in Italy on December 12, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is the cutest book I wrote in a while.
    It’s heartwarming and simply perfect
    Report
  • AS
    5.0 out of 5 stars sweet and fast read!
    Reviewed in India on December 11, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    It’s such a cute and endearing story, loved it. Finished it in one sitting, it is a good winter afternoon read.
    Report
  • NATÀLIA
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love it
    Reviewed in Spain on July 8, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Short and lovely. It is a really easy to read book. It leave me with a happy sensation at the end.
    Report
  • Lafrizette86
    5.0 out of 5 stars so good
    Reviewed in France on June 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Original pen pal story. I really loved the banter, how the story was written and the characters are so funny, witty and real.
    I was so into the story I read it in an hour and was smiling all along, even had few loud laughs!!
    I wish this story was longer!
    Thanks Mrs Lauren for another wonderful story
    Report