Love at first set is great for what it is. I loved the story and the chemistry between the MC's but something about Lizzie's voice felt off.

I wanted to love this book more. I did like it, just didn’t love it. I think Jennifer brought so much to the table and had so many good points for our characters to grow and learn from. I think it was more surface level enjoyment though. I think our characters grew more off page and I just still really wanted to see some deep conversations about their past and their current fears and such. We got a little of it, but not much. The brother/best friend was so annoying and I’m not sure our Lizzie put up with him and still does.

I was so excited to read Love at First Set by Jennifer Dugan! And I wasn't disappointed necessarily but this also isn't a new favorite. 🤷‍♀️

Both of the main characters in Love at First Set seemed kind of flat to me, but the underdeveloped character personalities also made complete sense based on the story. Lizzie's whole personality is focused on fitness and the dream of opening her own gym one day. Given the fact that her alcoholic mother would leave her in the gym daycare a lot as a kid, it's easy to see how working out would become the way Lizzie regains control over at least one aspect of her life. Cara also felt a little bland, but she has spent her whole life trying to please her extremely toxic mother, so it seemed like she just didn't have a chance to really figure out who she is and what she wants.

I listened to the whole audiobook in one day, so I definitely didn't hate Love at First Set, but I also think I'll forget almost everything about it within a couple weeks. I really liked the way the relationships with toxic parents were handled and the dynamics between friends who grew up with very little and those who grew up wanting for nothing (at least where their physical wellbeing is concerned). This book was just missing some character development and growth. 3.5 stars.

This was a cute easy read. Full of some funny romcom moments and a little bit of childish drama. Miscommunication is not my favourite thing, so much could have been avoided if they had just talked to each other,

I have been on a run of great books lately and I knew it was only a matter of time before I came across something I didn’t enjoy. Love at First Set is that book. I was given a digital copy by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Everyone buckle up, because this one is a mess.

The cutesy book cover and synopsis would lead you to believe that this is going to be another fun take on a romcom, but that’s about the farthest from the truth that one could get. This entire book is basically toxic miscommunication trope after toxic miscommunication trope. The parents are terrible. The friends are terrible. The main character is terrible. Everyone needs therapy. Honestly, that’s what the title of this book should have been. All of the characters lie to each other, and then get upset when they’re lied to, like this is some new concept. It’s gross. I really expected more out of this book and I was very disappointed. The plot drags on and on, and it’s really nothing special. I found myself dreading picking this book up. I only finished it because I made a deal with myself that I would read one chapter a day until I was done with the book. I don’t like to post negative reviews. I don’t often post them, but I feel like this book is going to trick a lot of people. I went into it, expecting a cute story, and borderline hated it by the end. Save your time and money. There are other better books with better representation out there.

This was a cute romance.

I enjoyed the premise and set up. But I quickly grew irritated with Lizzie’s low self esteem and inability to stick up for herself. I know these things are easier said then done, but the way it continued to drag throughout the story I kind of wanted her to be single and go through some therapy before entering into a relationship.

I really liked Love at First Set by Jennifer Dugan and quite enjoyed it, though the third act slightly interrupted the flow, and I definitely recommend it!

I really enjoyed this book. I liked how it talked about health in terms of how you feel instead of how much you weigh or how you look. The characters were cute, the plot simple yet entertaining. A good read for those who like some serious-type topics in their rom-coms. I've read one of Dugan's YA novels, and this had some of the same vibes, just with older characters and adult situations.

This book started off strong, but I had a hard time staying invested after the halfway mark. While I laughed a lot at first, the drama inevitably ensued. The third act breakup was a little much for me, as both women assumed the other did not want to talk and essentially ran from her problems. I did enjoy that the book delved into other relationships aside from Lizzie and Cara’s, such as their toxic relationships with their mothers. Overall, a cute read. I am sure there are many readers who will adore it.

“‘You deserve someone who wants to make every day of your life the best day of your life, whether that means some stupid grand gesture or just grabbing your favorite candy bar when they stop to get gas. Someone who doesn’t just know how you take your coffee, but the movies you like, the songs; someone who wants to know what makes you tick. Don’t settle for anything less.’”

Genre: Sapphic Contemporary Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️[3/5]
Review written by: J
Thank you NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review

Love At First Set is a cute romance novel and I had fun reading it.

I appreciated that the author gave a lot of details in between the character dialogue because it made me feel like I was inside the FMC’s mind allowing me to fully submerge into the story. However the book did start off to a slow start, making it hard for me to get into it at first. The intriguing parts were what gave me the push to continue reading it.

The book had various scenes that although cliche, were adorable and gave for an entertaining read. One of the parts that irritated me throughout the book was that the Villain of the story was mean for apparently no reason since no backstory was ever discussed in depth. I think an explanation would have helped to understand her reasoning.

There were quite a few scenes that I could relate to throughout the book which made me connect further with the characters. I especially loved the courage and character development that Cara and Lizzy have, especially when it came to the concepts of facing backlash for her sexuality and following your dreams no matter who gets in your way.

James was a character that I personally did not like. He gave off toxic vibes with only putting himself first even at the cost of his best friends feelings.

If you are looking for a quick summer sapphic read and you love slow burn, a coming out story and rich girl/poor girl dynamic then given this book a shot!

Unfortunately just felt super bored by this one. The characters relationship didn’t seem genuine at all. This book was the miscommunication trope on steroids. Everyone was lying to everyone, just super messy.

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of Love at First Set by Jennifer Dugan!

3.5 stars!

"Love at First Set" by Jennifer Dugan is a hilarious sapphic rom-com filled with terrific banter. If you can get past the immature decisions of its main characters, you might find something to enjoy here. I thoroughly liked the main character Lizzie, who has been burned one too many times in life by her friends and family, so she pushes people away in favor of pumping iron. She doesn't get too close to anyone or let many people in, apart from her best friend, James. James's sister Cara is getting married, and James needs a date for the nuptials. Lizzie innocently consoles a drunken woman in the bathroom who is crying because she doesn't know if she's still in love with her partner. Lizzie winds up smack dab in the middle of a brewing s^$%storm because it turns out Cara was the woman she talked to in the bathroom... Cara, who promptly broke off her engagement the day before the wedding. With Cara now living with James and getting on his back about his own dating life, he asks Lizzie to step in and keep Cara otherwise occupied. The only thing is, Lizzie starts slowly but surely falling i love with Cara.

As I mentioned above, "Love at First Set" may have you laughing for days. I think Lizzie is meant to be this slightly sarcastic (not in a mean way!) but overall lovable, loyal person with a slight chip on her shoulder because of her lived experiences. To me, this made her the perfect protagonist. I really enjoyed spending time with her characters. I think her relationship with James is also written very well despite some manipulation going on between them. Cara was my least favorite character. At one point, Lizzie calls her spoiled, and that's the perfect word for her. I wouldn't have chosen her for Lizzie, but love is love, you know? At least she helped Lizzie's dream flourish and encouraged her to take risks when trying to achieve that dream. I liked this book less and less as time went on. The characters make some epically bad decisions and frequently act out of immaturity and hurt rather than reason or logic. The story is also pretty melodramatic, aided by its overly theatrical characters who don't necessarily, entirely feel like real people 100% of the time. There could have been a little more in-depth character-building for some of the people in this book. Some of the aspects of these characters feel authentic (the gym stuff, Lizzie's penchant for movies, Cara's two friends who make an appearance but then don't show back up again, hiding aspects of who you are from certain people), but others feel rooted in fantasy or imagination. Instead of using just the miscommunication trope, author Jennifer Dugan favors using manipulation and lying as plot devices in addition to a lack of communication, which I didn't love at all. It feels like the relationship between both Lizzie and Cara AND Lizzie and James AND Cara and James are all built on shaky, rocky foundations that could crumble the second someone gets angry or misinterprets something slightly wrong. Not a great start to a potential long-term relationship! I also really disliked the ending. At the end of the day, the entire situation is resolved by one person essentially kowtowing to another's monetary prowess. Again, terrible for a relationship to start this way! This book isn't revolutionary in any way, but I did enjoy it for what it was.

Thanks to NetGalley, Jennifer Dugan, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Lizzie's life is the gym. It's been her safe space since she was a kid and now it's become her career passion. It's also owned by her best friend's family so she gets to spend every day with her best friend doing what she loves. Unfortunately for her, it's a dead-end job where the owners don't respect her. When she attends their daughter's wedding and she talks the bride out of the wedding and things begin to spiral from there!

Love at First Set is a charming sapphic romance. I thought this novel was a really delightful read, and enjoyed the gym setting very much. I was also really happy with the way Jennifer Dugan incorporated thoughtful representation throughout the book.

Love at First Set is definitely worth reading -- I recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and author for this ARC!


YEA YES YES!!!! I loved everything about this book, it was cute and fun. The characters made the love story so enticing. I would read this book multiple time! Thanks again!

I really wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. It was an okay book, but I didn't feel like it was good or great. I'm not sure exactly what about it makes me feel that way. I think some of the characters behaviors were a bit unrealistic to me. I think I wanted to see and understand the characters better.

The way I was so excited when I saw that Jennifer Dugan had another book coming out soon! I didn’t even notice this was her debut adult novel until I went to pre-order it on Audible. I was just excited to get more words from her. Although her last YA wasn’t my favorite, I just KNEW it was because I was going to love this one. And sure enough, I did!

Maybe I’m just a weirdo, but I actually thought this was hella funny. I say that because I’ve read a couple reviews on this book and a lot of them were saying the character I thought that was funny actually wasn’t lol I know reading is subjective, but I always feel some type of way when I’m the Black Sheep lol And I guess I am in this one too. But oh well. I thought James and Lizzie were hilarious. That’s why they were besties. I also really liked Cara. She was weird as hell, so basically, like me. I thought it was cute, so i loved her too. I haven’t laughed that hard from a book in so long.

Also, I really need to stop going in to books blind. I had no idea what this was about, just that Dugan had written it, so I added it to my TBR. But man, I was dreading the ending to that bathroom convo. I was cringing so hard. I always know when I like a book because then I feel way too attached and start to feel second hand feelings. And this one was no different. I felt bad for Cara, but I was also embarrassed for Lizzie because man how do you tell your bestie that? I got what she did, but I also thought/knew she was wrong for that. This book was so damn messy but it was like I couldn’t look away? Idk it was so good.

The romance was very cute. I hated that they began on a lie tho. I have way too much anxiety to do something like that. I’d really have to convince myself to not think about it. Which is probably why this book stressed me so much. But as it went on the way they KEPT lying, I was on 10! The third act break up was dumb tho. Literally every fucking body in this book was lying about something. How in the hell were they all mad at her?! Why did they think their lies were ok but hers was the thing that made everyone mad. I just didn’t understand it. But I DID understand how all these things came to a head tho. That’s what happens when you lie.

This book was hella messy, but it was also hella good. I really want y’all to read this so we can also get a book from James’ POV. We know who it’s with….. But I’d really like to see what they have going on either after the thing at the end of this, OR if we could get one that happened at the same time as this one. Idk I think that’d be cool. Until then, I guess I have to just read her next YA book, The Last Girls Standing.

I really loved this book. Lizzie is my favourite kind of chaotic bisexual - funny and self-deprecating and sarcastic and scared and flawed. Her relationship with James was such a highlight and I loved how she eventually opened herself up to be loved and to love in return. Lizzie and Cara played so well off of one another and I love how Cara constantly reminded Lizzie of her worth.

The conflict near the end felt right for this couple and the hoops they needed to go through in order to come out the other side, but I could have done without the altercation with James. I feel like Lizzie needed someone on her side for the duration of the story, someone she could trust completely, and I was disappointed in James's actions during said conflict.

All in all, I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to and I am now very excited to work through Dugan's backlist!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very good little queer rom-com that also dealt with deeper topics like toxic families (especially toxic mothers), class divides, and the low self-esteem and insecurity that can come from both of those things. That… makes it sound intimidating, but it would still make for a great beach read or some summer escapist reading. Were some of the plot points a little implausible? Sure. But, I don’t know about you, but I don’t exactly turn to romance books for their realism, ya know? I’m here for the swoons, and this book delivered those.