It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.

3.5 stars rounding down as it wasn't a strong half a star.

Starting with the positive: I loved Crystal and her character and how she was comfortable in herself. I loved the body positivity and how we got glimpses into her plans, her fitstagram style, blogging, and positive friendships and collaborations. I love books with all this, and the fact that's he is half Irish (I'm Irish) and half Chinese gave us some cute and fun comparisons between the two family backgrounds. Also, her family, especially that grandma (who was having a time), was entertaining!

My problem was the love interest. And as this is a ROMANCE book, that affects my reading a lot. I 100% put it down to how he was introduced (and me, unfortunately, seeing a bullying comparison from my own life) because all I saw was an asshole, and it coloured him for me. That kiss, too, was way too fast when I still disliked him. Yes, towards the end, I kind of liked him, but by then, it was too late. I don't think this is the author or stories fault, just a personal dislike.

Set on You is a short rom-com about a plus size fitness influencer and a firefighter who looks like Chris Evans (a fact that was repeated multiple times throughout the book). While I did enjoy some aspects of the story, namely the adorable banter between the characters, I have to admit this book fell short for me. Crystal, our heroine, is introduced as a 27 year old fitness influencer, but she often acted far younger than her age. I found that she was extremely immature in her relationship with Scott, as well as in the way she dealt her "trolls". I debated putting this down several times during the first half of the book because I found the writing to be a bit more juvenile than what I was expecting. There were countless references to pop-culture, which I did not enjoy. I was also extremely uncomfortable with the "grand gesture" at the end of the book. Overall, the banter between the characters was great, and I really did like Scott's character, but this book fell below my expectations.

I'm not sure about my feelings on this one. It took me longer to read than any romcom should, but I just found the main character to be so infuriating. I liked the romance between her and Scott, but Crystal had such a chip on her shoulders that made it hard to read without despising her - she came off as just being an angry mean girl.

LOVED! Very cute romance that introduced a plus-sized woman who is confident in her own body and has created a platform around it. Loved the male love interest being a) a total simp and b) a Chris Evans look alike. So many cute moments, also accompanied by some spice. An amazing read that I couldn’t put down!

Content warnings: fatphobia, cyberbullying, and references to racism, fitness/ diet culture, and cancer

When I read the blurb of this book, I knew I was going to absolutely love this book. Biracial rep, fat rep, swoony worthy love interest and I read somewhere about the bathtub scene(oh my goodness, this was so hot and nice and beautiful and sexy)

Crystal is a curvy fitstagrammer and she enjoys gymming, so what happens when the 'rude' nemesis, Scott enters? What happens when they realise that they're grandparents(Crys' maternal grandmother and Scott's paternal grandpa) are getting married. One thing leads to another and they find themselves getting closer to each other.

The grumpy x sunshine trope was spot on. Scott is such a softie(he's scared of needles🥺) and I loved him, I loved everything about his character and yes I am biased but I don't care, even those cheesy cringey pick-up lines were amazing. Crystal's character arc was amazing, we see how she tackles body positivity and confronts her own belief, I really enjoyed the way she grows throughout the book, especially her growth because of the 'conflict'. I also love the grandparents, grandma had my heart, she was amazing and I enjoyed her conversations, her meddling nature quite a lot.

The chemistry between Scott and Crystal was too good, they were there for each other and Scott was such a nice love interest, he was caring, the banter between these two was hilarious, the tension, the first locker scene was fire. I will also not be able to eat clementines without thinking about them because those moments were so wholesome, and it was so adorable.

One thing that I really wished for was to have Scott's POV, I was very desperate to know his POV because his character was pretty and I would have enjoyed it quite a lot more(though I have enjoyed it but this would have been a cherry on the cake)

This books talks about quite a few themes and the most prominent one was 'self-love', something I've only recently started practicing and it discusses so many important topics that were very much needed and I commend Amy for bringing these topics in because to me they were not really overwhelming and very much needed.

This book is a light, fluffy and a fun read and I read it so fast, it shocked me. I love it. I'll think about these two quite often. I am all on board for reading any and every book that Amy writes in the future and as far as I know Mel and Tara will be getting a book of their own *screams*

I am absolutely in love with not only Scott and Crystal’s relationship development but them as individual characters! Crystal is smart, ambitious, shows the importance of self-love, and hilarious. Her humor made the enemies-to-lovers so perfect! I loved seeing Scott’s soft and true side eventually shine through. I truly enjoyed every character in this story.

Set on You is a fast paced, enemies-to-lovers that I never wanted to end. Easily one of my favorite reads this year (and I’ve read quite a few already)! With this being Amy Lea’s debut, I can not wait to see what she writes next.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored Set on You!! If you’re a fan of Ali Hazelwood’s books then you’re going to love Set on You. Full review will be up on pop-culturalist closer to release date.

I love a Canadian author, and I love a story that isn’t so obsessed with body positivity that it takes over what’s really happening.
This was probably my favourite read of January, and my first 5 star read of 2022. Very excited to see what else Amy Lea has planned!

A romance about a curvy heroine and a Chris Evans lookalike is my ideal book and Set on You completely exceeded my expectations. It was such a fun and addicting read and I already want to re-read it. Crystal is a fitness trainer with a large following on Instagram, and Scott is a fireman who steals Crystal’s bench press from her on his first day at the gym. This starts a rivalry between Scott and Crystal, until they are forced to make amends when they realize their grandparents are marrying each other. I loved the family dynamic and all of the side characters in this book, and there were so many great messages about self-love and body positivity. I could definitely see this becoming a popular on Booktok and I can’t wait to read more by this author!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I love love loved Crystal's story! As a personal trainer and fitness instructor (not to mention Asian) and married to a fireman, I identified with Crystal so much. The battles in the gym with Scott, her love of training and her interactions with her clients were all so relatable to me. But even if I hadn't identified with her, I would still love Crystal and Scott's journey to finding themselves together. The side characters (their grandparents and friends) really contributed to the story and I highly recommend this book!

What a delightful rom-com debut from Amy Lea!

A fitness influencer who talks about self-acceptance and body image falls for a swoon-worthy firefighter over a squat rack??? Count me the fuck in! Lea's got such a fun writing style full of A+++ pop culture references, wise-cracking side characters, and nosy grandparents. (I grew up inhaling Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels! Love me a nose grandparent!!!!!)

I thiiiiink where things got a tad off-kilter for me was the romantic arc itself. As an avid gym-goer, I felt like Scott really was just a jerk at the beginning of the book, and I didn't love his actions being justified with the old-fashioned "if he's being mean to you, it's because he likes you!!!" line of thinking. Plus, it felt like this novel quickly leaned too heavily on random miscommunications on Crystal's part as opposed to enemies-to-lovers. I appreciated though that Lea was trying to show how Crystal's own insecurities were the biggest hindrance to her happiness, as opposed to anything Scott was actually doing. My opinion is just a personal preference for the trope!

I think Amy Lea's got a bright future in the genre, and you bet your ass I'm excited to see what comes next.

RITCHIE_SCOTTY7: There's something wrong with my phone.
CURVYFITNESSCRYSTAL: ??
RITCHIE_SCOTTY7: It doesn't have your number in it."


oh em gee!! Scott Landon Ritchie! Stone-cold fox. Cinnamon roll! Six-foot-two alpha male fireman. No words to properly encapsulate the kaleidoscope of feelings (FEELINGS) I have toward him and Amy Lea's debut novel!


Set on You will leave readers star-fishing on the floor with a million and one hearts bursting around their head. Readers will be swooning like a teenage girl at a 1D concert. (I speak from personal experience). I LOVED THIS. I am a sucker for pop-culture references. I feel that it makes the characters and situations more relatable. Like, hey, I love that show too! Perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez and Lyssa Kay Adams. Lunge at that preorder button like a flying squirrel!


☝🏼Me to Set on You/Scott Ritchie.

Ps. Can we get one of those first responder calendars with Scott?

Note: see author’s note for possible sensitive topics.

💪🏼 READ IF YOU LIKE 💪🏼:
-nemesis to lovers
-mid 2000s pop culture references
-clementines
-Lizzo (shout out to Sisqo)
-grand gestures
-pick up lines & witty banter
-communicating in gifs
-Chris Evans firefighter hero channeling the spirit of Darth Vader
-strong, curvy, biracial Chinese heroine
-body positivity & self-love
-#IsThisAKissingBook: 18+ "His kiss is a revival. It's full of life..."

Thank you Berkley for an advanced copy!!

Pps. My only compliant (LOL- not a true complaint) is that this is Amy’s debut novel which means there’s no back list or anything else of Lea’s to binge. 😉 Crossing my fingers for MORE!! 🤞🏼Amy Lea has become an auto-buy author for me! 😘

🎶 Song: Cuz I Love you by Lizzo 🎶

What a absolutely charming + darling debut by Amy Lea! This enemies to friends to lovers romance made me SWOON. It was a lovely balance of all the feels and all the steam. Crystal is a personal trainer/fitness instagrammer who finds herself equally annoyed and attracted to the new guy at the gym who stole her favorite squat rack, Scott. Turns out Scott isn’t the cocky gym bro that he seems but a sweet firefighter with a golden doodle and a fear of needles. Crystal finds herself falling fast but is hesitant to put her heart out there again after her last relationship ended badly. I connected instantly with the characters and was so invested in their relationship. Their chemistry leapt off the page and I loved the sweet romantic thoughtfulness they showed each other. The supporting characters and storylines were also great additions to the overall story and the pacing was perfect. I laughed out loud several times.

I loved that themes of self acceptance, self care, and self love were explored along with thoughtful consideration of the body positivity movement. I truly appreciated the author’s note at the beginning as well. I cannot wait to read more love stories from this author!!

Thank you so much to Berkley Pub + Berkley Romance + Netgalley for my copy.

Steamy, fun, and accurate - Set On You is a realistic romance read that will cater to both romance junkies and fans of realistic representation of women alike.

I quite liked it actually, especially the message about the body positivity, self-love and self discovery it has provided. However, I can’t help but find the characters a bit flat and the beginning a tad bit slow. So, it’s a 3.5 star read for me.

Sassy, warmhearted and sensual, Set on You is a really lovely book about physical fitness and true love coming in all shapes and sizes.

Scott Ritchie is instantly the most annoying man that Crystal Chen has ever met; the cocky firefighter keeps stealing her favorite squat rack.  Crystal, a personal trainer and Instagram influencer, is constantly battling back Opinions from trolls and other online naysayers because she keeps a focus on fitness without highlighting weight loss. She immediately goes head to head with Scott over the rack, push comes to shove, and their one-upmanship contest leads to a playful rivalry.  They’re both horrified to walk into an engagement party and realize that they’re grandchildren of the bride and groom.

Working on their grandparents’ wedding forces them to get to know each other on a personal basis, and the more they know about each other, the bigger their attraction grows.  But those trolls rear their ugly heads again when pictures of Crystal and Scott together go viral.  Can their love withstand the jabs of strangers?

How I love this novel! Set On You has a fabulous heroine, a secretly sweet hero, some great grandparents, a slow-burn romance and a wonderful commentary about the right to be fat and exercise in public.  Crystal and Scott’s romance is delightful – filled with lust but also love, understanding and humor.  It’s one of the best enemies-to-lovers romances I’ve read in a long, long time.

Crystal is sunny and Scott is grumpy, but their relationships with themselves, and their world, are not that easily boiled down and simplified.  I loved them both.  They are fabulous and funny and dedicated to their crafts and lifting - and one another.

The even more charming secondary romance between their grandparents frequently killed me – they steal the show while often leaving Crystal and Scott with their jaws on the ground.

If you’re sensitive to online trolling or bullying, I will say that this probably isn’t the book for you. The way people treat Crystal and Scott is VERY realistic to the kind of bullying that happens online, and it may trigger you if you’ve experienced this sort of bullying yourself.  But if you can endure it, the book is more than worth a looksee. Set on You is sweet, lovely and romantic.

Buy it at Amazon, Audible or your local independent retailer

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THE 411...

Fitstagrammer Crystal Chen has built her platform by breaking gym stereotypes and throwing positivity at the haters who can't help but troll her posts. She's jut experienced a break-up that's left her feeling like setting some boundaries. Tired of having surface level flings and craving a deeper connection, Crystal is on high alert for any guy with red flags. To top it off she finds herself in squat wars with the new guy at the gym who she's dubbed The Squat Rack Thief. This guy doesn't follow any of the gyms unspoken rules leaving Crystal both appalled and determined to beat him to the squat rack each night. Soon a tit-for-tat type relationship develops and with it, a whole dose of sexual chemistry. 

Hopefully Dear Reader, you haven't read the Goodreads synopsis for this book since I feel it gives away a bit too much and I'm glad I went in with very minimal info. For starters, we don't get Squat Rack Thief's name right away and I felt this added a fun mystery and led to a surprising reveal. These characters face a couple of challenges before their romance takes off but nothing they couldn't get through, it was more of a battle of wills playing out. Crystal isn't trying to become anyones rebound (again) and she's also fiercely and proudly protective of her followers. She dedicates her time to working privately with clients and posting motivational videos/captions that we get to read in the book. We also get to see both the positive & negative comments she gets daily and how she handles having a large platform as a plus size Chinese American Fitstagrammer. Squat Rack Thief is described as looking like Chris Evans and having killer abs but he also deals with some stereotypes and Crystal brings those to the surface. 

CW (some of which are mentioned in the author's note): Cheating, Cancer, death of a loved one mentioned, cyberbullying, fatphobia, references to racism, fitness/diet culture

WRITING & FINAL THOUGHTS...

At its core this book carries such a strong message on what exactly "body positivity" really is on an individual basis and what confidence and self-worth really looks like on the daly. Any book that can make me self reflect is one I'll recommend and this is one I feel did that and more. Personally, my fitness journey like crystals stemmed from wanting to find my way back to a more confident ME. It's not tied to a number on the scale but rather a feeling of happiness and comfort in my own skin. There's also the fact that Crystal doesn't have a traditional job or career, she has built a strong following and with it acquired some endorsements. Her loving traditional self-made father struggles with her choices and that too was interesting to see play out. All in all, we have a independent woman who has worked hard to achieve success, confidence and up her self worth but that doesn't mean every day is a good day.

"I don't think confidence and self-worth is something you magically attain. And you don't simply hold onto it forever like a tangible object. It's fluid. You can be confident in every aspect except one. Or something could happen and all your confidence can be shattered in an instant."

The journey Crystal is on is hella relatable down to setting healthy boundaries with the male love interest. Yes there were moments where they bent the rules & gave into their cravings but there was also a clear line of communication. I really would've loved for this to have been multiple POV cause I was dying to know what Squat Rack Thief was thinking. Especially during the last 15% where that communication they maintained all throughout was put on pause. Otherwise this was a laugh-out-loud funny, sexy, empowering, and at times five chili peppers steamy read. There's a strong cast of supporting characters made up of family members and friends, each of them well fleshed out with tons of personality. Something to look forward to? possibly? well, Crystal's sister is introduced as a Bookstagrammer/Nurse and I'm more than READY for her story! One can hope amiright?!? Set on You by Amy Lea hits shelves May 10th!

***BOOK REVIEW & COLLAGE GO LIVE ON MAY 3RD. 2022 ON LAIROFBOOKS @8AM EST***

This book had the potential to be fun, but the writing was too choppy and the characters were blah. I had hoped they would spark more interest and be more enjoyable, but alas, it was just too much. Maybe I'm not in the right mode to enjoy this book, but it was just predictable, which I don't always mind, but this was just downright annoying. And the blogging and texting parts made this book be something that will be dated too quickly. The characters were frustrating, they were oblivious and then drama, and then the big apology which should make everything fine, but here's the problem, the book is trying to hard to be cute and realistic, and the story couldn't handle both. That's the drawback of trying too hard, if it would have just been cute and cheesy that would've worked better. It was ok at best, but that's giving it more credit than it should have. Just didn't work for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Not my favorite, but I enjoyed the struggles presented for midsized heroines and general disbelief she experienced.