This was my first 831 book. I must say I didn't know what to expect. As I began to read it, I was glad that I requested to review this Set Piece. I absolutely love second chance romance. There were tons of hot spots filled with spice. I look forward to reading more by this author.

I really enjoyed this one. Lana Schwartz's "Set Piece" is a delightful and steamy second-chance romance novella that perfectly executes the beloved celebrity/normal person trope.

The contemporary romances that 831 Stories has been putting out have been charming, steamy, tightly written, and addictive AF. Lana Schwartz’ novella Set Piece is no exception and I really enjoyed it.

Maybe this is a hot take, but when it comes to contemporary romance, I like my love stories … low drama? As in, I want to read about grounded, likable people treating each other with respect and affection. I do want some conflict, but I’d prefer for it to be situational and plausible.

Set Piece fit this mold perfectly. Jack and CJ meet serendipitously and have a one night stand when Jack is visiting Los Angeles for an audition. Unbeknownst to him, bartending is CJ’s “day job” (or should I say night job?) as she trains to become a production designer in Hollywood. Five years later, they reencounter each other on the set of a Great Gatsby remake and that spark is still there. However a lot has changed in five years— is a relationship really in the cards?

Set Piece was a smart, fun read, with great characters, pacing and character development, as well as some interesting views of the filmmaking process. I especially loved that CJ prioritized her career ambitions and that Jack admired her for it.

If you enjoy novels set in LA, this is a must-read. Highly recommend!

Sincere thanks to netgalley and 831 Stories for the advanced readers copy.

I loved it!
the chemistry between CJ and Jack were fantastic, the banter was great, and I loved reading about the insides of filming a big movie. i love books about celebrities! i found myself rooting for the two of them and wanting them to work things out SOOOOO BAD!!!

TYSM for the arc, 831 Stories, i am your BIGGEST fan.

I love a great romance, especially involving a charming British main male character. It starts with Cara, who is a single mom and a production assistant in Hollywood, juggling the daily grind while trying to carve out a space for herself in a chaotic industry. A chance reconnection with Jack, a man from her past with whom she shared one unforgettable night, throws her off balance. Schwartz’s writing is quick and sharp, with characters who emotionally resonate. Set Piece is a smart romance with just enough angst to keep things interesting.

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC!

This is my FAVORITE of all of them so far! I couldn’t put it down and was hooked. I cannot wait to see what comes next from them.

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 stories for this e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was my second story from 831 and I really loved it. Getting to read the behind the scenes elements of filmmaking and design was really new for me and was refreshing to read. The relationship was spot on and adorable, and I just loved how it jumped from a one night stand to so much more. The pacing felt right, and everything was really well done! Great novella!

This novella was a great quick read that I really enjoyed. Although it was a novella, I felt drawn into the story that was well developed. This was my first book by 831 Stories but I can’t wait to go back and check out more of them. 4.5 stars rounded up. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

"Set Piece" is a sweet, classic, Hollywood romance. I devoured this book almost immediately (stayed up way too late to finish it). The storytelling was simple yet heartwarming. A romance book like this can easily fall under the overwhelming and unbelievable set of tropes since it's a Hollywood romance, but this one kept it realistic. There wasn't distracting fluff or characters that implode the plot to make it more dramatic. I can't wait to read the next books!

Loving these 831 short stories. Celeb/normie romance. Fun pop culture references. Witty banter and steam. Loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I feel like if The Idea of You and (insert one of these) Emily Henry/Abby Jimenez/Carley Fortune had a book baby, this would be it. This little novella packed quite the punch! Male actor from across the pond pursues female PA who is a single mom in L.A. five years after meeting in a bar. The sexual tension and all the feelings had me rooting for this couple!

Thank you to NetGalley, 831 Stories, and the author for the ARC of Set Piece! This was a really lovely second chance romance. I liked and connected with the characters. Well written, heartfelt, and Lana Schwartz packed a lot into a tight page count.

831 Stories has done it again. If you like famous/non-famous romances, showbiz behind the scenes, and pop culture, this book is absolutely for you. I couldn’t put it down and can’t wait to recommend it to my friends.

Simply put, 'Set Piece' is a second-chance romance between an Actor and Hollywood set designer - but that's just the start of it.
Lana Schwartz has created two characters that have insane chemistry, and are just trying to figure out how to co-exist in each other's orbit.

I am thoroughly enjoying the 831 Stories publications.
These novellas nail it in less than 250 pages.

my favorite trope !!! loved an inside look into set decorating. loved the time jump. loved the characters and how lived in they felt despite the short page count. other than that, it was not stand out to me - i think maybe because of the shortness, i would have loved to linger longer with these characters.

This was so much fun to read and had everything you’d want in a romantic comedy. The famous person trope was done well and the world the characters lived in felt realistic. Great amounts of yearning and chemistry that will satisfy any reader.

A perfect example of tight romance writing. We start with a banger of a one night stand ON THE BAR, and then these two meet back up on a movie set 5 years later. I am obsessed with how much Jack respects CJ's work - more respect for women in crew! But the conflict that separates these two was very frustrating to me. Still, the story is emotional and sexy, the characters are interesting and it has just the right amount of Hollywood glamour. Drink this book: Enjoy with a slightly chilled Pinot Noir from California.

First off, the 831 stories are so quick and cute! I really liked Jack and CJ’s story. Even though this was a little over 200 pages I felt like the characters were developed enough and the chemistry was there (and the spice!). I love a dual pov and the Hollywood setting was fun.

Thank you for the eARC!

How-many-actors/movies-can-you-name challenge.

(a lot if you both are annoyingly well-cinematic-educated people)

Thanks to 831 Stories and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this story. It was well written. This is my first book from this author. I have found a new author to look out for