Very cute novella. The dual POVs were fun and the pacing was just right.

Good storytelling but the dialogue didn’t feel as strong in the beginning.

Would recommend.

Thank you Lana Schwartz, NetGalley and 831 Stories for the advanced copy of this book.

Such a fun Hollywood rom-com! I absolutely zoomed through this book and it was such a fun joyride to follow Cara (CJ) and Jack.

These two characters had insatiable chemistry and their flirty banter was so addictive (I just wish we saw more of it, to be honest!) I also was such a big fan of some of the character descriptions they felt really specific but also in line with the lightness and fun tone of the overall book ('Jack's had more flings than a rubber band' was one of my faves!) I was also really pleasantly surprised by some of the wording and enjoyed the phrasing a lot ('I grab a stack of files off the floor and shove them in my desk drawer, the Sisyphean equivalent of using a paper towel to absorb the ocean' - was excellent).

Funnily enough, we don't see a huge deal of interaction between Cara and Jack since this is essentially a workplace romance but when we do it was sizzling and exciting beyond belief! One of my favourite scenes is when Cara is interviewing Jack using a fork as a mic and jokingly interrogating him about his raunchy scene in a BBC show and Jack taps 'the forks' prongs with concern 'is this thing on?''. It was small moments like that, that really cemented the friendship aspect of their relationship and made it just so much fun to read.

There are a couple reasons that this isn't a 4 or even 5 star read for me. Firstly, Jack's character descriptions really grated on me. Yes, some of them were funny and tongue-in-cheek but it felt like 80% of his personality consisted of a British stereotypical caricature. In fact, all the British representation culturally felt pretty inauthentic and kind of annoying to read. The comment about the British stereotype of bad teeth, grating. There's also a fixation on Jack's accent and how he pronounces Cara's name in a British accent. Obviously, there's nothing wrong with that but it just felt like a weird character representation because he's portrayed as being super British in every sense whereas Cara isn't really put in a similar light of being super American and doesn't have any jarring stereotypes associated with her. This may be a sweeping assumption, but it read as an American author who was trying to write about a British character without really knowing British culture beyond the buzzwords of 'Brighton', 'British accents' and 'poor dental'.

Even the Brighton reference ('not unlike the kind of place we'd buy fresh fish during summer holidays in Brighton') felt so detached from British culture. Nobody buys fresh fish from a shack in Brighton, that's just not a thing. And even if they did, the fish isn't fresh because Brighton is not a fish farming town it's not like a port with a reputation for fresh fish just touristy fish and chips. At one point, Cara wears Jack's 'uni shirt' which is also not a thing? The term shirt makes it sound like she's wearing a suit shirt because we'd refer to it as a t-shirt and even so I don't know anyone who wears their alumni t-shirt unless they're part of a sporting team or maybe high school graduates? An extension of this is that at times it felt like Jack's one personality trait was being British and a relatively decent guy. We saw him being funny around Cara but I could not tell you anything else about him or his insecurities, dreams, quirks or traits.

I also had a huge issue with the spice scenes and intimacy. When reading the spice scenes, firstly they always appeared out of nowhere. Jack and Cara would be talking and then BOOM they're having sex. With no build up, no sexual tension, nothing just all of a sudden they're at it. This wasn't fun to read and made all the intimacy felt really sudden and not earned. It also felt like Schwartz wanted the spice to be over as soon as possible because they'd get really intimate very fast and it would all end very quickly. So there was no build up but equally no climax and no aftermath either just graphic sexual detail and then the next scene. This gave the overall feeling that the intimacy is forced in the plot and kind of just planted in certain parts to tick a box.

The level of intimacy and some of the details described did at times feel a little out of place given that Cara and Jake don't really know each other. They're being all touchy feely when they have had a one night stand and a couple kisses in the last five years but some of the touching and intimacy described felt like it would be warranted with a significant history of being intimate with each other and being in a relationship. I'd not be running up, wrapping my hands around his neck and kissing a dude I had a one night stand with five years ago within the space of weeks of seeing him a handful of times.

There were also a couple plot points that I wasn't super keen on. Firstly, it felt unrealistic that Jack would abandon a pub-crawl stag do to have a one night stand with the bartender. It obviously can happen, but once again just felt a bit random for him to literally leave the stag do just to hook up with a stranger. Secondly, a more minor point, there is a huge time jump between when Jack first meets Agnes and the seventh time he meets her. We witness the first time he's introduced to her and then all of a sudden weeks have gone by and I felt like we missed out on a huge chunk of time without being told that time moved forward. The final plot point that really bugged me was the trouble that occurs towards the end of the book when Jack helps Cara get a job and she essentially dumps him for it. I completely understood the angle of women in film and how important it can feel to not be getting handouts and earning your jobs. But this just felt a bit silly. He literally recommended her for a job off the basis that he's seen how great she is and she not only gets mad but refuses the job?! I feel like you can remove the gender element and just say this is dumb for anyone to not take an opportunity and that recommendations can come from anyone...if it helps secure a job surely a recommendation is a good thing? He didn't only recommend her because she's a woman and he wasn't trying to control her career he was just trying to help so it felt silly that Cara jumped to this defensive place of refusing help.

Despite this, there wasn't even an official break up scene and the ending felt corny and rushed as if pieces were slotting together to form a happy ending just for the sake of the plot. Overall, it was a fun and easy read. In parts, potentially problematic and the spice scenes were abrasive but it's still a light hearted rom com that at times feels like a love letter to Hollywood.

Set Piece by Lana Schwartz captivated me from the very beginning. Jack and CJ were fascinating characters—Jack, an up and coming British actor, CJ a bartender and production designer. Their initial meeting at the bar—and their intense connection—was hot. But then their reunion five years later was somehow even better. The time jump was so perfectly executed, and it added so much depth to what could have been an “insta lovey” story. CJ is now a single mom, and she’s processed her mother’s death, which came not long after her initial hookup with Jack. Jack has only grown in popularity, and he’s just landed a major role in the newest version of The Great Gatsby. It’s on set that they reconnect because CJ is the production designer. Their connection is still palpable and real, but they have to navigate the realities of working together alongside their attraction.

This book wasn’t very long, but every scene, every interaction was carefully crafted to move the story along. The main characters’ chemistry was sizzling, and it brought back all the Notting Hill nostalgic feels. I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes out for more from Lana Schwartz and 831 Stories. Absolutely fantastic. No notes. I need more.

I am such a huge fan of these stories because they’re short and sweet and full of detail. This one is a meet cute, one night stand turn second chance in the world of Hollywood. I loved that we got both perspectives of our characters. I thought both Jack and CJ were so endearing and the way they fell for each other felt so real. I’m always amazed by how many details and author can squeeze into 200 pages and this author certainly delivered!!

I liked it but didn't love it. This is such a short novella, yet it took me ages to finish because I didn't really care about the main characters.

Thanks NetGalley and 831 Stories for providing me with an ARC.

A man who is enamored not just by the woman but the woman’s drive??? In more ways than one (life, career, romantically).

Totally for those that love movies, behind the scenes of the careers in it, and also a serendipitous moment years down the line. I really liked how the writing was done in Set Piece and setting the scene!

Years after a steamy one night stand, CJ and Jack unexpectedly reunite on the set of a Great Gatsby remake: CJ as the lead set production designer, Jack cast in a starring role. Their chemistry is just as strong as it was years ago, and this time, there’s a chance for something more. As they navigate long days on set and lingering feelings, they must decide if they’re ready to let their connection become something more.

I absolutely loved this novella! The chemistry between CJ and Jack is magnetic from the start, but what really pulled me in is how grounded their connection felt. There’s tension, passion, and just the right amount of emotional vulnerability as they navigate their reunion on set and the possibility of something real. I appreciate the healthy communication and how their relationship felt both mature and swoony. It’s a short read, but it packs in so much heart and heat!

Andi Arndt and Shane East both deliver solid performances in the audiobook. Each brings the characters to life with the right mix of pacing and emotion. Major props to both narrators for navigating British and American accents.

I read this book with both my eyes and my ears, and enjoyed all formats. Romance readers: put this on your TBR!

Thank you 831 Stories Romance & AE Titles / S&S Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

okay this made me giggle this made me kick my feet i absolutely loved her!!! there were times where CJ just pissed me off but I had to remember where she was coming from and what really set her apart was knowing her own flaws. also, showing us that they had chemistry from day 1...thank you my god thank you!!

Another amazing 831 book! This was so great, and I love being in any celeb/normie world. 831 Stories haven't disappointed me yet and I can't wait to see what else they put out.

This was a cute story. I really liked how the way the main characters had time to get to know each other. Even when they first met, they were able to find a connection through their passion. The relationship felt earned. I didn't really like how the conflict was resolved. It seemed odd, especially after they both had people in their lives who helped understand their contribution to their disagreement. Why did it take even longer or a special event for them to finally see each other? It didn't make sense. Overall, I did enjoy the story.

831 Stories has shone with their celebrity/normal person romances! Set Piece by Lana Schwartz was my favorite of their releases since Big Fan, this time set in LA with a breakout actor, Jack, meeting a production designer turned bartender, Cara slash CJ, for just one night. They meet again five years later on the set of a Great Gatsby adaptation and navigate their quickly returned feelings for each other while having to work together and then figure out how to have a normal relationship, from CJ now having a young daughter to Jack being burnout and looking for the right balance of work and life. There was enough Hollywood insiderness with a cool niche of production designer included, balanced with the ordinary parts of their lives. Jack and CJ were a charming pair to see fall in love and easy to root for.

My favorite of the books put out my 831 Stories so far! I loved these characters both separately and together.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Oh this was EXTREMELY my shit.

Y'all know I love a celebrity romance. But a one night stand with a bartender (CJ) and an up and coming actor (Jack), only for them to reconnect years later on a film set when he is a STAR and she is the set designer?! SIGN ME UP !

In the time since they met CJ has experienced the highest of highs: giving birth to her daughter and the lowest of lows: losing her mom. She has really hit her groove professionally and knows that this job could really take her career to the next level. Jack, meanwhile, has become the IT guy and is going one project to the next, leaving little time for anything else.

The chemistry jumps off the page and these characters were great - nuanced and messy, which are my favorite kinds. I devoured this in one sitting on a plane and it was the perfect escape. Well done, Lana Schwartz!

Big thanks to NetGalley and 831 Stories for gifting me an ARC for this sneak peak! Set Piece is out in the world on May 6!

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!

4.5 stars because i just cannot stand a second act break up, for ANY reason!

thank you 831 stories FOR SHORT ROMCOMS! i cannot stand that so many romance books are now pushing 500pgs! like babe! it’s not that serious!!!

set piece was a deliciously fantastic, short and sweet and steamy romcom about an up and coming actor and a production designer. i went in rather blind, and looking at the description now, i think that was the best option — especially for such a short romcom!

as for the audiobook — dual narrators are forever my favorite, and both narrators did fantastic.

overall, this was a fantastic romcom and i’ll be diving into 831 stories’ other romances!

Set Piece is the most recent romance novella from @stories831 and it was the perfect addition to their line up! I liked all of the references to classic films sprinkled throughout the book! If you like Notting Hill or celebrity/normal person pairings, this should be your next read! This could definitely be a finish in one sitting book and would be a perfect vacation book!

This was an adorable story. I appreciated both the main characters and how they felt decently fleshed out despite this being a shorter novel, and I appreciated how they handled the events in the story like adults; there was minimal conflict/miscommunication. This felt like what an actual relationship might be like, which I feel is very difficult to find in romance books. I'm very excited to continue with more from 831 Stories.

For someone who generally cannot stand insta-lust, I thought it was really well done here. There was good chemistry between the characters and I enjoyed watching them fall in love, but that is pretty much it and I wasn’t a fan of the ending. Set Piece is a very okay romance. I would recommend it if you are looking for a quick, fun read.

Thank you 831 Stories and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.

This was a good novella. This was completely out of my comfort zone, but I did enjoy it. I definitely think anyone who is a fan of this genre would also really enjoy it. I did really like the celebrity aspect of the book and everything that came with that.

Set Piece is a short, terrific romantic read set behind the scenes of Hollywood filmmaking. It features CJ, a production designer making ends meet by bartending on the side, and buzzy new actor Jack, who find each other working on the same set five years after their one night stand. This book is also dual pov.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was impressively well-paced for a story this length, and I was rooting for CJ and Jack so hard. This book was a little sexier than it was romantic, but that didn’t bother me or detract from the relationship. Agnes, CJ’s daughter, was included the perfect amount, and her dialogue and presence felt realistic to how a four year old would behave (something A LOT of books struggle with).

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I LOVE THIRD ACT BREAK UPS. This one had just the right amount of length to it, and just the right amount of introspective development for the MCs. I wish that the break up had made a tiny bit more sense, which we could have gotten with slightly more length to the book.

Things that didn’t bother me but might bother you: a lot of backstage shop talk. Set Piece feels pretty evenly split between the romance and their work, and not necessarily in a way that serves the story. I thought it was fun to get that perspective, some folks may not. The other thing is that not much happens in this book. Their relationship IS the plot, and it feels almost like slice-of-life writing. I like that a lot, but I know some folks who enjoy romance don’t.

I’d highly recommend this to readers looking for a palette cleanse or a short book with a cute dynamic, an independent (to a fault) FMC, and a sweet, direct MMC.

Thank you SO much to 831 Stories and Lana Schwartz for the advanced reader’s copy provided in exchange for an honest review. Set Piece comes out May 6, 2025.