Not my favorite! I loved how the romance started but ultimately the characters got together too fast for my liking. That’s just a personal trope preference though so I think it might still be enjoyable for others.

This book hooked me from the first chapter. I absolutely loved starting with Jack’s perspective and the time jump really took me by surprise, but worked really well within the story. The whole book was very beautifully written and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Loved this second-chance romance between an up-and-coming British actor and the film production designer that stole his heart!

Jack and CJ meet when CJ rescues Jack from a few fans that recognized him whilst he’s in LA for his friend’s bachelor party. They‘ve got instant chemistry, a shared love of film, and they wind up having a one night stand. Five years later, Jack is cast as Nick in a new adaptation of Great Gatsby and is shocked to find that the bartender from five years ago that he can’t stop thinking about is actually the film’s production designer. CJ‘s a single mum now and just as successful as Jack. The attraction is still there, but CJ has so much more to lose than Jack, being a woman in the film industry and a single mom. She has to decide whether she wants to risk letting Jack into her life, and Jack has to not only prove himself worthy but think about what he actually wants out of life.

I‘m not always a fan of celebrity main characters, but Jack‘s just humble and genuine enough to be believable and likable. And I LOVE how CJ is on track to be equally and probably MORE successful than him. And he’s perfectly okay with it. Love how they both genuinely enjoy film. And I really loved Stuart and how he and Agnes slowly become Jack‘s family too. This novella took me away from real life to sunny California for a few hours and tied everything up beautifully by the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for the ARC. I‘m looking forward to reading more from 831 Stories!!

I received an ARC from Netgalley. Big thanks to them, 831 Stories, and Lana Schwartz.

I really enjoyed this zippy romance. It’s the story of an independent and successful set designer who has a fling with an actor who goes on to become a successful movie star. When fate brings them back together five years later, sparks fly. They have to figure out how to navigate their respective careers and personal lives. I really appreciated that this was a fairytale in many ways while weaving in the reality of adults whose jobs and families often take them to different places (literally and figuratively).

I think viewers of “Starstruck” or fans of Olivia Dade would really enjoy “Set Piece.”

Set Piece by Lana Schwartz
4/5 🌟

This is a short and sweet novella with spice and a cute connection! I love when a romance gets right to it, and this definitely does. I really enjoyed the writing and ability of the author to get so many details around the film industry, and these characters backstory in a short amount of pages.

Their passionate start doesn’t fizzle after years of not seeing each other, so can they pick up where they left off, but are they destined to be together for real!? Super sweet characters and you can’t help but cheer for both of them!

For being a novella, I didn't feel like we were shorted at all. I still felt connected to the characters and understood all the reasons that CJ was hesitant about this relationship. I loved having the dual POV to understand Jack's emotions in his rise to fame and dealing with celebrity, while also staying true to himself and his friends. And that he spent their years apart searching for a "Cara" in the credits - big swoon.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this one. I have been loving everything that 831 Stories has been putting out there.

5✰
“i want to live here, in this perfect moment.”
... and i want to live here, in this perfect story!

i’m writing this review at 3 am. “just a few pages before bed … you’ll get plenty of sleep," i said. i couldn’t have been more wrong. between cara and jack’s effortless banter and their magnetic chemistry, i was instantly hooked. 831 stories has done it again. a beautiful story about love, personal growth, vulnerability, grief, self-reliance and allowing yourself to follow your dreams and fight for the future you want — all neatly packaged in under 200 pages. 10/10 would recommend.

thank you to lana schwartz, 831 stories and netgalley for this arc 🖤

This flirty, sexy, second chance romance between British actor Jack Felgate and single mom/production designer CJ was sooo up my alley. I loved the romance between a celeb and a normal person - what a fun trope. What made this extra enjoyable for me was that each character was authentic with their struggles and trepidations which made me appreciate them on a different level. It felt truly honest, and that’s what makes a modern romance work for me. The fact that this took place on a Gatsby adaptation set was such an added bonus. Anything Gatsby related gets extra brownie points in my book🤭

Thank you for the opportunity to read early! Another home run by the 831 family, exactly the perfect length and still as satisfying as something much longer. Distilled and clear and lovely.

cute! I love a fun short story/novella, and this definitely fit the bill. I loved that so much of the story revolved around being on set and being in the film world in general, but was still able to remain realistic feeling. I had some issues with pacing, but overall I really enjoyed! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eArc in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you Netgally for the early copy!!!
Find me an 831 Story I don’t like. I’ll wait!!!
This book? Adorable. Thoughtful.
Jack is a famous actor who’s also somehow grounded, kind, and emotionally available (like…does he even exist outside fiction?). But I bought it. CJ had a few moments where I wanted to shake her gently and say, “Ma’am, please let this perfect man love you,” but honestly? I got it. She’s relatable. The whole thing is sweet, satisfying, and leaves you wanting another chapter.

The beginning started off very hot and heavy but unfortunately , for me, it was difficult for me to stay engaged with the storyline and really get invested in the characters. I really love the novella format, but I think sometimes it's is very challenging to keep a reader engaged and develop a character arc. It has an interesting twist on your usual rom-com stories but it wasn't it for me.

Set Piece by Lana Schwartz is a quick fun read! I loved the Hollywood/filmmaking angle.

I always look forward to an 831 Stories book because they introduce me to new authors. They are quick reads and you know they are going to be swoony—Set Piece did not disappoint. I cannot wait to read what 831 Stories and Lana Schwartz.

This started out really strong for me, but didn't nail the middle/ending. It's a quick romance but since it's a novella I felt the characters were a bit one dimensional and I found myself skimming to finish.

Thanks for the advanced reader copy Netgalley & 831 Stories.

So much fun and a super fast read. I was immediately pulled into the story and didn't want to put it down. Really liked the characters and the glimpse into the behind the scenes of filming movies. Looking forward to reading more from this author and this publisher.

I'm a fan of this publisher, 831 Stories, and was excited to fet this eARC in exchange for my honest review. These books are like long novellas, they leave you wanting more, and in a world of 500+ page romance books, its very refreshing. Loved the meet cute. Loved the meet cute take 2. The main characters, Jack and CK, were so likeable and has great chemistry. Their central conflict was relatable and about their blindspots; not at all contrived. I was really pulling for them. I was wanting a bit more of their story by the end, but again, thay seems to be this publisher's style. Thw writing was well paced and descriptive. Will definitely read more by her. 4 stars.

A really well-developed novella. CJ and Jack's relationship develops so organically, an impressive feat given the length. Even though we jumped forward in time several times, I never felt like I was missing something. The breakup didn't feel too forced, and I think it made sense given the story. I also loved seeing CJ with Stuart and could've used even more of them. I would have loved to have seen this as a full book but I enjoyed it even with the shorter page count.

thankyou to NetGalley and 831 stories for the advanced copy

i really enjoyed this and thought it quite effective for a novella
it can be hard to build complex characters with depth and presence in a book this size, however i thought it was well executed. i do believe the characters had a lot of initial chemistry, and this wasn’t quite as present when they reconnected later in the story.
i thought the complication at the end could have been worked more effectively

overall, was impressed and keen to read more from this author and publisher

Sigh, can 831 do no wrong? I’m starting to notice a trend here in the stories they publish. String independent female lead? Check. Character driven story? Check. Mature adults who have mature adult problems and handle them in adult ways? Check. Celebrity romance? Che..well ok there were only two other celebrity romances but this one hits just as hard as the others.

I loved the dynamic between the two romantic leads, The instant attraction that first draws them to each other and the friendship that develops along the way are *chef’s kiss*. I’d read another 200 pages of these two.

Another great famous/normal person romance novella from 831 Stories! This story was so much more developed than I expected and I really felt like I got to know the characters despite its short length!