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!

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Set Piece by Lana Schwartz is about Cara, a single mom who bartends and designs/builds sets for movies, and Jack, a very famous actor who meet in a bar and have a one night stand… only to circle back and both be involved in the same movie five years later.

I’ve eaten up every 831 story I’ve read and this one was no different! This is a fast paced, dual POV read that I couldn’t put down. I really enjoyed the story and the writing. I didn’t love the third act breakup, but I see WHYYY it was necessary to flush out Jack and Cara’s relationship and for them to stay happy in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and 831 for the advanced copy in exchange for a review!!

Set Piece is proof that a romance novel can check all of my boxes (and a few bonus boxes) without being more than 230 pages. I loved this so much!

3.5/5 rounded up.

I enjoyed the premise of this and I loved how strong the FMC was, but something was off for me in terms of the chemistry between the two main characters. It kind of felt like the transitions between them talking and then getting down & dirty was a little clunky and I didn't feel like there was enough tension for me to believe the chemistry. Especially for them to then still be obsessed with each other 5 years later.

I did actually really enjoy the context around set design/filmmaking so that was a fun addition, though I do wonder if that would have been better for a longer novel so that there could be more focus on the character development.

However, I do think the resolution was done well and helped redeem the FMC for me near the end (I did find her to be overly controlling so I’m glad that was addressed), and the MMC was a dreamy English man so that’s always a plus. Overall a nice easy read, just not an all time fave for me!

Jack and CJ happen to meet at the high-end bar where CJ works — and she doesn't know that the handsome Jack is a breakout TV star until he's swarmed by admirers, and she swoops in to rescue him. But after one night together, their lives diverge — until five years later, when Jack is set to star in a new movie where CJ has been hired as the production designer.

Unfortunately, I did not feel any sort of chemistry between these two, and it did not work for me. Their initial meeting felt forced and rushed, which made it hard to care about them coming back together years later. While this was not my cup of tea, fans of the famous person-regular person romance trope may enjoy this one. Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

This was a quick and endearing read. I loved the nods to filmmakers and to women that want to be known for their work!!
This honestly felt very grounded for a normal/famous person romance — I would even say it was more along the lines of colleagues. Cj & Jack are very compatible and you cannot help but root for them.
However, I think this would have benefited of having more time/being a full novel to truly relate with these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to 831 Stories for the Advanced Reader Copy! Lovers of film will delight in this romance between an FMC production designer and an MMC actor with the supporting tropes of: one-night stand, second-chance, and workplace romance.

My favorite aspect of Set Piece was each of our main characters navigating their career while prioritizing relationships and determining what boundaries are worth setting and upholding. Our pair doesn't shy away from leaving industry parties early and it was lovely to see them parse out what elements of the industry they wanted (and sometimes needed) to entertain.

Pick up Set Piece when it releases on April 30th for a cinematic, second-chance romance that will resonate for all of us trying to honor the people we love while creating a career we love!

My favorite quotes:
- "So. What's your favorite Cukor?" he whispers. It's quite possibly the hottest question he could have asked me.
- "I'm willing to role-play a caricature of myself to humor you."
- "I've been saying yes to anything and everything, and I don't know how I can't expect other people to take me seriously if I don't start to take myself a little more seriously."

SET PIECE

Set Piece by Lana Schwartz is another gem from 831 Stories, a “romantic fiction” imprint that I am — appropriately — in love with.

I’ve been a fan of both Lana and her writing for years, feeling a kinship of sorts as we are both pop culture encyclopedias and rom com fans. So it’s no surprise that I found this love story — set inside the film industry — to be as charming as I’d expected.

Set Piece follows CJ, an up-and-coming production designer and Jack, an actor on the rise. They first collide with a steamy chance encounter, then five years later when they discover they’re working on the same movie. Their attraction is clear, as are the obstacles — and their relationship is put to the test.

Lana’s writing is charming and engaging. It’s also a hell of a lot of fun. Hollywood “behind-the-scenes” is hard to pull off, but she nails it with accurate details and clever industry references. As a rom com aficionado I can confirm — Set Piece is an absolute joy! You’ll be rooting for CJ and Jack from the jump.

Thank you to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the ARC!

Set Piece comes out on 5/6.

3.5 stars

This was cute!! Short and snappy, and for the most part I found it didn't fall into any of the usual issues I tend to see with novellas. And I love that this was able to tackle a second chance romance trope, as well as topics like women not being taken as seriously as men in the industry. Obviously a little insta-lovey, but there's only so much you can do with such a small page count. This is perfect if you just need a short little romance fix! I do feel like the synopsis gives away a bit too much, so I would recommend going in blind and skipping the synopsis if possible.

Thank you to NetGalley, 831 Stories, and Lana Schwartz for this ARC!!

Thanks to NetGalley and 831 Stories for this advance readers copy, in exchange for an honest review. Set Piece is another winner from this small press! It’s a romance story, set in Hollywood on the film set for The Great Gatsby.

This book is an excellent quick read, with likable characters and a romance that you want to root for. It was easy to get sucked into this story and if you vibe with the Hollywood film scene, you’ll find plenty to love here with pop culture references and a swoony setting. I appreciate that all of the 831 Story books I’ve read, with this one being no exception, showcase the romance at hand, while also highlighting a real issue or challenge faced by the main characters— in this case, CJ’s family and her experience as a single mom.

I think if you love contemporary romance and are looking for something with substance, comfort, and feel good emotions, this one is for you! I will continue to look forward to new stories by this author and 831 Stories and will continue to recommend this to as many people as I can!