I was once again pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book from 831 Stories. I never know what to expect with a novella because they are so short, but each time I find a well told story and the shorter format is a nice change sometimes. I read a lot of romance books, but I genuinely appreciate how well the experiences of women and the way we interact with the world are represented through these books. A quick and fun read!

Thank you to Net Galley and 831 Stories for the ARC.

This is my second 831 story, and so far, I can say they're solid reads. What really sticks out to me is how grounded the characters are. Their problems are realistic, which is refreshing. Where I think they falter is in their plot. Yes, the stories are short, but the time skips don't help; it often felt like we were skating the surface to cover more time since we didn't have the allotted page count that a full-length novel would have. Becuas eof that, I neer grew attached to either the fmc or mmc nor did I really have an investment in seeing how their relationship would turn out. The whole effect kind of left me feeling like I'd just skimmed a story. I think I'll continue to pick up 831 stories. I do really love novellas as a concept and I like when they're done well; despite my qualms with this one, I still stand by my initial statement that it was solid, and I look forward to seeing what else this publisher comes up with.

Set Piece was a quick, fun, sexy read. I enjoyed the banter between the two main characters. The book was short enough that it could be read in one sitting but was still flushed all the way out. The ending left it open that there was potential for a second book if the author desired. While the “celebrity/normal person” trope is overdone, this had a good twist in that when the characters “re-meet” the “normal person” is also in the industry. I thought the issues the characters faced were relatable to readers i.e. grief, loss of a parent, single-parenthood, gender discrimination and harassment in the workplace, cronyism, etc. Overall a good, enjoyable, steamy read.

Thank you to NetGalley, 831 Stories, and Lana Schwartz for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun, light hearted read! I flew through this one and loved the celebrity/normal person plotline. I wish there had been more so my only critique was that it was too short!

I wanted so badly to love this book but something just fell flat for me. While the character development was solid for a shorter novel, the relationship building between the love interests feels rushed and incomplete. I loved the character’s initial connection and then the further I read, the less attached they came across.

Sometimes, you need a book to be romantic and spicy and fun to read, while not having to compromise your standards when it comes to great writing, humor that's actually funny, dialogue that isn't so cringe you have to close the book constantly to contemplate your life choices, with a plot that actually makes some modicum of sense...and this book is IT baby! Listen, I'm kind of obsessed with everything 831 Stories is doing, and their latest is so exception. Set Piece is right up my rom-com alley in so many ways—hot british male love interest! celeb/normie relationship! so many old hollywood film references!—and I had an absolute blast reading this. If you're looking for novella-length romances with some sugar and lots of spice that are written with an obvious affection for, and knowledge of, the genre as a whole, these are for you!

Set Piece was written for the folks who love Letterboxd !!! Easily my favorite 831 stories novella. Unfortunately or fortunately this is a situation where you'll wish this was a full novel and that the author had more space to further develop the plot/characters. I like that the celebrity/normal person trope didn't go the most obvious route and allowed more exploration into their connection. I'm also now invested in Cecily Close; she's an icon.

A refreshing look into the movie/television industry, mixed with a little slice of life, strong FMC, a really sweet MMC. Best to go in knowing little but getting a lot out of these 180 pages. I laugh, my heart did the squish thing, I loved Agnes & Stuart and their unique relationship (can I get a curated movie watching list made by the two of them?)

Thank you to 831 Stories for this eARC, I'm ready to dive into more of your stories!

This was a really quick read that I really enjoyed. It has a slow burn and a great twist at the beginning. Although I thought the plot and pacing were excellent, I could also see this title being developed into a full-length novel!

Most definitely my favorite 831 story so far!! I could not put this one down. I skipped the synopsis and went in blind and I definitely recommend doing it that way.

I loved the dual POV and getting to be in both Jack and CJ's mind. Jack was such a simp for CJ and I really fell in love with his character. The chemistry between them popped off the page and I flew through this short story. I also loved the setting -- set in LA, while we also get a glimpse of Jack's background from London. The production design on the different movie sets was also super interesting to me -- I learned a lot and it was a breath of fresh air!!

Read if you love:
-film production/acting/behind the scenes
-a touch of celebrity romance
-one night stand turned second chance trope
-dual POV
-single mom FMC

The writing was solid; like I said, definitely my favorite story so far!!

4.5 out of 5 stars! Definitely a winner that I'll recommend to all romance readers!

This book was such a delightful read! From the very first page, I found myself completely immersed in the story. The writing was so approachable and warm, making it easy to connect with the characters and the plot. I loved how the book felt both inviting and engaging, without ever being too complex or hard to follow. It was just the right mix of comfort and intrigue, and I truly enjoyed every moment of it. It’s a wonderful read that I’d happily recommend to anyone looking for a heartwarming escape!

This was a pretty cute story and a quick, easy read.

I felt like I was reading a lot about their romance and their shared work, which was fine, but I would have loved more of their actual life to make it feel a bit more personal.

The pacing felt really rushed to me, and though I do love a novella, I think this could have been made into a great novel with some more detail and time within the story. For example, one chapter he was meeting her daughter and the next was like two months later. What happened in between?

I also found a couple of spelling errors, so I would suggest one more edit before publishing.

I do think that if you're looking for a fast, fun read, you'll enjoy this one. I just wished it gave me more of the characters so I could feel more connected to the characters.

Thank you to Lana Schwartz, 831 Stories and NetGalley for allowing me early access to this book!

My rating: 18+ - sex, language, alcohol
Spice 5/5

I truly enjoyed this super quick read. It's my first time reading 831 Stories but I look forward to reading more. The romance was nice, and the ways the characters acted was relatable for the most part, but the parts I enjoyed most were about the sets the characters were on. The setting of romance novels is often rushed but even in this shorter novella, it had great imagery.

I would recommend this to all romance readers, particularly those who are interested in Hollywood and celebrity romances.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

this was very cute and wholesome! as a character driven girly, i wish we got to know more about CJ and Jack, but they were still quite lovable. i don’t know if i was as fully invested in them as i could have been, but enjoyed the quick and easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

"Set Piece" was a short, sweet & spicy novella. A quick read with not enough angst to be stressful, but enough to keep you wondering what will happen.

Cara is a bartender taking care of her mom, but dreams of being a set designer. Jack is an actor dealing with instant fame after his show goes viral. They hook up one night and then cross paths again five years later. I kept waiting for a twist that never came, but overall it was a good read.

I enjoyed this book but had a couple of issues with it that may just be a me thing? First, the pacing. I felt like it started off great and established chemistry without veering into instalove. But the rest of the story felt like it was dragging or completely glossing over time and events. Then the end felt a little rushed and the scene with Cecily was so weird.
I will say that I did not mind Agnes in this when normally I can’t stand kid characters in books. This author has actually been around and interacted with children so bonus points for that!

This was a quick, witty, yet passionate read. Cj and Jack both have feelings but let too much time pass by. This was a classic story line. Although, it was a short read, enjoyed that there was proper resolution. There was a touch of humor and teasing which was funny to read.

a short and sweet story about understanding how to love the person you love, and learning how to not push people away when you get scared of the unknown. also offers a glimpse into the experience of being a woman behind the camera in the entertainment industry.

i really liked cj and jack, and could definitely read a full-length novel about these two (and their little family) <3

Thanks to 831 Stories and Netgalley for this eARC.

I’m in love with 831 Stories, and Set Piece was no exception. An explosive romance between a set designer and the leading man - the tension and chemistry was palpable. You could feel it in every page. It oozes with romance and a heavy dose of lit fic, I definitely recommend.

So happy to be able to read another book published by 831. Great twist in the beginning and such a slow burn. Characters show readers how it’s important to find your happy place and know when to set boundaries with work and life.