Not a fan. The characters were boring and I feel like the plot wasn’t anything unique.

I do want a copy though. Honestly, most of 831’s books because THEY ALL LOOK SO PRETTY TOGETHER.

Other than that, I could have lived without ever reading this book.

I loved Set Piece, what a truly delightful, bite sized second chance romance - the dialogue was impeccable and so very swoon-worthy!

Thank you ever so much to 831 Stories and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to review!

2 stars!

Why couldn't I get into this?!?!?!?! celeb x normal trope! the whole I didn't know who you were, secrets, etc..... all the things I love to read and devour and yet I just could not get invested in this in the way I pumped myself up for when I read the premise. It's a short read and had some moment where I was like 'oooooo' but maybe if the characters were developed more maybe it would have changed for me.

Clearly this wasn't for me and I'm so sad, but I'm happy to find a new author and publication and will definitely keep and eye out for more work from both in the future.

Set piece reads like something my teenage self would have come up with before falling asleep

This novella follows the classic 'famous x normal person' relationship trope, ticking off all the typical elements one might expect. It features the ‘had no idea you're famous’ first encounter, intertwined with spicy scenes that are sprinkled throughout, a secret relationship, dramatic fight & finally, a happy ending. Unfortunately, the main characters did nothing to elevate the story and simply fall into the overused brit boy x American girl trope, told through alternating dual POVS. They came across as medicore and overly unoriginal, especially the male lead, Jack, who feels like a one dimensional british stereotype—think tea-drinking, witty remarks, and frequent use of phrases like "mate" & "bollocks".

The so called drama and banter along with inner monologues of the characters— filled with juvenile and horny thoughts— read more like a fanfic than a polished narrative. It was a cringe fest galore!!! Also, given that the story is only 160 pages long, much of the plot development feels rushed. As a result, this whole reading experience fell flat and was underwhelming.

1.75 stars— solely for the movie titles mentioned and for the one single page featuring a side character, Cecily Close who discusses the issue of women being overshadowed by their famous partners in Hollywood.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fun, quick read that kept me engaged from start to finish. The plot was interesting, with just the right amount of depth to make it compelling without feeling overwhelming. The character development was well done, making the story feel more immersive and the characters more relatable.

I enjoyed the subtle twists throughout the story. They weren’t overly dramatic, but they added enough intrigue to keep me guessing and eager to turn the next page. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining and well-paced read.

Original and very charming! I loved the concept and the characters were very well decribed and developed though the novella format. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I found this book incredibly charming! I have enjoyed all the 831 stories I have read thus far, and this was no exception. I really enjoyed thinking about the Great Gatsby adaption CJ and Jack were filming and the amount of effort a set designer goes through. This book is a perfect slump buster, perfect for anyone interested in more mature romances, and anyone burnt out on melodrama. I will be recommending this book in the future!

I loved this second chance, celebrity/normal person novella by Lana Schwartz. The characters were developed well for such a short story, that I wasn't ready to let them go!
I wish this was longer just because I could see this as a full length novel that I would 100% read.
Thank you to 831 Stories, Lana Schwartz, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Looking forward to more by 831 Stories!
This one publishes May 6, 2025

OMGGG this book was such a pleasant surprise!!!! I think I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading except for that one chapter where I cried. I loooove a celebrity romance and Set Piece was perfect. I really enjoyed the on set setting and behind the scenes look at movie making. JACK!!! What a sweet, sweet man. It was really packed with so much emotion in such a short story and we really got to see so much of both Jack & CJ and I loved every second of it. I could’ve used an epilogue but it’s only because I loved this book and allll of its characters so much that I just wanted more of all of it!!

Thank you NetGalley and 831stories for the ARC. Set Piece is out on May 6, 2025.

Set Piece - Review

What a fun and easy read! I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting!

It’s usually difficult to build chemistry and a good narrative in such a short amount of pages, however, this story was uniquely perfect in that sense. Lana was quick to set the scene and build a foundation between the two mc’s. In this story, we follow their journey from the meeting in a loud, rowdy bar to finding each other five years later, working on a Hollywood film together.

I love how the chemistry on page remained the same from when they first met to five years later. I loved the pining for each other mixed with the “forbidden romance” element (as they work together and things must stay strictly professional). The vivid imagery that Lana painted with her descriptions of California and Hollywood made me truly feel like I was in the pages, experiencing everything with the characters.

Both of the characters were extremely likeable with banter sprinkled throughout the book. Considering how short this story was, we got just the right amount of character development and depth to the relationship between the mc’s.

I will absolutely be recommending this book to anyone and everyone who want a short, fun, romance read.

Thankyou to 831 Stories and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

thank you to 831 Stories + NetGalley for the advanced copy, I loved every minute of this one (it might be my favorite so far!).. especially enjoyed the Friends reference.

2/5 ⭐️

Listen, yesterday I decided this would be my first DNF of the year, but then my perfectionist side kicked in, and I couldn’t leave it unfinished.

From the premise, I expected this to be a novella-length modern love story. It was short and modern (depending on your definition), but there wasn’t a love story in sight.

The two main characters have zero chemistry – there is literally no reason for them to be so hung up on each other. They have a one-night stand, meet up again five years later, and we’re supposed to believe they’ve just always fancied each other but never made a move? No, sorry, I don’t buy it.

The story felt rushed, under-explained, and constantly left me with more questions than answers.

I’m giving this a 2-star rating because I believe it had potential, but this would work better as a Wattpad story than a published book. I’m so sorry.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Set Piece was my first 831 Stories and I don't think it will be my last. I enjoyed the plot and wish it was longer than the novella length. I'm not usually someone who reads romance because I do find the romance scenes usually poorly written but I felt like this had just the right amount of spice without being corny.

I actually could see this as a movie!

I really enjoyed the switching of point of views in this book! Great short story, would definitely recommend

This is my second 831 Stories novella, and my oh my, did I enjoy it so much. Do. Not. Read the synopsis! It’s too short of a story for that many details. Spicy! Famous/normal person trope.

A steamy night ensues when an up and coming actor, Jackie, walks into a bar for a stag night and a hot bartender (CJ) saves him from fans. They reunite 5 years later on the job. Can the figure out how to be together? Both the MMC and the FMC are mature adults, the issues were realistic. Overall, recommended this novella!

While I did enjoy parts of this lightning fast read, I ultimately felt that as a reader I was asked to make too many logical and emotional leaps in order to go along with Jack and CJ's love story. It felt as though were told that they had a spark, instead of being shown through their dialogue, actions, flirting, etc. that they were right for each other.

I loved the concept of the time jump between their first meeting and their reconnection, but it didn't feel like the time was then taken to develop the push and pull between Jack and CJ -- who they are NOW -- on set, before zooming through their relationship. Given the stakes and depth of supporting characters, I felt a novella was not the best format for this particular story.

Big time movie star x single mom set designer. Sweet, sexy, and didn’t leave me wanting (too much) the way some novellas can. Big Fan is my fave 831 but I’d still recommend this one!

I continue to enjoy the novellas by 831 Stories. In this installment, we follow the relationship between a Californian set producer and a British actor. Despite the fact that they were 'Hollywood', the characters were relatable and likable. The story, while small, contained the right amount of detail and drama. Another good addition to the novella line-up.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley.

I loved this book! Loved the strong female character, loved the dynamic between the main characters, loved the secondary characters. I liked the behind the scenes look at film making, and the decisions and problems the characters faced made sense to me. Thanks to 831 Stories and NetGalley for a chance to read an ARC.

I went into this story blind and I'm glad I did! It was believable and earnest and I liked the characters. The time skip was a shock for me and I loved the way it made the narrative more dynamic. I continue to enjoy the easter eggs in 831 Stories' books.