I really enjoyed the chance to read my first 831 Stories novella and I was pleasantly surprised.

I feel that sometimes the storytelling in novellas means we don't get the full picture, but even in a shorter-length romance, I got a sense of how each character felt, even minor characters like Stuart (who I would have still loved to have seen more of).

It was good to see an FMC with a strong sense of integrity, who isn't willing to give everything up that she's worked for in order to be with a man, but this sometimes does make her hard to like, especially around the 70-80% mark. I did, however, love the will they, won't they element to the first half of the book, mixed with the workplace trope I think this worked so well.

I could have easily devoured this in one sitting if I'd had the time, and struggled being pulled away from it for real life responsibilities! I will definitely be looking into more 831 Stories novellas, and more of Lana's work.

Thank you to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the ARC! Jack was a combination of Harry Styles (the extended exchange about how to pronounce the name Cara) and Paul Mescal (the breakout role in a limited series that dropped while people were stuck at home, the much-speculated relationship with his costar from that series whose name is similar to Daisy). So, naturally, I was quickly on board.

Considering the short length of this novella, Lana Schwartz made it feel like a fully fleshed out novel, developing the characters well and hitting all the right notes for a romance with impact. My favorite 831 Stories read since Big Fan!

Thank you NetGalley and 831 Stories for an advanced readers copy! I loved the length of this book, i feel like most romance books stretch it out so much more than it needs to be. however, some of the back and forth POV felt confusing at times.

This was a saucy little ticket! Typically, I'm not one for the celebrity/normal person trope, but this one does it right. The Dual POV was perfection. I love that Jack is a humble actor who kind of stumbled into fame, down bad for CJ. I am always here for a man obsessed. CJ is the hyper-independence rep and I like the growth we see in her behavior on that front specifically through the lens of her relationship with Jack. It IS a romance, after all! I also adored Stuart as a supporting character. All of them? Chef's kiss.

Jack and CJ are mature, approachable adults in this story. The issues they navigate (as singular people & as a couple) are realistic and have nice emotional resolution. The spice was spicy. The loose ends were tied up by the end of the book. And this plot fit the bill perfectly for a novella. It warrants stating I would also read a full length version of this story. I am really looking forward to seeing what else Lana Schwartz has in store for us in the future!

TY Net Galley and 831 Stories for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 3.5 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well, I'd heard a lot about 831 Stories and I was super happy to have the chance to read one of their books. This one was a short and sweet quick read. Truly, I read it in no time.

The characters were lovely and of course the bit about him being famous doesn't hurt. The romance itself may be a bit more on the fast-paced side than I'm used to (I like a bit more build up), but that's just personal preference. It's a solid read and I can't wait to check out some more stories from this publishing house.

This was a cute book. I was invested in the relationship and their careers and wanted everything to work out (and I won't say more on if it does or doesn't). The only turn off for me with this book was that real celebrity names were used throughout the book. It takes me out of a book when real people are used but the characters are fictional. That's just a personal problem. I think overall this was a good romcom - both main characters were likable, and the dual POV was smooth. I also appreciated that it was spicy but that the scenes were still shorter. It seemed to fit the characters more that it was spicy but not over-explaining.

Set Piece is the perfect book for a flight, a rainy day, a trip to the beach. The characters are thoughtful and real, and the banter is very sexy. If you like Elissa Sussman or Emily Henry, you are going to looooooove this novel. As someone who works on sets, I am skeptical of novels that write this world as the backdrop for a larger story; however, this was really well done. It felt real, but still cinematic and romantic (because truly, what is less romantic than a 14 hour shoot with a frazzled director, am I right?). The only thing that could make this better is if this is made into a movie and we get to see CJ's sets and Brent Chase's house.

This was a fast paced and fun novella and I really enjoyed it! It did not feel like a rushed short story to me. The characters were fully developed and you had plenty of time to get to know them! I always love a good Hollywood based fiction and this did not disappoint, with its own spin on navigating relationships in Hollywood. This was my first in this series of 831 stories and definitely not my last! Thank you NetGalley and 831 stories for the advanced copy!

The prologue was *chef’s kiss.* The best way to start a book is with a sexy scene, in my opinion. But once we got into things, I wanted more! More back story, more time for anticipation to build, more luxurious details. I wish every scene had been twice as full, and the ending left me hanging in an oddly abrupt and unsettling way. Again, I wanted more! At least an epilogue?

I loved it but think it would have been better in full novel format.

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I enjoyed this. No nonsense aspiring production designer Cara/CJ and golden retriever energy emerging Hollywood star Jack have a chance meeting one night then encounter each other again five years later. Jack does some serious yearning, which I love, and CJ’s family is adorable. The 831 series in general do romcoms so well and may actually be fully convincing me this is the perfect format for the genre. I also love the nod to the connected universe in this one.

Thank you to Net Galley for a free e-book in exchange for this honest review.

Yet another fun and breezy read from 831 Stories! Set Piece was a wonderful blend of sexy chemistry, deeper themes of motherhood and grief, and cozy romance. I fell quickly in love with Jack and CJ and their characters felt genuinely real, especially CJ and her side of the primary conflict. While the plot and pacing definitely worked for me, I could also see this title being expanded into a full novel to flesh out Jack's character a little more and dive even deeper into this world.

So I wasn’t expecting this at all because I’m picky with romance but I genuinely loved this!!

This romance is a charming insider look into the film industry and was steamy in a way that works - no cringe dialogue during the spice scenes, believable chemistry and likeable characters. I thought that it had an accurate portrayal of balancing motherhood, work, and personal passions and it was great to see a mum character who is multifaceted and a compelling romantic lead.

There was amazing tension built up from the first chapter, and later on there are vignettes that show the couple getting closer as time goes by. The conflict was understandable and I felt like it served a purpose. It shows unconventional family dynamics which I liked a lot.

I enjoyed the length and think it accomplished what it set out to do - I’d definitely pick up a full length novel from this author.

My one critique - I would guess that the author is not English because the English character at times has dialogue that doesn’t seem authentic (small inconsistencies like “sour cream and onion” Walkers don’t exist, “cheese and onion” is the English classic) and that just took me out of the story slightly!

Overall, this was fun and a ticked all my boxes for a romance!!

Thank you to 831 Stories and NetGalley for my advanced copy.

This romance novella grabbed me from the start and didn’t let me go until I had inhaled the whole thing! I’d heard good things about 831 Stories, and so I was eager to give their books a try with Set Piece as my first. I loved Jack and CJ, particularly with the added complexities in CJ’s life, like her daughter and grief over the loss of her mother. Their chemistry was sizzling and the novella length was just chef’s kiss perfect. I will absolutely be reading whatever 831 puts out next. The perfect guiltless pleasure!

Set Piece has all the makings of a great rom-com: a chance encounter between a bartender and a rising TV star, a one-night tryst that leaves a lasting impression, and a five-year time jump where both characters are completely different people. Now, CJ is a production designer juggling single motherhood, and Jack is a full-blown celebrity trying to keep up with fame. Sounds like a recipe for sparks, right?

While the setup is fun and the chemistry between CJ and Jack is undeniable, I found myself wanting more. The romance didn’t feel as developed as I’d hoped. And CJ? Let’s just say she’s not my favorite fmc. Her prickly demeanor didn’t win me over, and I had a hard time connecting with her choices.

That said, the story is undeniably cute, with some fun and heartwarming moments sprinkled throughout. It’s a quick, light read that’s perfect for a cozy weekend. I gave it 3 stars: enjoyable but not a standout. If you’re in the mood for something breezy with a touch of Hollywood glam, this one’s worth a shot!

Thanks NetGalley and 831 Stories for an early Arc!

Oh my gosh. The chemistry between Jack and Cara is explosive! Undeniable. From the very beginning you can feel the tension and the angst. I was quickly obsessed with these two. I loved this story. One night stand with the hot it celebrity??? Yes. From there though, I was rooting so hard from them. I don't always get so quickly attached in a novella style book but you really get to know these two. The way Cara deals with grief, how that grief has affected her and her relationships is so relatable and so frustrating...for me the reader (in a good way) and for Cara herself. I really enjoyed the moments she overcomes it in the little ways that she really doesn't even notice. Then you have Jack. Jack!! The man that you are. I picture Jack as an Andrew Garfield type. Soft, funny, open, eager, SEXY! He's too good. The side characters added so much to the story and made you fall in love so quickly. Everything was just so well done. Loved.

Set Piece follows Cara, a set designer and single mom, and Jack, a british actor, as they meet one night in a bar and again five years later. They receive a second chance at romance but endure some roadblocks, including their careers, along the way. I thought that the story was a good length. I did want more simply because the story was so good and I wanted more time with the characters, but it didn’t need to be longer to be an effective story. An epilogue might have been a good addition though.

I loved that Jack was British. I think it definitely added to his character and made him more swoon-worthy, I do have a thing for accents but that’s beside the point. I also liked that the way he said her name was endearing to Cara and that it added to their banter and connection. Cara is a single mom and I liked that it was her choice. This made her more empowering and removed any potential shame that usually surrounds single parents in books. I also appreciated that she was able to have a career and a child, she didn’t have to give up one for the other. Women can have both and be happy and successful.

This book was spicy but it did not overpower the plot. This good balance bolstered their chemistry but it didn’t feel like the relationship was all about sex. Towards the, I found myself watching the pages disappear with no resolution in sight. This made me anxious but in a good way as it kept me guessing if there would be a happy ending or not. I enjoyed that the story was less predictable and more enjoyable. Overall, I really enjoyed Set Piece.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. A one night stand turns into something much more in this short, sweet, and steamy rom com.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 stars)

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for the ARC of this lil' delight!

I'm breathing a sigh of relief that I loved this one because my inner high school self squealed with delight when I saw the cover of this book. This color combination summarizes my entire high school (and college and post-college) existence.

I went into reading this knowing nothing at all about it (other than my love for the cover and other 831 Stories novellas) and I think that's the way to go as I've seen some other reviews reference the point that the synopsis gives away too much. Lana Schwartz does a great job of fitting SO much into this novella and I absolutely love the meaning of the title. It’s got all the essential romance ingredients: spice, character development, just-right conflict, and pop culture references that hit perfectly. If you are a movie buff or work in the industry, you may even appreciate some of the references more than I did.

I found both Jack and Cara/CJ (and many other side characters) to be extremely likeable which I feel like isn't always the case in a shorter novella when there isn't a lot of time to get to know the characters. There were even some humorous moments sprinkled in there that made me actually laugh out loud.

Big Fan from 831 Stories set the bar high for these novellas but Set Piece really delivers. Excited to see what's next from 831 Stories!

I LOVED Set Piece! A really awesome concept with an awesome second-chance plot. I loved how short and quick this was while also pulling you in and making you wonder what's next. I'm also a big fan of the total strangers to lovers story here and the jump to present times. I feel like I really got to know what it's like to work on a movie and the main character CJ really gave strong female presence. Great book overall!

Lana Schwartz’s Set Piece is a sharp, witty exploration of love, ambition, and the complexities of friendship, set against the vibrant backdrop of the hollywood industry between Jack and CJ. With well-drawn characters and a fast-paced narrative, it balances humor and heartfelt moments beautifully. While a few plot points feel slightly rushed, the book’s charm and clever insights make it a standout read. A solid 4 stars—perfect for fans of smart, character-driven stories!