4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley & 831 Stories for my ARC!🌟✨🤍

I loved this read! I felt myself getting attached to CJ & Jack as I continued to read. I loved the dual point-of-view of how you were able to go into each of their minds before, during, and after Gatsby.

“I know how capable you are of doing anything you set your mind to. There is no one I believe in more to do the things they say they’re going to do, or that I trust to handle something. But just because you can do all of this by yourself…it doesn’t mean you have to. Or that you should. Or that you’re better off for it.” I loved this quote🥲🥲

831 Stories continues to produces high-quality pieces, even if they are only 160 pieces. They have a way of highlight authors that write the BEST celebrity / normal person troupe (👩‍🍳🤌💋).

I can totally envision the “The Just OK Gatsby” sweatshirts on their shop and cannot wait to get my hands on one!!

I will continue to recommend/buy and book this publishing company puts out now and forever! Thank you again NetGalley & 831 Stories for this advanced read 🤍🤍🤍🤍

Another fun novella from 831 Stories - this follows an actor and a set designer and it’s just as rompy as you’d expect. It’s quick, it’s fun, it’s easy, and it packs a punch in a short amount of time. It also surprised me - I didn’t expect the conflict to happen when/how it did, and I liked how it all was resolved. I’ve found the pacing on 831 Stories’ novellas perfect for how short the reads are; it didn’t leave me hanging and wrapped things up neatly with a bow, but it also didn’t feel rushed.

This book was so cute and so cosy. I don’t usually read romance but I’m so glad and so thankful to have received an ARC of Set Piece because I really enjoyed it.

Pacing wise, it was great. There wasn’t a wasted word and there were no lulls or dips in the story. It kept pushing forward, making a satisfying read that I was compelled to get through. I actually read it in a single sitting because I didn’t want to put it down.

I felt the book avoided a lot of pitfalls of the genre. The stakes were realistic and understandable, the obstacles were genuine and the characters were likeable, self actualising and treated each other well, so there was a real feeling of satisfaction in the resolution. I was really rooting for them and the pay off was great.

Altogether a really enjoyable read that I could not put down!

Downloaded this immediately upon approval, knowing I wanted it to be my first completed read of 2025. The 831 stories have been an obsession for me, and this one lived up to my expectations. The insta connection followed by fate intervening and love growing - the handling of grief, complicated family dynamics, and two flawed individuals growing and learning to love together - it was all so well done. I loved that Jack was the down bad partner here, willing to do whatever he could to win this love and this family for himself. All of this in a short novel is just so impressive and lovely.

Thanks to 831 stories and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was a pleasant surprise for me. Two chapters in and already having a 5 year time skip threw me off and I wasn’t so sure about it for a little, but the story won my heart in the end.

This characters are sensible and mature. Mistakes that are made, issues that are had, were all realistic and dealt with in an appropriate manner, if that makes sense. No stupid miscommunication that ruined relationships, no petty arguments, some things that unfortunately many romances, specifically ones that are shorter stories like this, end up resorting to for quick drama.

The issues women in the movie industry, or even just workplace, go through especially when it comes to their partners overshadowing their achievements was a discussion I really enjoyed seeing played through in this story. With the first 831 Stories book, “Big Fan”, having dealt with the repercussions women face (specifically in politics and the media) when it comes to affairs, scandals, or dating, I was happy to see this similar side of women’s issues being addressed in a different industry.

I really don’t have any complaints, I enjoyed this one and as someone who has read every 831 stories book (published and arcs), I must say I believe this is my favorite.

Just one comment: the line “…and my dick finds her opening on its own, like to knows the way. Because it does.” (p. 155) was painful to read.

Five years after a sizzling one night stand, bartender and budding designer CJ and hot Brit actor Jack reunite on a movie set. Only now CJ is a single mum and with her hyper independent nature, will she find room to let Jack into her life when his life is peripatic and often unplanned?

Short and sweet, this well paced and plotted novella hit the spot as a final 2024 read. CJ is hyper independent and likes to plan every aspect of her life. Jack was such a darling, he was all in with CJ from the start, admiring her talents and championing her to aim higher in her career. I loved how both of them connected through their love of cinema and also the scenes showing how a production designer works.

Structurally I don't think we needed Jack's point of view as he was all in with CJ and had no hurdles to overcome relationship-wise. The conflict was primarily with CJ unable to make space for Jack and make adjustments for his work, so losing Jack's POV would've allowed for more page time to work through CJ's issues.

A wonderful second chance celebrity romance.

Thanks to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the ARC.

** A copy of Set Piece was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **

Set Piece is the story of Cara, a production designer moonlighting as a bartender, and Jack, an up-and-coming British actor. This is a second-chance celebrity/normal person romance about work-life balance, taking chances and learning to evolve together.

Another solid offering from 831 Stories!

A snappy little story about a set designer and an actor who met once, 5 years ago, and are now fatefully brought back together on a remake of The Great Gatsby- and have to figure out how their lives work together, what they really want out of their careers, and if love is worth it!

This was cute, very fast paced (I mean skipping weeks or months ahead at a time between chapters level of fast-paced) and introspective. It had some great takes about what it means for a woman to succeed in show business, how instant fame can change your life and pull you along without much choice in the matter, and how important finding your people can be!!

Thank you so much to Lana Schwartz, 831 Stories, and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

I went into Set Piece only knowing it was coming from 831 Stories and had one heck of a great time. So, if you want to avoid any spoilers or trope information, let me just say - this is a picture perfect romance where you get actual character development and growth using some very well thought out time jumps in the span of only 160 pages. Set Piece is a novella to get anyone out of a reading slump.

If you're looking for the nitty-gritty - we have a hyper competent single mom, CJ, who is a Hollywood designer and a rising Hollywood star, Jack Felgate, who can't get her out of his head after a chance one night stand five years prior. Fear not, readers are treated right off the bat to some excellent spice in the recounting of the one night stand. Part second chance romance, a little grump-sunshine, all of this adds up to a great time.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to 831 Stories for an advanced copy.

I found this to be an extremely well done Hollywood Romance. I appreciated that it didn’t take standard plot line for the 3rd act break up and I’m really excited to read upcoming works from 831 stories.

Some books just make you feel good, and Set Piece did that for me. Lana Schwartz created characters that I genuinely liked and enjoyed spending time with. CJ in particular was a strong, independent female who knew how to get what she wanted. The level of spice was perfect, the setting was a character in-and-of-itself, and the story was propulsive.

The mix of personal growth, past regrets, and a love that refuses to fade makes this a truly heartwarming read.

I shouldn’t have requested this book, it was a mistake on my part but sometimes we need to be adventurous. I’ve been seeing these covers everywhere. There’s something mysterious about 831 stories because they don’t have much info on their instagram. I literally had to hunt down an article where the founders were interviewed. Anyway, I’m a lesbian who requested a straight romance book. I don’t enjoy straight romance. Maybe one day their imprint will publish one and I will be down to read it, or if it’s also any other flavor of queer. This book has its audience, it’s just not me. Their imprint is doing cool stuff though so make sure to check them out.

I really enjoyed this! Love a famous person-normal person romance and this was short and sweet! I’ve enjoyed 831 stories’ approach to romance novellas and this has been my favorite of theirs so far.
Thanks to Netgalley and 831 stories for the advanced reader copy for review!

5 🌟

I absolutely loved this!!

It’s not quiiiite a famous/normal person romance but close enough that it fell into that realm for me and I just adored Jack and CJ. I found the Hollywood aspect really interesting and it was such a treat to spend 150 pages in California.

I thought the pacing here was excellent and while I am always clamoring for an epilogue, it felt like a really complete story despite being on the short side (as all 831 Stories have been so far).

831 is really changing my perception of “novellas” and I adored this as much as a typical length romance. Per usual, the spice was excellent, the emotional depth was there…they can do no wrong.

Last take: Jack 🥰🥰🥰

Really enjoying 831 novellas! This was another solid read, I enjoyed the time jump and character growth / depth especially at this length.

3.5 ⭐️ The 831 novellas are fun and quick romantic reads! The chemistry is always great which is impressive when the stories are short.

I didn’t read the full synopsis on the story so I was actually pleasantly surprised with the time jump. While their first hookup was definitely spicy it felt very sudden, but hey they were in their 20s. So seeing them when they were older and having to navigate their relationship and work dynamic was nice.

They both worked in the cinematic industry, Jack as a A-list actor and her in production design. While I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the behind the scenes of movies, there was wayyy too many movie references. If you are a big movie buff or in the industry - this is the book for you. It was the basis for the characters love connection but did nothing for me but roll my eyes at another movie title name drop.

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for this ARC, love reading these quick novellas and look forward to more of this publishers stories!

Maybe my favourite 831 yet? I devoured this one, what a joy. And the Mischief easter egg, a gift for us all!

THIS WAS FANTASTIC!

I read Big Fan and devoured it! This was even better. A bartender and famous (British) actor have a chance meeting and then find each other in their lives 5 years later. That synopsis is an oversimplification because it is so much better than that.

Love this novella format so much - will be reading more of them when they come out! I had the best time.


Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

I devoured this in one sitting! What a treat it was to meet and spend time with CJ and Jack. 5 years after a steamy one night stand, these two reconnect on the set of a movie they're both working on. Trying to find their way with their lives while falling in love left me with lots of smiles but also pride at their growth in less than 200 pages. The movie references and behind the scenes views into making a movie made me love this one even more!