Give me all the second-chance romance books! I love Set Piece and it's perfect for anyone who loves a good celebrity/normal person love story. I love novellas because I devoured this book in one sitting.

The story kicks off with a chance encounter between Jack, a rising star, and CJ, a grounded bartender. Their one-night tryst is electric, but they go their separate ways, seemingly for good. Fast forward five years, and they’re unexpectedly reunited on a film set—Jack, now a full-blown celebrity, and CJ, a production designer and single mom.

Despite their very different lives, their chemistry is as hot as ever. The novel beautifully navigates the complexities of a rekindled flame, exploring whether two people who have changed so much can make room for each other. This is a smart, warm, and wonderfully sexy romance with everything you could ask for: Hollywood high jinks, an unforgettable romance, and a truly perfect ending.

oh and the audiobook? sooo good. Narrated by Andi Arndt and Shane East. The accents = fire.

“Set Piece” is a great quick read. I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters and the dual POV. I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook and it really added to the story. Overall, this book was easy to follow, entertaining, and a great spicy romance. This was the first 831 Stories book I’ve read.

Disclaimer: I received a free review copy of this book from 831 Stories. All thoughts and reviews are honest and my own.

CW/TW: death/grief of a parent

Actor British MMC. Single Mom Production designer FMC. Lots of big Hollywood references and name dropping that I had no care for. I did like their shift to wanting more and spending time with her daughter. Their relationship still felt very low angst to me even though it felt like she had a lot of her independence getting in their way. Overall kinda boring but kinda cute.

First time author for me!

Audiobook narrators: Shane East, Andi Arndt
Dual POV, First Person
Tropes: One Night Stand, Second Chance, Workplace, Single Mom, Insta-Love
Spice: 2/5 (Personal Scale) - 3 Open door scenes. Vanilla monogamous sexual acts. More explicit/descriptive sexual language. No kinks.

Listened at 1.7x speed.
Two of my fave narrators! Always love Shane Easts British accent and his girl voice is always fun, has such a good range of character voices. I love Andi Arndts emotional moments.

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories, AE Titles, and S&S Audio for giving me an opportunity to review this ALC.

Loved it! Fun quick read, and great on audio. I liked the characters and their story through the years.

Thank you NetGalley and Lana Schwartz!

This was such a short, sweet and very easy read/listen. The romance between the actor and set designer reminded me of the movie, The Fall Guy. After I finished listening I went to the 831 stories website and had to read the epilogue! It was a perfect way to end the story!

I received a complimentary copy of this book and audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

**Audiobook ARC** The audiobook: top notch! The male narrator is a favorite of mine and he did an excellent job (as expected). The female narrator was new to me, but she was also very good. Great to listen to, pleasant voice, very engaging.

The Story: A very nice contemporary romance story, set in the interesting world of "behind the scenes movie magic". I especially appreciated the way the story avoided the predictable tropes, and kept its portrayals authentic and engaging.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, AE Titles / S&S Audio and 831 Stories for the e-arc and advanced listening copy!
I have read a few 831 Stories releases and I’ve really enjoyed each one. I find the characters quite relatable even if they have somewhat niche jobs sometimes and the stories themselves stand out since the characters are going through something very specific if that makes sense. This one includes both those aspects. I found the characters and their dynamic cute and something to root for and I love a story where two characters reconnect and go through all the things that come with that. I can struggle to enjoy romances which is what makes 831 Stories stand out for me. I have adored each story of theirs I’ve read so far, they have a romance I can root for while also having characters I like that are respectful and care about each other, Set Piece is no different. Even though these characters had not entirely relatable jobs, actor and set designer, the things they were going through and their worries were all very relatable. I also appreciate the family element in this book and thought those scenes were so sweet.
I had the pleasure to get to listen to this book as well and the audiobook narrators were an absolute delight! I loved how they portrayed the characters and brought this story some extra life the way only audiobooks can! It was effortless to listen to these narrators read this beautiful story
How ever you decide to read this book, via audiobook or as a book/ebook, you’ll be in for a treat.
Happy reading!

I really enjoyed this one! I’d give it around 3.5 to 4 stars. I’m not usually the biggest fan of insta-love and that is definitely what this is, but I still found myself hooked. The chemistry between the characters was so strong and the writing pulled me in right away. I ended up reading it in just two sittings because I couldn’t put it down.

What I especially loved was the yearning from the MMC. For such a short novella, we still got some solid relationship development and the spice scenes were absolutely 10/10. I would definitely read more from this author in the future.

Huge thanks to the author for the ARC! I had the ebook and audiobook, i really enjoyed both. 💕

I loved this latest 831 novella. The dual narration brought a well rounded depth to the love story that I think resonated with me as a reader. I loved the discussion of film and acting as an art.

This was a short but sweet book. CJ and Jack had an undeniable chemistry and anything happening in between was well put.

Set Piece is a swoony, heartwarming read that brings all the best tropes to the table—celebrity meets civilian, a memorable one-night connection, and an emotional reunion years later. CJ and Jack’s chemistry is undeniable, and the tension between who they were five years ago and who they’ve become now makes for a deeply satisfying slow-burn.

Lana Schwartz delivers more than just a romantic spark—she builds real emotional stakes. CJ’s new life as a single mom and Jack’s rise to fame add depth and conflict to their reunion on a movie set (with a Gatsby adaptation, no less!). It’s smart, modern, and infused with both humor and heart.

Perfect for fans of behind-the-scenes Hollywood romance and stories about rediscovering love when the timing might finally be right.

Thank you 831 Stories for a copy of Set Piece!

"For fans of Romantic Comedy and Notting Hill (so, everyone?!), a second-chance celebrity / normal person romance you’ll read in one sitting."

Look, one thing I love about 831 stories and Lana Schwartz is that when they say that a novella is this trope, it is this trope. No miscommunication, no fluff. Just straight to the point. Still so swoony but refreshing -- thanks to Lana Schwartz's writing and the narrators' awesome voice acting! Perfect for romance readers who are tired of the miscommunication and third part breakup act. A great quick listen as well!

Set Piece is a sharp, witty, and surprisingly heartfelt listen that blends romance and football (yes, really) into something totally fresh. Lana Schwartz delivers a playful yet grounded story that pokes fun at celebrity culture while also embracing the emotional stakes of falling in love in the public eye. The narration is upbeat and engaging, perfectly capturing the book's humour and charm. Whether you're a sports fan or not, Set Piece is an entertaining ride that’ll keep you smiling from kickoff to final whistle.

This was a rom com through and through. It knocked so many of my boxes. Celebrity Love Interest. Second Chance. She doesn't give up herself for the guy. Ugh. Perfect. I loved that I listened to it all in one day because I couldn't put it down. Honestly, it's only missing a star because everyone was holding on to a breath they didn't realize they were holding ha-ha
I need more, stat.

Thank you NetGalley and 831 and A&E Titles/ S&S Audio for the ALR.
When hot, up and coming actor, Jack meets soon to be production designer, CJ they both understand that this is only a one night thing. One, very hot very intense night together they can both look back on fondly and wonder, what is? Fast forward 5 years later when they meet again on set and realize they might want to give this another chance.

Such a cutesy, lighthearted, and fun book! This was my first experience with this publisher and author and I loved the short and sweet style of this story. I will say the plot was pretty predictable but even so, I had a great time. The audiobook narrators are honestly why I requested the book in the first place, some of my favorites and they did not disappoint!

This would be a great book to reach for as a short beach read, something to help you get out of a reading slump or even a pallet cleanser in between heavier books.

Funny, smart, and a perfect little bite of story, I enjoyed this so much. So happy this publisher exists

Set Piece is a character-driven gem. raw, emotional, and bursting with chemistry. Jack and CJ felt strikingly real, their connection pulling me in from page one. I devoured the entire story in one sitting and was genuinely impressed by how much heart was packed into such a short read.

That said, the constant pop culture references pulled me out of the moment, and parts of the romance felt a bit rushed for my taste. Still, it was an addictive read, and I’m definitely picking up more titles from this publisher.

I really enjoyed this character-driven, short and sweet rom-com between a bartender and an up-and-coming actor! I’m not usually into celeb romances, but I really liked Jack and CJ’s story. The duet narration in the audiobook was fantastic. I feel like the character development and progression of their romance felt mature and believable. 4 stars instead of 5 because I always struggle with second-act drama when it’s already so short! Just let them be happy, hehe!

Thanks to 831 for the ARC and Netgalley for the ALC!

I really enjoyed this book—Lana Schwartz has a knack for sharp dialogue, witty banter, and immersive storytelling. The premise was engaging, and I loved the dynamic between the two leads; their chemistry was palpable from the start. That said, I wished we got to see more of their relationship developing on-page. There’s a time jump that skips over the sweet, early stages of their connection, and another that glosses over their separation. As a reader who loves to yearn, I would’ve happily spent more time in those moments, watching their bond deepen (and then fracture) in real time.

That said, the book has so much to love—including one of the few well-written child characters I’ve encountered who actually sounds like a kid and not a tiny academic. Kudos to Lana for pulling that off!

Overall, Set Piece is a fun, heartfelt read with great energy—I just wanted to linger in the emotional beats a little longer.

Thank you to 831 Stories and NetGallery for the ARC, in exchange for which I give my honest opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The setting was one of my favorites. The characters were well developed and the story line kept me turning the pages!