This was a fun romantic comedy that has me wanting to go to the gym to lift weights! This story focuses on Crystal, a curvy fitness influencer who is focused on being body positive. One day, Scott, a hot fireman, steals her favorite squat rack at the gym and she's not happy about it. They continue to bump into each most days and her dislike for him grows until they are forced to come together.

This was a semi-enemies to lovers trope with forced proximity mixed in. There was great banter, good representation and inspiring. I love Scott and really enjoyed Crystal's posts. It was a slow burn and I found myself a little bored throughout but overall it was so cute and feel-good.

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy.

This book was incredibly special and is certainly going to be one of my favorites of 2022, maybe even of all time. This book meant so much to me as someone who shared so many of the same characteristics (including the same mix of ethnicities) as Crystal, and so much of this book spoke to me on a level that I certainly never expected to find in a book. I never, in a thousand years, would've thought I'd one day get to read about someone like myself in a rom-com; see someone like myself as the main romantic interest and lead character.

And representation aside, this is just such a fantastic rom-com and romance. Amy managed to perfectly capture all the best parts about falling in love with someone who becomes your best friend—she perfectly captured that butterfly-inducing feeling of knowing a person and simultaneously thinking they’re the absolute best and funniest person and also being crazy into them. The tenderness, the earnestness, but also the chemistry and fun—it’s all there.

Attention rom com lovers!!!!
I got your next book!!!
•
Ok ok… are you looking for a book where you can’t stop smiling? A book with incredible banter? A book with a hero that is swoon worthy? What about a heroine who we can all some how relate to? What about a page turner? What about one hell of a first kiss?!?
Well… if any of those appeal to you go check this one out!

But also @amyleabooks … congrats. #bookstagrammer turned #romancewriter … This debut is amazing! Make sure to support one of our own!

{thank you @berkleyromance for the gifted copy}

Crystal and Scott were a fun couple to read from their enemies to lovers chemistry to their grand gesture and HEA!

I want a Crystal in my life to be my trainer, life coach, and best friend. Seriously, big girls need a voice, representation matters and Crystal is that for me right now in a big way. She is beautiful, she is into fitness, she is curvy, and she doesn't have it all figured out. I enjoyed going on her journey and loved the sexy tension she had with Scott.

Scott was that typical sexy firefighter with perfect looks and charm but underneath it all i loved seeing his soft side. He and Crystal made a fun team and their story was funny, steamy, silly, swoony, and touching.

I can't wait to see what Amy writes next.

Read this if you like:
- Haters to lovers
- Steamy romance
- Witty banter
- Body Positivity/Neutrality
- Close friend/sister bonds
- An influencer main character!
- A gym setting

This was one of those books that i liked more and more as I kept reading. It was so easy to fly through this story in one sitting! I loved how Amy Lea wrote her characters. Everyone seemed so real, their personalities were unique from one another, and each - no matter how perfect their life seemed - struggled with something. I loved seeing how Crystal and Scott's romance evolved and how Crystal went through the process of learning how to be vulnerable with someone else while still being strong on her own.

This is the perfect steamy romance for a summer afternoon!

*4.5 stars

Set on You is a debut enemies-to-lovers romance novel featuring “curvy” biracial fitstagrammer and personal trainer, Crystal Chen. The love interest is Crystal’s new gym nemesis who turns out to be connected to Crystal beyond getting in the way of her workouts.

For me, Set on You got off to a rough start. The first few chapters annoyed me with the immaturity displayed by the protagonists. I stopped reading at 50 pages after tiring of the childish actions. Did I mention that the characters were also ridiculously thristy within these pages? However, I did pick it up the next day and read the rest in one sitting without encountering immature behavior.

My other issue with this novel is the language used regarding the protagonist’s body size and identity. Crystal was almost exclusively described as “curvy”. There was a point made to never call the protagonist “fat”, making fat feel like a dirty word. It was really uncomfortable for me to read a book that is supposed to have body inclusive representation and a larger bodied protagonist when the language does not match the intent. I did appreciate that Lea called out the body positivity movement and noted some of its toxicity. I know I cannot expect that every book with a non-straight size character can use the correct language, but I still feel like if you are going to write a book that has a large focus on the size of the protagonist that the author educate themselves about the associated issues and preferred language.

I found Lea’s writing to be otherwise pleasant. I loved her development of the characters. Even if you do not connect with them, they are fun to read about and are genuinely good people. It was also refreshing to read a romance novel that focuses on a mature adult relationship. In addition, I loved the supporting characters and their stories. Bonus: Crystal’s sister is a bookstagrammer!

Overall, I ended up quite enjoying Set on You and would recommend it. Just be warned that the first few chapters may annoy you and the language used around body size is not that which is preferred by the fat community or fat justice movement.

Rating: 3.5 stars

This book snuck up on me and just blew me away! I knew that I got myself crazy attached when I was looking through my highlighted passages and ended up rereading A LOT of the the book again.

It took me a minute to get myself fully immersed in the story, but once I was, I was hooked. Crystal & Scott together were just perfection. I loved their meet cute and subsequent enemies status. They also have this “fated for each other” feeling since they would have ended up meeting each other anyways with their grandparents marrying. And I’m still all bothered from their first kiss.

Scott is top book boyfriend material. Even though this book is told in a single POV, you can tell he falls first and gives off “It was always you” vibes.

I can’t speak highly enough about how it brought the “body positivity” movement into conversation, and how when it’s left unchecked, it can really become toxic. How it’s okay to not feel positively about your body 100% of the time. How maybe terms like self acceptance and self respect might be better. And it was written so well, in such a relatable way. I appreciated how Crystal’s self confidence was so transient. The emotions she had felt so real to me as she learned to allow herself some grace. The whole third act crisis gave me Jenna Kutcher vibes and I am very much so here for it!

I still can’t get over how this was a debut novel, from a fellow bookstagrammer, too! Thank you, thank you @berkleyromance & @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

My gauge of a good Rom Com is whether or not I literally laugh out loud.

Fellow Bookstagrammer, @amyleabooks has written Set On You, a rom com that is Own Voices, addresses self/body acceptance, and MADE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD!

First, I am sure you are wondering how in the world such heavy topics as body acceptance. Crystal Chen is a #fitstagramer with a large following for her body positivity, encouraging messages. She meets Scott when he steals her workout space at the gym, which of course pushes all of her buttons!

I loved Scott and Crystal’s banter, it was just palpable and her internal monologue repeatedly had me laughing out loud.

I loved the strong women in Crystal’s life, even in the midst of uncertainty, struggle and drama, she had those great women all around her. Can’t leave out her dad though- LOVED how he shared his own personal struggles and how Crystal was open to learning from him. Beautiful father-daughter scene.

I was torn at the 3rd act breakup Scott and Crystal endured. Everything up to that point was just perfectly done, and I was SO SAD this scene had to happen- don’t get me wrong, I do see the point, and Crystal grows in her self-reflective nature to realize body acceptance is even more important than body positivity all the time.

My takeaway: don’t forget how ugly and harsh the internet can be!

Only a little quirk: Scott was repeatedly physically idolized.

If you enjoy enemies to lovers, second chances, laugh out loud rom coms, own voices, firemen, gym-based setting, body acceptance, on my gosh y’all just read it!

I enjoyed this fun enemies to lovers, slow burn romance about a plus size fitness blogger named Crystal. She loves the gym until a guy shows up and takes her spot at the bench, steals her phone and generally makes himself annoying. Of course, all of this is flirting and their attraction grows.
I love the chemistry between Crystal and Scott, the author did a great job. They both love their widowed grandparents, and when the grands get married the love all around is great to see.
I loved the body positivity messages in Crystal’s blog! 4 stars for this read.

Blurb:
Curvy fitness influencer Crystal Chen built her career shattering gym stereotypes and mostly ignoring the trolls. After her recent breakup, she has little stamina left for men, instead finding solace in the gym - her place of power and positivity.

Enter firefighter Scott Ritchie, the smug new gym patron who routinely steals her favorite squat rack. Sparks fly as these ultra-competitive foes battle for gym domination. But after a series of escalating jabs, the last thing they expect is to run into each other at their grandparents' engagement party.

In the lead up to their grandparents' wedding, Crystal discovers there's a soft heart under Scott's muscled exterior. Bonding over family, fitness, and cheesy pick-up lines, she just might have found her swolemate. But when a photo of them goes viral, savage internet trolls put their budding relationship to the ultimate test of strength.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

This was a fun enemies to lovers that grew on me as the book went on. Crystal was a fitsagrammer who preaches body positivity, but when push comes to shove, she doesn’t seem to really believe all she’s putting out there.

Curvy Crystal meets Scott a fit fireman and there are a bunch of immature interactions between the two of them. I struggled to like both of them during this part, but once they realized the connection they had (in more than one way) they really won me over.

I didn’t like how quickly/easily Crystal broke down after getting negative feedback on one post, and the constant comments about her size relative to his perfect physique. But I really liked how all-in Scotty really was, even from the beginning when he was being seemingly jerky.

I really enjoyed the Crystal’s growth in this book and her journey toward body acceptance.

I requested an early reader copy of this book and these are my honest opinions.

Set on You by Amy Lea is her debut novel. Crystal Chen is a curvy fitness Instagrammer who shares a body positive image. Scott Ritchie is a firefighter whose Grandfather is marrying Crystal’s mom. We follow their enemies to friends to lovers story.

The author has written great banter between the characters, funny and relatable relatives and friends, and she touches on issues that are not often talked about in romance fiction. I appreciated the authors perspective. The story walks us through the digital age of sharing your story and the following onslaught of people’s comments, and how different people deal with that. I look forward to reading more by the author, Amy Lea.

I was given a complimentary copy by Berkley and not required to write a positive review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley, and Amy Lea for the review copy—all opinions are my own! While the author and I share an editor and publisher, this in no way influenced my review.

SET ON YOU delivers feel-good, steamy rom-com swoons with its lovable leads and their snarky banter as well as enemies to lovers romantic arc, and endearing, memorable secondary characters. Crystal (a curvy biracial fitstagrammer) and Scott (a Chris Evans lookalike firefighter)’s connection—first at the gym and later with their families—sparked with delicious tension and desire tinged with frustration, then built to a steamy, scorching connection that made me smile and swoon.

I love how Amy wrote a character in Crystal who is so real in her complicated relationship to her body, image, identity, and vocation, and someone in Scott who loves her exactly where she is. I think it’s so important to see characters who navigate these nuanced realities and affirm that even as we find our way and figure ourselves out, we deserve love.

4.5 (half star deduction for repeated misuse of bring/take driving me crazy)

Otherwise... this is pretty much delightful. Enemies to lovers at a gym with diversity in size and race for the lead. It's quite nice to have a break from the skinny, perfect heroines and read a perspective that's more relatable. Also, scotty is *chef's kiss*.

3.5 stars

Crystal Chen, a late 20's fitness Instagrammer, has always been curvy and "not a size two." I couldn't really figure out what her exact body type was. Is she overweight? Chubby? Curvy? Now, with Scott, the author definitely lets the reader know that he is tall and very muscular. (Repeatedly. I get it. He's hot.)

Crystal "meets" Scott AKA "Squat Rack Thief" at her gym when he steals her perfect squat rack. From there is a game of childish disruptions to downright mean interactions. Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope, but even I wasn't a fan of this guy in the early chapters. But, oh boy, did he ever make up for it in the second half of the book! He's actually a pretty great man and his actions toward Crystal showed it.

There's a lot of body positivity messages in this book and on Crystal's Insta platform. A picture that she puts on her Instagram page causes her to question her own self-worth-in everything. Her life. Her body. Her relationship with Scott.

I ended up enjoying it as I flew through the second half. Only 3 1/2 stars as I wasn't too fond of the beginning.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Amy Lea’s debut novel, Set on You, begins at the gym. Crystal Chen is a fitness influencer whose body positivity has earned her a huge instagram following, sponsorships, and a career as a physical trainer. She has good friends and loves her family, despite their concerns that her career isn’t stable.

Scott Ritchie enters her life with an act of theft. Yes, he steals her preferred squat rack at the gym. What begins with loathing slowly begins to change as Crystal admits first her attraction to Scott and then his other positive qualities. Since she’s coming out of a relationship with a man who betrayed her trust, however, she’s hesitant to start something new . . . particularly since Scott also just broke up with his girlfriend.

What I liked most about this one was the consideration of Crystal’s dedication to body positivity and her shifting understanding of what that phrase means to her and to her followers. She wants to be someone who is constantly confident and proud of her body, despite the dismissive and nasty comments she regularly receives. But is that constant confidence realistic? What is the best way to handle comments that tear her down?

Set on You will appeal to a variety of readers and is perfect for fans of enemies-to-lovers romances. It’s a fun, sweet, thought-provoking romance.

Super cute contemporary romance. I loved the gym setting and the focus on moving your body to feel good and not loose weight.
The enemies part of the enemies to lovers is over pretty quick, but then some slow burn is built in in other ways.

Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC! I I couldn't wait to read Amy Lea's debut romcom Set on You. I was a little nervous about this being a gym-based romcom, but it is honestly one of my favorite romcoms so far in 2022!

I loved Amy's writing, and all the hilarious and random pop culture references throughout the entire book were amazing and made me continuously smile! She also made all the side characters so lovable and entertaining.

I love a good enemies-to-lovers trope, so I was a complete sucker for Crystal and Scott's story. Also, Amy does a great job making both MCs super relatable and lovable. Crystal and Scott's back & forth, bugging each other and banter were super cute and funny, especially once they start helping their grandparents in the lead up to their wedding. I also really liked how the book addressed self-acceptance and struggling with body image in a realistic way that wasn't cheesy.

I definitely recommend Set on You if you're looking for your next romcom read! And I just saw on GoodReads that Amy's next book will be about Crystal's sister Tara and Scott's roommate Trevor and I am SO EXCITED!

This book was quite a surprise and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this story. I could relate to Crystal as a curvy woman and I applauded her career choice and the people that she was helping find a better fitness routine. Then she meets Scott who acts like a neanderthal when they first bump into each other. I loved Scott's explanation once they got to know each other, that he was just bowled over by her and lacked the words to say something. I love it when a guy gets tongue-tied!

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Crystal and Scott grow. It wasn't without its challenges and misunderstandings but for the most part, they worked through them. But there wouldn't be some tension in the book without hurt feelings and disagreements. But these incidents are what help them grow as a couple and learn to navigate feelings and expectations. It also helps Crystal find her true path and what is or isn't working for her as a fitness trainer and promoter.

They both care about their grandparents, so when his grandfather and her grandmother connect and end up engaged it forces them together until they find that rhythm together. You could say it strengthens the relationship that they embark upon.

There is a touching moment when Crystal confronts her father and his continual pestering for her to find a job. They are two different worlds when it comes to what defines success and neither is right or wrong, they just see things differently. However, there are some things that Crystal learns about her father that she didn't know before which enables her to understand where he is coming from. The moment also helps her father realize that maybe she does have things together, more than he realizes.

This book will make you laugh out loud and perhaps get a little sentimental too at different times. Overall, I loved the book and can't wait to see what the author comes out with next. We give it 5 paws up.

Loved this one! Fun and sexy, but also deftly handling real issues. I loved all the body positivity and realness. Great, believable characters with A+ chemistry.

I LOVED this book. It's great enough when a romance includes messages of body positivity and size inclusion, but this one tackled the mixed messages and toxicity that sometimes infiltrates those movements in the form of guilt when we DON'T love our bodies all the time. I've never felt so seen.

Crystal is a curvy Asian/Irish American personal trainer and fitness influencer. She has a great following on Instagram and preaches self love and body positivity. One day in the gym a super ripped gym bro steals her squat rack and refuses to give it back. They continue to run into each other and he continues to push her buttons, but she can't help but be attracted to him at the same time. After a surprising connection is revealed, Scott (aforementioned gym bro) and Crystal start spending more time together and it turns out there is much more to him than meets the eye. When toxic trolls in Crystals instagram community threaten their budding love, she has to dig deep to relearn what real self love means for her.

Things I loved: AAPI and multiracial representation by an AAPI author, curvy athletic representation, discussion of the guilt inherent in being body positive but not feeling it all the time, great steamy scenes.

Things I didn't love: Not much! Could have used a little more steam, but that's just a preference.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.