A really lovely rom-com.

Excellent from start to finish, I loved the main character Mara and following her on her quest for love and self-improvement!

A wonderful summer read, I definitely recommend it.

Mara Williams isn’t all that happy with her life; she doesn't feel in tune with her best pal anymore; her job as a bookkeeper at a Lido near the beach bores her and she’s still waiting to meet her soulmate. She takes an unexpected solo trip (her pal, Charlie cancelled at the eleventh hour) to Terézváros, Budapest and visits a pregnant clairvoyant who tells her she needs a change, but she doesn't complete Mara's prediction as she's whisked off to the hospital. Enter Josef, a cellist. Mara takes fate into her hands and tells Josef that he will find his soulmate back in her hometown and he should visit when he’s in the UK in three months' time. For Mara, back in England, some self-improvement is required for Josef's arrival.

Lizzy Dent has chosen some fantastic locations for this novel. Broadgate, the coast and the Lido where Mara works lend themselves to some really well-described scenes. The inclusion of Corbridge in Northumberland and Hadrian's Wall makes these even better as they are familiar to me. Character-wise, I loved Ash, Mara's flatmate and the team at the Lido, thoroughly appreciating the emerging friendships and the vivacious humour and chat. Mara's a dreamer, though indecisive, but great for the story. Well worth a read, I will be looking out for the next novel by Lizzy Dent.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Penguin General, Viking via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

A perfect summer holiday read, especially as it’s set at a Lido and seaside town. Great characters and fun premise.

The setup by lizzy dent

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to netgalley and Lizzy Dent for the opportunity to read this book. I'd give it 3.5 stars because it was good but didn't majorly blow me away since the MC was occasionally difficult to root for.

Okay firstly I am infact from a small town near newcastle uk so seeing that was an interesting experience, especially since its literally 5 minutes away from Corbridge which is where mara is from.

So is the book kind of predictable? Yes, most romances tend to be. But did it leave me with a warmth when I finished it? Also yes, journeys of self discovery do that to me. As a Virgo I'm really not a huge believer in fate I prefer to put my trust in schedules, lists and spreadsheets so I did at times find the plot frustrating.

I really enjoyed the plot line around saving the lido (in particular the floating cinema section) it definitely made mara more likeable between her slightly odd quest to change for a man she's never met and actually has no idea what his type is. Especially when Ash is literally the dream, that scene with the stars was too cute.

Families and friendships play a huge part in this book, it really demonstrates the ways in which they often fluctuate in real life. Many of us learn the hard way (much like mara did) that those bonds need to grow with you and sometimes they get strained along the way when communication falls through. I enjoyed seeing her both form new friendships and fix her old ones as she gains the understanding that its okay to let go and trust people to be there when you need them.

I really liked the ending of the book, she made the right decision in the end and we got some really sweet moments between all the characters. Personally I wouldnt have even gone to the pub because if you find a happiness that you're sure of the grass won't be greener on the other side.

The Setup tells the story of Mara as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, finding out what and who she wants in her life. Although it is very clear from the beginning that her high levels of self-doubt were holding her back, this was different to other romance books I have read – in a significant way! Her quirkiness, social anxiety, and obsession with horoscopes make her highly relatable, easy to invest in and an entertaining leading character.

I particularly like that Kent was the location of choice for this book - always a winner for me! Although a little predictable in places for my preference, the plot is fast-paced, but overall, very readable. I was able to finish this quickly, and I was eager to determine the outcomes of Mara’s decisions.

The writing style adds comical moments throughout, and this would suit any reader with a good sense of humour, as there is a lot of ‘banter’ between characters. The Setup is not a book to be taken too seriously; however, this adds to the enjoyment factor.

This is a light-hearted, adorable romance with a slice of family drama on the side. Perfect for a summer read, whether on the beach somewhere exotic or just chilling in the back garden. It is recommended to all fans of this genre and author.

A feel good summer read.

I really like the way Lizzy Dent looks at female friendships in her books in addition to romance. Mara & Charlie are so typical of women hitting different points in their lives at different times & that really resonated with me.

I must admit that at first I didn't click with Mara as quickly as I had with Birdy in The Summer Job & I found myself getting frustrated with her but that made it all the better as she developed as the book went on.

Definitely one to pick up & devour on a sun lounger, by a pool, possibly a lido ☀️

As joyful as Lizzy Dent's first book, The Summer Job, 'The Set Up' is destined to be read on sun loungers and picnic blankets everywhere this year!
Mara is in her early 30s and lost in life; she hasn't had a serious (or any)relationship since her university boyfriend double-crossed her; she left uni before she graduated but has never confessed to her family and has lied about her career ever since; she moved to a small seaside town to be near her closest friend Charlie, but now Charlie is married with a baby and they've drifted apart.
So many areas of disappointment and dissatisfaction for Mara and she doesn't know where to turn . She trusts that fate will show her what she needs to do, religiously reading horoscopes and comparing star signs for compatibility, and on holiday in Budapest, she even has her fortune told by a tarot card reader. The fortune-teller tells Mara that she will find love soon, that he will be tall and work with his hands; they are destined to be together but that she has to fix a few things first.
Mara immediately bumps into Josef, a handsome cellist who fits the description, and she is convinced that he is The One. She finds a way of telling Josef that he is destined to meet her later in the year, and sets about making arrangements for the meeting to take place and for her life to begin.
We've all read romcoms before and as readers, you know that things arent going to run as smoothly as Mara hopes - but her journey to getting herself 'ready for her one true love' is a fabulous journey of self discovery and acceptance as well as the importance of letting people in rather than keeping everyone at arms length.

An uplifting joy to read, guaranteed to bring sunshine even when its pouring outside.

I loved The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent & was looking forward to reading this book. It did not disappoint.
Mara is a woman who has low self-esteem, spends her day reading horoscopes to find the life she should walk, is stuck in a rut in her work & personal life. After a disastrous relationship in University, her life fell apart & she felt she was such a disappointment to everyone. She ends up in Broadgate in Kent, in a job that wasn't what she thought it was, living near her best friend who is married & just had a baby. Her friend Charlie pulls out of a short holiday they had booked to Budapest, so Mara goes on her own. This is when her life begins to change.
I loved Mara. Lizzy Dent has made her likeable, interesting & with a bit of us all in her personality that we can relate too. Her writing feels effortless & her characters believable.
Looking forward not to her next book.

Thankyou so much netgalley for this ARC on exchange for an honest review. I can confirm review is my own.

This book I literally loved it. I couldn't put it down. It had me hooked from the start. There were moments that had me laughing so much and then others that had me wincing due to the decisions that where made. I loved Mara she was such a character, she had moments that where so funny and moments that made you think did she actually do that. From the get go you could tell she was going to be one of those characters that kept you on your toes and wanting more from her and the author did not disappoint with her. I loved Ash he was just perfect and I loved how he completed mara he was such a gem. I loved how the author actually showed the general emotions of adult hood and all the changes that can happen and how everyone's life takes its own path. It was just perfect. Would I read this again ? Yes definitely so worth the five star rating. Would I recommend to others? Yes, I would it was such a nice quick read with the humour and the passion. I definitely need to add this book my bookshelf in physical form it was spot on. Thankyou so much again for the opportunity to read this

A cute read. Full of great characters and the will she won’t she storyline was an enjoyable fun story. I really liked the locations in the story - the lido sounded fabulous and I loved how Mara and the team threw themselves into saving it. I found myself preferring the secondary characters on the whole, Samira and Ryan were great fun whereas Mara was rather unlikeable for me - full of self pity she focussed on herself too much and almost missed the good things right in front of her.

Mara Williams is painfully aware of how average, unremarkable and ordinary her life has become. She's mid-palm reading when the fortune-teller goes into labour. Left to lock up, she unexpectedly finds herself in a position to influence tall, handsome Josef's fate, (and perhaps her own). Josef (Joe) is a cellist, asking about love, just like Mara. And he seems to be the embodiment of the love match she was just told about. Under the disguise of the fortune-teller's veil, desperate to see him again, she suggests he'll meet his match in three months, at her local pub. During that time, she's going to undergo a makeover.

But then housemate Ash moves into her spare room, and suddenly she's finding herself attracted to the sweet, handsome man with hidden depth. But she has a plan. Single-mindedly, she tries to stay focused on Joe, regardless of how little she actually know about him. And how well she and Ash get on.

I loved the humour in this book. Mara is a romantic and a dreamer, and while sometimes her self-deprecating internal dialogue and obsession with astrology made me want to shake her, I could also empathise with her, and her flaws. She's constantly anxious about being judged by new people. Still, the visit to her parents house was hard to read, and I felt really sad for her family, Ash, and later, her best friend Charlie.

The story deals with the deeper issues of low self-esteem, career failure, the evolution of friendships and becoming part of a community. Mara is often self-destructive, and has to fix herself not only physically, but emotionally. And she needs to reassess the way she interacts with the people she cares about. There's a great subplot involving the Lido where she works, and I loved the team she worked with, as each character felt authentic.

Ash was like an adorable labrador, crossed with the biggest, fluffiest cinnamon roll and I fell in love with him immediately.

I won't spoil the end, but I laughed, cried, and swooned in equal measure. Highly recommended.

Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Heat Rating: 🔥
Emotional Rating: 💓😂🥰😍😢💔😭🥰🥰

*Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to leave an honest review*

I initially struggled with this book as the first chapter was totally unbelievable to me - but is essential to the whole premise of the story. I initially didn't like Mara,, but as the story developed I could see why she is so lacking in self confidence and could definitely see reflections of myself in her. Her slavishly following her horoscopes was difficult tho understand, but again I could gradually see the reason for this. I definitely felt for Ash and how he was treated by her and wished for a happy outcome. The community spirit that Mara gradually becomes involved in something to really aspire to, flashes of this comes out occasionally as during the Queen's diamond jubilee with the street parties and other celebrations, but otherwise seems missing in modern town life.
Overall for me not a straightforward read, definitely some humorous moments, sad ones and ones that gave me hope for them - and myself, knowing that I'm not alone in self doubt
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

Heart-warming, quirky and romantic - a true rom-com that's a perfect beach read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

"There are two men in my life. But this is not a love triangle."

The Setup is a hilariously witty tale of love and destiny, about a woman who can't even decide what to have for lunch without consulting the stars for guidance, so when the opportunity for love presents itself, she knows the universe is going to have to help big time for her to figure it out.

With that signature Lizzy Dent feelgood glow, The Setup is witty, warm and wickedly funny. With everything larger than life, this story is packed full of over-the-top characters and brimming with charm.

I didn’t hate this, I just found it to be quite slow. Mara spent the entire book obsessing over a guy she met for 5 minutes, which would have been believable if she was 19/20, but she was 31 and I found it a little weird. I did like seeing the development as she came out of her shell and blossomed, and her relationship with Ash was sweet, albeit predictable. Unfortunately just wasn’t for me this time

Delightful, wonderful, heartwarming, funny story about learning who you are and celebrating who you are. Lizzy Dent is a master at crafting delightful, relatable characters you want to spend time with and miss then when the book is finished. Lizzy Dent’s observations of character nuances and differentiating dialogue so her characters sound authentic is such a skill! This book made my heart sing! Warm, delightful storytelling and the writing like a comfy pair of slippers on a cold night!

Very easy read, rather predictable romcom. Thirtysomething Mara works at her local lido and never ever takes a single step without having consulted various horoscopes. So it‘s hardly surprising that when she‘s on a weekend trip to Budapest, she consults a local clairvoyant who predicts that her future ‚the one‘ will enter her life soon, provided Mara makes a few changes in her life… I was kindly allowed to read an ARC in return for my honest opinion.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩 💜⁣⁣

I was recently given the pleasure of being auto approved for this wonderful book!! I loved 💜 Lizzy's first book so I was super excited to see a 2nd published.
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In this book we follow Mara. A lady who uses horoscopes and relies on fait to get her through life. But will she be to focused on 'the signs' too see what's actually in front of her?! 🤔⁣⁣
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Mara moves into town to be close to her best friend Charlie. However Charlie is busy with her new born 🍼 After going on holiday by herself because Charlie dropped out Mara meets the man of her dreams and starts work on 'project Mara'. In the hopes that when her mystery man comes to town she'll be a more rounded person! ⁣⁣
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However in her quest to become the ultimate girlfriend she meets a whole host of characters within her town that help her on her journey. ⁣⁣
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I absolutely loved this book!! It's got such great characters and is based in a lovely seaside town making it the ultimate comfort read. ⁣⁣
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I loved project Mara. It really demonstrated how difficult as an adult it can be to make new friends and get out of your comfort zone! But also how simple in can be to connect with new people! 😍⁣⁣
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As much as I loved Mara's story about self improvement one of her big flawes was being indecisive. Generally in a 'glow up' story the main character will work on these things. Say yes to new things or make snap decisions and overthink later on. However she didn't! Throughout the whole book her inability to make a choice was frustrating!!! I just wanted to shake her and shout 'make up your mind!!!' ⁣⁣
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For this reason I'm giving this book ⭐⭐⭐⭐⁣⁣
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Absolutely brilliant on the whole and definitely a great read to keep an eye out for!
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An author to watch out for I think! Her work is so vibrant and uplifting! ☺️⁣⁣
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Thank you to Lizzy, Netgalley and Penguin for my Arc of this fabulous book!

I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to NetGalley who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my Kindle, in return for my honest review.

The Setup was a wonderful, heartwarming, funny story about learning to accept yourself.
Mara is 31 years old and leads quite a boring life; while she is pretending to be a fortune teller she meets her perfect other half, Josef. While doing a reading, she tells him his destiny is with a woman called Mara and he must meet her in three months time in a seaside pub in Broadgate. So here begins - Project Mara!!
There were some wonderful, interesting characters in this book and I really enjoyed getting to know them!
This was definitely a book to make my heart happy…..

This was such an uplifting story about finding the courage to believe in yourself. Mara was a (sometimes painfully) relatable heroine. At the beginning of the book, she so desperately wanted to get to know more people but was scared for people to get to know her. This insecurity made her seem cold and uncaring and meant that she was stuck in an isolated and depressing life. For this reason, I could easily sympathise with Mara when she impulsively lied in a radical attempt to course-correct her life. I enjoyed watching Mara gradually evolve throughout the novel and find the bravery to expand her circle beyond her best friend Charlie.

It felt natural to root for Mara as I saw pieces of myself in her. However, I sometimes found her childlike reliance and belief in fate to be annoying. Luckily, she was surrounded by characters, particularly Charlie and Ash, who were more rational. Both Mara’s relationships with Charlie and Ash felt wonderfully genuine. With Charlie, I appreciated the realistic portrayal of how a friendship changes when one becomes a parent. Their much-needed heart-to-heart was touching to see play out as they realised how much they both needed each other but understood they couldn’t solely rely on the other. Similarly, I enjoyed watching the friendship between Mara and Ash blossom. To this end, I really liked how the story wrapped up, making me excited to read more from the author.

With a delightful cast of characters, helmed by a relatable heroine who you can’t help but root for, this book was such a sweet and uplifting read.