Definitely a cute romance story but it doesn’t really stand out against the competition story wise, although it’s nice to see a wide range of body types and races represented. Plot wise, it fell flat.

Ah, this book! I cannot begin to describe how much I loved it. It was funny, cute, witty, meaningful, and with just the perfect spice. If you like romcoms, you need this in your life. I can't recommend it enough. It got me laughing out loud more times than I thought I would. The romance was adorable. Their friendship, banter, and flirting were so cute; they got me awwing and smiling so much!

Crystal is such a wonderful character. She's strong, confident, human, authentic, and perfectly imperfect. She's someone I'd definitely be following on Instagram! Scott is the perfect sexy cinnamon roll. I was a bit irritated with him initially, but oh-how my opinion changed. He's the cutest, most thoughtful, kindhearted man out there.

I also loved Amy's powerful and beautiful message about body respect and self-acceptance. And how she connects it to someone being mixed-raced as Crystal. I know many people will be able to connect with the story from this point, finding it relatable.

There's honestly nothing I didn't love about this story. Even when the main characters were starting to be a tad annoying, they handled the situation maturely. Just go and read this please, you won't regret it. As for me, I can't wait for Tara's story!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin General for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

this was a really fun and quick book - i loved crystal and scott together, their chemistry and banter is so fun to read, and the genuine respect and support they give each other is refreshing (also, the spice, people).

the message being told throughout about body image and hate is extremely powerful and true to real life, and the problems that crystal faces give a new perspective on this. i really enjoyed reading about how she got back up and found the strength to continue on, alongside realising her mistakes and the reconciliation near the end.

the family support was so nice to read, as well as the friendships, but the part that sticks out to me is when her dad opens up about his experience as a Chinese man marrying a white woman. knowing someone you love has had a similar experience in the past and has been able to overcome it and turn out stronger, was clearly a turning point for crystal.

the main reason i’m giving this 3.5 stars (instead of 4) is because of the “insta love” - although they seemingly disliked each other first, i would’ve loved for that tension to build for longer (slow burn, please), making it even more satisfying when they finally get together.

overall, i really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend (i mean, scott’s a firefighter with a sense of humour and has a precious puppy; what more could you want?)

Thank you to NetGalley, Amy and Penguin General UK for this e-arc!

This book made me SQUEAL! Not only were there some bits that made me screech - Chris Evans lookalike gym buff firefighter who’s secretly a softie, a hate make out session, an adorable trip to ikea and interfering grandparents - but there was also a really raw and real side to this book.

Crystal is a bi-racial and curvy fitness influencer, and when *the event* happened it was heartbreaking. Experiencing that sense of helplessness and anger with her, seeing it reflected in actual real life, watching her grow and overcome it and change the trajectory of her life was honestly amazing.

This book is structured in a way I’ve not experienced before. Usually you’re waiting for a big misunderstanding at around 80% but this was way deeper than a superficial fight.

I really feel like this could help a LOT of people.

Ps I need a book about Tara x

Bravo Amy!

This book summed up in one sentence: "I looooooved it!"

Honestly I could not put it down! I love Crystal and Scott's enemies to lovers story. I loved the spicy scenes and the overall cuteness of it all.

However the thing I enjoyed most about this book is the journey from self-love to self-acceptance and I think when we read romance novels we forget that sometimes accepting love from others is to build self-acceptance in ourselves. Having a book remind oneself about that was refreshing and a small reminder to the readers that we should learn to accept ourselves, we may not love ourselves 100% but we need to learn to accept ourselves and only then can we move forward positively. Also the dad's financial advice I took into consideration lol.

Definitely a must read and just such a feel good romance!

4☆

Anyone else find themselves on lulu lemon’s website immediately after reading? just me?

This was serving all the cute, fuzzy & heartwarming vibes I needed, which probably explains why I devoured this in one sitting. I absolutely ate up every cheesy pick up lines. I also like a majority of the pop culture references, having many a Leonardo DiCaprio pointing meme moment however it did feel a bit *too* much at times.

Sidenote: petition for all men to be compared to chris evans and aragorn (not just looks but his character too) until further notice!

As someone who suffers heavily from body dysmorphia the messages in this book were hitting. While on the (very) odd occasion the message on the heavier themes fell a tad flat, the importance of the topics discussed hit the mark more times than not. It good to a point where I wanted to tattoo all the quotes about self-love and self-acceptance on to my forehead just so I could remember/see them 24/7 (but for now I’ll settle on adding them to my vision board).

I adored Scott and Crystal's relationship earlier on in the read. Their banter was top-tier and certain gym antics genuinely had me laughing out loud. My main gripe/issue which isn't allowing me to rate this a full five starts is that I didn't really buy-in to their romance, it just felt like their relationship once they gave into it was lacking something so I found myself struggling to truly care on the outcome of their relationship either way. I think it was all the miscommunication - I don't mind miscommunication trope but it felt a little overdone here. That’s not to say the couple didn’t have their cute moments! The cute scenes that we had me squealing and there was the perfect amount of steam for these two..

Scott went from being unlikeable to a little *too* perfect in my opinion, which gave me whiplash. He also felt a tad underdeveloped but this is most likely due to not having his POV. I did enjoy his sarcasm and protective nature (and the fact that he was a firefighter of course). I just wish we got to know him a tad bit better.

I loved Crystal's personality, humour and inner-monologue for a majority of the book. However, her character and the choices she made really did seem to frustrate me at one point but I appreciate the reason why she acted the way she did and for the most part, got over it by the end.

This was otherwise a refreshing debut. I sincerely can’t wait to see what Amy Lea releases next! I'm ✨manifesting✨ a Tara sequel because I quite frankly need a romance book where the lead is a bookstagrammer so I can self-insert like crazy.

Definitely read if you love: chris evans, rep - woc (chinese/biracial) & curvy influencer, witty banter, rivals/enemies-to-lovers, did I mention chris evans, hilarious side characters

When I saw this on Netgalley, I just knew it would be the book for me. not just because I am gym fanatic but I do love a good romance - the gym setting was an added bonus! Lol!

I adored the moral of this story. I think it showed the toxicity of social media on how women feel they need to look and how they come across. I felt for Crystal when she was being so hard on herself during the book after putting something on social media - people can be so cruel!

I loved her relationship with the sexy, hot firefighter, Scott Ritchie and how the went from strength to strength. I couldn't wait for them to get together and although it was a slow burner for me, I did enjoy the book; I enjoyed the relationship and moral of the book.

Thank you Netgalley, Amy Lea and Penguin General UK for allowing me this ARC.

This was alright, I enjoyed it but I felt that the characters needed more development it felt a bit surface level only (good for an easy read!)

Curvy biracial fitness influencer crystal Chen built her career shattering gym stereotypes and mostly ignoring the trolls after her recent breakup crystal has little stamina left for men
Firefighter Scott Ritchie gets under crystals skin straight away at the gym when he steals her favourite squat rack floor space and just getting on each others nerves but sparks fly as to these ultra competitive foes battle for the gym domination they don’t expect to run into each other at their grandparents engagement party
Crystal soon starts to see a different side to Scott and they start to get along really well and become friends and soon get together then when crystal posts a photo of her and Scott online and the internet trolls start commenting on her photo but she soon realises a few things but more importantly that she really loves Scott
I really enjoyed this book I totally recommend it
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin General Uk

Really loved this!!! As a curvy gym bunny too I really connected with this. I didn't want it to end and will probably reread soon. Loved the main character, brilliant. Thanks for the arc !!!

Wow, where to begin with this one.

I'm guessing this was intentional but Crystal is. a VERY unlikeable character. She is judgemental, stereotypes everyone and is plain rude sometimes. I mean, looking at an elderly man and thinking to yourself that he does not look like he was a firefighter back in his younger years is not only hypocritical but is shallow, immature and insulting! She makes these snide comments that I'm assuming is meant to come across as funny but rather makes her look like a petulant child. I was very close to DNF'ing this because unlikeable characters for me is a huge turn-off and I don't feel she redeemed herself throughout the story.

Honestly, the conflicts throughout were a little weak and I didn't feel the chemistry between Crystal and Scotty either. The manner in which Crystal treated her family infuriated me which overshadowed the romance for me.

I did enjoy the setting and I enjoyed that her profession was that of an influencer but that's about it.

When I got approved for this ARC on NetGalley I honestly felt like jumping up and down with GLEE! I’d seen and heard so much about this book and it was one I just felt I was going to love. Let me tell you - I WAS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!

There was not a single part of this book that I didn’t love. For me it ticked all of my favourite rom com boxes and I couldn’t put it down - in fact I literally stayed up till half past midnight to finish it and write this review!

One of my favourite things about Romance books is when their are really unique/quirky things in the plot or about the characters that keep popping up. And this book had so many of them! Clementines, squat racks, lulus, Grandma Flo the list goes on! Something about it gives the book a sense of familiarity and comfort which is just so addictive!

Another thing I loved about Set on You was all the pop culture references throughout the book! Henry Cavill in the Witcher, Lizzo, Chris Evans - I mean it just emphasised that Amy Lea knows her audience SO 👏🏼 WELL 👏🏼 on the same note - Crystal’s sister is literally a BOOKSTAGRAMMER?? WHO GETS SENT LOADS OF FREE BOOKS?!?! Like hello Tara is really out here living all our dreams right now!

Crystal the amazing down to earth truthful accepting queen and main character of this book was just a delight! As a plus size girl myself it was so empowering to see a girl like us getting everything she deserves and accomplishing everything she dreamed of! I loved that Amy Lea tackled toxic diet culture, fat phobia within social media and the controversial “body positivity” movement from so many angles and perspectives. Everything about Crystal was just so empowering to read.

And as for our hunky firefighting gym bod Chris Evans look-a-like man Scottie - need I say much more? Enemies to lovers trope, plenty of steamy moments and all the golden retriever boyfriend vibes too? SAY LESS!

Ok so if I’ve not already convinced you to go and pre-order this masterpiece - how about there being a SECOND BOOK about the oh so enviable BOOKSTAGRAMMER TARA too coming out next year?!?!

At first I wasn't sure about the character of Crystal, but about 1/3 of the way though my mind changed! By the end I was buzzing for the story and loved that the message was more than just boy meets girl.

The utilisation of the social media platforms works brilliantly and the fact the heroine isn't a size 0 model type is just the icing on the already scrummy cake!

Loved the novel and will be recommending!

If you want a sweet rom com with a fat female main character, look no further.
Crystal is a fitness influencer and Scotty is a firefighter, they meet at the gym but she hates him at first.
I really loved to see a fat main character who isn't trying to lose weight and goes to the gym regularly. I thought her relationships with her friends and family were realistic and really well portrayed.
A very enjoyable read.

As a curvy fitness influencer, Crystal spends a lot of time at the gym. When Scott repeatedly steals her favourite squat rack, she’s not amused. But as they fight for gym domination, sparks fly and their chemistry starts to grow. As they start getting closer, Crystal realises there’s more to him than meets the eye and their friendship quickly turns into more.

I LOVED Crystal. She was such as amazing character- strong, determined and always ready to help everyone around her. Her journey was inspiring and I loved following along. I also loved her whole message about self love and how it isn’t possible or sustainable to love your body every day. We all have bad days, days when we can’t find a single thing we like about ourselves and that’s ok.

As for Scott, he was just amazing- where can I find a man like him? If you find out please let me know lol. Pretty much everything he did and said was so cute and amazing! I’m in love🥰

Both Scott and Crystal felt very real and while both characters were obviously flawed and messed up a couple times, I liked the way they dealt with those situations and how they communicated; they told each other how they felt and tried to put themselves in the other’s shoes, and perhaps most importantly, they admitted when they were wrong.

Also, can we talk about the side characters? Especially Tara and Crystal’s meddling gradma- I loved them! I can’t wait to read Tara’s story!

Overall I really liked this book. I loved seeing Crystal's feelings and her relationship with Scott grow and evolve. I loved their chemistry and Scott’s sarcasm and cheesy pick up lines were hilarious.

4/5 ★

I finished this book in one day! It was very charming, cute and funny and I found it hard to put down... I just wanted them to sort it out and get together! I really liked the message behind the story about body respect and self-acceptance, and the discussions about gym culture and sexism. It was, however, definitely a light-hearted read overall, and not the most unique, but a really fun and enjoyable read nonetheless!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Crystal is a fitness influencer and has no time for a man in her life, but when Scott, the fireman, starts to come to her gym and mess up her workout routine, she declares war. However, not only does she have to battle him in the gym, she soon finds out he will be part of the family; when she finds out her Grandma and his Grandpa decide to tie the knot

I couldn't put this book down! Firstly, there is a fireman, I always wanted to marry a fireman (I did not end up marrying a fireman) and I easily related to the character of Crystal Chen in so many ways, not just within her ethnicity of someone who is 'chubby and half Asian,' but also as someone who works within the fitness industry.

How Lea captures social media and the toxicity it can give is very well written. We see this through the comments people leave on her social media posts and then how this impacts the character within the narrative, Lea depicts the industry honestly and realistically and how words can really affect people, although you try to block out the haters.

All the characters within this novel had a significant purpose, whether it was the grandparents, scheming to get the couple together, to the roommate who is secretly a romantic or Crystal's father with his wise words of wisdom. I could not get enough of these characters.

This is a debut novel by this author and I am already excited to read more of their work.

This book was so much fun, I absolutely loved it! I really enjoyed reading from Crystal’s POV as I found her to be a very endearing and funny protagonist. I loved Scott as a love interest (did someone order a sarcastic but would do anything for you bf) and I really enjoyed seeing them build their relationship together.
I also really liked the social media element of this book too and the ways in which it influenced and effected Crystal’s life.

If you’re looking for a romantic, spicy and heartwarming book then this is definitely for you!

Set On You, Amy Lea’s debut, was such a fab read, I loved it. I really enjoyed reading Crystal and Scott’s story and was rooting for them throughout. I also loved Lea’s wonderful dedication and her author’s note at the start of the book, both of which should be read and appreciated before beginning the novel.

Set On You follows curvy fitness influencer Crystal Chen who has built her career on shattering gym stereotypes, and helping and encouraging others to feel more positive about themselves. Following a recent break up she has little time for men, that is until she meets Squat Rack Thief, aka Scott Ritchie a local fireman. Soon sparks begin to fly and Crystal realises there is a lot more going on under the surface of her sexy gym nemesis, and maybe she’s finally found her person…

Set On You is such a fun read and yet still deals with some really significant and difficult topics throughout. Never once does it feel like a heavy read, such is the skill of Lea’s writing in balancing the issues alongside the witty banter. Lea explores the issues and pressures facing Crystal as a mixed race women and as a curvy individual. She has always been reminded by Western society that she doesn’t fit the ‘perfect’ mould and yet is still being told that she must love herself regardless under the demands of the body positivity movement. This is all thrown into even sharper focus by the fact Crystal is an influencer and so finding herself under even more public scrutiny. These are all significant issues, dealt with extremely well by Lea.

Let’s remember that this is a rom com and well let’s just say the chemistry between Crystal and Scott was excellent, sizzling off the pages at times. And if you’re in the market for some steam you won’t be disappointed. I really liked Scott as the romantic lead, he is one of those great all round good guys that you find in romance novels.

I also really enjoyed the female friendships found in Set On You. Crystal’s relationship with both her sister Tara and her friend Mel were great and really added to the story. In these relationships each of the women were there to support each other and I love that in a rom com.

Overall a really fun read that also deals with significant issues sensitively and with purpose.

This book was such a fun read
It follows a curvy fitness influencer that spreads body positivity on her account. This book shows the dark side of influencing but it also shows all the positives.

She broke up with her boyfriend and swore off men so instead she spends all her time on her fitstagram and being s personal trainer.The gym was her safe haven until squat rack thief, Firefighter Scott comes into the picture.. her gym nemisis😂

This book is Enimies-Friends-Lovers

Its very different from my other reads and it was so refreshing. I would recommend this book if you enjoy fun quirky romances😊