Set On You is a story about fitness influencer Crystal and fireman Scott's romance. The story takes you through Crystal's discovery that self love and self worth does not mean confidence every minute of every day. I appreciated the message in this story.
However, I expected more from this book. The first 30% of the book cringed me out because the author managed to throw in every possible cliche into the book. Overall though, it was a cute and short read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book for an honest review of the book.

A sweet, sexy romance about the importance of accepting yourself, Set On You focuses on Crystal and Scott, who meet at the gym and quickly go from enemies to lovers.

The book is an easy read with some steam and a lot of adorable. The end was a bit slower and really started to drag, but for the bulk of the book I was enamoured!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A really great, feel-good romance that I think a lot of people are going to enjoy! This romance focuses on fitness, self-acceptance and respecting your body and there are a ton of really great messages in here, about ditching the scales and not counting calories, and about everyone's body being naturally different. The romance is also really sweet, I really liked Scott and Crystal's relationship. There's also the inclusion of being an Instagram influencer, and the joys and struggles of that life, and I thought it displayed both sides really well. Also, Crystal's sister Tara is a bookstagrammer and now I am praying to Amy Lea and the Penguin gods that we get a spin-off featuring Tara because I need that in my life!

Hmm, so how do I rate this book. I enjoyed this book a great deal at the start, and then it got a bit slow and I lost focus for a few chapters, but then it picked up again later on. The chemistry between Crystal and Scott was sizzling, though I do think I had expected a bit more anticipation and getting to know one another before getting together for the first time.

I loved all the side characters and the emphasis on family and connection. I think it really brings home the fact that Amy Lea knows how to write and develop good characters. No-one felt out of place.

I think I struggled a bit with the wellness influencer side of things and I don't know if I felt completely at ease with how things eventuated.

Overall, all things considered, I think this is definitely a solid 4 stars. I'm looking forward to reading more by Amy Lea.

The publisher kindly provided ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A beautifully written book. Really enjoyed reading this. Thanks to publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read

Sadly, I didn’t love the book as muck as I wanted to. But here’s a list about the things I loved to read in this book.

I’ve never read gym romance before and I really liked this this idea.
I loved the first few chapters when the main characters were gym rivals. ( but i think the first kiss happened quickly).
I liked that crystal was curvy and all of her fitness journey was built on this.
(However I didn’t liked her character by the end, I was planning to dnf so bad but i was already 80% in. I think Crystal trust issues made her too paranoid.)
I liked that the author gave us an insight about the darker side of social media. How ugly the people can be when it comes to other peoples’ happiness and they can’t accept it without showing nasty comments.
I loved firefighter Scott and his character so much (with all his terrible flirts)
And of course I liked his dog. You can have me when the love interest has a dog.
I enjoyed to read about Crystal and Scott working out together.

It’s a good read when you are looking for a cute romcom. I definitely recommend. And thanks for letting me read it before pub date.

I really enjoyed this one! Crystal and Scott are gym nemeses after Scott steals one of the machines that Crystal was using, leading to Crystal coining Scott as the ‘Squat Rack Thief.’ A petty rivalry ensues, parts of which I found hilarious!

Obviously, with this being a romance, they don’t hate each other for long and their relationship develops. There are several reasons why Crystal doesn’t think they should be in a relationship and they face numerous obstacles, but their chemistry was so great there was no way they weren’t going to be together.

I really loved the characters in this, both the main characters and side characters were well developed and I also loved the family aspect of this book! It was so wholesome and lovely to read about.

This book had me laughing out loud in parts, which does not happen often! It truly is a rom-com that was a breath of fresh air. That being said, while nothing too heavy occurs in this book, it isn’t all happy and smiley. Our main character goes through some things, but it was good to see her journey through these situations.

The only thing I didn’t love was the conflict in this book. I partly understand it, but didn’t feel it was completely necessary and this did prevent me from absolutely loving this book.

I will absolutely be reading more of what Amy Lea comes out with and I’m amazed that this is a debut!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

**Thank you to Netgalley & Penguin UK for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review**

CW: cyberbullying, fatphobia, cancer

Do yourself a favour, and preorder this book. This was everything I expect in a romance! Swoon-worthy with hilarious, believable characters, with a bit of banter and a pinch of steam.

Set On You tells the story of Crystal, a fat, half-Asian fitness influencer, and Scott, the sweetest firefighter, who looks like Chris Evans. They meet in a gym, over a dispute about who gets to use the squat rack, Scott coming across as very presumptuous, yet undeniably gorgeous.

The first few chapters grip you straight away, with the characters arguing (AKA flirting) over all sorts of silly things, following on to a steamy scene in the men’s changing room (pun intended). The character’s emotions feel real, their struggles and consequent actions don't feel too far-fetched or agonising like I’ve seen in other books.

Amy Lea managed to send her message across beautifully, in my opinion. We know these are hot topics at the moment, but it still feels awesome to get some representation and how, even though body positivity is a fantastic movement, it can still be overwhelming and problematic.

This book is a masterpiece with loads of modern pop culture references, perfect for my millennial ass, and I can’t tell how good it feels to think that you could actually be the main character (minus the being fit part) in the romance you’re reading, rather than your typical "I’m-so-tiny-it-has-to-be-mentioned-in-every-single-chapter" character. WARNING: You’ll end up wanting to join the gym and find a Scott!

A perfect example of contemporary romance and self-acceptance. Lovely debut from Amy Lea and I can’t wait to read whatever she brings us next!

Firstly, thank you to Viking Books UK (Penguin General UK) and Amy Lea for allowing me to read Set On You ahead of its release.

Back in Dec 2021 when I created this account, I never imagined that books that were on my most anticipated reads of 2022 would be sent to me before their release! I am so so grateful.

I don’t even know where to start when talking about this book, do I start with the incredible slow burn, the endless banter, the Chris Evans look-a-like (who is a firefighter 😍) or our confident heroine, curvy Asian fitness influencer… also the steam… that bathtub scene if you know you know 🛁👀

I have pretty much convinced myself at this point that Set on You is the perfect book? I have not stopped thinking about it since I finished (which is ALWAYS a good sign!). The book highlights the insanely unattainable beauty standards that the world now has on us and it was so refreshing to read a book where the characters are relatable and there are no far-fetched scenarios. The most far-fetched this book was me thinking there are real-life men out there like Scott just wandering… where can I find one?⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

This was Amy’s first novel (as far as I am aware) and her voice is remarkable. The messages in this book were so well done. Are we going to get Tara’s love story? I sure hope so!!

Set On You is released May 12th 2022 in the UK.

TW: Cyberbullying, diet culture, cancer and racism.

This is a sweet, open door romance. Based around two individuals that use the gym. One of the characters is also an ‘influencer’. If you like romances you’ll like this book. Great debut.

AGHHHH!! Set On You is Amy Lea’s debut romcom!!
The main character, Crystal Chen, is a half Chinese, curvy gal and fitness influencer.

Scott Richie is Crystal’s gym nemesis, an evil, arrogant prick who purposely likes screwing with her (or so we thought, he’s a softie irl). The dynamic between the characters in this book is enviable. I love how Scotty is just helplessly attracted to Crystal and thinks she’s so cool, desperately wants to get to know her but doesn’t know how to go about it and ends up just seeming like an asshole.

When she finally relents and opens up to a friendship, Scotty does not shy away from all the flirting. When he liked all her Instagram posts and wasn’t the least bit embarrassed by it. *swoon* Also did I mention the fact that HE’S A FIREFIGHTER?!

Other than the fact he is NOT a Harry Potter fan but his dog’s name is Albus Doodledore 😩😩

This book has an amazing message of body respect and self-acceptance. You can really tell what kind of character Crystal is, and what the author is like.

The main characters family were a nice addition to the book. I liked how Crystal’s Grandma, Flo and Scott’s Grandpa, Martin, had a role to play of bringing the main characters together (and the fact they fall in love and get married at age 70!)

Also I very much appreciated the Peter Kavinsky (To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before) references 😩😩 Crystal Chen has taste, for sure.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in return for an honest review.

Set on you is a cute rom com that focuses on the relationship of fitness influencer Crystal Chen with a Scott, a firefighter who doesn’t make the best first impression when they meet at the gym. I really enjoyed the buildup of their relationship and felt they had good depth and chemistry. I also enjoyed the other relationships and characters in this book and could easily see and would enjoy further spin off books based on these characters. I also enjoyed the representation of beauty standards in the this book and it was refreshing to read from a different point of view. The reminder of practicing being kind and body acceptance is always worth repeating and was well written and promoted throughout this book.

Overall this book is a cute easy read romance that I would recommend for anyone looking for this type of book.

Oh I loved this book!!

I saw this on netgalley a few months ago, and knew I had to read it! So I was super happy when I go the email to say it was ready to read!

Set on you is a delightful romcom, with a hint of steam and lots of self love.

Starting of as gym rivals, curvy fitness guru Crystal and Chris evans-esqe firefighter Scott have some swoon worthy moments throughout the book. I just loved them both!

I felt like I could easily connect with Crystals thought process, as being a curvy girl I have felt similar before. I always find it therapeutic to read that others can feel the same way - and it is normal!

This book was a delight!

this is a solid 4.5 stars

thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Viking for this digital ARC! i’m so grateful that i got to read this

i urge you to check this out May 12th when it’s released here in the UK

i very rarely will request arcs because i’m such a mood reader and it really does mess with how i feel about the books if i’m not in the mood for them.
but god i loved Set On You!! the themes, the angst at the beginning of the book, the spice, scott’s dog! loved everything about this. i cant quite believe this is Amy Lea’s debut novel? and to come out with such a bang? i’m excited for what she’ll release next!

crystal is this super independent, curvy fitness influencer just doing her thing, minding her own business at the gym when scott, a firefighter, decides to steal her squat rack (the gumption) because he ‘didn’t see her stuff laying around’. the plot thickens when they both end up at the same family dinner to realise their grandparents are getting married. and they’re seated next to each other

i’d say this is really more of a friends to lovers, with a teeeeny tiny bit of enemies to lovers for the first 30-50 pages. their friendship was really cute, scott really has his moments, he’s quite genuine and caring and not to mention his dog, Albus, who i possibly love more than this book.

to me personally, crystal was very relatable. i loved her mentality regarding her body, fitness and self acceptance. this was my first time reading about a character that wasn’t the typical body shape we see in romance, nothing wrong with that ofc, just sometimes it’s nice to have some diversity. i really loved that she did not care for anyones opinion. i literally cried when she had her big revelation at the end, loved where it went thematically.

i can’t really recommend this one enough! Set on You is a great rom com, it’s funny, sexy, heartwarming and the message behind it all is so on point with today’s body positivity and body acceptance movement - and add some romance and you’ve got a genuinely great story that made me laugh during my commute into work. also cry. really really looking forward to whatever else Amy Lea puts out into the world!

This is my first ever gym romance book and it was definitely something I would love to read again. The family aspect was one of my favourite parts of the book and it definitely set up future novels for side characters who I really enjoyed reading scenes about. I also enjoyed the honest commentary on Western beauty standards and the darker side of sharing yourself on social media as part of your profession and think this was really well handled.

Some of the terminology/phrasing used - e.g. "Gym Bro Zone", "awko-taco", "GIF wars" was difficult to read - as a 25 year old myself, I struggled to imagine someone saying these sort of things at a similar age as me and consequently struggled to connect with Crystal and Scott. It felt more teenage vocabulary to me.

I also felt the relationship development was rushed and didn't really develop as an enemies-t0-lovers as I wanted it to. At first Scott seemed extremely rude and then they seemed to just fall into a natural rhythm without any actual slow build, and relied on a lot of miscommunication to create seemingly unnecessary angst. However, this may just be my personal preference in romance books as I enjoy more of a slow burn rather than an insta-love so this may be perfect for other readers.

Overall this is a promising debut novel by Amy Lea and I look forward to (hopefully) spinoffs of some of the side characters that I enjoyed seeing!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was an enjoyable read that was engaging, well written with a compelling plot and well developed characters that were believeable and likeable. I enjoyed the social media aspect of this book too and trhe trolling made me really angry, mainly because they exist and we can't do anything about them or the devastation that they cause. . I literally liked everything in this book except for wanting to shake Crystal and Scott at times due to their constant miscommunication.
I loved that the protagonist was a curvy girl too as we dont get as much representation in books as we should.
spicy, heartwarming and sometimes heartwrenching - I loved it.

I really liked the way this was written in first person perspective and with the glimpse into the main characters Instagram posts and the comment section. It was well done and I loved the way the author handled body positivity throughout the book. It was extremely realistic and reminded me of a couple I actually follow on TikTok when it comes to the main conflict and the comments she receives.

However there was just too much miscommunication for me, if they had had a couple of conversations early on a lot of what happened could have been avoided. Or a duel perspective would have helped this massively to at least understand his thoughts and feelings.

There was quite a few actions and events between the couple we were told about in a few sentences rather than written about in detail and I would have preferred those.

Firstly, and most importantly, I want to hire Crystal Chen as my personal trainer. This woman is a beast; she lifts like a boss, legitimately loves exercise and is supportive as heck. Second, this book is fire. Written wonderfully, filled with exciting and unique characters, self-respect, and a beautiful unfolding love.

Gym nemesis turned acquaintances turned soon-to-be in-laws turned friends turned something more. What more could you possibly ask for?

Crystal Chen is a curvy girl physical trainer influencer. She’s bold and confident, loving, sometimes insecure, supportive, and genuine. She built her career busting gym stereotypes and helping women feel happy within their minds and bodies. Scott Ritchie, a gym equipment thief, is a firefighter who seemed to know just how to automatically rub Crystal the wrong way (or the right way, depending on if your Crystal or the reader). They get off on the wrong foot, things escalate from there, jabs and barbs are thrown, and banter and phone theft escalate things to another level until they run into each other at their grandparent’s engagement party.

The bonding and relationship that follows were adorable; the banter was still there and top-level. Cheesy pick-up lines, fitness sessions, movie nights, breaking and entering, family dinners, every step was delicious and had my toes curling in excitement. Of course, there will be challenges within a relationship, and like always, it’s heart-breaking, but rest assured, this fantastic book has a beautiful happy ending that is worth the build-up and the heartache.

[Note to publisher: This review will be posted online on Goodreads, Storygraph and Amazon closer to publication per your request.]

Tropes: Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, wedding.

WHAT A FUN BOOK! If you liked The Love Hypothesis, you will definitely enjoy this! It is a super tropey (in the best way), slightly chaotic romance with a lot of heart.

Crystal is a fitness influencer on Instagram who is throwing herself into her work after a break up. When a grouchy man steals her equipment mid work out, the gym becomes a battleground for the pettiest back and forth ever seen. But when her gym-nemesis is introduced as her grandmother’s fiancé’s grandson, they are forced to spend more time together, and they find out that there is a very thin line between love and hate.

To be perfectly honest, I am not normally a fan of influencer-based romances. I don’t know why, but they never seem to work for me. This was definitely an exception! Crystal feels sincere and I loved how much she championed other women, from her close friends to those who followed her online. That is such a huge focus in this book – body positivity, neutrality and self-belief. Lea handles these topics, alongside the fatphobia and online abuse that comes with them, really well.

Scott is a fire fighter (which is an instant swoon from me) with a grumpy exterior but is really gentle underneath it. I’ve seen a few comments that this book is insta-love, but I would disagree. I think there is a lot of lust at the beginning (the chemistry between them is SO HIGH) as is often the case with enemies to lovers, but we then see that lust change over time to love. I really believed in their romance, and them as a couple. The spice was on point, but the fact there was no scene with the fire pole?? Missed opportunity.

As well as the romance, there are really strong friendship and family bonds in this story that I just LOVED! I wish we got to read more about the fire station (a duel POV would have been really good here), but I loved the wedding sub-plot between Crystal’s grandma and Scott’s Grandpa – teeth achingly sweet.

Just to add, I did have a few concerns about some of the language used (there was an occasion where PTSD was used as an adjective, for example). I reached out to the author and was told that if these were not cut in the final edit, they would be before the next batch of printing. It was obvious that it wasn’t intended negatively at all – just something to bear in mind if you get a copy from the first printing.

Overall, this was a really fun time. I demolished it in one sitting. Solid 4.5 rounded up!

Set On You was such a fun romcom, filled to the brim with pop culture references! The two main characters, Crystal and Scott, start off as 'gym nemeses', but their relationship quickly morphs into a friends-to-lovers situation. I loved the banter between Crystal and Scott (I always love reading texts/letters in books, and this has plenty of text - and GIF - exchanges), and how their relationship develops. The chemistry between the two was fiery from the start!

Despite their rocky start fighting over gym equipment, Scott becomes such a supportive presence in Crystal's life, and I love how he was so respectful of Crystal's boundaries, even though he was clearly smitten with her from day one! (The fact that he normally falls asleep during TV/movies, but is able to stay awake during Lord of the Rings marathons with Crystal says everything!) Crystal, on the other hand, a curvy, body positive, fitness Instagrammer, was a really relatable character, and I think the way she battled with trying to love her body while constantly dealing with negative comments about her weight was dealt with really well. This book also featured a whole host of charming secondary characters, including Tara, Crystal's sister, who's a bookstagrammer! Overall, this was a really fun read, and I feel weirdly inspired to go to the gym now, even though I prefer other forms of exercise!

(PS - Crystal meticuously peeling clementines and removing the pith for Scott? Goals!)


[Review will be posted to Instagram (@bookshelf.sketches) during the month of publication - will update this with the link]