** A copy of Set Piece was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **

Set Piece is the story of Cara, a production designer moonlighting as a bartender, and Jack, an up-and-coming British actor. This is a second-chance celebrity/normal person romance about work-life balance, taking chances and learning to evolve together.

Another solid offering from 831 Stories!

A snappy little story about a set designer and an actor who met once, 5 years ago, and are now fatefully brought back together on a remake of The Great Gatsby- and have to figure out how their lives work together, what they really want out of their careers, and if love is worth it!

This was cute, very fast paced (I mean skipping weeks or months ahead at a time between chapters level of fast-paced) and introspective. It had some great takes about what it means for a woman to succeed in show business, how instant fame can change your life and pull you along without much choice in the matter, and how important finding your people can be!!

Thank you so much to Lana Schwartz, 831 Stories, and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

I went into Set Piece only knowing it was coming from 831 Stories and had one heck of a great time. So, if you want to avoid any spoilers or trope information, let me just say - this is a picture perfect romance where you get actual character development and growth using some very well thought out time jumps in the span of only 160 pages. Set Piece is a novella to get anyone out of a reading slump.

If you're looking for the nitty-gritty - we have a hyper competent single mom, CJ, who is a Hollywood designer and a rising Hollywood star, Jack Felgate, who can't get her out of his head after a chance one night stand five years prior. Fear not, readers are treated right off the bat to some excellent spice in the recounting of the one night stand. Part second chance romance, a little grump-sunshine, all of this adds up to a great time.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to 831 Stories for an advanced copy.

I found this to be an extremely well done Hollywood Romance. I appreciated that it didn’t take standard plot line for the 3rd act break up and I’m really excited to read upcoming works from 831 stories.

Some books just make you feel good, and Set Piece did that for me. Lana Schwartz created characters that I genuinely liked and enjoyed spending time with. CJ in particular was a strong, independent female who knew how to get what she wanted. The level of spice was perfect, the setting was a character in-and-of-itself, and the story was propulsive.

The mix of personal growth, past regrets, and a love that refuses to fade makes this a truly heartwarming read.

I shouldn’t have requested this book, it was a mistake on my part but sometimes we need to be adventurous. I’ve been seeing these covers everywhere. There’s something mysterious about 831 stories because they don’t have much info on their instagram. I literally had to hunt down an article where the founders were interviewed. Anyway, I’m a lesbian who requested a straight romance book. I don’t enjoy straight romance. Maybe one day their imprint will publish one and I will be down to read it, or if it’s also any other flavor of queer. This book has its audience, it’s just not me. Their imprint is doing cool stuff though so make sure to check them out.

I really enjoyed this! Love a famous person-normal person romance and this was short and sweet! I’ve enjoyed 831 stories’ approach to romance novellas and this has been my favorite of theirs so far.
Thanks to Netgalley and 831 stories for the advanced reader copy for review!

5 🌟

I absolutely loved this!!

It’s not quiiiite a famous/normal person romance but close enough that it fell into that realm for me and I just adored Jack and CJ. I found the Hollywood aspect really interesting and it was such a treat to spend 150 pages in California.

I thought the pacing here was excellent and while I am always clamoring for an epilogue, it felt like a really complete story despite being on the short side (as all 831 Stories have been so far).

831 is really changing my perception of “novellas” and I adored this as much as a typical length romance. Per usual, the spice was excellent, the emotional depth was there…they can do no wrong.

Last take: Jack 🥰🥰🥰

Really enjoying 831 novellas! This was another solid read, I enjoyed the time jump and character growth / depth especially at this length.

3.5 ⭐️ The 831 novellas are fun and quick romantic reads! The chemistry is always great which is impressive when the stories are short.

I didn’t read the full synopsis on the story so I was actually pleasantly surprised with the time jump. While their first hookup was definitely spicy it felt very sudden, but hey they were in their 20s. So seeing them when they were older and having to navigate their relationship and work dynamic was nice.

They both worked in the cinematic industry, Jack as a A-list actor and her in production design. While I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the behind the scenes of movies, there was wayyy too many movie references. If you are a big movie buff or in the industry - this is the book for you. It was the basis for the characters love connection but did nothing for me but roll my eyes at another movie title name drop.

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for this ARC, love reading these quick novellas and look forward to more of this publishers stories!

Maybe my favourite 831 yet? I devoured this one, what a joy. And the Mischief easter egg, a gift for us all!

THIS WAS FANTASTIC!

I read Big Fan and devoured it! This was even better. A bartender and famous (British) actor have a chance meeting and then find each other in their lives 5 years later. That synopsis is an oversimplification because it is so much better than that.

Love this novella format so much - will be reading more of them when they come out! I had the best time.


Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

I devoured this in one sitting! What a treat it was to meet and spend time with CJ and Jack. 5 years after a steamy one night stand, these two reconnect on the set of a movie they're both working on. Trying to find their way with their lives while falling in love left me with lots of smiles but also pride at their growth in less than 200 pages. The movie references and behind the scenes views into making a movie made me love this one even more!

Oh, 831 Stories! You’ve done it again. This novella, “Set Piece”, has just the right dose of romance and spice! From the moment that Cara and Jack met, I was hooked. This story was tender and witty with a dash of old Hollywood banter that I enjoyed immensely!

NetGalley and 831 Stories, thank you for my ARC of Set Piece in exchange for my honest review.

actual rating: 2.75. this was a delightful romp of a story. i liked the characters and the plot. i just wished that the book was longer. yes, i do understand what a novella is. however, i feel like this story could be a million times better if it was longer so the characters and story could grow more. also fuck third act breakups.

A hot new novella has entered the 831 Stories villa! After loving Big Fan I have been gobbling up every new release from this new romance imprint chasing that same high. Well consider this cinephile officially wooed by Set Piece a charming romance set in the film world of La La Land. I loved the setup of a newly famous Brit riding the upward momentum of a steamy BBC hit (so Paul Mescal coded) with a production designer supplementing the ebb and flow of film jobs bartending. After a hot night together the two part ways until 5 years later… where they just happen to be working on the same Gatsby remake and the chemistry is as palpable as ever.

I loved that the two leads are both in their mid-30s and had clearly defined personalities. My big gripe with dual POV is that they so often lack delineation between one character and another. If I’m being given front row seats to a protagonist’s inner thoughts, it should feel convincing, and not just a plot device to shoehorn in some pretty but ultimately generic yearning and/or lusting. Both CJ and Jack felt believable, their insecurities and desires felt genuine and specific to their characters, and most importantly I rooted for them! Loved that the relationship was also given space to grow and deepen as well, something you often miss in romances set over a span of days or weeks. I also appreciated the film references scattered throughout - as a card carrying member of the Jacques Demy fan club, any and all shoutouts to The Umbrellas of Cherbourg are going to be appreciated by moi.

Seek this one in May!

I really liked this novella. I thought the setting was so unique and I loved their meet cute. I thought they were both fully formed adults which I really appreciated.

This book was so cute! If you grew up reading fan fiction on Wattpad, then 831 stories are for you! I’m not usually one for second chance Romances but this one checked all the boxes!

a film bro’s wet dream.

besides the constant movie title name dropping— yes, from the umbrellas of cherbourg to the muppet movie— this ‘modern romance’ was weak in every single way.

the entire premise hinges on a one night stand, as the two meet again 5 years later, but the connection from the first night is completely one-dimensional & unbelievable. there’s no way the author expects us to really believe they remembered each other yearssss later after their first encounter. the entire thing— from start to finish, was like 5 mins. for an entire plot & relationship to be built from one night, you better make that shit believable & truly life CHANGING.

besides the romance falling flat, the characters were just as bad. no depth. we’re just supposed to take the author’s word for it that they’re in love and pining after each other for all these years. yawn. show don’t tell, please for the love of god.

also the big production/movie that both main characters work on being the great gatsby was the most heavy handed try at a metaphor i’ve seen in a long time. no subtlety. hateeeeeed that. stop thinking and writing like your reader is unintelligent & needs to be force fed everything!!!

thanks to the publisher & netgalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review, but this maaayyy be one you want to skip.