The Setup

Pure joy.

That's what you get from one of Lizzy's stories.

I really enjoyed The Summer Job so when I was given access to her latest novel, I knew I was in for a treat.

The Setup follows our protagonist Mara as she embarks on a few changes in her life.

Driven by her horoscopes and the idea of fate, she is thrown of course when a certain flat mate of hers sends her into a spin.

Question is, will Mara follow her head or her heart?

Brilliant from start to finish.

This is a story made for easy reading and leaving you with a smile on your face.

A quirky cast of characters with conversations that I guarantee will have you laughing, The Setup was just the thing that I didn't even know I needed.

Bursting to the seems with love and humour, I was quite literally entertained from start to finish.

I predict this to be one of the books to read this summer!

Let me just start by saying that I absolutely adored this book!
I was a big fan of The Summer Job and because of this, I had big expectations and The Setup certainly lived up to and even exceeded these.
First of all, I could see a lot of myself in the character of Mara. I too adore films and have probably made my life a lot smaller than it should be just because it feels safer than putting myself out there, especially when it comes to friendships and romantic relationships.
The whole idea of a love triangle of sorts but with someone who doesn't even know who you are was an interesting one and I hadn't read anything like that before.
I may not share her obsession with horoscopes and astrology but this was unique addition to the romance element of the story. And just Mara's story in general.
I really loved all of the supporting characters and Ash was just such a lovely love interest, even if I did feel bad for him at times in terms of how Mara treated him when she wasn't sure if he was 'the one' or whether she should meet up with Josef.
I also really liked that this was about stepping out of your comfort zone and making your life bigger in terms of your friendships, relationships, work and more, in what happens to be her external and internal 'Mara makeover'.
It was nice to see the growth of her as a character but with the realistic aspects of self doubt, self sabotage and other realities creeping in.
The Setup really did make me smile and I had to highlight quite a few lines as they were so relatable.
If you're looking for a great book to pick up this summer, this is it.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This lovely romcom combines the elements of astrology and romance, which to me is the perfect combo! I loved the main character and her quest to find her true love.

What a fantastic summer read. I had heard good things about this book and it certainly did not disappoint.
The main character Mara was brilliant and she really grew throughout the book.
It’s a fun read with relationships and romance thrown in too. A must read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review. It was an absolute pleasure to read this exciting book.

I love love loved Mara! Such a complex and emotional character! Completely different to so many female leads.

There was so much to enjoy in this book, the friendships, the town, the romance, I just adored it all.

Such a fantastic read, highly recommended! 5*