Set on You

“I've officially designated him my gym-nemesis.”
Synopsis
Crystal is a plus-sized fitness influencer on Instagram and a personal trainer. A new guy joins the gym she works out of and in their first interactions she is annoyed at him for violating gym etiquette. They trade barbs for a few months, leading to a very sexually charged situation. After which, they bump into each other outside of the gym for the first time - at their grandparent's engagement dinner (his grandad, her grandma).

They soon become friends and admit their mutual attraction, but Crystal is concerned about the potential fallout on their joining families if things don't work out.

“‘If I don't kiss you in five seconds, I'm gonna lose it,' he tells me in a low whisper.”
Tropes & Themes

• Forced proximity
• Delayed gratification
• He falls first
• Body image & self-esteem

“Scott's cult-leader-level charisma makes me want to drink all his Kool-Aid and bend some rules.”

Diversity & Representation

• Biracial protagonist
• Plus-sized protagonist

“I still have days where I don't love everything about myself. It's normal.”

My Thoughts

• I've seen this touted as enemies-to-lovers, but it's not really. Crystal considers Scott her nemesis for the first few chapters but the attraction is instant & mutual, they become friends very quickly and once they are friendly the MMC makes his interest in a relationship very clear, so it's more delayed gratification and forced proximity IMO.
• I liked the curvy-girl rep, Crystal's journey from body positivity to more balanced body acceptance and the acknowledgement that positivity culture (especially on social media) can be toxic and unhelpful just like body shaming can be. The book doesn't go too deep on this as it's ultimately a light romance, but it is discussed.
• Scott is possibly a little too perfect/good. Despite clearly being modelled on the beautiful Chris Evans (no secret is made of this, it's hinted at quite clearly several times), he was missing something for me. He wasn't objectionable in any way, but he was missing that extra something for me to make him into one of those memorable book boyfriends (IYKYK).
• I loved Grandma Flo, she was a riot, and definitely my favourite character.
• The third-act conflict was, I felt, mostly Crystal's fault and as with many romance novel third-act conflicts could have been prevented by just talking honestly (and listening) to each other.
• I often find grand gestures and declarations in order to win someone back cringy and cheesy, but this one I thought was quite sweet.

“ ‘By the way, this wasn't a date in any way, shape or form,” I remind him. ‘It's simply an apology sorbet outing between two former strangers, turned nemeses, turned acquaintances whose grandparents are getting married. A truce.' ”