Reviews with content warning for Misogyny - Set on You

⭐️⭐️/5

Generally I really like books that have mid-sized or plus-sized women in them, and I genuinely thought I would enjoy a book where the message is fitness at any size, but I honestly did not enjoy this book. I've started taking notes while I read so I can remember things I liked or disliked or made me feel a strong emotion and this book had plenty but not in a good way. My review is coming as a plus sized women for context.

This book seemed to want us to think Crystal had a good relationship with her body and while there is a moment where she has to

reckon with her relationship with the body positivity movement

it just felt too much like Crystal was trying to convince herself and us that she loved her body. She only had straight-sized friends and it felt like she was the #fatfriend which is a trope I hate.

First, I found the pop culture references awful and way too current to when Amy Lea wrote this book that they were already outdated, also this book is not old enough for the Harry Potter References to be okay, it makes me call into question whether or not this author is a HP fan which is a big 🚩 to me. I also did NOT like the way Crystal spoke at times, her use of AAVE, including words like ratchet and busted-ass weave were not appropriate for a non-black character in a book with no black main characters written by a non-black author.

Second, I found it almost impossible to root for Scott and Crystal's relationship. I find it wildly unappealing when men continue to pursue women when they tell them no; we are getting this book from Crystal's perspective so we know she is actually interested in Scott but his "macho" attitude was not appealing and leaned too much into stereotypical gender roles, especially when Crystal kept criticizing her Grandmother for her old-fashioned opinions on relationships. I also did not like when

Crystal had to apologize to Scott for things that were not her fault at all and she got support from those around her

. To me it felt like all of the side characters thought Scott was the best Crystal could do and that she NEEDED him and that he could do no wrong, even people who should have supported her like

her sister and client turned friend

. The

social media drama was also not for me, they both should simply have not posted the things they did; she was naive to post a pic of them and he was ridiculous for replying to comments.

Lastly, on the social media theme, her posts being Instagram posts did not make sense to me, long captions like that just do not work on Instagram, they make more sense as blog or Facebook posts, which I was glad to see

she switched to after the drama happened

.

I just really did not enjoy this book and I took her follow up off my 2023 TBR.

Content Warnings

kfmcf's review

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emotional lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I really loved the last act of this book. The message about body-acceptance and struggling with social media was really well done. Crystal had her ups and downs as a character in terms of likeability but I appreciated her a lot in the last 50ish pages.

However, this book is a bit of a slog. It's not that I didn't enjoy it but boy is the pacing wonky. It takes a while to get into and then it just doesn't have a lot of momentum in the middle. They have an agreement to "not touch" and then the next chapter they're dicking around in a bathtub. At least have a chapter for padding in the middle.
Don't get me wrong, I like slow burns, but this one tried to be both and enemies-to-lovers AND slow burn AND no-touch-pact AND etc etc. I wish I had just spent the time dedicating to fewer and nailing them.

I also really didn't like Scott. He was a small minded jerk and didn't communicate anything. There was a lot of criticism of geek culture and non-jock hobbies which I did not appreciate. People are allowed to not like things but they *literally* talked about "not yucking someone's yum" (barf on that phrase) and they did it anyway.
Also the side characters were pretty unlikable as well which bums me out. Side characters are one of my favorite parts of rom coms and Mel didn't like Crystal feel her emotions which is toxic af and the parents and grandparent were problemstic. I wish we saw more of the firehouse guys or people from the gym.
Tara was the best of the lot so I will most likely read the follow up.

The writing was fine, easy to read but maybe not too exciting. I think a lot of this comes down to editing (which Jove is so hit or miss on).

Content Warnings

inkdrinkers's review

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funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Lord, all I'm asking is for a man like Scott Richie.

I read this book cover to cover. When I started chapter one, I was in a CAR DEALERSHIP forcing myself to contain squeals of delight. That was the moment I knew this book would fly so far past five stars it would go into space territory.

Crystal Chen is a curvy fitstagrammer who is all about loving yourself and being kind to your body. When she happens to meet a mysterious stranger at her gym who steals her equipment (it was totally her's, who moves a cellphone and headphones off equipment???), she swears up and down he's her nemesis. Except he's a hot firefighter and she's got it BAD.

There is too much to say about this book. I loved Crystal and Scott, I loved the inclusion of Crystal's Instagram posts, and I loved how every member of her family reminded me of my own. The growth that Crystal undergoes punched me in the gut, without spoiling anything, it was something I needed to read - then go back and read again.

Scott's character was so refreshing for a romcom, I'm absolutely obsessed with how mature and kind he was. There wasn't a single moment in the book where I questioned him or his motives and that was such a welcome change from some of the walking red flag book boyfriends. He's the man you bring home to your mother and then who treats you to a nice sorbet because you're lactose intolerant. What a dream man tbh.

Amy Lea, please, for me and everyone else out there, never stop writing. You could publish recipes on how to make oatmeal and I'd absolutely devour them. I am so excited for Tara and Trevor's story, and even more excited about what comes afterwards. (And if I can make another shameless request, keep writing plus sized characters that make me feel so seen and so worthy of love.)

Content Warnings

bookwormbullet's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

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Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Set on You by Amy Lea

antidietleah's review against another edition

lucyanna's review against another edition

faithratesbooks's review against another edition

jackiepreston's review

thecosiestchapter's review

analenegrace's review

kfmcf's review

inkdrinkers's review

bookwormbullet's review