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Beyond the Setup
Not yet published
Expected 9 Mar 26After escaping a toxic marriage, Nessa has finally put the pieces of her life back together with only one goal in mind- protect her daughter, Emma, at all costs. A second chance at love is a risk she can no longer afford.
Until her best friend, Nora, convinces her to go on a blind date with Peter.
Kind, steady, and just the right amount of nerdy, Peter sees the woman beneath the scars and challenges Nessa to believe in a future she thought was impossible. But as her past refuses to stay buried and a new happiness dawns, Nessa is forced to confront the one person who threatens to shatter her fragile new life- herself. Okay… two people- herself and her volatile ex, Matthew.
Can she find the courage to trust Peter and his promises or will the ghosts of her past force her to cling to the life she is desperate to escape?
Until her best friend, Nora, convinces her to go on a blind date with Peter.
Kind, steady, and just the right amount of nerdy, Peter sees the woman beneath the scars and challenges Nessa to believe in a future she thought was impossible. But as her past refuses to stay buried and a new happiness dawns, Nessa is forced to confront the one person who threatens to shatter her fragile new life- herself. Okay… two people- herself and her volatile ex, Matthew.
Can she find the courage to trust Peter and his promises or will the ghosts of her past force her to cling to the life she is desperate to escape?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 9, 2026
47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 16, 2026
Such a fantastic representation of being a mom and handling hard situations to make life better for your kids! Also, the MMC IS a cinnamon roll that MAKES cinnamon rolls and I love him 😭
January 15, 2026
This book is definitely a cute short book for when you need a pick me up. There is slight mention of DV but other than that it’s such a cute romance. All the characters are so cute especially the babies. Love the couple together.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beyond the Setup by Nikki Witt
What its About: After escaping a toxic marriage, Nessa has finally put the pieces of her life back together with only one goal in mind- protect her daughter, Emma, at all costs. A second chance at love is a risk she can no longer afford.
Until her best friend, Nora, convinces her to go on a blind date with Peter.
Kind, steady, and just the right amount of nerdy, Peter sees the woman beneath the scars and challenges Nessa to believe in a future she thought was impossible. But as her past refuses to stay buried and a new happiness dawns, Nessa is forced to confront the one person who threatens to shatter her fragile new life- herself. Okay… two people- herself and her volatile ex, Matthew.
Can she find the courage to trust Peter and his promises or will the ghosts of her past force her to cling to the life she is desperate to escape?
My Thoughts: 3.5-4/5 stars. Cute, contemporary romance with portrayal of a strong single mom in the face of prior domestic violence. Nessa is the epitome of a fantastic single mom just trying to do what is best for her child and putting her happiness second. I loved watching her in her journey to finding out she can be a good mom but also allow herself to want things. Peter, I honestly can't say enough about him. He is such a sweet man and how immediately loves Emma and is so protective of Nessa melts my heart. That being said he is almost a little too perfect. I wanted a little bit to be wrong and to have some of his flaws shown. I enjoyed the book and the message behind it a lot but I think there could have been a little more depth to the characters. I can't wait to see the rest of the series come out and im really hoping for some love for Andrew!
Spice rating: 🌶. Closed door spice. Here is another spot i wanted more from. If you are a fan of closed door spice with just a hint of what could be going on then this is the book for you!
I want to thank @nikkiwittauthor for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! All of these thoughts and opinions are my own!
#singlemom #domesticviolence #arcreader #nerdymmc
What its About: After escaping a toxic marriage, Nessa has finally put the pieces of her life back together with only one goal in mind- protect her daughter, Emma, at all costs. A second chance at love is a risk she can no longer afford.
Until her best friend, Nora, convinces her to go on a blind date with Peter.
Kind, steady, and just the right amount of nerdy, Peter sees the woman beneath the scars and challenges Nessa to believe in a future she thought was impossible. But as her past refuses to stay buried and a new happiness dawns, Nessa is forced to confront the one person who threatens to shatter her fragile new life- herself. Okay… two people- herself and her volatile ex, Matthew.
Can she find the courage to trust Peter and his promises or will the ghosts of her past force her to cling to the life she is desperate to escape?
My Thoughts: 3.5-4/5 stars. Cute, contemporary romance with portrayal of a strong single mom in the face of prior domestic violence. Nessa is the epitome of a fantastic single mom just trying to do what is best for her child and putting her happiness second. I loved watching her in her journey to finding out she can be a good mom but also allow herself to want things. Peter, I honestly can't say enough about him. He is such a sweet man and how immediately loves Emma and is so protective of Nessa melts my heart. That being said he is almost a little too perfect. I wanted a little bit to be wrong and to have some of his flaws shown. I enjoyed the book and the message behind it a lot but I think there could have been a little more depth to the characters. I can't wait to see the rest of the series come out and im really hoping for some love for Andrew!
Spice rating: 🌶. Closed door spice. Here is another spot i wanted more from. If you are a fan of closed door spice with just a hint of what could be going on then this is the book for you!
I want to thank @nikkiwittauthor for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! All of these thoughts and opinions are my own!
#singlemom #domesticviolence #arcreader #nerdymmc
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ok… Where do I start? I have so many thoughts going through my head right now. I pretty much walked into this book blind. I had read the blurb for it but it was so long ago that I had no idea what the story was going to be about. I thought I was going to get a light, cutesie rom-com but no. Don’t get me wrong! There was tons of romance and plenty of comedy but there was so much more depth. The book dealt with some really heavy topics amongst the fun which added so much more character to the story. Peter was such a cinnamon roll!! I fell in love with him instantly. He was adorable, so freaking sweet and when he hurt, I hurt. I also felt for N. Even though I may not have experienced the same exact situations as the book characters, I had a really easy time relating to them. I smiled, I yelled, I almost cried, I laughed, my heart shattered, I gasped. I almost threw my iPad across the room at one point.
Watching N come out of a really bad place but working her way through it and into an amazing place was so satisfying. And while Peter definitely helped, she was adamant that she make things better on her own, for herself and her daughter. She became stronger and more independent. The book held my interest throughout! Once I picked it up I didn’t want to stop reading. I blew through it in two days, staying up until 3am to finish. Witt is a fantastic writer and this is a book I’d recommend to anyone and I will absolutely, without a doubt, be reading more from her. Thanks to the author for allowing me an arc!
Watching N come out of a really bad place but working her way through it and into an amazing place was so satisfying. And while Peter definitely helped, she was adamant that she make things better on her own, for herself and her daughter. She became stronger and more independent. The book held my interest throughout! Once I picked it up I didn’t want to stop reading. I blew through it in two days, staying up until 3am to finish. Witt is a fantastic writer and this is a book I’d recommend to anyone and I will absolutely, without a doubt, be reading more from her. Thanks to the author for allowing me an arc!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I closed Beyond the Setup by Nicki Witt with a deep sense of appreciation. The novel thoughtfully explores second chances, love after hardship, motherhood, spousal abuse, selfishness, and the quiet strength found in genuine devotion. The story remains grounded and believable throughout, unfolding with care and emotional honesty.
Peter stands out as a remarkable character and quickly became my favorite. He gives fully to his relationship, steps naturally into a father figure role for a young girl seeking stability, and shows that parenthood is defined by presence, care, and consistency rather than biology. His patience, empathy, and steady support add real depth and credibility to the love story.
The writing feels natural and confident, making the reading experience engaging from start to close. The emotional moments are earned, the relationships feel authentic, and the story offers both comfort and reflection. I walked away grateful for the journey and genuinely eager to see what comes next.
Peter stands out as a remarkable character and quickly became my favorite. He gives fully to his relationship, steps naturally into a father figure role for a young girl seeking stability, and shows that parenthood is defined by presence, care, and consistency rather than biology. His patience, empathy, and steady support add real depth and credibility to the love story.
The writing feels natural and confident, making the reading experience engaging from start to close. The emotional moments are earned, the relationships feel authentic, and the story offers both comfort and reflection. I walked away grateful for the journey and genuinely eager to see what comes next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beyond the Setup introduces Nessa, a mid-twenties single mother, as she puts the pieces of her life back together after fleeing an abusive relationship. During a mandated weekend when her one-year-old daughter is away, Nessa’s best friend, Nora, convinces her to go on a blind date. Cue Peter, an introverted game developer who has never had a deep connection with someone…not until Nessa.
Throughout Beyond the Setup, Witt writes with an ease that is both engaging and heartfelt. I was rooting for Nessa and her daughter from the very first page and swooning over Peter, the epitome of kindness and compassion. I couldn’t put this book down.
Beyond the Setup is a story of resilience, healing, and the power of love.
Beyond the Setup comes out on March 9, 2026—mark your calendars!
Throughout Beyond the Setup, Witt writes with an ease that is both engaging and heartfelt. I was rooting for Nessa and her daughter from the very first page and swooning over Peter, the epitome of kindness and compassion. I couldn’t put this book down.
Beyond the Setup is a story of resilience, healing, and the power of love.
Beyond the Setup comes out on March 9, 2026—mark your calendars!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was such a cute love story and I absolutely devoured it. There were very serious parts and some traumatic flashbacks, but the two main characters meshed from the first time that they met on their blind date. I really enjoyed reading this story. It was written very well.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews