diff --git a/include/matador/orm/session.hpp b/include/matador/orm/session.hpp
index 9a8d782..4eaa295 100644
--- a/include/matador/orm/session.hpp
+++ b/include/matador/orm/session.hpp
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ utils::result<object::object_ptr<Type>, utils::error> session::update(const obje
 
   const auto col = table_column(it->second.node().info().primary_key_attribute()->name());
   auto res = matador::query::query::update(it->second.name())
-    .set(generator::column_value_pairs<Type>())
+    .set<Type>()
     .where(col == _)
     .prepare(*this);
   if (!res) {
diff --git a/include/matador/query/criteria/abstract_column_criteria.hpp b/include/matador/query/criteria/abstract_column_criteria.hpp
index bf14770..1947f5c 100644
--- a/include/matador/query/criteria/abstract_column_criteria.hpp
+++ b/include/matador/query/criteria/abstract_column_criteria.hpp
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ public:
     [[nodiscard]] const table_column& col() const;
 
 protected:
-    const table_column& column_;
+    table_column column_;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/include/matador/query/criteria/binary_criteria.hpp b/include/matador/query/criteria/binary_criteria.hpp
index 61c4482..4fe28ea 100644
--- a/include/matador/query/criteria/binary_criteria.hpp
+++ b/include/matador/query/criteria/binary_criteria.hpp
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ private:
 class binary_column_criteria final : public abstract_criteria {
 public:
     binary_column_criteria() = delete;
-    binary_column_criteria(const table_column& left_column, binary_operator operand, const table_column& right_column);
+    binary_column_criteria(table_column  left_column, binary_operator operand, table_column  right_column);
 
     void accept(criteria_visitor& visitor) const override;
 
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ public:
     [[nodiscard]] const table_column& right_column() const;
 
 private:
-    const table_column& left_column_;
+    table_column left_column_;
     binary_operator operator_{};
-    const table_column& right_column_;
+    table_column right_column_;
 };
 }
 #endif //CRITERIA_BINARY_CRITERIA_NODE_HPP
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/include/matador/query/expression/column_expression.hpp b/include/matador/query/expression/column_expression.hpp
index 1f6bcb5..eecf901 100644
--- a/include/matador/query/expression/column_expression.hpp
+++ b/include/matador/query/expression/column_expression.hpp
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ public:
     template<typename Type, typename = std::enable_if_t<std::is_convertible_v<Type, utils::database_type>>>
     column_expression(Type&& value)
     : column_expression(std::make_unique<value_expression>(std::forward<Type>(value))){
-
     }
+    column_expression(utils::placeholder p);
     column_expression(const column_expression&) = delete;
     column_expression& operator=(const column_expression&) = delete;
     column_expression(column_expression&&) noexcept = default;
diff --git a/include/matador/query/expression/table_column_expression.hpp b/include/matador/query/expression/table_column_expression.hpp
index 26bdf60..2155965 100644
--- a/include/matador/query/expression/table_column_expression.hpp
+++ b/include/matador/query/expression/table_column_expression.hpp
@@ -8,14 +8,14 @@ namespace matador::query {
 class table_column_expression : public abstract_column_expression {
 public:
   table_column_expression() = delete;
-  explicit table_column_expression(const table_column& col);
+  explicit table_column_expression(table_column col);
 
   void accept(expression_visitor& visitor) const override;
 
   [[nodiscard]] const table_column& col() const;
 
 private:
-  const table_column& column_;
+  table_column column_;
 };
 }
 #endif //MATADOR_TABLE_COLUMN_EXPRESSION_HPP
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/include/matador/query/expression_evaluator.hpp b/include/matador/query/expression_evaluator.hpp
index 60b32f6..61b318f 100644
--- a/include/matador/query/expression_evaluator.hpp
+++ b/include/matador/query/expression_evaluator.hpp
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ public:
     void visit(const value_expression& node) override;
     void visit(const placeholder_expression& node) override;
 
+    const std::string& result() const;
+
 private:
     const sql::dialect &dialect_;
     sql::query_context &query_;
diff --git a/include/matador/query/generator.hpp b/include/matador/query/generator.hpp
index 9e437b1..ec26449 100644
--- a/include/matador/query/generator.hpp
+++ b/include/matador/query/generator.hpp
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ public:
       result_.clear();
       access::process(*this, obj);
 
-      return result_;
+      return std::move(result_);
   }
 
   template < class V >
diff --git a/include/matador/query/intermediates/query_update_intermediate.hpp b/include/matador/query/intermediates/query_update_intermediate.hpp
index 417bb8f..ce59abf 100644
--- a/include/matador/query/intermediates/query_update_intermediate.hpp
+++ b/include/matador/query/intermediates/query_update_intermediate.hpp
@@ -5,30 +5,35 @@
 #include "matador/query/intermediates/query_set_intermediate.hpp"
 
 #include "matador/query/expression/column_expression.hpp"
-#include "matador/query/key_value_generator.hpp"
+#include "matador/query/generator.hpp"
 
 #include "matador/query/internal/column_value_pair.hpp"
 
 namespace matador::query {
-
+namespace internal {
+class query_set_part;
+}
 class query_update_intermediate : public executable_query {
 public:
   explicit query_update_intermediate(const table& tab);
 
-  // query_set_intermediate set(std::initializer_list<internal::column_value_pair> columns);
-  // query_set_intermediate set(std::vector<internal::column_value_pair> &&columns);
   query_update_intermediate& set(const table_column& col, column_expression&& expression);
   template<class Type>
   query_set_intermediate set(const Type &obj) {
-    return set(key_value_generator::generate(obj));
+    return set(generator::column_value_pairs(obj));
+  }
+  template<class Type>
+  query_set_intermediate set() {
+    return set(generator::column_value_pairs<Type>());
   }
   query_execute_where_intermediate where(std::unique_ptr<abstract_criteria> cond);
 
 private:
   query_execute_where_intermediate where_clause(std::unique_ptr<abstract_criteria> &&cond);
+  query_set_intermediate set(std::vector<internal::column_value_pair> &&key_value_pairs);
 
 private:
-  std::vector<internal::column_value_pair> key_value_pairs_;
+  internal::query_set_part* query_set_part_{nullptr};
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/include/matador/query/internal/column_value_pair.hpp b/include/matador/query/internal/column_value_pair.hpp
index 858f7ad..41219e3 100644
--- a/include/matador/query/internal/column_value_pair.hpp
+++ b/include/matador/query/internal/column_value_pair.hpp
@@ -11,10 +11,13 @@ namespace matador::query::internal {
 
 class column_value_pair {
 public:
+  column_value_pair() = default;
   // column_value_pair(table_column col, utils::database_type value);
   // column_value_pair(const std::string& name, utils::database_type value);
   // column_value_pair(const char *name, utils::database_type value);
   // column_value_pair(const char *name, utils::placeholder p);
+  column_value_pair(column_value_pair&& x) = default;
+  column_value_pair& operator=(column_value_pair&& x) = default;
   column_value_pair(table_column col, column_expression_ptr expression);
 
   friend bool operator==(const column_value_pair &lhs, const column_value_pair &rhs);
diff --git a/include/matador/query/query_builder.hpp b/include/matador/query/query_builder.hpp
index 20b2058..6e63d0a 100644
--- a/include/matador/query/query_builder.hpp
+++ b/include/matador/query/query_builder.hpp
@@ -83,8 +83,10 @@ protected:
 
   static std::string build_table_name(sql::dialect_token token, const sql::dialect &d, const table& t);
   static std::string build_table_name(const sql::dialect &d, const table& t);
+  static std::string determine_value(const sql::dialect &d, sql::query_context& ctx, const abstract_column_expression &exp);
   static std::string determine_value(value_visitor &visitor, const std::variant<utils::placeholder, utils::database_type> &val);
 
+
   [[nodiscard]] std::string build_add_constraint_string(const table_constraint& c) const;
   [[nodiscard]] std::string build_drop_constraint_string(const table_constraint& c) const;
   static std::string build_constraint_name(const table_constraint& c);
diff --git a/include/matador/query/table_column.hpp b/include/matador/query/table_column.hpp
index b082616..fe9bafd 100644
--- a/include/matador/query/table_column.hpp
+++ b/include/matador/query/table_column.hpp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ class table;
 // ReSharper disable CppNonExplicitConvertingConstructor
 class table_column {
 public:
+  table_column() = default;
   table_column(const char *name); // NOLINT(*-explicit-constructor)
   table_column(const std::string& name); // NOLINT(*-explicit-constructor)
   table_column(const std::string& name, const std::string& alias);
diff --git a/source/orm/query/criteria/binary_criteria.cpp b/source/orm/query/criteria/binary_criteria.cpp
index d8bcc18..4014d7e 100644
--- a/source/orm/query/criteria/binary_criteria.cpp
+++ b/source/orm/query/criteria/binary_criteria.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ const criteria_value& binary_criteria::value() const {
   return value_;
 }
 
-binary_column_criteria::binary_column_criteria(const table_column& left_column, const binary_operator operand, const table_column& right_column)
+binary_column_criteria::binary_column_criteria(table_column  left_column, const binary_operator operand, table_column  right_column)
 : left_column_(std::move(left_column))
 , operator_(operand)
 , right_column_(std::move(right_column)){}
diff --git a/source/orm/query/expression/column_expression.cpp b/source/orm/query/expression/column_expression.cpp
index 36caa77..a0fbfed 100644
--- a/source/orm/query/expression/column_expression.cpp
+++ b/source/orm/query/expression/column_expression.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ namespace matador::query {
 column_expression::column_expression(column_expression_ptr expr) noexcept
 : expression_(std::move(expr)) {}
 
+column_expression::column_expression(utils::placeholder /*p*/)
+: expression_(std::make_unique<placeholder_expression>()){
+}
+
 bool column_expression::empty() const noexcept {
   return !expression_;
 }
diff --git a/source/orm/query/expression/table_column_expression.cpp b/source/orm/query/expression/table_column_expression.cpp
index efb8fcc..6f8a29c 100644
--- a/source/orm/query/expression/table_column_expression.cpp
+++ b/source/orm/query/expression/table_column_expression.cpp
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 #include "matador/query/expression/expression_visitor.hpp"
 
 namespace matador::query {
-table_column_expression::table_column_expression(const table_column& col)
-: column_(col){
+table_column_expression::table_column_expression(table_column col)
+: column_(std::move(col)){
 }
 
 void table_column_expression::accept(expression_visitor &visitor) const {
diff --git a/source/orm/query/expression_evaluator.cpp b/source/orm/query/expression_evaluator.cpp
index 646f0ea..be33c00 100644
--- a/source/orm/query/expression_evaluator.cpp
+++ b/source/orm/query/expression_evaluator.cpp
@@ -54,4 +54,8 @@ void expression_evaluator::visit(const placeholder_expression& /*node*/) {
   query_.bind_vars.emplace_back(std::string("value_") + std::to_string(query_.bind_vars.size() + 1));
   expression_.append(dialect_.next_placeholder(query_.bind_vars));
 }
+
+const std::string& expression_evaluator::result() const {
+  return expression_;
+}
 }
diff --git a/source/orm/query/intermediates/query_update_intermediate.cpp b/source/orm/query/intermediates/query_update_intermediate.cpp
index 955f472..1fd4f65 100644
--- a/source/orm/query/intermediates/query_update_intermediate.cpp
+++ b/source/orm/query/intermediates/query_update_intermediate.cpp
@@ -9,21 +9,20 @@ query_update_intermediate::query_update_intermediate(const table& tab) {
   context_->parts.push_back(std::make_unique<internal::query_update_part>(tab));
 }
 
-// query_set_intermediate query_update_intermediate::set(const std::initializer_list<internal::column_value_pair> columns) {
-  // return set(std::vector<internal::column_value_pair>{columns});
-// }
-
-// query_set_intermediate query_update_intermediate::set(std::vector<internal::column_value_pair> &&columns) {
-  // context_->parts.push_back(std::make_unique<internal::query_set_part>(std::move(columns)));
-  // return {context_};
-// }
 query_update_intermediate& query_update_intermediate::set(const table_column &col, column_expression&& expression) {
-  key_value_pairs_.emplace_back(col, std::move(expression));
+  if (query_set_part_ == nullptr) {
+      std::vector<internal::column_value_pair> key_value_pairs;
+      key_value_pairs.emplace_back(col, std::move(expression));
+      auto ptr = std::make_unique<internal::query_set_part>(std::move(key_value_pairs));
+      query_set_part_ = ptr.get();
+      context_->parts.push_back(std::move(ptr));
+  } else {
+      const_cast<std::vector<internal::column_value_pair>&>(query_set_part_->column_values()).emplace_back(col, std::move(expression));
+  }
   return *this;
 }
 
 query_execute_where_intermediate query_update_intermediate::where(std::unique_ptr<abstract_criteria> cond) {
-  context_->parts.push_back(std::make_unique<internal::query_set_part>(std::move(key_value_pairs_)));
   return where_clause(std::move(cond));
 }
 
@@ -31,4 +30,9 @@ query_execute_where_intermediate query_update_intermediate::where_clause(std::un
   context_->parts.push_back(std::make_unique<internal::query_where_part>(std::move(cond)));
   return {context_};
 }
+
+query_set_intermediate query_update_intermediate::set(std::vector<internal::column_value_pair>&& key_value_pairs) {
+  context_->parts.push_back(std::make_unique<internal::query_set_part>(std::move(key_value_pairs)));
+  return {context_};
+}
 }
diff --git a/source/orm/query/query_builder.cpp b/source/orm/query/query_builder.cpp
index df2a036..d7b83d6 100644
--- a/source/orm/query/query_builder.cpp
+++ b/source/orm/query/query_builder.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "matador/query/query_builder.hpp"
 
 #include "matador/query/attribute_string_writer.hpp"
+#include "matador/query/expression_evaluator.hpp"
 #include "matador/query/query_data.hpp"
 #include "matador/query/criteria_evaluator.hpp"
 #include "matador/query/query_utils.hpp"
@@ -218,6 +219,14 @@ struct value_visitor {
   internal::basic_type_to_string_visitor value_to_string_visitor;
 };
 
+std::string query_builder::determine_value(const sql::dialect &d, sql::query_context& ctx, const abstract_column_expression &exp) {
+    attribute_string_writer writer(d, {});
+    expression_evaluator v(d, ctx);
+    exp.accept(v);
+
+    return v.result();
+}
+
 std::string query_builder::determine_value(value_visitor &visitor, const std::variant<utils::placeholder, utils::database_type> &val) {
     std::visit(visitor, val);
     return visitor.value_to_string_visitor.result;
@@ -334,25 +343,36 @@ void query_builder::visit(internal::query_set_part &part) {
   query_.sql += " " + dialect_->set() + " ";
 
   attribute_string_writer writer(*dialect_, connection_);
-  std::string result;
+  // std::string result;
 
-  value_visitor visitor(writer, query_);  if (part.column_values().size() < 2) {
-  for (const auto &column_value: part.column_values()) {
-      result.append(dialect_->prepare_identifier_string(column_value.col().name()) + "=");
-      result.append(determine_value(visitor, column_value.value()));
-    }
-  } else {
-    auto it = part.column_values().begin();
-    result.append(dialect_->prepare_identifier_string(it->col().name()) + "=");
-    result.append(determine_value(visitor, (it++)->value()));
-    for (; it != part.column_values().end(); ++it) {
-      result.append(", ");
-      result.append(dialect_->prepare_identifier_string(it->col().name()) + "=");
-      result.append(determine_value(visitor, it->value()));
+  value_visitor visitor(writer, query_);
+  bool first = true;
+  for (const auto& column_value : part.column_values()) {
+    if (!first) {
+        query_.sql.append(", ");
     }
+    query_.sql.append(dialect_->prepare_identifier_string(column_value.col().name()) + "=");
+    query_.sql.append(determine_value(*dialect_,query_, column_value.expression()));
+    first = false;
   }
 
-  query_.sql += result;
+  // if (part.column_values().size() < 2) {
+  //   for (const auto &column_value: part.column_values()) {
+  //     result.append(dialect_->prepare_identifier_string(column_value.col().name()) + "=");
+  //     result.append(determine_value(visitor, column_value.value()));
+  //   }
+  // } else {
+  //   auto it = part.column_values().begin();
+  //   result.append(dialect_->prepare_identifier_string(it->col().name()) + "=");
+  //   result.append(determine_value(visitor, (it++)->value()));
+  //   for (; it != part.column_values().end(); ++it) {
+  //     result.append(", ");
+  //     result.append(dialect_->prepare_identifier_string(it->col().name()) + "=");
+  //     result.append(determine_value(visitor, it->value()));
+  //   }
+  // }
+  //
+  // query_.sql += result;
 }
 
 void query_builder::visit(internal::query_drop_sequence_part& part) {
diff --git a/test/backends/QueryBasicTest.cpp b/test/backends/QueryBasicTest.cpp
index e9444db..d96c854 100644
--- a/test/backends/QueryBasicTest.cpp
+++ b/test/backends/QueryBasicTest.cpp
@@ -143,7 +143,8 @@ TEST_CASE_METHOD( QueryFixture, "Test quoted identifier", "[query][quotes][ident
   REQUIRE(row.value()->at("to").as<std::string>() == "London");
 
   res = query::update("quotes")
-    .set({{"from", "Hamburg"}, {"to", "New York"}})
+    .set("from", "Hamburg")
+    .set("to", "New York")
     .where("from"_col == "Berlin")
     .execute(db);
   REQUIRE(res.is_ok());
@@ -227,7 +228,7 @@ TEST_CASE_METHOD(QueryFixture, "Test quoted literals", "[query][quotes][literals
   REQUIRE(row.value()->at("name").as<std::string>() == "text");
 
   res = query::update("escapes")
-    .set({{"name", "text'd"}})
+    .set("name", "text'd")
     .execute(db);
   REQUIRE(res.is_ok());
   REQUIRE(res->affected_rows == 1);
@@ -241,7 +242,7 @@ TEST_CASE_METHOD(QueryFixture, "Test quoted literals", "[query][quotes][literals
   REQUIRE(row.value()->at("name").as<std::string>() == "text'd");
 
   res = query::update("escapes")
-    .set({{"name", "text\nhello\tworld"}})
+    .set("name", "text\nhello\tworld")
     .execute(db);
   REQUIRE(res.is_ok());
   REQUIRE(res->affected_rows == 1);
@@ -255,7 +256,7 @@ TEST_CASE_METHOD(QueryFixture, "Test quoted literals", "[query][quotes][literals
   REQUIRE(row.value()->at("name").as<std::string>() == "text\nhello\tworld");
 
   res = query::update("escapes")
-    .set({{"name", "text \"text\""}})
+    .set("name", "text \"text\"")
     .execute(db);
   REQUIRE(res.is_ok());
   REQUIRE(res->affected_rows == 1);
diff --git a/test/backends/QueryRecordTest.cpp b/test/backends/QueryRecordTest.cpp
index 57d1f97..cd79969 100644
--- a/test/backends/QueryRecordTest.cpp
+++ b/test/backends/QueryRecordTest.cpp
@@ -363,9 +363,9 @@ TEST_CASE_METHOD(QueryFixture, "Execute update record statement", "[query][recor
   REQUIRE(res->affected_rows == 1);
 
   res = query::update("person")
-    .set({{"id",   7},
-          {"name", "jane"},
-          {"age",  35}})
+    .set("id",   7)
+    .set("name", "jane")
+    .set("age",  35)
     .where("id"_col == 7)
     .execute(db);
   REQUIRE(res.is_ok());
@@ -645,7 +645,8 @@ TEST_CASE_METHOD(QueryFixture, "Test quoted identifier record", "[query][record]
   REQUIRE("London" == (*result)->at("to").str());
 
   res = query::update("quotes")
-    .set({{"from", "Hamburg"}, {"to", "New York"}})
+    .set("from", "Hamburg")
+    .set("to", "New York")
     .where("from"_col == "Berlin")
     .execute(db);
   REQUIRE(res.is_ok());
@@ -761,7 +762,8 @@ TEST_CASE_METHOD(QueryFixture, "Test update record", "[query][record][update]")
   REQUIRE((*row)->at("age").as<unsigned short>() == 45);
 
   res = query::update("person")
-    .set({{"name", "jane"}, {"age", 47}})
+    .set("name", "jane")
+    .set("age", 47)
     .where("name"_col == "hans")
     .execute(db);
   REQUIRE(res.is_ok());
diff --git a/test/backends/QueryStatementTests.cpp b/test/backends/QueryStatementTests.cpp
index 81951a2..b5b6069 100644
--- a/test/backends/QueryStatementTests.cpp
+++ b/test/backends/QueryStatementTests.cpp
@@ -110,7 +110,10 @@ TEST_CASE_METHOD(QueryFixture, "Test update statement", "[query][statement][upda
   george.age = 36;
   george.image = {5,6,7,8};
   stmt = query::update(PERSON)
-    .set(generator::column_value_pairs<person>())
+    .set(PERSON.id, _)
+    .set(PERSON.name, _)
+    .set(PERSON.age, _)
+    .set(PERSON.image, _)
     .where(PERSON.id == _)
     .prepare(db);
   REQUIRE(stmt);