'Well Met' by Jen DeLuca is a contemporary romance novel set in a small town called Willow Creek, Maryland during the annual Renaissance Faire. The story follows Emily, who moves to Willow Creek to help her sister and niece after a car accident. Emily gets roped into volunteering at the Renaissance Faire alongside her teenage niece, where she meets Simon, one of the organizers. Despite their initial animosity, Emily and Simon slowly develop feelings for each other over the summer, leading to a light enemies-to-lovers romance. The book features a fun and spirited plot with Shakespeare references, strong character development, and a relatable protagonist dealing with self-esteem issues.
The writing style of 'Well Met' is described as engaging, humorous, and romantic, with a creative and unique setting of the Renaissance Faire. The story unfolds with a slow-building romance between Emily and Simon, incorporating elements of humor, Shakespearean themes, and a charming small-town atmosphere. Readers praise the accurate portrayal of the Ren Faire setting, the well-developed characters, and the enjoyable plot that combines romance, comedy, and a touch of angst.
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Has Romance?
Romance is a central focus, constituting a high element in the story.
From The Publisher:
All's faire in love and war for two sworn enemies who indulge in a harmless flirtation in a laugh-out-loud rom-com from debut author Jen DeLuca.
Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, for the summer to help her sister recover from an accident, but who could anticipate getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenaged niece? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him?
The faire is Simon's family legacy and from the start he makes clear he doesn't have time for Emily's lighthearted approach to life, her oddball Shakespeare conspiracy theories, or her endless suggestions for new acts to shake things up. Yet on the faire grounds he becomes a different person, flirting freely with Emily when she's in her revealing wench's costume. But is this attraction real, or just part of the characters they're portraying?
This summer was only ever supposed to be a pit stop on the way to somewhere else for Emily, but soon she can't seem to shake the fantasy of establishing something more with Simon or a permanent home of her own in Willow Creek.
Ratings (62)
Incredible (7) | |
Loved It (16) | |
Liked It (20) | |
It Was OK (12) | |
Did Not Like (5) | |
Hated It (2) |
Reader Stats (140):
Read It (67) | |
Want To Read (47) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (25) |
1 comment(s)
I picked this book for its comparison to Stars Hollow and Gilmore Girls. TBH, I didn’t really make that connection. While the town is definitely small, and the people are friendly, it didn’t have quite the same feel as Stars Hollow.
For a romance novel, this book was decent. The Renaissance Faire concept was unique, and thought I’ve never been to one myself, I could completely envision it. I enjoyed the characters, but sometimes I felt like there were unnecessary conflicts created as a result of their lack of common sense. However, I loved all the characters’ personalities. The romance scenes were ~spicy~ but not over the top, and there weren’t too many of them.
Some of the things that shattered the illusion of the story for me:
As a teacher myself, I found the behavior of someone the teacher characters a bit… off? Like, the faire is a community event and a fundraiser for the school. I find it weird that the teachers are half dressed and flirting with their students’ families? But that’s just being judgmental.
The family dynamics between Emily and her sister/niece were strange. I get that the sisters weren’t close, and they had their own arc. But, I found it weird that the moment Simon came on the scene, Emily sort of… stopped caring about strengthening the bond with her family and opted to focus on the bond with the town? I couldn’t really connect with that.
Regardless, I have already started the second book in the series. I’m a sucker for a cute romance!
What can you read after
Well Met?
About the Author:
Jen DeLuca was born and raised near Richmond, Virginia, but now lives in Arizona with her husband and a houseful of rescue pets. She loves latte-flavored lattes, Hokies football, and the Oxford comma. Her novels, Well Met, Well Played, and…
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