I LOVED this book. I found myself actually smiling throughout large portions of it, and I spent like 90% of the book swooning. Don't tell my boyfriend that I have a thing for English-teachers-turned-Ren-Faire-pirates, because now apparently I do.

I was first interested in this because of the cover. It was released at a time when a bunch of other illustrated covers from Berkley were released and just like all the others, I knew I needed this in my hands. And then the reviews from people started coming in and I KNEW it would be something I would enjoy. And sure enough, this was a slam dunk for me!

Emily has relocated to a small town to help her sister recover from an accident, but she also fell into helping out her neice volunteer for the local Ren Faire. But little does she know, this Ren Faire is Simon's legacy and he makes it clear he doesn't want or have time for any nonsense regarding it. But he turns into a different person when he dons his costume and flirts freely with her. How does she know what's real and what isn't?

I loved the readability of this! It was so easy to sit down and listen to this for hours. I'm not sure if it's the narrator or the words, but whatever it was, this book was so easy to get lost in. The very first thing I remember upon finishing this is, "So what do I do now?!" Good thing there's another one (a follow up she said. Hope it's about Mitch lolol)

I also really liked the setting of this. I have never been to a Ren Faire before (which is strange because I live near one that so many of my friends always talk about going to) and this made me want to get tickets for the next one immediately. DeLuca made it seem like it's own world for both me and the characters, and that to me makes some of the best stories.

As for the characters, I did wish we had more development for Emily and Simon. ESPECIALLY Simon. I would have loved for this to be told in both their POV's or at least to give a more indepth idea of what it was he went through when trying to decide if he liked her, but I still really enjoyed being in Emily's head.

This was a book that I wasn't expecting to like this much. I added this because of the cover with every intention to like it, but not love it like I did. If you haven't read this or are having some second thoughts, give it a chance and see what else you think! You might be as surprised as I was!

Well Met by Jen DeLuca was such a cute read and I think I’ve rarely ever had to smile so much while reading a book.

It’s a hate-to-love romance novel and the trope was done so well. The tension between the two love interests was great and I loved reading about them slowly starting to like each other. I also really liked the characters in Well Met. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Simon, the guy who organizes the faire, but others such as Emily, the female protagonist, some of the people she met at faire such as Chris or Stacey or her niece and her sister were characters I grew fond of very quickly.

This was also the very first book set at a renaissance faire I’ve read in my life and it made for such an interesting setting. I have to admit, I didn’t really know anything about renaissance faires going into this book because I’ve just never been to one, but it was so cool to learn more about them.

However, not everything about this book was great. I didn’t really like how Emily kept finding excuses for Simon’s behavior towards her. In the first half of the novel he often treated her like dirt and while at first she always defended herself and didn’t let him treat her like that, she then always kept finding reasons why he was acting that way and why it was okay. I really didn’t like that and even though some of the things that happened to him were bad and definitely explained why he was often in a bad mood, it still didn’t excuse the way he behaved towards her.

Overall however, this was a lovely book and I very much enjoyed reading it. I definitely want to read more about these characters and can’t wait for the sequel Well Played to be released next year!

Jen DeLuca's novel, Well Met has everything that a romance reader could possibly need in a novel--from the swoony moments with dashing pirates at the Renaissance Faire to the engaging enemies-to-lovers storyline. Readers will be emotionally invested in Simon and Emily's story and frantically turning pages to see if there is a happily ever after for these adversaries. This novel will make you swoon, cry, and wish you were at a Renaissance Faire. Excellent read!

A friend and I read this together and while I enjoyed some of it, I didn't love it. I was a fan of the setting because that was something new and different but something felt off with the characters. They didn't flow and connect as naturally as I typically like in my reading. I don't know if it was a chemistry thing or if it was the mood I was in when I read it. I can certainly see the appeal, but it just didn't work for me in the long run. I did love reading other reviews and seeing how much people did love this one. Sadly it was just okay for me.

The book has the trop that I love that is the enemies-lovers storyline; it was also interesting to read about a Renaissance fair because I’ve never been in one. However, I didn't get to love or hate the story, for me, it needed a little more drama. The book was a light read, super-fast and easy to read, but predictable in some parts.

Who doesn’t love a romcom? Can I say RomCom when it’s book related? Oh well I’m going to anyway!

This was a really sweet read. It follows Emily who has moved in with her sister and niece to help out since her sister has had an accident. She used it as an escape from a horrid ex who just used her and chucked he out of their home. The thing is she’s starting to enjoy being back home and being with her family and dare she say it being part of the community in Willow Creek!

The lead Male Simon, you’ll get this reference the further you read the review! Is all about making sure the Renaissance Faire is everything that his brother set up before he passed. Thing is he can’t seem to unclench his tight hold on the Faire.

They basically clash Emily and Simon but you can see the attraction there as well. They are both stubborn and not wanting to give an inch. Emily as she is trying to protect herself from heartache and Simon as he has always felt that he has been second best to his now deceased brother who was the outgoing one!

They both struggle with there identities and not only do they find themselves and grow as people in the book they also learn to give and let other in and be supportive.

Jen DeLuca’s style of writing was engaging and I was able to read the book pretty quickly. I love the added characters and there relationship with Emily and Simon grow as well.

Super cute and an adorable premise. The author definitely did her research- or was a ren-faire nerd. Easy story to get lost in for an afternoon or two!

Thanks to Berkley for my copy. All opinions are my own. Sometimes you read a book and you just want to go back and read it again. I loved Well Met!!! I never thought I would be interested in a renaissance faire but this book gave me all the feels. Emily lost her job and her boyfriend at the same time that her big sister broke her leg. Emily decides to move to Willow Creek to help her sister care for 14-year-old April, where she is promptly tricked into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire run by Simon. So now Emily is a wench…Simon is a Pirate…and obviously we know where this story is going. It’s the journey on this one, guys. It’s filled with feels, cute scenes, and romance. I couldn’t put it down. I’m pretty sure hearts actually came out of my eyes at multiple points while reading. I loved it so much!!! This book gives me total modern-day Pride and Prejudice vibes. 4 stars.

Well Met was a wonderful debut! A swoony romance in the magical setting of a Renaissance Faire, with all the delights that go along with it. I loved the romance! The connection between Simon and Emily once the ice melted between them was deliciously hot! The kisses alone were so steamy and dreamy, but when they finally got together…oh my! I also loved Emily’s relationship with her sister, April, and her niece, Caitlin. Even though they weren’t super close growing up (twelve-year age gap and all that) Emily was there for them, putting her whole life on hold, when they needed her. And it wasn’t one sided either, April was supportive of Emily when she needed it, too.

The faire was a lot of fun, too. Having never gone to a Renaissance Faire I got to experience it through Ms. DeLuca’s vivid writing.

I really enjoyed Well Met, with some minor quibbles. I wasn’t thrilled with Emily’s quick judgmental assumptions about Simon at first, and I wasn’t a fan of Emily’s self-doubt in her relationship with Simon, especially since he seemed clear on things, also with Chris from the coffee shop. I guess some of it was understandable considering her previous relationship, but it was a little frustrating.

All in all, Well Met was a delight, and I look forward to whatever Jen DeLuca’s decides to come up with next!

If you enjoy sexy arguments about Shakespeare authorship, then this is the book for you!
(Seriously, this might be one of my favorite romances this year.)

This was so cute! I just want to crawl into the book! The main character was relatable and super fun, the hunky stud trying to woo her was even better. I loved the side characters as well! We all go through horrible breakups, this was just a fresh start. This was my first time reading something by Jen DeLuca and wow! I was not disappointed, hoping to read more from her in the future! Cant wait to get my physical copy to add to my collection! Thank you so much!

This was really an easy, entertaining read. It had some really cute, swoon-worthy moments, some fun scenes, and even a decent sexy scene.

My only complaint is I felt like the ROMANCE part was missing for far too much of the book. These two don't like each other, or spend time with each other, until well past the half way mark of the book. And in a romance novel, that's a problem. Maybe it would have been better if we also got the hero's POV so we could see the "budding" romance in the first half of the book? Hard to say.

Still, I enjoyed Jen's writing and I can't wait to revisit this town and cast of characters.

As an entertaining read, I'd give this a solid 4. As a romance, I'd say more like a 3, barely.

What I really loved about this rom com was the exploration of life goals. Life didn’t turn out how it was expected for both Emily and Simone, learning how to deal with tragedy and tumultuous changes is not easy. Emily and Simon go about handling these changes very differently and the essense of this book is how to figure this out together. While getting there, you’ll meet the most amazing characters. I frequent the local renaissance faire and it’s always a good time, DeLuca brings this faire to life with bright characters and a vitality that shines across the pages. Simon, our seemingly aloof hero, starts off as sort of a jackass but once you shed his layers, you push for Emily and Simon so hard! This is a very fun New Adult book and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for this author.

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? 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. review: This debut novel by Jen DeLuca was heart-warming with a unique plot line. As someone who isn’t very familiar with Renaissance Faires I enjoyed the descriptive writing that flowed well and made me feel like I was right there in the action. The characters were so well developed that by the end of the book they felt like old friends. The relationship with Emily and Simon was a slow burn and it didn’t start until right at the halfway mark of the book. I wish there had a *bit* more to their relationship, but I also enjoyed Emily’s relationship with her sister, April, and how she adjusted to small town life. Overall it was an enjoyable read and could easily see there being a sequel to this! rating: 34 out of 5 ⭐️

This was a cute Romance. I usually prefer something with a little bit more non-romantic plot, but I think the small town setting and Ren Faire location made up for it. I really enjoyed the fact that both romantic leads were trying to figure out who they were, outside of siblings and previous relationships. I would have liked a little more Ren Faire and a little less rest of the town, but I understood why there wasn’t.

Well Met was the right book at the right time, and absolutely delightful to read! I was hooked right off the bat when the protagonist, Emily, is promised a glimpse of a hot guy in a kilt with a sword. I mean, what more can you ask for? But this is the kind of book where you come for the (pseud-)Scotsman and stay for the pirate.

I struggled with Well Met at first. I didn't know any of the characters and they all seemed to have that one personality trait that defined them. To be honest, I expected that to last the entire book and my expectations started to drop. But DeLuca tricked me because before I knew it, I was halfway through and devouring page after page. 

What sold me was the first time Emily and Simon (the aforementioned "pirate") really talked. Their earlier encounters revolved around Simon being a jerk (which came off as over the top and a tad annoying) and Emily just getting pissed off and walking away (or the scene's equivalent). I honestly didn't even see it working as enemies-to-lovers because there was no connection between them for a while.

And then. . . something clicked.

The sarcastic banter I had enjoyed up to this magical moment persisted but now there was a layer of sexual tension underneath. The characters became more than just one-note cardboard cutouts. And I ended up loving this book SO. MUCH. 

I never realized how perfect a Ren Faire could be for a romance but now it's high on my list of meet-cute locations. The clash of the "real world" with the drama of the Faire life was the perfect blend of lighthearted fun and more serious emotion. It's exactly what Emily needed after her life came crashing down around her, and Emily is what Simon needed after spending years trying to live up to invisible expectations.

If I'm being honest, Emily and Simon made an impression on me but not as individual characters. It was more how they interacted and told the overall story, if that makes sense. Every attempt I've made to write this review has failed because I kept trying to dissect the book into pieces but it just doesn't work! The cast of Well Met is as tied up in the story as they are in the Faire.

But I'll say this. If you like witty banter, over-the-top dramatics (the good kind), and two people who are balanced not just by each other but those around them, I think you'll love Well Met. Plus it's set AT A REN FAIRE. You can't go wrong!

“I didn’t choose the wench life, the wench life chose me.”

If those aren’t outstanding opening lines for a book, I don’t know what are! Jen De Luca’s contemporary romance Well Met had me hooked from that first page. I found it funny, light, filled with great characters, unique, and heart-warming. A perfect book for me this past week!

About the Book

When Emily’s sister April gets in a car accident and Emily finds herself dumped by her long-time boyfriend, she relocates to the tiny, adorable town of Willow Creek, MD to help her sister out and care for her teenage niece Caitlyn. But she soon finds herself roped into volunteering with her niece at the local Renaissance Faire—something Emily hadn’t bargained on when she accepted the job of nanny.

Local brooding high school teacher Simon run’s the faire nearly on his own. The faire was something started by his brother Sean, and now it is Simon’s legacy to continue to keep it going. Simon and Emily couldn’t be more at odds. He certainly doesn’t appreciate Emily’s lackluster Faire name (Emma), her Shakespearean conspiracy theories, or her efforts to spruce up the Faire (why not have multiple Shakespeare’s running around?).

But once the faire kicks off and Emily is in her sexy tavern wench costume, serving beer and wine to the attendees, Simon is a different story. In his pirate costume, he brazenly flirts with Emily/Emma, getting her more hot and bothered than the corset that is slowly constricting her mid-section. But how can she reconcile the Simon from rehearsal who infuriates her with the charming pirate who tosses innuendo at her?

As the summer goes on, Emily becomes more attached to Willow Creek. She isn’t sure where she’ll go next, but she can’t help but feel that maybe there is a future for her in Willow Creek and with Simon afterall…

Reflection

I’m a big Shakespeare fan (literature major, after all), so I was really excited for the theme of this book! I’m not someone who personally goes to Renaissance Faires (though I do think they would be fun!), but I love the idea of them. In Well Met, the Renaissance Faire works so well because the whole town supports it. And because Simon and his brother Sean before him truly put their all into it.

If you are someone who loves small towns, I think you’ll be charmed by this book! I love the way they all support one another. Even though April feels like a bit of an outsider still, Emily might be her key to becoming a true part of the town. There’s really nothing like the support small towns show one another. I can see why people would love living in Willow Creek!

Emily is a riot! I found her to be that perfect mix of relatable and hurting, and strong and humorous. She had a rough break in her last relationship, and I got up in my feels more than once as she worked through the pain that relationship caused her. I also thought it was a sign of how mentally healthy she is that she let herself feel and acknowledge that pain and work through it. She really caught a tough break there, and I was just so filled with happiness seeing her heal and find a new home and friends, reconnect with her sister, and discover what she is truly gifted at in life.

Simon is truly an outstanding character as well! It will take a bit for you to get to know him, because the book is narrated by Emily and told through her eyes. It was the perfect way to write it because you saw him the way Emily did—difficult at first and no comparison to the heavily-muscled Mitch, but then as you learn more about him and his life, he becomes this complex and dynamic person.

I could go on about how many characters I loved, but I will keep it brief and say that there is a fantastic cast in this book. I do want to mention how much I loved seeing the relationship between Emily and her sister April develop across the book. Emily does drop everything to help her, but she also doesn’t have much to drop. That doesn’t detract from what she does, but I loved the way April helped Emily as much as Emily helped April. A beautiful sister relationship!

Jen DeLuca, if you are reading this review, please give us a sequel featuring a romance for April, Stacey, or Chris! The people (meaning me) want to know that they find happiness! Especially April…there’s a backstory there and I want to know it!

Do yourself a favor and make sure this is on your reading list soon!

Thank you to Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Well Met was cute, refreshing romance with hate to love arc that revolved around caring organized Emily, uptight rule-follower Simon, and Willow Creek renaissance fair with its historical theme. It was about family love, belongingness, getting over grief, letting others help and share responsibility, and need of change without affecting the essence of originality. The message was deep and thought provoking.

Characters–

Emily was great character. She was most caring, responsible, organized, sensitive, and selfless. She dropped out of college for person who never promised her anything and that tells all about her. I mean who would do that in this world! I loved the way she put things behind and moved on to help her sister. Her ideas for fair and bookstore was great. I felt for her in all situation whether it was sharing her past, being affected by rudeness of Simon, making friends at fair, helping her sister and others in the town or love and heartbreak. Her development was impressive, I’m glad she stood up for herself and didn’t repeat her mistake of being secondary and worthless for anyone.

Simon was uptight, rule-follower, English teacher and sole organizer of fair. Fair was his life that connected him to his brother. I didn’t like the way he behaved but as I read more about him it felt there was more to him than this cold, serious, and angry Simon. There was that carefree, flirting, and freely smiling The Pirate Simon, a character he was playing in fair. I bet he will grow on you pretty fast. He kept juggling this two sides that confused both Emily and me. His behavior at certain places was idiotic especially at climax. But liked him and the change in him after he met Emily.

I loved all the side characters. They were all nice, supported Emily and never let her feel outsider.

What I liked–

Writing was fabulous. I loved it from the very first line, “I didn’t choose the wench life, the wench life chose me.” It was gripping. Character introduction, Willow Creek, Renaissance fair, Elizabethan setting of the fair, romance, hate to love arc everything was immaculately described in refreshing and emotive voice of Emily.

It started with Emily being supportive sister, taking care of April (her sister) and Caitlin (her niece), while April was recovering from accident that put her on bedrest for few months. When Emily drove Caitlin to high school where she was going to sign up for renaissance fair, volunteers talked Emily into participating too. Now she didn’t have anything to do this summer, April was recovering day by day, she had to support Caitlin, and hot muscular Mitch in kilt was tempting to refuse the offer. This summer was fun and entertaining both for Emily and reader. Well not that fun for Emily. As There was that uptight Simon making her uncomfortable and giving her hard time. Looked like he wanted her to leave fair but why? Story took interesting turn once the fair started.

I was curious to know– why Simon was so serious all the time, what happened to his brother, why he behaved rudely to Emily, can Emily win him over their never ceasing arguments, will Simon thaw and accept her help, what will she do once April is recovered, will she stay in this small town, community where she felt she belonged or Simon will mess it all up.

Shakespeare lovers would love to read this as there was idea of Shakespeare theme, his plays and sonnet. Now I haven’t read Shakespeare so I cannot comment on it but what I loved most was, Willow Creek, its people and fair. Community spirit was lovely. I also don’t know a thing about renaissance fair but author gave picture perfect details of it. I loved knowing everything about it and the way characters entertained visitors of fair.

I loved sisterly relation between April and Emily. They helped each other when needed, gave uplifting advice, never judging other. Their relation grew so much in the story. Emily’s friendship with Mitch, Chris and Stacey was lovely.

As the narration was from Emily’s perspective, we don’t get to know what was going on in Simon’s mind. I judged him based on Emily’s thoughts and emotions and it also made Simon unpredictable and mysterious. At first I thought there should be dual narration but as story progressed I think author did wonderful job and I wouldn’t want to change it.

It was fun reading the story of Emily and Simon. I enjoyed bickering and small fight between them in first half. They disliked each other, Emily couldn’t stand Simon and there was time she even tried to do all to avoid Simon’s dagger throwing stare and Simon was out to find teeny tiniest fault in Emily and whatever she did. But once they started knowing each other, the chemistry between them was lovable and award-winning. Romance between them was steamy, hot, and sizzling. I’m not usually fan of sex scene but trust me here it was amazing.

Romance and humor was as expected but what surprised me was the tears in my eyes during climax. I’m not much crier but seeing Emily what she experienced and felt was heart breaking. Things taken place from climax to end was interesting. End was sweet. I wouldn’t want it any other way and epilogue was cherry on cake.

Overall, it was feel good, gripping, and dramatic romantic comedy with lovey small town and fun fair. It’s perfect summer read. I highly recommend this book.

I’ve attended a Renaissance Faire a few times and it was always a lot of fun. I was fascinated by the shops, the performances, and the people walking around dressed in elaborate costumes, but it never occurred to me how much hard work and attention to detail goes into planning such an event. That's why I was so intrigued by Well Met. It's like a reality show, which painstakingly delves into the inner-workings of a Renaissance faire, complete with everyday drama and a potential romance. Jen Deluca’s writing is so earnest and thoughtful, and the characters are so engaging, that it’s impossible not to swept up in the fantasy of it all.

From the slow-burning flirtation between Emily and Simon to the day-to-day happenings of the faire to Emily's journey of self-discovery, I loved everything about Well Met. The narrative is fun and lighthearted, but there are moments that hit me right in the feels. And the romance. Oh my gah! I can't say I've ever been attracted to pirates (except for Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, of course), but Simon had me swooning so hard, I forgave him for the times I wanted to slap him upside the head. If you're looking for an amusing, entertaining love story with a good amount of steam, Well Met is a must-read!