This was a cute continuation of the Willow Creek Ren Faire world! I liked the modern Cyrano/mistaken identity aspect of the story, but also that it wasn’t drawn out in a frustrating way and the misunderstanding was worked out pretty easily. Daniel and Stacey’s relationship was very sweet and I enjoyed catching up with the familiar characters from Well Met. I’m really looking forward to where this series goes next!

This was such a fun book! If you have read Well Met you have to read this book! I felt for the main character, Stacey, and the writing was very easy. I really hope there is another book in this series!

This was a fine follow up to Well Met, but it lacked the smoldering heat that Well Met generated. The main character was fun, and the whole Cyrano plot line was cute, but because the romantic hero isn't "the hot one" he really needed to be funnier or have a bit more charm to really make him seem dreamy and desirable. He's...fine. This book is fine. I'll certainly order copies for my library for those who liked the first one.

My heart is so happy. I didn’t think I could love Well Played more than Well Met but I truly have. I liked the characters in this book more, the story had more depth and the swoon factor gave me all the heart eyes imaginable.

It was very well played.

Bravo!!

Thanks to Netgalley for an e-arc of this title.
I have complicated feelings about this title. I love Jen DeLucas writing style as its very engaging and immersive, but this story really just did not grab me nearly as much as Well Met did. The style is the same, but the story and the characters just didn't do it for me.
This picks up where Well Met left off, with Emily and Simon preparing for their wedding. This title is from Stacys point of view and follows her long distance romance with "Dex", one of the dueling kilt performs from
the faire.

<spoiler>Things start when Stacy gets drunk and texts Dex. To her surprise he texts back, sounding far more eloquent than she expected, and the two begin a long distance thing.
In what is supposed to be a big twist, she is not texting Dex at all, but his bother Daniel who has been catfishing her for months. This is not actually a surprise as it was almost painfully obvious and it takes Stacy freakin forever to figure it out. This is frustrating.
What is even more frustrating is that she discovers this and immediately forgives him. There are no repercussions, no fall out, just a conversation that amounts to "hey, don't do that again. Lets go have sex now."
The book culminates in another reveal of Daniel being a jerk and Stacy going "its cool, I'm gonna drop my whole life to go be a roadie with him and his brothers".
That is really why the book gets lower stars, is that Stacy is really completely fine with Daniel doing things that are 100% not fine and she doesn't even call him out on any of them.

Stacys relationship with Emily and Simon and the other ren faire members is nice to see. I was significantly less impressed with her relationship with her parents. It feels very forced and shallow, almost added on as another reason Stacy wants to leave town but can't.

</spoiler>

I was really excited for this book and I feel a little let down. The writing is still good, but the first book just had a better story and characters. I have high hopes for the third book though!

REVIEW | Well Played by Jen DeLuca for release Sept 22
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Stacey feels stilted in Willow Creek. It seems like everyone’s lives have progressed, while her’s is stagnant. She decides to throw caution to the wind and confess her feelings online to her Ren Faire fling, Dex, resulting in a year long online relationship. But at the next Ren Faire, she finds out the person she’s been falling in love with via text and email is not Dex...

This is an adorable, charming standalone follow up to Well Met. I really related to Stacey’s character and felt for her and her perceived obligation to stay close to home to be with her older parents. The cat fishing plot line is always risky, but I think Daniel redeemed himself! We also get to see a lot of Emily and Simon. Overall, if you loved Well Met, you’ll enjoy this one!

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for this gorgeous ARC ❤️

This was so great. I love this series. I thought Daniel and Stacey were a very fun couple. This was an easy, summery read and I can't wait for the next one.

Earlier this year, I picked up Well Met on a whim after seeing all the reviews for it, and I immediately fell in love with the characters, small town and fairie setting, and Jen DeLuca’s charming writing. Upon finishing it, I was so excited to read Stacey’s book, after how much I enjoyed her as a side character! Although I had a few problems with this story overall, I quite enjoyed it and it didn’t fail to make me smile.


First off I want to say that Stacey has become a favorite character for sure! There was so much about her that I related to: How she sees her old high school friends and even newer friends lives move forward while she feels stuck in the same life for so many years, nothing changing, nothing new. It felt so relatable when she was struggling to figure out who to talk to when she was going through something, and even more relatable when she talked about how her best friend has become a “facebook friend” and has moved on to bigger and better things. A lot about her hit so close to home, and I fell for her and wanted her to succeed so badly. She was for sure my favorite part of the book (with her cat being second because really, how could I not fall for her cat?!)

I also adored how important Emily and Simon were in this book. Even though they were side characters in this, it didn’t feel like they were because they were side a big part of the storyline, and as someone who absolutely loved them in Well Met, I loved that so much about this book.

Ok, so here is what I’m having mixed feelings about: Daniel. I actually liked him quite a lot, he was sweet and thoughtful and treated Stacey just like she deserved to be treated. But I didn’t like how he lied to her and then, when the truth came out, he just didn’t handle it that well. Twice they fought and broke up, and he just... gave up so easily, no fight, no trying to get her back, no romantic declaration. He was the one who screwed up, and it didn’t sit well with me that he just moved on and Stacey was the one who had to go after him. Like, really?! Don’t get me wrong, I really liked him, but at the same time... if he loved Stacey as much as he said he did, I would’ve thought he would’ve fought for her at least once, went after he and apologized. No relationship doesn’t have its ups and downs and fights, but if you’re going to give up after one fight? I don’t know, it didnt sit well with me.

Even with that, like I mentioned I liked Daniel. I kind of related to him in some areas, like how he feels that close to his cousins he just will never be good enough or the one people will pay attention to and look at. He had so many problems when it comes to self confidence and I totally felt him in that area.


The romance, for me, was super cute. I loved the chemistry between Stacey and Daniel. I loved their back and forth emails and texts and how they got to know each other’s hearts before they even got together. I loved them when they were actually physically together. And I loved the way this book ended. But, like I mentioned, I didn’t like the fact that Stacey had to go after Daniel after he was the one that screwed up. I didn’t like how he lied to her to get to know her. I felt like his apology and reasoning was a little bit weak and stupid. I didn’t buy it. But, judging from my rating and overall enjoyment I didn’t personally think it ruined the story for me or how much I loved these two together, even though I wish some things would’ve gone differently.


I also do want to talk about the setting of these books. They make me want to google search a Renaissance Faire close to me so that I can attend it. I loved the setting so much. And not just the Faire setting, but also the small town setting which I am a sucker for. One of my favorite parts of these books for sure!

Overall, another great story in this series. I love Jen DeLuca’s writing and although this was not as good as Well Met for me, I still enjoyed it so much and I am SO excited for April’s book!

A delightful mostly PG13 romantic comedy. Stacey still lives in the small town where she grew up, doing the same thing every year including drinking as many pumpkin spice lattes as she can every fall and volunteering at the local Renaissance Faire every summer. Everything is about to change. This is basically a reboot of a classic love story, but I won't say which one, because it would spoil the fun. It was a great summer read, and even though I guessed the twist early on, the repartee kept it interesting.

My current favorite trend in romance novels is the “it's a conflict because you have to have one, but it is a real conflict that normal people might experience” and this book absolutely nails it! This second in DeLuca’s Well Met series, that 100% reads as a stand-alone (I have yet to read Well Met) , is a perfect blend of romance and millennial-style coming into one’s own.

The characters are relatable and well developed. The setting is a treat, with DeLuca’s writing meaning you can jump right into the story and be right there. The story weaves in some great romance tropes, while still feeling like you are immersed in the real world. While this will serve well as a light and cozy fall read, it explores some real feelings and issues that will resonate with anyone looking for their life’s next phase. This sweet, funny and touching romance reminds us that in some ways, we all have a lot to learn about love and getting out of our comfort zones.

This was a good continuation of an enjoyable series about the town of people who keep a small Renaissance Faire going every summer in Maryland. I have liked all of the characters and love stories so far - well paced read

This is the second book in Jen DeLuca's Well Met series,. While I enjoyed it, it wasn't my favorite of the two. It did have a lovely story about moving on and following your heart, plus a little romance along the way. Sometimes it is good to go outside your comfort level, because then life might have a surprise or two for you.

I loved last year's Well Met, so I was excited to get to read the next book in this series, which follows dental receptionist-slash-Renaissance Faire tavern wench Stacey. Having put her own plans on hold to help out her sick mother, Stacey feels stuck in the small town of Willow Creek. The Ren Faire is the one bright spot in her year, and especially her occasional hookups with shallow pretty boy Dex McLean, part of a traveling family musical act. When she messages Dex after the Faire season is over, she's surprised to get back a sweet, thoughtful reply. Thus begins almost a year of emailing and texting with Dex, as Stacey slowly falls for the kind and funny man she's come to know.

Of course, it's all a lie. (The book blurb mentions this, and the cover photo kind of gives it away with the man's hair color, so I wouldn't call it a spoiler.) She hasn't been talking to Dex at all, and now Stacey's not sure if she can trust the man she's *really* been falling in love with.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, and I really want to run away and join the Ren Faire circuit now. There's just enough conflict and drama to keep it interesting, without feeling melodramatic. And for animal lovers, Stacey has an adorable and supportive tuxedo cat named Benedick.

I was looking forward to this book after reading the author's first novel a few months ago. While I found the beginning of the book took a bit to figure out that she wasn't communicating with who she thought she was, I liked that it was resolved fairly quickly. The characters were fun and the renaissance fair setting was unique.

Couldn’t put it down. Enjoyed it as much, if not more, that Well Met.

In Well Played, Stacey has been stuck in a rut with her reasons for staying in small town Willow Creek becoming excuses. After college she had the opportunity to move to the big city and start a career, but her mom’s health crisis put those dreams on hold and now that hold has become permanent. Her friends have started careers, relationships, and families, so one night she throws caution to the wind (after too much wine) and emails her no strings summer fling Dex to see if there could possibly be more. Dex is a musician in the Dueling Kilts band that plays at the Willow Creek’s Renaissance Faire every year. She starts to receive thoughtful and earnest emails and clever texts from Dex. Does Dex have heretofore hidden depths or is someone else behind these online exchanges? As the year passes, summer comes back to Willow Creek along with Ren Faire and the return of the Dueling Kilts. Stacey is about the meet (again?) the man she has spent the year falling in love with.

As I said with Well Met, the Ren Faire lifestyle is such an original setting for a novel. Past characters make appearances with the wedding of Simon and Emily from the first book and the hint of a possible connection for Mitch in the next book entitled Well Matched. I think there is more than the surface playboy in Mitch and I think Emily’s sister, April may be the one to call him out on it.

The final email sent to Stacey in Chapter 20 was so heartfelt that I felt I was falling in love with the email writer as well.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

The second installment from Jen Deluca in her ren faire series does not quite hold up to the first. While the characters were all back from the previous novel, I felt that they didn't flesh out the new guy in town, Daniel McClean.

This was really cute! Well Played is the second book in the Well Met series, and our story this time focuses on fellow tavern wench Stacey and the manager of the Dueling Kilts, a music group that visits the Faire each summer. Stacey intends to send a message to her summer hookup, Dex MacLean, the guitar player for the Dueling Kilts after the Faire ends, but instead (unknowingly) begins to correspond with Daniel MacLean, the group's manager. Throughout the year, while waiting for the next summer to start, the two exchange emails and texts, and before Stacey knows it, she's halfway in love with Daniel. But when it becomes clear that Daniel has been pretending to be his cousin, can Stacey get past his lies to give their relationship a chance? This is a romance novel, so of course she can. But there's bumps on the way!
I really enjoyed this, although not as much as the first book. There's lots of cameos by Simon and Emily, which was great, and I loved that this is an epistolary novel. I did struggle with Daniel's continual lying and how he didn't fight for Stacey. The ending, Stacey has to hunt Daniel down at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, and that seemed wrong to me because Daniel should have been the one doing the grand gesture. He messed up, not Stacey.
Overall, this was a fun return to Willow Creek, and I'm excited to see April and Mitch's story in the next book.

So very cute! I loved reading about Stacey and especially sweet Daniel. I love the representation of different body types in this book. Being able to relate to a character and their problems is oh so important and Stacey was very easy to step into her shoes. I can’t wait to return to the RenFair next book!

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC!


We were introduced to Stacey, one of the Faire co-organizers, in Well Met and this is her story. Stacey came back to Willow Creek to help her family and then settled into a life there after her mother's health scare. However, the life she's built is starting to chafe after seeing how all the friends around her are moving on, getting married, having families. One night, after some wine has bolstered her with a dash of bravery and a romantic filter on life, Stacey messages Dex, her Faire no-strings-attached hookup. And when he replies with more feeling than she expected, she soon finds herself falling in love with someone who keeps surprising her.

I just love this series and I will read every installment that is put out in this universe. Getting to know Stacey and reading about Willow Creek from an insider's perspective in this book felt cozy, like coming home. I also appreciated how well this book writes about the frustration, feelings of obligation, and limited opportunities that small towns and family obligations can create. I've known many people in my life who have expressed those same feelings and it made Stacey feel very real.

The romantic lead is also fire. I am so here for a ginger romantic lead and having the opportunity to read emails/texts from him for so much of the book made it feel like we actually got to know him, unlike other books where the love interest can just feel one-dimensional and like a vague collection of characteristics meant to make us swoon. My only disappointment with the lead was [ the continual walking-away and giving up easily. I don't love when books use that as a plot device and personally it's just annoying. But it did give Stacey the opportunity to decide what she wants and make some changes in her life. (hide spoiler)]

I also appreciate how forthright and decisive Stacey is. It was refreshing to read a lead character like that. However, at times it also felt like things were solved for Stacey rather than Stacey taking the lead in her own life to direct her own path. I wish that Stacey had made some of her own small changes throughout the book instead.

My only other note was I don't know about was the structure. [The first half is spent getting to know Daniel through texts and emails, but nothing really happens. It was easy to tear through but at the same time, I felt like "What is happening for Stacey? And what are we spending time on right now?". Then the book really picks up and we spend the rest at Faire with Stacey and Daniel, which ends up compressing a lot into very little time. I don't know how you'd improve that given the long-distance romance is so integral to the story, but again, I would've liked to see more for Stacey's everyday life and then perhaps it would've felt more balanced. (hide spoiler)]

I loved this book and I'm SO EXCITED for the third installment - for April & Mitch's story. The second these two characters were hanging together with Stacey at the end of Well Played, I was rooting for them. And I anticipate it might end up being my favorite match? Anyway, all to say, I can't wait for 2021!

Ugh, y'all, I'm sorry. SO SORRY.

I wanted to be able to tell you that I absolutely adored this novel and that I thought it was the perfect sequel to Well Met (which I loved!).

Unfortunately, Jen DeLuca's Well Played fell a bit short for me. Don't get me wrong: I still really enjoyed this book; it's a 3.5-star novel for me. I loved that DeLuca incorporated Emily and Simon from the first book (though some might find them a little too prominent), and the fact that this story takes place over the course of a year is Very Much My Shit™. (I love Josie Silver's books, so this should come as no surprise.) I also really related to the #growth journey that Stacey was on; both of DeLuca's books so far have been about more than just a woman finding a dude.

For me, Well Played just lacked that little extra umph factor. I've found that a catfishing trope is always going to be risky, because it blurs that line between irredeemable actions by a love interest and a bad but potentially understandable thing to do; in this case, I was just never totally sold on the romantic arc, though there were some adorable moments.

Again though, I still liked this book, enjoy Jen DeLuca's writing style, and will absolutely read Well Matched when it comes out; in fact, I'm already counting down the days.