I love a good ole’fashioned romance. Small town, slow burn with everything you want and more.
It was a smart, funny and endearing read.
Very sweet and clean.
Plus pirates, wrenches and kilts...

~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 5/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 5/5
Secondary Characters~ 5/5
The Feels~ 5/5
Pacing~ 5/5
Addictiveness~5/5
Angst~ 5/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 5/5
Theme or Tone~ 5/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 5/5
Originality~ 5/5
Ending~ 5/5
Book Cover~ Simple but conveyed the right message
Series~ Standalone
Source~ Kindle eBook - copy provided by publishing through NetGalley

Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes

3.75 stars for this Renaissance Faire-inspired contemporary romance. Emily, fresh off a painful breakup with her long-term boyfriend - she dropped out of college to put him through law school, spoiler: BIG MISTAKE - temporarily moves to the small town of Willow Creek in Maryland to help out her older sister April, who's laid up from a severe car accident, and April's 14 year old daughter Caitlin.

Right after she gets to town Emily finds out that Cait is dead set on participating in the town's amateur, six-weekend-long Renaissance Faire as a performer and - lucky Emily - a parent or guardian is required to participate as well. Which Emily wouldn't mind so much if the high school English teacher in charge of the fair, Simon, weren't such a critical, annoying stick in the mud. Maybe she's more interested in Mitch, the hot blond gym teacher ("Gaston mixed with Captain America")?

The weird thing (to Emily) is that when Simon starts dressing up as a pirate for the fair, it's like he gets a total personality transplant. What gives?

Well Met is a cute, sexy read. There's not too much really unusual going on here, as compared to other contemporary romance novels, other than the Ren Faire setting, and maybe Simon's struggles to deal with a tragedy in his past. But if you like the idea of the main couple acting like a pirate and a bartending tavern wench (yay?) during their spare time while they work out their love-hate relationship ... this should fit the bill.

Enjoyable rom-com with a Renaissance Faire at the center of the story. Sparks fly in a bad way when Emily joins her niece working at the Faire for the summer. Her nonchalant attitude does not impress Simon, who is the organizer. Once the Faire starts, Simon's pirate character starts flirting with Emily's serving wench and those sparks turn from hate to love, or do they? Role-playing versus real life, Emily has to decide if small town life is for her and if she'll have a happily ever after.

Thanks to @Netgalley and @berkleyromance for allowing me to read this ARC of Well Met in exchange for my review! This one had been on my radar for a while so I was thrilled I was approved for this ARC.
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Emily has moved to Willow Creek to help her sister recover from a car accident and help with the care of her teenage niece. Her life has been rather unpredictable of late, but she definitely didn’t expect to be volunteering for a Renaissance Fair for her niece’s school. Luckily, she finds she grows to love the people and town more by participating, except for Simon. The surly, often cold, English teacher and Fair director doesn’t seem very keen on the newcomer to town. Are they destined to be enemies forever or is there more to the tension between these two?
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I can honestly tell you anytime a book’s main character shares my name, it automatically gets major bonus points. Though the premise of a Renaissance Fair as a setting for a love story had me arching an eyebrow, it actually made a great setting for a very cute story. I found myself laughing out loud several times and the story moved right along. One of the center places of this book is a book shop, so again, major bonus points.
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There were some things I didn’t love about this book. There wasn’t as much tension or depth to this story as I would have liked. There were plenty of “cheesy” moments (and I’m a sucker for those moments), but there was almost too much of it at times throughout this story for my taste.
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Overall, this was still a cute, summer read and worth a read for a light hearted rom-com!

I enjoyed this first novel by Jen DeLuca and will keep an eye out for future books by her.

One sentence summary: Emily temporarily moves to a small town to help out family, finds herself volunteering for a Renaissance Fair, learns about herself, and develops new friendships (and more) with the town's citizens.

Like I said, this was an enjoyable book. I can honestly say I've never read a book set at a Renaissance Fair before, and it was cool to get a glimpse of what they're like. I liked all the characters and really liked the story line of how Emily gets closer to her family.

My criticism is that it was a little slow to get into - the first third of the book was just about preparing for the fair, and I found that to be kind of boring. There wasn't a ton of conflict (not that that's bad!), and the conflict that was there was just okay (it was mostly about trying to decipher Simon's mood swings with a dash of misunderstanding-causes-angst thrown in). Despite this, I would still recommend it and thought the author did a good job.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Well Met was a super fun debut novel! I was immediately sold on the quirky cute premise and small town Ren Fair setting. I love slow burn and enemies to lovers tropes and really enjoyed this lighthearted take. I would definitely recommend it to fans of contemporary romance and look forward to reading more from the author!

4.5 stars -- I was between a 4 & 4.5 stars for this, as I do think there are some plausibility issues in the progression of feelings in the central relationship... but ultimately, I don't care about those issues. I had SUCH a great time reading this and was so delighted to find such a charming contemporary that scratched my itch for slow burn romance a la Mariana Zapata. I loved pretty much every element of this aside from a little bit of instalove, from the small town setting, to unironic enjoyment of Ren Faire life, to the family dynamics, to the characters... yeah. Really fun, really adorable, and hit me right in the feels in the best way possible. (Also, snaps to this author on such a strong debut-- the authorial voice and overall pacing were handled very nicely, and I will definitely be looking out for more from Jen DeLuca)

**thank you to the publisher for proving an eARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

as soon as I heard the synopsis of this book I KNEW I needed to get my hands on it. I love ren faires; I volunteer and dress up at my local faire every year so to say I was excited for this romance set during a renaissance faire is a HUGE understatement

as I was reading I how come to realize that this is not only a romance set during a renaissance faire between a tavern wench and a PIRATE but it's also a hate-to-love AND it has fake dating (as well as multiple men in kilts) !!!!!!!!! this book was SO FUNNY and really just made me fall in love with contemporary romance. the romance was woo-worthy, the smut was good, and the small town atmosphere gave it all the hallmark-romcom vibes I didn't know I needed

another thing I really loved about this book was the sister dynamic. like the main character, my sister and I are 13 years apart (she and her sister are 12 years but,, semantics). the way their relationship was described was so reminiscent of how I imagine my sister and I will grow up together. it's something I never expected to be represented in a book and I was pleasantly warmed by it.

however, there are reasons this is not a five stars.

first, the writing is definitely clunky. the dialogue is awkward at times; for instance, characters who have known each other their whole lives tell their life stories to each other for the sake of the narrator learning about them. similarly, it is VERY info-dumpy, especially in the beginning. but this is a debut novel so it's nothing that cannot be improved over time.

the last major reason was how insecure the main character was. emily was in a five year, seemingly, loveless relationship so throughout the whole book she is always second-guessing herself. I was understanding of it for most of the book but towards the end when the relationship really started going and she was making a life for herself in this small town she was STILL wondering if people liked her or not despite always getting validation. again though, it wasn't enough to really affect my enjoyment of this book.

I HIGHLY recommend this book if you're wanted a cute summer read filled with a breath-taking (get it because,,,,, corsets) romance in a fun renaissance faire-small town setting

Wow. This story drew me in from the first few pages and didn't let go. I adored Emily and Simon, and the whole cast of characters, and quickly became invested in what was happening in their lives, as we as The Faire. And the Faire itself - what a unique setting! So much fun! This will definitely be a reread and I can't wait to read more from DeLuca!

***Thanks to the publishers and #Netgalley for providing me with a copy of #WellMet in exchange for my honest review***

::Happy sigh::

Jen DeLuca's novel is about starting over and finding your strength to put yourself first. Emily has moved into her sister's to help her and her niece after an accident. Emily has been through a rough patch and needs a new start. Where better to start than a small town that puts on a Ren Faire every year. At first she thinks it's silly, but a handsome pirate soon changes her mind.

I could not put this down! The characters were complicated and so lovely and the story flowed perfectly. The sexual tension was spot-on.

I can't wait for more from Jen DeLuca!

*ARC received for an honest review*

First and foremost, take my reviews with a grain of salt right now. I am just an unhappy, bored reader. Nothing is capturing my heart or my attention. I had hope for this cute little book though - and it wasn’t bad.

Emily moves to a new town to help her sister after an accident. She gets sucked into the town Renaissance Fair where she meets Simon - the grumpy English teacher in charge. They immediately clash. And then their Fair alter egos like one another while they don’t like each other in real life.

I felt like there was no real explanation for Simon’s change of heart. Both of these characters had some intense self-doubt that leaked into their relationship. I appreciate that’s realistic - it just isn’t fun. There were lots of times Emily should have spoken up. Or had more faith in herself. And times when Simon was just illogical in his actions.

Still it was cute. Super easy read. I liked the Ren Fair aspect. I liked the Shakespeare. I liked that Simon wasn’t a macho hulk. This was definitely a sweet light read perfect for the summer - and a non-angry reader.

What a wonderful debut!

A renaissance festival romance? Count me in!

Emily has had a rough year, so when her sister needs help recovering from an accident, she moves to the small town - Willow Creek - where everyone knows everything about each other. Emily is roped into participating in the local Renaissance Festival with her niece, but clashes with Simon. The straight-lace English teacher doesn't appreciate the suggestions from Emily to change how things are run.

My favorite thing about this romance was how Simon was able to come out of his shell and forget his worries when he was "in character" as Captain Blackthorne - the pirate of the Renaissance Festival. When things go off script, and Emily's character as a tavern wench becomes involved with the charming pirate, Emily is forced to recognize her attraction to the frustratingly closed off man.

Simon has a lot of things in his past that has made him such an advocate for keeping the Festival the same every year. As he lets Emily get close enough to see these scars, she begins to understand his motivations and how Simon, too, is stuck in a sort of limbo.

I absolutely loved this book, and I hope that we continue to see couples in this small town in future books!

I enjoyed the book and the back and forth between the main characters. I felt like the main character could be repetitive at times. I liked the setting of the Faire and the characters that Emily befriended along.

Well Met is the perfect cute and nerdy summer read. For anyone that loves Renaissance Faires this book is a heartwarming story of a small town and sisterly love. While the romance was good in this book, the main selling feature is the sisterly bond between the main heroine and her sibling. That sisterly bond and re-connection really elevated the story for me. Put on your corset and grab a tankard of ale for this cute and fun romance romp.

ARC provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As soon as I read the blurb I knew I had to read this book.

I still remember my first time at a Renaissance Faire. The atmosphere, the costumes, the actors (which I didn’t even know were actors) and the food. But especially the location, tugged away in a wooded area, path leading through it all, connecting areas and stages. It was EXACTLY as the author described in this book. The heat, the dust and grime, the feeling of getting transported into a different time. It was FABULOUS!!!

And I loved how the author brought all of this to live in WELL MET.

The book was a great debut novel, with a wonderfully refreshing plot. The writing flowed and the characters were very well developed. It was easy to experience the faire with Emily, since the author apparently wrote from her own experiences, and visited a Renaissance Faire before.

The love between Emily and Simon was slow burn. And I wished there was a bit more to it. They didn’t spent nearly enough time together. And the time that they did spend together, wasn’t really enough for a deeper relationship. But it was a great start, I just thought the story needed another layer, to make their interest/love more believable.

The story was mostly about Emily, her transition to being single again and living in a small town with her sister and her niece, where she literally didn’t know anyone. Interestingly enough, Emily really liked the small town feel, compared to her sister, and she welcomed the friendships and opportunities that opened up for her.

Simon was interesting when he was personating his Faire character, but otherwise he felt a bit bland, stodgy, and as Emily said once, he had a stick up his butt. Which did go hand in hand with his more serious and quiet demeanor.

When Emily and Simon were bar wench and pirate, the interest was palpable but still not enough for me to be convinced. In my opinion they didn’t go far enough with their personalization. I wanted to see full on scenes between them, pages upon pages playing to the crowd, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. They had some interaction but not enough, maybe a paragraph here and there – I wanted pages. I also felt much of the Faire scenes were told rather than shown. I needed a bit more interaction overall. There was so much potential. I actually craved the interaction that the author hinted on but never fully delivered. I needed that to be a vital part of the book.

But otherwise Well Met was a sweet, and well written debut novel. Definitely a book many readers will enjoy. One of those perfect summer reads – light hearted and easy.

Well Met, indeed, Jen DeLuca! Helping out while her sister recovers from a broken leg means that Emily does the driving, the shopping - and the volunteering, serving as a pub wench at the local Renaissance Faire run by the high school English teacher, Colin. But there’s more to this Faire than just turkey legs, and there’s more to Colin than his checklists and logistics, which Emily soon discovers. I love a promising début, and this is a solid first effort.

My biggest concern about the story is that the Colin and Emily of the first third of the book just don’t have a lot in common with the two of them later on. The good news about this inconsistency is that while the early characters and their relationship merit maybe just a B-, the second part of the novel is closer to an A. Early on, Colin is written as an isolated disciplinarian type, grumping at Emily in order to cover up his attraction to her. It’s a stock hero, and not a good fit for a teacher and leader of volunteers. Second-two-thirds Colin is a sweet romantic who dons a swashbuckling pirate persona at the Faire, but in real life is resigned to being in someone else’s shadow. Growing up, it was his brother, who started the Faire, and whose death at a young age has left Colin the guardian of this legacy. Now, it’s people like his friend, the strapping and chiseled Marcus (described, fantastically, as a Gaston) – whom Colin simply assumes Emily would choose over him. See how much more developed and sympathetic later-Colin is? Similarly, Emily is given an abandoned English degree in her backstory, but it feels contrived, so as to allow her to banter about Shakespeare with Colin. At the Faire, she is less interested in the history and performances than in the business model, and later, she makes a business plan for a friend's book shop. This later Emily, with her shrewd head for logistics, business, and marketing, is more rounded and appealingly competent.

As the characters get going, so does the Faire, and at its peak, this story hits a whirring DIK stride. Emily clears up the Big Mis about Marcus and deftly learns to manage a bar tent. In my favorite sequence of the book, Colin enlists the entire Ren Faire to help him woo Emily. DeLuca mentions in her bio that she was a volunteer wench, which I’m sure helped her bring to life details like the groaning delight of an end-of-day shower and the rituals and traditions of the cast. However, the few specifics she gives about the more dedicated performers felt unlikely. I bought that Emily would wear a chemise with elastic in it, but would Colin really wear anachronistic leather trousers, especially in the heat of the summer? No wonder the shower felt so good…

The denouement drags slightly, as several obvious misunderstandings go unsorted and an OTT romantic gesture is forced, but on the whole, the ending is satisfying and fun. I enjoyed a knowledgeable look at a quirky contemporary setting, and I really liked the couple that Colin and Emily became. I look forward to more from Jen DeLuca!

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To be honest, at first this started off slow for me but, did begin to pick up and it captured my interest.
I loved how relatable all the characters turned out to be, and also that it wasn't just a typical love story, and that there was a lot that had to happen to make it work. It was human and it was honest and it was worth waiting till the end.

Well Met is a fun time at the Faire.

Emily has come to the little town of Willow Creek to take care of her sister and her niece while her sister recovers from a car accident. Her niece is very excited to be part of the Renaissance Faire which the school puts on each summer for fund raising. Unfortunately for Emily, that means a parent or guardian also needs to volunteer to keep on eye on the minor. Emily decides to make the best of it but no matter what she does or says, it doesn’t seem to be good enough to please Simon, who is the organizer of the event. She didn’t fill in her volunteer form correctly. He doesn’t think she put enough effort into her Faire name. She isn’t putting enough effort into her character. Emily is having fun and making friends and it all would be a great time without Faire killjoy Simon around.

Simon’s brother started the Faire and after his death three years ago, Simon has taken over the reigns in his brother’s memory, but Simon is convinced the only way to put on the Faire each year is the same way his brother did and he won’t hear any suggestions from Emily about things to improve the experience.

After weeks of preparation, the Faire finally opens and most surprisingly to Emily is the fact that, Emma the tavern wench (Emily) finds that flirting with the pirate Captain Blackthorne (Simon) to be very simulating indeed. If only Emily could stand to spend time with Simon out of costume. Yet as their stage personalities spend more time together, Emily starts imagining what it would be like if only they could keep this chemistry going outside of Faire weekends.

While this story and the Faire is set for the Renaissance, it has a definite Pride and Prejudice feel between Simon and Emily. It is told in first person, so we never get complete insight into Simon, but Emily’s first meeting with Simon where he complains that she doesn’t fill in her volunteer form correctly and that she isn’t taking the whole thing seriously, sets up Emily’s antagonism to Simon, and she sees all future interactions with Simon as his attacks against her because he must not like her. We eventually learn that Simon (like Darcy in P&P) has been mooning over Emily unaware that she disliked him so much. He only stays away when he thinks she is falling for Mitch, the gym teacher, who flirts with all the women and who is our stand in for Mr. Wickham so to speak but without the bad intentions.

Part of Emily’s problem is that her long-time boyfriend, who she dropped out of college to support while he was in law school, dumped her once he got a job in a prestigious law firm since a college-dropout, waitress girlfriend made him look bad. Her break up was why she was free to move to Maryland and help her sister, but it also kept whispering dark thoughts to Emily about her worthiness and you just wanted to shake her after awhile because she never allowed herself to just enjoy the good things coming her way. There was always a whisper of doubt questioning whether or not she would be pushed aside once again.

I enjoyed the telling of this story and I also enjoyed the backdrop of the Faire. If you have ever attended a Renaissance Faire, it made me appreciate more the hard work the actors put into the event as well as how much fun it must be to truly be a part of it.

This is a first novel for author Jen Deluca and it was a very enjoyable story.

Well Met was a cute read with a unique premise. The idea of a romance novel set at a renaissance fair had me definitely intrigued. It’s a very different concept. The accents and planning behind the fair was fun to read. Unfortunately, I felt some of the main characters fell a little flat. The main character, Emily, moved to a small town in Maryland to help her sister who had an accident and her niece. To allow her niece to volunteer at the town renaissance fair, she get roped into helping out. I did like Emily’s spirit. She was a bit feisty and stood up for herself. However, she seemed to cave pretty quickly towards the love interest, Simon, who was a bit of jerk the whole time. Simon never really grew on me even after they became a couple. Overall, I enjoyed Well Met, but I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would.

4.5 stars
I loved this book!
I loved everything about this book! I was shocked that this was a debut author! This writing was amazing. Quick, funny, witty, smart! The plot was interesting dealing with a Renaissance Faire. One of the best books I have read in 2019!!