I know many people like this one. Actually, most of my friends have enjoyed it, but I just could not get through it. There was something very childish about how the adults in this book acted. It was very off-putting and caused me to put this book aside and search out something else to read.

This book was absolutely adorable and a hidden gem! When I saw that it was about the Renaissance faire I HAD to read it and I was not disappointed. The featured couple both have pasts that hang on to the and impact the way that they give and receive love. It was so true and relatable that you couldn’t help but root for them the entire way through. I flew through this book and wish it never ended!

I can honestly say this is one of my favourite reads this year! I was captivated by the very first line and it only got better from there! It hit every one of my favourite romance tropes: fake dating, enemies to lovers, PIRATES, Shakespeare jabs. It was honestly perfect! It’s been a long time since a romance book left me with this many emotions. I can’t wait to read it again!

I really enjoyed this book.

I can’t even begin to describe how much I enjoyed Well Met by Jen DeLuca. I’m not always a fan of angst in my romances, but this had a good and safe amount of it.

Well Met follows Emily, as she has moved with her sister after an unfortunate car accident has left her sister dependent for many things, including taking care of her daughter. Emily, as the loyal younger sister, has packed up her life and escaped an ex boyfriend and a life that wasn’t completely hers. But in this new small town, she has slowly found her way in a routine, and as a volunteer for a local Renaissance Faire. Living life as a wench has it’s ups and downs. Enter Simon, crazy obsessive Ren Faire organizer who has a clear distaste of Emily. Why? Who knows!

I loved Emily. She’s so loyal and fun. I enjoyed getting to know her, and connecting to her was so easy and simple. She’s great and definitely not a push over. I liked her voice. It was realistic, and I never found myself disconnecting from her persona. Simon took a bit to get used to, but again, I’m not always a fan of angst. It took a while for me to understand him, but once the layers were peeled, I really liked him as a character.

Overall, the story was sweet. I loved all the details of the Ren Faire. There were times when I could really picture everything that was going on, and the details of this world never took away from the story. In fact, I would have thought it to be a third character. Everything was well placed and planned, and it allowed for such an enjoyable read.

I’m ready to read more from Jen. Her writing has become a favorite, and I can’t wait for more to come.

*Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*

One of the best romcom this year!!

I absolutely adored this book!! Thank You so very much Berkley for approving me this advanced readers copy!!

I can't rave about this book enough. Coming from a small town myself I was able to connect to the story on many levels. I have also not been to a Renaissance Faire but the description in the book make me feel like I could see it myself. I loved the love story between Emily and Simon. I also enjoyed watching Emily get closer to her much older sister. (I said watching because I could really see it!) This book had me laughing one minute and crying the next! I am so glad to have read this book, I have a new found love for romcom novels!!

3.5 Stars

Emily; 24 years old, unemployed, and recently dumped by her long term boyfriend moves to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, to help out her sister and niece as they recover from a car accident. For Emily this is a great chance to escape from her regular life and throw herself into being there for her family. Her niece, Caitlin has volunteered to be a part of the renaissance fair that the town holds each year, as Emily goes to drop her off at the first meeting she is volun-told that in order for Caitlin to work the fair Emily will also have to! So Emily soon becomes Emma, the town’s tavern wench. Unfortunately for Emily, Simon, the handsome man in charge of the fair seemed to take an immediate dislike to her. Simon, Willow Creek’s high school English teacher, is very protective of the fair, and wants everything to go perfectly in honor of his brother – he will not tolerate halfhearted attempts.

I think we all can tell where this story is going, and it very predictably follows that route. I enjoyed the first 70% of this story and then it got a bit boring for me. At the start I really enjoyed the back and forth between Emily and Simon, some of their conversations made me actually laugh out loud. Growing up in a big city (Toronto) I had never known that renaissance fairs were a thing, so reading about the town setting one up and practicing for it was all new to me and was very interesting. I also loved how Emily was a tavern wench and Simon turned into a pirate and they both really got into their roles – it was like a little Halloween romance or a masquerade romance.

All of this kept me enthralled and turning the pages until a certain point where I felt like the story plateaued. Once the chase and all of the angst was gone, I was left with the realization that I did not really know much about the characters beyond what could be learned in a conversation. Once I wasn’t so excited about wondering how Simon and Emily would finally hook up, I realized that everything I knew about them as well as the secondary characters was very surface level. For example why exactly does Emily’s sister never interact with the folks in the town? I felt like this was something so small but could have been explored a bit more so that we really got to understand the person that Emily packed up her life to go help. This was just one small example, and this lack of a deeper understanding of the characters led me to become a bit bored towards the end of the novel.

Overall, it is an easy and fun read, but lacks real depth.

~ Harshita

I was so genuinely excited for this book and when I got it I swept everything aside to read it and I am so happy that it didn't disappoint! Emily has a lot going on when her boyfriend basically dumps her after she'd supported him and put her dreams on hold. So when her sister was in an accident she doesn't think anything of it to move in with her to help her for the summer. Somehow when that turns into her volunteering at a RenFaire with her teenage niece this didn't even strike me as odd lol!



Honestly, Jen DeLuca, in this debut, did manage that pretty smoothly. Which surprised me. Because when I started reading I was guessing it was going to be a Renaissance Faire romance in the sense that it was going to be two Ren Faire nerds falling in love - and I was all in on that idea already! But then when Emily was a newbie to this all I was trepidatious at that whole concept. But DeLuca was smart with this because by making her a novice she was able to introduce all of the fun Faire ideas to the readers as well. So when Emily scoffed at the costumes so did we. But also, when Em slowly fell in love with the idea of finding herself and her found family through Faire, the readers could relate as well.



Em's character arc was incredibly strong and I loved her. I just really appreciated her examining her life choices and trying to figure out if dropping out of college was right for her. I loved seeing her maneuvering that along with her family, the Faire, and just life.



And then there's Simon, oh I love him. He's super pissy, which does not seem like an attractive quality, but I'll fight you on that, because Simon is HOT. I absolutely enjoyed Emily and Simon and their antagonistic relationship slowly evolve into...something else.



And then the quiet depiction of grief. That's really beautifully done in my opinion. Everyone deals differently and I will always love seeing men taking an emotional journey in any book. And to see him come to grasp with his grief after so long and to have Emily help with that was rather powerful to me.



There are delightful side characters like her sister April and her niece Caitlin, both of whom I enjoyed a lot. I particularly loved the side plot of the bookstore and Emily figuring out her real life outside of Faire - along with Simon doing the same.



Overall, I just loved this book and thought that DeLuca did a wonderful job of showing the fun and nerdy side of the Renaissance Faire. But also this is just a really great romance from beginning to end. I'm excited to see what comes next from Jen DeLuca.

This was a really cute story that just left me happy after reading it! I am a sucker for a good enemies to friends story and I really enjoyed all of the characters, both main and supporting.

Well Met by Jen DeLuca is a must read small town romances with a bit of hate to lovers mixed in as well. This story pulled me from the reading slump I've been in for months and is a shoe in for best of 2019 list!

I have been in the worst reading slump I've been in, in years, I'm talking all summer long I just wasn't feeling any book I read, it just wasn't sucking me in and keeping me there, the last book that I read and loved was The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez, but praise the Lord for Well Met!

Well Met was funny, quirky with a brooding hero that had me swooning from hand kisses and his brand of woo'ing. He wasn't perfect and he definitely didn't have if figured out, but this flawed hero, who dresses as a hot as hell pirate during the renaissance fair just did it for me. I fell IN LOVE with him.

I also adored Emily, she like most of us women, had her insecurities but was learning to put herself first and only accept what is best for her. When she saw that she wasn't being placed first she put her foot down and stood up for herself, even though it hurt.

I think we can all be a little more like Emily at times, because it's hard to be open about how we are feeling and what we aren't getting from a relationship that we expect. I loved watching her grow and learn from her previous relationship and to put herself first when she's used to always helping everyone else.

If you are looking for a romantic comedy that packs a punch of emotions into I can't recommend Well Met by Jen DeLuca enough!

“Good morrow and well met” is a standard greeting every year I go to our local medieval faire. I have considered joining a Renaissance faire group as an active participant, so I fell in love with this book from the first meeting the heroine has with her small town’s Faire group. DeLuca’s expertise with how the Faire performances go and her love of all things Renaissance allows her to give the reader an intimate and immersive experience with the story and that is a rare gift.

With two characters showing growth from darkness to light in their own lives and also in their relationship, character development could be challenging and messy. But this is where the book shines. While allowing them and their relationship to grow, DeLuca handles the delicate power balance between them — who is feeling what and when, who is compromising and who is asserting themself — with a deftness and assuredness you don’t usually see in a début author.

DeLuca has made a splash on the contemporary romance scene with her first book, Well Met, and I can’t wait for her next book. She’s an author to watch!

https://frolic.media/book-of-the-week-well-met-by-jen-deluca/

Best romcom I’ve read this year!!!

I loved absolutely everything about this book! Jen DeLuca stole my heart with this charming romance. Emily’s life has kind of fallen apart so when her sister April needs her help she sees it as a perfect opportunity to regroup, her intention was never to stay in small town Maryland. It also was not part of her plans to spend her summer volunteering at a Renaissance Fair. But when her 14-year-old niece needs a parent to supervise her volunteering she feels forced. Also volunteering will give her the opportunity to see Mitch the hot gym teacher in a kilt, that is if she doesn’t get fired from her volunteer position by the uptight Simon. After many Saturdays of rehearsal it is finally time for the fair opening and who is that hot pirate in those tight leather pants? Oh no it cannot possibly be Simon! Ah but it is Captain Ian Blackthorn (Simon’s alter ego) and he is quite fond of Emma (Emily’s alter ego) the tavern wench. I’m certain you know where this is going and let me tell you what it was so much fun getting to that delicious HEA!

Emily was such an amazing character, she had such a generous heart and a beautiful spirit. The chemistry between Emily and Simon was undeniable and the banter was divine. The renaissance Fair offered the perfect backdrop to the story. This really actually surprised me I am not a big Renaissance fair person, never been to one, never want to go to one, but I was completely intrigued with the goings-on at the fair. I think it really showcased the sense of community in this small town in Maryland, and added a little extra sparkle to the story. All the secondary characters were delightful! Mitch, stacey, and April in particular. Loved how supportive and kind these characters were. This was just a feel good story that still has me smiling a week later!

This book in three emojis: 🏴‍☠️ 💑 ♟

*** Big thanks to Berkley for my copy of this book ***

I'm not an avid romance lover but have started to dip my toes into the shallow end of the Romance pool. So far, I've found some entertaining, light reads with memorable characters and a side of sass.

Well Met, the debut novel from Jen DeLuca, has a few things going for it. First, it has a unique setting. The small-town Renaissance faire is described in detail bringing readers into the heart of the festival - its food, fashion and entertainment. There's also a bookstore (always a plus!), complicated family dynamics and a will-they-won't-they kind of romance.

But there are a few things that I didn't love. There is too much 'telling versus showing', the plot was predictable, and the cast were a bit bland. I wanted to see the budding relationship between Simon and Emily build. Instead, we're given weak reasons for their dislike for each other (based on misinterpretations of each other's actions/words) and when we do get to the big moment, the change in their feelings for each other pivoted too quickly without explaining this drastic change of heart.

While I prefer my romances with a bit more depth and realistic tension between the characters, this is a decent debut for readers who enjoy a light, predictable romance that takes place within a unique setting.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Berkley Books for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

This was a really cute read! I really enjoyed the two main characters, Emily and Simon, and the enemies to lovers storyline. I found Emily to be a very relatable character and I enjoyed seeing the progression of her relationship with Simon. The supporting characters really rounded out the story and I really liked the Ren Faire setting.

I insta-requested this arc because EVERYTHING in its description was like the recipe for the perfect book I didn't know I wanted: heroine who moves to a small town, isn't really feeling it. Gets roped into becoming a tavern wench at the local renaissance faire. Nieces... teachers! Turkey legs! ENEMIES TO LOVERS. And then when I actually did read the book, so much more!! This story was so fun and original, and for someone who's (tragically) never been to a renaissance faire, really made me want to pack my bags and move to Maryland. I actually loved 'experiencing' the faire so much that even if there hadn't been any romance I would have still really enjoyed this book. A really fantastic and charming debut title, and I'll be first in line for whatever Jen DeLuca writes next!

I can't wait to review this for BroadwayWorld in September and to recommend it at BN. I loved loved LOVED this book SO much!

I would love it if there were a bunch of companion novels. I need to see April+Mitch!! Stacey and her mystery date. Maybe even Chris! And maybe a YA or New Adult with Caitlin. #IWantAllTheThings
...I'd even be okay with more Ren Faire setting, lol!

I can't wait to submit a full review closer to release, but I LOVED this so much!

OFFICIAL REVIEW from https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwbooks/article/BWW-Review-WELL-MET-by-Jen-Deluca-20190902

Well met, dear readers! Are you looking for a fun, engaging read to end your summer and bring you into fall? Pick up brand-new release WELL MET by Jen Deluca this Tuesday! With Ren Faire season in full swing, the release of this book is timed perfectly. Whether you're a Ren Faire junkie, a casual fan, or know nothing about them, this book will keep you turning pages and becoming invested in the lives of all the characters.

Small town life isn't for everyone. Emily's sister April detests the way everyone knows everything about everyone else and keeps to herself as much as possible. When Emily comes to spend the summer taking care of her and April's daughter Caitlin, she doesn't realize that this town will become everything to her. She thought she'd get in and get out, spend some time recovering from a horrible break-up, and move on. Instead, her love becomes irrevocably changed by the Ren Faire she never wanted to do in the first place.

While April recovers, Emily is Caitlin's pseudo-guardian, forced to sign up for the town Ren Faire as Caitlin's chaperone. She plays the role of a tavern wench and goes from thinking the part will be ludicrous to having more fun than she ever thought possible. She quickly befriends fellow tavern wench Stacey, Ren Faire Queen and town bookstore owner Chris, and a gorgeously-toned, kilt-wearing teacher named Mitch. She's instantly at odds, however, with Simon, a swashbuckling pirate who knows how to push all her buttons. She thinks she can have a summer fling with Mitch and move on, but instead finds herself becoming more and more intrigued by Simon as the summer wears on. Can Emily leave and return to her former life as summer comes to a close and her sister no longer needs her help, or have the new connections she's made grounded her somewhere new?

Oftentimes, it's easy to fall in love with a book's main characters. It's harder to become as enamored with the supporting cast. Deluca fleshes out small time life and its residents in a way that will have readers caring for everyone in Willow Creek as deeply as they did for the inhabitants of Stars Hollow when Gilmore Girls was still on the air. I could read books about these characters forever. I want more novels where they become main characters in their own rights and we see reoccurring faces that bring back the nostalgia of earlier books. I want a sequel where April and Mitch get together because of a scene towards the end where they'd just be so gosh-darn-good-together. I want to see something pan out between Emily's friend Stacey and a mysterious date she won't talk about. I would even love to see a book starring Chris (Plus, books about books and bookstores are the best). I would even love a YA or New Adult title starring Emily's niece Caitlin when she's a little older. And of course, this bucket list includes as many of these tales as possible taking place during Ren Faire season become the setting is too delicious not to return to, even if it's only as a cameo.

What are secondary characters, however, without a strong lead and love interest? One of my favorite tropes when it comes to relationships is hate to love. The chemistry has to be spot-on and really ignore that slow-burn sensation, or it doesn't work. Emily and Simon are at odds from the day they meet. Simon is stand-offish with Emily when she drops off an application for the Ren Faire not really caring about her role in it, only wanting to help out her niece. The Ren Faire, however, is deeply important to Simon, and he doesn't like that she isn't going to take the summer seriously. They begin on uneven footing, but forced to work together in close proximity during rehearsals and the launch of the Ren Faire itself, grow closer and slowly form a connection. I couldn't get enough of these two and looked forward to each new scene they had together. I already want to go back and revisit this book because I miss this duo so much!

It is rare for me to fall so deeply for a contemporary novel, as I read more fantasy than I do anything else, but when the writing and characters are strong, I fall hard and fast and the book becomes an instant favorite. WELL MET is some of the most fun I've had reading a contemporary in a while, and I am actively looking forward to more novels from Deluca. Unfortunately for me, this is her debut, so I can't dive into her backlist, but happily, since her career is still young, she'll have many more books to come. Hopefully there will be many more books set in this world with these characters, but I would also welcome something brand-new. Deluca is definitely on my auto-read radar now, knowing nothing about her future books, because I enjoyed this one so very much. Definitely pick up WELL MET when it releases this month and meet your next reading obsession!

A thoroughly charming YA romcom from a fresh debut voice, WELL MET's world feels fully lived in and its characters are multidimensional and fresh. The story's unique setting lends a lot of levity and interest to a relatively standard plot structure, twisting familiar story beats with unique elements that really make the world come alive.

I have never been interested in Renaissance Faires and honestly, thought they were pretty cheesy, until I read this book. The rom-com style of writing made me love the characters, but the thought and attention to detail that goes into the production of a faire makes me want to attend one. Loved it!

4.5 Stars

Fantastic debut novel. The unique setting and well-developed characters had me turning the pages with enthusiasm and longing to get back to the book when real-life got in the way.

Simone is my favorite type of hero. A sort of broken, subtly attractive curmudgeon with a big heart that tends to get overlooked in favor of the charismatic, more obvious attractive guys.

Hope was not quite the sun to his shade but she was definitely more on the positive, happy side despite experiencing a bit of a rough patch and finding herself moving to help out her sister in her time of need.

Together they had a ton of chemistry, even if it was a bit negative in the beginning. Their seemingly instant dislike of each other felt so great for no apparent reason which only made it feel like their passion and attraction to each other scared them both so much that they did everything they could to fight it. I simply loved them together.

The secondary characters and the renaissance faire setting added such a fun and unique aspect to the book that I just had a good time reading this story. I can’t wait to read more from this author!!

I received a digital advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


I.LOVE.THIS.BOOK. Jen Deluca, you have no idea how much I adore your writing style. You are a gem to contemporary literature and I will read any and everything you ever pushlish.


This story follows Emily, a 20 something millennial who has just had a really rough go of things. Emily comes to the small town of Willow Creek to help her sister recover from a terrible accident and to care for her teenage niece. Her niece desperately wants to sign up to the in the Ren Faire but needs a guardian to sign up with her due to her age. Emily reluctantly signs up to be a tavern wench. I won't go into tooooo many details, but a certain stubborn english teacher changes Emily’s life and makes her want to make her home in Willow creek more of a permanent situation.


My main question for Deluca…is why can’t every guy be like Simon? Where can I get a Simon of my own?? He is an absolute heartthrob for this little nerd. I mean who doesn’t love a Shakespere quoting hunk of man?


I found Emily super relatable and I enjoyed tagging along on her journey through self discovery. If you want an easy read, then make sure you pick this up. It was absolutely FANTASTIC.


I want to thank Jen Deluca, NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing Group for the change to review this title. It was so enjoyable!

First time reader of this author and a fan. Ms. DeLuca knows how to draw a reader in with cute and humorous antics between characters. Well Met is a fun romantic comedy and I loved both Emily and Simon’s character and devoured this book in one day. It’s the perfect enemies-to-lover romance set with a backdrop of a small town and Renaissance Faire. Looking forward for more from this author!