Be still, my heart. This really was the romcom of my dreams. My whole life, I’ve been obsessed with going to renaissance fairs every fall in Michigan. My heart (and my nostalgia) is just so strong thinking about the memories I have from each year I went, numerous times. But never have I ever read a book where the setting was a renaissance fair! Well, that is until Jen DeLuca decided to give me everything I’ve ever wanted.

➽ Emily 24, travels across the country, to a very small town, after a breakup to help out her sister and niece while her sister recovers from an accident. Her niece, Caitlin, very much wants to be a part of the renaissance fair this year, but she needs a parental guardian to volunteer as well! Emily soon turns into Emma, the tavern wench.

➽ Simon 27, a high school English teacher, and very protective of his town’s renaissance fair, that he helps run every year, while he also becomes Ian Blackthorn, the hottest pirate ever.

“Emma the Tavern Wench was turned on by Captain Blackthorn, Pirate. This could be a problem.”

I mean, you all know where this is going. But the ride? One of the best I’ve been on for all of 2019. I fell so in love with both of these characters and everything they were going through, while also wishing that Willow Creek, Maryland, was a real town, because I fell in love with the entire community, on and off the fairgrounds.

I loved the themes of family and community throughout this story too. The unconditional love between Emily and her sister and niece was the stuff of dreams, and it was a treat to read. The angst between Emily and Simon was the stuff of magic.

“Let us love you, and remind you that you’re worth it until you figure out what you’re going to do next.”

Overall, I just adored this one. From the romance, to the witty banter, to the sex, to the small-town setting, to the unconditional love of family, it was just everything. I couldn’t stop smiling while reading this one. This is such a unique gift to the romcom world, and I hope you all pick it up and fall in love with it soon.

(Full review is posted to Goodreads, my blog, Amazon, Tumblr, and Barnes and Noble)

This book is addictive, and while that definitely had to do with the great plot and characterss, I also have to give credit to the writing and setting. Jen DeLuca’s writing style is so easy to be absorbed by, and the immersive setting of the Renaissance Faire hooks you the second you start. Although that could just be me, because I absolutely love the idea of Ren Faires. It’s because of this book that I’lll actually be going to my first one soon! Okay, but back to the writing. It’s very well done, with such a relatable tone that allows the book to feel both lighthearted and fun while also heartbreaking when necessary.

I know I already said this book is addictive, but I just need to say it again. I could not put it down. There was always something interesting happening, between the romance plotline, the family dynamics, and the Ren Faire itself.

Partially why this book is so good is the characters in it. Emily is a great protagonist. She’s strong, smart, and organized, with painfully relatable insecurities that she is trying to work through. I really loved her character development, and how she grows over the course of the book. As for our love interest, I really don’t want to say too much because it’s best to learn more about him over the course of the book. I know that’s one of my personal favorite parts of enemies-to-lovers romance. There were also some great side characters, I especially loved Emily’s dynamic with her sister and her niece.

WELL MET is everything I wanted it to be and more. With an adorable and steamy romance, the perfect setting, and amazing characters, you do not want to miss this.

Well Met is a book I picked up because all of my romance reader friends have been raving about it. Since they all loved it, I figured I would as well. I was right! It was so good. I couldn't believe Well Met is Jen DeLuca's début novel. It was so well written. It felt like a book by a seasoned author. It packed so much emotion -- it even brought tears to my eyes. I was impressed by this début.

Normally, I like my romances to have dual points of view. Well Met didn't have that. The entire story was told through Emily's eyes. I was surprised at how well this worked for me. I think it's because the romance, while a big part, wasn't the complete focus of the story. It was more about how Emily was healing from a break up, moving to a small town, reuniting with her sister and niece, and working through what was next for her. I loved experiencing her figuring it all out.

I have to admit I was a little apprehensive about the Renaissance Faire theme. I wasn't sure if this setting would work for me or not. It did. I found myself loving the scenes at the faire. They added another level to Emily and Simon's relationship that I wasn't expecting.

As for Emily and Simon... I really liked them together. I liked them together so much that I was a little sad that there wasn't as much to it as I was hoping. Don't get me wrong, there were a lot of deep and important moments between them. It's hard to explain, but their romance was a slow burn that felt kind of like insta-love. It took a while for them to get together, but they were in love the minute they were finally together. I felt like I missed something in between those stages. Maybe I just had a hard time combining their acting at the faire with their real life romance.

Overall, this was a strong début novel. It was filled with memorable characters and a great story line. It's made me very excited to find out what's next for Jen DeLuca. Selfishly, I'm hoping this novel becomes a series and I get to know more of the other characters better.

Jen DeLuca's debut novel, Well Met, is a definite must-read, and she has a permanent spot on my t0-be-read list. Well Met is thoroughly entertaining and low-angst enemies-to-lovers romance with the a unique and interesting peak behind the scenes at a renaissance festival. With charming characters, laugh out loud humor, steamy love scenes and clever world building, Well Met is a 5-star read.

In this delightful contemporary romance, Emily finds herself volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire so her teenage niece can fulfill a summer dream. It's a good chance for her to meet new people because she's new to town and she enjoys the other people in the cast - except for Simon, one of the leaders of the cast who seems to disagree with everything Emily says. But when the Faire begins, Emily finds herself flirting (and more) with Simon and she starts to wonder if this is all part of the act or something more. I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Adorable does not even begin to describe this book! I first heard about it from Brighton Walsh. When I found out about the Renaissance faire setting and it had a hate-to-love romance, I knew in my soul that Well Met and I would get along swimmingly. I've read the book twice since I first picked it up in May and I have to say, my second experience with the book was even better than the first. Well Met was just the loveliest and sweetest romance novel that is sure to leave readers with a smile on their faces.

When Emily's sister is hurt in a car accident, she moves in with her to help out with her niece, Caitlin. This is the perfect opportunity for Emily to try and heal from her recent breakup. In Willowcreek, through Caitlin, Emily finds herself volunteering with the local Renaissance faire, playing a bar wench. Unfortunately (or fortunately) for her, she is being bossed around by the grumpy leader, Simon, who plays the role of a swoony pirate. Emily is a character many readers will find relatable. She's just like every other girl not wanting to be hurt in love again. She is also at a standstill in life and isn't sure what she wants to do with her future. All of us at some point have gone through periods of stagnancy, so it's easy to relate to her doubts and concerns. For me, the fact that Emily was willing to move to help her sister during her recovery spoke volumes about the kind and genuine person she was. She loves her sister and her niece and their relationships were beautifully written. There was an openness and comfort to Emily and April's relationship that reminded me of my own relationship with my sister. They know they could trust and count on each other. Emily's bond with Caitlin is also one that was adorable and was filled with heartwarming moments. Honestly, I could read about books devoted to family all day long and Well Met satisfied that need for me.

I'm sure you are all dying to know what I thought of the swoony pirate. You guys know what a big sucker I am for grumpy heroes and boy was Simon an endearing curmudgeon. He is very anal about his Renaissance faire and his reasons don't become clear until later on, but they are understandable and very sad. You'll want to give Simon a hug! Despite his grouchy, controlling ways, I immediately grew a soft spot for his character. His pirate persona just took things to a whole other panty-dropping level! The boy had MOVES and was not afraid to unleash them on the bar wench that tormented him. They constantly bicker and you can't help but be amused at their antics. I wound up really enjoying the romance. The build up to their first kiss is so hot! I have to say, their relationship is an absolute rollercoaster. There are ups and downs that will have you feeling a range of emotions from happiness to frustration. At one point, I was ready to shake these silly stubborn kids by their shoulders to put some sense into them. While Well Met has a good cast of characters, it is the Renaissance faire setting that makes this book shine. I really adored all the vivid details and appreciated the research that went into making the setting come to life.

Well Met is the perfect romance novel for readers looking for a cute and feel-good story. I'm excited to see if Jen DeLuca will write other stories set in Willow Creek. Whatever she releases next though, I will be first in line to read it.

This was on the top of my want to read right now list and I was so thrilled to get a copy of it. I devoured it as soon as I could, and I loved every minute of it. It is SUCH a fun, sweet hate-to-love book and I need a movie adaptation of it as soon as possible, please and thank you. While there are a few notes that fall flat, this is a great debut that every rom-com lover should get their hands on as soon as they can.

I've never been to a Renaissance Faire, but after reading Well Met I feel like I have. I think it was the cutest setting for a rom-com and I very much enjoyed the detail that was put into bringing the reader inside of one. Volunteers at the Faire learned period appropriate culture, language, wore costumes and put on shows for entertainment. And of course, we can't forget the food. What's a Faire without turkey legs and funnel cakes? A very sad a-faire indeed.

Emily Parker wasn't planning on volunteering for the summer, but reluctantly agrees in order for her teenage niece to be able to take part. After her fiancée selfishly used her and then dumped her like the heartless jerk he is, her life was in shambles. Running to Willow Creek with her tail between her legs, she had two primary goals. Figuring out what in the world she was going to do next, and helping her sister out while she's recovering from a serious accident.

My first impression of Emily was pretty good. I liked her sense of humor and her voice was an entertaining narrative. She's a nurturer, organizer, and fixer which all lead her to be a take charge kind of woman by nature. She can pretty well step into a leadership role without even thinking about it and find ways to make improvements. It's only in her personal life that she feels lost. And though she loves her sister April very much, their relationship is somewhat distant because of their age gap. They'd never been what you'd call close friends and confidants, but perhaps this summer would help bridge the gap while she's living with her.

Simon...well let's just say that he's an acquired taste. From their very first conversation he seems to size her up and immediately find her wanting. And he certainly isn't afraid to show it. His scowls and disapproving looks were plentiful, not to mention his cutting comments when her attitude seemed too lackadaisical to him. As the organizer of the faire, he doesn't take much pride or joy in putting it together. In fact, it seems to be the last place he would like to be during the organization stages. He acted pretty stuck up, but at the same time, there were hints that he was going through some personal emotional turmoil that could be contributing to his actions. So I withheld judgement in the beginning stages.

Simon doesn't have a lot of conversation with Emily in the first half of the book and that became somewhat of a problem for me. The thing is, when they did talk to each other it was to bicker most of the time. Then came the hot and cold attitude. Emily wasn't sure from one minute to the next if she would be getting vulnerable Simon or aloof Simon. The lack of communication between the two of them led to some hurt feelings and misunderstandings. They both played a part while they were there: she was a tavern wench and he was a roguish pirate. Her role wasn't that much of a stretch from real life, but in his case he was able to let go of his worries and sense of responsibility and have fun with it. Something that he sorely needed in my opinion.

As the summer wore on, Emily was starting to feel more at home in this small town. And I think that's what she was looking for just as much as finding a new direction in life. She wanted to plant roots and belong somewhere. To find someone whom she could share it with who would love and accept her just as she was. Mistakes and all.

The plot really took off in the last 30% of the book when they shed the "enemies" part of the enemies-to-lovers trope. They were really sweet together and he grew on me quite a bit. Surprisingly so, once they really started opening up to each other. He had to work through some lingering grief and unresolved issues with his self-image but when he does, he goes out of his way to make her feel special. In summary, This wasn't a bad book by any means. I connected to the author's style very easily, and think many others will as well. This could very well be the light and entertaining read you've been looking for.

This was such a fun book! When I read the synopsis (a modern-day romance that involves the characters working at a Renaissance Faire!) I knew it was a must-read.

I loved the progression of the relationship between Emily and Simon. It was definitely a slow burn which I appreciated. And as someone who has never been to a Renaissance Faire before, it has me excited to go to one now!

Seeing these characters as characters themselves at the Renaissance Faire was so fun. I loved getting that new side of usually buttoned-up Simon as Captain Blackthorne (think Hook from Once Upon a Time!). He had some things he had to work through just like the heroine did. It was nice to see neither of these characters were perfect.

I do wish Emily would have spoken up about her wants and desires sooner, but I really like how her character developed and became more confident in herself. I also loved that she learned to make decisions for herself not based around a significant other. She wasn’t going to let a sour situation keep her from ultimately doing what would make her happiest. Her journey was difficult to see unfold at times, but it all paid off for her in the end.

A super fun and addictive rom-com that’ll have you giggling and swooning the whole way through.

Emily was in a rough place in her life and completely ready to drop everything and move to a small town in Maryland to help her older sister when she had a car accident that put her out of commission for a few months. Driving to appointments, chauffeuring her teenage niece Caite around, no problem. Emily (like so many of us) is way more comfortable fixing someone else's life than her own. Then she gets roped into volunteering with Caite at the town's annual Renaissance Faire and meets English teacher Simon. Simon sees the Faire as his brother's legacy and believes he's the only one who can run things the way they need to go. So Emily's relaxed approach to life and wenching don't go over well with him- which reminds her too much of her jerk ex-fiancé. They seem to clash every time they meet: until the Faire is on. Because Simon's sexy pirate and Emily's tavern wench hit things off a lot better than their mundane counterparts. Can Faire and real life mix into a happily ever after or is this a well met summer fling that will end when summer is over?

Debut author Jen DeLuca gives readers a romance that is both familiar and fresh. Emily and Simon can't seem to get along, always say the wrong things, and poor first impressions make it look like it's going to be a long summer for them both. Using the Renaissance Faire as the way for the two to get to know each other in new ways is a great twist and tons of fun. DeLuca's own Faire experiences come through loud and clear and whisks readers into a weekend world where suddenly far more is possible than in mundane life. Emily, who has always felt like an outsider, slowly becomes a part of the Faire world and through the Faire she becomes a part of small Willow Creek town life. She's friendly and caring, always willing to do what she can to help others, always putting others first. At the same time she feels like the odd one out, who others let do things for them but forget as soon as she isn't needed. Her jerk ex-fiancé used her and left her wondering if she deserves to come first in anyone's life- from family to friends to herself. It's wonderful watching Em begin to regain the confidence she must have once had and grow into herself over the course of the book.

Simon is a little harder to get to know because Well Met is told through Emily's point of view, so we only see him through her eyes. But she's not too proud to admit when she starts to see beneath Simon's surface and who he could be if he gives himself the chance. Simon has lived in his older brother's shadow all his life and now Sean is gone and Simon has to figure out what happens next for him. Like Em, the reader can't help but be attracted to Simon's pirate alter-ego during the Faire, and you can't help but be thrilled when she gives the growing chemistry between them a chance.

Deluca thrills is this wonderful romantic debut, full of sparkling, snarky dialogue; delightful, laugh out loud humor; delicious chemistry; and two main characters you're cheering for each step of the way as they find themselves behind the shadows of uncertainty and the expectations of others. Well Met is a definite must read for fans of romantic comedy like Christina Lauren and Janet Evanovich and is a book that's probably going to become one of my staple, feel good rereads. DeLuca has set a high bar for her future books- I can't wait to see what she brings us next!


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This was a great debut book from Jen DeLuca. I knew from the cover and the blurb for Well Met I was going to love it and I wasn’t wrong. This book had me smiling a lot and turning the pages as fast as I could. I have never been to a Renaissance Faire and now I want to go.

Emily moved to help her sisters after she was in an accident. Her niece decides she wants to be part of the Renaissance faire her aunt gets her there but didn’t expect she would have to participate. Simon is now in charge of running the faire. Simon and Emily’s banter and their attraction were off the charts. Emily has to decide what she wants to do with her life after her sister doesn’t need her help anymore.

I loved this book so much. If you are looking for a funny fast paced read that will grab your attention this is it. Must read!

Well Met by Jen DeLuca is a delightful 'enemies to lovers' romance with a unique setting – a summer spent cosplaying at a Renaissance Faire where the two main characters discover their antagonism towards each other melts away when they have to play a courting couple.

When Emily relocates to Willow Creek, the small town where her sister April and her niece Caitlin live to help her sister after she's injured in a car accident, it's a chance to clear her head and make some decisions about the future. She's just gone through a bad breakup and had to move out of her home so a summer spent with her family taking a day at a time is just the ticket to get her bearings. Caitlin has signed up for the local Renaissance Faire, a popular summer fundraising event held over six weeks and needs an adult to join with her. Since April is out of commission that leaves Emily as a 'volunteer'. She doesn't know the first thing about fairs but she is a Shakespeare fan and she's worked in a bar so playing a tavern wench in an Elizabethan time period won't be too hard.

But clearly some people take this fair thing much too seriously – case in point, the main organizer Simon with whom she gets off on the wrong foot from the very start. Simon is a teacher at the local high school but he's also very strict that things at the fair go a certain way and Emily's casual attitude and questions put them at odds. Still, the show must go on. Once the faire starts, Emily, now 'Emma' has her hands full with drinks, bar patrons, and all of a sudden a fake relationship with Simon as his flirtatiously handsome faire alter ego whom to her dismay she finds rather attractive. Pretending to be a courting couple means time spent together and discovering that maybe their 'dislike' of each other isn't so strong after all. A whirlwind romance will certainly help Emily get over her broken heart, but what will happen when the fair, and summer, are over?

If you've ever wondered what it's like behind the scenes of a Renaissance Faire, this is the perfect read for you! The author has first hand knowledge of the setting and has translated that into a very readable and enjoyable experience from the stage hands crafting the sets to the costuming to the lessons in Elizabethan language and mannerisms. With the setting down pat, the author has also created believable and thoroughly enjoyable characters who are dealing with life's ever present ups and downs.

Simon's older brother Sean who died of cancer a few years earlier was the original fair organizer and it's in his memory that Simon keeps it going. But it's become more of an obligation than a joy for him and Emily's presence as a newcomer, with her questions and suggestions are not welcome. But once Emily finds out why Simon is so uptight about keeping things exactly as they've always been, she can empathize. It doesn't stop her from wanting to help make the fair a success for all of them and if it means getting Simon to admit that he can't keep things going the same way indefinitely, so be it.

Under the freedom of their faire guises, Emily and Simon discover a mutual attraction and there are some absolutely swoonworthy and sexy scenes as the couple find that the here and now has some definite advantages. I love a good enemies to lovers romance and the author does a fabulous job with the evolution of their relationship as the summer turns to fall. Simon isn't the only one with issues however. Emily had only planned to stay with her sister as long as she was needed but she's planted roots in the community and is contemplating staying. She's gotten a summer job with a local bookstore coffee shop owner, a perfect spot to spend her non-faire hours, and going back to school to finish her English degree is tempting. She's enjoyed getting to know her sister and her niece better. But even though the fake relationship she has with Simon feels decidedly real when they are in their faire garb she's not sure it will translate into anything more when the faire is over.

There are a couple of 'big miscommunications', the kind that would have easily been solved with a few conversations that form the basis of the conflicts that push Simon and Emily apart before the grand gesture and grovelling that leads to their happy ending. Fortunately it didn't take up too much of the plot so while it isn't my favorite conflict device, it didn't detract from the overall story for me. With plenty of laugh out loud moments, some marvelously crafted love scenes, relatively low angst and immersive worldbuilding, Well Met is truly delightful. Congrats to the author on a fabulous debut – she's definitely found a spot on my to-read list!

This review has been posted at Harlequin Junkie and feedback updated with the link.

This is a fun and mostly lighthearted romance set at a Renaissance Fair in a small town. Emily has suffered a bad breakup and lost her home when she heads to Willow Creek, Maryland to help out her sister, bedridden after a serious car crash, and her niece. Teenage Caitlin (somewhat inexplicably) wants to participate in the Fair and needs an accompanying adult, so Emily signs up with her. Skeptical at the start, Emily winds up throwing herself into the role-playing as a beer-serving wench and becomes romantically involved with one of the Fair's movers and shakers. Both she and Simon have issues and insecurities that threaten to derail their romance but Emily is determined to learn from her mistakes and refuses to give up easily.

I love Shakespeare, I love Emily, I love Simon (even from his prickly beginning), and I LOVE this book! This book is about more than just romance at a Ren Faire. Emily learned to choose herself and that she deserved to be first. And Simon learned that he was allowed to choose something for himself for once, despite all of his obligations. It was simply spectacular, and I hope to read more about the side characters in future books!

I loved this one! The setting was unique and I loved the background characters! Simon and Emily has a nice relationship and the slow development of the romance worked well!

Well Met by Jen DeLuca was a delightful debut novel. All is fair in love and war with this angsty enemies to lovers story.

Jen had me at Renaissance Faire. I remember we had one in high school and it was exciting to be apart of the reenactments, so much so that I've been wanting to attend one ever since.

Simon is a bit of an introvert and closed off for obvious reasons. He shoulders the burden of running the faire the way his brother used to.

Emily is the new girl and she doesn't always go along with what Simon wants and that frustrates him to no end. Emily is attracted to Simon right away but Simon acts standoffish and like a complete jerk. It was in those moments that I wanted to be inside Simon's head.

As their slow burn relationship progresses, Simon opens up to Emily. It's sexy and sweet, and just the kind of romance you want! However, I needed more scenes of them together. Regardless, you will definitely fall for both Emily & Simon, Emma the Wench & Captain Blackthorne the Pirate–Shakespeare has nothing on them.

I really enjoyed this book. It was heartfelt and truly wonderful yet it had the potential to be more. Even so, I'm really looking forward to reading more of what Jen writes! That being said, can we please have Mitch's book next! Kay, thanks 💜


*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

A sweet, simple story about two people who need each other to help them move on from their pasts. I enjoyed Emily as she goes from hating being in the faire to becoming an integral part of it, and Simon’s blossoming as a romantic hero as he learns to let go and move on from his brother’s death. The love of Shakespeare written throughout the book with make English majors smile.

Three stars may see low but I still enjoyed this book! I'm just gonna do pros and cons with this book.

Cons:
1. The beginning just felt really slow for me which is the main factor as to why I only gave this book three stars.
2. Both the H and h can get annoying and stubborn.
3. I wish I got to know the H and h a little bit better. I wanted a bit more details.

Pros:
1. Light and funny! I love a book that can make me laugh and/or smile and this did just that.
2. Despite the main characters being stubborn, they grow in the book.
3. I love love looove Emily and her sister's relationship as well as with her niece. They're just a cute little bunch. She and her sister have a 12 year age gap so they were never particularly close but that gap disappeared when they spent time together. And man, her relationship with her niece is the cutest! She's the cool aunt, the one who is more like a sister or friend.
4. Small town setting. This setting is starting to grow on me because I like how almost everyone in town knows each other and it just seems more personal.

When Emily moves to a small town in the middle of nowhere to help take care of her sister and niece as her sister recovers from a bad car accident, she does so with little options left in her life. She gave up her own plans to support an up-and-coming lawyer boyfriend, only for him to break up with her so he could find someone that fit his new status. So now she's giving up her life once again, this time for an ailing sister who she hasn't had much of a relationship with in the past. Little does Emily realize, but as she becomes more involved in her sister's and niece's lives, she's create a new life of her own. Volunteering for the Renaissance Faire her niece wants to take part in is yet another choice she didn't get to make, but Emily finds herself enjoying being with these people who are dedicated to putting on a good show and having a good time. And when a certain good-looking-but-far-too-uptight English teacher-turned-Faire coordinator challenges her in ways she never expected, she just may find herself rooting herself to this town and these people without even realizing it. Finally feeling like she has options she wants laid out in front of her, it's time for Emily to start asking the right questions.

Thoughts: Okay, so I really wasn't sure about this book at first. The beginning was a bit superficial, with Emily being the quintessential 24-year-old who is easily distracted by a handsome face and is struggling to be the dependable adult her sister and her niece need. I was pleasantly surprised, though, how quickly the story turned into something much deeper and how much I began to enjoy it. Yes, the plot was predictable at times, but even though readers could imagine where the story might go, DeLuca creates scenes that are so sweet and at times LOL-worthy that the ride was worth it even when you guess where it might end up. I was also very touched by the depth of the two main characters, Emily and Simon, and how realistic DeLuca created them. Emily is not only helping her family but is coping with an ex-boyfriend who left her high-and-dry in hypocritical fashion when she gave up her own plans to help support him, getting to know a sister twelve years her senior whom she didn't have much of a relationship with growing up, and figuring out what she truly wants to do with her life and discovering options for her future -- she's struggling to discover herself and her own self-worth. Simon comes with his own baggage weighing him down: what Emily mistakes for surliness turns out to be a much heavier cases of responsibility and of Simon living in the shadow of his brother. Simon has had his options taken away from him, as well, and Emily could be the first choice he is actually allowed to make for himself. Simon must learn how to let go and break free from the obligations he puts on himself and that others ask of him while also honoring the past. Let's not forget the secondary characters -- each comes with their own backgrounds that enhance the story instead of detract, and each is so likable that I wish I had more of their stories, as well. The realism of this novel will keep readers smiling as they fall in love with Emily, Simon, their friends, and this story.

Well, this was just as satisfying and as adorable as I wanted it to be. This contemporary, Ren Faire set romance was fun, with great characters and a wildly entertaining setting. I've shockingly never actually attended a Renaissance Faire, despite knowing many people over the years who have worked at one (or many), but I don't think that readers will need to be familiar with that setting to enjoy this story. This story was only improved by the sword-fighting, costume wearing style. I loved Emily and her desire to find her home and place after having given up so much of herself over the years to support a selfish boyfriend, and Simon was a great book boyfriend in and out of pirate attire. It's not all the time that a book ends up being just what you wanted it to be, but Well Met delivered.