Joy is in pretty short supply in the real world, so thank God for Jen DeLuca's sequel "Well Played." I adored the original "Well Met," so this was already at the top of my must-read list this summer. I'm so delighted to say that it more than lived up to all the hopes I had for it!

The book spins off one of "Well Met"'s supporting characters: "bar wench" Stacey, whose cheerfulness and casual attitude hides plenty of personal frustrations. When she accidentally sends an emotional message to a casual hookup, she's shocked to hear back and start corresponding with him - but the truth about their messages turns out very differently than Stacey expects.

The wonderful thing about DeLuca's books is that they're not "just" light, snarky, sexy fluff - although they're that too! There's a real undercurrent of fear and insecurity running through all the characters, and not the kind of "easy" insecurities that could be solved with a single conversation. The books are so charming because the characters feel like real people. They feel like the readers, and then they get a happy ending (or, more accurately, a happy beginning) - and isn't that what we all want?

Jen Deluca takes us back Willow Creek in Well Played which centers on Stacey, the original "tavern wench."

Stacey has been "taking her time" ever since she put her career and life on hold to stay in Willow Creek. While she doesn't regret the choice, she can't deny that she's feeling increasingly restless these days, especially as she watches her friends Simon and Emily traverse the milestones of falling in love, getting engaged and planning a wedding. One evening Stacey tipsily messages her summer fling from the Dueling Kilts, and is pleasantly surprised when this initial message sparks a flurry emails and texts that grow from casual to deeply personal. What will happen when the Willow Creek Ren Faire resumes and brings her face-to-face with the man she's being communicating with all year?

Well Played serves some You've Got Mail and Cyrano de Bergerac vibes for sure! Stacey is a lovable character, and you're definitely rooting for her to get her HEA. It's also fun to catch up with our lovebirds from Well Met and to get a potential sneak preview of the pairing for DeLuca's third book. However, I just didn't get as many swoony feelings from Well Played as I did in Well Met. Some of this is likely due to the fact that our leads aren't really in the same place for much of the novel. All in all though, fans of Well Met will likely still in enjoy this return to Willow Creek!

Thank you to Berkley Pub and NetGalley for a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I was really excited to head back to Willow Creek for this follow up to Well Met and I liked it overall. It is a slow burn romance with a cat fishing plot line so you know the beginning will be all done via text/emails. Personally, there just aren't enough interactions between Daniel and Stacey to make this story believable. They spent a lot of time interacting via emails/texts which is great and emphasizes the idea that you should get to know someone on a deeper level than just the physical. I am totally on board with that idea and reminds me of The Happy Ever After Playlist but I need to see more between them in real life to make me fall in love with them as a couple. I also liked seeing Emily and Simon in this book but I think it focuses too much on them. One thing I do love is the body positive message in this book!

Overall, a cute and quick romance that I flew through and enjoyed. I'm looking forward to Well Match!

I wanted to love this book! Charming premise, great beach read. But I would have loved a little more depth in our protagonist. Maybe this just isn't my genre, but she could have had a little more personality than just pumpkin spice lattes!

****Four stars****
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. DeLuca has a special way of writing that makes it feel like you're hanging out with one of your best girlfriends. I love Renaissance faires and am a sucker for romance, so I liked this book. I didn't fall quite as deep into this story as Well Met, but I still would recommend this to an interested reader. Thank you for the opportunity to read it in advance!

Stacey loves Faire season in Willow Creek. As fair season comes to an end this year though, Stacey feels dissatisfied. Her best friend Emily has just gotten engaged, her childhood friends have moved away and living fabulous lives, and she is just stuck in Willow Creek living above her parents' garage and working in a dentist office. After a few drinks Stacey sends an emotional message to her faire hook-up the last 2 seasons, Dex. And so begins a long distance romance built on texts and emails. But when faire rolls around again and it is almost time for the 2 to reunite, things don't go how Stacey expected.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

The second book

I would recommend this book if you're looking for

-Friends to lovers
-Flirty e-mails/texts
-More renaissance faire fun
-A curvy heroine, who likes her life but feels stuck
-Slow burn
-Lots of glimpses of Emily and Simon
-An adorable cat
-The use of Hemsworth as an adjective

Stacey sends a drunken e-mail to the one she thought got away which turns into an e-mail and texting relationship. But the person at the other end of the phone is not who she thought she was communicating with. I really enjoyed Stacey's story, conflicted between her family and growing up. She is figuring things out about herself as she revels herself to her online relationship. Daniel is a sweet, insecure love interest. He may not make all the right choices, but it made him more realistic to me.

The story that was starting to develop between April and Mitch has me so excited for Well Matched, third book expected out next year.

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
.
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.

3.5 STARS

Book 1 | Well Met - 3.5 stars - review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3022870404?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

In WELL PLAYED, DeLuca brings readers back to Willow Creek, and the lovely Renaissance Faire that’s such a hit with its residents. It’s an insular story, in which the energy is VERY ‘small-town.’ We follow the bright and bubbly Stacey, who finds herself wanting… more, in life. At 27 years old, she can’t help but think: what if she could leave the small town of Willow Creek? All her friends from college are starting families, but her one true love is her cat. What if she can pursue her dream at something she’s good at, like fashion, rather than the receptionist job she has? What if…

DeLuca brings Stacey alive in her first-person POV, with an honest narrative. It was easy to empathize with her and understand her feelings. First, she feels responsible for her mother’s health, so she stays in Willow Creek rather than pursues a life elsewhere, despite having plans to work in New York after she graduated college. Next, she feels at odds with herself. While she is active on social media and goes out frequently, she doesn’t find solace or meaning behind those things. I also appreciated seeing her insecurities of being plus-sizes, as in our society we normalize ‘skinny/fit’ figures (which she doesn’t have). Overall, she just feels listless in her life. This ennui galvanizes her to send a text to her casual hook-up partner: Dex MacLean, who performs at the Faire. She’s embarrassed, since she did it while wine-drunk, but he responds back! And then… let the fun begin.

I’m not the type to enjoy reading about deception in my romance books (I don’t appreciate it in romances usually and always think communication is number one in any relationship, in general), but if you keep WELL PLAYED as a light-hearted read, it’s fun and exhilarating in this one. The pacing is interesting, as the MacLean brothers only come to Willow Creek once a year for the Faire. Otherwise, they’re traveling across the nation for their music act. Because of that, a year flies by quickly in the pages, with frequent texts and emails between Stacey and ‘Dex.’ Their conversations get deep as they become vulnerable with the other. For Stacey, it’s the sense of listlessness she feels. For ‘Dex,’ it’s the tire and monotony for being on the road with no real home to go back to.

“It had been about searching for a life of my own, which I now had. And it had been about the man behind those screens. And I knew exactly where he was.”

Stacey actually figures out early in the game who she was actually communicating with (see? Another reason why this deception worked for me) and understood why it happened. The love interest is really Soft and sweet and caring. I have a special place in my heart for Soft Men, and this love interest’s hesitancy and lack of major confidence fit that bill (especially as he gets compared to Dex so often). However, I did feel like we didn’t know him as much because when we met him, he’s already in love with Stacey - it was a bit difficult to believe since we didn’t see him actively falling in love with her. Nonetheless, he’s caring and has eyes only for her. I think a large part of this feeling has to do with a lack of POV and narrative from his side.

WELL PLAYED brings our favorite Willow Creek characters back to life! It was lovely seeing Simon and Emily (from WELL MET) again, and to see the teasing interactions between April and Mitch, who will get their book next. This series has truly been a love note to renaissance faires, and it was fun reading about them and the passion that people have for them. If you go too deep into this book, it’s easy to become dissatisfied. (For example: what happened to [love interest name’s] issues with his lifestyle and how did that get resolved? Why was Stacey’s mom telling her to “take her time” and checking up on her so often, and how did that transition to her behavior near the end? The resolution in general of the HEA was just a sloppily wrapped bow.) HOWEVER, if you keep this book light and sweet (as the vibe is), you’ll have a fun time!

Content/Trigger Warnings: parent with cancer, sexy times

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for the review copy!