𝚃𝚒𝚝𝚕𝚎: Well Matched
𝙰𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛: Jen DeLuca @jendelucawrites
𝙿𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚛: Berkley Romance @berkleyromance
𝙿𝚞𝚋 𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚎: Oct. 19, 2021
𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happy Sunday!!

This comfort read of a romcom was the perfect way to wrap up my weekend ❤️

I’ve loved all of Jen DeLuca’s Well Met series, but this third book is my absolute favorite. As an unofficial member of the Mitch Malone fan club, I was beyond excited to read Mitch and April’s story, and it is *chef’s kiss* perfection.

A kilt-wearing, charming, sensitive cinnamon roll of a book boyfriend? Check. A strong, smart, beautiful and sarcastic female main character? Check. A fake-dating-til-they-both-catch-feels situation? Check. Plenty of Ren Faire magic and some check-ins with some of our favorite Willow Creek characters? Check, check. And of course, lots of great banter, heart, and steam? Checkity check check.

This book got me right in the heart several times (have the Kleenex ready because it will sneak up on you), plus made me laugh out loud, and the way DeLuca writes family, human emotion, and happily-ever-afters for all ages and situations is what makes her one of my favorite authors.

READ THIS BOOK (pre-order it, put it on hold at your local library, or grab a copy when it hits shelves October 19!), and if you know of a good Renaissance Faire near central Illinois, let me know because now I need my fix 🥰

Thank you so much to @jendelucawrites and @berkleyromance for my gifted e-ARC! Can’t wait to discuss this one soon with @berittalksbooks and the @letstalkbookspromo group soon!

I really enjoyed this third book in the series. I am a big fan of the fake-dating trope. I loved that April was a bit older than Mitch. I appreciated the growth in both of our main characters. April has a lot to work through because of her accident and past relationships. I enjoyed watching her come out of her shell and show more strength. I would have loved to see her in therapy and not just have her relationship be what helps her grow. I also loved seeing more to Mitch than the jock/playboy image he portrays. I was really glad to have more scenes back at the Renaissance Faire in this one. Overall I thought this was a fun, delightful read and would definitely read more from this author.

I’ve loved every book in this series so far so I was excited for book three! It was an enter Read, but it fell a little bit flat for me and I felt like something was missing. I still want to keep reading the series, but this one wasn’t my favorite.

Such a cute story. I really love this series.April and Mitch were so fun to get to know and you root for them to work out. I really loved the side characters, too, including old friends from the rest of the series. Can’t wait for more by this author.

I hate writing a review when my main problem with the book is the heroine. When I don’t like a heroine in a romance novel, I always try to take a step back and figure out why she bothered me within the context of her own romance. In this book, the heroine is a mature forty-year-old single mother about to be an empty nester – a difficult time in any parent’s life, I’m sure. The hero is a younger man and teacher at her daughter’s school.

The situations the hero and heroine got into were adorable. Honestly, there is nothing hotter than a man offering to help you fix up your house. I also loved the hero – he had golden retriever energy and was just such a great guy, which made the heroine’s shortcomings extremely glaring in my mind while reading.

What really took away from my enjoyment of the book was the heroine’s emotional immaturity at the expense of her partner. She did a terrible job expressing her inner turmoil, and the hero, who never gave her any reason to doubt him, suffered for it. She was SO caught up on her age, and I get it; she was seemingly at a different life phase, which can be a big deal. But instead of having a mature conversation, she just made lots and lots of assumptions and constantly pushed the hero away. I would have dumped her butt. I also didn’t like that the hero felt like a secondary character in his own romance. He deserved better!

Overall, I like Jen DeLuca’s writing style, and this book was better than the last one, but this is the second big miss for me. I think I will give her one more chance then move on from her books because these last two were frustrating. I keep waiting for the magic of WELL MET, and it hasn’t happened yet.

**I received a free copy of this book in order to provide an honest review**

I absolutely love how I have a reading ritual of picking up Jen Deluca's new novels whenever fall comes around for the last few years. I loved Well Met with my whole heart, but Well Played was a bit disappointing. When I got the e-ARC of Well Matched, I started it with mixed feelings, but bless Jen Deluca's heart - she has written another masterpiece! I am so happy about that. :') The book followed a fake-dating trope and had all the elements I love in a romance novel! Returning to Willow Creek is honestly, the best thing ever. 💕

I have adored April's character from the first two books, so getting to read her standalone story made my heart so happy. I was proud of her journey and how she overcame her struggles. Mitch stole my heart too. I am not a fan of age-gap romances, but lately, whenever I pick a book with that trope, I end up loving it. (I am so glad that happened) What I really love about Jen's writing is how she keeps a similar setting fresh in all of the books of a series. The Renaissance Fair is a common occurrence for all of her Willow Creek novels, but she manages to bring in something new every single time, so the plot doesn't seem repetitive at all.

5/5 starts to this gem of a novel! I need more Willow Creek stories in my life!!!

This was so cute!


I loved the other books in the series and was so excited for Well Matched as I already loved the characters when I met them in the other books. Their interactions in the previous release had made me even more excited to start it and I’m happy to say I enjoyed it so much!

The chemistry between the characters were evident from the start, the banter was enjoyable and the characters separately were easy to root for! April was such a great main character and I loved reading about her overcoming her struggles.

Lastly, the small town setting is always a plus for me. It’s one of my favorite things in romance novels and a favorite thing about this series!

I am so pleased with this story and it left a smile on my face!

Loved this book! I loved going back to the ren fair and seeing all the characters again. I loved April’s journey and how much she learns about herself. I loved her passion with Mitch. So sweet and funny and passionate. Would recommend.

Oh man the feels! I can't explain why, but this was very moving. I loved the relationship between the main characters. I thought that the author did a good job making it believable and that the difference in ages was portrayed in a honest way. I also really like the relationship between April and her daughter. That felt very authentic.

I enjoyed it! I somehow didn't realize this was in a series, so I felt like I missed a few things? But overall it was fun! I appreciated April and Mitch's age difference, I don't see that a whole lot in the genre. I'll read the next one, and I'll probably go back and read the others because I love ren faires.

Omg i loved this book, it was everything i love in a romance novel, fake dating, one bed, forced to continue to pretend to be dating. Honestly this was the favorite book in the series. Well written I couldn’t put it down. Thankful to Berkley for allowing me an advance reading copy of it. Cannot wait for book 4 to come out.

Jen DeLuca returns with the third book in her Ren Fair series with Mitch and April’s love story. April is a single mother trying to decide what to do after her daughter leaves for college. Many times stories push the children involved to lesser roles but De Luca made Caitlin, April’s teenage daughter, an important character who is mature beyond her years. Mitch and April pretend to date for Mitch’s family reunion. Soon they are no longer pretending.

The third book in the Willow Creek Ren Faire books sets up a grumpy-sunshine romance filled with joy, humor, and steam.

April and Mitch are my favorite couple from the series, and this book is such a balm for my pandemic-weary soul. Plus it has my two favorite romance tropes: fake dating + there's only one bed!

The more I read this series, the more I fall in love with the town of Willow Creek and its occupants! While at first these books may just sound like romcoms set at a town Renaissance Faire, the issues they explore are so much deeper than that. I think it's easy for a reader to find a little bit of themselves in at least one of the characters. Well Matched dove into topics such as dealing with anxiety, family expectations, and self esteem issues. It also brought my personal favorite male character, Mitch, into the spotlight. Working out his feelings through karaoke? I feel you Mitch, and we must protect your heart at all costs! Overall I really enjoyed this one, and I'm looking forward to the next installment of this series!

This whole series is a treat, and this book was no exception. Looking forward to more from Jen DeLuca.

My favorite from Jen Deluca, maybe because of the fake dating trope executed so well. The characters were likeable and she kept the Faire fresh.

"Well Matched" by Jen DeLuca

**Free copy received from Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"He's more than his looks."

Story: 17%
"Well Matched" finally turns the story towards Willow Creeks hottest bachelor, resident gym teacher, coach, and the kilted Scotsmen Marcus MacGregor, better known as Mitch Malone. In the first chapter, a spark is lit between Mitch and April Parker when he pretends to be her boyfriend to ward off a creep at Jackson's. The tables turn as the premise unfolds, and Mitch asks April to be his fake girlfriend for a Melone family reunion. When April agrees, their fake relationship heats up fast as desirer gives way to a steamy but rocky journey to love. And with the Ren Faire in full swing, Mitch and April learn a whole new side of one another, in and out of costume.

Writing Style: 18%
Jen DeLuca does it again with this unique yet relatable and fun love story. Her juxtaposition of characters within Willow Creek and their beloved Renaissance Faire is expansive while keeping the small-town vibe strong. More is revealed about the world these characters exist in with each book, creating a deeper bond to them as they evolve. DeLuca's dialogue is quippy, realistic, captivating, and easy to follow. Overall, she executes an excellent balance between a plot-driven storyline and consistent character development.

Characters: 19%
There is a harmony here between the focus on April as the leading lady navigating becoming an empty nester in her forties and Mitch maturing into his thirties. Their relationship blossoms at the exact moment April's daughter Caitlin is about to graduate high school, and April can pursue her dreams again. At the same time, Mitch finds himself unhappy with the underachiever role his family has cast him in, and his bachelor life has gotten lonely. The added backstory of the Malone family fills Mitch's personality out, changing him from this peripheral character to a complete human being. In contrast, April has to overcome her obsession over their age gap and tear down the wall she built around her heart to protect herself and her daughter for the last eighteen years. The process of learning to love again and asking for the love you want is beautifully lived out in these characters.

Supporting Elements: 17%
The fake relationship trope blended with the mature single mom and a slightly younger man gives this contemporary romantic a distinctive appeal. In addition to romantic love, there's a poignant exploration of the relationship between mothers and daughters and sisters. DeLuca expertly utilizes April's home renovation to bring Mitch and April together and symbolize the changes she undergoes in this new phase of her life. Further, there are two brief but honest conversations about having children casting relationships in a truthful light.

Expectations: 17%
This is an unexpected story. Mitch and April are probably not the couple most would think of working well together. However, the unexpected nature of their two contrasting characters makes them perfect for one another. April's nonsense attitude towards Mitch sets their friendship up to ease into a fiery flirtation and eventually a loving and supportive relationship. "Well Matched" was an enjoyable read and a fantastic continuation of the series.

Total Rating: 88%/100%

This book was a cute read! I enjoyed the first one the most though and wasn’t a huge fan of the second but throughly enjoyed this one more. The characters were intriguing and I absolutely love Mitch! As well I always love the fake dating trope and the one bed trope, a solid 4/5 stars!

WELL MATCHED is a great addition to the Well Met Series, from the Renaissance Faire hijinks and transformation of mundane leading ladies into magical heroines, to the heartfelt and meltingly adorable romance between April and Mitch. Super cute, a great fluff read, and another home run for Jen DeLuca.

This is a nice wrap up with the Renaissance group in Willow Creek. It was a good read about April and Mitch and their struggle to move on from their past to fall in love.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.