by Jen DeLuca
Published on September 3, 2019 by Berkley Books
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance
All's faire in love and war for two sworn enemies who indulge in a harmless flirtation in a laugh-out-loud rom-com from debut author, Jen DeLuca.
Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, for the summer to help her sister recover from an accident, but who could anticipate getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenaged niece? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him?
The faire is Simon's family legacy and from the start he makes clear he doesn't have time for Emily's lighthearted approach to life, her oddball Shakespeare conspiracy theories, or her endless suggestions for new acts to shake things up. Yet on the faire grounds he becomes a different person, flirting freely with Emily when she's in her revealing wench's costume. But is this attraction real, or just part of the characters they're portraying?
This summer was only ever supposed to be a pit stop on the way to somewhere else for Emily, but soon she can't seem to shake the fantasy of establishing something more with Simon, or a permanent home of her own in Willow Creek.
Review
| Knight's Judgment | |
|---|---|
| Plot | |
| Characters | |
| Writing Style | |
| Cover | |
| Enjoyment | |
| Overall: | |
Well Met was the right book at the right time, and absolutely delightful to read! I was hooked right off the bat when the protagonist, Emily, is promised a glimpse of a hot guy in a kilt with a sword. I mean, what more can you ask for? But this is the kind of book where you come for the (pseud-)Scotsman and stay for the pirate.
I struggled with Well Met at first. I didn’t know any of the characters and they all seemed to have that one personality trait that defined them. To be honest, I expected that to last the entire book and my expectations started to drop. But DeLuca tricked me because before I knew it, I was halfway through and devouring page after page.
What sold me was the first time Emily and Simon (the aforementioned “pirate”) really talked. Their earlier encounters revolved around Simon being a jerk (which came off as over the top and a tad annoying) and Emily just getting pissed off and walking away (or the scene’s equivalent). I honestly didn’t even see it working as enemies-to-lovers because there was no connection between them for a while.
And then. . . something clicked.
The sarcastic banter I had enjoyed up to this magical moment persisted but now there was a layer of sexual tension underneath. The characters became more than just one-note cardboard cutouts. And I ended up loving this book SO. MUCH.
I never realized how perfect a Ren Faire could be for a romance but now it’s high on my list of meet-cute locations. The clash of the “real world” with the drama of the Faire life was the perfect blend of lighthearted fun and more serious emotion. It’s exactly what Emily needed after her life came crashing down around her, and Emily is what Simon needed after spending years trying to live up to invisible expectations.
If I’m being honest, Emily and Simon made an impression on me but not as individual characters. It was more how they interacted and told the overall story, if that makes sense. Every attempt I’ve made to write this review has failed because I kept trying to dissect the book into pieces but it just doesn’t work! The cast of Well Met is as tied up in the story as they are in the Faire.
But I’ll say this. If you like witty banter, over-the-top dramatics (the good kind), and two people who are balanced not just by each other but those around them, I think you’ll love Well Met. Plus it’s set AT A REN FAIRE. You can’t go wrong!
Book dragons love comments!