Well Met

Author: Jen DeLuca
Genre: Romance
Type: e-book
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Berkley Books
First Published: Sept 3, 2019
Opening Lines: "I didn't choose the wench life. The wench life chose me."

Book Description from GoodReads: 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.

My Rating: 3 stars

My Review: 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.