“Well Met” & “Well Played” by Jen DeLuca

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Audiobook version

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“Well Met” (Book 1)

Synopsis:

Emily is at a crossroads in her life. She dropped out of college to support her boyfriend through law school, only to be dumped soon after. Now, Emily has moved to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, to help her sister, April, recover from a car accident. With no job or place to call home, this comes as a welcome option for Emily.

One of Emily’s “duties” is transporting her teenage niece, Caitlin, around. When she takes Caitlin to her school’s Renaissance Faire tryouts, Emily finds out it’s a requirement for a guardian to volunteer in order for the student to participate. This is much to Emily’s chagrin as the faire’s moody head of volunteers, Simon, seems to be irritated by her from the second they meet.

Emily becomes a “Tavern Wench” with a fellow volunteer, Stacey. She begins embracing the Faire life with her new friend and even begins seeing a different, friendlier side of Simon when he’s in character. Could her growing attraction to him be based solely on their characters, or could it be real?

“Well Played” (Book 2)

Synopsis:

Stacey had just begun chasing her dream in New York City when she unexpectedly had to return home to Willow Creek when her mother fell ill years ago. Although her mother is no longer sick, Stacey has stayed put in a makeshift apartment above her parent’s garage and works a mundane job- fearing she is too old to get another internship in the city. Most of her excitement now comes from volunteering at the Renaissance Faire each summer.

Determined to make a change in her life, Stacey, with some liquid courage, messages her usual summertime Faire fling, Dex MacLean, on Facebook. Professing her feelings to him that go beyond just wanting to hook up each summer, she is shocked, and quite happy, when he begins messaging her back.

The two begin emailing, and occasionally texting, and their online relationship flourishes over the next year. Although Stacey’s feelings for Dex have deepened, she grows suspicious when Dex tells her there’s something they need to talk about- in person.

When Faire is finally back in Willow Creek for the summer, what will happen when the two of them meet face-to-face?

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Rating: 3.5/5

Review:

This book duo is seriously cute! I adored getting to know all the characters and feeling like I was at Faire with them. Renaissance Faires aren’t something I’ve ever thought much about, but these books made them seem like so much fun.

DeLuca does a wonderful job portraying the struggles many 20-something-year-olds face in finding themselves and where they belong. The books were so relatable- being in my mid-twenties at a crossroads myself. (But I can blame that on COVID, right?! 😉)

The books were quite predictable which is what drove the star rating down, but sometimes that can be refreshing. Although not my favorite genre, I enjoy listening to romance/contemporary audiobooks. They’re so relaxing to listen to while getting ready for work, driving, or cleaning around the house! 

Conclusion:

Jen DeLuca’s Well Met duo is a delightful journey through the lives of two twenty-something friends, both at a crossroads in their lives. Relatable, charming, and occasionally steamy, I definitely recommend the set!

Amazon links:
Well Met
Well Played