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A review by allygator
Well Met by Jen DeLuca
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
i love a silly little romance novel concept and this series immediately called to me because what's more romantic than a renaissance fair? i was drawn to the characters right off the bat, especially emily because of how willing she is to help out her family. watching her initial hesitance to take part in the ren faire but doing so out of a feeling of duty turn into a genuine love of the faire and the people in it (even beyond her relationship with simon). it's very much a concept that brings me so much joy -- an outsider in a small town becoming familiar and learning to love everything that that town brings to the table. tying this trope into the ren faire, which definitely is overwhelming the first time you go, is such a natural thing and is a plot point that is really well-navigated by deluca.
unfortunately, where the blood and found family relationships thrive, sometimes the actual romance falls flat. i feel like there wasn't enough of a conversation/apology about why simon was so mean to emily and that the actual pacing of their rivals-to-lovers arc was a bit off. i still really liked them, and by the end i was sold by their relationship, but i don't think that them falling in love is the actual draw of the story.
tldr? this is a great book about falling in love with a community and found family but perhaps not the greatest romance novel. definitely worth reading though!
unfortunately, where the blood and found family relationships thrive, sometimes the actual romance falls flat. i feel like there wasn't enough of a conversation/apology about why simon was so mean to emily and that the actual pacing of their rivals-to-lovers arc was a bit off. i still really liked them, and by the end i was sold by their relationship, but i don't think that them falling in love is the actual draw of the story.
tldr? this is a great book about falling in love with a community and found family but perhaps not the greatest romance novel. definitely worth reading though!