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Well Met (Well Met #1) by Jen DeLuca [arc review]

Well Met by JenDeluca
All's faire in love and war

There has been a lot of romantic comedies coming out this year and to find one that stands out from the rest is no easy task. Well Met was a delight to read and I have no doubt this debut author has a long career ahead of her. It did not just stood out, it exceeded all expectations!


Blurb:

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.


There is so much more to this lovely story than romance.
First, who doesn't love a good Renaissance fair? I am pretty sure I have never read a book that took place during or on a Renaissance fair, that was original, entertaining, and charming. The book deserves 5 stars for originality alone.
There was also a strong focus on family and friendship, the unconditional love between siblings and family in general. Emily was there for her sister when she needed most and her sister was there for her when she needed later on. 
The sense of community and friendship made all characters likable and relatable. It made me, the reader, want to read the next book and learn more about each and everyone of them. 
And than of course we have the two main characters. Emily was a delight. Always ready to help and with a smile on her face. No wonder her niece adores her. 
Simon is a little too serious for his own good, but he has his reasons. And once you learn them, it is hard to fault him for it. As the story progresses he changes and grows into a fun lovable character. 
Their story truly was one of haters to lovers romance. It developed and changed slowly into something more, and even towards the end things still moved at a good and most importantly, a believable pace. 
All in all, this was a fantastic debut novel and I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next!

Find the book at: GoodReads - Inklings Bookshop

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