Well Met

This is an easy turn paging read. That being said it is definitely cheesy in a romantic kind of way. Worth the read when you want something light to read.

I liked the premise of the story but the execution wasn’t there and I didn’t really care for the characters. Emily read like someone who just turned twenty rather than twenty-five and way too slow on the uptake. There’s a lot of rehashing of events and recycled lines. The story would benefit from knowing when to cut the running internal commentary and just let events unfold. Ironically the most well-written part of this book was the breakup, which hit the feels and I liked how she recognized that it’s not her responsibility to fix him, though I was disappointed, but not surprised, she was so easily coerced into returning to Faire as a patron. The few bits of role play banter were fun and I wish there was more of that.

Although this book was written like a window into Renaissance Faires, it’s worth noting that every Ren Faire is a bit different, and while there can be historical reenactments, Ren Faires are notoriously more about historical fantasy, not historical accuracy, and prevalent because of it. History is often incredibly problematic and biased in what has survived and to place restrictions based on “period accuracy” creates accessibility issues, severely limiting who can or wants to participate. It’s also extremely challenging to actually implement.

Which is why Simon, in his blatantly period inaccurate pirate costume, being a stickler for “period accuracy” in a small Ren Faire that somehow ran for ten years is confounding, especially given all the inaccuracies he doesn’t notice or actively perpetuates despite being an AP English teacher, who should understand the importance of context and nuance.

He specifically dated the Faire at the start to be 1601 but later sends people home for breaking the seventeenth century illusion by using their cellphones, which are very useful for communicating during an organized event, despite the red T-shirted volunteers they’re using already doing just that, and while the renaissance era spans two centuries, the seventeenth isn’t one of them and encompasses a lot more than 1601. Rather than having people study Elizabethan English, he insists people call paths “lanes” and practice using an English or Scottish accent by watching movies like Harry Potter. But the English accent we know today did not exist four hundred years ago anymore than an American or any other accent we have today, rendering this largely pointless.

Emily’s costume passed Simon’s examination despite being cross-laced “like it was a tennis shoe” when she should be spiral laced, and contrary to Simon’s “correction” they weren’t called bodices, they were called a pair of bodies, which a bodice she didn’t have would normally go over. Whale bone, not steel, was often used as boning with synthetic baleen used as a substitute for historical reconstructions today, neither of which prevent people from bending over because everyday women definitely wore them and needed to work. These garments focused on supporting the bust and back, with tightlacing not coming around until well into the nineteenth century for a fashion minority. A notable benefit of a laced garment is that it can be adjusted to accommodate bodily changes, i.e. weight gain or loss and pregnancy, instead of having to create or purchase a new garment, so all the drama around tightlacing Emily ‘til she has difficulty breathing makes zero sense. Hoop skirts weren’t invented yet, so Caitlin should’ve been wearing a farthingale instead. One of Simon’s longest running shows is Mitch in little more than a kilt, yet he’s harping on people for “not taking things seriously”?

This is why Ren Faires gravitate toward historical fantasy. It opens up creativity and it’s easier to not care if the “volunteer” chaperone you mandated to pad your numbers owns a pair of boots without a zipper, and makes the community feel less gatekept and ultimately more welcoming to the broader community. Those hypothetical quiz givers Simon’s worried about? Those are the gatekeepers. Never listen to them. The fact that he caters to them reflects on his character and the culture his Ren Faire breeds, which conflicts with the friendly, welcoming small-town image Willow Creek is presented as, since it’s a large part of the town’s identity. This story would’ve greatly benefited from leaning into the historical fantasy nature of Ren Faire, as further research and understanding beyond the author’s anecdotal experience is lacking.

3.5 - 4 stars

This was a really cute and sweet read. It had a nice enemies to lovers vibe, but also stressed the importance of putting yourself first and knowing your worth. It started a bit slowly for me, but I loved the Renaissance Faire backdrop and small town location. I had no idea how much work and preparation went into putting on this kind of event. Though very interesting, sometimes I found myself overwhelmed by all the details and descriptions of the Faire itself. I would have loved to have more time spent with the colorful cast of characters interacting in the space with each other.

I liked Emily and Simon, but I'm not sure I really felt the connection that got them from point A to B. Things were very sweet between them once it all came together (the wooing!), but I think a little more time in the enemies zone would have built up more tension and anticipation for me. I really enjoyed them as Emma and Captain Blackthorne though, and those interactions really made me smile and swoon.

I appreciated how family dynamics, sibling relationships, and familial/societal obligations were explored in this book. The difference between doing something you think you should do versus something you choose to do. The ending and epilogue were adorable and left me with a goofy grin on my face. Well Met had some emotional surprises I wasn't expecting, but I really enjoyed this debut novel by Jen DeLuca. I'm hoping we see stories for Stacey and April (maybe with Kilty ;)) in the future.

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*