Read a Renaissance Faire rom-com with grumpy pirates and pub songs

Well Met — Jen DeLuca

What to Read This Week

Well Met by Jen DeLuca

I realized last year when I was making my statistics post that in the full history of this newsletter, I have never recommended a romance! While I’m not a big romance reader, I definitely enjoy a guaranteed HEA (happily ever after) read sometimes, so I’m vowing to start including more romance, beginning with truly the actual funniest rom-com I’ve read.

What It’s About

Emily didn’t plan on relocating to the small town of Willow Creek, but when her sister is in an accident and needs her help caring for her daughter, Emily heads straight there. But she really didn’t count on being roped into taking a summer spot at the Renaissance Faire, but when her niece begs her to, she can’t really say no.

Even worse, the teacher in charge of the volunteers is incredibly standoffish and grumpy, and Emily can’t imagine working with him all summer.

Simon’s family has run the faire for generations, and it’s up to him to keep the tradition alive and successful. New volunteer Emily isn’t taking it seriously, and he’s frustrated with her constant jokes and weird Shakespeare quips.

But when the faire starts and the two get into character, they seem to get along better than ever, laughing and even flirting back and forth all summer long. Emily starts wondering if she may actually not hate Simon at all, and if maybe she could actually stay and set roots down in Willow Creek.

Why You Should Read It

Aside from the main couple at the heart of this story—which is a fun grumpy/sunshine pairing that trade sixteenth-century jokes—the book is full of a lovable and huge cast of characters that truly feel like friends. Of course, there are more books after this one that follow the lives of these other characters, but rather than feeling like background actors, you get to know and care about Emily’s friends as much as you care about her and Simon. (The other books in the series are Well Played, Well Matched, and Well Traveled.)

It’s full of genuinely funny jokes, men in kilts, sword fighting, bar singing, and tension-filled arguments that make you want to scream “just kiss already!” When you’re tired of the snow and the cold outside, being whisked away to a summer faire can be the perfect reprieve.

Misc.

Yesterday was my birthday, and over the weekend, I visited my very favorite local bookshop to get a brand-new stack, and I am so excited about what I got. Almost so excited that I don’t even want to shelve them; they’re so pretty as a stack all on their own. I’ve been in an escapist mood, so I think I might start with Lonely Castle in the Mirror, which was originally published in Japan and is about young students who, wanting to escape from their lives, find solace in a magical portal that takes them to a castle. But even magical castles don’t come without dangers. (My wishlist for future reads is here!)

Who will be preparing for the upcoming snow storm across the Midwest/Northeast U.S. this week? I’m not sure if Chicago will be hit yet, but it looks like we’re going to get some snow, so I’ve got my essentials (books) ready!

More Books

Can’t get enough, or looking for a different recommendation? Browse the archives, or check out some popular past recommendations: 

• Read a novel about a reality TV family keeping secrets behind the cameras

• Read a book set in a convent about growing up amid turmoil

• Read this suspenseful dual timeline mystery about the nuclear scare

I also love hearing from readers! Let me know what kinds of books you’re looking for that you’d like to see featured, or send in your most recent five-star read (or two) and get a recommendation just for you. You might be featured in an upcoming newsletter! Reply to this email to get in touch!

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