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catherinedsharp's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A fun romantic comedy but it is quite tropey and also depicts a toxic relationship. The main tropes used are catfishing and miscommunication which can pretty much sum up the plot of this book. It was a good time and pretty enjoyable but was also highly predictable and had me cringing a lot. Would recommend as a book to not take too seriously but that’s all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Fatphobia
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The first book was gifted to me by Michael Joseph Penguin Publishing and I enjoyed it and I especially loved Stacey. I am a compulsive series finisher, so even if I didn’t like the first book or had no interest in carrying it on, if I find out it’s a series, I've got to read the series. When I found out the second book was from Stacey’s point of view, I was so pumped and . . . well, this book just sort of flopped and I was disappointed.
This book follows Stacey, who put her life on hold when she stayed in Willow Creek to care for her sick mother. But it’s been years now and she is still here. Even the local Renaissance Faire, where she spends her summer pouring drinks and flirting with patrons, is losing its attraction. She has vowed to have her life figured out by next summer’s Faire. It's about time she found The One. Her friends-with-Benefits Dex MacLean, does not fit the bill. Yes, he’s easy on the eye with is band The Dueling Kilts, but Stacey doesn’t love him. Then she receives a tender email from her hunk and she wonders whether she got him wrong. So when Faire finally returns to Willow Creek, Stacey hopes to at last come face-to-face with the man to whom she’s been exchanging hundreds of loving online messages.
I liked Stacey, she was amazing in the first book and getting to know her more and her struggles, I just wanted to hug her or drink with her. I love her mum; her mum saved this book from this book being two stars. Her mum was adorable but you could tell where Stacey got her fierceness from that we saw in the first book. I liked how Jen gets into the Ren Faire and how she describes it in so much detail that it feels like you are there. I liked Daniel but he wasn’t making me all hot and bothered and that’s not because he’s a redhead - I just didn’t connect with him, I get he was shy but he was very bland and had no personality expect for getting compared to his cousin.
Two tropes were in this book that I cannot stand, if it’s done for the right reason or done well then maybe. But this book has the miscommunication trope, which considering this whole storyline was set up on lies, just drove me nuts and Stacey forgave him way to quick for my liking – there was no grovelling, and third-act break up – which wasn’t needing considering they spent the whole story either avoiding each other or sleeping together. I just wanted more chemistry, more sexiness, more fierceness and I just didn’t get it.
I think Jen DeLuca is good at leading and setting up the new story and making you want more, but I think she just struggles to get an actual storyline once it’s set up. I was just wanted and waiting for more throughout this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma
Moderate: Chronic illness, Medical content, Body shaming, and Sexual content
Minor: Fatphobia and Infertility
magic_multicolored_miracle's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
3.5
A fitting follow-up, featuring Emily's best friend Stacey. Once again, the author's love of faire and its community are prominent and poignant, but this time, much of the romance takes place in the nebulous before-and-after.
While Stacey is just as loveable and relatable as Emily, and many of our favorite characters return for this modern Cyrano-esque tale (a comparison the text also makes) so much taking place in email exchanges and texts makes the story fall a little flatter, lacking the vibrance of the first book's interactions.
The ending also feels more rushed and misplaced, with all of the work to get the relationship back on track after the third act derail falling to Stacey, with Daniel taking little agency throughout the book.
While Stacey is just as loveable and relatable as Emily, and many of our favorite characters return for this modern Cyrano-esque tale (a comparison the text also makes) so much taking place in email exchanges and texts makes the story fall a little flatter, lacking the vibrance of the first book's interactions.
The ending also feels more rushed and misplaced, with all of the work to get the relationship back on track after the third act derail falling to Stacey, with Daniel taking little agency throughout the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Cursing
Minor: Fatphobia
mycatnorbert's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Medical trauma
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Infertility
magpie7's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Medical content
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Fatphobia, and Medical content
Minor: Infertility
perpetualpages's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
CWs: Some exploration of internalized fatphobia; brief references to chronic illness; sexual content
As someone who really enjoyed Well Met, I'm surprised to say that I was somewhat disappointed with Well Played.
While the first book heavily revolves around Emily discovering the Renaissance Faire circuit and becoming part of a vibrant community that helps her find a new purpose in life, Well Played takes a very different route in that a large portion of the story takes place during the off-season. Because the Faire is what ties this romance trilogy together, I was hoping to see more of it, and without that draw, there isn't anything particularly compelling about this companion/sequel, at least for me.
The main element I struggled with was the "mysterious messenger" trope. While I think it's fun to explore the trope of mistaken identity and the phenomenon of falling in love with "the wrong person," the problem lies in that the true identity of Stacey's suitor is entirely obvious from the first chapter. I will couch that criticism by clarifying that I don't think that "predictability" is a bad thing or an indication of "bad writing," in any sense. As readers, we have to believe a story when something is revealed to us, and if we're able to predict what's going to happen, that means the writing is doing what it's supposed to do.
So, no, I don't think it's inherently a bad thing to know who's the real love interest, but I also think it's hard for the story to maintain that kind of narrative tension when it's no secret who's really behind these "love notes." And because the love interest is obvious, it feels like the courting portion of the story goes on for entirely too long. You already know there's going to be a confrontation where Stacey and her love interest hash out their miscommunication, and because it's obvious that the romance can't go forward *without* that confrontation, it's hard to stay invested in this prolonged courtship.
And then, frankly, when they do inevitably get together, it's sweet and endearing, but it's ultimately not much of a standout romance—again, at least for me. So the pay-off ultimately doesn't balance out the prolonged waiting.
I also wanted to see more personal progression with Stacey *outside* of the romance. Her main conflict is that she feels lost in life because she put off her career to stay home and help her mom work through her illness. But it feels like that choice, that confusion, is sanctified or validated only *because* she made a selfless choice, and not because the corporate ladder and our definitions of "success" are not a conducive framework for everyone's well-being or happiness. Then it seems like the romantic relationship she falls into acts as a solution to her conflict. She doesn't change anything about herself or her situation; instead her life is changed or "improved" after she falls in love with a guy and molds her life to fit his. I thought that conflict could've been pushed further and I didn't really vibe with the latent messages underscoring how it was handled.
If I'm being honest, I think this book is merely acting as connective tissue between Books 1 and 3, which are about the two sisters. All I can say is that if I do pick up the third book (which I'm only considering because A) fake dating is my favorite trope and B) I tend to be a completionist) it will have to be through my library.
Ultimately, this story still has sweet, heartwarming, and even funny moments, and it definitely wasn't the worst way to spend a couple of days, either. I'm sad to report that I didn't love it as much as the first book, but I'm still glad I gave it a chance.
As someone who really enjoyed Well Met, I'm surprised to say that I was somewhat disappointed with Well Played.
While the first book heavily revolves around Emily discovering the Renaissance Faire circuit and becoming part of a vibrant community that helps her find a new purpose in life, Well Played takes a very different route in that a large portion of the story takes place during the off-season. Because the Faire is what ties this romance trilogy together, I was hoping to see more of it, and without that draw, there isn't anything particularly compelling about this companion/sequel, at least for me.
The main element I struggled with was the "mysterious messenger" trope. While I think it's fun to explore the trope of mistaken identity and the phenomenon of falling in love with "the wrong person," the problem lies in that the true identity of Stacey's suitor is entirely obvious from the first chapter. I will couch that criticism by clarifying that I don't think that "predictability" is a bad thing or an indication of "bad writing," in any sense. As readers, we have to believe a story when something is revealed to us, and if we're able to predict what's going to happen, that means the writing is doing what it's supposed to do.
So, no, I don't think it's inherently a bad thing to know who's the real love interest, but I also think it's hard for the story to maintain that kind of narrative tension when it's no secret who's really behind these "love notes." And because the love interest is obvious, it feels like the courting portion of the story goes on for entirely too long. You already know there's going to be a confrontation where Stacey and her love interest hash out their miscommunication, and because it's obvious that the romance can't go forward *without* that confrontation, it's hard to stay invested in this prolonged courtship.
And then, frankly, when they do inevitably get together, it's sweet and endearing, but it's ultimately not much of a standout romance—again, at least for me. So the pay-off ultimately doesn't balance out the prolonged waiting.
I also wanted to see more personal progression with Stacey *outside* of the romance. Her main conflict is that she feels lost in life because she put off her career to stay home and help her mom work through her illness. But it feels like that choice, that confusion, is sanctified or validated only *because* she made a selfless choice, and not because the corporate ladder and our definitions of "success" are not a conducive framework for everyone's well-being or happiness. Then it seems like the romantic relationship she falls into acts as a solution to her conflict. She doesn't change anything about herself or her situation; instead her life is changed or "improved" after she falls in love with a guy and molds her life to fit his. I thought that conflict could've been pushed further and I didn't really vibe with the latent messages underscoring how it was handled.
If I'm being honest, I think this book is merely acting as connective tissue between Books 1 and 3, which are about the two sisters. All I can say is that if I do pick up the third book (which I'm only considering because A) fake dating is my favorite trope and B) I tend to be a completionist) it will have to be through my library.
Ultimately, this story still has sweet, heartwarming, and even funny moments, and it definitely wasn't the worst way to spend a couple of days, either. I'm sad to report that I didn't love it as much as the first book, but I'm still glad I gave it a chance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness and Fatphobia
andmaggie's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Chronic illness
Minor: Fatphobia, Medical trauma, Infertility, and Medical content
walzstjrnl's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Deeply enjoyable contemporary romance! Found while looking for books from Berkley publishing that were available at my library, and accidentally read this book before the first in the series, but it was easy enough to catch on.
I enjoyed the small town and renaissance fair backdrop, as well as the cast of characters. I appreciated Stacey's internal journey as well, and found myself nodding along at portions.
I enjoyed the small town and renaissance fair backdrop, as well as the cast of characters. I appreciated Stacey's internal journey as well, and found myself nodding along at portions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming, Death of parent, and Fatphobia
I will add thatmorganperks's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Fatphobia
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