Well Played

By: Jen DeLuca

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

A laugh-out-loud romantic comedy featuring kilted musicians, Renaissance Faire tavern wenches, and an unlikely love story.

LibraryReads Pick

Stacey is jolted when her friends Simon and Emily get engaged. She knew she was putting her life on hold when she stayed in Willow Creek to care for her sick mother, but it's been years now, and even though Stacey loves spending her summers pouring drinks and flirting with patrons at the local Renaissance Faire, she wants more out of life. Stacey vows to have her life figured out by the time her friends get hitched at Faire next summer. Maybe she'll even find The One.

When Stacey imagined "The One," it never occurred to her that her summertime Faire fling, Dex MacLean, might fit the bill. While Dex is easy on the eyes onstage with his band The Dueling Kilts, Stacey has never felt an emotional connection with him. So when she receives a tender email from the typically monosyllabic hunk, she's not sure what to make of it.

Faire returns to Willow Creek, and Stacey comes face-to-face with the man with whom she’s exchanged hundreds of online messages over the past nine months. To Stacey's shock, it isn't Dex—she's been falling in love with a man she barely knows.

Critic reviews

"Stacey finds her greatest joy at the Faire, looking forward to its return each year. In DeLuca’s hands, we’d have to agree – there’s endless tales and excitement to be found in this world, still one of the freshest, most engaging concepts in romance a year after she introduced us to it. A hearty huzzah for Well Played."--Entertainment Weekly, on Well Played

"What a delight! This is enemies to lovers at its absolute finest, folks. DeLuca proves to be a master of creating characters you believe in and a storyline to keep you totally engrossed. Well Met is a hilarious, swoony, and captivating romance--hands down our new favorite feel-good novel of the year."--New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren, on Well Met

"Well Met will especially appeal to readers who like bookstores, Renaissance fair shenanigans and nerdy English teachers wearing vests. DeLuca will have readers laughing all the way to the turkey leg vendor."--Shelf Awareness, on Well Met

"Full of wit, hilarious banter, and swoon-worthy moments."--Woman's World, on Well Met

"Jen Deluca's Well Met is a way cute small-town romance."--NPR, on Well Met

"Jen DeLuca had me laughing out loud from the opening line. Well Met is fresh, fun, and the story I never knew I needed. I so wish I could grab a corset and live the wench life with Emily!"--Alexa Martin, author of Fumbled, on Well Met

"The descriptions of him in his pirate gear...are likely to induce a thirst so wide and so deep you could sail a ship across it."--Entertainment Weekly, on Well Met

Good one

I liked the story. It was interesting to see how insecurities guide us to wrong baths. How everything isn’t really as it seems. I liked that there was some buildup and some wait to the story.

such a stellar sequel

Jen DeLuca did it again! This author has brought another story that is captivating. I won’t lie, I was nervous for this story. I enjoyed the Well Met so much, that I was fearful that the sequel would not live up to my expectations. But goodness, I had nothing to fear. DeLuca brought back the magic of renfest, the joy and struggles of small towns, the multilayered characters that I so enjoyed from the previous novel. There is something for any romcom-loving reader in this story. It was nice to see Stacey fully developed, to learn more about her and her family, to learn that she is not just the ditzy airhead she seemed to be, and relate to her (more than I thought I would). This story has twists and turns, keeps you in your toes when you think the story has become predictable, and has such a wonderful “voice.” This is a phenomenal second story in this series, and I can’t wait for the next installment.

Root for him!

Another trip to the Renaissance Faire in Willow Creek. I’ve been waiting for the 2nd book and it was quite adorable. It’s truly a fun, fluffy, and light type of read. Nevertheless, I am into the 1st book a lot more than this one and it’s hard not to compare the 2 couples. Even if Emily and Simon is still #1 couple for me, I still rooted for Stacey and Daniel. It’s a 3.5 for the story plot. Great development of characters and written nicely. I can’t wait for April and Mitch’s story...I got suck in the end about them 2, giving a glimpse of their cutest banter.

Story: ❤️❤️❤️💔
Audio Narrator: Brittany Pressley ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Overall: ❤️❤️❤️❤️

This is adorable

This is the second book oh my god I’m in extra love! This is much more drama filled than the last book and I can’t wait for the third book

Romance at the Ren fair

Another adorable romance that left me happy and feeling good. Perfect summer/beach read. Can't wait for the next one!

Read “Well Met” first, but “Well Played” is so good!

Good job Jen DeLuca on your second book. Sometimes the sophomore effort disappoints, but not this one! This story is fun and light, great inter monologuing by main character and a few twists along the way. Very likable characters.

I know it just came out, but please tell me book 3 is in the works? April needs a guy, will it be Dex or Mitchell?

Its all you could imagine and more!!!

It’s an amazing follow up to Well Met and just builds Stacey into this character that really feels stuck in life but Jen Deluca helps her define the way she wants to live life and how she builds up the hype to get it done. It’s an incredible read with just enough spice to keep you listening or reading till midnight because you just NEED to know how Stacey will face her insecurities (that all of us have), her commitment to family, and learning the difference between love and obligation. It’s a five star for me, I just got this book and was so sad when I realized the end credits started playing.

Not as fun as the first one but still fun

If you liked the first one it’s def still worth reading this one but the pairing doesn’t hit as hard for me personally. Daniel is meh sometimes and I feel like Stacey forgives him kinda easily but oh well. Narrator is still great though

29 Year Old Straight Man Reacts to Romance Novels

I’m a fan of Jen DeLuca. I find her character work to be charming and the small town setting of her novels? Love it. I really enjoyed Well Met and was so excited to hear that my favorite character, Stacey, would be getting her own love story in Well Played. Unfortunately, I really didn’t find anything to like about Deluca’s second novel. A love story built on catfishing and manipulation by an incredibly insecure guy to get the girl, it left me feeling sad for Stacey’s future more than anything else. Her dreams and life plans set aside for her mother’s health, Stacey is now in her late 20s stuck in her parents house with no real goals in place. She’s lost her confidence but she’s still such a bright character, it’s so hard to see her fall for a guy who would trick her for so long. “But he loves her and she loves him!” Sure but the way he went about it was incredibly disturbing and if a friend did this to someone or I had a friend that this happened to, I’d be furious for them. I wish Stacey could get another shot, we see a brief peek at her getting out of her funk in the epilogue but it doesn’t feel earned. It came from being with the man who manipulated her. Just a real bummer.

Back in Willow Creek

I loved being back in Willow Creek! The narrator did an amazing job. I can’t wait for book three!