Folger Book Club convenes on Thursday, February 5 with a discussion of Well Met by Jen DeLuca. To get ready for the conversation, we compiled some introductory information on this romance set at a Renaissance Faire.
Folger Book Club: 'Well Met' by Jen DeLuca
What is Well Met about?
All’s faire in love and war for two sworn enemies who indulge in a harmless flirtation in a laugh-out-loud rom-com from debut author Jen DeLuca.
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.
Critical Reception
“DeLuca turns in an intelligent, sexy, and charming debut romance sure to resonate with Renaissance Faire enthusiasts and those looking for an upbeat, lighter read.”—Library Journal
“A divinely entertaining romp…” –Entertainment Weekly
Why did we choose this book?
The Folger Shakespeare Library’s collection explores not only Shakespeare’s life and works, but also the plays’ historical context, source material, critical and performance histories, and the ways in which they inspire and are adapted by contemporary novelists.
There are over 200 Renaissance Faires across America, but what about Shakespeare’s era makes them so attractive to participants? Author Jen DeLuca joins the book club to discuss the history of Renaissance Faires, their setting in Shakespeare’s world, the theatricality of participation, and how she found local inspiration for her novels.
About the author: Jen DeLuca
From the author’s website
Jen DeLuca is the USA Today bestselling author of the Well Met series, inspired by her time volunteering as a pub wench with her local Renaissance Faire, as well as the Boneyard Key series, set in a haunted Florida tourist town.
Jen loves Publix chicken tender subs, cold brew coffee, and the Oxford comma. She lives in the Arizona desert with her husband, their rescue dog, and almost too many cats.
Guest Speakers
Jen DeLuca
Jen DeLuca is the USA Today bestselling author of the Well Met series, inspired by her time volunteering as a pub wench with her local Renaissance Faire, as well as the Boneyard Key series, set in a haunted Florida tourist town. Jen loves Publix chicken tender subs, cold brew coffee, and the Oxford comma. She lives in the Arizona desert with her husband, their rescue dog, and almost too many cats.
Content Transparency
Well Met includes potentially sensitive subjects. Expand below for a full list of content (includes spoilers).
- Sexual content
- Grief
- Death
- Car accident
- Cancer
- Toxic relationship
- Alcohol
- Terminal illness
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