Well Played by Jen DeLuca Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Series: Well Met #2
Published by Penguin Audio on September 22, 2020
Genres: Adult, Chick-lit, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance
Length: 10 hrs
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
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.
I was super excited for Well Played since it was Stacey’s book. I felt connected to her in some way that I didn’t feel with Emily (Well Met). While I did enjoy Well Played, it wasn’t all I’d been hoping for.
What Worked:
- Plot/Trope
I enjoyed this twist on Cyrano. JDLuca did a brilliant job in developing this romance via emails and texts. Seeing Stacey and D be vulnerable with one another using the safety of written communication was…well, sweet. - Characters
Stacey, for the most part, delivered on her perky, fun personality. And it was nice getting to know D in this way, especially since we knew nothing about him. - Family Dynamics
Stacey’s close relationship with her parents – especially her mom – were admirable and heartwarming.
What Could Have Worked Better:
- Character Development
Stacey had body image issues that didn’t quite jive with her casual hookups, in my opinion. Also, I wished her ability to style people had been explored further. It seemed to me JDLuca missed the mark in further developing Stacey in ways I’d been excited to get.
D’s insecurities ended up grating on my nerves. Stacey’s, too, for that matter. While I understood both, I also felt they both should have fought for what they wanted out of life sooner than they did. - Family Dynamics
Stacy was close with her parents so it didn’t make sense to me that she wouldn’t discuss her feelings and life aspirations with them.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- COYER 2023
About Brandee @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Brandee is a mom of 3 and a soon-to-be empty nester. She is also an avid reader, a genre omnivore, and a compulsive one-clicker - but she's in recovery. Besides being a reader, she's also a writer and hopes to divide the vast quantities of spare time she'll soon have between reading and finally publishing her first book.
Great review, Brandee! I’ve gotta say that the lack of character development would probably bother me as well. It’s one of the most important things in a book for me so I get it.
Thanks, Stephanie! Yes, character development is an important element, right? This installment was still fun though.
Twitter: Northwomn
Excellent review! I enjoyed this and certainly see your points about things which didn’t work as well.
Anne – Books of My Heart
Thanks, Anne! I’m glad you also enjoyed this one. 🙂
Wonderful review, I liked this one too.
Thanks, Wendy! I’m glad you enjoyed this one as well.