Well Played

Only got about 50 pages in, but already wasn't feeling it. Too much complaining about being 26 and getting old (barf) and feeling stuck, but with absolutely no interest in taking action to change anything; too much social media; too much talk about pumpkin spice lattes (barf again, but YMMV). Nope. Loved the first book, but you can't save an unhappy heroine by putting her in a relationship. Not to mention the much-mentioned catfishing storyline, which could have been cleared up immediately and wasn't. DNF.

This was cute enough but it didn't have the same appeal to me as the first one did. I think my problem was Stacey. Or rather, her revelation at the reveal of the big twist seemed sudden and weakly foreshadowed. I did really like the stuff involving Emily and Simon's continued storylines and I'm excited to read the next installment based on who is featured, but I think this one may not be one I return to. It was cute overall.

• READ IF YOU LIKE: 
- Mistaken Identity
- Exchanges of Emails/Txt
- Ren. Faires
- Plus Size Heroine
- Returning Side Characters
- Family Drama
- Small-town

• RATING: 3/5 ⭐️

DNf at 20% :/

Old fashioned email exchange and plot twists, but sweet all the same.

I generally don't like catfish/liar love stories. It's just not a red flag I can overlook. Stacey's character was far removed from the way she was portrayed in Well Met. The author tried to cover this up as a masking reflex the character had in order to seem more aloof to her friends, but it didn't work. Daniel was a creep and the fact that Stacey wasn't suspicious at all during the entire year she was emailing/texting him was too unrealistic. How do you not have a phone call or a FaceTime in the modern age once during a year long exchange, especially if you are obsessed with social media? The saving grace was the 1 sex scene. It was worth all three starts. I'll read the next one and see if I the series recovers for me.

3.5 Rounded to 4

I absolutely loved Well Met, which happened to be the book that brought on my love for Rom-Coms. I was really excited to read this follow-up but I was really disappointed. It just wasn't as good as the first one and I honestly had a hard time finishing it.

I still love the characters and the setting, so that's the only reason I'm rounding to a four. I'm just not sure what happened with this one. The spark just wasn't there this time around.

Didn't jive as much as the first with me...too many uncomfortable situations, and too much time building on the internet relationship. Idk just not for me. Super looking forward to April and Mitch's story tho!

Considering how much I adored [b:Well Met 43189874 Well Met (Well Met, #1) Jen DeLuca https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1548353675l/43189874.SY75.jpg 67013218], this was something of a letdown. I didn't feel like there was sufficient groveling for the yearlong catfishing by Daniel, and Stacey forgave him way too easily for what most people would consider a pretty big betrayal - again with female characters basically gaslighting themselves into being okay with completely unacceptable actions by their love interests (looking at you [b:The Boyfriend Project 52211784 The Boyfriend Project (The Boyfriend Project, #1) Farrah Rochon https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1570712674l/52211784.SY75.jpg 73615834]), and seriously, y'all deserve better! Daniel was very underwritten as a character as well, probably because he wasn't really on the page all that much, certainly not enough for Stacey's decision at the end to make sense - you have a degree in fashion merchandising and some talent as a stylist and you quit your job to manage merch for a Ren Faire touring act? I understand wanting to get out of town, but that is a Choice. I liked Stacey and it was fun to return to this setting, but this wasn't quite what I was hoping for, unfortunately.(Review edited 5/21/21 - why did I give this three stars in the first place? Definitely a two-star situation.)

Well Played is a nice follow-up to Well Met! It's just as cute, just as light-hearted as the first one. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even though I vastly prefer Emily as a main character. (Which means that I absolutely ADORED the wedding scenes.) Stacey is fine, but she...mopes more than a few times in the book. Understandably so, but at the same time I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her to make her realize she could change her circumstances!! YOU CAN FIX THIS, STACEY!!!!

Daniel was an okay guy, but the way he treated Stacey was questionable at best. SPOILER: If you get caught lying once, JUST COME CLEAN FOR ALL OF IT, YOU STUPID IDIOT. Don't let one outstanding lie ruin everything for you. BLEH. It might have been nice to see more of the Dueling Kilts other than Dex, but whatever. Not a big deal.

I'm still deeply in love with the setting of a Renaissance Faire, and can't wait to read the next book.

ALSO I hope I'm not the only one who got near the end and went, “BUT WHAT ABOUT BENEDICK?”

I'd say a solid three and a half stars, rounded up!