This was a super cute YA read. I loved the two main characters and their journey to friendship and then love. I also loved the FMC's journey as she explored her grief. The backdrop of everything being at a Ren Faire just added to the magic of the story. I would definitely read more like this.

"The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway" by Ashley Schumacher is a poignant coming-of-age novel that explores themes of grief, friendship, and the search for identity. From the moment I met protagonist Gwen Hathaway, a teenager grappling with the loss of her sister and the unraveling of her family, I was immediately drawn into her world. Schumacher's writing is raw and emotionally resonant, capturing the complexities of Gwen's journey as she navigates the aftermath of tragedy. As Gwen navigates the ups and downs of adolescence, from navigating friendships to grappling with her own sense of self, I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. The relationships that Gwen forms along the way, particularly with her eccentric neighbor and her newfound friends, add depth and richness to the narrative. Schumacher's evocative prose brings to life the small town of Elgin Park, with its quirky inhabitants and vibrant community spirit. "The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway" is a powerful debut novel that tugs at the heartstrings and leaves a lasting impression. Schumacher's storytelling is both poignant and heartfelt, and I found myself completely absorbed in Gwen's journey of self-discovery. With its relatable characters, poignant themes, and richly drawn setting, this book is sure to resonate with readers of all ages.

I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. The author did a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! I would highly recommend it!

I am a big fan of Ashley Schumacher's YA stories - the characters seem much older than they are, low angst, and great character development. Thank you for my advanced copy!!

This book was a cute light read for me to listen to Gwen is a girl who has a different upbringing but is still a plus size girl trying to find herself after her mother death. During one renaissance fair where her plan to write every detail with father since she scared to forget him like she starting to do her mom but when she gets picked to be the princess she learns to love herself as well as she finds love

Ever since Ashley BLINDSIDED me with UNNECESSARY PAIN in Full Flight, I have been wary of her. Yet I will keep reading her stuff, because it's always beautiful. This one is a little lighter, but I'm still treading softly because I no longer trust this author AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU

This was a sweet, easygoing coming-of-age YA book that includes a bit of romance, but not so much that it takes away from the most important part - the development of Gwen and her coming to terms with the death of her mother and how to move forward without her mom. I adored the backdrop of medieval faires and the men who run them, and I felt the characters were well-drawn and developed as a whole.

This title is definitely sadder than your standard rom com. Gwen's grief over her mother's death is visceral and very present as she struggles with the changes being made to her favorite renaissance festival. She treats Arthur rather poorly because of it, and I found it understandable but still difficult to read.

As a plus-size girl, Maddie also has a lot of hangups about how other people see her. She assumes that people's reactions to her are based on her weight, and it takes Art and his fathers quite a bit of time to convince her that she deserves to be a princess of the faire.

Overall, a solid story I would recommend to readers waiting for the faire to come back to their town.

I adored Amelia Unabridged and from that book, I was determined to read everything written by Ashley Schumacher. She knows how to write angsty teens in a way that makes you fall in love and root for them. The setting of this one was hard for me. It didn't have the magic that I wanted so didn't connect as much as I expected. I can't wait to see where the next novel takes us.

Didn’t like the characters. I understand it is YA but the lack of self esteem of the female character was really poor, including her negative self talk about body image. Predictably, she has a transformation. Also jaded trope about mother dying being raised by a single dad contributing to poor self esteem. And I was annoyed about the “magical coin” dictating her decisions.

As far as Ren Faire goes, the Well Met series was so much better. No, Well Met isn’t YA, but the characters and dialogue were better imo.

Loved the setting and the whole renaissance fair stuff!

I dont typically love YA and this did feel slightly more immature than my typical reads.

Ive lost my mom and I was able to connect with Gwen on that level. There were parts in the book that had me emotional because of that.

I think the misunderstandings within the book also had me a bit annoyed. I usually had misunderstandings in books. But I think this was really well written and would be great for people who do enjoy YA.

Madeline is struggling to cope with her mother's grief, and her process of handling that grief is incredibly relateable. The setting of a ren faire adds a bit of whimsy. Arthur comes into Madeline's life and reminds her how to exist in the world again. This was a very wholesome YA romance.

It's a sweet story, but there isn't much beyond what's in the synopsis.

I did love that Arthur was determined to be Gwen's friend even when she wasn't having it (not in a rude way, but in a you can't push me away with your prickles way). The book checks all the YA boxes, but it didn't have that spark that makes the YA tropes all come together to be something special.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishes for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I've enjoyed so many other books from Ashley Schumacher, so I was thrilled to receive an early copy of The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway. Billed as Dumplin' meets Well Met, this YA book takes on the Ren Faire scene, and it's a fun romp.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

This was really cute and I feel like it was a quick read. The Ren fair setting was fun. I do feel like it was a little too similar to other YA romcoms I've read this year, so that was disappointing. I was hoping for something a little more unique. I enjoyed it regardless.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing my copy in exchange for my honest review.

I felt very “meh” about this book. It very much felt like a YA version of Jen DeLuca’s Well Met. Which was fine. My problem was with the relationship. I just couldn’t root for Gwen and Arthur. In a way, too, this book was very repetitive. It also feels like it didn’t really have a plot, but maybe that’s just me.

This was a very cute and quirky romance. It's always fun to read such out of the box settings in romance and the author delivered. I really liked the chemistry between the main leads. I also liked how the author handled the themes of grief with the main lead. Really poignant and well done.

I really enjoyed this quirky YA romance, which is set in a Renaissance faire. The main character, Maddie, is grieving the loss of her mother and must learn to navigate life without her, and is desperate to keep change at bay. But at her mother's favorite faire, everything has changed with new owners, and she meets their son Artie, who is determined to get Maddie out of her shell and living again. Schumacher had a a nice mix of serious and fun in the story. In addition to grief, the plot also navigated insecurity, body image, and acceptance.

I thought this was cute, and I enjoyed the ren fair setting. It's a unique environment for a YA novel and kids in nontraditional family setups might appreciate this. I do think that I'd be cautious handing this to teens struggling with body image as the main character struggles with accepting her size and expects negative comments at every turn.

“The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway" by Ashley Schumacher is a delightful fusion of Dumplin' and Well Met, offering a fresh take on finding one's place in the world. The novel beautifully explores themes of body acceptance and overcoming mental obstacles, wrapped in a fun Renaissance faire setting.

Schumacher weaves a sweet romance with a plus-sized heroine, while the inclusion of a wise old magician and gallant knights afraid of horses adds whimsical charm. The novel's unique premise and relatable characters make it a compelling YA read, demonstrating that love is a risk worth taking and sometimes, embracing change leads to unexpected joy.

A four-star recommendation for its heartwarming narrative and playful exploration of self-discovery.