A sweet, heartfelt YA romance set at a Renaissance fair. Gwen’s journey of self-acceptance is tender and empowering. Wholesome and utterly charming.

Who doesn’t love a romance that takes place at a Ren Faire?! This YA romance is cute and mostly light-hearted, but still has dark themes. A fun read!

Maddie “Gwen” Hathaway and her father have been a part of the ren faire circuit for her whole life. She’s high school aged now, though, and she and her dad have made it to the final stop of the season’s circuit and it’s her late mother’s favorite. She meets Arthur, the son of the new owners, and despite her insecurities (mainly around her weight) she lets him convince her to be the princess. She’s always shut people out of her life since she and her dad spend a lot of their time on the move, but it’s exciting and scary to let in someone new. This is such a hopeful story coming of age story. Maddie and Arthur both are excellent protagonists and her father and Arthur’s two dads are loving and complex characters in their own right.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my review.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Content Warning for off page death of a parent.

This is a YA book following Madeline who spends her time working the ren faire circuit with her father. Since her mother’s passing, she is determined to not have anything in her life change. That is until she comes to the final ren faire stop and it’s completely different. Here she meets Arthur, the son of the new owners, who is determined to be her friend and take her on different adventures during their summer.

Be prepared because these chapters are LONG! It’s only 16 chapters, but I prefer short chapters. Overall, this book was fine. I think for the age group it is for, it’s good. I recognize that I am not the target age group for this book, so I did not enjoy it as much. There have been other ren faire centered books that I have enjoyed, both YA and Adult. This one just isn’t it for me.

I think this book has a good coming of age message. Our main character does not believe in fate whereas Arthur does believe in it. This book also has plus-size representation and Madeline does have some insecurities with the way she looks, which I definitely can relate to.

I’m giving this book 3 stars as it was just okay for me. There just wasn’t enough to keep me entertained, but I can absolutely see how this book could be amazing for the age group it is marketed for.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway was pretty cute. In this, you will meet Maddie. She basically grew up in the Faire circuit with her parents. Which means she was pretty much homeschooled her entire life. Which can make things tough, like making friends if you are constantly traveling and working.

Though this year might be different for her. A lot has happened, and it might be time for her to spread her wings a bit. Her one and only friend is no longer in the Faire circuit, and on top of that, her mother has died. Sure, the circuit life will be different, but that could be a good thing... eventually.

Along this journey, she is struggling a bit with all these changes. Her dad is keeping himself busy with work and friends. Which leaves Maddie with a lot of alone time to sit and think. This could be a pretty uncomfortable space for anyone, really. Especially with the one-year anniversary of her mother's passing coming up.

So, it's probably a good thing when Arthur shows up. He's fun and happens to be the son of the new owners. Somehow the conversation came up with her becoming his "Gwen" this time around, and she tried to refuse him so many times. He was pretty stubborn and consistent, which caused her to somehow cave to the idea.

Together, they were pretty cute. They had real-life issues that most people could relate to, but Ashley did a wonderful job weaving in humor and charm throughout it. I also really enjoyed the character growth for Maddie. In the end, this made me want to visit a Renaissance Faire.

This book was absolutely adorable!! I love books set at a ren faire and this was no exception! The relationships were real, the grief was well-represented, and I loved watching Maddie and Arthur fall in love.

'The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway' by Ashley Schumacher is a teen/ YA romance novel best for high school ages and up. It is cute has a plus-size main character and a fun hook to ren faires. Delightful.

I LOVE Schumacher's YA. This one was a little different than her previous, but no less delightful—full of well-rounded characters, messages about self-acceptance and self-love, and plenty of found family along the way. Loved it!

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway was a fun read for the fall season. I enjoyed this one and recommend it for sure.

After ADORING Amelia Unabridged I was expecting to adore this one as well but I was a bit let down by it. After losing her mother Gwen is determined to keep her world the same with no changes. When her father decides to spend the summer at her mothers favorite Faire, Gwen is distraught when she sees all the changes happening there. After meeting Arthur, the son of the new owners, Gwen is determined to keep her distance.

A great novel on self acceptance and the benefit of changes, The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway is a solid novel that will resonate with younger readers.

“Maybe fate is what happens after you choose something for yourself.”

I have read everything Ashley Schumacher has written. I adored Amelia Unabridged and have enjoyed everything she’s written since. This story deftly balances humor with emotional depth, capturing the complexities of growing up and healing from loss. It’s a delightful read filled with quirky charm, poignant moments, and a touch of romance.

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Read if you like:
Renaissance fair
Plus size rep
YA
Romeo and Juliet

There were so many laugh out loud moments but also heartfelt special moments, it was easy to completely forget you were reading a book instead of spending a fun hour with friends. I loved this one, every moment of it!

This was the absolute cutest story that dealt with such raw and real emotions. After losing her mother, Gwen does all she can to keep her world going exactly the same. As long as she can know the future, there are no surprises. At the last stop on their Ren Faire circuit, everything has changed! Now Gwen has to navigate who she really is and accept that life is changing and will change and maybe that isn't so bad.

This is such a great YA book! Also a love story, the main part of the book was Gwen. Gwen learning how to deal with her emotions and her grief. Her therapy. And navigating life as a plus size girl. I loved the writing and the characters so much! Absolutely an Ashley Schumacher fan!

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

I received an advanced copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Ashley Schumacher. ❤️

I really enjoyed this book! Gwen is our main character, who is dealing with the grief of losing her mother and trying to navigate a world without her. She is also a plus size girl, which I always appreciate! There is a romance in this as well, but it takes a back seat to the main story, which I really liked. Also, at the Renaissance Faire!?! Sign me up! I loved it!

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

This is a super cute story about grief and falling in love. A coming of age romance with the backdrop of Renaissance fairs. I didn't feel overly connected to the characters, but I do feel like the author wrote about grief and therapy in a realistic way, and I enjoyed the reading experience.

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!!