So, I read this book back in December, because I was really missing being at the Ren Faire. Most of the time I try not to read a book so far before publication. That is especially true because when I read this one, I hadn’t quite decided to jump back into blogging. But I’m glad that I’ve made the decision to blog again, because oh boy, I’ve really missed this.

I miss Ren Faires too. 2022 was the first year I haven’t gone to the faire since I went for the first time back in 2017. I absolutely love getting dressed up in garb and wandering around, trying out all the delicious food, seeing the different shows, and browsing the shops and stalls. There’s basically no feeling like it, aside from maybe going to comic cons.

Now this isn’t the first Ren Faire focused book that I’ve read (if you haven’t checked out the Well Met series by Jen DeLuca, you’re missing out), but I did devour this book just about as quickly. Getting to follow a teen whose family work and travel the faire circuit made for an interesting story.

Maddie was a compelling story and I really felt for her. I don’t know what it’s like to lose a parent the way that she did, but I do know what it feels like when a parent is just gone. It’s tough at any age, and it does change things. And I understood her reluctance when Arthur kept popping up and trying to pull her into doing things.

Arthur was cute and fun, but he also had his own struggles. I loved watching the friendship develop between Arthur and Maddie, and them going on all their little week day trips (traveling on paths that I went on while driving between conventions, so that was fun for me).

Honestly, this story just felt real and cute and honest and emotional, and I was definitely wrapped up in all of it. I ended up reading this story very quickly, and I can’t wait to have a finished copy on my shelves.

Leave it up to this author to create yet another book that left me loving her even more. We meet Maddie, who travels with her family to these Renaissance Fair’s, reminds me of the medieval times, that’s the setting, and there are little markets and people selling relics and all that fun stuff. Anyway her family is part of these circuits and they travel because of it, she also recently lost her mom, so its just her and her dad. Anyway in one of the Fair’s which is her moms fave one, there are new owners and all of these changes are overwhelming for her. She meets Arthur and the rest in history. Because not only is he annoyingly fun, they develop this friendship, that all the way towards the end Maddie could not resist him. I loved the theatrics, a little bit of magic, some heartfelt moments, I loved how she was able to put aside her insecurities about her body, I loved how Arthur was even able to move past his own as well. This is a beautiful coming of age read, I couldn’t put the book down. Totally worth the read.

I received this eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

It's fine, but basic. Although the Renaissance Faire is a unique setting, everything felt conventional and formulaic in this coming of age story. There was a touching and sweet reveal at the end and there will be an audience for this earnest story.

A great feel good read no matter the age!

Grumpy-Sunshine (It’s not often that the grumpy one is the girl.)
Supportive family

Maddie and Dad are doing their best after losing Mom. Madeline has a difficult time at the next Renaissance faire. Not only is she reminded of her mom, Maddie is not comfortable in her own body. Then, comes Arthur. He calls her “Princess”, but she does not feel like one. Arthur has two dads. Both teens are self-conscious. Arthur is just the friend to help Madeline experience the joys of life.

“Change can be hard, but it is also the only way we move forward in life.”

(I received an advanced reader copy. I'm leaving an honest review.)

Cute and fun summer romance! The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway by Ashley Schumacher is a YA contemporary romance set on the summer Ren Faire circuit. The book opens on Maddie and her dad arriving at Stormsworth, her mom’s favorite faire stop. However, this year is different. Her mom is gone, and the new owners of the faire completely renovated so it no longer looks as she remembers. Maddie was looking forward to routine ahead of the anniversary of her mom’s death, but instead she’s getting thrown out of it by a cute bard who insists they will be friends.

I adored this book. It is so well written. Schumacher addresses grief, depression, and therapy with a skilled hand balancing it with the everyday trials of being a teenager. What I loved most about Maddie’s story is how real and relevant it felt. A lot of YA’s are written for the adults who read them, yet this one is written for teens. Schumacher weaves a story that is relatable to today’s teenagers, and I believe it will resonate with anyone who reads it.

Maddie is wonderfully flawed. It’s almost been a year since she lost her mom to cancer, and she’s still learning to cope with her grief. She keeps a book of “noticings,” things that she wants to remember with tally marks when she sees/experiences them. This is almost a burden to her, but the routine is what she needs. On the first night of faire, she is mourning all that her mother is missing with the changes that have come when a boy her age dressed as a bard declares her princess of the faire and is determined they will be friends. “Fate” he says.

Arthur is so much fun. He can be a bit…much 😂 and Maddie just barely tolerates him. I loved how he recognizes and sees Maddie for what is inside. He sees and acknowledges her grief in a way that most adults lack. He’s careful with her, thoughtful, and empathetic. I fell in love with him pretty immediately despite his over the top dramatics. It takes a while for Maddie to warm up to him though.

The setting of the faire adds to the fun of the novel. I loved seeing it through Maddie’s eyes. She’s grown up on the circuit, both her parents working it full time. It’s really all she knows. BUT Arthur forces her to slow down and take it all in this summer. It offers a new perspective and allows Maddie to grieve.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway. Highly recommend for fans of YA contemporary romance or if you are looking for a sweet read that is guaranteed to leave you smiling.

I'm a HUGE fan of Schumacher's novels! Her ability to create heartwarming stories with characters we come to love is astounding. The emotional connection to the characters leaves me often gutted but hopeful.

Arthur was just so darn adorable in The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway too. I've never attended a Ren Faire, but I felt I could picture the setting from the moat, the castle to the camels. This YA keeps is in line with the author's previous stories as it dealt with grief, insecurity and self-loathing but this one is not quite as heavy.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for the advance reader copy.

Well Met for angsty teens - that's it, that's the summary of the book.

This book hit different than her first two, but that doesn't make it any less beautiful. I love the way Schumacher writes young women.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday, and the author for the eARC in exchange for my review.

Can Ashley Schumacher do wrong? I think not.

Ever book I've had the pleasure of reading has been unique and perfectly enchanting. Schumacher delivers a fun novel that doesn't shy away from very real, relatable, and tragic situations.

In The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway we meet Madeline, yeah, not Gwen, Madeline. Maddie is still reeling from the loss of her mother. She and her father have continued to do the Ren Faire route which has been certainly different, her mother's absence almost feels phsyical. Maddie does talk to a therapist to work through her grief; but whether or not she's coping is probably debatable. Especially when you learn about her journal of noticings.

Maddie is determined to pay attention to all the small details of the important people in her life. How many breakfasts do her and her father have together. How many phone calls do her and her best friend Fatima have a week? Does she do her nightly routine correctly? Most importantly, she cannot, CAN NOT, add more people to care about and notice about. Her brain just doesn't have the capacity, it's exhausting enough with just these two people to be concerned with.

And then Maddie runs into Art. A bard at the renaissance faire who walks a fine line between friendly and annoying. Art also refuses to call her Maddie, instead calling her Gwen. And Art doesn't really care that Maddie insists they aren't friends. He's determined that Maddie will have a summer full of fun and random experiences with him.

The unfolding of this relationship is a joy to watch. Schumacher doesn't make light of Maddie's grief, nor her OR Art's body image struggles. She manages to stick with the feel-good, YA-romance feelings while giving validation to other very real feelings young adults experience regularly.

Ashley Schumacher is a wonderful storyteller. The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway explores the vulnerability of teens, both through Madeline's perspective and through what Arthur shares with her. This coming of age story about Madeline and Arthur takes place at a summer Ren Faire in Oklahoma. Madeline (Gwen to Arthur) is a plus-size girl who has grown up in the Ren Faire life and is experiencing her first summer at the last Ren Faire her mom participated in. She's still navigating life without her mom, figuring out how to help her dad, and doesn't understand why a boy like Arthur wants to spend time with her. Their friendship is adorable and I loved Arthur's persistence and patience when Madeline keeps telling him they're not really friends. The backdrop of all of this growth and self-discovery is the Ren Faire and it creates a fun balance in the book. I mean jousting, a princess, bejeweled dresses, a real castle...there is so much to love! This going to make me sound like such a mom, but by the end of this book, I just wanted to give Madeline and Arthur a big hug. 💕
Thank you to @Wednesdaybooks for a gifted copy of the book and a digital ARC. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Sometimes you grab a book based on it's cover, sometimes it's title, sometimes the author, sometimes the synopsis. For me it was the synopsis. I hadn't had the pleasure of reading anything by Amy Schumacher before, and now I found myself wanting to go back to read her previous works.

Maddie, or Gwen, is everything I needed in a FMC when I was a teenager, and also what I needed now in my 30s. In my teens (and still) I have been something who struggled with the idea of being plus size. Of being somehow forced into a version of me society had selected because of being plus size. The funny friend of the main character, the best friend of the male lead who helps him get the girl. And many more examples. In another way Maddie is who I needed in my late 20s when my dad died. They way she processes her grief over her mother dying is extremely relateable, in an almost painful way. Watching her process her emotions and feelings mirrored my own first year after my dad died.

Then in comes Arthur. Adorable, geeky, Arthur. Who also is a great example of how men (especially teenage boys) can have all the same body image issues as women. But somehow they are told even more that they are not allowed to have those thoughts and emotions. I loved watching their relationship grow into friends and clearly something more (even when Maddie wouldn't admit it even to herself). I found it so heartbreaking when Arthur would say things unintentionally hurtful to Maddie about her weight (which were few and far between) because that is real. Nobody (plus size or not) can know what is going to trigger negative thoughts in a plus size person. It was refreshing to see Arthur have these moments and allow them to work through it. Rather than him somehow magically know what he can say and what he cannot say.

Overall, I really loved this book. It was such a surprise, and so refreshing. I can't wait to read Amy's previous works, and look forward to what stories she creates in the future.

Finally an Ashley Schumacher book that doesn't make me want to curl up and sob. It's charming, wholesome, and COZY! I'm a sucker for any book set at a renaissance fair, especially when we get to see all of the behind the scenes action. Uh YES give me a moat that functions as a lazy river please. Maddie is still processing her mom's death when she gets to the faire, but she's quickly swept off her feet by an annoying bard who asks her to be the faire's princess. While coping with her grief and body image issues, she begins to fall back in love with Stormsworth (and Arthurrrrrr). I really enjoyed the discussion on the idea of fate and letting yourself be spontaneous. Also a huge shoutout to the Target saleswoman because being plus size in a dressing room is no joke. If you need a sweet and easy read, pick this up stat.

*Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I really liked The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway. It was a cute, funny, and quick young adult read. I loved watching Maddie grow and deal with the death of her mom.
And Arthur is the perfect book boyfriend and a very fitting name for the book.

I thought that the setting was at a renaissance faire was unique and totally worked for this contemporary romance.

I think the end of the book was my favorite part of the entire book 😍

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for a copy of The renaissance of Gwen Hathaway in exchange of an honest review.

Maddie and her dad work at different renaissance festivals throughout the year, and Maddie is miffed when her and her late mom's favorite faire undergoes major renovations, making it hard to keep hold of the memories she made with her mom. Though she wants to just mope around in her RV, Maddie somehow gets roped into being the princess of the faire by the ebullient and handsome son of the new faire owners. Could this be Maddie's chance to make new memories and finally see how beautiful and worthy she is?

This was adorable, uplifting, and had the perfect ending.

The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway is for all those out there who love a good renaissance faire and who've watched BBC's Merlin at least twice. It follows Madeline "Gwen" Hathaway as she arrives at Stormsworth, the summer stop for the renaissance faire circuit she's lived in her entire life. Only this year, her mother's not there with them, and in her grief, Madeline is determined to have a quiet summer full of remembering and not missing out on the moments with the people she cares about. But a bard named Arthur dances in and blows all her careful planning awry.

This is the book I needed as a nerdy, chubby teenager.

Madeline’s being a plus size main character spoke to me even now, and how even as an adult I still worry about how my body looks and what other people will think of me. Her journey to love her body and make peace with it really tugged at my heartstrings, both the awkward 17 year old who lives inside of me, and the adult who wishes for universal body positivity.

But I also loved Arthur. He is so unapologetically himself, so unashamedly emotional and corny and sensitive and every bit the awkward teenage boy, but he has such a beautiful way of seeing others and the world, even when they’re not so beautiful. He helps Madeline to see and love the not pretty things, and gives her a ledge to stand on when she feels alone on her island of insecurities. He helps her see outside of herself and leave her comfort zone, which more importantly, Madeline knows she can do on her own. Even without Arthur by her side, she takes risks--her confidence doesn’t depend on a boy, and that thrills me.

Madeline learns to let people in again, too, without fear of them leaving her--or having this fear, but not letting it control her, but living and loving to the fullest despite that fear. This book is a healing journey from the wizened old wizard to the last flip of The Coin, and I love how it pulled all the parts of Madeline and the ren faire circuit she lives in together into a lighthearted and goofy story about love and loss.

Once again, Ashley Schumacher has blown it out of the park with her newest young adult novel!

In The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway, we are introduced to a junior in high school named Madeline who travels the Renaissance Faire circuit with her parents. After experiencing a tremendous loss, Madeline meets a boy her age named Arthur who she is drawn to. She has to decide if she is willing to open up her heart to his offer of friendship. However, she is afraid that to care about anyone means that she will have to chance losing them.

The characters are beautifully written! Teenagers and young adults will be able to relate to the internal struggles both Maddie and Arthur face throughout the book. The setting is is well described and would be fun to visit in real life.

I absolutely adored this novel as much as I did Schumacher’s first two books. I can’t wait to see what she will write next!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #St.Martin’sPublishing #WednesdayBooks for an eARC of #TheRenaissanceofGwenHathoway - 5 stars!!

TW: Death of a parent

I loved that this book was ultimately about transformation. Maddie’s mom shared her joy of renaissance fairs with Maddie and her dad. Sadly, she has passed away and Maddie is really struggling. She feels like if she notices everything, it will hurt less the next time someone dies.

Throughout the book, Maddie is working her way through her grief, and in some ways, it’s like a butterfly getting ready to emerge from a cocoon. She has no idea how beautiful and capable she will be when she finally breaks through from the deep deep depths of grief.

Arthur is pretty great for a teen too. He slowly becomes Maddie’s friend but he knows how to push her and when to give her space. What a friend.

Overall, just a beautiful, heartfelt book.

A big thank you to @stmartinspress and @wednesdaybooks for a @netgalley copy of this book. The review expresses my own personal opinion.

This story was an easy read that weaved human connection and grief into a sweet tale about a teen girl who lost her mother and gained a friend she wanted less than I would want a root canal. Though this story had many predictable moments, the relationship between Maddie and Arthur was heartwarming and entertaining. I appreciate the author making her characters realistic in their feelings and experiences. As a plus sized woman myself, I related to Maddie’s insecurities; the worry, the overthinking, the desire above all else to not think that way about yourself but it still being at the forefront of your mind regardless. This novel was excellent and I look forward to reading more stories by this author in the future.

I am giving this YA book a four star rating because I think most young adults will enjoy it. I enjoy YA, particularly when it transcends its genre and is beloved by readers of all ages. This was a cute story. The setting of a Renaissance Faire was charming. It had serious moments as Madeline dealt with grief for her mother. I enjoyed reading it, but more like three stars worth.

Schumacher is so good at writing about teens dealing with grief. Maddie lost her mom and is trying to figure out what comes next while living life in the Ren Faire circuit. If you’re a Renaissance Faire fan, I’m sure you’ll enjoy all of these details here. Maddie doesn’t quite know who she is and thankfully, finds a friend in Arthur who helps her be a teenager for the summer. This book balanced heavy and light topics well and had some teenage angst, which I always find to be fun.

Fun, REN faire book for younger adults. If you like the series well met, this book is for you. I liked the diverse set of characters, and the overarching plot.

Just a fun book when you want a YA romance.