Amazing characters, amazing setting (ren fair, hello!) what more could you ask for? The grief of it all felt so real to me and so well handled. And while our main character is certainly experiencing loss and grief I wouldn't say this book is overly sad, it still had many fun parts. It's always so refreshing to me when main characters are "real" and Maddie was a great example of real characters done well. She's plus sized, awkward, and funny and I just adored her. If you're looking for the perfect mix of LOL moments and heartfelt moments, I think this book is for you. Get ready to read it poolside or en route to your local renaissance fair this summer! On sale 3/14/23!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the first book I read by this author, Amelia Unabridged, so when I saw she had written one that takes place at a Renaissance Faire? I slammed that NetGalley request button so fast. I will literally read almost anything if you set it at a Renn Faire.

This book, like Amelia Unabridged, explores the theme of grief and moving on, with a nice romance thrown in. My one major problem with this book was a couple of red flags that Arthur was throwing up- Bre saying that she had told him she liked Noah and him pursuing her anyway, then explaining the relationship to Maddie in a completely different way? Kinda icky. But all in all, this was a nice fast read. Very cute, and I loved the fact that Maddie's character was plus-sized and on the road to learning to love her body. Positive plus size representation is so important, especially in young adult books for young readers.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

This book was the perfect YA renaissance fair story. Inclusive, diverse, well-written, and entertaining.

The story follows Madeline (a girl who has worked with the Ren Faire with her parents her entire life), she lost her mom almost a year ago and is still trying to figure out how to live in this world that feels filled with loss. She meets a boy, her very first day of faire in Oklahoma but refuses to take note of it, because she's not in the business of finding new people to care about. Not now that she knows what it feels like to lose someone she cares about.

But Arthur isn't so easily deterred. He believes fate is on their side and he will stop at nothing to include Madeline in his summer plans.

The character growth is beautiful. The slow growing friendship is a dream. Watching these teens discover who they are and who they want to be makes this book a great read. Also now I really want to go to Ren Faire.

Actual Rate: 3.5 Stars.

I liked the premise, it's a new concept.
I like how grieving was addressed and at the same time how cute the story was. I like all the quirkiness it was super sweet.
However, the flow was too slow for my taste and the chapters super long! Also, I didn't have a good sense of the characters I would love to care more for them.
Overall it's a nice read not much super exciting more like comforting.

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC to read and review. Wow this book was magnificent. I loved the ren fair setting. I loved the self discovery. I loved how grief was addressed. The writing was beautiful and there were so many meaningful moments. Everything about Arthur, his lute, his two dads and his unfailing kindness, was so special and his character was lovely. I also related to Maddie in her struggles with body image as well as her struggle to let go of certain expectations. My only slight issue was the conflict at the end. I would have loved for her to just talk to Arthur, and I understand she was still going through something, but it just felt out of place for me. Other than that, this book made me laugh and made me cry and I thought it truly was a beautiful story!

Ashley Schumacher has become one of my favorite authors. Her books are cute, clean YA romances packed with emotions and real, relatable characters. The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway is such a sweet book. I really like that the characters weren't the typical popular, perfect body, perfect hair type. Arthur is a cute, somewhat geeky boy. Maddie is a sweet, slightly chubby girl who is extremely self-conscious about her looks. The romance is slow and in a way secondary to Maddie still working through her grief and coming out of her shell.

I really enjoyed seeing Maddie grow and blossom throughout the book. I highly recommend The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway to anyone looking for a sweet YA romance with body positivity and relatable characters. I really hope this will be made into a movie.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was really excited to read this book after loving the author’s book, Amelia, Unabridged last year, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. It might just be my personal taste, but the premise of being at a renaissance fair was too quirky for me and I didn’t really like or connect with the characters until the very end of the book. As before, the author did a great job portraying the impact of grief in a real way, but I just didn’t feel much for the characters. I’ll be curious to see how others like this one! It’s always a bummer when you have high expectations, but I’m sure others will love it more.

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.

It's been nearly one year since Madeline's mom died. She grew up with her parents on the renaissance faire circuit, being homeschooled and helping her parents with their faire booth. Now it's just her and her dad and Maddie finds herself scared she'll forget things about those she loves, so she keeps a journal, marking down "noticings" of everything that happens. Then she meets Arthur, the son of the owners of her latest faire. Arthur seems determined to break through Maddie's walls and become her friend, inviting her to become the Princess of the faire. Maddie doesn't want to get attached to anyone ever again, but Arthur makes it pretty difficult.

This is such a sweet book that delves into the insecurities of teenage life and the difficulties of grief and loss. Maddie (nicknamed "Gwen" by Arthur) is a lovely character recovering from the loss of her mother. She is a darling introvert and the book does an excellent job of portraying her awkwardness and her body issues. It's so wonderful to see a book that discusses a character who is awkward, overweight, funny, and kind. I really loved Maddie. And Arthur is a genuine and kind character as well, being raised by two dads (!) in a castle. There are a ton of fun ren faire references. Maddie and Arthur's romance is a slow, gentle one. This is not a steamy book, but it's a touching one. Their family and friends are witty and cute. I was a bit frustrated with some of the misunderstandings (Maddie thinking Arthur liked another girl, for instance). Overall, this is a very sweet YA story, though.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Ashley Schumacher for allowing me to read this ARC in return for an honest review.

Once a happy family travelled the Renaissance Fair Circuit, outfitted in timely attire, selling handmade jewelry, home-schooling, and living the perfect life, until tragedy changed their feelings about fair life, as well as life in general. Maddie and her father have to navigate each other and put their lives back together.
As Maddie enters the fair grounds, she discovers there are new owners, new people, and new rules. She isn’t quite ready for anymore changes in her life right now; but, enter Arthur, the easiest guy in the world to be around. She isn’t used to socializing much due to home-schooling and being a little overweight. Arthur, a special boy with love for life and the world around him, has a way of making Maddie appreciate herself and the world around her.
Who will be the princess at the fair? Will the “magic” necklaces Maddie and Arthur wear bring them together?
Fun book that will make you want to go the next local Renaissance Fair in your town!

The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway is the story of Maddie, a high schooler who lost her mom to cancer last year. As she travels with her dad on the familiar Renaissance Faire circuit, she tries to keep track of all the moments that she’ll always want to remember using tallies. When she meets Arthur, the exuberant and kind son of the new Faire owners, she is positive that they will never be friends. As the summer goes on, Arthur and Maddie (still not friends) go on road trips, adventures, and perform together. For the first time in her life, Maddie is playing a princess. But can Maddie ever truly let Arthur in, when she still feels like everyone will always leave?

I was immediately drawn in by the cover and premise of the book. I loved that the setting involves Renaissance Faires, which always seem magical and filled with community. Maddie is such a lovable character, who is wrestling with grief from losing a parent. Maddie is a plus-size character who is learning what it feels like to be comfortable in her body and have confidence in herself. Arthur is the sweetest! What a fabulous book boyfriend and adventure companion.

Schumacher’s writing is nuanced, including plenty of fun moments alongside poignant moments of processing grief and holding space for sadness. Maddie also struggles with the compulsion to keep tallies (tracking important or mundane events meaningful to her) after the death of her mom, which she is receiving professional support for. The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway is a heartfelt and charming book- I would highly recommend it! This book would be perfect for readers who enjoy Emma Lord, Samantha Markum, and readers who love Renaissance Faires!

The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway is available March 14, 2023. Thank you to Ashley Schumacher, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

Maddie is still reeling from her mother's death almost a year ago. It doesn't help that they are going to the last Ren Faire her mom went to before her death. On the first day, she encounters an annoying bard who calls her Gwen and then somehow wrangles her into being princess. Arthur starts to convince her to go on trips and live more. Along the way, Maddie (Gwen) finds herself becoming more and more attracted to Arthur and rethinking shutting herself away.

I enjoyed this one a lot! It was really cute plus I tend to like romcoms set in the Ren Faire world. I also liked that for a teen romance it wasn't like I love you, we're together forever, like some are. It was pretty realistic that there was a chance they might not make it, but that they would try. I would def recommend for anyone looking for a cute YA book!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gwen Hathaway

Gwen, or really Madeline “Maddy” Hathaway has done everything in her power to keep everything the same since her Mom died a year ago. She keeps journals tracking everything in her daily routine and lists of things she has noticed since her mom died. She is determined to spend the summer at her mom’s favorite stop on the Renaissance circuit honoring her memory. And then she and her father arrive to find everything has changed under new ownership. Her plans are further derailed when she meets the owners son, Arthur, who is an honest to god lute-playing bard. Arthur ropes her into playing Princess of the Faire under the two Kings and as thigh that weren’t enough, he is determined to make Maddy his friend. He takes her on weekly adventures around the area visiting tourist stops in his ancient car with costume sunglasses, and tootsie pops.

I absolutely adored this book. Madeline was a really dynamic character and even though I’ve never lost a parent, she felt really relatable. I found the form of therapy she used really interesting and, enjoyed feels like the wrong word, but appreciated the journey that her grief takes the reader through. Arthur was a fun character, if maybe a little flat, but in a way that seemed kind of necessary. I loved the setting of the Renaissance Faire as well as the adventures Arthur and Maddy embark on. I’m excited for this to be released into the world. I know a lot of people who have been involved in Faire’s and the way the characters talk about the experience reminds me of the experiences I’ve heard.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday books in exchange for an honest review

I received an e-ARC copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review of this book.

I really enjoyed this book and thought it was very cute. Madeline’s characters, quirky and ever-so-relatable, was great, and the growth she experienced about mourning her mother and fate was nice. Arthur was so cute and sweet, and I liked his character as well. The setting - a Renaissance Faire that was her mother’s favorite - provided the perfect backdrop for this story.

All in all, my favorite thing about the book was its quirkiness. It was a fun read that reminds one of the importance of pursuing fun things and not living life too rigidly, and if in doubt, flip a coin. Regardless of whether it’s heads or tails, you will have a reaction that will give you the answer.

Sweet, thoughtful, and body-positive. Schumacher does an exquisite job of examining grief, and how we can learn not to overcome it, but live with the beautiful memories before.

I was really looking forward to this one after loving her first two books. Sadly, this ended up not being a favorite but still a good read for what it had to offer.

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Madeline Hathaway. It’s been almost a year since she lost her mother and she is still learning to deal with the grief that comes with loss. She isn’t in a typical family either because they had and still are, now with just her dad, travel around to the different Ren Faires.

Madeline doesn’t just deal with grief. She is also plus-size which comes with it’s own insecurities and obstacles. I can relate to her on that front because I have been overweight my whole life. The scene where she is trying on pants really resonated with me as I have been one to feel defeated while trying on clothes. It sucks and it’s nice to see it talked about in books.

The romance is where I struggled. Arthur is a cinnamon roll but he is definitely a “too good to be true” kind of guy. He doesn’t do anything hurtful, communicates well, and is oblivious to things that normal people wouldn’t be. I just had a hard time believing she liked him when she kept calling him annoying and being really mean towards him, but he was quite persistent. There also just wasn’t enough time for their relationship to blossom.

Side characters felt very one-dimensional and they were just okay.

I do wish we would have got more from the setting as well. There wasn’t too much going on with it like I have seen other books do with a similar setting.

Overall, this was good but could have been better. Even if this one didn’t wow me I would still recommend it for those who want a simpler YA Romance. I’ll definitely still check out whatever else she writes because I am a sucker for her books!

The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway by Ashley Schumacher
Publication Date: March 14, 2023
YA Contemporary

Madeline has spent her childhood living a nomadic life as her family travels to Renaissance Faires selling merchandise. Following the loss of her mother a year ago, Madeline is struggling to come to terms with her mother’s death and find her place in her new family dynamic. Madeline and her father have returned to her mother’s family annual fair only to learn the new owners have completely overhauled the event. Following an encounter with the new owners’ son and cute boy, Arthur, Madeline or Gwen as Arthur likes to call her, sets off on a journey of self discovery with a little help along the way.

This book starts out very heavy but that’s by virtue of its content but what follows is a journey of grief, recovery, of finding oneself and young love. Madeline doesn’t always see herself as others see her. She doubts her body image, her social skills and her ability to contribute to the family business. Well there is discussion of weight, Madeline is the absolute only person who “takes issue” with it. She is surrounded by the most loving, supportive and positive group of secondary characters who help her on her journey. For me, Arthur was an absolutely standout character. His journey from acquaintance to more was #goals.

The book explores the role of intentions versus the intervention of fate with a cute little twist at the end that I absolutely did not see coming.

The setting of the renaissance faire is a little outlandish but that was purposeful and makes what would otherwise be a heavy story feel most of the time light and fun.

Thank you Ashley for my first five star read of 2023! I’m definitely adding this to my list of favourite YA contemporary reads.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so much going for it I don't know where to begin.
First, there is the Faire. I didn't know the crafters and other participants moved throughout the year to various locations. It was so interesting to learn about their lives. (Although for all I know this is made up!)
Second, the characters were really interesting and fun to get to know. The author did an amazing job making Maddie's situation real. In many parts, I reflected on my own loss of my mother, mainly the missing part but always in a positive way.
Third, I appreciated the author using various tools to help Maddie cope with her grief. This wasn't glossed over or simplistic. It was a process.
Fourth, I really recommend this book. It isn't too sappy or depressing. It is perfect.
Enjoy.

Sweet, thoughtful, and body-positive. Schumacher does an exquisite job of examining grief, and how we can learn not to overcome it, but live with the beautiful memories before. A great addition to my classroom library!