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!!

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.