A very cute and feel good YA rom com. I love the setting of the renaissance faire. We have a plus size main character which is so nice. A dorky a little too good to be true male lead Arthur. There’s a little romance but i really enjoyed their friendship and growing together, the type of friendship you want as a youth especially when it feels like you don’t have any, as life grows and changes. The writing was solid, the story was a feel good one, and though not everything was realistic, it was a good easy read and again I want more faire settings! They are so fun!

The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway is marketed as Dumplin' meets Well Met. Melanie "Gwen" Hathaway has thought life would never be the same after her mother's passing, so she welcomes the monotony of working the ren faire circuit with her father. But when Gwen arrives at her mother's favorite last stop faire, she finds that it is under new management and meets Arthur. Things start to change for Gwen upon meeting Arthur.

For this book being marketing as Dumpling meets Well Met, I can say I've never read Dumplin' but I've read Well Met and the only thing that I can find comparable is that they both have ren faire's and that is all I can say for comparisons.

I really appreciated that Gwen is a plus sized character and even voiced her struggles with being plus sized. I know, I know we as a society need to be more body positive but as someone who is plus sized, I totally get how she feels about her body and all the insecurities that come with it. I really love how as the story progresses with her stepping out of her comfort zone because of Arthur helping her and because of Arthur and the new experiences she goes through she starts to see herself and her body in a new light. I should note that this is not because of Arthur on his own or a guy making an FMC into the Damsel in Distress trope but it's because she needed that push of being broken out of the bubble, she wrapped herself in with the refusal to come out of it and experience new things and to see the world differently.

For the relationship of Arthur and Gwen, I mostly enjoyed them becoming friends and it becomes more but I did spend a lot of time annoyed with Gwen thinking she was not good enough for him because she did not look like the other girls and her not opening her eyes to see that he actually likes her and likes her for who she is. Because of her lamenting on that a lot I knocked it down a star because it internalized a lot and other than that I really liked them both together.

This was a fun summer, YA read, and I really enjoyed the ren faire aspect of this book and loved the imagery of it because I have never been to one (even though my home state of Maryland has some big ren faire's...) so the imagery of the setting was much needed for me to feel immersed in the ren faire culture and to enjoy it.

If you are looking for a ren faire book with some reminiscence of Well Met (but make it YA), a plus sized MC, or just a cute YA book then pick this one up.

I enjoyed this YA book that offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a Renaissance fair through the eyes of someone who grew up in this unconventional environment. The book felt anchored with the deeper themes of grief and belonging, which kept this book from feeling too light or silly. This one was sweet and felt just right for a summer read.

While this book was cute and fun at times, I didn't love it and found myself skimming it a lot of the time just to get it finished. I loved the setting, I loved, loved the body positivity and inclusion message that Ashley Schumacher included, I loved how she handled mental health and grief, but I just didn't love Madeline (Gwen), the MC. I know she had a lot going on and was a teenage girl, but I just couldn't like her and that made me struggle. I also think I kept comparing this, unfairly, to the Well Met series of books that also take place at a Renaissance fair, which I just love, and that sorta ruined the reading experience--not the book's fault, more of a me issue!

I do think it's a sweet story and most readers will enjoy it more than I did, so definitely pick it up and give it a try!

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC, All opinions are my own.

An absolute delight, The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway snuck up on me and I found myself enjoying it more than I expected!

This novel had a lot of heart. Reading about Maddie as she navigated grief, social anxiety, and body image issues was a trip, and I felt it was done realistically. The concept of this book was really fun, and I love a renaissance setting/background plot. While there were parts at the beginning I found a bit slow, it really added to the world and character building. The big payoff came around the last 100 pages, where I found myself really happy to see Maddie and Arthur confronting demons.

By the end of the novel I found myself snorting at Arthur's antics and cheering for Maddie as she faced her challenges. It was extremely cute, and a book I would definitely recommend to YA readers

Thank you to NetGalley and to Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A story about loss, grief, moving on, and finding yourself in the process.
Madeline wants nothing to change so she never does anything outside of her very strict rules and rituals. She grew up homeschooled while traveling from one Renaissance fair to another and was happy with her life until her mom dies. She's still reeling from her death a year later when she and her dad arrive at their favorite fair to find it completely changed and under new management. The new owner's son, Arthur, tries to befriend Madeline and convinces her to become the fair princess for the summer. Madeline ends up agreeing and setting off a summer full of new adventures, revelations, and accepting that things can and will change and that's just life.
It took me a while to warm up to Madeline. She has a very justifiable but negative way of looking at things. She lives a regimented life trying to ensure that nothing ever changes because she's afraid of losing anything else after losing her mom to an illness. But she gets better as Arthur wins her over by getting to open up and experience new things, which is kind of the point, so that's a point in Schumacher's favor.
Overall, it stands out thanks to an original setting and a very positive message. It's not exactly a book that makes me want to tell everyone about it, but it is a good read.
Happy thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the read!

More rennaissance faire books! The Renaissance fair makes the absolute best setting for a book. This was such a fun time.

This book completely met my expectations, which is saying something because I love Well Met and thought Dumplin was darling. Despite a fairly magical setting, Gwen's feelings of grief, struggles with self confidence, and sorting out what she wants for herself and the world is really relatable. I love that the author considered multiple youth experiences and the concept that grief and self doubt are not competitions. By bringing voices to their stressors, these teens for healthy relationships and are able to support each other fully.

Madeline Hathaway grew up on the renaissance faire circuit, with a mother who made costume jewelry and a father who made leather journals. Her mother’s death from cancer has left Madeline anxious and insecure, which she already was somewhat, as she considered herself fat and unattractive. She craves certainty and wants things to be controlled and predictable. She keeps a series of journals, one of which is her “noticing” journal, in which she keeps tallies of how often certain things occur, such as conversations with her father.

Her and her father are at Stormsworth Faire, the renaissance faire that was her mother’s favorite and hers as well. However, Stormsworth has new owners, who have made significant changes, which is distressing and uncomfortable for Madeline. Adding to that discomfort is Arthur, a teenage boy playing the part of a bard, who has taken an interest in Madeline, whom he calls Gwen (Guinevere). It turns out that Arthur’s fathers are the new owners, and that they need a Princess for the faire, a role which Arthur persuades Madeline/Gwen to assume. An acquaintanceship develops between them, and they will end up going on adventures together, but Madeline resists it turning into a friendship, or something more. However, she struggles to resist the pull of friendship, as Arthur is so friendly, thoughtful and caring.

Of course, problems and misunderstandings will occur, especially as Arthur has his own insecurities about himself, and things will be said or done that will be misconstrued. However, this burgeoning friendship will have life changing implications for both of them. When finally revealed, the reason behind Arthur’s special interest in Madeline will be both surprising and sweet; and will be connected to the Wizened Old Wizard that Madeline met at a renaissance faire when she was ten, as described in the prologue. The story also has many amusing moments.

A Massive Thank You to the Author, the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book prior to its release date.

Maddie has dealt with her mother’s death by keeping extensive lists in order to make sure nothing changes. However, the last stop on the ren faire circuit has changed a lot since last summer. When Maddie meets Arthur (the son of the new owners), she ends up becoming Princess of the Faire, and both things change her summer more than she can imagine.

I really like this! It was fun. I liked Maddie and Arthur, and it was just a cute story.

I couldn't get into this one. Might pick it back up later, as I did think it sounded interesting! Might be a case of right book wrong time.

I don't think Ashley Schumacher can write a fluffy book, but I guess this is as close as it'll get. Compared to her other two books, this has less angst and trauma. Madeline is dealing with the grief of losing her mom, but even though it's an important part of the story, I didn't feel like it completely overwhelmed the narrative.

I thought the way the author dealt with Madeline being fat was a bit uneven. Madeline seemed to start off by saying that she had no body image issues, but then we're constantly being told that she feels awkward in certain clothes and walks around sucking in her stomach because she worries what people might think. I appreciate the representation, but it wasn't what I was expecting based on what Maddie said at the beginning.

This book is mostly about the romance between Maddie and Arthur, which was pretty cute, but overall I would say it's not very memorable. Still a fun read, though, especially if you like renaissance fairs.

Another perfect Ashley Schumacher book. What I love about Ashley's writing is how thoughtful it feels and how much you can tell Ashley cares about her characters. Everything feels so heartfelt and authentic!

My big note on this book is that the characters felt too... normal. Look, anyone who has been to a Ren Faire knows that there's some wild stuff happening. It's unhinged. A kid who grew up in that environment wouldn't be quite so... Bella Swan. People embrace a real sense of abandon in these places. I once saw a woman wearing soup ladles... as a bra! There are so many micro-climates within the Ren Faire (fairies, dark wizards, forest witches, whatever!)... I would have loved to get the sense that Gwen has developed a more interesting, unique personality from this atypical childhood.

With Gwen, I didn't even get the sense that she had any of her own interests. What does this kid even like!?

That's the big one.

I do think this world is a very fun sandbox to play in. I like Arthur's gentle, supportive approach. I think we could have resolved his people-pleasing issues a bit more concretely.

Loved the twist that Bri ended up being a friend, and the story with her ghosting Arthur was a bit more complex than we originally assumed.

Madeline Hathaway met an old wizard that gave her a token and gave her a motto to live by years ago. She is currently grieving her mother, who passed away a year ago. At the same time, she is struggling with reconciling all of the changes that have occurred to the last faire that her mother attended the previous year. One of the major changes she is struggling with is the new owners and their son, Arthur. Arthur convinces Maddie, or Gwen, as he calls her, to work the faire as the princess with his fathers, who are the kings. In this, their friendship begins to develop and change. It was an entertaining story and came full circle in the end. I really enjoyed it.

I have been hesitant to read this author as I've heard her books are soul-crushing, should-come-with-a-box-of-tissues kind of stories. However, I was completely lured in by the promise of a Ren Faire romance. I really enjoyed a plus-size heroine - and that she's actually depicted as such on the cover!!! - but the rest of the book was entirely forgettable for me.

The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway is a coming of age story about a young girl learning how to deal with the mental health repercussions of loss, set in the backdrop of a renaissance faire. Full disclosure, I have never actually been to a ren fair but have many friends who love them, so i feel ren fair adjacent. I liked the writing of this book, it was the right balance of detail and focus with a lot of care taken towards Maddie's body image issues and mental health concerns. I like the portrayal of Arthur and his trying to find a balance between confidence and insecurities. It would be a great book for a teenager/young adult.

DNF

This book was slow and something about it was not grabbing my attention. I have loved Ashley's other book but this didn't feel like the same author...

With the upcoming anniversary of her mother’s death, a teenager is determined to spend her summer in introspection. When she meets a boy who insists that their meeting is fate, the teen realizes she’ll have to decide whether fate is something that happens to her or something she creates. Author Ashley Schumacher returns with her trademark wry humor and surprising characters in the sweet, albeit quiet, book The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway.

Despite growing up on the Ren faire circuit, Maddie Hathaway is dreading the Stormsworth Ren faire in Oklahoma. Stormsworth was her mom’s favorite, but this year it’s happening during the first anniversary of her mom’s death. Even though Maddie has taken up the jewelry making where her mom left off, she knows her pieces aren’t as good. None of them have sold as well as her mom’s jewelry.

Maddie almost doesn’t mind that part. She would rather hole up in the RV anyway reading poetry, chatting with her childhood best friend, and catching up on her favorite comic books. It can get awkward with her dad, though; they’ve edged around the subject of her mom’s passing. Coming to Stormsworth helps a little. It’s a familiar place, and Maddie hopes being there will help her feel closer to her mom. When she and her dad check out the faire grounds, though, it’s like walking into a brand new place. The faire is under new management, and it’s immediately obvious.

Some things are the same, like the vendor booths where they’ll set up with Maddie’s jewelry and her dad’s handmade journals. But now there’s an actual castle on the faire grounds, a solid structure and not one made of foam or cardboard or anything. And there’s a moat! Granted, the crocodiles in the moat are inflated, but still. Who in the 21st century actually needs—or wants—a moat?

Then Maddie meets Arthur, the son of the new owners. Arthur introduces himself as the bard of the faire and actually plays the lute he carries around. He also takes an immediate liking to Maddie, giving her the nickname of Gwen and somehow convincing his parents to make Maddie the princess of the event. That means Maddie has to get all dressed up in fancy costumes all day and greet visitors, neither of which she wants to do. Who wants to see a plus-size princess sweating in the summer Oklahoma heat?

Arthur, though, is incredibly persuasive. More than that, he’s genuinely kind and funny and manages to convince Maddie to go on day trips to visit the sites in nearby towns around the faire. All of it is taking Maddie’s attention away from her poetry and her jewelry and her journaling. She’s supposed to be spending the summer thinking about her mom and figuring out how to handle the upcoming anniversary, not riding in an ancient car the color of an avocado, eating more Tootsie Pops than she can count, and traipsing around the faire pretending to be beautiful and confident. Why can’t Arthur just leave her alone?

What’s worse, Arthur keeps talking about fate as if it’s a real thing. Maddie knows from personal experience that it isn’t. If it was, she wouldn’t be facing this summer without her mom. But the more time Maddie and Arthur spend together, the more she realizes that maybe fate isn’t just about how life unfolds on its own. Maybe it’s about what you do next.

Author Ashley Schumacher writes teen characters with an ease and confidence that carry readers through all of her books. Maddie is likeable and relatable. Her weight and body issues don’t overtake the novel, yet they’re also a constant underlying factor in how she views herself and the world. Readers in the target audience will relate to that worldview and easily see how it translates to their own personal challenges.

The book’s quiet approach may make some readers impatient. The core conflict—Will Maddie be able to deal with the upcoming anniversary of her mother’s death?—is answered when Arthur enters the novel the first time. The resulting story, then, is more about the inevitability of watching Maddie come to the answer.

Regardless, Schumacher gives readers a treat in that she doesn’t follow tried-and-true tropes. There are no bullies or teenage terminal illnesses, just the slow, steady development of a young woman learning to accept her circumstances and becoming a better person because of them. Anyone who enjoys an empowering book will definitely want to pick this up.