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cboddie's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
6th & up
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Grief
radler's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
onthesamepage's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Cancer, Fatphobia, and Death of parent
amberinpieces's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
theespressoedition's review
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
chronicacademia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent
guardianofthebookshelf's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Fatphobia and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia
meshell's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Generally - I enjoyed this book, loved the character growth and the believable, but still somewhat idealized teen relationship development.
Main characters are Maddie (a renaissance fare jewelry maker and seller, grieving the loss of her mother) at a ren-fare that is especially significant to her - BUT things have changed - someone has bought her old special fare and made changes. We also meet Arthur, and awkward but endlessly kind teenager, who also ends up being the son of the people that bought the fare. Hijinx ensue. They're very cute together - he's patient, she's prickly, he convinces her to be a princess, and she's conflicted. That dynamic worked.
Some of the subject matter was tough, since it features a young person dealing with navigating grief after the death of her mom, and I'll admit, this is not where I thought this book would go when I read the synopsis - perhaps I was a bit too focused on the idea of "fat girl at the ren-fare" romance when choosing this book, but I'm still glad I did. Because it was that and more!
The characters were loveable, but they weren't perfect (as people - but I did enjoy how they were written), there were flaws and communication errors, and misunderstandings here and there, but there was also so much growth in both the protagonists - in a way that made sense, but was also sweet and lovely. All within a serious backdrop of navigating the complicated feelings of letting yourself find and experience joy (and potential loss) after such a big life upending loss. I loved the banter between the leads, it was that flirty silly kind of teasing that is kind and funny and entirely believable.
Bonus points for the bit of magic imbued into the coin, and the description of the ren-fair grounds.
I appreciated the full bodied characters - they felt alive, and it wasn't just limited to the mains. I felt this one, I was rooting for them, and it was simply such an easy book to stay up reading because I wanted to see how they figured it all out.
I read this courtesy of an e-ARC from Net galley and St. Martin's Press. Thank you!
Main characters are Maddie (a renaissance fare jewelry maker and seller, grieving the loss of her mother) at a ren-fare that is especially significant to her - BUT things have changed - someone has bought her old special fare and made changes. We also meet Arthur, and awkward but endlessly kind teenager, who also ends up being the son of the people that bought the fare. Hijinx ensue. They're very cute together - he's patient, she's prickly, he convinces her to be a princess, and she's conflicted. That dynamic worked.
Some of the subject matter was tough, since it features a young person dealing with navigating grief after the death of her mom, and I'll admit, this is not where I thought this book would go when I read the synopsis - perhaps I was a bit too focused on the idea of "fat girl at the ren-fare" romance when choosing this book, but I'm still glad I did. Because it was that and more!
The characters were loveable, but they weren't perfect (as people - but I did enjoy how they were written), there were flaws and communication errors, and misunderstandings here and there, but there was also so much growth in both the protagonists - in a way that made sense, but was also sweet and lovely. All within a serious backdrop of navigating the complicated feelings of letting yourself find and experience joy (and potential loss) after such a big life upending loss. I loved the banter between the leads, it was that flirty silly kind of teasing that is kind and funny and entirely believable.
Bonus points for the bit of magic imbued into the coin, and the description of the ren-fair grounds.
I appreciated the full bodied characters - they felt alive, and it wasn't just limited to the mains. I felt this one, I was rooting for them, and it was simply such an easy book to stay up reading because I wanted to see how they figured it all out.
I read this courtesy of an e-ARC from Net galley and St. Martin's Press. Thank you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Cancer, Mental illness, and Terminal illness
thelittlebookishnerd's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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 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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming and Cancer
ktdakotareads's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Medical content