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A review by onthesamepage
The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway by Ashley Schumacher
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