For some reason (and not in a bad way to those of you who dislike them) it reminded me of a Disney Channel Original Movie. I mean, there were certain aspects that would be inappropriate for a children's television movie but it had the same feel as one. It left me feeling nice and at home. The concept was very cute and I enjoyed reading about the Renaissance Faire. I've never had the pleasure of going to one but I feel like I should at least give one a chance after reading this novel. I really enjoyed it! ( )

When Rowena's boyfriend dumps her, she decides she needs a new summer plan -- fast! The thought of spending the summer working at her mall job, where she will see her ex and his new girlfriend nearly ever day, is unendurable. So, with few options and little time, she answers a rather vague and sketchy newspaper job ad, and finds herself hired to do face painting at a Renaissance Faire. Her co-workers are a colorful crew, and she immediately develops a crush on one of the knights, forms a friendship with the tavern wench she bunks with, and develops more confidence in her skills as an artist as she improves on the basic face painting designs she is given. Ro realizes that art makes her happy and that she would like to study it in college, but how can she explain that to her parents, who expect her to leverage her ren faire experiences to write a stellar admissions essay for business school or law school? Also, will she ever get that hot knight to notice her?

If you're looking for a fun summer YA romance, this is a good one to consider. Yes, it's obvious which guy Ro should end up with, but as I may have said before in other reviews, the 'who' is rarely the point in a romance novel; it's all about the 'how.' This particular book has a lot of strengths beyond the romance, as well: lots of colorful and interesting characters, a vividly described setting, and great interpersonal issues that crop up as Ro develops friendships and discovers her own biases and prejudices. I was looking for a light, fun read when I picked this book up, and it fit the bill perfectly. ( )

Library copy