Lex Croucher's debut offers a refreshing twist on Arthurian lore, diverging from conventional retellings. The narrative's humor and character dynamics shine, but a sudden dark turn in the final stretch may catch readers off guard. Despite some tonal inconsistencies, it remains a commendable 3.5-star read, exploring themes of friendship and self-acceptance within a modern medieval context

so cute and funny! i loved each character and the relationships they have with each other. it reminded me a lot of the movie "a knight's tale" because it's not a king arthur retelling, it's only inspired by the legends. i love the lgbtq+ rep in there! and the found family trope (which is one of my favorites) was well done here. i would have like for the secondary characters to be a bit more developed and i thought the end was pretty violent compared to the rest of the book, but overall, it was great book!

The moment I read the synopsis of this book, I knew I had to request it, and I'm so glad I did. I loved this book so much from everything from the plot to the characters. While it definitely has sweet moments the "sword-fighting" mention in the summary shouldn't be overlooked either. There were some tense moments in the plot, and I thoroughly enjoyed the underlying action and intrigue. I really enjoyed the dual POV, and the relationships between Gwen and Art, Art and Gabe, and Gwen and Bridget. Gwen and Art were both written as a bit of obnoxious characters to begin with, but it was clear that it was for the overall character development, so it was easy to take into stride rather than it negatively impacting the reading experience. I wish I could provide a better and more detailed review, but I somehow lost my reading notes for it...

All I can say is I highly, highly recommend this book and hope everyone gives it a chance!

I would literally read anything Lex Croucher writes. This one though was particularly one of my favourites. It was a really funny Camelot romance. She never fails to bring a realistic, humorous aspect into the period era pieces she writes which makes reading them really effortless and fun. I saw a lot of similarities to Heartstopper but honestly I loved this more. It felt much more authentic that they were being forced into a marriage where both of them were obstructing a very large truth about themselves. It’s very meaningful especially for the time period.

Y’all this book is SO GOOD. I’m so grateful I received an ARC. It’s about 4 teenagers being really gay in a castle one summer in the Middle Ages. It’s like a more angsty Red White and Royal Blue, with higher political stakes à la Young Royals. It’s funny and exciting and beautiful and coming-of-agey and there’s a queer friend group and a TRAINING SEQUENCE. And there are TWO romances, though the true heart of the book is the friendship between Gwen & Arthur, who both get satisfying character arcs.

That said, reading this book stressed me the fuck out. I kept having to stop reading because I’d get nervous for the characters. Without spoiling anything, some significant and pretty devastating things happen in the last section of the book, and I wish we could have explored them further. There are some conversations and apologies that didn’t get to happen, and I really, really wanted them to happen! I like watching characters work things out.

I feel like Croucher could have split Gwen and Art Are Not in Love into two volumes, and used the second book to consider the consequences of the first book’s ending. There’s just so much more I wanted to see! More world-building! More time with Gabriel and Bridget!

Here’s hoping Croucher pulls a Melina Marchetta (Saving Francesca hive rise up!!!) and gives us a second book from someone else’s perspective someday. Until then, I’m eager to get into her catalog.

Gwen and Art Are Not In Love was my first read by this author. I was really excited at the idea of this book; I think the world needs more fake dating and more lady knights. The first 2/3 of the book were enjoyable, but felt a bit fluffy. What I didn’t realize at the time was that the author was quietly making me fall in love with the entire cast of characters before unceremoniously tilting their world upside down and throwing them into a situation I didn’t see coming. The final 25% of the book was expertly written, fast paced, emotional, impactful, and even made me cry at least once. I couldn’t put it down and finished the last quarter in one sitting, glued to the pages and desperately needing to know how it would end.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is likely one of my top reads of 2023. A fun subversion of traditional Arthurian-inspired tales, this story follows Princess Gwen (Gwendoline, not Guinevere) and the old King Arthur's descendent of the same age who, despite having been betrothed since her birth, completely despise each other. Luckily, Arthur does not have the same dislike for Gwen's brother, the future King of England, and Gwen harbors much more tender (and salacious) thoughts for the kingdom's only female knight. This is a fairly typical Lex Croucher novel in terms of the romance aspects. The characters are equally enthralling, and I absolutely adore all of our main four (plus a few of the side characters). Where this novel particularly shines, however, is the inclusion of all of the grand political maneuvering surrounding the normal romance fare. The plots of Gabe's preparation to become the perfect king, the presence of sinister cultists who want to see Arthurian glory returned to the realm, and much more provide much more substance to this book than I originally expected. It is worth noting that there are elements of this book that are much more intense than in much of Croucher's other novels, and it is important to know going in that this is not purely a light fluffy romance. That said, it is lovely, and I cannot say anything bad about the author and this book that was very clearly, as the dedication said, for them.

This was an entertaining, sweet read. I loved the relationships between all the characters but the friendships are the best part. Arthur and Sid, Arthur and Gwen, Gwen and Gabe - the banter, the communication and care between them: perfection.

I had a lot of laugh out loud moments with Art and a lot of moments of cheering on Gwen.

What a great book! I was a little hesitant about the Camelot themes since I’m not big into kings, queens, knights, etc. There is absolutely nothing old fashioned about these characters, despite the time period, jousting, and garb. Gwendoline (Gwen) and Arthur (Art) are intended to marry and have a tempestuous relationship for many underlying reasons that they are unaware of. The language and emotions are entirely modern, but they don’t feel anachronistic. It was helpful for someone like me who doesn’t necessarily love historical fiction. All of the characters’ emotions and reactions are entirely reasonable and sympathetic. I was rooting for everyone to have a happy ending, and while it took some dark twists to get there, I was ultimately satisfied. Definitely recommend!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books for kindly providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⚔️🛡️🏆Gwen and Arthur find themselves betrothed in order to strengthen alliances between families. The problem is…they have hated each other since they were kids. The other problem? Gwen has been pining for the knight Lady Bridget Leclair for years, and Arthur is much more interested in Gabriel, who happens to be Gwen’s brother and second in line for the throne. Simple, right?🏆🛡️⚔️

I loved everything about this book! It was equally hilarious with plenty of sarcasm and scheming, and emotional with loads of angst and existential crises sprinkled in. There is also a called named Lucifer/Merlin and you can never go wrong with the addition of a feline companion. This was such a great read to end the year.

I can’t wait to read more from Lex Croucher!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc 🏰

I absolutely adored this! Gwen and Art may not be in love, but I certainly love them! This is a delightful romcom with sassy main characters that was an absolute delight to read. Do yourself a favour and indulge in this riotous tale.

Gwen & Art are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

Published: November 28, 2023
Wednesday Books
Genre: LGBTQ+ Romance for Young Adults
Pages: 352
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

I love a retelling of a classic story. However, Lex did not take the modern route. This is a medieval rom-com! I have never read a novel within this trope, and I immensely enjoyed it.

The writing was fantastic, and the characters were charming. I loved the use of humor and hijinks, but also the bit of twist and battle. That felt genuine for the period, so I did enjoy that.

I loved the relationships, both romantic and platonic, throughout this novel. My heart wanted to explode every chapter. This was an easy book to get lost in. The plot had me in my feelings several times.

If you want an unconventional but beautifully original love story, look no further.

“Arthur Delacey, heir to the title Lord of Maidvale, was—in Gwen’s opinion—the devil incarnate.”
Lex Croucher is giving reader’s a new take on the traditional Arthurian legends by giving us all a glimpse into medieval Camelot but with modern flair and not just one, but two queer romances. With a synopsis that begins with “Heartstopper meets A Knight’s Tale” I found myself both smitten and intrigued with the premise of Gwen & Art Are Not in Love.

I truly enjoyed the reimagined characters from the Camelot of lore. Gwen is the spare to her older brother’s heir status to their father, the King of Camelot. While not the once vibrant hub of legendary Arthur, Camelot has since devolved into a bit of a run-down attraction. Stuck between wanting to cling to traditions and the desperate need to be yanked into a more modern and progressive way of life is the point in which Gabriel, Gwen, and their father continually find contention. Betrothed to a peer since infancy, Gwen is quite determined to avoid marriage as long as possible. Her interests lie nowhere near her future husband, Arthur Delacey. Instead, she finds herself drawn to the enigmatic and chivalrous female knight, Bridget, who definitely doesn’t occupy her thoughts at all hours of the day.

“Why does the word ‘experienced’ sound like it means ‘ an unstoppable harlot’ coming out of your mouth?”
As luck would have it, Arthur isn’t interested in Gwen either. Sure, he’s got a reputation as notorious as the infamous thief from Sherwood Forest, but Arthur is more inclined to to marry Gwen’s brother, rather than Gwen herself. I think Arthur is the most affable character out of the main four that we are introduced to. His side kick, Sidney, nearly deposes Arthur as the comedic outlet. Balancing a dual-romance with two couples is no easy feat, and the presence of Sidney along with Agnes provides relief to an otherwise angsty teen romance.

It’s not easy to manage two couples in a YA romance, but Lex Croucher pulls it off well. Though we get a tremendous introduction to all the main characters, there is also the intrigue of a mutinous plot as well that is threaded throughout the story and becomes the climax to the novel. The humor is jam-packed throughout as well as some miscommunication and other hijnks that prevalent with a YA novel. Seeing the character transformation of Gwen and Bridget along with Arthur and Gabriel follow seamlessly with the overall plot made for a truly enjoyable read. Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a tale that is guaranteed to charm you.

I remember DNF this book in chapter. 2. I could not get into this book. I will not continue with it because of the SMP boycott.

A fun and unique twist on Arthurian legend (I've never viewed it as a love story) and the hero's journey. Delving into relationships, fate, and societal norms in a way both teen and adult audiences will find relatable. It serves to expand one's thinking. I truly enjoyed the plot and setting, with the descriptions spot on for expectations in a fantastical yet modern medieval world.

Sometimes the main reason to read a story is to understand the perspectives of others. This story was no exception for me. The story itself wove together perfectly the events as they would unfold as well and the development of the characters within. I truly enjoyed the uniqueness of perspectives and rooted for each character as they made their way toward happily ever after.

I loved how the main characters were flawed. Each approaching their idea of their future exploring who they are AND what they wanted as two separate and believable journeys. It is not easy to be who you are no matter how extroverted someone may be with their expression of self. It's not easy to face family expectations, when knowing they do not fit in with what someone wants or needs for themselves. The characters and their journeys both all together, and individual were relatable and endearing - I was rooting for them all.

There is bravery in being who you are, and sharing your true self with the world. This story celebrates this beautifully.

Hundreds of years after King Arthur’s death, his descendant, Arthur, is betrothed to Princess Gwendoline. However, they can’t stand each other. They are forced to spend the entire summer together leading up to their eventual marriage. Soon after Arthur arrives at the palace, Gwen catches him kissing a boy. After she confronts him about it, Arthur finds Gwen’s diary where she fantasizes about kissing the only lady knight. Since they both like people of the same sex, they know they aren’t meant for each other, so they decide to work together. Gwen gets to spend more time with her lady knight, while Arthur gets closer to Gwen’s brother Gabriel. They eventually have to figure out a way to get around their future marriage and be with the ones they love.

This was a fun historical romance! It isn’t a retelling of the King Arthur story. Some of the characters are descendants of King Arthur, and most of them have been named after people from that era. Gwen, Arthur, and Lancelot were some of the names that were popular in the time period in the story. Though there were some serious moments, with the characters dealing with homophobia, there were also a lot of laugh out loud moments as well. It was very entertaining.

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is a fun queer historical romance!

Thank you Wednesday Books for providing a finished copy of this book!

Content warnings: homophobia, death of parent

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review! This first book by Lex Croucher and it definitely will not be my last. This story was funny, engaging, and so heart-warming. it is so easy to fall in love with the characters. I thought there was great character development and that, the pacing suited the story well. I will be recommending this any who wants to pick up a young
adult rom-com.

Unfortunately I just couldn’t get into this. The characters speak and act in a thoroughly modern way, so much so I expected it to turn out to take place at a renaissance fair. But half way through it just seems like a very out of touch period piece.

The group of main characters is incredibly fun and diverse in terms of personality. They reminded me of ‘the life and death brigade’-friends in ‘gilmore girls’, because of their jokes and sneaking around.

I was dying to read this book when I first heard of it and I'm so glad that I got to it! It was an incredibly well-rounded retelling(ish) that kept me captivated the entire time. I was hooked from the very first chapter. I absolutely recommend it to any fantasy lovers!