Unfortunately I could not get into this book. I'm not sure if it was just the wrong time for me to read it, or something about the voice. Not for me. DNF.

Tales of King Arthur and Gwen are timeless, and Croucher reinvents these teenagers in yet another wonderful story! Adding queerness makes it more relatable, and with the writing, the characters jump off the page.

I LOVED this book. The ties to Arthurian legend were perfect, without encroaching on the already lore-rich stories of King Arthur, Gweneviere, and the Knights of the Round Table. In the most perfect way, Gwen and Arthur were just children and they were figuring out who they were in a very messy world, where they were betrothed and had absolutely no romantic love for each other. More so than the romance, the development of Arthur and Gwen as individuals and then as friends was just so perfect. Their friendship was so precious. Gabriel and Bridget served as the perfect accompaniment to their growing friendships. They both played vital roles in how Gwen and Art grew as people, while still standing alone as rich and unique individuals. I especially loved they slow burn between Arthur and Gabriel was so perfect, especially because it served as the perfect contrast to Gwen and Art's growing friendship, almost like it was the story that Gwen and Arthur could of had in their parent's ideal universe. All in all, this book was fantastic and absolutely everyone should read it.

Hundreds of years after the famed fall of Camelot, England has a new Arthur and Gwen in Gwen & Art Are Not in Love. As you can guess from the title, our main characters are not about to be swept off their feet… At least, not by each other. They may be betrothed, but they loathe one another. On top of that, Gwen is hopelessly crushing on the kingdom’s lone female knight and Art is a general gadabout who finds himself swiftly falling for Gwen’s brother. What are two decidedly not in love nobles to do? Why not put aside their differences and cover for each other?

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love starts off a bit slow as Art and Gwen clash, but it picks up steam as the two come together to, well, not be together. I really loved Gwen and Art’s growing friendship over the course of the story – it’s likely my favorite thing about the book. Gwen is formal and grumpy, but it hides a loneliness I don’t even think she sees at first. Art is impulsive and rarely serious, but his jokes cover a lot of pain. I liked seeing the two of them come into their own over the course of the story. I listened to this story on audiobook, and I feel like this is definitely a case where the narrators added to the story. Sarah Ovens hit the right notes as Gwen, but Alex Singh really made Art come alive for me. I’m not sure if I’d have enjoyed Art as much as I did had I just read the book. Singh brings such personality to the role that he really elevated it for me.

A romp with gay best friends would have been a solid story for me because Gwen and Art could be so much fun. But there’s romance here as well. Gwen has a major crush on Bridget and Art can’t help but fall for Gabriel. I do wish we’d have gotten Gabe and Bridget’s points of view because that would have rounded out the story much better. Still, as it stands I enjoyed seeing our protagonists fall in love, overcome obstacles, and take a risk on letting their true selves show.

I won’t spoil the story, but I will say that in the last quarter of the book Gwen & Art Are Not in Love takes a turn from fun romp with romance and adventure to violent and quite dark, with political machinations taking center stage in the final act. I can see what Lex Croucher was building to so I can’t say it came out of nowhere, but the shift in tone felt abrupt and I’m not sure I was satisfied with how the ending came about, but your mileage may vary.

I had mixed feelings about Gwen & Art Are Not in Love but overall I think it was entertaining. The middle of the book was delightful but the slow beginning and the change of tone at the end weren’t really my cup of tea. Still, there’s a lot to enjoy about this story – I love what Croucher did with the Arthurian legend and the friendships in this book were top-notch. Gwen and Art may not have been in love, but the themes of love, family, and finding the courage to stand up for who you are shine through this book.

I highly enjoyed this book and the relationships within it. It was so wonderfully done and is perfect for queer young adult audiences to see themselves represented in literature and experience a beautiful fantastical world!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this e-arc for an honest review

4.25⭐️

I absolutely loved “Gwen & Art are Not in Love” by Lex Croucher. I'm not usually big on historical fiction, but mix Arthurian legends, queer characters, and lots of banter, and I'm all in.

This book used all the cliché, commonly used tropes, but in opposite or ridiculous situations that just made them absolutely hilarious. We were also given characters that were annoying at the beginning but we slowly learned to love throughout the book. I loved Gwen and Art, and their dynamic, especially as they learned to tolerate each other, but also the romance we got to see between Gwen and Bridget, and Gabe and Arthur

The book started off in a rather slow pace that focused on the characters, but slowly progressed to also focus on the plot. The writing is modern but done in such a way that it didn’t take away from the historical setting but also made the book very easy to read.

I highly enjoyed this story and its characters, and I will definitely keep an eye out for more of Croucher’s books in the future.

Thank you, St Martin's Press and Wednesday Books, NetGalley, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

It's been hundred years since the original king Arthur and now is descendant, Arthur is bethroted to the quick-witted princess of England, Gwendoline, since their births. Pity they can't stand each other. When they are forced to spend the Summer together in Camelot, to plan the nuptials, Gwen discovers Arthur kissing a boy and Arthur digs into her diary, discovering her crush on the kingdom only lady knight, Bridget Leclair. After deciding to cover for each other, Arthur and Gwen slowly start to trust one other, while Gwen is engaging with Bridget and Arthur finds himself more and more involved with Gwen's brother..

I absolutely loved reading this book! It's fresh, original and filled with delicious banter, sweet and funny moments and vulnerable ones. Gwen and Art made me laugh and swoon and smile so hard my cheeks hurt! In this queer medieval rom com, Lex Croucher wrote a story about love and courage, friendship and crushes and the courage to be true to one's self and to change the history.
Funny and brilliant, Gwen and Arthur are amazing main characters and I loved how they are together, how they slowly start to trust one other, loving each other in a not romantic way, but still in a very important one. This take on the Arthurian legend is delightful and brilliant and Lex Croucher has a true way with the dialogues and the characterization. It's impossible not to love these characters and their journeys.
Filled with hearts and jokes, this book is a gem.

If you’re into medieval storylines, then this might be the book for you. I thought the characters were really relatable, and aspects of the story were really enjoyable and engaging. However, I felt like a lot of the storyline dragged on, and I found myself just wanting it to be over.

This is a fun twist on the legend of King Arthur and Guinevere. Centuries later, princess Gwen finds herself betrothed to Arthur (descendant of the famous King). Gwen can't stand Arthur - in fact, she has a crush on a lady Knight.

This was just delightful read - the banter and bickering between Gwen and Art is quick and fun. A bit of a spoiler - I thought this might turn into an enemies to lovers story, but I was glad that it stayed true to the characters and really just pursued them being enemies to friends instead.

Who doesn't love a queer YA rom-com? Set that rom-com in medieval times and that's the icing on the cake. The best thing about this charming and enchanting story is, by far, the dialogue and interaction between the characters. They are quick, witty, and affectionately rib each other in such an adorable way that I couldn't stop turning the pages. Betrothed but attracted to other people, Gwen and Art need to become partners in crime to get what they want. They start resentful that the other isn't what they want, with memories of childhood antics that left them thinking they would be miserable around each other. But they have grown, and they are similarly trapped in a path that isn't the one they would choose, which helps them develop into friends who want to help each other find happiness. I LOVED their honest exchanges and ability to confide in each other.

This book was a lot of fun for most of the time. Gwen and Art aren't in love, but they're really good friends. Their jokes and how they get along are the best part. They hang out with Sid, who's also their friend, and some other folks like Gabe, Bridget, and Agnes. Together, they end up in some really funny situations.

But as the story gets towards the end, things change. Suddenly, there's a part that's a lot more violent than the rest of the story. It was a big surprise and felt kind of strange compared to the rest.

Even though Gwen and Art aren't a romantic couple, their friendship is what makes the story cool. The whole story is based on the Arthurian legend, but it's different. It's like a new story that's inspired by the old one. If you're into movies like "A Knight's Tale" or stories with lots of adventures like Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey's "Adventures in Aguillon," then you might find this book interesting because it mixes jokes with a medieval kind of world.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved the queer friendship aspect of this story, and how to MCs were not each other’s love interests-super refreshing. However, I sometimes find that books like this try too hard to be “retellings but not” that a lot of the story is lost.

I was given an ARC by St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own.

The title of this book might be an obvious spoiler, but it doesn't spoil the fun that comes from reading about medieval gay people with swords. In secret relationships. Seeping with banter. Lex Croucher is an absolute master at writing the nuances of platonic, romantic, and sibling relationships, while also tackling some really dark topics, especially for a YA novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

This cozy fantasy is everything you need this holiday season. It’s cute and covers the struggles many young queer folk face.

WHAT A ROMP. There are not enough words to describe this book. Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is hilarious and comforting and full of so many touching shenanigans (often at the same time). It is full of smiles and laughs and deep pangs of wistfulness in the chest because goddamn it, this book is that good.

GWART is exactly the medieval romcom you need to read. We follow two perspectives: Gwendoline — the introverted princess of England who is quick to anger but in the sort of way I deeply approve of — and Arthur — the incredible mess who who tries very hard to not give anything any thought. Gwen has been betrothed since birth to Arthur, a future Lord and descendent of King Arthur (although it's been a couple hundred years). But Gwen and Art despise each other, and always have. When Gwen finds Arthur kissing a boy and he finds out about her crush on the only lady knight, they decide that an alliance may actually work to their benefit.

The relationships in this book were everything, and each character paved their own little way into my heart by first third of the story. Between the sharp wit and bickering that builds the foundations of Gwen and Arthur's relationship, to the unconditionally loving relationship between Gwen and her brother Gabriel, to Arthur's unabashed tomfoolery with just about everyone he encounters, and even to the little side romance we see between Gwen's lady-in-waiting and Arthur's whatever-Sidney-is-to-him, there wasn't a single relationship that felt underdeveloped.

The plot kept me thoroughly entertained and I absolutely laughed out loud, multiple times. Usually I save/highlight quotes that really speak to me, but all the ones I did this time around were just the characters being absolute fools:

"Not everybody lives for the triumphs and defeats, the epic highs and lows of the little black and white squares."

"God, Gwen thought wistfully. I hope she stabs me."

"They call me Little Arthur Two Hats."

(There were many more lines, but for the sake of not plagiarizing the entire book, I'll hold off there.)

Each character was imperfect and messy and in need of some serious Talks from time to time. They were infuriating and delightful and absolutely the type of characters I want to read about, know about, and hold in my arms.

And still, while this was an absolutely hilarious book, it managed to make me feel. For these characters, for what they went through, and for the preciousness of an ode to queerness in history, wrapped up in the funniest book I've read all year.

I was so excited for this book! As a 'Gwen' it was obviously for me. And a QUEER retelling? Sold. Two couples falling in love in multiple POVs over one book is quite a lot, and it felt well done to me!!! I love Gwen, but Arthur's man felt like he needed a little more development to be an interesting well rounded character.

I really liked the first 75% of the book, and the last 25% was a little bit of a shock to the system. Also, I really would have liked to see a little series instead of trying to put so much in one book. BUT overall I really enjoyed this book and am glad it exists!

This book is such a great fantasy read. I love how it is kind of based on the legend of King Arthur so there are familiar characters and also that is has such a great LGBTQ+ rep in it. All the main characters are very loveable and the squad they form all together is one one would wish to have themselves. It also involves much action and humour that keeps the story rolling at a good pace.

I thought the book took a cute spin on the traditional forced marriage (forced betrothal?) + fake dating premise. Gwen and Art are betrothed, but they're very much not in love. Such a set-up usually promises an enemies-to-lovers romance, but in this case, both main characters are gay, and so they actually do find their happily-ever-afters with other people. Gwen harbours a years-long crush on Bridget, a badass knight and only female knight in the kingdom; Arthur starts off kissing a stable boy, but eventually develops feelings for Gwen's studious brother Gabriel. When both main characters find out about each other's romantic secrets, they agree to fake-date to get their parents off their backs.

It's a cute premise, and one I'd expect to love. Unfortunately, the book started off slooooooow for me. The first couple of chapters failed to hook me at all, mostly because it took so long for the main characters to win me over and make me care about them. Gwen just seemed like a miserable person to spend time with, and while I can kinda see why she wouldn't want to marry someone as irresponsible and unreliable as Arthur, the specific incidents she complained about just made her seem bratty and petulant.

Arthur won me over more quickly, partly because his struggles with alcoholism and a power hungry father made him a more nuanced and textured character from the get-go. But what really made Arthur's scenes shine almost from the start is his side kick (body guard? man servant?), Sidney. To me, Sidney stole the show. I found him witty and compelling, and I would totally read a whole book about his misadventures and his eventual romance with Gwen's maid.

In fact, Gwen and Arthur owe a lot to the secondary characters. Despite Gwen and Arthur eventually going through full character arcs (Gwen needs to learn to get over her cowardice, and Arthur needs to learn to step up to his responsibilities), it's the secondary characters, specifically Sidney and Bridget, who drive the momentum of most of the plot. It isn't until later in the book that Gwen and Arthur actually start taking matters into their own hands. When they do, the story definitely picks up, but it takes a while to get there.

The final third or so takes a sharp turn from lighthearted romance to inter-kingdom politics and battle. The seeds were planted throughout, and the climactic battle is certainly a powerful section. Both Gwen and Arthur have their respective moments to shine, and demonstrate their character growth.

But the eventual happy ending does come at a cost, and a rather surprising tonal shift that unfortunately felt rushed. And while the denouement makes sense, it also feels oddly flat. Not quite rushed and not quite perfunctory, but not quite satisfying either. There's a rather momentous point in the battle that adds so many layers of complexity to what comes next, yet it feels like the ending glosses over all that and focuses only on the happily-ever-afters of the central romances. Don't get me wrong: I love genre romance and I love happily-ever-afters. Yet in this case, it doesn't quite hit its emotional mark.

+

Thank you to Raincoast Books for an e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this book more. It just felt too long and the setting too ambiguous. In all honesty, I came into this book thinking it would be set in modern times and was a little disappointed that it wasn't. I can appreciate the challenge of putting queer characters in an environment that is very unfriendly to them, but I found the ending unbelievable because of that. I also just...didn't really like Gwen or Arthur. I didn't care much what happened to them.

I think this book just wasn't sure what direction it wanted to go in, so it ended up diverting in a few too many directions.

DNF after 40%.

I really, really wanted to love this book. I really loved the premise however the two main characters were too infuriating, annoying and immature. I couldn't make myself continue, and I'm alright with not knowing how it ended.