Really confusing world building. Not really explained well. Did not explain who the cultist were and the family tree was not explained.

if you go into this expecting more coming-of-age than romance than your expectations will be greatly met! the queer awakening was sooo relatable and the surprising amount of angst and lowkey dark plot had me wondering why it was marketed more as a romcom; but it is nonetheless! arthur was INSANELY funny and brightened the book up, but the rest of the characters didn’t really do it for me. i 100% recommend this book to anyone because there’s so many factors in this story that you’ll definitely find something you enjoy.

✨ Review ✨ Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher; Narrated by Alex Singh; Sarah Ovens

I'm in love with Lex Croucher's sort of irreverent take on historical romances -- where they're set in the past but without taking themselves too seriously. This one was fun -- set in a historical England that worships Camelot, and where the princess Gwendoline is betrothed to Arthur. When Arthur realizes Gwendoline fancies Lady Bridget, the kingdom's only female knight, and Gwen discovers Arthur kissing a boy, they fall into a tentative truce, allowing each other to pursue their own fancies under the cover of a betrothal going very smoothly.

The friendships between Arthur and Gwen, Prince Gabriel, Lady Bridget, Arthur's guard Sid and Agnes, Gwen's lady-in-waiting, were a lot of fun -- making the book as much a celebration of friendship as of love. Gwen and Arthur have such distinct voices (though admittedly Arthur's attitude is almost annoyingly silly in places). I did think the book dragged a bit through the middle where there wasn't a whole let happening, I did enjoy it overall.

The audio gave extra spirit and attitude to the characters, really bringing them to live. I enjoyed the audio version a lot! Definitely a win for fans of Lex Croucher's style of historical romance!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(3.75)
Genre: queer historical romance; YA
Setting: an imaginary historical England sometime after the time of King Arthur
Pub Date: 28 Nov 2023

Read this if you like:
⭕️ Lex Croucher's books
⭕️ queer historical fiction
⭕️ friendship, coming of age

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, Macmillan Audio, and #netgalley for advanced copies of this book!

Gwen and Art are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

This Arthurian legend adjacent story is packed with some of the best humorous dialogue I’ve read. The characters are vibrant and their interactions and relationships are charged.

While the human element of this story kept me reading, the plot component lacked punch. Parts felt flung together and the climax felt almost like a different story altogether. There were also several questions left unanswered, which bothered me in this particular story.

Thank you Lex Croucher, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for my digital advanced review copy. My opinions are my own.

Plot - 3
Writing and Editing - 4
Character Development - 4
Personal Bias - 3
Final Score - 3.5

What a remarkable literary journey this book has taken me on! I'm an absolute sucker for a book that shatters my expectations, and this one definitely did that.

Arthur and Gwen are the kind of characters that tug at your heartstrings with their sweetness and relatability. I also loved Sidney and Bridget and the absurd predicaments they found themselves in. Croucher possesses a remarkable gift for crafting the most ingenious banter and the most impishly clever humor.

Gwen and Art are bound by their connection to the story of Camelot. As distant descendants of the lovers, they are not only named after the duo but also betrothed, but they’re not in love because they can’t stand one another. Art has tormented Gwen since they were children, but now that their marriage looms, he is expected to spend the summer at Camelot to attend the king’s tourney. When Gwen catches Art kissing a stablehand and Art uncovers Gwen’s crush on Lady Bridget, a competing knight, the two decide to work together to keep each other’s secrets while having one last summer of freedom before familial and societal expectations ruin it all. Croucher layers his story of Camelot not retold but revised with fantastic character development with loveable side characters and lots of intrigue. Trysts, mischief, and terrific banter make this a fun read and very worth a visit to merry Old England. My only regret? The only magic in Camelot is the love in the air. I truly feel like the author missed an opportunity by naming the cat Merlin and not giving him a greater role in the action.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books & NetGalley for providing a copy for review!

Gwen and Art are NOT in love. But they decide to set their differences aside and pretend to be so everyone else will get off their backs about their engagement while simultaneously covering for one another as they pursue their own romantic interests. Gwen- the gallant lady-knight, Bridgette, and Authur- well…

This was such a fun little medieval romp filled with silliness and surprisingly heartwarming moments. It was as much about the blooming friendship between Authur and Gwen as it was about their respective secret romances.

Warning though- at around the 70% mark, there is an extreme shift in tone (that kind of caught me off guard) so CWs for descriptions of graphic physical violence and recovery.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed this one! The audiobook was delightful, and the male narrator really nailed Arthur’s cheeky nature.

I started this book expecting a fun little rom com set in Medieval times, but was surprised by how much more layered it was. The characters are really well developed and I particularly liked the switching of perspectives between Gwen and Arthur. I did not expect the dark turn toward the end, but I think that it ultimately grounded the story more and made the eventual (and expected) happy ending that much more earned.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed this book. I will definitely recommend it!

I received a copy of both the ARC and the ALC of this book. I tried getting into the digital copy but I stopped and started a few times before I got the audiobook.

I enjoyed the book and the story between the main couples. There was great action, especially towards the end, but also some good romance as well as character development. Definitely firmly in the YA realm, but if you like YA and historical fiction with an LQBTQIA+ twist, you will like this book! If you care about anachronistic details, there may be a few things that bug you!

Gwen is the princess of England and has been betrothed since birth to Art, a descendant of King Arthur. One big issue standing in the way of their happily ever after is that Gwen and Art hate each other. From outwardly mocking each other to childhood pranks resulting in broken bones, they have grown up despising one another. Another complication is that Gwen's heart belongs to knight Bridget, and Art has fallen for Gwen's brother Gabriel, the future heir to the throne. Initially, the two of them agree to go forward with the marriage, but sacrificing their genuine happiness to uphold tradition proves to be more complicated than they can imagine.

This story was told from both Gwen's and Art's POVs. Going back and forth between the two characters showed their shared struggles of wanting to be true to themselves while fulfilling their roles within the kingdom. Their banter was very amusing, especially early on. Seeing them progress from hate to genuinely caring for each other was enjoyable. One issue I had with the overall storyline was that it was missing more talk of the political tension that was going on. I sometimes wished the two POVs we were getting were Gabriel and Art instead. I wanted to know more about Gabriel's thoughts, his time in the library, the meetings he sat in on, the time he spent with his father, etc. Knowing his perspective would've helped me enjoy some of the middle and ending better. Overall, I think this was a refreshing take on classic characters. I'll definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, NetGalley, and author Lex Croucher for an eARC of Gwen & Art Are Not In Love in exchange for my honest review.

After two attempts, I cannot finish this book…

3.0 / 5.0 I read the first half of this book many months ago, did not find the story interesting, and put it aside. I began again and got a little farther into the story but still wasn’t interested. I even jumped to read the last two chapters to try to foster an interest in getting to the end, but it just didn’t happen.

That being said, what I did read was well written, the character and world building are good, and the plot is fun, just not interesting to me.

I have no recommendation for or against this book.

Until Next Time
MC

I received an eARC of this book on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first read by this author and I have to admit I’m a fan now.

This almost feels like a comfort read. It’s clever and witty while being full of charm and cuteness.

The audiobook is narrated to perfection by Sarah Ovens and Alex Singh. They both bring real heart to the story. Croucher definitely has a remarkable way with words and these two narrators brought it to life in a beautiful and fun way.

If you’re looking for your next historical romance that is more of a romcom, this is for you. If you’re a fan of the wit of the movie A Knight’s Tale, pick this up pronto.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023 and it did not disappoint! I am a huge fan of retellings but specifically retellings of mythology. I just love people fucking around with it and having fun! Especially because Arthurian legend is already gay as fuck, this is honestly more accurate than half of the retellings that I've read/seen in recent times. Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is the definition of queer men and queer woman solidarity. And I love that for them. I love princesses falling in love with women knights. Who doesn't love women with swords! And Art is perfectly chaotic. Read it folks!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for giving me an ARC (eGalley) to review. Always excited to read new works!

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a queer fantasy romance (or as some would call it, romantasy) in a post-King Arthur medieval setting with surprisingly high tension for a young adult (YA) title, dual POVs, and two blossoming romances. Gwen, a princess, and Art, the son of a lord, are arranged to marry despite their loathing for one another and despite their attraction to the same sex. When Gwen finds Art kissing a boy and Art finds Gwen admiring the lady knight of the realm, the two decide to pretend to get along while pursuing their separate romantic interests. Found family, secret lovers, first kisses, lots of conflict, and suppressed emotions can all be found in Croucher’s novel.

While Gwen and Art are not in love, I know I sure am with this cute, YA, fantasy romance novel by Lex Croucher!

What I Enjoyed:

1. As Gwen and Art pretend to court one another, the two get to know each other better and a friendship develops. The friendly banter between Gwen and Art is a joy to read. Their banter is incredibly fun and Croucher makes sure to keep the banter platonic. The character growth from Gwen and Art’s hatred of one another, to indifference, and then eventual friendship is one of my favorite parts of the story.

And of course, the romance is great as well. What a treat to have not one but two queer leads pursuing two separate romances, one of which is sapphic! I’m often thrilled with even one queer romance but Croucher, as a little treat, gives us two in one book.

2. While the romance is, of course, the meat of the novel and a big part of the main conflict, the romance itself is not the only plot point. I enjoyed how the romantic and situational conflict intertwined alongside the political conflict that exists in the background. Gwen and Art both have their respective conflicts with their family members and with their roles within the kingdom.

And looming in the background brought to the forefront nearer the end of the novel, is an interesting political conflict. Croucher creates an intriguing post-King Arthur political realm, in which Arthurian rule is regarded in both history and myth with a cult of King Arthur believers and the belief or non-belief in the magic behind King Arthur’s story.

These conflicts enrich the novel and make it more enticing beyond just the romance.

3. This is a great and fun novel for young queer individuals. I know I would have loved to read this in my younger years had this book been published then. The romance is fun and inspiring, the character development is solid, and the novel does not skimp on the conflict. I recommend giving it a read!

How It Could Be Improved:

1. There are some time jumps that made me feel as if I missed out on time with the characters and on their character development. The time jump that bothered me the most was the one at the end of the novel, as I was hoping to see more resolution before the ending. While these time jumps did bother me, they did not take away from the story as a whole. The time jumps left the smallest of gaps that I would have loved to see filled. This book is still worth the read!

2. The conflict heated up rather fast, with the political conflict coming to the forefront near the end of the novel. I was having a great time delving into the characters’ silly romantic conflicts and their more serious familial conflicts when the last section of the book took a sharp and serious turn toward the political conflict. While I stand firm that this political conflict does enrich the novel as does all the non-romantic conflict, the last part of the book’s seriousness took me a bit by surprise. Although there is a sudden shift in feel near the end with the introduction of the political conflict, do note that the ending is a happy one that keeps in line with the main feel of the novel.

3. I was expecting more romantic shenanigans to occur before the shift to the political conflict. I wanted more time with the characters and their romantic conflicts. This is both a compliment and a note. I loved the characters so much that I wish I had gotten to spend more time with them!

I am so very lucky to have the chance to read this eARC!
Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, I know have been raving about this book! Now that I have read it, the hype is well deserved. I cant wait to buy every edition that releases!

Despite being bethrothed, Gwen and Art are very much not in love - in part because they're both gay, and in part because they just really dislike each other. After being forced to spend time together over the summer, their dislike turns into an uneasy alliance, and from there into a true friendship, while they help each other pursue the objects of their affections. Throw in a little attempted coup, some swordfighting, and a tournament full of dashing knights into the mix, and you end up with this fun, goofy, heartfelt novel.

I really enjoyed the development of Gwen and Art's relationship. I could understand why they each hated the other to start off with, but getting to watch them get to know and understand each other and come to rely on each other was such a joy. Their strong platonic bond was really the shining relationship of the book for me.

The queer relationships were...honestly just kind of okay. I didn't feel the love interests were especially fleshed out, and the relationships seemed to develop mostly off-page. I wish they were given the same care that Gwen and Art's relationship was, but they felt like a bit of an afterthought.

All in all, a fun book, with sharp humor and heartfelt relationships, both romantic and platonic.

This book was so insanely good it exceeded my extremely high expectations. It feels like if a really popular ya romcom was written as an "AU - Medieval Fantasy England" fanfic (in the best way possible). Before reading the premise, I assumed this book would follow the same "they're engaged but they hate each other and oh no they have to live in the same castle for a summer but now they're developing feelings for each other." Then I read the synopsis and realized it had the absolute best take on the arranged marriage trope - they're both super gay and in love with someone else. Gwen and Bridget had me screaming. Their slowburn was so good it felt reminiscent of a CW show with two girls who are obviously in love but the writers are cowards are won't do anything about it - except in this book they actually get together. I also loved Arthur and Gabriel's relationship and how they really brought out the best in each other. But Arthur and Gwen's friendship is definitely the best part of this book. Arthur, who is comfortable in his sexuality, helps Gwen, who is not comfortable in her sexuality, realize that she doesn't have to repress her feelings for Bridget. Overall, I loved seeing them go from two people who misunderstand and despise each other to besties who support each other. It's so hard to find queer books set in historical times (especially 1700s ish England) that are silly and cute and also feature sapphic relationships.

I've never been so enchanted by a historical fiction YA book. I absolutely adored the characters and was very pleasantly surprised that the book wasn't about King Arthur and Guinivere! Will definitely be purchasing for my library (both personal and work libraries).

Queers with anxiety!

This was a quick read with some funny moments and a lot of queer longing. I really liked the sapphic sword fighting and the dynamics between all the main characters. The characters were flawed and recognized those parts of themselves. Through the story, they tried or were pushed to work on those flaws to an extent. There are darker elements especially near the end where the tension and conflict ramp up. I didn't mind the predictability of the storylines since the book isn't trying to be complex.

However, I wanted some elements that were brought up to be explored further like Arthur's alcoholism and his father's abusive behaviour. I desperately wanted Gabriel's POV. While we get some background of Gwen's massive crush on Lady Bridget, I would have loved some more development leading up to Gabriel and Arthur's relationship. Also, the more modern language could be a bit jarring and the miscommunication or lack of communication got frustrating.

I liked how queer the story is in general. Also, Arthur is half-Iranian on his mother's side and Bridget is Thai. These aren't explored very deeply as it's more casual representation.

Even with its issues, I had fun reading this overall, so if you're looking for a queer YA read and/or are interested in Arthurian-inspired stories, this may work for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC copy.

A fun, queer YA retellikng of King Arthur - say less! WHile I enjoy Lex Croucher's adult historicals, this was still an amazing read.