I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

This was beautiful, fun, and so heartwarming! Gwen and Art are not in love gave me everything it promised and more. I was absolutely smitten with this little found family.

Gwen and Art are sworn childhood enemies, newly betrothed to be married, who now have to spend the summer together. They each discover a secret about each other - Arthur kissing a boy, and Gwen's diary revealing that she's in love with the kingdom's only female knight. They form a reluctant alliance to cover for each other's secrets while political tensions brew in Camelot and come to a head. The description on Goodreads describes this story as "Heartstopper meets A Knight's Tale", and I couldn't have described it better.

I fell in love with so many of these characters - Sid and Agnes were so much fun and were such loyal companions to Art and Gwen. The found family aspect of these kinds of stories always melts my heart, and I love how Art allowed himself to be loved and Gwen was able to be brave enough to develop connections. Gabriel's character was lovable in his own way, even if he was skittish for most of the story. I wasn't expecting the action of the climax and how it played out, and the enemies portion of the beginning wasn't my favourite - but that's consistent for me across most stories. I would easily recommend this book to so many people.

Thank you to the teams at St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eGalley of Gwen and Art Are Not In Love!

What a quirky, tongue-in-cheek, laugh-out-loud book! I enjoyed the characters as they grappled with their identities in relation to their responsibilities to their families, each other, and themselves. Gwen, named close enough to invoke the legendary Queen Guinevere, is stuck being betrothed to Arthur, the actual namesake of King Arthur. Gwen’s father is the King, but knows he can solidify his claim and title if he marries his daughter off to Arthur’s descendant. The only problem is that both Gwen and Art are queer and struggling to hide their true selves. Anyone who loves the original Arthurian cycle mixed with teenagers trying to understand themselves will enjoy Lex Croucher’s Gwen & Art Are Not in Love!

This was fine, but I was honestly a little disappointed. It was a very slow start and I felt like the plot suffered at the expense of all the banter. There was so much snarky conversation that it took a long time for anything to actually happen, and by the time things DID start to happen, I didn't care anymore.

I really liked the concept of the book, but I think the execution fell a little flat

I enjoyed this book. The main characters were either great to begin with or they grew on you. I honestly would have loved to get Gabriel’s POV on all this but it would have changed so much and altered the suspense, tension, and emotions of some events. It’s a cute story, more emotional and a little darker than I was expecting, yet also just a fun read.

Gwen and Arthur are betrothed, but both would rather be romantically involved with other people ... So they decide to work together in this light historical romance.

This book is not as funny as it thinks it is, but it was entertaining enough. I didn't really feel much in the way of romance, but the characters are ok otherwise. Overall it was fine, but not one I'd go back to!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review

It seems like YA historical fiction is starting to become more popular again, and I couldn't be happier about it. This is such a fun romcom, full of genuinely funny moments and dialogues, with both an f/f and m/m romance that I guarantee you will love. Like I said, it's an excellent comfort read, and I loved how it pokes fun at Arthurian legend.

I absolutely adored this book! As soon as I read the premise, I knew this would be a must read for me and it did not disappoint in the slightest. I loved every single character and how it switched back and forth between Gwen’s story and Art’s. I also loved seeing their friendship blossom throughout. The author did an amazing job not only writing amazing characters, holding a plot that kept my interest, but also tackled themes of sexuality and self acceptance beautifully.

I absolutely loved this book! I’ve now come to realize that I have a thing for King Arthur retellings - and this definitely did not disappoint! I aspire to be as badass as Bridget someday, I just wish we got more of her and Gwen - only complaint! Can’t wait to get a physical copy when it’s officially released!

This was very much more A Knight's Tale than a romance. The setting is a vaguely medieval England where King Arthur was a real person some centuries ago and everyone is still obsessed with him. The two main characters, Gwen and Arthur, are betrothed but not love interests - in fact they're both interested in other people and can't stand each other.

The book alternates POVs between Gwen and Arthur as they each pursue their own love interests and grow into their relationships with each other, their friendships, and understanding themselves a bit better. Honestly, thank goodness they do, because they're both painfully unlikeable characters at the beginning. Arthur is petulant, selfish, and mostly drunk, while Gwen is cowardly, self righteous and horribly judgmental.

Most of the book focuses on their self growth. I would say there is a fair bit of kissing but very little relationship building between two romantic relationships featured in the book. Bridget, who is solidly a badass as the only lady knight in the kingdom, gets to show off quite a bit of her sword skills but I wouldn't say we really get to know her as a character, and Arthur's relationship with Gabriel is frustrating at best and mostly just faced with rejection. The only person really successful in pursuing his love interests is Sidney.

Despite this, the characters do grow on you. Sidney and Arthur's relationship is pretty delightful, we see Gwen grow quite a bit as a person and start to stand up for herself. Arthur gets quite a bit less drunk and less obnoxious. There is quite a bit of really charming banter throughout, and Arthur of all people is the one rallying everyone to be true to themselves.

The book also has quite a bit of politics sprinkled throughout which the teenagers pay very little attention to but is mentioned offhandedly nonetheless, until it all comes together at the end. I think the political plot actually is at the center of the book and the romantic relationships are a distraction, or at least it feels that way with the amount of depth allocated to each element. It was an enjoyable read, but I think it needed quite a bit more polish for all the elements to really work together.

The characters do all get a somewhat happy ending, I guess, with maybe a bit more blood and gore than bargained for.

4.5. I was so pleased to receive an e-ARC of this book! I ended up being very surprised by its spirit and unique spin on a popular classic tale (although it's definitely not a retelling, more of a continuative spin-off). Gwen and Art are both very flawed, but very human, characters and their personal growth is great to bear witness to. They each have a lot of responsibilities thrust upon them from birth, and ultimately fight throughout the rest of the novel for their right to simply exist as they are; to be queer teenagers. The political conflict was also intriguing and fit right alongside the main characters' personal trials and tribulations, making for an unexpectedly exciting and eventful climax. Also, Bridget is just awesome. I did wish we got to see a little more of the teens hashing it out with their respective parents, though. I feel like a lot may have been left unsaid between Arthur and his father, as well as Gwen/Gabriel and their father. In addition it would've also been cool to see more of the vintage letters discovered by Arthur, of the late original King Arthur and Sir Lancelot, since it turned out to be an extremely big deal. Nonetheless I really enjoyed this one, and will definitely be recommending it upon it's publication later this year. Many thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity!

Lex Croucher has written another light-hearted and fun historical romance. Gwen is the daughter of the king and Arthur is the very distant descendant of the legendary King Arthur Pendragon. This should be a match made in heaven, except for the fact that they hate each other. When their parents decide that it is finally time to get engaged they are forced to spend the summer together. While they slowly form a begrudging friendship, it becomes clear that they aren't compatible as they are both gay. Gwen has a crush on the dashing Lady Bridget Leclair and Art has eyes for Prince Gabriel.

Lex Croucher always manages to knock it out of the park but this was extra awesome because who doesn't want a queer retelling of Arthurian legend. This book has a little bit of everything, romance, banter, and even some action. So many historical queer stories end in heartbreak so it is always refreshing to read something light-hearted. The book sometimes feels a bit slow, but it picks up in the end. While these enemies do not turn into lovers, they become friends, and everyone gets their happy endings.

“Why are you punishing her for who she is because you’re scared of who you might be?”
Gwen and Art Are Not in Love has become one of my favorite LGBTQ+ books as well as one of my favorite romances. We follow both Gwen and Arthur forced into this arranged marriage, not only do they despise each other but both have secrets they are keeping. Secrets that would crumble the foundation of their purposes as royalty
This book is witty, fast-moving, and heartwarming. First and foremost this is a story about love and friendship. The bond that the characters create over being forced into unfair situations was one of my favorite things about this novel. In addition, the plot was very engaging and fast-paced. This is fair from a typical retelling, Lex Croucher has taken an old legend and put a fresh and almost entirely original spin on it. The romance definitely had me blushing at times but there was so much more keeping the story moving. Gwen’s character growth and struggle with her identity made me feel for her and connect with her. She quickly became my favorite character and watching her navigate these complicated relationships was amazing.
Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday books for this arc in exchange for my honest opinions!

A light-hearted and delightful rom-com of a book, Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is ideal for lovers of Arthurian legend and movies like A Knight's Tale and 10 Things I Hate About You.

The book takes place well after King Arthur's time, but plays off of the legend both through the characters' names (Gwen and Art, for example) and the overarching plot. However, it incorporates some clever contemporary tropes, and coming-of-age archetypes for LGBTQ teens. It's like an enemies-to-lovers book, but, instead, it's enemies-to-friends -- friends who help each other be with the people they truly want to be with.

What can I say? I love an Arthurian retelling, and this one is super fresh and engaging. Definitely give it a pre-order! You'll thank yourself when it shows up on your door.

Title: Gwen & Art Are Not in Love
Author: Lex Croucher
Publisher: St Martins Press
Publishing Date: Nov 28, 2023
Pages: 352
Genre: YA, LGBTQIA+
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

I really enjoyed Gwen & Art! It was such a fun, YA version of King Arthur and I loved every minute of it. It’s a very modern take on a historical legend, with elements that don’t usually have a place in that type of genre! Elements like female knights, and LGBTQIA+ representation.
I loved the characters and how they interacted with each other and their banter.
It was easy to read and easy to follow, and was an overall very enjoyable read!
I would definitely recommend it to fellow readers!

Also, I saw someone said they’d recommend it to lovers of Heartstopper and RW&RB and I definitely second that opinion!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for sending this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

This book was really fun to read. A very cute YA romcom loosely based on the legend of King Arthur. If you enjoyed Heartstopper and Red, White & Royal Blue I think you would really like this.

All of the characters were very likable and interacted so well with one another. It very much gave found family vibes towards the end. The banter between the characters was so fun to read and made me laugh at times. The romantic relationships took some time to develop and felt very slow burn, but I didn’t mind too much. In terms of the pace of the book, it was very well paced in my opinion and didn’t feel like it dragged on. The last quarter of the book was a surprise to me though. I do think it was well written though making it more light-hearted despite the events that occured.

It was nice seeing queer stories be told with a historical background to it while still remaining fun and light-hearted. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Gwen is the princess of England who leads a determinedly routine-centered life whenever she is not pining for England's only female-knight. She also happens to be betrothed to Arthur, who spends as much of his time as he can escaping from his responsibilities as he can. The two have been betrothed since birth and just so happen to hate each others guts. When they discover that they have more in common than they think, they band together in a fake relationship in order to avoid detection and perhaps find love with other people along the way.

The characters are the best part of this novel. There are many other good parts but the characters really are the best. The development they experience, the relationships they have with each other. Arthur and Gwen's slowly growing friendship, Gabriel and Gwen's sibling devotion, Arthur and Sidney's loyalty to each other -- it's all great. And Bridget? I adore Bridget. I think the dual perspective of the novel really added to why I loved the book so much.

The world building is of great quality. The way in which Arthurian legend was incorporated into the world in which the characters lived and the impact it had on the plot was masterful and I really enjoyed it. I read the texts, translated, when I was around ten but haven't experienced any of the modern adaptations, but this book definitely made me want to.

Despite the fact that there is so much going on, it never felt underdeveloped or hurried. Things took enough time and had proportional consequences.

This book is also funny but not so much as to devalue it's message or make you take the plot less seriously? It's just great. And the romances are just so charming, I was cheering for them the entire time.

In conclusion, please read it! It's a great book that makes you feel as though you're filled with light from the inside despite there being a generous amount of quite serious events.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher is a delightful YA novel that takes place in medieval England. Through alternative chapters, we follow Gwen, the princess of England and Arthur, a young nobleman and an heir to his family estate. The two have been betrothed since birth, and have developed a deep resentment towards each other over the past 17 years. As the time for them to be married draws nearer, they are forced to spend time together at Camelot in hopes that they will grow to love, or even just tolerate, each other.

As their romantic feelings toward each other remain unchanged, the two are drawn together by secrets about each other's crushes and sexualities and form an unlikely alliance. Gwen and Art decide to play along and let their parents think that their plan is working, while embarking on their own love stories.

This book is full of humor, healthy examples of friendships, and glorious LGBTQ+ representation through our four main characters. Lex Croucher ingeniously keeps the terms and phrases associated with medieval royal politics, while keeping dialogue and prose contemporary. The conversational contemporary language allows readers to get close to these wonderful and relatable characters. Whether they are heroes or villains in the moment, the characters remain loveable and are easy to root for. The characters, and especially Gwen and Arthur, are three-dimensional and well rounded, directing the story and never remaining static.

The book is action-packed and has great pacing. The prose never loses its optimism, even when characters are faced with tragedies. The three main romances are handled in an age-appropriate way and portray great examples of healthy communication.

I found the book utterly charming and will continue to read more from this author. I can see the comparison with Heartstopper, but Lex Croucher is carving their own way in YA literature by being completely original. Their wonderfully flawed, likeable characters, easy-to-read prose, and laugh-out-loud humor is bound to make this book an instant favorite for many.

This is the absolute best book I've read this year.
Thank you NetGallery for providing me with an opportunity to read it!
GET THIS: KNIGHTS BUT THEYRE QUEER
I loved every single part of it, it managed to keep me engaged and interested for the whole of its 416 pages, which is, frankly, quite rare for me.
We follow a princess, Gwen, and her betrothed, Arthur, and they are as much in love as this book is an arthurian retelling, which is not at all. In fact, Gwen has eyes for a knight, Bridget that comes to participate in the tournament every year, and Arthur is starting to feel something he definitely isn't supposed to, towards the heir to the English throne, Gwen's brother, Gabriel.
This book is an absolutely delightful rom-com, full of humour as well as heartfelt moments that will bring tears to your eyes. I fell in love with the characters, my favourite ended up being Gabriel, he won me over with his sweetness, shyness, and determination to do the right thing. I was sooo invested in every relationship in this book (special shoutout goes to Sidney and Agnes, love them), I was giggling, kicking my feet, and twirling my hair.
I lived for the cultural references in this book, which I know isn't for everybody, but they really made me fall in love with this book.
Mt favourite parts of this book were definitely towards the end, but also the scene in the shed??? and the first kiss between Gwen and Bridget??? iconic, outstanding, never done before. Love it.
Everybody should read this.

This book was so fun. It’s definitely character driven, but the characters are really funny and witty so it was interesting to learn about them. I requested this book for my library.