huge thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for this eARC! I adored this book and I love the queer representation and how this cute unhinged friend group becomes so wholesome and supportive.

listen I love a good Arthur retelling but huge heads up, this is NOT one 😂

while it is set in a world where King Arthur exists, it’s many generations down the road where our two idiots NOT in love have their own romances and chaos.
Art has the misfortune of being named after THE King Arthur and even worse is betrothed to Gwen, also unfortunately named. Despite this, they couldn’t be more different than their namesakes. Art is truly a himbo of a man which I am enjoying and Gwen is definitely someone I relate to (leave me alone to do my hobby and occasionally make eyes at my forbidden crush). She’s super snarky and does not give men the time of day (me too bestie). Her development was so subtle that by the end of the book you’re like ofc she would do that why wouldn’t she😌💅🏼

The side characters are quite fun, I enjoy Sidney’s. A true teddy bear knight that I adore. Gabriel is sweet and I love a bookish boy who names his cat Merlin like a true Arthurian nerd. An “insufferable academic” someone says quite accurately. I love him and his own form of strength and how he just wants so much for his kingdom like he’s so stupidly pure and I adore him.

Sid and Agnes need a whole lil novella of them post book just because they deserve it. I love how loyal they are to Gwen and Art.

The writing itself is so lighthearted and reflects the romcom that it is. I love that Croucher pokes fun at what we know in the legends of K.A and how it was just a hot mess of medieval proportions. I’m truly shook by the end, that 14% had me in a tizzy and quite emotional.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book and I can’t wait to have a physical copy with 🤩🩷

this was a really good! I liked the characters, and they were super well-developed. the plot was super cool and fun to read, and the writing was also smooth and easy to understand
highly recommend

A really fun concept of a book, and the amount of humor in it is perfect. It's a fun read!
The pacing felt weird, it spent a really brief time wrapping up the ending, but I still found the twist towards the rising action really compelling. There was a lot of lore that could have definitely interact more with the main characters.
However, I think this book is perfect for the YA audience.

I LOVED this novel so much. There was a lot that I enjoyed about this story. The characters, the love plots, the miniature war planning in the background of the story.

I don’t read as much lgbtq+ stories as much as I’d like to & this story had both a mlm story and a wlw story that tie together so WELL. You really get the best of both worlds with this story. Who doesn’t want a lady in knight and shining armor?!

I can’t say much about this book without giving the story away or including spoilers but this was one of the best books i’ve read this year!! im so happy i got to read an ARC ecopy of this book; This book releases in November 28, 2023 so keep your eyes out for this book because I will surely be buying a physical copy of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the advanced copy.

I want to start out by saying that as a 30 something woman, I am not really the target audience for this book. If I had read this in high school where I was at the height of my obsession with Arthurian legends (I was v cool), this book would have been a 5 star read no notes. Queers in history? Hell yeah! However, now that I'm older I do have notes.

When in the hell does this take place. It vaguely states a few hundred years after King Arthur, but that's all we get. That really bothered me and I kept trying to place when this is supposed to be. This is very much a YA historical fiction novel, but there was too much modernity in the story for me. I kept imagining this was all taking place at a weirdly immersive ren faire.

One thing I did love was the friendships we made a long the way. And by that I mean the supporting characters. Being queer is hard. Falling in love the first time is hard and awkward. Having stalwart friends that will literally defend you with swords is priceless and timeless.

This book is perfect with I would say teens to early 20s crowd. It flows well, has a cute plot, though the end seemed out of place to me, it did give the characters space to effect real change in their world. While I didn't love love the book, I can always get behind a queer history novel. Gays existed throughout time, it's the victors who get to write the history of the repressed.

Basically more gay legends please.

3.5 out of 5 stars.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a very cozy rom-com read. While it is definitely a slow burn, seeing the characters grow together is worth it. Gwen and Art are the perfect enemies who realize they can actually work together for their goals. Along with Gwen’s brother, Gabriel, Bridget, Sidney, and Agnes, their world of friendship and romance grows and gives you all the feels.


Special thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine an Arthur inspired story. Not quite Knights of the Round Table but very closer. Now add teenagers reminiscent of a classic 80s teen movie. Now make most of them gay.

This book somehow manages to combine these disparate ideas into a highly enjoyable medieval escapade. Art and Gwen make for great protagonists - each of them are fun in some ways, and faulty in others, making them relatable and intriguing. Their expanded set of friends / family are all interesting in their own way - Agnes was a stand out for me as someone hiding their complexity until deeper into the story.

I also particularly liked the someone revisionist way the book handled the characters being queer. It was an issue at the beginning of the book, but as Arthur recognized Gwen as also being queer, it immediately created a little queer found family. Whether hundreds of years ago or today, finding those groups is how we as queer people survive and it felt powerful to read a story of someone who could have done it so long ago.

Oh my stars what a DELIGHT this was! The banter is witty and well paced. The friendships are believable and strong and real. And the fantastical nature of the arthurian setting is just picture perfect. If you are a fan of A Knights Tale or BBC's Merlin and the implied and shipped relationships within it you are going to have a GREAT time. I can't believe the world has to wait until November for this. Its the kind of read that you will just NEED to talk about chapter by chapter, page by page with someone. This book is so good I am GIDDY

Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I love the hilarity and sass! Gwen and Art are betrothed to one another. Only thing is they can’t stand each other. Not to mentioned that Gwen catches Art making out with a guy and Art in return reads Gwen’s diary to find out she has the hots for a lady knight! Their only solution is to pretend that they are both on board with getting married while really being able to do what they want. Will they be able to put their animosity aside? What happens when Art starts to like Gwen’s brother Gabriel? Not to mention the kingdom has in fighting with the cultists (those who still believe in the story of King Arthur). This book contained multitudes and I was here for all of it! You had the fake dating, real dating, humor, and fighting! Gwen and Art’s relationship leads to a lot of sassy moments and I loved it! But Sidney really brought the humor for me! I very much enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read it again!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

While definitely not a retelling of Arthurian Legend, it was a fun twist on it. It did take me a few chapters to really get into the story, but once I did it was a quick read! The characters were overall easy to love, and while there were times I felt largely frustrated by their actions (or inactions), it felt justified by their current characterization. There was a large amount of growth for each character, though I wish there had been more depth for Bridget! While there were some high stakes and tense moments, it was majority a cozy, queer, romcom read.

In Gwen and Art Are Not in Love, Lex Croucher leads readers on an hilarious, but heartfelt, romp through Camelot. Betrothed teens Gwendolyn Allmot and Arthur Delacey have big expectations to live up to, especially regarding their impending nuptials. Unfortunately, they can't stand each other. The unlikely pair become allies when they discover each other's biggest secrets - namely, that neither of them are fans of the opposite sex at all. Mishaps, romance, and not-so-courtly love ensue.
Croucher has introduced a lively main cast of characters. Though told from the perspectives of Art and Gwen, the personalities of Gabriel, Bridget, Sidney, and Agnes shine through brightly and add color and life to the plot. While other Arthurian retellings tend to paint the cast entirely white, Croucher has populated Camelot diversely, reflecting more closely the habitants of actual late-medieval England.
Overall, Gwen and Art Are Not in Love, is a quick and delightful read about young love, friendship, and bravery.

I preordered a copy for myself before I even finished it. I always get sucked in by the words "queer retelling", even though I never end up liking them, but there's so many things I loved about this, and I think Croucher executed them all really well. FIrst, I appreciated that it wasn't a true retelling that took itself too seriously. In fact, the nods to Camelot and Arthurian legend and figures worked extremely well in forming the background and the plot. And FINALLY a hist. fic. author who can work in themes of repression and internalized homophobia and still make an uplifting novel full of community and queer joy. I loved seeing all the relationships grow: romantic, platonic, familial, and the banter and dialogue made me laugh out loud at parts.

A hopeful and beautiful read! I really liked Arthur’s character in particular, he wants to be seen as heartless but is in fact overflowing with heart. I haven’t come across a character quite like him before. I just wish we could have seen more of the gang have more fun with each other!

I had a wild time reading "Gwen & Art Are Not in Love," and I loved every page. This story full of queer characters takes place in the arthurian timeline and has such a fun cast of characters, my favorite being a cat named Merlin (or Lucifer, depending on who you ask). As it was not a retelling, I had no idea where the story was going to go, and it did not disappoint. Croucher did a great job developing these characters and their stories, I care deeply for each of them dearly.

Such a great queer historical fiction romance for teens! Loved the writing and the fun retelling of such a classic story! This would be so great for any queer youth!

3.5/Very sweet and quick to read. I enjoyed the characters but some of their choices frustrated me. I do love a good historical retelling though and this definitely hit the spot. If you’re looking for something for an easy read with some fun characters definitely pick this one up. I loved Gabe so much and I wish him nothing but the best.

Thank you net galley for the opportunity to receive this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

5 stars! Gwen and art are not in love is a YA historical-ish romance.

Perfect for fans of A Knight's tale and Heartstopper! This book is SO. MUCH. FUN.
There are knights, there are "wizards", there is fake dating, and secret (but not so secret) love.

Lex Croucher has created a world that I never want to leave, the characters are balanced, and lovable, and infuriating. I was instantly and entirely engrossed from page one. I am looking forward to November when I can buy a physical copy for my bookshelf!

This book is so cute! The romance aspect was quite adorable and I love how often they called out each other for things that would be traditionally toxic behaviors. The friendships in this were quite great and I loved seeing the different levels of being out and the way they supported each other. I lived seeing them challenge each other and deal with their crazy parents. This book is fun, cute, and a little cozy.

I loved every minute of this book! So funny and cute. I loved art and Gwen’s banter. I disliked Gwen at first and even at the end for a second. I need another person me of these asap. I need freakishly tall women and unicorns.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me the ARC. My opinion for this book is honest.

I LOOOOOOOOOVE EVERYTHING. This book was hard to ignore, every page was a turner and engaging, the story was charming, the characters were witty and adorable too. I am super glad I got to read this ♡