4.5 Stars
I was expecting something different from what I got from this book.
I loved everything about this book. The characters were perfectly written, and I loved the chemistry between the six MCs, I miss them already. The jokes, and banters? Yea, they made me laugh out loud!

This was a fun read and the end didn't disappoint.
I love you, Arthur!! Sid, You have a special place in my heart!

Thank you Netgalley and St.Martin's Press for this ARC

Set in a Post-Arthurian Medieval world, Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a low-stakes (mostly) historical ya romance.

The romance is earnest and endearing, especially between Art and Gabe. Unfortunately, this book suffers slightly under the double weight of its dual romances and POVs. By the end, I rooted for love entirely but wished I had gotten to know the love interests slightly more, or had seen Gwen internalizing her behavior and cowardice outside the lens of her romance. The action in the 3rd act is decently written.

I enjoyed my time in this world and I wouldn't mind reading a few novellas set in Gabe, Gwen, Art, Bridget, Sidney, and Agatha's futures.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

I'm a hardcore fantasy girlie. I normally read doorstoppers of books and get lost in worlds that aren't this one. I'm really not a romance person.

I've changed my mind. I'm specifically a Lex Croucher romance person because oh my god.
Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is presented as a romcom about two queer youths being forced to get along while pursuing their own interests- but it is also so much more.
I had heard about it on booktok, with people getting their scratch-off cover ARCs (no, I'm not jealous). The premise immediately interested me- I'm a sucker for Arthurian legend, especially when it's twisted like this (and NO, it is not a retelling. More of... inspired? Yet those familiar characters are still there, long in the distant past).
The characters are incredible, the banter lovely, the DRAMA?? Not to mention that reading Bridget is a fellow SEAsian really made me smile from ear to ear. I laughed out loud several times while reading, to the point where some friends of mine looked at me like I was nuts. I loved the way the relationships developed, and how the main cast wasn't one-dimensional and all had their own goals.
I will admit it took me a hot minute to actually start reading- I was reading an e-ARC, which I am eternally grateful for, but ebooks are hard for me. Now I'm mentally smacking myself because I REALLY should've gotten off my ass and finished reading sooner.
As a queer person of color from a religious background, parts of the novel hit hard for me (in a good way). It reminded me that there's still hope, and that things can change for the better. Maybe my own medieval romcom is sitting around the corner, waiting to be found.

In short, if the premise of Gwen and Art Are Not in Love interests you at all, I'm asking you to give it a shot, because you might find yourself pleasantly surprised like I did. A lovely debut, and I'm more than willing to read more of Croucher's work.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Thank. you so much NetGalley for allowing me to read an eARC of "Gwen & Art Are Not in Love" in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a fun read! While I do not reach for YA much recently, I knew I had to request a copy of this one. I was intrigued by the premise and wow, this book did not disappoint! It had everything I love -- funny dialogue, lovable characters, plenty of gay panic (!), magic, a beloved cat -- and I was easily entertained throughout my read.

Gabriel was my favorite character :") I loved him -- I loved Bridget as well. We love a lady knight love interest <3 !!

The only reason I didn't end up giving it 5 stars was that I thought this could have easily been a series instead of a standalone. I could be wrong there -- perhaps there will be a sequel (??) but I felt like the addition of a coup/war was a little more conflict than this book needed. I think the internal conflict of having to manage coming to terms with one's sexuality while also being in line for the throne was enough of a struggle for me personally that when the battle scenes came around I was taken out of the story a little. But that is honestly the only little nitpicky thing I could mention -- I really enjoyed this read.

Overall, I really recommend this novel and will definitely be purchasing a physical copy upon release!

I really liked this story! It is told in dual POV from the two main characters and I like both of their voices. They are very different from each other and pretty interesting. I really like how they both show some growth throughout the story. The Arthurian stuff was fairly interesting also. I've never read a book from a time period long enough after Arthur for him to have faded a bit, but not so long that he was just a legend.

What a delightful romp of a book. Gwen & Art are not in love was a pure joy to read. There were moments that felt a little slow, but the payoff was expertly done. There is not enough wonderful things to say. Each character, even our side characters, are a joy. Do yourself a favor and read this book when it is released!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the Arc.

Very cute and fun romance!
Gwen is a princess and it’s time for her to marry.. except she’d rather have a princess than a prince. Art is to be Gwen’s betrothed, but he’d rather end up with a prince!

This book was pretty funny and had some likable characters. Unfortunately, Art was not one of them and he kind of ruined the book for me. I couldn’t stand reading from his perspective- didn’t like how he treated Gwen either. I actually would have rather only read from Gwen’s POV and only dealing with her. Also couldn’t stand her brother!
I did feel like the ending was rushed and that it took so long to get there. I read this as an ebook, but still felt extremely long. Apparently the physical is 416 and for something that is more romance it should have been shorter IMO. Overall, though - enjoyed the romance Gwen had and now she grew overtime. Art did become likable towards the end thankfully! So I would recommend

It took me a while to finish this galley, but I was more than impressed. When I first read the synopsis of the book, I was instantly intrigued. An Aruthian lore, GAY retelling? Yes please.

Lex Croucher did an incredible job creating a story with relatable characters that engage in seriously comedic and genuine conversations and situations that make it so easy for anyone (LGBTQ and/or allies) to feel heard and understood.

The bickering between Gwen and Arthur made me laugh at loud so many different times, but I really appreciated the underlying factors that drove their relationship: Arthur was considered a disappointment by his father and tried to live up to his expectations at his own expense, and Gwen was being forced into marriage as a way of alliance. Despite it sounding cliche at surface value, Lex did a wonderful job are personalizing each of the characters experience and allowing them to make choices and do things that give them the individuality they deserve.

Bridget and Gabriel have so much of my love but if I had to choose a favorite, Sidney wins. He was just such a solid character, literally the kind that every book needs. But…Bridget though…phew! The fem/masc energy that was being radiated, Bridget is shamelessly my new book crush/obsession. She gave me Brienne of Tarth energy and I was living for it.

Also, it’s a retelling from Aruthian lore, but is it really? I wouldn’t be surprised if this was accidentally based on reality (which is a highly probable idea). Having sexual relations with people of the same sex was not something that was looked down on and was considerably normal in previous centuries, but that’s an entirely separate conversation. 👀

As for the prose and more technically aspects, the book did read a bit slow (which is why I only gave it 4 starts) but it works because every page was filled with so much interesting conversation, backstory, sexual tensions regular tension, and just everything that makes this so book so delicious, the pace of the reading didn’t bother me much. A certain amount of patience does need to be present to get through the book but it doesn’t take much effort because Lex does an amazing job of keeping the reader engaged. Every moment, no matter how small it may seem, is important to the overall story and it’s put together so well.

Everything about this book is comforting, hilarious, engaging, and just ultimately fun. I am looking forward to the pub. date so I can indulge in a physical copy and take it to bed with me. 💜

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

"Gwen & Art Are Not in Love" has been very hyped on Bookstagram and BookTok, and it totally deserves the love! It was a very fun book with a solid plot, interesting characters, and laugh-out-loud humour.

The ending of the book was surprisingly heavy, but I think it balanced quite well with the rom-com feel of the rest of the story. And there were some heavier themes throughout, such as child abuse, alcoholism, and homophobia.

There were some characters I wish had been developed further, particularly Bridget and the parents. I think it would have made the emotional moments hit a bit harder. But I did love the relationships between all the characters, particularly Gwen and Art and Art and Syd.

Definitely gonna be recommending this to fans of YA queer romance, although folks should know going into it that it is not very historical-focused and it is not a King Arthur retelling. I gave it 4.5/5 stars but I will round it to 5 stars.

I really really wanted to like this book more than I did I just unfortunately didn't. I think that I was expecting something different than the book gave.

It is a wonderful coming of age queer romance. It unfortunately doesn't feel like a historical fiction or a historical romance and that's what I was expecting based on the description of the book. Going in without that expectation I might have liked it more.

The characters were really great. Dialogue is really the strong point for this book in my opinion. Quips were fast, conversations felt natural and relevant. If you're looking for an adorable queer YA this book is for you.

What an incredible book! I absolutely adore the writing, the characters, the setting, everything! I could read a million stories of the whole gang and never get bored. Thoroughly enjoyed this book, thanks so much for the ARC!!!

Wow! If you like queer romcoms, Arthurian myth, witty banter, longing looks, hilariously bad wingmen (and women), and absolutely fantastic friendships, you need to read <i> Gwen and Art Are Not in Love </i>. The premise hooked me from the beginning and Lex Croucher's writing shines from the first page.

Gwendoline is a princess, betrothed since she was young to Arthur, the son of a high-ranking noble. Since they were little, Gwen and Art have gotten on each other's nerves, so news of their impending marriage coinciding with the realm's greatest tournament has Gwen feeling more than a little queasy. The other problem? Gwen is pining from afar for Lady Bridget LeClair, a female knight, and Gwen knows that she can't tell anyone about her hidden desires.

But Arthur has a secret of his own: he would much rather kiss handsome young men behind the stables than be anywhere near Gwen. One night, when Gwen catches Arthur in the act and Arthur discovers Gwen's attraction to Bridget, the two make a deal: they'll pretend to be wildly in love so both can pursue their separate love interests. But while Arthur tries his best to be an absolutely fantastic wingman to Gwen and Bridget, he's dealing with his own drama...because he may have fallen in love with Gwen's brother, Gabriel, heir to the throne. And Gabriel, though undeniably attracted to Arthur, is afraid of living openly as himself. Add in an overarching plot of rebels, coups, and espionage unfolding at the greatest tournament of the century, and you've got one hell of a ride.

There is so, so much I could say to gush about this book, but I'll keep it brief because I'd rather you just read the thing than read my review of the thing. This is the book I wish I could have read as a queer teen. I love books with queer-normative worlds, BUT I think Lex Croucher's treatment of Gwen and Gabriel's struggle to understand their respective sexualities was important. As a warning, there is period-typical homophobia here...but there's also an eventual rewriting of the narrative as Gabe (a scholar of Arthurian legend), discovers <spoiler> that his idol, King Arthur Pendragon, was actually super, super gay, and that living up to him means changing laws to do away with homophobia in their kingdom </spoiler>. Because of this, the characters and relationships feel realistically drawn, as well as hopeful, and I would recommend this to anyone struggling with coming out and feeling safe.

I ALSO think that, besides the heavy stuff, this is a deeply, deeply funny book. It's also tender and sweet. There's ALSO realistic representation of mental health (Arthur's depressive episodes) and endometriosis (at one point, Bridget's period pain absolutely wipes her out, and *spoiler* the male doctor tells her it's nothing, she's fine). There's ALSO a totally sapphic Morgan Le Fey party. There's ALSO a major battle. There's ALSO well-done diversity in the characters (aside from the obvious queerness of our main 4 characters, Arthur is Muslim and Bridget is Thai, and though this isn't a major plot point, it doesn't feel performative).

This is my first Lex Croucher book and it absolutely will not be my last: their writing style is fresh and unique, and I adore how they infuse character so well into dialogue. Without even looking, I can tell which character is speaking, and it felt both period-specific and readably modern. They strike that balance the best of any retelling/Arthurian legend I've seen (and I do tend to read a lot of those, so trust me on this)!

Anyway, when it comes out this November, catch me shoving this book at everyone I see and begging them to read it. I will not be quiet.

Thank you to Lex Croucher and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Gwen & Art Are Not In Love is a delightful queer coming of age novel about the antics and shenanigans of the royalty of Camelot. This book is pure queer chaos in the best possible way. I loved the way the writing style was very modern even though it took place so long ago. It was incredibly accessible and features some really strong WLW representation, alongside an additional gay love story between two men. I also loved the diversity of the cast! Croucher made it a point to talk about how many of the main characters were not white, even though they were the nobility of England. This is totally a book I would give to my younger cousin to read. Loved it. 4/5!

Do you like to read? Do you like to have a good time? Have you ever wanted more queer Arthurian books? Would you like to combine all these and be laughing so hard you're crying while reading the most utterly delightful book? Well, then you should read Gwen and Art Are Not in Love.

More things you'll get in this book include chaotic and loveable characters, queer historical romance and shenanigans, a great sibling relationship, enemies-to-allies-to-friends, incredible side characters, more than one romantic couple you'll be rooting for, "a kingdom or this" LITE vibes, a sexy knight tipping the princess's chin up with the edge of her sword, found family, swooning, tournaments, battles, fighting, knights, royals, crows, and cats.

Gwen and Art are such wonderful main characters, and this book was a joy to read. It's not all silly fun and games, there are some more serious topics in the book, too, but overall, it's much funnier than I expected.
My only note would be that the ending was maybe just a tiny bit lacking compared to the rest of the book but not enough to take away any of my enjoyment. It also made me hopeful there might even be a sequel which I'd read in a heartbeat!

A few favourite quotes:

- “I like some risk now and again, if what’s at stake is worth having."

- 'God', Gwen thought wistfully. 'I hope she stabs me.'

- “How am I supposed to know what I want?” Gabriel said quietly. “There’s only ever been room for what I’m . . . destined to have.”

- “I made you a false mustache!” Arthur said, outraged. “I did crafts for you! The least you can do is act grateful.” “Thank you for my cat-hair mustache,” Gwen said, rolling her eyes. “It’s truly disgusting. I hope you washed it first.”

Gwen & Art are not in love is potentially my book of the year. It is just that good that good of a book.

Gwen and Art have both been betrothed from a young age and absolutely despise each other. After they both discover that they have feelings for the same gender, they call a truce and try to navigate the their feelings for other people while pretending to be in a relationship with each other.

There was just the right amount of humor in this book and it also had tropes I like but different enough to be fresh. I did end up becoming more invested in Art’s relationship with Gwen’s brother but I still enjoyed the relationship between Gwen & Bridget. The pacing of the book was also solid and there was just enough action to keep the story moving forward. I am sad that the ending of the book was a bit open ended. I also just didn’t want things to end as I had gotten really attached to all the characters in the book. If the author does end up writing a sequel, I will check it out.

I would have liked the love interests to start interacting a little more a little sooner. I felt like there was a lot of establishment of Gwen and Art not liking each other which I didn't really care about, and I feel we could have explored their characters more while they interacted with the love interests instead of establishing them beforehand. But, overall I really enjoyed the story. Once things got going with the romances things were much more interesting and held my attention. They were all very cute together. I also liked the evolution of Gwen and Art's relationship, and getting to know Sydney, who is a gem once you get to know him. Also, though Gwen has some not like other girl tendencies, she gets called out for it and decides she was wrong, so I appreciated the way that was handled.

I didn't get enough time to read all of this. In fact, i don't think i even got through the more than 4 chapters, but what i did read, i really enjoyed!

This book was a delight! I'm a sucker for any Arthurian retellings, and even though this wasn't quite that, it was really interesting to see what Croucher created as an extension of that world. The characters felt like real people and the representation of LGBTQ characters at different stages of personal acceptance was something I feel like queer people with definitely be able to relate to. As a high school teacher, I would absolutely recommend this to my older students (only older students solely because of the language).

i read lex croucher's GWEN & ART ARE NOT IN LOVE & this queer medieval romcom was full of both wit & heart.

told through the perspectives of both title characters, this novel was a tender exploration of what it means to live your truth—even if it means sacrificing everything. ♡

I thought this was a really enjoyable YA rom-com that started very strong, fizzled out towards the middle, then picked back up again at the end. Gwen & Art Are Not in Love's biggest strength is its dialogue. The quips came naturally and were laugh out loud funny; Arthur in particular was very lovable and his relationship with Sidney was entertaining. I was instantly hooked when reading this, and very much enjoyed the first third of the book.

The middle of the book is its weakest part - it felt like it dragged on for quite a while without much happening. I can think of several scenes that probably could or should have been cut because I don't think they were necessary to the story and just added too much length. The book could have been a good 50-100 pages shorter and still have accomplished everything it set out to. I was also a bit let down with a lack of depth from Bridget. Three out of the four main characters (Gabriel, Gwen, and Arthur) seemed to get quite a bit of character development, back story, and emotional depth. In comparison, Bridget seemed to just be there for the sake of having a love interest for Gwen, but she wasn't given much personality or backstory.

That said, the ending was wonderful; it was dramatic and hopeful and helped tie everything together.

Overall, I enjoyed a lot about this story and definitely would recommend it to anyone wanting a queer YA rom-com that's set in a historical world but feels contemporary.