While this book was entertaining enough it comes with a heavy side of false (or just bad?) advertising. Based on the cover and the description, I expected a historical fiction novel, possibly with elements of fantasy or magical realism, but the writing was more renn-faire than actual historical fiction.

From the modern quibby prose found in most YA contemporary to the familiar tropes, it felt more that the writer had written a modern story and then put the characters in costumes. I have no qualms with YA contemporary, but I wish I knew what I was going to read before I got into it.

Put on top of that, zero attention was paid to historical accuracy. I'm not usually a stickler for these things, but when they started mentioning events THOUSANDS of years apart as if they were both very recent, even I was taken out of the story. Please, read at least one wikipedia article.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is such a delicious romp through a historical setting with a completely new twist. Between the hilarious disaster teens, whip-smart dialogue, and all the gay angst, Croucher takes an old story and refreshes it in a way that isn't just fun to read, but makes a powerful statement about living your authentic self. Fans of the Arthurian legend will be delighted with all the nods and easter eggs, but one need not know the story of King Arthur to enjoy this. Croucher's diverse cast of characters are hilarious and empathetic, and you'll find yourself cheering for every single one of those kids to find their place in the world. Highly recommend for fantasy and romance readers, alike

Thank you @netgalley for giving me access to this ARC 🫶🏻 I was unsure what to expect going into this book… Was this an Arthurian retelling? A love story? A historical fiction novel? I think it was a little bit of all that and none of it at the same time. This novel stands as its own story outside of the legends, with its own characters and stories. I loved that even though the book is seen from two POVs (Gwen’s and Arthur’s), at the center of the story is the tale of two siblings navigating the expectations set by their parents since early in their age and their responsibilities for marriage and leading. Through this relationship they start seeking what truly makes them happy and well… you get to read the rest 🩷 I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for it ti be released so I can buy a physical copy 📚 Coming out Nov 28 in the US! ⏰

A cute, quick and enjoyable read that is 100% "A Knight's Tale but make it Gay" until the last fifth of the book or so, when it took all the heart it had been building up and really leant into it. Up until that point it was fairly standard romcom fun, complete with bad disguises, sneaking out to parties, and characters who are secret softies but drive everyone around them away. The last act really ties everything together and makes it special, letting the characters finally shine, even though it ends open-ended for a YA romcom. It's fun and feel-good and charming.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gwen & Art Are Not In Love is a delightful YA queer fantasy romcom! Funny, charming and full of witty banter! The story had me hooked from beginning to end!

I really loved our diverse cast of characters; not only Gwen and Art and their respective love interests but also the side characters! Everyone needs a Sidney in their lives!

I will definitely be buying a physical copie and see many rereads in my future!

(Thanks NetGalley for providing this EArc)

I LOVE THIS BOOK.
Clever, gay and amazing. This book is a work of art and everything I need in my life. I’ll take 1000% of these retellings okay?

This was cute and fun but I think romances aren’t for me, even though that’s the case I did want to give this a try because it’s gaaaay and that’s what I wanted but it was a little toooo lighthearted for me and that’s not at all the authors fault but mine.

Several hundred years after the reign of King Arthur and his knights (or so the cultists believe), Gwen, son of the Catholic king, and Arthur, son of a cultist lord find are engaged. The problem, they despise each other!

That is until Gwen finds Arthur kissing a stable boy, and Arthur finds out Gwen has a secret crush on the only lady knight in the realm. What starts as blackmail slowly results in them covering for each other and learning to love themselves for who they are.

This book has tournaments, sword battles, ancient secrets, and more.... all with queer representation and an amazing found family trope.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Gwen and Art Are Not in Love and can't wait to add a physical copy to my bookshelf!

Let's be real this is one of those books I was going to read regardless of quality. I mean queer re-imagining of King Arthur? What's not to like?

Imagine then my wonderful surprise to find that this is a story onto itself! Instead of re-imagined legend, it's a re-imagined medieval period wherein the Arthurian legend has taken on a pagan like following. The titular Gwen and Arthur not being the Guinevere and Arthur Pendragon of legend but instead two gay teenagers stuck in an arranged marriage.

What follows is a hilarious and action packed romantic comedy which was exactly the lighthearted fluff I needed in my life. Truly a wonderful time.

I have never laughed so hard reading a book before. There were plenty of endearing moments but the love/hate relationship between the two main characters had consistently hilarious banter. The story is a bit slow to start but it definitely progresses well. It's easy to read and you can become attached to every character that is introduced. Overall, I loved this book and would happily read it again. Thank you for the advanced copy!

It was a fun book. I was expecting something different. Sadly, it didn’t meet the expectations I had. If you like realistic historical fiction, this is definitely not the book for you. I did like that it involved gay characters in medieval times, but the setting didn’t really feel medieval so that took away some of the interest for me However, the banter was hilarious.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a quite charming YA romance novel. The novel follows Gwen and Art, two royals that are set to be married. One problem. Neither of them are straight and they do not get along with each other. At all.

With a premise that blends elements of medieval romance, LGBTQ+ representation, and humour, this is a fun and entertaining novel. The characters of Gwen and Arthur are complex and multi-dimensional, with their own personal struggles and motivations that drive the story forward. One thing about me is that I will read ANYTHING if I like either the setting, or the characters (or both), even if the other is bland. In this book, the characters were brilliant-- they were witty and sharp, adding depth and richness to the world-building of Camelot and the political atmosphere that surrounds the characters.

The novel tackles themes of identity, self-discovery, and the courage to challenge societal norms in a way that feels both authentic and contemporary. I did enjoy the writing style-- I was scared that something set in this era could be challenging to read, but it was genuinely a good, easy, read.

That being said, I felt like I was expecting more out of it. There wasn't really an end that I felt comfortable with. It all built up to something and that something came and went and it still didn't feel complete. I really do hope that this means that there is a sequel in the works!

This book is about friendship, love, being true to oneself and making sure to stand up for what you believe in-- it truly is a heartwarming read.

Thank you to Lex Croucher, St. Martin's/Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A very engaging and interesting read. I thoroughly enjoyed this and would definitely pick up another work by this author!

I really wanted to love this story, as a fan of so many Arthur, Guinevere, etc, retellings! And I know so many other people really fell for these characters and their story. I love the twist on the Arthur - Guinevere love story, as well as the centering of queer characters. However, I had trouble really immersing myself in the story at times, struggling to fall into that sweet spot where the story melts over you. Considering how many people have loved this, it may have just been me, and I would still recommend for anyone who likes YA reads with LGBTQ+ characters, Arthurian legend, or even just knights and jousting.

From the quick and quirky banter to the many secret midnight meetings, this book held my attention from cover to cover! I was both shocked and impressed to find that the authors writing convinced me to care for each of these wonderful characters! Whether they were ladies in waiting, ‘satan incarnate’, or royalty themselves - each character had such a unique and irreplaceable impact on the story as a whole. I enjoyed the twists and turns and found myself on the edge of my seat as I read through the final chapters, excited to see what could possibly come next. I’ll definitely be adding a copy to my collection and recommending it to anyone who will listen!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy to read in return for an honest review.

& honestly, I adored this book, this story, the drama, the antics. All of it. I loved the contradicting, but completely similar story lines of the two heroines (Gwen & Gabe) & I loved the back story pertaining to Arthur. All of the quips, the fun, the blackmail, & the blossoming friendships & romantic relationships were each integral & conducive to the fun, intimate parts of the book.

Even the unexpected, yet entirely anticipated, battle at the end of the story was critical in the storyline & as sad as the outcome was, it genuinely sat so somber & yet so melodic with the storyline itself.

I will say that there are other words for “said”, & this is not the first ARC where I’ve seen it grossly overused. It makes dialogue boring when there are several dozen other terms that can be used.

Overall, this was a 4.5/5 for me. & I’d happily read it again. & I’m even more excited to read some of Lex Croucher’s other works now.

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is a wonderful take on Arthurian legend/lore! The characters, storyline, and generally Croucher's writing was intriguing and kept me reading for more. If I'm being picky, the very ending seemed rushed and a little "neat". But I truly recommend this book!! I can't wait to see what Croucher does next as well!

This book was such a pleasant surprise! It was witty, unique, and fit comfortably into a time setting so many of us are familiar with while remaining fresh.

I loved the variety of relationships that developed over the course of the plot. I went into it expecting romance, but the friendships between Arthur & Sidney and Gwen and Gabriel were just as special.

Did I already mention that it was funny?? I can’t believe how clever the banter is!!

I would have liked a bit more development in the beliefs of the cultists (believers in the OG Arthurian legend & Merlin) as well as more about Morgan Le Fay. The section about her secret ritual was too short and I wanted more!

I also did not see the ending coming. It confused me a bit because it shifted the tone of the book considerably. This is not to say I disliked it, I just wasn’t prepared for where it went.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would love to read another story in the same universe!

In true Lex Croucher fashion this was witty, queer, and subversive. I loved the medieval setting and the cast of main characters!! This made me laugh out loud and was such a fun reading experience! Highly recommend this when it comes out :)

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

A winning heartfelt teen fantasy romance. Im eager to recommend this to my student readers. A fun modern twist on the Camelot saga.