If you liked The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, Legends & Lattes, and/or anything by Casey McQuiston, you're going to love Gwen and Art Are Not in Love.

This book is incredibly charming, character-driven (my favorite!), and atmospheric in a post-Merlin Camelot. So here's my breakdown.

The good:
-The characterization in this book is SO well-done, especially concerning our main characters Gwen and Art.
-Found family!!!!!!!!!
-Tension. My god, Croucher is a master at romantic tension.
-Vibes. This book made me want to go to the Renaissance Faire real bad.
-This book played on every emotional string. I LOVE finding a book that I can really feel the same emotions the characters do: the pining, the anger, the hurt, the laughter. It was a little emotionally exhausting to read (in the best possible way).
-Croucher just really knows how to have fun. I had such a great time reading this book I read it all in one day.

Could be better:
-The only character I felt I was missing out on was Bridget. Compared to all the other characters in the book, she is the one I understood the least and I would've liked to see more from her. When she and Gwen have their serious talk about Bridget leaving for the winter, she says that they don't really know each other, and like, she's definitely right about that. They supposedly do get to know each other better and work it out off-page, but I really would have liked to see that play out.
-I generally don't know how to feel about the plot. The book kind of felt off balance; the first half is really focused on building relationships and it's pretty low-stakes, but the back half is where the plot really kicks in and the stakes were much higher than I expected going into the book initially. I requested this book expecting a really fluffy typical rom-com, but it actually gets pretty dark. Croucher does lay groundwork for the political unrest in the first half, but I honestly would've preferred if it kept the same light tone throughout the whole book.
-The ending felt kind of rushed and underdeveloped. The tone shift left the book a little unbalanced and I felt it most in the ending. Once the book starts focusing more on plot I felt I lost the characters a bit---I don't want to say the ending was inconsistent because it did make sense, it was just a little unsatisfying. I wanted more from it.

What it boils down to is I went into this book for the vibes and character, not the plot, so when the plot kicks up in the last 3/4 of the novel it lost me a little bit. That being said, I certainly don't think this book has a bad plot, I just got caught up in my own expectations. I definitely had a lot of fun with this one and would still highly recommend. I really look forward to reading more from Croucher!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

HUGE HUGE SHOUTOUT TO NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER!! I cried real tears when I saw I got this ARC. It was genuinely such an incredible moment, nothing will ever top that.

ONTO THE REVIEW OF THIS GLORIOUS BOOK: When this comes out in November, you all better GET IT. I felt like I was literally in Camelot with Gwen and Art. I was so immersed in the story it felt like a crime that I couldn't just read it continuously and ignore all my other life responsibilities.

Gwen and Art's stories were so cute, so sweet, and SO BEAUTIFUL. I was cheering the both of them on from the very beginning and their enemies to friends development was so wonderfully written, it brought me to tears on several occasions. They're just two queer people trying to navigate their crushes and there was nothing I loved more than seeing the gay panic.

Each character was also just so lovable. This felt like a true found family (even though Gwen and Gabe literally are family LOL) and you can't help but just adore them like they're your own friends. The humor, the camaraderie, and the love were just so beautiful. Thank you Croucher for writing such an incredible story and thank you again NetGalley for this ARC, I have never been happier!!!

I absolutely loved this. The banter, the feels, the romance. Ugh, everything about it was perfect. One of my top 2023 reads so far!

Gwen & Art are Not in Love is officially one of my favorite queer novels. It follows Gwen, a princess, and Art, her betrothed. They’ve hated each other since childhood, but as they’re forced to spend time with each other during the summer, they each learn a secret about the other. Gwen has a crush on the only lady knight in the kingdom and Art fancies Gwen’s brother.

While not everything about this book was warm and fuzzy, it still gave me the warm and fuzzies. I loved the found family aspect and all of the relationships were super cute.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the author/publisher for providing me with an advanced readers copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.

Queer book of my dreams.

This was really cute and well executed. At first I really hated our FMC she really annoyed me with her attitude. Just super unlikeable. But throughout the book and as her relationships grow she learns so much about herself.
Not only does she learn who she truly is as a person via her sexuality and why she’s been so closed off her whole life but she opens up and lets people in to see her true self.
The relationship between Art and Gwen is also amazing. It starts as enemies and turns into found family.
And not only Art and Gwen, but also Sidney, Agnes, Bridget and Gabe.

One thing this book does really well is it shows true struggles of people who are trying to come out, not only out to other people and how their friends and family would react but also their inner self and how they think they have to be one way and long live out their true lives. It’s also shows how depression can affect you in that situation. It was beautiful to watch that unravel not only for Gwen but for Gabe as well.

I don’t typically like old medieval, fighting, royal things. But this was so well done. Very tasteful, not boring at all. It really kept me on my toes. The action never stops. And the twists and turns that take place. I started this book in the morning, I worked, and I finished it by end of day because I literally could not put it down. I did not get YA vibes, I really really enjoyed this one.

Im very thankful to NetGalley for allowing me to read this Arc. I did not expect to love this as much as I did.

I read an ARC from NetGalley. I liked the idea of retelling the King Arthur myth from a modern day teen perspective. What I didn’t realize is that there’s a trend for contemporary YA writers to write as teens talk, casually and cutesy. I dislike when I see that on the page, so I read a portion of the book and skimmed the rest.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for providing an eARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.

This story takes place a few generations after the infamous King Arthur took reign in Camelot. The world looks a little different, but ripples from that time can still be felt in this story. Add in some more modern humor and banter, and the story feels much more relatable and current.

Our main characters, Gwen and Art, have been set to marry since they were children, and neither of them are fans of this plan, or each other. But politics and tensions within the kingdom dictate that it is time to get this show on the road, and both need to come to terms with that. Not only have the two misunderstood and resented each other for most of their lives, but they have also been hiding their own queerness.

This is a very character driven story, and most of the humor comes from the banter. Art is truly the master of this, and I would love a prequel with him and Sidney just riding around, causing light chaos. We also see some character growth from Art and Gwen as well, and how they both learn to become more brave. While we do see some of how Art and Gabe's relationship grows, I wish we would have seen more development with Gwen and Bridget's relationship.

I think my biggest disappointment with this story is the ending. While politics are more casually mentioned during most of the story, they become the driving part for like the last 15-20%, and it almost feels like whiplash. I was also disappointment that the ending is almost a cliffhanger with regard to the relationships. By the end, the character had to go through some tough things, and we don't get to see that joy at the end of the story, just more unknowns.

Overall, I did enjoy the story and give it 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars. I think the YA audience would relate to some of the struggles of the characters, like standing up for what you believe in or trying to fit expectations that you don't really feel like you fit.

Princess of England, Gwendoline, and her betrothed, Arthur, are definitely not in love.. with each other. This YA romance with fantastical elements is fresh, fun, and full of charm. Our main characters are delightfully and believably flawed. Finally an "enemies" start to a novel that is not under- or over- shot. The characters grow and come of age in this engrossing and captivating tale of teenage high and lows set over a backdrop of grown up political intrigue. It is feel good but not flippant, a perfect balance. Croucher is just getting better and better.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! This is 3.5 stars rounded up.

This is the first book I’ve read centered around Camelot/Arthurian times/etc so my knowledge on that is very little. I cannot speak to how similar it may be to the stories or if fans of that will be pleased but from what I can tell there are tons of references back to the origins. In fact the story was pulling up information I learned in the past but forgot about.

Obviously this story has a queer twist to it, with Gwen and Art not actually being in love. Although sexualities are never specifically stated it seemed to me that Gwen is Demi/Bi while Art is gay. I kind of wished there was confirmation for the other queer characters in their sexualities. Either way, the book gives what it says it will, which is queer romance with a lot more angst than I was expecting.

The story is very character driven surrounding their personalities and relarionships to eachother as well as circumstances seemingly beyond their control. The main plot point happens within the last couple of chapters and felt a bit rushed and skimmed over. I think if this happened 10 chapters earlier with more development into these characters and their relationships with eachother while enduring that plot point would have upped the ante. I think given that it is a romcom it is unsurprising that those moments happened as an afterthought that it will just come down to reader and preference. For myself I would have liked more but I do think a majority of readers will not be disappointed by the pacing.

As for critiques I have several. There is character growth and the transformation is lovely but the beginning was a bit overkill. I kept thinking “okay we get it, they hate eachother.” And if I’m remembering it correctly, the one character sort of stirring the pot and making things worse never apologized. Especially when there is blackmailing involved, which is fine to some but not my cup of tea when I’m supposed to be rooting for these two characters.

The sexism and misogyny is very period typical but once again, it was hard to stomach at times. I’m not anyone who thinks characters need to be perfect or morally correct, in fact I prefer them flawed, but I would have loved for the women being targeted, like Gwen, to get one over on them all. I think she takes the mistreatment from literally everyone and directs that frustration towards others like Agnes and other women. It madeAnd I worry people will not give her grace like they might with Art who, despite his quirks and growth, I didn’t care for. He agitates Gwen and Gabriel from start to finish, often pushing boundaries and I was hoping by the end he would have settled that.

I also felt like certain characters were pushing others to come to terms with their sexualities, as expressed by said character being pushed, and it is just not something I personally care for. For the sake of the story I get why there is inklings of this, and it might come down to perception, but again, not my cup of tea.

Despite my critiques, I think there is some great growth without feeling too inauthentic. It felt more like they were in the beginning stages of growth rather than magically being a different person after getting a critique. These things can be a process. I wish we had seen more of this with Agnes and Gwen but it was alright for what we did get.

Even though this book does deal with struggling to accept yourself, fitting into shoes you’re not sure you can feel, dealing with a patriarchy, and growing as a person, there is still often a lighthearted tone. The characters really draw you in even if you’re not the fondest of them at times. I can see the appeal that is captivating so many people.

Overall, I will be recommending and think it was actually sort of nice to get queer characters that are messy and flawed. I might not have loved everything about their flaws but that is what makes them flaws. At the core of the book you can see the heart and intention.

This reads like it could have been fresh 10 years ago, or like a hastily written fanfic. Characters are flat and it was predictable even within the first couple chapters - and not in a satisfying way.

Review 9/10✨The hype rang true with this one! I saw a couple ARC reviews raving about this book so I dusted off my NetGalley and requested a copy.

I loved just about everything in this story. It’s a queer YA semi-romance set in medieval times that also has themes of friendship and family. The overall vibes of this book were amazing! When I was younger I was obsessed with a movie about Robin Hoods daughter (played by Keira Knightley💗), that me would’ve been equally obsessed with this book and I wish I’d had it to read during my peek medieval phase. I’ve been noticing more and more books set in this time period, or inspired by it, and I’m loving it.

The characters in this book were a mix of personalities that made a group that was beyond fun to spend time with. The story was described as Heartstopper meets Knights Tale and I found that rang true. I was expecting the character storylines but the main plot surprised me. It had the perfect amount of action mixed it. I was never bored and always looked forward to reading more. I think this cover is perfect and can’t wait to get my hard copy to photograph it more💕 If you love YA stories full of queer characters this is a must read when it comes out this fall!

Thanks to x and X for a copy of this book, it was a joy to read!

It was Queer and sweet every thing I would want in a romcom.
Unconventional royal romances are a lot more fun that I give them credit for. This one was an all-around good time with easy banter between protagonists, and several heartwarming moments between both couples. Art and his bodyguard were too funny for their own good, while Gwen and her brother tugged at my heartstrings all throughout this story. I flew through this book in a day.
I was honestly shocked by how crazy the climax was. When I tell you I was stressed for these characters, I mean it. It’s a shame the ending wasn’t a bit longer, I really wanted more!! This was a really fun story, with so much genuine heart and meaning spread throughout both protagonists’ experiences!

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Lex Croucher for the ARC and allowing me this opportunity to read and share my thoughts!

“To be truly brave, first you must be afraid— and to be afraid, you must have something you cannot bear to lose.”

➤Plot

"Gwen And Art Are Not in Love" follows the dual perspective between Gwen, the current princess to the King, and Arthur, her betrothed for political gain. But can you truly marry someone that both parties despise? Especially when your betrothed was just seen kissing another boy secretly and Gwen eyes always fall upon a female knight that keeps taking her breath away? The two quickly realize they are both in the same problem and decide to form a fake alliance to act like they actually do love each other while courting the people they actually do long for.

This is everything I ever wanted from a book. I scream when I saw the concept and I screamed even louder when I was given the chance to read the arc. As a child I always had a fascination knights but as I grew older and learned more about myself - I really gave up the hopes of having a romance book that would take my heart with the medieval that is LGBTQA+ focused.

Lex Croucher, thank you. From the child me that always longed for this story.
You wrote this tale amazingly and I can't wait to buy this physically so I can force my friends to always experience this amazing tale.

When I told you I cried and was so scared at the end... It was all worth it.

➤Characters

The plot was already amazing but the characters are even more stunning! They feel so... real. Croucher understood these characters. They were not cookie cutter. They were people with flaws, strengths, hopes, dreams, and fears. I laughed so much with Arthur and sobbed for him. I understood Gwen and saw how her flaws made sense for her outlook on life. I connected with Gabriel so strongly and still wanted to shake him because... It felt like I was looking in a mirror. I admired Bridget and desired her strength that she showed so passionately to the world.

Sydney was the best friend that you long for and Agnes was so much more than when you first meet her.

This characters were amazing and worked so well together. They butt heads and argued but you could never truly be mad at them because you get to know them so well, it made sense. It felt like these characters were ALSO your friends and you just wanted them to be happy.

➤Enjoyment

If you got to this section... UH YEAH I LOVED THIS. This might be shocking, especially since I read so many great books this year, but this might be my all-time favorite of this year. AND WE ARE ONLY THREE MONTHS IN!!! I need this book in my hands. I need to have it on display. I need to mark the pages and show how much I love this story that I got lost in.

This story was a perfect tale. A tale I longed for.

Thank you so much Lex Croucher, again. We can tell how much you worked on this story and you deserve all the praise. Thank you.

Is this book perfect? Maybe. Do I wish I could never leave this world? Strong Possibility. Do I need a series following around Arthur, Gabriel, Gwen, Bridget, Sydney, and Agnes? Absolutely.

When we say we want banter, THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN.
This book was hilarious.
I rooted SO HARD for the couples.

GAHHH I loved this book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with an ARC (my very first one!).

I am a big fan of historical fiction and fantasy, but lately, I've been in a romance mood, so when I saw this book, I thought it would be a perfect blend. I wasn't necessarily wrong, but I also wasn't right. This book is set in some vague post-Arthurian England society, but these characters - and their personalities - are written to be incredibly modern. I wasn't sure how much I would like this book but when I saw the author had written the literal quote-for-quote of Riverdale's most iconic scene ("the epic highs and lows of high school football") into the first scene, I was hooked.

And not because it's a good quote or because I enjoy Riverdale (I actually don't), but because I knew her humor was similar to mine, and I couldn't resist a cringy yet self-aware pop culture reference. And boy, was I right about us sharing a sense of humor. This book had me audibly laughing the entire time. Croucher's humor and ability to write banter are phenomenal. Arthur is the shining star of this book and could whip out a joke or jest at the drop of a hat. I will admit, Arthur deeply annoyed me in the beginning and all anyone would hear from me is that Arthur sucks. If you begin to read this book and think that way too, please just give him a moment, he's working through things, and at the end of the day, HE'S A GOOD MAN, SAVANNAH, A GOOD MAN.

Obviously, I have a soft spot for Arthur but I also enjoyed Gwen, Gabriel, and the myriad of other characters. The characters really made this whole entire book. Unfortunately, they actually did make the whole book. The plot was a little lackluster and the majority of the book felt stagnant. The pacing was a bit slow at times and I found myself just skimming to the parts where the characters interacted with each other. I wish the subplot and conflict had been more thought out and developed throughout the story so that the ending was more impactful. The conclusion felt a bit rushed and almost flippant to the very real problems Gwen and Gabriel will be facing. I guess that's just my historical fiction-loving self wishing for more realism of court intrigue and the social warfare of power vacuums (not really the vibes I got from this book so, understandable).

I also wish there was more emphasis on the "Arthurian" theme. It felt as though it was a pretty loose theme and was only used to pluck vague references and tie in the underlying plot of the book. It had a lot of potential and I wished it was used more. In turn, as someone who doesn't know a lot about Arthurian legend, a lot of the references went over my head and I wish we had gotten a little more explanation or information to help readers like me understand it better.

All in all, it was definitely a cute weekend read and I would recommend it! I actually might buy a copy of the book just because the cover is so nice too.

Gwen & Art might not be in love, but I sure do love them! What a delightful queer love story. This book was so funny and heartfelt. What a wonderful exploration of love, friendship, and self-discovery. Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is definitely a new comfort read for me.

Although set in a time before time of love is love, the joy this book brought in knowing there is always a chance to be in love, no matter the time. This book is the perfect mix of heart warming, funny and a little mischievous; in the best way. A book that will leave you smile with tears in your eyes. You will connect and fall in love with the characters. A book worth reading any time you need a pick me up.

This title and description immediately hit me in the lols. I could not wait to read what Lex Croucher had done with this age old story. I love retellings of super well known stories they are so fun to read and see what the new author does to give a new spin to it.

Refreshing fantasy read. Great job threading the needle blending Arthurian mythology and High-middle ages fantasy. It was so fun to be read into an England where cultists inspired by King Arthur are a political faction!

I found myself being annoyed anytime I had to put this book down and so excited to return every time. The characters are witty, and their dialogues made this book for me. As many have said before me I love the idea of a new take on an old premise without it being a standard retelling. Brilliant premise and delightful execution.

True rating is a 3.75!

Gwen and Art Are Not In Love is a vaguely Arthurian inspired romance that is mainly focused on two siblings, Gwen and Gabriel, who are navigating their newfound queer identities, the war in this kingdom, and finding themselves. This story is fun and I adored the platonic and romantic relationships, but I found the politics in the kingdom a bit lacking.

I think the relationships, both platonic and romantic, are where this book really shines. The titular characters, Gwen and Art, are betrothed despite hating each other and both having affection for others- mainly those of the same sex. They have a really enjoyable character arc where they go from hating each other to truly being friends and helping one another out. Gwen is truly in love with a female knight named Bridget who is competing in the tournament in her kingdom, while Gabriel finds love in Arthur himself, along with a side relationship between Gwen's lady-in-waiting and Arthur's bodyguard.

The humor and wit in this book was a lot of fun, and especially some of the interactions between Arthur and Sid reminded me of the snark and humor in MCU movies, in a good way. I truly enjoyed and cared about all of the characters, and they all felt very real to me.

Unfortunately parts of this book felt a bit flat to me. It could be that I know very little about the Arthurian legend, but the politics in this book were confusing to me, especially in the beginning of the book when the schism between the cultists and Gwen's father was not clearly explained. I know the politics was not the main focus of the story, but I do wish I could have understood that better. I also found the pacing a bit off, it seemed to mostly meander until the last quarter of the book.

Overall I did enjoy this book, and I think that someone who knows more of the Arthurian legend would have even more fun with it. This was an enjoyable historical, queer romance.