I was so excited to get an early copy of this since I am such a fan of both Reputation and Infamous by Lex Croucher. Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is the author's first foray into YA and it was honestly a lot of fun. First, it's hilarious; the writing is sharp and witty and I laughed a lot. Second, I loved all the characters even though, because this is YA, they were all a total mess. The book is set in Camelot, long after the Knights of the Round Table, and centers around Princess Gwen, her betrothed, Arthur, her brother, Prince Gabriel, and a certain knight of note named Bridget. There's pining, self-discovery, jousting, political intrigue, falconry, and some slight magic as these four figure out what they want and if they are brave enough to actually go after it.

The only qualms I had with this overall had to do with both the pacing and overall world-building. I feel like this drew me in immediately but then dragged on quite a bit in the middle before racing through an intense and surprising climax and then what felt like a bit of an abrupt and vague ending. Also, I'm still not quite sure why this was set in a vaguely Arthurian world or if it ultimately worked or not.

I will still eagerly read whatever Lex writes in the future and can't wait to get a physical copy of this book and its beautiful cover when it's out in the UK and the US later this year.

*Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.*

Gwen & Art, officially the cutest book I will ever read, and I stand by that statement wholeheartedly. Nothing could have prepared me for how much I was going to LOVE this book! I am a huge historical book girlie, and this book was easily one of the best books I read in the historical YA genre.

All the characters in this book were really likeable, which was nice while reading because it really felt annoying to have to read scenes with any of the characters. They were funny, sweet, loveable, and just so preciously cute together that you can't help but falling in love with them all!

Their love stories deserve so so so so much love, because Gwen & Art deserved all the happiness in the world and they got exactly that. I am truthfully in desperate need of more of all the characters, it's never too early for a girl to dream of a sequel with more content right? This was genuinely one of the best books I've ever read and I can't wait to read more for Lex!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC!

Despite my long rant further down, I actually did enjoy this book. I enjoyed it a lot. The characters were all well-written and well-developed. The relationships, romantic and otherwise, were beautifully teased and executed. I liked the rom-com tone and how that blended into the dramatic climax. I liked how the book addressed the systemic erasure of queer history and heterowashing of queer historical figures.

I absolutely would recommend this book, but there were some things about it that bothered me while I was reading.

The biggest issue I have with the story is the setting and the historical inaccuracies. I know what you’re thinking: this is a fiction story set in a world where Camelot and the Arthurian legends are remembered history (as opposed to Geoffrey of Monmouth’s fanfiction/longstanding attempt to justify colonization), etc. Of course it’s historically inaccurate. That’s not what I mean. I’m referring to issues like the complete erasure of Wales:

1. Camelot was in Wales, but the name Wales (or Cymru, Brython. Britton is only mentioned in terms of a language.) never once appears in the entire story. There was no period in history where Wales stopped existing. Are they claiming this is a world where Arthurian cultists and everyone else bowed down to the national rule and naming conventions of invaders without any resistance?

2. Gabriel tells Arthur a bit of the history in one scene: “Then after the Saxons invaded, there was a bit of a muddle with lots of old gods in the mix, and then the country was Catholicized very rapidly” (Kindle Locations 1660-1661). I sincerely hope this isn’t trying to imply that Wales?/Camelot? wasn’t Christian before this Saxon invasion. That is a gross misunderstanding of both history and Arthurian ideas, if so. I mean, Catholic missionaries were accepted in “England” before Wales, that’s true, but it was because the Welsh were already Christian and weren’t sure why some guy in Rome was trying to change/take over their established church of hundreds of years.

This pretend English homogeneity creates missed opportunities to include real history and additional motives for the political conflict in the book. It’s also insulting to erase an entire nation and its people because they don’t fit into your narrative.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

How can you not love a quirky, queer, medieval rom-com about two young people betrothed to be married since they were practically born who absolutely hate each other? And who may or may not have eyes for two very different characters?

This book was super cute and wildly entertaining. As immature as it got sometimes, I loved Art and Gwen's bantering and bickering. It was one of my favorite parts of the whole thing. Gwen was a little obnoxious at times, but part of her growth over the book is shedding some of that. Art is such a self-sabotaging, reckless little shite, you can't help but love him. Also, his friendship with Syndey was adorable.

Bridget was an absolute badass. A lady knight? That scene where she's teaching Gwen how to sword fight is maybe one of the hottest scenes I've read in a while. And those last few chapters with her were just *chef's kiss*. My gosh.

And Gabriel. Oh, my love. I would give my kingdom for Gabriel. Just an absolute sweetheart who deserves the world.

The plot does meander a bit at times and it's a bit slow-paced in areas, which I think is why it took me a while to read. But it was so entertaining, I didn't care. I wanted to hear more about Art and Sydney's misadventures or Sydney's infatuation with Agnes, or see Art and Gwen snipe at each other a few more times or Gabriel get buried in books or care for an injured animal.

And the last handful or so of chapters were like an emotional gut-punch, so maybe the slow pace of the others wasn't so bad.

Was it full of anachronisms? Sure. Do I care? Absolutely not. That's not why I'm reading a fun romance novel to begin with. I actually think I would have disliked it if all the language had been era-appropriate.

All in all, enjoyed this muchly and would recommend to a friend.

Gwen and Art may not be in love, but I'm in love with them (and Sidney, and Gabriel, and Agnes, and basically every non-evil character in this book).

Gwen and Art are betrothed, but there's just one problems: they despise each other. Have despised each other for as long as they can remember. When Arthur is sent to Camelot to stay with Gwen and her family for the summer, things take a turn for the... best. Gwen catches Arthur kissing a boy, Arthur finds Gwen's diary where she confesses her attraction to a lady knight, and the two strike a deal to cover each other. You can assume the fun that assumes from there on.

And much fun it was! I was laughing out loud quite a bit with this book. Arthur was an absolute hoot, and his banter with any member of this ensemble was a pleasure to read. I'd give some good money to have a spin-off with just Arthur and Sidney - they were the dynamic duo and stole the show.

This was a beautiful, fun, and funny tale exploring love in all its forms, friendship, and self-discovery. The dilemmas each of these characters face are so real and raw, and handled incredibly well. The character development, motives, and sacrifices made as well. Each character carried a burden on their shoulders that they sought to overcome, and it was beautiful to see them grow into their truths.

I'm going to be recommending this book till the end of time. It's only fair - if I got to experience this bundle of joy, so should others.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a solid 3.5 star book for me! The characters were an absolute delight, and I felt connected to them.. I wanted them to be happy and find themselves. Each character and conflict was written beautifully, which is a testament to how well the author can actually write. This is the retelling we never knew we needed. My only gripe, is that the story moved a little slow for my taste. I’m sure this is just a personal thought, and nothing to really harp on, but if you’re looking for an action packed retelling, this won’t be your cup of tea.

this book was so FUN.

it dragged a bit in the beginning for me but picked up quickly and i was all in. it has everything you could want in a book; it's a medieval king arthur retelling, you've got hilarious characters (art and sid are truly the best comedic duo), there's magic, sword fighting, queer siblings🫶🏻🫶🏻 and 💞women with swords💞!!

overall it was a very fun and easy read, love the romances but enjoyed the found family friendships even more.



thank you to netgalley for the arc 🫶🏻

This is a book I feel like a lot of people will love...

But that being said, this just wasn't the book for me. I originally DNF'd this book until I decided to pick it up again and try again. Overall, I just felt underwhelmed by the story.

There were some likable things about this book. There were multiple characters for readers to fall in love with. The book is laced with angst and hidden romances, and several other Booktok popular tropes. This book was fairly fast paced and the plot moved swiftly. I did think the POVs blended along nicely. I think the concept, overall, was interesting, but I found that it lacked that specific element that would've sold it for me.

I was drawn into this book initially because it sounded like something that would be right up my alley. I, personally, felt like I couldn't connect to the characters. There also felt like a lack of the original tale of King Arthur and I was kind of hoping it would be more well represented. Overall, I just didn't connect with this book like I thought I would. I definitely think I'll try it again at some point, but for now, it just wasn't the right fit for my style.

That being said I do think there is an audience for this book out there, and I think a lot of people will enjoy it.

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

This has something I feel everyone could love. There were multiple characters you were rooting for, hidden romances, scenes to tug at one's heartstrings, and plenty of snark and sarcasm.

Honestly, though, a sitcom of Art and Sidney would be top tier and would make it high on the charts just by my views, alone.

I can easily say that I cannot wait to get this book on my shelf and put into the rotation of frequent rereads. And as this was a first read of this author for me, I'm excited to see what else is out there.

I really wanted to like this one. The premise sounded fun and the writing style was inviting, but I just couldn't bring myself to care for any of the characters. Gwen and Arthur are so whiny and one-dimensional that I didn't care about their fates or budding relationships. I was also hoping for more Arthurian legend content, but it was more name dropping than anything else. Overall, I'm disappointed.

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is a sweet post-Arthurian (is that a thing?) queer YA rom-com. Lex Croucher once again crushes the writing -- it's witty, fast-paced, banter-full, and character-driven. The story switches seamlessly between the perspectives of Gwen and Arthur. While I found Gwen rather intolerable at times (her annoying qualities seemed very intentional, however, and she does grow throughout the book... but still), Arthur (who is also a bit of a ding dong and also certainly has flaws) was a true pleasure to read.

This book was so much fun. Such and amazing concept and the way it all fit together with the twists and turns and resolutions made this a plot to remember. I will definitely be recommending this book. I look forward to reading more by this author!

I really enjoyed Gwen & Art Are Not in Love and have few notes beyond this. This story (not a retelling of the King Arthur tales), finds Gwen and Arthur, engaged from birth for political advantage, becoming reluctant allies in the effort to pursue their own interests and motivations. Throw in a bookish crown prince, the only lady knight in the kingdom, and an overly permissive bodyguard, and you have fuel for an exciting medieval adventure. I found the characters charming and the plot a nice mix of personal and political conflicts. The shifting POV between Gwen and Art never feels frustrating; the scenes from each POV overlap enough that there is some tension but I never wanted to skip through a scene to get to a resolution.

There are some discussions of mental health, including depression and alcohol abuse, as well as conflicts around abuse and sexual identity. I found that these topics added depth to characterization and conflict without leaning toward despair; this story remains hopeful throughout, despite some dire circumstances.

Readers who like strong characters, snarky dialogue, and a compelling plot within the backdrop of medieval England should give Gwen & Art a try.

this was a very cute read that perfectly balanced the romance and comedy with the more serious moments! Gwen, Gabe, Arthur, and Bridget (and Agnes and Sidney, the more side characters) were all very interesting and I felt like I got to know all of their personalities separately. Gwen & Art is not so much of an Arthurian retelling as it is a story set in the same world far in the future and deeply entrenched in the history. This book is a treat! It's funny, romantic, and filled with banter. I loved it.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was really awesome. The concept it really cool, a historical fantasy vibe. I loved switching off POV between Gwen and Art every chapter, it was a really sweet YA romance and if you love queer royalty stories you are guaranteed to enjoy this. It was sweet, exciting, and funny. (Sidney put up with so much but he's kind of hilarious.) One of my only issues with the book is that towards the end it kind of wraps up quickly and skips over resolutions I would have liked to see happen. A lot of time is YA books I personally find I wish there were 20 to 50 more pages of story. Regardless, I enjoyed this book, had fun reading it, and kind of wish we would get more of these charter's story/lives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this book was disappointing for me. While it is not a King Arthur retelling, and simply takes place in the same world but many years later, it felt very minimally inspired by his story. There was little that took place in the book that actually were relevant to being in King Arthur's world. I would've loved to see more of the lore directly involved.

This story felt like there was no plot. It was character driven, which is how it should be, but the characters were not very in depth. The main character wasn't likable and I think the story would've improved if there had been more pressure put onto Gwen in order for her to have to undergo some character development.

The actual writing was okay and I didn't have any stand out complaints from the style, other than the fact that the characters sounded very modern for having been in the era they were.

Gwen and Arthur Are Not in Love was my first 5 star read of 2023!
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This is a YA medieval romcom that releases November 28th of 2023
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I absolutely adored this book! The characters were beautifully written and all had their on flaws to work through. Reading this book felt like growing with them as they found their true selves. The alternating POV’s let’s you really delve deep into the character’s emotions and desires. There is also great gay, lesbian, and bisexual representation.
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Each chapter brought laughter, tears, and heart wrenching moments. I didn’t want the book to end.
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I read this book as an arc on net galley in exchange for an honest review. A big thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for letting me read this amazing book!
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My review will be posted on my Instagram @eliza.bethreads tomorrow as well as my Goodreads account : https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/138904998-eliza?fbclid=PAAaYuQPa2e4ZLwwIrfwJvh6AnYW0MMo7LZ_nxE04ILYJsABb46WypkQ2hTnE

As someone who spent a lot of time watching and rewatching A Knight’s Tale as a youth, this book was a treat. It was filled with truly funny banter, enemies to friends, medieval games, and a group of young adults changing Camelot for the better. The ending was so wholesome and lovely, exactly what I wanted for this story.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC for my honest review!

I've read a lot of Arthurian retellings, and I think this one has ended up being my favorite. Several generations removed from the original characters, King Arthur's descendant (also named Arthur) is engaged to the princess of England, Gwendoline. The problem is, Arthur and Gwen hate each other, and have gone years without seeing each other until the summer they're meant to be married. Soon after their reunion, the pair find out each other's deepest secret: they're both gay. They reluctantly make a pact to protect each other's secret, which leads to better friendships, romantic flings, and some minor political tension. I really liked the characters, the summary mentions A Knight's Tale, and that's perfectly accurate in terms of the dialogue, where the characters talk in a more modern way than the setting would suggest. They were interesting and varied, and the friend group Art and Gwen build together ended up meshing well and being the best part of the book. The plot itself tends to drag, there's hints here and there of political movements behind the scenes, but when things do hit the fan, it sort of comes out of nowhere. I felt that there could have been more focus on the plot and less on Art and Gwen antagonizing each other, the switch from enemies to allies to actual friends took a long time and ended up switching rather suddenly. Overall though, this was a fun book and I really enjoyed reading it.

This book did not start off strong. There was a lot of telling instead of showing in the first half as well as several pages of straight info dumping. There was also a lack of anachronism in early chapters especially with use of phrases such as “work-life balance”, “silly me”, and addressing birds as “sinister raptors” when the story is set in medieval times. The lack of anachronism made it hard to push through the first half as I was taken out of the story each time.

The flow and storytelling improved for the second half. The references to Arthurian legends were more smoothly worked into the plot and didn’t come off as forced. I appreciated the growth and character arcs throughout the story especially since Gwen and Arthur did not come off as lovable in the beginning.

3.5 Stars – Rounding up to 4