I have wanted to read a book by this author and was excited to receive this arc copy. I think that readers will enjoy this book if they like reading about a ragtag bunch of youths who somehow found each other in this big wide world. You will love this book if you have some sort of emotional connection to the story of Robin Hood.
The main crew of characters in this book were enjoyable, although I do think that some of the side characters were lacking a bit in terms of personality, but they were not a major focus. I do think there were times when the plot felt a bit directionless, and as soon as a mission/direction was identified, the group went into it so impulsively that there wasn't a lot of buildup with major story events.
Overall, I liked this book and would recommend it. I won't be knocking down doors and screaming from the rooftops trying to get people to read it, but I will definitely be bringing it up in conversations because I know many people will love it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio preview.

Hilarious coming of age story / YA romcom in Lex Croucher's pitch perfect voice. They are writing the funniest YA out there today!! Narrators captured the snark, wonder, and heart of the main characters perfectly.

I wish I liked this as much as I hoped I might. I have enjoyed some of Croucher’s other works and the Robin Hood aspect intrigued me. But I felt that there wasn’t enough substance in the plot to highlight any of the characters (many of whom fell into the background.)

I enjoyed the dual POV and the narration style, it flowed nicely between the characters and chapters. I was able to know which character was which, outside of obvious clues, which is a great touch.

While it was not my favorite book of the year my reading (listening) was very fun. It has all the enjoyable hallmarks of a queer YA romcom, albeit a sloppy execution in certain areas.

This book was such a fun read!! I loved that it played off of Robin Hood's legacy instead of just being a retelling. This book is SUPER queer and had so many powerful storylines.

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Mariel, granddaughter of the infamous Robin Hood, is a new Captain in the Merry Men. She's desperate to live up to her family legacy, which puts a lot of pressure on her. Clem, a cheery backwoods healer, is taken prisoner by Mariel, and the MM, as retribution for Clem's guardian offering healing services to the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Forced proximity abounds as Mariel and Clem travel along together doing Merry Men things. Everything seems to mostly be going to plan, when Mariel's father, Jack Hartley, Commander of the Merry Men, is captured in an ambush. Now Mariel and the remaining MM, including sweetly-innocent Clem, must try to get him back.

With the woods at war, not everyone believes in the Merry Men as they used too. Soon enough, even Mariel is questioning what they stand for. Will they be able to get Jack back? And will the Merry Men continue on their current path, or switch things up for a new generation of bandits?

This is a cute story that showed off Croucher's signature witty writing style. I wouldn't say I connected to this one at the same level that I did with Gwen & Art last year, but it's still a solid Historical YA Rom-Com. As with Gwen & Art, I did listen to the audiobook and definitely recommend that format. The accent of the narrator lends itself well to these stories, and truly helps to bring the action to life.

I appreciate how quickly Croucher can create characters I love. Both Clem and Mariel were so fun to get to know, though for different reasons. It definitely has a Grumpy-Sunshine element to it that evolved beautifully over the course of the story.

I particularly liked the journey for Mariel. As a member of an infamous family, she's had a lot of assumptions made about her and preconceptions made about who she is as a person. She's had a real struggle trying to overcome those things and figure out what exactly her path is going to be.
I also enjoyed her learning more truths behind her famous family. Going in, I had forgotten this was connected to the legend of Robin Hood. I loved that inspiration.

I also really enjoyed, and was impressed by, how even though this is a magical and witty tale, Croucher again managed to seamlessly weave in some heavier topics. There's a lot here for Readers to enjoy.

For me though, as mentioned above, I never ended up connecting with this as deeply as <i>Gwen & Art</i>, and I'm not sure how memorable it will be for me long term. With this being said, it's still a great YA book with a lot of important topics explored and representation. I'll keep coming back for all Croucher's future releases.

Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I love this kind of funny Historical romps, and hope Croucher continues writing them!

I loved this book so much. It was slow to start which worried me, but once it picked up I was in for the long haul.

I loved the update to the Robin Hood story, especially the LGBTQ aspects.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an advanced copy.

Much as I hate to DNF another ARC, I put this one down awhile ago and have no desire to pick it back up. I got a third of the way through the audiobook. Lex Croucher is unfortunately a bit hit or miss for me and while queer Robin Hood sounds right up my alley, this just didn't land for me.

With its mix of romance, humor, and drama, this novel is perfect for readers looking for something both entertaining and thought-provoking. Not for the Faint of Heart is a lively and bold story that stands out in the world of historical fiction.

The audio voice fenomenal, really good and enjoyable. Didn’t feel like i lost track of the characters at anytime and that is always my main plus. The story was good , i enjoyed.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Young Listeners for this ARC Audio Copy!

I was expecting this to be a silly romance but it was actually a lot more in-depth and political than I was expecting and I was here for it. Following the grand daughter of legendary Robin Hood and a healer who is kidnapped and taken as a political prisoner, while they work to bring the Merry Men back to their former glory was a fun and enjoyable read and I will definitely be reading more from this author.

I loved the performance of this audiobook - the story itself is a little harder to rate since it's full of twists and turns and the vibe changes I've come to expect from Lex Croucher, but the story was one I enjoyed and I loved how queer of a story it was

I rated this 4.5 stars.

This one of my fav YAs of the year!!

This book is heavy on politics and action! The politics of the woods and protecting the people who live in it were so thorough and made the book feel complete.

I really enjoyed the characters and their arcs in this story. I LOVED Clem and Mariel!! Their introductions and relationship were slowly built and felt very real. I especially loved the touch aspect of their romance, and how Clem was so perspective of Mariel’s hard boundaries and when she let them fall. The realization that Mariel was allowing Clem to touch her and be in her space was one of my fav moments in the story!! So much romance!! Their bond was written different than what I expected and it was based on trust and respect.

The found family narrative hit me HARD! I love these people and they are my friends now. Each member of the Merry Men had a distinct personality and had beautiful relationships with each other - they never fell flat for me!

The narrators for this audio were fantastic. Truly no notes. They hit the tone of the book like a nail on the head. I def want to seek out other books they’ve narrated.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and loved to read about romance that wasn’t based on physical attraction, but instead highlighted the ways each person made the other feel SEEN and SAFE and LOVEDDDDD :’)

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which was a great decision for me.
I enjoyed the narrative and the narrator tremendously.
Telling the story from two different perspectives is always a good move for me while listening.
Mariel and Clem both had distinct voices and mannerisms that made the story engaging and easy to differentiate.
The plot was great! I love Lex Croucher, and will read anything she puts out.
I think this Croucher is going to be a huge hit for me going forward, and I will eat up whatever they write.

This work is set in the Greenwood after Robin Hood is no longer the leader of the Merry Men, and explores the troubles that can arise after a legend retires. The work heavily relies on tongue-in-cheek humor, which at times got a little more slapstick and forced than I generally prefer. The work also starts off quite slowly and takes over a third of the way through until it really picks up into something interesting. This wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing, but I didn’t really like the set up for the romance between Mariel and Clem and so wasn’t invested in seeing those details in so much depth. And then the ending felt like it was concluded too quickly to be fully satisfying.

There were also plenty of modern terms/vernacular incorporated throughout, which I always find off putting in historical fiction. I did like the queer representation and how well it was incorporated, despite the modern terms used.

If you like YA reads that almost feel Disney-like relating to the humor/quirkiness of the characters, then you may enjoy this one. My thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I enjoyed this book a lot! Full of adventure, funny moments, and romantic tension. I did, at times, forget this was a romance book because the action and politics were so intriguing, but I don't see that as a bad thing! Thank you to this book for finally pulling me out of my reading slump!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing an ARC through NetGalley. Sorry it's a bit late. The aforementioned slump was a tough one to beat.

Not for the Faint of Heart by Lex Croucher is an imaginative, feel-good take on what happens after the Robin Hood legend ends. The premise of exploring how the Merry Men carried on after Robin Hood retires was a really clever and unique story and totally delivered on the fun and humour as well

The audiobook narration was great and I loved the dual POV. The narrator really brought all the characters to life perfectly. There was a great found family dynamic and every character felt really well-developed and fleshed out making it easy to want to follow the story and find out what ultimately happens to them. I really have to point out how funny the book was as well, sometimes in fantasy too many jokes can feel forced or out of place but I thought it suited the characters really well and worked each time. I even laughed out loud a few times!

The story has a great fee-good vibe, and everything wrapped up nicely with no loose ends. The cover art is really nice, it would be a great book to display. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and the characters. It was a perfect easy and fun read, and I’d absolutely pick up more from Lex Croucher. Their focus on reimagining medieval stories feels fresh and original, and I’m excited to see what they do next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this ALC that I chose to read and review.

This Queer YA novel about the younger generation of Robin Hood’s Merry Men was very merry, with significantly fewer men than its source material (which I’m not mad about)!

As any good enemies-to-lovers adventure does, Not for the Faint of Heart starts with a kidnapping; although, is it really a kidnapping if the victim volunteers? When Clem is taken by a band of Merry Men led by Robin Hood’s surly granddaughter, her quick wit and healing abilities quickly endear her to the company. All except for Captain Mariel Hartley-Hood, that is, who is just as determined to prove herself to her father as she is to silence Clem’s incessant prattling. As they spar with the Sheriff and set out on a rescue mission, Mariel learns that her legacy is not all she believes it to be, and Clem worms her way into the captain’s cold, cold heart.

Was this a little trope-y and a little slow in the middle? Sure. However, it was also full of endearing characters, animated fight scenes, and swoon-worthy romance. It’s easy to root for the girls and their companions as they navigate identity, relationships, and morality. It does have a few darker moments, but the reader is left with the sense that, in the end, they’ll get their happy-ever-after.

Fans of Ashley Herring-Blake and the BBC’s Merlin will love this foray into the forest, and I give it a solid 3.5 stars for a rollicking good time.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me the eARC (and audiobook, which I highly recommend)!

This book had me in a chokehold from the very beginning!! I was constantly thinking about this book when I wasn't able to listen to it. I loved the story of Robin Hood and his Merrymen as a kid. It was so interesting to see what it was like after he retired. There was a great group of diverse and interesting characters. I absolutely loved Clem. Her personality, her outlook, and absolutely her sass! This book is full to the brim with good banter and an amazing story. Mariel was so smart and quick witted. I loved getting to watch her grow and realize that doing things for the good of the Wood was more important than following orders. This book made me laugh, cry, and kick my feet like a little kid. I am so excited to read whatever comes next from Lex Croucher!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced listeners copy!

This was a fun one! I liked th unique take on the story of Robin hood and Co. Hope to see more from them.in the future!

A fun adventure/romance! Especially in our current climate, I appreciated a story about young people grappling with the legacy that their parents' politics have left for them. The romance was adorable and I enjoyed the camaraderie amongst the merry men. I listened to the audiobook. I loved the narrators, but I think I prefer this as an eyeball read because of the number of characters and because the action is so fast at times that I missed details if I blinked. I think this is a fun read for teens and YA fans. Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC!