This was such a fun book! 3.5 rounded up!
I really enjoyed the queer twist on the descendants of King Arthur and Lancelot of Camelot. The characters were delightfully quirky and imperfect. I absolutely loved the audiobook version, as well!

Thanks, Macmillan, for the advanced read!

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher is a delightful queer medieval rom-com that blends sharp wit, heartfelt moments, and a touch of Arthurian legend. The evolving friendship, filled with banter and mutual support, is a highlight of the book. The supporting characters, including the charming Sidney and the valiant Bridget, add depth and humor to the tale. Croucher's modern dialogue and inclusive representation breathe fresh life into the historical setting, making it a standout in the YA romance genre. For readers seeking a fun, inclusive, and emotionally resonant story, this novel is a must-read

This book was so fun! I loved the silly banter mixed with the historical setting. Very much in the vein of Shrek, Knight's Tale, Princess Bride.

I really enjoyed a lot of individual elements of this book: the humor and banter was top tier, the setting interesting, and the use of Arthurian legend in a queer reframing very inventive. I liked the characters themselves quite a lot too, but I felt like having so many leads made it hard to get invested in the love stories and the plot didn’t really get going for the first two thirds so it felt slightly boring at times. For the right reader I think the whimsy and joyful tone mixed with serious themes of identity and attraction will be highly appealing though—so I do recommend giving this a try!

This one was not for me. I think I've become too old for YA.

I love retellings that put their own spin on what we think we know, but this was at the same time a bit too asynchronous.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book—a playful, queer twist on Arthurian legend set in an alternate England where King Arthur is historical canon. The setup promised humor, romance, and an entertaining blend of fantasy and history, so I went in with high hopes.

To its credit, the book is charming in many ways. The characters are likable and fun to follow—Arthur Delacey is a flirtatious rogue, Gwen has a prickly exterior that softens in satisfying ways, and their evolving friendship is surprisingly touching. The romance arcs—with Gwen falling for Bridget, the kingdom’s only female knight, and Arthur developing feelings for Gwen’s brother Gabriel—are sweet and lighthearted, and the secondary characters, like Sid and Agnes, often steal the show with their grounded, sensible commentary.

That said, I struggled with the writing style. The dialogue and narration often felt too modern for a historical romance, which made it harder for me to stay immersed in the setting. While some readers may enjoy this anachronistic tone, it didn’t quite work for me in a story that’s clearly trying to play with medieval myth and royal politics.

Thank you to Netgalley, Lex Coucher, and St. Martin's Press for giving me access to this book (two years ago, oops, just figured out the archive) in exchange for an honest review (unpaid).

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is a fantastic dual pov queer love story set in a medieval-esque time with wonderful tropes like enemies to friends and an arranged marriage/fake dating trope combination. I loved all of the main cast, and I swear Lex Croucher stole my identity to write Gabriel.

A queer take on King Arthur and Guinevere, I loved this unique retelling where Art and Gwen are both gay as heck but are forced into a marriage that turns into an unlikely alliance to covertly live as their true selves. It was super fun, filled with medieval swordfights and balls but also packed with representation and queer joy!

"to be truly brave, you must be afraid—and to be afraid, you must have something you cannot bear to lose."

GOD I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCHHHHHHH
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

there was just so much love and emotion and GAY BEHAVIOR and pining and mischief and battle and FUN MEDIEVAL THINGS. i'm not really a historical fiction girlie but i loooooved this one. the fact that it was set in Camelot!! and that Arthur was a distant descendant of Arthur Pendragon!! and Merlin and Morgana once lived!!! and THERE WAS A SWORD IN A STONE!!!!! i loved it. it was so much fun.

it was so gay. i loved watching Gwen and Art's relationship develop, watching them decide to be in cahoots, watching them absolutely PINE AFTER THEIR CRUSHES. Gwen's descriptions of her feelings for/about Bridget had me SCREECHING. and ART. SO BRAVE. SUCH A BRAVE BOY. it's scary going after things you want!! especially if you're truly worried the people you love won't accept you!!! and yes there were some Moments, but they all had so much love for each other. and Bridget! Gabriel! Agnes! Sidney! such a fabulous cast of side characters and love interests.

the last 100 pages had me shitting bricks, i won't lie. so STRESSFUL. IT WAS LIKE A THIRD ACT BREAKUP EXCEPT IT WASN'T THE TYPICAL KIND YOU FIND IN A ROMANCE NOVEL. I WAS STRESSED. IT WAS STRESSFUL. I JUST WANTED TO WRAP ALL MY BABIES UP AND KEEP THEM SAFE.

the ending was so beautiful. i'm so proud of them all!!! and that quote 😭😭😭

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love has a different feel to it. It's new adult and alternate history with a full cast of fun characters. This was really an ensemble where everyone was well developed and had something important to contribute. Not only the two main couples were great but the side couple was cute too. Gwen and her female knight crush Bridget not only addressed the female/female love story but also the misogyny felt by Bridget as a female knight. Art and Gabe not only had to contend with the public opinions of a male/male relationship but also the expectations of their families and society when it came to their roles in leading their country and continuing their bloodlines. All very typical of Arthurian stories. But the humor and comedy made the story feel different. A vibe like, A Knight's Tale. Surpringly the last quarter of the book had a homophobic attack and a bloody battle. Which felt quiet different from the beginning. I still enjoyed it but it did drag a little a didn't flow as well as it manhua could have.
Also I listened to this on audiobook and have no complaints about the casting/voice work. It was a great listen. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️stars.

This was such a fun read. What a great take on This was such a fun read. What a great take on King Arthur’s. I’ll definitely read the following book.

Gwen and Art are not in love. They could never be in love. But maybe if they pretend, they'll be able to be closer to the people they actually want to be with.

This was cute and fun at the beginning and then it just dragged on for no reason. This needed serious editing down. It could have probably been a short story or novella and achieved the same as this novel.

Heart warming story full of romance and fun! I loved the twist on this time period and typical storyline. I found the characters endearing and it sucked me in fully.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher is a witty, contemporary rom-com that brings together charming characters, humor, and an exploration of identity, love, and friendship. The story revolves around Gwen, a quirky, awkward, and endearing protagonist, and Art, her close friend, as they navigate their feelings, insecurities, and the complex nature of relationships.
The book excels in its exploration of personal growth and the unpredictability of love. Gwen, a bit of a misfit, has to deal with her complicated feelings for Art, while Art himself is dealing with his own baggage. The tension between their platonic and romantic feelings builds throughout the story, creating an engaging dynamic. One of the strengths of Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is its portrayal of friendship, self-discovery, and the importance of communicating feelings, whether romantic or otherwise. The novel highlights how complicated it can be to navigate these emotions, but also how vital it is to embrace one's true self, this is a fun, heartfelt story for anyone who loves character-driven rom-coms with a strong dose of humor and sincerity. It’s a great pick for readers who enjoy books about personal growth, the ups and downs of love, and the messy nature of friendships and relationships.

This was a cute little YA LGBTQ+ Fantasy novel. I loved the tie-ins with King Arthur and the knights of the round table, as the kingdom wanted everyone to know they were family of the famous king. While this might be an enemies to friends instead of enemies to lovers as the main relationship in the book is between two people who are both gay and in love with other people. Gwen and Arthur come to love each other in a platonic way and I feel like that was a great focus for the book instead of the romantic relationships.
Speaking of the romantic relationships, both Gwen and Arthur's are sweet and overall wonderful to watch come to fruition. Gwen with Bridget, who is the most badass knight in the realm and introduces Gwen to witches and those who follow Morgana. Arthur falls in love with Gwen's brother - the future king. Arthur's manservant - Sydney was just the best character in the whole book and he was a great foil to Arthur.
The book was pretty slow until the end where there was a sudden uprising and all the characters have to take up and fight, which seemed out of the blue and was very different pacing and feel than the rest of the book. It was an engaging few chapters but I felt like I had whiplash from how fast everything happened. At one point everyone suspects Arthur to be on the side of the bad guys due to a misheard clandestine meeting and because of that both Arthur and Gabe end up terribly injured at different times.
Overall a great read, fun and sweet and the ending was just so cute.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

*Gwen & Art Are Not in Love* by Lex Croucher is a witty and refreshing historical rom-com with a modern twist. Set in a medieval-inspired world, the story follows Gwen and Arthur, two nobles betrothed since childhood—except Gwen likes women, and Art likes men. As they scheme to escape their unwanted engagement, they develop an unexpected friendship while navigating court politics, romance, and plenty of chaos. Croucher’s sharp humor, diverse representation, and heartfelt moments make this a delightful read. Perfect for fans of queer romance, found family, and lighthearted historical fiction with a playful, contemporary voice.

4⭐ on 🎧

This book had to have been pitched to publishers as "queer Monty Python" and it delivers on this in droves before turning into an action movie worthy final battle scene. This was the perfect escapist romp for the current times!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-book copy!

I was initially excited to read this story as I do like King Arthur retellings but sadly this did not work for me. I have come to terms with the fact that I have less of an interest in reading YA romance/contemporary. I noticed that I started to get annoyed at the young adult characters in the story especially if there is miscommunication. There was a bit of that in here and it just made it hard for me to want to keep reading. So for now, I have dnf'd this book and I don't see myself coming back to it. I would read from this author again if they write in adult fiction.

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love was just ok. It might not have been my cup of tea, honestly. It was loosely based off of Arthurian Legend. I loved the LGBTQIA+ aspects of the romance and the whole fake marriage/trope, but I thought the story was a bit of a mess. Everyone else might have loved the set up, but I would have liked a little more similarity to the legends. The writing was very amateurish and the characters didn't sound refined at all. I know it was supposed to be a rom com, but it just didn't hit the spot for me.

I adore Arthurian adaptations, so I was delighted to have the opportunity thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books to read it ahead of publication. Gwen & Art are the heirs (many generations removed from the OG Camelot we know and love) and this adorable queer YA medieval rom com is nearly perfect. It's honestly one of the best books I read in the past year. The banter, character development and romance and just right for YA audiences. I also love to see a MM and FF plot line in a historical romance YA. There are so many quips and nods to Arthurian legend, but it doesn't get in the way or feel info dumpy.