Thank you to NetGalley & Wednesday Books for the e-ARC of Gwen & Art Are Not in Love!

This romcom has an enemies to friendship component that I was way more invested in than the romance. But it is Queer and we love to see it!! I definitely recommend to those who like romance, historical fiction and Sir Arthur retellings!

What a joy of a book! I have a particular penchant for the Knights of the Round Table and all things Camelot, so I welcome adaptations with open arms. This one is so fun and incredibly clever, and really just delightful all around. The characters you think are so familiar are turned completely on their heads, and the story veers wildly away from what you already know, but in the most delightful ways. Pick this one up if you like smiling while reading!

Things I liked about the book;
🩷 Dual POV
🩷Loosley based on Arthurian inspiration
🩷 LGBTQ+ medieval rom-com
🩷 Self-Discovery
🩷Witty Banter
🩷Faking Dating as they are suppose to get married to each other but are in love with other people.

I enjoyed the book, this tale takes place in medieval times, which I love. The characters are warm and humorous, a perfect quote: “To be truly brave, first you must be afraid—and to be afraid, you must have something you cannot bear to lose.” This relationship story follows Gwen and Arthur, who have been betrothed since they were kids and they're not happy about it, the only thing they've had in common over the years is the ability to annoy one another. Just have to read the book.

This is 2nd or 3rd book I've read by Lex Croucher and not be disappointed. Thank you.

I enjoyed this book even more than I thought I would! The dialog was quite witty and even made me chuckle out loud several times. The two main characters each had a distinctive voice during their lead spotlight. Watching them grow and change for the better was delightful. And each of the other four side characters were also very distinctive and lovable. Even though plot elements may have been a bit predictable as typical tropes, the journey to get through them was quite enjoyable. The plotline even avoided the typical “misunderstand and reconciliation”. In this case, most of the misunderstandings were at the beginning and watching Gwen and Art work through childhood preconceived notions was amusing. Even though the convoluted relationship resolution required *spoiler*, it did create a much more satisfactory solution than marriages to the wrong gender with lovers on the side.

I do wish that Bridget’s reluctance to remain at court as a lady/knight in waiting had been explored a bit more. I totally get it. I would not want to just be a secret tryst whenever a spare moment could be found. If I’m in a relationship with someone, I want it to be a full courtship and not share my lover with the socially accepted frontman.

We get THREE happy couples at the end, which is very nice. And the cuteness overload! I can totally see Gwen just casually flopping into Bridget’s lap while Art lounges on a bench next to a frowning Gabriel and Sydney and Agnes feed each other grapes while making moon eyes at each other.

This queer romance hits the expected notes, showcasing genuine characters and emotions within the LGBTQ+ spectrum. While the plot follows familiar beats, the story's heart lies in its sincere representation of love. It might not break new ground, but the narrative resonates with authenticity. The writing keeps you hooked, although a touch more flair could enhance the experience. It's a decent choice for those seeking relatable queer love, earning three stars for capturing the essence, even if it doesn't deliver a completely unique spin. Overall, a heartfelt journey that falls within the expected lines of the genre.

The entire premise of this one had me really excited, but after a chapter I quickly found myself not as excited.

I think overall the writing just wasn't working for me nor the age demographic which sucks. A YA like this sounded like it might have been perfect for me.

While the dialogue can get anachronistic at times, I thoroughly enjoyed Gwen & Art Are Not in Love. More than I thought I would, to be honest. The main cast felt like fully-formed people, and I loved them all, especially Sidney. The ending does do a tonal 180 from the lighter rom-com, which some readers may not enjoy? Like there's hints throughout the novel to the political side of the plot but neither POV character is really involved in the politics until the politics takes charge of the narrative. So some may not enjoy that, but overall the story was a fun romp.

I was excited about reading a King Arthur retelling, and while this was kind of one, it also wasn't one. This was a modern retake, as it follows kids with the same name, but generations later than King Arthur and his court. While there was a medieval setting in this book, it felt almost contemporary in the banter between the characters and how they acted sometimes. It was fun to read, but also slightly took me out of the story. Overall, an okay story, but not something I would recommend broadly or re-read.

I’d heard rave reviews about Gwen & Art Are Not in Love before ever picking up the novel, so my expectations were pretty high going in. My expectations were met; this has to be one of my favourite YA standalones in a long time. Croucher has a gift for both humor and character dynamics, and they use both to great effect in their YA debut. I liked this novel so much that I went back and started reading their adult historical romance series, which should say something of my opinion.

Gwen and Art have detested one another since they were children—almost as long as they’ve been betrothed. Summer arrives to Camelot and brings with it an unwelcome revelation: Gwen and Art are expected to spend it together, hatred and all. But when Gwen happens to catch Art kissing another boy, and Art rummages for blackmail in the form of Gwen’s diary and crush on the only lady knight, they agree to cover for each other. Political stakes, romantic feelings, and complex relationships put their alliance to the test and put their happy endings into jeopardy.

First off: I’ve seen it described as such, but I wouldn’t call this a retelling of Arthurian myth. It draws on some key names and figures of Arthurian myth, but mostly, it reads like a YA romance novel with a medieval backdrop. That being said, it does so with great success. The characters and relationships carry this novel, buoyed by the humor that had me laughing out loud at several points throughout the novel.

What I particularly appreciate alongside the diversity and WLW/MLM solidarity in this novel is Croucher’s deft—but detectable—hand at the discussion of issues and themes I imagine to be important to young adult readers. All of the characters grapple in some way with their trauma, identity, acceptance, belonging, and self-worth, but at no point does it feel didactic or soapboxy. I think a lot of young adult readers could find themselves reflected in at least one of the characters and their struggles in this novel, and that’s a precious gift.

Overall, I enthusiastically recommend this novel if you’re looking for a heartfelt, funny, romantic romp of a time, complete with a backdrop of found family. Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a super readable standalone worth checking out.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

This is a super delightful rom com that has our characters bouncing from enemies to allies. It’s YA and you will be rooting for each of the characters to have their happy ending.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this novel.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book. This. Book. You already had me with the premise alone. Like? An LGBTQIA+ forward story using the Arthurian tales as a historical backdrop with a lowkey homage to the beginning of The Swan Princess as the background of two of the main characters? Sign me up. But it was even better than that. I spent the better part of this book kicking and screaming and giggling, cheering on all of the main characters and their friends, and just having the best time of it. This story was gripping, romantic, action-packed, silly, and had *so much heart*, which is the best way to endear a story to me for life. I can't wait to go back in the next year or so and read this again and fall in love with Art, Gwen, Bridget, Gabriel, and Sidney all over again.

I thought this was such a charming book and a great take on the story of Arthur and Guinevere (Gwendoline, in this case). What happens when the two betrothed to each other want people they shouldn’t necessarily have?

My one complaint with this book is that I thought it was too long. Cut out fifty pages, amp up the chemistry between Gwen/Bridget and Art/Gabriel, and this would have been a five-star read no problem. I think I also wanted more camaraderie between Gwen and Art, more of them working through their dislike of each other and helping one another.

I know this seems like there was a lot of this book that I didn’t like, but there were more positive things than bad. I had a really great time with it and loved the characters. I’ll definitely check out other Lex Croucher books after this one.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher is a ya rom-com about Arthur and Gwendoline, who are engaged. A hundred years after King Arthur's reign, his descendant Arthur could care less for his betrothed, Gwendoline and she the same. They actually hate each other. After Gwen finds Arthur kissing a boy and Arthur finds out about Gwen's own scandal the two devise a pact to cover for each other.

While I don't think Gwen & Art Are Not in Love was anything revolutionary, it was an enjoyable read. It was laugh out loud funny at times that had me grinning at the virtual pages. The romance was also sweet and had me rooting for the characters and their love interests. All in all, I think Gwen & Art Are Not in Love was a cute ya rom-com based upon the Arthurian tale.

I'd recommend Gwen & Art Are Not in Love to anyone who wants to read a quick and cute young adult rom-com set to Arthurian legend.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this novel. All thoughts and opinions contained within this review are my own.

This book is sooooo cute. It is the queer romance book we all need! It is a fun YA novel that is perfect for everyone. I had a lot of fun reading it!

The character development in this book is stellar. The way we get to know the characters as they get to know each other and grow as people is done so smoothly. It helped me build a real connection with the characters, especially Arthur for me specifically.
I appreciate that everyone in the focal cast is a complete mess in some ways and seems so put together in others; Arthur is endlessly charming but an impulsive alcoholic agent of chaos, Gwen is level-headed except for all the ways she's not, and Gabriel is smarter than the sun with none of the spine to back it. And they're all, in different ways, shameful cowards. It helps them feel real with a reminder that fear looks different for everybody.
While the pacing of the story didn't always agree with me, it was more than compensated for with the amazing characters and delightful sprinklings of humor.
Warning that, while the book's official summary is accurate, it doesn't convey that some parts of the story are far darker than the whimsical summary may suggest. If you want something perfectly fluffy with minimal angst, this book isn't for you. However, if you don't mind a bit of heavier content mixed into your romcom, this book should be added to you To Be Read list ASAP!

A super fun, enemies to allies story for queer fans of A Knight’s Tale, One word can sum this up: delightful!

Fun, queer read. I missed the arc download period for this book, but purchased a physical copy and thoroughly enjoyed it!

I had COVID right before this came out so didn't get around to posting a bunch of reviews I meant to, but was so glad to see this book become a bestseller because it was delightful! I'm very much looking forward to whatever Lex Croucher writes next.

Well this was fun! This book has a lot of what I like about Lex Croucher's books - a totally anachronistic take on language that works for me and great character work. This was unique, as their first YA novel and with so many different relationships on the go. It's pretty remarkable that they were able to bring to life so many connections: with a number of friendships, three budding romances and family relationships. At times the pacing was a little inconsistent for me, and I saw the final conflict brewing from a mile away, but it was really lots of fun with lots of heart and I would absolutely recommend it.

There are a few content warnings to consider - if you're sensitive, I suggest seeking out a full list, although some of the warnings could be a bit spoilery.