Suuuch a cute, fun read! This is a book that will definitely make you smile and your heart melt.

(4.5)

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

💖💫💖

Thank you NetGalley for granting me access to a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

it took me three long months to finally finish this book. the amount of times i dnf and then picked back was insane. i loooooved the idea of this book, but lost interest so fast.

In this modern LGBTQ+ retelling of the Camelot myths, Lex Croucher draws readers into a world where Gwen, princess of Camelot, is engaged to Arthur, the son of a duke and descended from the real King Arthur I, at a time when tensions amongst the kingdom’s many religious sects are at a high. Gwen and Arthur despise each other, but they agree to play nice in the hopes that the marriage will get called off or that their respectives parents will believe their deception. However, people and events along the way challenge this arranged marriage and the tenuous stability in the kingdom. Croucher has done a fantastic job taking the key elements of the Camelot myths and translating them into the twenty-first century, and the elements of the myths are familiar and handled incredibly well. This modernization is full of complex characters who have dynamic personal journeys, and Croucher has done an incredible job adding such levels of tension, conflict, and detail throughout the novel. Gwen, Arthur, and the other characters have fascinating perspectives, emotions, and struggles, and Croucher balances the struggle of coming to terms with one’s sexual orientation and the differences between individual coming out experiences with the other conflicts of the novel very well.

I love historical fiction, i love romance, and i love arthurian legends. This book was all of that, and it had me cheering for these kids and really connecting with them, even through their dumb decisions. Reading Lex Croucher is a breath of fresh air and truly a 5 star experience.

I loved the duality of the story. The chemistry between the two main leads was great eve though it was platonic. It felt like sibling banter. Their individual romances were great and so different from each other, that it was fun.

I allowed this to sit on my NetGalley shelf for far too long and I am truly sorry because once I started reading - I could not stop. Such a fun, charming, rollicking read. Filled with characters who I cared and rooted for - especially when they self-sabotage and are ineffectual. And all the respect for solid as they come "secondary characters" Agnes and Sidney. A fantastic queer YA romance set in a post-Camelot England.

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC of Gwen & Art Are Not In Love! All opinions in this review are my own.

After reading Reputation over the summer, I looked forward to reading another Lex Croucher book and Gwen & Art Are Not In Love did not disappoint!

Hundreds of years after King Arthur's reign, the current princess Gwen is betrothed to Arthur. The only problem is that neither of them are interested in this relationship. The friendship between Gwen and Art that ends up growing due to their pact of faking their engagement is really sweet. By the end of the book, both characters grow more confident in who they are and what they want. Croucher's ability to write lovable characters who support each other is truly a strength of their writing and I look forward to their next book!

Why did I go into this thinking it was a high school drama production book--

IN A WORLD set a few generations after the legends of King Arthur roamed and reigned, teen princess Gwendoline is betrothed to her childhood nemesis and mutual bully Arthur, but when each of them comes across another's secret (spoilers: they're queer), they decide to keep up the betrothal in order to maybe have the freedom in love they won't have with their disinterest in each other. See also: the lady knight Bridget Leclair and Gwen's brother-not-twin Gabriel, an academic minded sort maybe a bit too thinky for medieval kingship... maybe especially as there are Plots and Nefariousness brewing so close to their castle walls.

Honestly I laughed aloud reading this book more times than I'm used to (I'm definitely a person who types 'lol' or 'lmao' but isn't laughing with my mouth), especially with, well, Sid in general and Arthur and Gabriel's first kiss.

I actually really liked that this YA sort of, "we're allies even if we don't like each other" turned into something a lot more consequential in the last act. Miscommunication always has me screaming but at least here there was really good reasons why and it got worked out (albeit dramatically but I loved it). This was a fun read I was looking forward to for a while and I'm glad I finally sat down and got into it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for the review!

This book was cute. In all honestly I forget I don’t really like YA but I try really hard to like them. Definitely no longer my genre BUT if it was still my age group I think I would really enjoy this read.

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher is a delightful romp through a post-Arthurian world, filled with banter, loveable idiots, and unexpected twists. The story revolves around the betrothed pair, Arthur and Gwendoline, who initially despise each other but are drawn into a reluctant alliance.

One of the book's highlights is the lively banter between the characters. Lex Croucher weaves a narrative where the characters engage in witty exchanges entertaining the reader. The dialogue is sharp and humorous and adds a layer of fun to the overall narrative.

The main characters, while endearing, are portrayed as relatively self-destructive and hard on themselves. Their flaws contribute to the story's charm, making them relatable and loveable despite their imperfections. The author successfully captures the essence of a found family, creating a cast of characters that readers can't help but root for.

The plot takes an unexpectedly dark turn towards the end, contrasting with the lighthearted nature of the book's first two-thirds. This twist adds depth to the storyline, keeping readers on their toes and offering a more nuanced exploration of the characters' relationships and the world they inhabit. I’m not entirely sure I was a fan of that plot device.

While the book is not an Arthur retelling, it explores a fascinating "what if" scenario set in a time after King Arthur's reign. The dynamics between Arthur, his followers, and the Catholics provide an intriguing backdrop. However, the incorporation of political intrigue felt forced, as if the narrative tried to do too much within the confines of its length.

The publisher's description aptly captures the essence of the story, highlighting the sword-fighting, found family, and romantic shenanigans that make Gwen and Art's journey an engaging read. Lex Croucher skillfully balances humor, romance, and unexpected twists, creating an entertaining and thought-provoking book.

In conclusion, Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is a four-star read that offers a mix of humor, lovable characters, and surprising turns. Lex Croucher's storytelling prowess shines through, making this novel recommended for those who enjoy a blend of romance, banter, and unexpected twists in a post-Arthurian world.

I had a hard time getting into this novel on my first attempt, for whatever reason. But I tried again and enjoyed this sweet YA romance about discovering friendship and finding love when it feels like you can't be true to yourself. A lovely reimagination of a classic tale most know but with a new spin. Overall, I would recommend for young adults and teens, not what I normally read, but I know it will have a great response from younger readers.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC so I could provide my honest review!

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love was a fun story! I found some of the characters to be annoying at times, but the humor helped make up for it. I loved the LGBTQ representation. Gwen & Art Are Not in Love would definitely be a book I recommend to people wanting a LGBTQ story with some medieval type elements.

a fun romp! i liked the energy of this, although the end got a bit muddy for me. really appreciate all the different representation and the historical nods.

i LOVED this!! it had queer romance!! humor!! friendships!! action!! arthurian legend!! it was such a well balanced coming of age story, i wish i could have stayed with these characters a little bit longer.
gwen, arthur, gabriel, bridget, sidney, and agnes were truly some of the funnest characters to follow. lex croucher did an amazing job with their characterization, and all of their motivations and desires felt so real and relatable and i just can’t get enough of this. obsessed!! i feel like the only thing i would add is more romance cause these relationships were everything to me

I really enjoyed this book!! The romance was cute and a good slow burn. I do wish the story overall was a bit more developed, which is why I docked a half a star. Overall it was a good read!! I loved it and will recommend to friends.

"The problem with compromise,' he said eventually, 'is that, often, everybody loses. You sit on the fence for so long that you discover you've built a kingdom on it."

Gwen & Art Are Not In Love was all set to be this beautiful queer retelling of the classic legend - and I was so excited for it! I loved the start - mutual dislike and distrust of Gwen and Art ends up with them agreeing to hold each other's secrets in order to go after the people they actually want! YAY!

We get a heap of found family from Gwen's brother, the future king, her lady's maid and Art's squire. These side characters are probably more interesting than Gwen and Art put together. There's an emphasis on self over country, which is good and all for soldiers, but probably not for kings.

Overall, I found Art to be profoundly annoying, and also slightly useless? As a great knight, you'd think he would have some heroism to himself, but no, just jokes.

Gwen's got a mind for politics and ruling, unlike her brother who only cares for his magic, his books and his theories. But alas, as a woman, she's vastly ignored and overlooked. Even as a princess, her own guards don't listen to her. Gwen's so unsure of her own ability to command - because her commands are routinely overridden by men whose stations are SO far below her. Even her own brother, who she considers to be "her best friend" rarely takes her seriously. This was truly the worst part of the book for me.

Overall, this wasn't the book for me.

Honestly I didn’t think Lex could top Infamous, I loved it so, so much…but this was absolutely brilliant, as good…maybe even better? I don’t know, I can’t make that call but I definitely loved every single second of it! It’s charming, sweet, funny, exciting, and drenched in wit as sharp as Excalibur Nine.

If you haven’t read any of Lex’s previous releases (For shame! Remedy this immediately!), it’s good to know the stories always tend to have a kind of dark dip around three quarters of the way through but then it pops back up in mood at the end. Personally, I love the complexity it adds to the stories but if you’re fully expecting just happy, silly vibes all the way through it might be a little unexpected.

Far and away one of my very favorite authors, I will read anything Lex ever deigns to grace us mere mortal readers with and am currently now rabidly awaiting both Trouble and especially, Not For the Faint of Heart!!

This was one book that had me hooked from the beginning! Gwen and Art are amazing characters that find love and make it known that THEY ARE NOT IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER! Instead, they fall for two other people and become friends and allies. It was ADORABLE and a great YA Historical Fiction story!

This was such a cute book. I loved watching the friendship between Gwen and Art develop and watching them blossom into their own identities. Gabriel and Bridget were also fantastic characters and seeing their relationships in their group develop was incredibly rewarding by the end of the novel. It definitely had its sad parts and Croucher does a fantastic job of weaving those parts in but keeping the humor throughout the book without dragging it down too much. Don't go into this expecting much Arthurian legend content, but definitely an enjoyable YA romance!

<i>"...I spent a very long time feeling confused. I didn't know why I was feeling the way I was, or what it meant, and...you were the first person who knew. [...] What I'm trying to say is, you knew, and it made perfect sense to you even when it didn't to me. I didn't have to try and justify it to you, or beg for your understanding -- it wasn't something that even needed explaining. I had no idea how much that would mean to me. When I talked to you about it, even when you were being a bit of a nightmare, you always made me feel like it was...completely ordinary. Something I should be allowed to want and to have, without question."</i>

TL;DR: An alternate history where the Pendragon line / dynasty has continued on, following teenage siblings Gabriel and Gwendoline, and her betrothed Arthur. Also, a kick-ass lady knight Bridget LeClair. Croucher highlights LGBTQIA+ representation in a sweet medieval romance which, while a little light on Arthurian legend connections and a little slow to get going, is ultimately a story of found family and acceptance.

Vibes: Red White & Royal Blue + A Knight's Tale wrapped in a blanket of Mackenzi Lee's snarky dialogue and protagonist angst

Genre: YA Alt-Historical Fantasy Romance

Romance Meter: ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
A true romance story, with 3 central couples at the heart of the story.

Character MVP: I'm going to cheat a little here and say it was Arthur and Sidney's romance. Arthur was, I think, my favorite character but his dynamic with Sid -- and the snappy, witty, dry sarcastic exchanges Croucher wrote for them -- really elevated both characters.

Verdict: 4.5 stars, rounding up.
To be fair -- this book took about 2/3 of the way through to get going, which may be a bit long for some. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it -- I absolutely did -- the pacing was just a bit off. I could see the threads that Croucher was weaving with the cultist vs. Catholic tension, the scheming cousin, the helpfully insistent noble and the tournament, I think I just wanted more...action.
A lot of the story was spent in the protagonists heads -- and being split between Gwen and Arthur didn't help it feel a bit too long because there were 2 reluctant love stories that needed to be developed.

Again, I really enjoyed the story when I read -- particularly Arthur & Sid's relationship & dialogue -- but for about 2/3 of the book it was a bit too easy to put down. Once the main "conflict" of the story kicked into gear, it was a lot harder to put down and I found myself racing through the last 25%.

I also wanted more Arthurian legend connections...? A personal quirk, given how much I love that mythology, and I know that wasn't the point, but still.

Overall, a YA romance done right -- and yet still enjoyable by New Adults.