I didn’t really know what to expect going into this one because queer historical romance is sometimes hard for me to get behind since it’s always a little sad when they have to hide their relationship, but this ended up being a fun surprise. I loved that this book didn’t take itself too seriously and leaned into the fun, silly vibes but also was able to have more emotional moments between all the characters. The romances were super cute but I really enjoyed the found family aspect of the friend group the most.

This was entirely delightful. I thought the added rainbow mafia elements were deftly woven into the known history and/or legend, so it stands as a very convincing story. I was never able to spot where the holes could be, so good job Lex!
I did find that there were points that were very saturated with action, which was a bit confusing, and I found myself occasionally unclear about what was happening, or supposed to be happening. For the most part, the context clues were enough to bring me back in, but sometimes I simply had to wait for the story to unmurk itself again.
But that was a grand old time, it made me laugh so much!

If you enjoyed the movie A Knight's Tale you'll love this book. I enjoyed reading the book's lighthearted approach to Camelot without getting too caught up in being historically accurate. The characters are warm and humorous - several times I found myself chuckling at a character's actions. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick, lighthearted romcom.

Honestly, just when I think I can’t possibly find more books to be absolutely bonkers about! This! When I first came across this novel earlier this year I hadn’t read any of Lex Croucher’s backlist, and yet I knew I'd love this story. Now, having read two of their (brilliant) adult novels, I'm thrilled to say that they have delivered just as much fantastical flair and fun for their young adult audience.

Gwen and Art’s story is filled with delightful tensions, queer panic (the fun kind), Arthurian legend, so much mayhem, and just a dash (or two, or five) of mishaps.

While marketed as a romance, and it very much is a romance, I was pleasantly surprised by the exploration of relationships beyond the romantic nature; friendship, family, and even the relationship with oneself. Other themes that are well explored include queer identity, sexuality, and coming out, familial expectations, and the legacy we want to leave behind, especially in the face of adversity.

I personally anticipated this read to be all fluff and giggles, but Croucher is a genius, so naturally I was also crying and nearly started up my nail biting habit again in the last 20% of the book. Which is to say, an outstanding novel.

Fans of Ella Enchanted and Heartstopper, prepare to be absolutely kicking your toes in the air for this charming reimagining.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC of Gwen & Art Are Not In Love – get your copy Nov 28th!

Gwen and Art have been betrothed since infancy and have grown up hating each other. When Gwen catches Art kissing a boy and Art realizes Gwen too likes someone of the same sex, they come to an understanding.

The antics of the characters made me laugh quite a bit but I struggled to connect to either character. Their personalities were so loud they clashed in big ways that came off as obnoxious.

Another challenge I had was the ending. There was very little foreshadowing for the big plot twist and while it played out fine, it felt rushed and then over.

Overall Gwen & Art Are Not In Love is an okay book. I didn’t love it, but it wasn’t the worst.

Arthur and Gwendoline have been betrothed since their birth, but unfortunately, they can’t stand each other. As they get closer to their impending wedding, they are forced to spend a summer together at Camelot. But it’s not the summer either one of them anticipated.

On the first day, Gwen catches Arthur kissing another book. So Arthur does some digging and finds out about Gwen’s crush on the lady knight, Bridget Leclair. The two make a pact to cover for each other as they’re both swept up in different romances. Until a threat to the kingdom puts their new alliance in danger.

Thanks to Wednesday books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher to review! Being pitched as Heartstopper meets A Knight’s Tale, I knew that I absolutely had to read this. And what a delight it ended up being! I’d say that description is actually a pretty accurate description of this book.

First of all, the whole cast of characters in this is just a riot. They get themselves into ridiculous situations, especially as Gwen and Arthur are both falling in love with different people. Arthur in particular is just so entertaining. With the banter and the setting and everything that’s happening at court, you’ll just have a great time reading this book.

At least, for the first half to ¾ of the book. For the most part, this book has a very lighthearted tone, leaning heavily into the romances and the somewhat complex web they are weaving for themselves. Towards the end, the book takes a slightly odd turn toward a more violent storyline that feels like it comes a bit out of left field. Not that it doesn’t necessarily fit with the overall time period, but it did feel out of place with the tone of the rest of the book.

Nonetheless, this didn’t take away my enjoyment from the story. I still very much enjoyed the characters and the plot/setting. Teens will definitely enjoy it, especially those that love stories set during the King Arthur times.

If you’re looking for a book that will (mostly) be a good time while you’re reading it, I definitely recommend this one when it comes out in November.

Gwen & Art Are Not In Love is a fun, charming, queer, medieval romp.

Gwen and Art are betrothed but have hated each other since childhood. When their betrothal becomes a striking reality, they decide that they would make better allies than enemies to get what they want.

This tells two love stories in one, which did end up affecting my enjoyment. There’s a lot of cute repartee but having both love stories seemed to spread the story and connection to the characters a little thin.

I thought this alternative “medieval, yet not medieval” England was pretty fun as well and enjoyed the lore of Arthurian legend shaping the current political sphere. Medieval stories are always a blast, I mean … who doesn’t enjoy a good jousting match?

All in all, I feel like I don’t have a lot to say about this book. It was enjoyable but it didn’t change my world. I could see why a lot of people love it – the smart characters, adventure and romance is a real selling point – but I thought (other than the setting) it felt like a lot of other LGBT+ YA contemporary books.

4/5 stars. To be released November 2023.

Gwen and Art have been betrothed since they were children. Too bad they hate each other and also have feelings for someone else. But after Art is forced by his father to go to Camelot for the summer, Art and Gwen begin to realize they could work together to get what they each truly want. Together they work to fight for who they love and against a force betraying their kingdom. While it has nothing to do with King Arthur himself, there are many references to Arthurian legends throughout the book.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Art’s narrator but loved Gwen’s. There was playful banter between the characters with Arthur as the comic relief with his often aloof comments. All in all, it was a very engaging read with enjoyable characters.

I'm a sucker for queer reads and even more so when its queer YA giving the rom-com vibes of Heartstopper. Did I know really anything of Knight's Tale? Nope but I'm digging this retelling!

The characters in this one were great. While it takes a while for those to actually pair off and the end of the book gets less romance and more action, it does mean this offers something for every reader. What I lacked in relationship complexities in terms of romance, I got from the plot and the drama. Even the friendships in this one gave some great vibes for me- though way easier to jump into some deep and believable platonic relationships vs a romantic one.

The insider POV offered from Art really got me. I just want to squeeze and love on on him. He's moody and those methods of sheltering his self-doubts hit all too close to home. Sidney is an absolute blast of a character, I'm petitioning now to be best friends. Gwen I struggled with in the beginning and it 100% was a me getting in my own way as a reader on that one but that development was top tier. All in all, this cast of quirky characters really are just a well rounded group that many readers will be able to relate to in one or multiple ways.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
The premise here was super fun, queer retelling of Camelot and all. But the main characters themselves were very problematic and I hated them by the end in a way that left me disappointed and not caring about the plot.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If anti-chemistry is a thing, these two have it! This is a love story about two disaster queers forced to marry each other, set in a medieval Camelot many generations after the original Arthur.
There are parts of this book that I really loved. It is cute, queer and heartwarming.
That being said, I did not love our FMC/MMC as the story progressed. Their problematic behavior (like Gwen gleefully considering physically harming her maid) made it hard to root for either of them to get their happy endings. Gabriel and Bridget deserved better.

This playful and witty romp through Camelot is a delightful read that combines humor, romance, and a touch of medieval intrigue. The inclusion of the annual royal tournament, complete with sword-fighting and daring feats, infuses the narrative with a sense of adventure and excitement. The portrayal of found family in this novel is one that everyone will love. The novel's pacing is well-managed, and the chapters flow smoothly, making it an engaging and breezy read that I would put in the same category as novels like “Red White and Royal Blue”.

Actual Rating 4.5

Gwen & Art are Not in Love by Alex Coucher is an extremely funny, witty, and well written queer romcom about King Arthur's descendant, Arthur who has been betrothed to Gwendoline since birth. They've been enemies since child's and have never gotten along but they end up making a reluctant pact to cover for each other while Gwen is swept off her feet by her knight and Arthur takes an interest in Gwen's royal brother.

I enjoyed this quite a bit. There were so many scenes that had me laughing aloud. It's chockfull of innuendo and with. A spoiler free funny quote is:
"Walk like you don’t care where your limbs are," Agnes said, doing a much better job of it than Gwen "as if it’s no consequence to you where they end up. Like this. (…) and you should act at all times like your crotch is a burden."
"Now hang on," said Arthur "I’m a man and my crotch isn’t a burden"
"Maybe not to you," said Gwen, "but it’s a burden on the rest of humanity."

A lot of the banter reminds me of Hamilton the Musical where characters would ping-pong off each other with just a word and the double meanings of those words. It’s so interesting and quite a breath of fresh air.

About halfway through, there's a small women's health disability rep scene that teenage girls would definitely find welcoming to read and subsequent discussion on that is pretty good as well..

This truly would be such an entertaining read for an upper YA audience. Overall, this was a brilliant read and I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's been generations since King Arthur ruled in Camelot, but his legend is still potent enough that the current monarch finds it politically useful to betroth his daughter Gwendoline to Arthur's descendant of the same name. Having been shoved together since childhood, the pair detest each other. However, when they discover that both of them are queer, they agree to fake infatuation so they can pursue their real interests. As adorable as it is to watch Gwen come out of her shell and Arthur learn sincerity, inevitably political reality threatens their happiness. There's quite a tonal shift from snarky banter and slow-building romance to the violent finale.

5*

I loved this book. As soon as I heard it was a queer Arthurian mythology, I was absolutely on board. Croucher brings to life a rich, diverse world that feels both new and familiar.

The dynamics between the characters, the drama and the romance, it was all perfect. Croucher is an expert at delivering character driven stories and this book is no different to any other the others she's written.

I highly recommend this book for someone who likes a little bit of battle with their romance.

This book was so cute, I was obsessed. I love that it was written more modern even though it is historical romance. I think that will make it very accessible for its YA audience. I loved the characters and honestly I just want to give them all a giant hug. I can't wait to reread this one!!!

There are two reason I am so sad that this book doesn't publish until the end of November. 1.) I want all of my friends to be able to read it immediately and 2.) I really want a finished copy in my hands right now.

This book was an absolute delight. I had initially thought this book was going to be about *that* Gwen and Art, but I think that it ended up being even better the way it is. There's still some relevance and ties to the original Arthurian Legend, but this book has the ability to stand on its own two legs (and a handful of wink wink references to the original legend). Now do I still want a book about Guinivere falling in love with Morgana (which is what I thought this was)? Yes. Absolutely. But I really am happy with what I got.

There is so much humor and heart in Gwen & Art Are Not in Love. There's fabulous lessons in friendship, family, and what we believe we are meant for. So much packed into such an unassuming book. I feel like me saying "I loved it" really doesn't do it justice, but I also need y'all to understand how obsessed I am with this book because I want everyone to read it immediately.

I also listened to the audiobook which was its own level of awesomeness. The narrator for Gwen was especially great.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Please read Gwen & Art Are Not in Love when it comes out in November 2023.

I really liked this, even the fact that the book changed complete tones & shifted in the last third of the book.
It is not historically accurate by any means, so if that is a dealbreaker for you, don't pick this up. But if you love a historical book that has characters that sound completely modern, then Lex Croucher is totally the author for you. I loved the characters, how they each had a distinct personality and issues they worked through, and I loved the found family of it all and how delightfully gay everything was (even with the token straight couple).
Very cute, until that tone shift in the last third of the book, but it was still so good and engaging.

I can’t say YA fiction has ever been one of my favorite genres, but this book may have changed that. This is a queer take on a classic story with some twists I didn’t see coming.

I really enjoyed the mix of serious and comedic moments. I’m also a sucker for the found family troupe and that’s a large part of the story. It was interesting to see the main characters evolve from pawns in a larger game to being independent people.

The only thing I didn’t particularly like was Bridget having to be away from Gwen. I thought for sure she would be a personal guard or something similar. I can see, however, how she would have felt stifled in that position. Still, it would’ve been nice for them to stick together like the guys got to.

Don't even talk to me if you don't like this book. Gwendoline and Arthur might not be in love, but I sure as heck love them -- and Gabriel and Bridget and Sidney and Agnes. It has been a very long time since I read a book with such a wonderful set of characters. They come off the page and just make me extremely happy. I think this book could have been even longer and it still would not have given me enough time in this world. It did have rather a slow start, but once the stage is set, BAM! I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN. What I loved besides it being queer and hilarious and action packed was that it is NOT an Arthurian retelling. These characters live in vaguely the same world we do with King Arthur possibly being a myth, but none the less people believe. That made it feel so real to me, like this is a forgotten piece of history! (That said if you're looking for some BCC Merlin and Arthur banter vibes? Arthur and Sid will fill that hole for you!) I highly recommend this!! I can't wait to gush with other fans about it!