this was really cute! i really liked the concept upon first hearing about it but wasn't sure how well it would land for me since i'm not typically a romcom person, but this was a really pleasant surprise. if you like late 90s/early 2000s teen romcoms, dungeons and dragons, and/or royal family dramas, this is probably going to work for you. i really enjoyed the Arthurian mythos being used as a backdrop for the book's central conflict, it feels really approachable even if you don't know the stories well. characters were great, they felt flawed and real and were also very diverse. the romance element was also balanced really well with the plot, and the pacing was done well and the stakes felt realistic. overall, just a really sweet queer coming-of-age story with a ton of heart. i read it in a day and had a lot of fun.

arc provided by St. Martin's and Wednesday Press in exchange for an honest review

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is an medieval retelling that kept my interest! Told from both Arthur and Gwen's points of views, both need to fake their relationship and snap their enemy mindsets in order to please family "marriage" wants. Truth be told, Art and Gwen are in love with those that society would scorn, Gwen in love with a woman and Art with a male. Art and Gwen cannot be in love with one another. But for how long will society trust their ruse?

While there were multiple characters on page that were hard to keep straight while reading, I enjoyed Gwen & Art Are Not in Love. This young adult novel had appropriate chapter lengths and hilarious one liners that kept me flipping the pages. I recommend this novel to fans of King Arthur tales and other Lex Croucher novels!

I have two main feelings about this book: an overwhelming nostalgia for A Knight’s Tale (I need to rewatch this movie) and a nascent awareness that “X but like RWRB” has somehow become a sub-genre descriptor. It’s almost as effective as an AU tag to describe the vibe of a book: if you get it, you get it, and at this point it’s a taxonomy tool and not an assessment. So what you have here is not!Arthuriana but make it a frothy milkshake a la Casey McQuinston, delivered with tongue in cheek modern sensibilities. The character drama gets a bit tedious in some places, cute in others, lots of beats common to YA queer romances. It was definitely a good break between some gut-wrenching books I’ e been reading recently.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc of this novel.

The banter! The relationships! The hope! Read this and you won't be disappointed 💓. The plot is easy to follow and the world is fun. Each character is struggling in their own way and watching them grow and figure things out is enjoyable. This book is cute and everyone should read it.

4.75 stars

Gwen has been betrothed to Art since she was born and her parents the King and Queen have finally decided it is time for them to advance to marriage. They invite Art to spend the summer at court so they may get to know each other. The problem is they hate each other, Art thinks Gwen is tremendously dull and boring, and Gwen thinks Art is annoying and can't take anything seriously. They both find out secrets about the other, and it leads to them agreeing to be cordial and pretend they get on. They actually find themselves becoming genuine friends and supporting the other in their endeavours in love.

Whatever genre this book is I want more of it. It is everything I want and love in life all in one perfect book. The characters are all amazing, the writing was so wonderful. The relationships between the characters were so well done, the banter was top tier, the rep was chefs kiss. There was action, love, humour, tragedy, and everything in between.

While predictable, I really loved the story here. It was enjoyable and witty. The secondary characters felt a little one dimensional but Gwen and Art made up for that.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
*This review should be spoiler free*

Themes: Love, family and friendship, has themes from Arthurian legends
Representation: Queer MCs and LIs
Content Warnings: Violence, homophobia, drinking

Premise (from synopsis): Gwen and Arthur have been betrothed since birth, but they detest each other. But after Gwen sees Arthur kissing a boy and Arthur finds out that she has a crush on Knight Leclair, they decide to “pretend to be in love” to help each other. Perhaps they’ll become friends. And find love (but not with each other).

NOTE: Before you read this book or review, you need to know that this book is NOT a retelling, but rather a book that is set in the Arthurian universe, with references to the original fable. Take it how you will.
Characters

I absolutely adored all of the characters. The main characters. The side characters. And their relationships.

First, we have the two main characters: Gwen and Arthur. They are interesting and snarky protagonists. I enjoyed their quip and banter. I loved how they loathed each other at first but grew to become “reluctant allies,” while keeping their banter. Although at first Gwen and Arthur may just seem like “comic-duo-type” main characters at the beginning of the book, they are so much more than that. I loved how the author added depth to their characters while still making them likeable.

Gwen becomes braver. At first, she seems stuck-up, timid, and scared. She judges too quickly and seems like a coward. But she grows, learns that things might not be as she believed them to be, and becomes braver. And Arthur learns to take things more seriously. At first, he seems to like partaking in scandalous things, having fun without care, and drinking a lot. But he, too, grows and learns that even if you’ve faced troubles in the past, it does not mean that they will follow you in the future. Overall, the two main characters have incredible growth and a wonderful friendship throughout the book.

Next, we have the side characters: Bridget, Sidney, Gabriel, and Agnes. Bridget is the only female knight and she is an ABSOLUTE BADASS. She stands up for herself despite the sexism that comes with being the only female night. Sidney is Arthur’s best friend and he is absolutely hilarious. He is kind of a mess, but I love him. As for Agnes, she is Gwen’s lady-in-waiting. She is absolutely sweet and she’s a surprisingly good friend. Finally, Gabriel is Gwen’s brother and best friend. And poor Gabriel, he has a lot on his shoulders. And he tends to make decisions based on the pressures he faces. But don’t worry, he grows too.

As for Gwen and Art’s interactions with their love interests? They have lots of chemistry. I loved that this book has an F/F and M/M romance at the centre, with an F/M side-pairing. I, myself, love representation in romances! Especially YA romances. Anyhow, both Gwen and Art have amazing chemistry with their love interests. I also liked how the author wrote the romantic relationships quite realistically, even if it might’ve been in a medieval setting. Because romance isn’t perfect, you aren’t just going to fall for someone, pin after them, and live happily ever after. Because even if you want someone, there are sure to be lots of “roadblocks” along the way.

Finally, as for the other characters like Gwen’s parents and Arthur’s parents. Although they definitely don’t get as much screen time as the other six characters, I still appreciated their presence, as frustrating as they could be at times. I liked how the parents’ presence (and other characters) provided conflict and development for our main characters. And how they represented a differing perspective on things, even though some of them just wanted what was best for their kids/kingdom/whatever.

Overall, solid characters.

Rating: 4.9/5

Plot

I’d say that this book is more character heavy, but the plot still plays an essential role in the book.

It follows the typical story structure. So without further ado, and without spoiling anything, here are my comments…

Exposition: Appreciated the exposition. Get to know the characters, their problems, the side characters, the parents, the kingdom, the world, etc., etc. Introduced the characters and world in a nice, organic way that didn’t feel too “forced.”

Rising action: lots of antics and action! Lots of banter, adventures, misadventures, and character development. Was dynamic and fluid, and though there were some slow moments, the book picked back up and failed to feel flat and dull!

Climax: Was definitely unexpected. Caught me off guard. And added a lot of action to the story.

Falling Action: Had its fair amount of action. Occurred a little bit quickly though.

Denouement: Wrapped things out nicely. Not much of a connection between the falling action and the climax. Felt slightly “incomplete.”

Rating: 4/5

Style

Before going into any themes and whatnot, I have to say, I loved how the author wrote the book for themselves! (Check social media and the dedication.) That, in my humble opinion, feels pretty awesome. You can judge that however, you like.

Anyhow, in terms of tense and point-of-view, the book is written in the past tense, and third-person-point of view, alternating between Gwen and Arthur as the narrators, if you can do that. I personally don’t care too much about tense or point-of-view (unless it’s a second person or future tense because you don’t see this a lot in books), so you can decide what you think of that.

From a more objective standpoint, I think that the tense and point-of-view suits the book. Most books are written in past tense, and despite it being YA, this book is written in a fantasy setting; a lot of fantasy books are written in the third person due to world-building reasons.

Also, the author tends to use a lot of semicolons if you care about that—just something that I’ve noticed.

Anyhow, let’s get into the themes and stuff. Obviously, this book centres around love (hence the title), but also focuses a great deal on family and friendship.

For the theme of “love,” it’s explored in a nice, natural way. It also feels realistic and I appreciated the relationships between the MCs and LIS. I also liked that the book focused on friendship, as friends can be as important as romantic partners. I liked how the authors show how the characters support each other in friendship, and I felt like both the romantic relationships and friendships were quite healthy. Finally, in terms of family, you can mostly see that between Gwen and Gabriel’s relationship.

Other than the themes, I have two more things to say.

First, I liked how there was a lot of humour and banter in the book. If you appreciate humour in your books, then this book is for you, as it is filled with lots of funny banter and lines between the characters. I also think that humour can help with character development, especially with making the characters more likeable and more interesting. I personally found myself chuckling at the funny conversations that the characters had at times.

Second, this is NOT a retelling. I mentioned it at the beginning of the review. But if you were expecting a retelling, you might be slightly disappointed. HOWEVER, despite that, the story is set in an Arthurian world and has many, many, many references to Arthurian legend. To King Arthur, the sword, Morgana, Guinevere, etc. So take it how you will.

Thus, overall, great writing and explorations of the themes.

Rating: 4.5/5

Final Rating

Characters: 4.9/5
Plot: 4/5
Formatting: 4.5/5
Final Rating: 4.5/5 (round to 5 stars)
Personal Rating: 4/5

Date Read: August 6th, 2023
Date Reviewed: August 7th, 2023

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for providing an advanced free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

What is better than a historical retelling? A queer historical retelling. Have you ever wanted to see Arthurian myths retold with a rainbow colored lens? Then this is the book for you.

Gwen & Art Are Not In Love is a cheeky queer romcom following two queer kids who find themselves stuck in an arranged marriage. It is full of found family, silly shenanigans, first love butterflies and more. It’s been marketed as a queer historical Heartstopper and it is an apt description! The characters were real and messy which made for an exciting romcom read. I don’t normally read YA books but this was a nice read to break up my book list!

Check it out for yourself when it is released November 28!

Gwen & Art might not be in love, but I’m in love with them and with Gabriel, Bridget, and above all Sidney! F.T. Lukens’ vibrancy and banter meets Alexis Hall’s wit and drama.

I have a soft spot for sadder and darker stories, but I’m also a sucker for stories full of delightful dialogues and sharp humor that pull the corners of my mouth up and make lights dance in my eyes. As soon as I read the first page, I knew this would be a five-star read. It’s funny. It’s heartfelt. It’s uplifting. It’s serious at times. Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a marvelous book that embraced me wholeheartedly and melted my heart.

I cheered Bridget on when she jumped into a fight to save someone, and I said aww, when Gabriel took care of a wounded baby crow. I laughed out loud when Sidney told Art that he probably wanted to be held like a baby crow too, and Gwen and Art, well, they just captured my heart. Gwen, who needed to be a bit braver to color outside the lines, and Art, who hid his self-hatred behind a wild and playful mask.

Gwen and Gabriel are royalty, siblings, and best friends, that have one big secret in common that they don't talk about. Gwen is engaged to Arthur, a human disaster and supposed descendant of King Arthur, whether she wants to be or not. When Art and his bodyguard, Sidney, come to town Gwen's secret becomes a whole lot less secret. Sharing less-than straight thoughts, Gwen and Art make a pact to pretend to date in public, leading to a rocky but mutually beneficial friendship between the two. Hijinks and fun ensue, and soon Gwen's crush on a certain knight, Bridget Lecair, has Gwen questioning what her future is going to look like.

Not an Arthurian retelling, but rather an homage to Arthurian tales, Gwen & Art Are Not in Love, is easily one of my favorite new books. There's tiktok/gen Z humor, friendship, and a subtle nod to checked privilege. There's a certain part where Gwen and Art are talking and Art makes a joke, that I have not stopped thinking about since I read it. I told all of my coworkers about it and have continued to giggle every time I think about it. 10/10 this is a book I will buy and read again and again anytime I need a pick me up of sunshine feelings.

Well this was fun! It did take me a little bit to get into the rhythm of Croucher's writing style and to connect with the characters, but once I did I was hooked. Gwen's not going to be happy with me, but it was Arthur that did it.

GWEN AND ART ARE NOT IN LOVE has a spunky redhead, a witty rogue, it's got fake dating and enemies-to-friends. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review.

This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley.

I have two different ratings for this book depending on why I or anyone else would be picking it up.

As an alternative history Romance, it's a 5/5. There's a cute Sapphic romance with a princess and a knight (I love that) and another romance that's M/M between a prince and a lord. The dynamics between Gabriel and Gwen, Gwen and Arthur, and Gwen and Bridget all felt real and interesting. Arthur and Gwen's initial dynamic actually reads very Swan Princess 'This is My Idea', which made me love both characters almost instantly.

In terms of picking it up for Arthurian lore or a courtly love story, it's a 3/5. It's not a retelling but more of a reimagining/what/if scenario. I want more Queer Arthurian books because Arthurian lore can be very Queer, but this didn't give me what I'm looking for when I'm looking for books exploring Camelot or Arthur or the Knights of the Round Table. There wasn't the hallmarks of courtly love that I personally look for, either, and I was disappointed not to get them in a Sapphic love story featuring a princess and a knight. The prose is also a bit too meme-y for my taste when it comes to Arthurian lore books.

I loved the characters and I liked a lot of the ideas presented, I'm just of two minds on it depending on the mood I'm in or why I'm picking it up.

this was so... wow. i've always toed around the line of historical books, because sometimes i like them, and sometimes i don't, so this was an absolute treat for me. i devoured this in a few hours, that's how good this was.

all of our characters were easy to enjoy (to no one's surprise, my favorite was gwen.) and their relationships were easy to root for. this placed a heavy emphasis on accepting yourself, rather than focusing on everyone else's expectations and standards, and it makes me really, really happy to see themes like this in books for queer youth! especially with this being a romcom, i think the heavier themes and topics were handled incredibly well and in a way that wasn't too "light", yet didn't weigh the book down either.

all in all, completely lived up to my expectations. the writing style was light and easy to follow, the characters were lovable, and the story had me hooked from start to finish.

5 stars!

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

I absolutely adored this book. It brought me the same joy that I felt reading Red, White & Royal Blue for the first time. Queer romance during Arthurian times? Absolutely sign me up. Alex Croucher if you see this, I am at your beck and call with anything else you have written.

If you’re hearing mysterious excited squee-ing at the moment and you can’t figure out where it’s coming from, have no fear–your house is not haunted. That is just me, thinking about how much I loved Gwen and Art Are Not in Love.

So we begin our review with a hearty thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me early access to this absolute gem of a book. And, now, onto the good stuff!

This book was a romp. For one, I love that it’s not actually an Arthurian retelling, despite the fact that the title makes it seem like you’re getting an Arthurian retelling. Setting this in the somewhat-near future from King Arthur was a really fun choice. Now, is it a wonderful, historically accurate representation of this time period? Well, no. But I’ll be honest–I don’t really care. Sometimes a modern turn-of-phrase or odd costuming detail would annoy me in a piece of historical fiction, but I think one of the reasons I didn’t have that problem with Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is that it isn’t trying to paint itself as a perfectly, historically accurate representation, the way some historical fiction books seem to do. And sometimes, those anachronistic word choices had a way of making the story even more fun, rather than being jarring or off-putting. (Though, there were a couple of moments that bugged me, but they’re slight enough that I think we can just bypass them entirely!)

The true joy of the book, though, wasn’t its setting–it was the characters. People who’ve read my reviews for a while know that I’m a big fan of a good character, and Gwen and Art Are Not in Love gives you four of them. Gwen, Art, Bridget, and Gabriel are all such wonderfully nuanced characters, and watching them interact with each other at their different levels of relationship is so compelling. The dialogue between them is also so very well done; it feels very real and meaningful to the characters, while also doing the job of carrying the plot along, not just being dialogue for the sake of dialogue. (They also have loads of fun banter that I got an absolute kick out of.)

Overall, this was such a joyful book to read, and I already have it in my library’s shopping cart and my personal collection’s shopping cart as well. Fans of historical romance, queer romance, enemies/rivals to friends storylines, and Arthurian legend are sure to enjoy this book as well.

First, thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday books for a e-arc of this book for my honest reviews!
My main issue with the book is the pacing. It was kind of hard to get into. I really enjoyed the humor and banter between the characters in this book and loved that a character had my name lol!
Overall it was a very fun read with some minor pacing issues, but if you’re looking for a cutesy fantasy element read with some awesome queer rep I highly recommend this one!

This book is outside of my normal genres as I don't typically read/enjoy historical fiction, but when I read the description of this novel, I just knew I needed to read it. I'm so glad I tried to push myself into a new genre because this book was just phenomenal. It took me a bit to really get into it and the beginning felt very slow (hence my 4.5 star rating), but once I hit the 40% mark, I couldn't put it down! I loved all of our main characters and really felt their joys and their lows. In the end, I am happy to have read this book and hope to read more by the author.

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher was decent YA historical fantasy LGBT+ story, but it didn't quite work out for me as much as I was hoping. It's been compared to both A Knight's Tale and Heartstopper which are a couple of my favorite things, but this just didn't reach those kinds of heights for me. Plus, it's too long - it doesn't need to be over 400 pages. Of the characters, Bridget was easily my favorite. Finally, I also want to mention that if you're a fan of BBC's Merlin, you also might want to give it a try.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for access to this incredible eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Gwen and Art are named after the Guinevere and Arthur of old, but they are nothing like them. For one thing, they are both gay and definitely not in love with each other. For another thing, they both hate that they were named after such important people. And finally, they do not want to marry each other. But what can they do when Gwen’s father, the king, and Art’s father, an important ally to the kingdom are counting on them to solidify this alliance with their marriage?

They can pretend to go along with it while secretly pining over other people. That obviously can only go well for them. Or can it? Find out by reading Lex Croucher’s hilarious novel, Gwen and Art Are Not in Love!

This book is a lot of fun. The friendships and romances that take place are well built and there’s a lot of good character development around them. I didn’t expect all the twists and turns. The beginning was a little slow for me, but once the book got going, I was all in.

4 out of 5 stars

Just when you start to think that the trend of historical retelling books needs to stop, Gwen & Art Are Not in Love come along to show us that there is still so much potential for those types of story. With an engaging cast of characters, this book is a real page-turner that will make you smile and swoon plenty of times. This will cleary be on many lists of must-read queer books for years to come.