Honestly, when I first started reading this book, I thought it was going to be silly and lame due to the way the characters spoke and interacted, but I was pleasantly surprised as characters developed over the course of the book and the plot ramped up towards the end.

Gwen (as in, Gwendoline, not Guinevere, thank goodness) is a princess whose father took the throne of England and moved everyone to Camelot as an attempt to please the Arthurian cultists who tried to cause an uprising. Arthur is a descendant from Arthur Pendragon and his father just so happened to be one of those cultists, but fell into the good graces of the king enough for Arthur to be Gwen's betrothed when they were children.

Arthur is supposed to come spend the summer with Gwen and her family to prepare for their eventual nuptials. However, they hate each other with a fiery passion. Gwen just wants to be left alone so she can quietly pine after Lady Bridget LeClair, a female knight who gets booed at the tournament, but kicks ass.

And Arthur... well, Gwen happens to catch him kissing a servant boy. As a compromising blackmail, they both agree to put up a charade of slowly falling for each other while queerly lusting for others.

Shenanigans ensue.

The characters annoyed me at the start. I thought Gwen was going to be bratty the whole time and Arthur just be absolutely arrogant. Yet, they had massive amounts of character development and several of the side characters did as well.

Gabriel, Gwen's brother, is the future heir to the throne who wears the title with an exhausting burden. He just wants to read books, not learn how to be a king, but he completes the tasks at hand with effectiveness (and dread.) He has a gentle heart and a brilliant mind.

Sidney is Arthur's manservant and partial bodyguard / lookout. He puts up with Arthur's excursions and attempts at wit, but he is a loyal friend, for sure.

Agnes is Gwen's lady in waiting who eventually becomes a close confidant to the princess.

And, of course, there's Bridget LeClair, the knight who Gwen has a MASSIVE crush on. She is no-nonsense and punch first, ask questions later. She's great.

Overall, I really loved the book at the end. There are some chapters with serious action that mentions how bloody warfare can be and that wasn't something I was expecting when I started the novel. I enjoyed it, though.

The ending was rather abrupt, but it didn't bother me because I feel like it ended well.

A heartwarming tale about coming into your own and being true to your heart, even when it goes against the grain.

Centuries after the reign of Arthur Pendragon, his distant descendant (also named Arthur) has been betrothed to Gwendoline Princess of England, since birth. Much to their mutual chagrin, no one seems to care that they don't actually seem to like each other. No, it's for the good of England and for preserving the tentative peace between those that follow the Catholic faith and those considered cultists who rerere the Arthurian figures as gods.

As their betrothal finally begins to come to a close and plans are set in motion for their nuptials, Gwen and Arthur are forced to spend the summer tournament season together at Camelot. However, things suddenly get a whole lot more interesting when Gwen discovers Arthur kissing another boy in secret and Arthur learns that Gwen's heart beats only for the dashingly controversial knight, Lady Bridget Leclair.

With the shared knowledge that their hearts lie elsewhere, Gwen and Arthur decide to work together for the benefit of both their interests. As they cover for each other, Gwen begins to fall more and more for Lady Bridget and Arthur begins to find himself equally intrigued by Gwen's brother the Crown Prince Gabriel. It is a summer of self discovery for all the parties involved. But this is Camelot, and danger is never as far away as it seems...

This was an absolutely wonderful book. From the moment I began reading, I was thoroughly entranced. Gwen, Arthur, Gabriel, Bridget, and all the rest of this cast of characters are so down to earth and believable that you can't help but get wrapped up in this tale.

The differences in the way each of the main characters handles the truths of who they are, who they long to be, was very well handled. At times I found myself rooting for them through each and every triumph and agonzing with them in the darker moments when it seemed like hope could be lost.

The dialogue is witty and snappy and makes an interesting counterpoint to this alternative medieval/renaissance setting of England. Croucher did a marvelous job of blending history and fantasy into a believable alternate reality that was both familiar and refreshing.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a truly solid queer ya rom com. And honestly, even those who aren't. We could all learn a thing or two from this book. Bravo and well done!

A fun intro to fantasy that is queer and YA. Not quite an Arthur retelling; it was a quick read that will be enjoyed by YA readers.

I've been meaning to read Lex Croucher's adult romances for ages and shamefully haven't gotten to them yet, but if they're as delightful as Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is, then I might have to remedy that immediately. I'm seriously a sucker for some good queer historical romance, and this absolutely delivered. Gwen and Art are both dynamic characters whose perspectives were quite different from one another but equally engaging; I like their simultaneous realization that they may not hate each other quite as much as they feel compelled to, and their friendship is honestly very sweet. The love interests and side characters are also super fun, though I wish we had seen more of them. I have no idea if Croucher intends to expand upon this little universe at all, but if they do, consider me first in line for the next book! (I would personally adore a little spinoff about Sidney and Agnes. A novella. A short story. Three paragraphs. Anything, really. They're SO cute.)

This was my first book by Lex Coucher and will not be the last.

The description of "Heartstopper meets A Knights Tale" was a perfect intro into this gripping LGBTQ+ historical romance.

Absolutely loved the historical aspect, the jousting, outfit descriptions, and the names. The battle at the end was impossible to put down. Highly recommend.

“To be truly brave, first you must be afraid – and to be afraid, you must have something you cannot bear to lose.”

iS a queer, medieval rom-com following the undesired betrothal of the princess of england and the descendant of king arthur himself, lex croucher’s upcoming young adult debut is a gorgeous exploration of love, friendship, history, and self-discovery that joyfully tears down the idea that we must sacrifice our truths to be happy and make a difference in the world. no book i’ve read all year has made me laugh, cry, and read with such breathless abandon as this and i can’t wait to make myself as dramatic and insufferable as possible about it in the new year.

This was the first book I've read from this author and I really enjoyed it. The story was different from anything I've read recently and really captured my attention.

I loved this. The writing was simplistic but good, and I adored how well-developed Arthur and Gabriel’s relationship was. My one complaint would be that Gwen and Bridget’s relationship was a little insta-lovey but other than that, an easy book to four-star.

“To be truly brave, first you must be afraid – and to be afraid, you must have something you cannot bear to lose.”

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love was not exactly what I expected, but it was exactly what it needed to be. Gwen particularly started out a but grating for me, but that changed as the character dynamics developed and we got to see who each of the characters were beyond their constructed heteronormative facades.

Are you in the mood for an enemies to friends to wingmen to in-laws romance that involves princesses, embroidery, treason, and birds? Look no further, because Lex Croucher has made this a reality in Gwen and Art are Not in Love! The author balances friendship, love, and acceptance all amongst the backdrop of a theo-political divide involving a cult that follows the legend of Arthur Pendragon and the ever-so prominent Catholics.

What I found most endearing about this book was the way that Gwen and Arthur ended up working together, despite their lack of interest in one another. Gwen and Arthur play very well against each other; Gwen is the serious, follow-the-rules shy girl who has the more-than-occasional moment of sass, and Arthur is the daddy-issues bad boy who is witty and charming, but secretly self-deprecating and longing for companionship (other than his loyal and trustworthy man, Sidney). I really loved the comebacks that Arthur would shoot towards people, even in the WORST time to make a joke. All of the characters seemed to fit their roles so perfectly, down to Gabe being the nervous next-in-line heir to the throne.

What I found off-putting about the book, at first, was how modern the references and speech patterns seemed to be. I was thinking “Can’t we get some ‘hail and well met’ Shakespearean-type language up in here?” But I came to love it, and I realized about halfway through that the book wouldn’t have been anywhere near as funny if Arthur wasn’t able to banter the way he did because of restrictions of language. I wrote in my notes that I wish it would have been more “historically accurate,” but that’s pretty funny for a story that retells a literal legend. It’s fiction, we all need to step back and realize that sometimes, historical accuracy is not the goal.

My favorite quote from the book is one that really shows the nature of Gwen and Art’s relationship before they became friends, and their likelihood to actually become close: “’He grows on you.’ ‘Like mold,’ said Gwen. ‘Like one of those plants that strangles trees.’”

I think this is a really sweet and accessible queer historical romance for anyone who is into fantasy and gay stuff. I don’t prefer a lot of spice in my books, and there really was hardly any other than kissing in this one, which I appreciated. I liked that the romantic moments were those moments that you say “awwww” to, that make you giddy and send butterflies up and down your stomach.

I would recommend this read to anyone. It’s one of my favorites of the year!

This book is such a heartwarming and lovely story. I loved every second of it. The self discovery we get to see as readers is incredibly touching. How the siblings are able to share parts of themselves with each other that almost no one else knows tells a whole story of its own. Really hoping we get to see this story continue in the future. Lex Croucher has such a beautiful writing style.

I have really mixed feelings about Gwen & Art Aren’t in Love. I was much more invested in Art’s storyline and relationship with Gabriel than I was in Gwen and her relationship with Lady Leclair. While Gwen & Art are both deeply flawed individuals, I found that Art overall experienced much more reflection and growth throughout the story than Gwen did, which made me like his character much more.

I found the setting to be confusing. A lot of the Arthurian legend within the world is given in large info dumps that were hard to follow and outside of these, very little information was given about the world itself.

Overall I enjoyed the story & I do think that you should give it a try if you enjoy medieval romance stories!

Thank you to St Martin's Press/Wednesday Books & Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book!

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is definitely not your typical Arthurian tale, but that's what I enjoyed so much about the book!

I've always loved Arthurian movies, books, and whatnot, so no surprise that I'd want to read this after seeing the cover and reading the summary it was a given.

Growing up, Gwen and Art despise each other, but despite their feelings, their family expect them to marry. When Gwen learns Art's truth, they make a pack to cover for one another. But when tragedy hits, and everything is at risk, they'll need to work together alongside their friends to save their people.

I loved the non-traditional story, and it's okay to reach for your own path and happiness.

Gwen and Art, the main protagonists, are beautifully crafted with their own distinct personalities, flaws, and struggles. Their friendship forms the core of the narrative, and Croucher skillfully explores the complexities of their relationship. The dynamics between the characters are realistic and nuanced, showcasing the evolution of their bond in a way that feels genuine.

The novel's pacing is well-balanced, with a mix of lighter moments and more introspective ones. The narrative flows smoothly, keeping readers engaged as they follow Gwen and Art's journey of self-discovery. The dialogue is sharp and entertaining, capturing the essence of teenage conversations and adding to the overall charm of the story.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for this early Netgalley copy of Gwen & Art Are Not In Love by Lex Croucher.

Gwendoline and Arthur have been betrothed for as long as either of them can remember. Perhaps this wouldn’t be such a problem if they could actually stand one another… and to make matters more complicated, they aren’t exactly each other’s “type.” Upon discovering this, Gwen and Art decide to fake an attachment to get their parents off their backs and to pursue their true love interests—what could possibly go wrong?

I have other books by this author on my shelf, and I wanted to like this one, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I knew it about 30 pages in, and I tried to give it another chance, but after another 30 pages I just couldn’t do it anymore. Don’t get me wrong—it’s a cute book. I just think I would have liked it more if the dialogue was more true to the time period, and the characters were a little less insufferable.

I’m giving this book 3 stars, as I do for DNF books, as a rule.

☆ ☆ ☆ - DNF

Besides the zingy and catchy title, this book is full of lively dialogue and witty banter. It kept my attention, and any time I picked it up, I devoured chunks of it at a time. 
There was not a character of the core group that I did not enjoy. Every character was unique, vivid, and I would read a whole book centered on any of them. 
It’s slow-paced, but it will be worth the wait. The emotional impact of the final few chapters is the best example of worth the wait. 
The book's world-building was fantastical with the cultists and Arthurian, but it still felt rooted in reality. 
I may have gotten a digital copy from NetGalley, but I fully intend to purchase a copy in November for my shelf.

This was so cute!

Gwen & Art is a fun, medium-stakes rom-com set in ~1200's England. It features three great romances and a decently fleshed out plot, which I'm going to get into in a second!

First, the romances: this book features THREE couples: M/M, F/F, and M/F. The M/F couple was between two side characters, and it was a little insta-lovey, but I understand that there was nowhere near enough time to completely flesh it out. They were so cute though! I would def read a spinoff featuring those two characters. While, like I said, the relationship itself was sort of insta-love, I will say the side characters aren't super two-dimensional, which is hard considering it's just one medium-length book. I genuinely loved them!

Gwen and Bridget were cute, but they were surprisingly not my favorite of all of them, even though admittedly the book did originally catch my eye primarily for the lesbians (they didn't know the word existed back then, obviously, but trust me: Gwen IS a lesbian. I can't remember about Bridgit, though). Gwen had the most relatable crush on her before they ever even met -- honestly, I would say any young lesbian will relate to Gwen on a spiritual level throughout most of it. My complaint about this specific relationship, though, is that it was definitely mostly physical. They didn't really TALK one-on-one, which they definitely addressed and mentioned wanting to work on it, but it wasn't really enough for me to get attached to them AS a couple. However, I adored them individually. Bridgit is strong both mentally and physically. She's also Thai, which is super cool. Side note: Croucher did her research on the time period! I feel like a lot of people use the fact that the piece of work is historical to avoid adding any diversity, but that's honestly just unrealistic and a poor excuse. Croucher definitely knew the regions and the cultures of that time very well, which added another layer to the reading experience that I wasn't expecting!

Arthur and Gabriel's romance was DEFINITELY the star of the show. It was a perfect slow burn, and I was definitely kicking my feet and internally screaming when they finally kissed!! I don't even know what more to say, honestly, just that I love them so very much. LITERALLY PERFECT!

Final note: though there is some plot, this is definitely primarily a romance. The plot doesn't really raise the stakes much until the end. Without spoiling anything, I think the whole Arthur vs his dad thing was kind of silly and was just forced conflict towards the end, though I was on the edge of my seat for the climax!

Would recommend pre-ordering! Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story is fun to follow and will be a hit with Young Adults and Adults alike. The main characters are lovable but also complex. Hearing the story from both Gwen and Art's point of view was a great choice! Taking place decades after King Arthur of Camelot's rule. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!.

Gwen and Art are not in love - but I sure love them!

I was obsessed with a Knight’s Tale, and have been waiting in the wings for another witty medieval romantic comedy full of jousting, feasts and shenanigans - and here it is (including absolutely beautiful representation)!

This queer medieval romcom takes place hundreds of years after King Arthur’s reign. Camelot has changed a lot since then, and when royal alliances are needed, Gwen and Arthur (with a loose loose relation to the great King Arthur) are reluctantly betrothed at birth. Growing up, they realize the only thing they can agree on is that they despise each other.

Forced together, and knowing their hearts aren’t at all in line with these plans, they realize they might make better allies than enemies. Making a pact to fake it and cover for each other, things soon heat up at the annual royal tournament. Gwen is swept off her feet by a lady knight and Arthur finds himself falling for Gwen's royal brother.

Gwen & Art Are Not In Love is a sweet story of love, friendship and finding the bravery to follow your heart. Out already in the UK, and releasing in North America on November 28th.

Thank you to Lex Croucher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

What's not to love about this book? Witty banter, dashing knights (specifically lady knights), forbidden queer romance, all set in Camelot following the decedents of King Arthur - incredible. This is a book you do not want to miss!

Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is set to publish on November 28th, 2023.