Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for this eARC!

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is a quick and jaunty story about friendship, courage, and family — the kind we’re born with, and the kind we find. Equal parts funny and heartfelt, this YA romcom comped as “Heartstopper meets A Knight’s Tale” is every bit as delightful as promised, although a good deal bloodier; if you’re particularly squeamish, you might wanna brace yourself.

For the record, this is not a retelling — Arthurian legend is the setting of the story, not the plot. And it works. The characters and their struggles are relatable and moving, even if the average reader is not a princess in medieval England. The book’s strongest point by far, however, is the relationships between the characters: Gwen, Arthur, Gabriel, Sidney, Agnes, and Bridget are a (mostly queer) found family for the ages.

All in all, Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is a joy to read. If you like queer women with swords, main characters who are not love interests, bookish princes, pop culture references, cats and crows, this one is for you.

This book was nothing like I expected, but everything I ever wanted.

Sapphic? Check. Gay? Check. Enemies to friends? Check. Swords? Check.

The way that Lex was able to weave in the traditional story with a modern, gay twist is everything. This book is so much fun. The characters are hilarious and the plot line is engaging. 1000/10 would recommend to a friend. I can't wait for a physical copy.

This was so cute! This fun take on King Arthur mythology follows Princess Gwen and her brother Prince Gabriel. Gwen is betrothed since childhood to noble/jerk Arthur. When Gwen finds out that Arthur is gay, she plans to out him to her father to cut off the engagement. He finds out and blackmails her with her own childhood diaries detailing her crush on the famed lady knight of the court. They agree on a friends without benefits truce.

I loved this writing style; fun, smart, and refreshing. I always love a romance with a great cast of characters. I'm looking forward to reading more of Croucher's work!

First, thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!!

Like any good queer, I am 1000% here for Arthurian legends and this one is GAY??? I ate this up and will be asking for seconds please. It is a queer, slow burn, found family, romance with some cloak and dagger politics thrown in for good measure.

First, Arthur and Sydney are the chaotic bros every polycule needs to keep things interesting. Arthur is Mal in the bar fight in the episode of Firefly when the guy is bad mouthing Browncoats and Mal confronts the guy and says he did it just so he would face him and Sydney is Zoe standing behind him to deck him. Their friendship is everything and I love them.

Bridget is the soft butch dyke of my dreams and I want every good thing for her in life.

Gwen and Gabriel, y’all are adorable and traumatized together but you needed this wacky found family in ways I can’t begin to describe. They taught Gwen that she can use her voice and stand on her own and taught Gabriel that he can be true to himself and still be a good man, the two can be synonymous.

The political aspect got a little lost in the middle as it doesn’t really come into play until the end, but I understood why it was mentioned in the beginning to lay the foundation. It just might’ve helped to sprinkle it throughout more so it doesn’t seem like it comes almost out of left field when there’s all of a sudden huge conflict with 15% of the book left.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy!!

This book was a fantastic read! I loved the relationship development between the main characters that created that sense of found family. The POV switch between Gwen and Art worked really well and made them equally endearing to the reader. I requested this book expecting the traditional queer rom com and got something that was much deeper and emotional, in a good way! The pacing was great and kept me hooked the whole time!

I am not a romcom fan or a historical fiction fan, HOWEVER! This was absolutely perfect. New comfort read for me, I will be grabbing a physical copy as soon as I can and I hope you do the same!

The comedy in this book is amazing, and does so much for the relationships between the characters. Almost every comedic moment is an opportunity that these characters use to become closer friends. Each moment of banter or teasing between characters flows so smoothly, and solidifies the importance of these characters’ friendships to the story.

The comedy is perfectly balanced by serious and emotional moments that had me sobbing and putting the book down because I couldn’t read through the tears, and then picking the book back up because I needed to know what was going to happen as soon as I possibly could. The serious topics that come up in this book are written with so much care, and I appreciate how much work must have gone into writing those moments in such a thoughtful way.

I’m so glad I was able to read this beautiful and heartfelt story! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher!

Enjoyable, great pacing, exciting settings kept me hooked. Fun novel that will be the perfect to lose yourself in. Thank you Net Galley for ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

This is a book I had high hopes for, so it is with a heavy heart that I give it three stars. Maybe it was all the hype and the excellent reviews I'd seen of this one, and my expectations for it were too high, but I had really hoped it would be an instant new favorite.

In many ways, this was an excellent book. It was character-driven, and from a character standpoint, it was excellent. The two main characters were fleshed out and interesting, and their enemies-to-friends arc was beautiful. The side characters were interesting, even if a few of them were two dimensional. The banter was exceptional, and the dialogue and conversations were masterfully written. The prose was beautiful. Overall, there was a lot to love in this book.

But I struggled with the world building, which was both expansive and too vague to really feel centered in the setting. It takes place in an alternative history Britain, but there was nothing to tell the reader what time period this took place in. In addition, the story opens with a really uncomfortable scene in which Gwen's brother walks in on her naked, and she promptly makes a joke about incest. There are some really strange undercurrents throughout the novel that hint toward incest in some really strange ways. Like when Art and Gwen kiss, and then ten minutes later, Art kisses Gabe (Gwen's brother), and immediately tells Gabe that he literally just kissed his sister. I think this book might have been a five-star read if it wasn't for how uncomfortable some of this made me.

Although my biggest gripe with this book is: it isn't a romance. There are romance subplots, but the story isn't about the romance. The romances are underdeveloped, and Gwen and Art don't even really interact with their romantic counterparts until 35% of the way through the story. The book is really about Gwen and Art's platonic relationship. And, as the title suggests, they are not in love. This isn't a rom-com. It's a coming-of-age queer fantasy about found family and sexuality. There's nothing wrong with that... but don't advertise it as a queer rom-com.

Overall, if you're looking for a good, character-driven story about found family, forging friendships, and exploring sexuality, this is a great read. But if you're looking for a rom-com that will give you all the romantic feels, I don't think this is the book you're looking for.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC! All views reflected are my own.

A gay medieval rom-com? Sign me up! I love a silly little romance and this one was just so much fun! Told from the alternating POVs of Gwen and Art, a princess and a noble betrothed to be married, we get two separate love stories as they agree to convince everyone that they are falling in love so that they can actually pursue their own love interests. Both these two characters and their respective relationships were so sweet and I had such a good time reading about them. Despite being a rom-com at its core, Gwen and Art Are Not in Love also manages to flesh out each character and really make the reader feel for them and root for their successes.

My only real issue with this book was the world building. While it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book, the end kind of came out of nowhere for me, because despite brief mentions of unrest elsewhere, the main conflict throughout lies more internally with our main siblings and how they are coming to terms with their own identities and figuring out how they fit in to the lives they are expected to lead. To have the book end with this big battle just felt a little out of place for me but I do also understand what it did for each characters arc when all is said and done.

All that being said, I think this is the perfect read for anyone looking for a short, sweet romance. It was so much fun and definitely worth the read.

A slow start - but I'm glad I stuck with it.
Arthur and Camelot plus Romeo and Juliet in terms of Camelot, knights and tournaments plus ill fated love.
I enjoyed Gwen and Arthur - they attempts to even tolerate each other while remaining true to themselves. The self discovery, pushing for a life to be themselves. Somewhat innocent but with lots of reality.
Great story, loved the characters and do recommend!

I am a SUCKER for anything to do with the legend of Arthur even if it’s not exactly a traditional retelling. And this book was no exception. I love a historical retelling that’s queer af. All of the characters are very loveable and charming in their own way. This is an unconventional Royal romance with heartwarming moments. Art and his bodyguard and their banter were laugh out loud funny.

“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 to 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.”

This book made me laugh and cry and touched my heart. It was an unflinchingly honest exploration of what it means to discover yourself and come into your own, with all the pitfalls and setbacks, humor and moments of joy that accompany this journey. It’s a story of being queer without being consumed by the “coming out” portion of the story, where queer characters could laugh and discover what it means to want without this being the only aspect of their characterization.

I loved each and every character and their messy, multifaceted selves, and loved watching their hard won self growth throughout the book. The relationships were hard won and we get to watch them build and falter and grow back stronger.

The backdrop of Camelot reborn (did someone say lady knights!!) was done very well and I feel it added a lot to the story without feeling anything like a retelling. Overall, the writing, the plot, and the characterization were all fantastic — I can’t recommend this enough.

Anyways, all this to say forget enemies to lovers, it’s all about enemies to lavender marriage now!

I have been in a bit of a slump for a while with not a single book able to hold my attention for more than a chapter or two - until Gwen & Art Are Not in Love! I can't recall the last time a book made me laugh quite this much while reading it. If you were a fan of the Swan Princess animated film growing up - in particular the "This Is My Idea" song in the beginning - then this is absolutely the book for you. Arthur, Gwen, Sidney, Gabriel, Bridget are all so fantastic, the dialogue equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking at times, with plenty of twists and surprises to keep the reader on their toes.

Arthur and Gwen might not be in love but I certainly am. I cannot wait to have this one on my bookshelf. Honestly, I wouldn't mind a sequel! Which is saying a lot because I was actually excited that it was a standalone originally. It ends quite nicely but I am not ready to say goodbye to this dramatic and lovable cast of characters (especially my favorite Art)!

I'm sorry but Gwen and Art are two of the most annoying and insufferable characters I've ever read. Full stop I struggled so hard to like them and not detail my many frustrations with their personalities and lack of redeeming qualities at times.

This book tries to be a "snappy" romcom meets a knights tale but make it queer. Overall for me I don't think it was well executed and was rather boring.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.
In "Gwen and Art Are Not in Love," Gwen and Arthur decide to fake court, and eventually marry as their parents wish, in order to both hide their queerness. Gwen is in love with a woman competing in the summer tournament, and Arthur is in love with Gwen's brother. The book follows them over the summer, as they become both friends, and pursue their actual true love.
The story had lots of snarky and character growth, which I loved. My favorite would have to be Sydney, Arthur's groomsman/best friend. However, the book did feel very slow paced until the 60% point, and then the ending felt rushed in my opinion. Additionally, references to modern day things and pop culture made it hard for me to pinpoint a historical era for the setting. Despite those things, I still enjoyed the book! I would definitely recommend to any YA lovers looking for a medieval twist.
3.5 stars

Wow. I love when a book exceeds my expectations, and this one absolutely did that!

Arthur and Gwen, were some of the sweetest, relatable characters I’ve experienced.

Going in it’s very helpful to know this is a YA fantasy romance, which makes letting yourself just have fun with it a lot easier. As far as Arthurian vibes, it doesn’t quite hit the mark for me, but as far as misdirection in love for LGBTQ+ teens it is a romp. It’s rare that you get a book that both a) has a 1st person perspective/experience of both a MLM (men-loving-men character) AND a WLW (woman-loving-woman) and b) is really just fun. There is definitely the tension of being queer and not being accepted by society, but I would say given this is supposed to take place in the modern equivalent of medieval England the risk of being found out feels more like a “secrecy drives romance” plot. I’m not a big fan of using misunderstandings that could be fixed by talking to each other as a plot driver, but in a YA i think it works because that actually is what being a teenager is like. Overall I think it’s a really fun read and both lovers of YA and campy romance will enjoy.

Gave a 3.5 on Storygraph but no half stars here unfortunately.

✨Book Review - Gwen & Art are not in Love✨
✨You guys, I loved this book, I loved it so much. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a romantic comedy, but sign me up for the next one!
✨The Plot✨
Gwen and Arthur have been betrothed from birth, BUT they had to be separated for the last several years because they DESPISE each other. Another snag in their relationship, they both have someone else they would rather be kissing. Gwen has eyes for the kingdoms only lady knight and Arthur, well has quite a reputation. The call a truce and agree to cover for each other.
The dialogue is hilarious. Each character has their own comedic style and delivery, and I literally laughed so hard reading this, I might have snorted.
✨The Characters✨
Found family - AND the 3 main characters all have a complete character arc. That 👏🏼is👏🏼so👏🏼impressive👏🏼
Arthur’s quick wit and Gwen’s incredulous reactions make each interaction a complete joy.

✨Overall, I really enjoyed this book, I can’t wait for it to come out in November so I can get a copy for my King Arthur collection! It’s heartwarming, funny, witty and inclusive. It also manages to pull off medieval times and knights without focusing on mundane things like clothing and how to put on armor.
A special thank you to #netgalley, Lex Croucher and #wednesdaybooks for the ARC of this book!

✨Would I reread? Yes!
✨Would I recommend? Yes! I think everybody can enjoy this book! Fans of movies like a Knights Tale, and She’s the Man, will enjoy this

Such a delight to read! This book made me laugh with its witty banter (mostly from Arthur) and its sweet relationships. Gwen and Arthur are a classic enemies-to-friends dynamic, with their hatred for each other stemming from their childhood. Of course, the two are betrothed (Kind of like The Swan Princess movie!). But I loved the queer angle it took in this relationship with both being interested in people who are decidedly not each other. They truly went from breaking wrists to WLW/MLM solidarity. In fact, that's how I would really describe the relationship between our two main characters: WLW/MLM solidarity.

Outside of the relationships our two characters held, there were some wonderful friendships. Sidney and Arthur are brothers in all but blood and would stick together through thick and thin. Gwen and Agnes shifted from a boss-worker dynamic to friends. And the close relationship our siblings, Gwen and Gabriel, had was adorable.

My only gripe with the book was that the romances from both our couples sometimes felt a bit lackluster. Arthur and Gabriel were cute at times and they had some nice bonding moments. But Bridget and Gwen let me down! As a sapphic female myself, I was looking forward to the sapphic relationship in this setting and was especially interested in the fact that one of those involved was a femme princess and a female knight (Oh side note, Bridget is Thai!). I wanted more bonding and moments from them and there were some but not enough. This may be my only issue with the book, but since it's largely about romance, I felt like a star should be knocked off for that. Please remember that this is my opinion!

The book was overall super fun. The friendships were great and I really felt for these characters and their problems. I loved the setting and the Arthurian aspect and how it came to play throughout the story. It was very clever and there were moments where I was on the edge of my seat and laughing at Arthur.

TDLR; I really need to read more historical queer novels.

God this was so fun and so gay!
Gwen & Art Are Not In Love was like a mcdonald's sprite on a summer day, bubbly and wickedly funny. This is the arthurian retelling you have been waiting for and it was so easy to step into this world and people who aren't arthurian lovers will still not be able to put this book down. My only criticism was it the beginning was a little slow moving but very well written. I did find myself more interested in Gwen's chapters but that's more of a personal preference. Thank you for the arc of this witty and charming book, I can't wait to see what others think of it!