It took me a while to finish this galley, but I was more than impressed. When I first read the synopsis of the book, I was instantly intrigued. An Aruthian lore, GAY retelling? Yes please.

Lex Croucher did an incredible job creating a story with relatable characters that engage in seriously comedic and genuine conversations and situations that make it so easy for anyone (LGBTQ and/or allies) to feel heard and understood.

The bickering between Gwen and Arthur made me laugh at loud so many different times, but I really appreciated the underlying factors that drove their relationship: Arthur was considered a disappointment by his father and tried to live up to his expectations at his own expense, and Gwen was being forced into marriage as a way of alliance. Despite it sounding cliche at surface value, Lex did a wonderful job are personalizing each of the characters experience and allowing them to make choices and do things that give them the individuality they deserve.

Bridget and Gabriel have so much of my love but if I had to choose a favorite, Sidney wins. He was just such a solid character, literally the kind that every book needs. But…Bridget though…phew! The fem/masc energy that was being radiated, Bridget is shamelessly my new book crush/obsession. She gave me Brienne of Tarth energy and I was living for it.

Also, it’s a retelling from Aruthian lore, but is it really? I wouldn’t be surprised if this was accidentally based on reality (which is a highly probable idea). Having sexual relations with people of the same sex was not something that was looked down on and was considerably normal in previous centuries, but that’s an entirely separate conversation. 👀

As for the prose and more technically aspects, the book did read a bit slow (which is why I only gave it 4 starts) but it works because every page was filled with so much interesting conversation, backstory, sexual tensions regular tension, and just everything that makes this so book so delicious, the pace of the reading didn’t bother me much. A certain amount of patience does need to be present to get through the book but it doesn’t take much effort because Lex does an amazing job of keeping the reader engaged. Every moment, no matter how small it may seem, is important to the overall story and it’s put together so well.

Everything about this book is comforting, hilarious, engaging, and just ultimately fun. I am looking forward to the pub. date so I can indulge in a physical copy and take it to bed with me. 💜

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

"Gwen & Art Are Not in Love" has been very hyped on Bookstagram and BookTok, and it totally deserves the love! It was a very fun book with a solid plot, interesting characters, and laugh-out-loud humour.

The ending of the book was surprisingly heavy, but I think it balanced quite well with the rom-com feel of the rest of the story. And there were some heavier themes throughout, such as child abuse, alcoholism, and homophobia.

There were some characters I wish had been developed further, particularly Bridget and the parents. I think it would have made the emotional moments hit a bit harder. But I did love the relationships between all the characters, particularly Gwen and Art and Art and Syd.

Definitely gonna be recommending this to fans of YA queer romance, although folks should know going into it that it is not very historical-focused and it is not a King Arthur retelling. I gave it 4.5/5 stars but I will round it to 5 stars.

I really really wanted to like this book more than I did I just unfortunately didn't. I think that I was expecting something different than the book gave.

It is a wonderful coming of age queer romance. It unfortunately doesn't feel like a historical fiction or a historical romance and that's what I was expecting based on the description of the book. Going in without that expectation I might have liked it more.

The characters were really great. Dialogue is really the strong point for this book in my opinion. Quips were fast, conversations felt natural and relevant. If you're looking for an adorable queer YA this book is for you.

What an incredible book! I absolutely adore the writing, the characters, the setting, everything! I could read a million stories of the whole gang and never get bored. Thoroughly enjoyed this book, thanks so much for the ARC!!!

Wow! If you like queer romcoms, Arthurian myth, witty banter, longing looks, hilariously bad wingmen (and women), and absolutely fantastic friendships, you need to read <i> Gwen and Art Are Not in Love </i>. The premise hooked me from the beginning and Lex Croucher's writing shines from the first page.

Gwendoline is a princess, betrothed since she was young to Arthur, the son of a high-ranking noble. Since they were little, Gwen and Art have gotten on each other's nerves, so news of their impending marriage coinciding with the realm's greatest tournament has Gwen feeling more than a little queasy. The other problem? Gwen is pining from afar for Lady Bridget LeClair, a female knight, and Gwen knows that she can't tell anyone about her hidden desires.

But Arthur has a secret of his own: he would much rather kiss handsome young men behind the stables than be anywhere near Gwen. One night, when Gwen catches Arthur in the act and Arthur discovers Gwen's attraction to Bridget, the two make a deal: they'll pretend to be wildly in love so both can pursue their separate love interests. But while Arthur tries his best to be an absolutely fantastic wingman to Gwen and Bridget, he's dealing with his own drama...because he may have fallen in love with Gwen's brother, Gabriel, heir to the throne. And Gabriel, though undeniably attracted to Arthur, is afraid of living openly as himself. Add in an overarching plot of rebels, coups, and espionage unfolding at the greatest tournament of the century, and you've got one hell of a ride.

There is so, so much I could say to gush about this book, but I'll keep it brief because I'd rather you just read the thing than read my review of the thing. This is the book I wish I could have read as a queer teen. I love books with queer-normative worlds, BUT I think Lex Croucher's treatment of Gwen and Gabriel's struggle to understand their respective sexualities was important. As a warning, there is period-typical homophobia here...but there's also an eventual rewriting of the narrative as Gabe (a scholar of Arthurian legend), discovers <spoiler> that his idol, King Arthur Pendragon, was actually super, super gay, and that living up to him means changing laws to do away with homophobia in their kingdom </spoiler>. Because of this, the characters and relationships feel realistically drawn, as well as hopeful, and I would recommend this to anyone struggling with coming out and feeling safe.

I ALSO think that, besides the heavy stuff, this is a deeply, deeply funny book. It's also tender and sweet. There's ALSO realistic representation of mental health (Arthur's depressive episodes) and endometriosis (at one point, Bridget's period pain absolutely wipes her out, and *spoiler* the male doctor tells her it's nothing, she's fine). There's ALSO a totally sapphic Morgan Le Fey party. There's ALSO a major battle. There's ALSO well-done diversity in the characters (aside from the obvious queerness of our main 4 characters, Arthur is Muslim and Bridget is Thai, and though this isn't a major plot point, it doesn't feel performative).

This is my first Lex Croucher book and it absolutely will not be my last: their writing style is fresh and unique, and I adore how they infuse character so well into dialogue. Without even looking, I can tell which character is speaking, and it felt both period-specific and readably modern. They strike that balance the best of any retelling/Arthurian legend I've seen (and I do tend to read a lot of those, so trust me on this)!

Anyway, when it comes out this November, catch me shoving this book at everyone I see and begging them to read it. I will not be quiet.

Thank you to Lex Croucher and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Gwen & Art Are Not In Love is a delightful queer coming of age novel about the antics and shenanigans of the royalty of Camelot. This book is pure queer chaos in the best possible way. I loved the way the writing style was very modern even though it took place so long ago. It was incredibly accessible and features some really strong WLW representation, alongside an additional gay love story between two men. I also loved the diversity of the cast! Croucher made it a point to talk about how many of the main characters were not white, even though they were the nobility of England. This is totally a book I would give to my younger cousin to read. Loved it. 4/5!

Do you like to read? Do you like to have a good time? Have you ever wanted more queer Arthurian books? Would you like to combine all these and be laughing so hard you're crying while reading the most utterly delightful book? Well, then you should read Gwen and Art Are Not in Love.

More things you'll get in this book include chaotic and loveable characters, queer historical romance and shenanigans, a great sibling relationship, enemies-to-allies-to-friends, incredible side characters, more than one romantic couple you'll be rooting for, "a kingdom or this" LITE vibes, a sexy knight tipping the princess's chin up with the edge of her sword, found family, swooning, tournaments, battles, fighting, knights, royals, crows, and cats.

Gwen and Art are such wonderful main characters, and this book was a joy to read. It's not all silly fun and games, there are some more serious topics in the book, too, but overall, it's much funnier than I expected.
My only note would be that the ending was maybe just a tiny bit lacking compared to the rest of the book but not enough to take away any of my enjoyment. It also made me hopeful there might even be a sequel which I'd read in a heartbeat!

A few favourite quotes:

- “I like some risk now and again, if what’s at stake is worth having."

- 'God', Gwen thought wistfully. 'I hope she stabs me.'

- “How am I supposed to know what I want?” Gabriel said quietly. “There’s only ever been room for what I’m . . . destined to have.”

- “I made you a false mustache!” Arthur said, outraged. “I did crafts for you! The least you can do is act grateful.” “Thank you for my cat-hair mustache,” Gwen said, rolling her eyes. “It’s truly disgusting. I hope you washed it first.”

Gwen & Art are not in love is potentially my book of the year. It is just that good that good of a book.

Gwen and Art have both been betrothed from a young age and absolutely despise each other. After they both discover that they have feelings for the same gender, they call a truce and try to navigate the their feelings for other people while pretending to be in a relationship with each other.

There was just the right amount of humor in this book and it also had tropes I like but different enough to be fresh. I did end up becoming more invested in Art’s relationship with Gwen’s brother but I still enjoyed the relationship between Gwen & Bridget. The pacing of the book was also solid and there was just enough action to keep the story moving forward. I am sad that the ending of the book was a bit open ended. I also just didn’t want things to end as I had gotten really attached to all the characters in the book. If the author does end up writing a sequel, I will check it out.

I would have liked the love interests to start interacting a little more a little sooner. I felt like there was a lot of establishment of Gwen and Art not liking each other which I didn't really care about, and I feel we could have explored their characters more while they interacted with the love interests instead of establishing them beforehand. But, overall I really enjoyed the story. Once things got going with the romances things were much more interesting and held my attention. They were all very cute together. I also liked the evolution of Gwen and Art's relationship, and getting to know Sydney, who is a gem once you get to know him. Also, though Gwen has some not like other girl tendencies, she gets called out for it and decides she was wrong, so I appreciated the way that was handled.

I didn't get enough time to read all of this. In fact, i don't think i even got through the more than 4 chapters, but what i did read, i really enjoyed!

This book was a delight! I'm a sucker for any Arthurian retellings, and even though this wasn't quite that, it was really interesting to see what Croucher created as an extension of that world. The characters felt like real people and the representation of LGBTQ characters at different stages of personal acceptance was something I feel like queer people with definitely be able to relate to. As a high school teacher, I would absolutely recommend this to my older students (only older students solely because of the language).

i read lex croucher's GWEN & ART ARE NOT IN LOVE & this queer medieval romcom was full of both wit & heart.

told through the perspectives of both title characters, this novel was a tender exploration of what it means to live your truth—even if it means sacrificing everything. ♡

I thought this was a really enjoyable YA rom-com that started very strong, fizzled out towards the middle, then picked back up again at the end. Gwen & Art Are Not in Love's biggest strength is its dialogue. The quips came naturally and were laugh out loud funny; Arthur in particular was very lovable and his relationship with Sidney was entertaining. I was instantly hooked when reading this, and very much enjoyed the first third of the book.

The middle of the book is its weakest part - it felt like it dragged on for quite a while without much happening. I can think of several scenes that probably could or should have been cut because I don't think they were necessary to the story and just added too much length. The book could have been a good 50-100 pages shorter and still have accomplished everything it set out to. I was also a bit let down with a lack of depth from Bridget. Three out of the four main characters (Gabriel, Gwen, and Arthur) seemed to get quite a bit of character development, back story, and emotional depth. In comparison, Bridget seemed to just be there for the sake of having a love interest for Gwen, but she wasn't given much personality or backstory.

That said, the ending was wonderful; it was dramatic and hopeful and helped tie everything together.

Overall, I enjoyed a lot about this story and definitely would recommend it to anyone wanting a queer YA rom-com that's set in a historical world but feels contemporary.

While this book was entertaining enough it comes with a heavy side of false (or just bad?) advertising. Based on the cover and the description, I expected a historical fiction novel, possibly with elements of fantasy or magical realism, but the writing was more renn-faire than actual historical fiction.

From the modern quibby prose found in most YA contemporary to the familiar tropes, it felt more that the writer had written a modern story and then put the characters in costumes. I have no qualms with YA contemporary, but I wish I knew what I was going to read before I got into it.

Put on top of that, zero attention was paid to historical accuracy. I'm not usually a stickler for these things, but when they started mentioning events THOUSANDS of years apart as if they were both very recent, even I was taken out of the story. Please, read at least one wikipedia article.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is such a delicious romp through a historical setting with a completely new twist. Between the hilarious disaster teens, whip-smart dialogue, and all the gay angst, Croucher takes an old story and refreshes it in a way that isn't just fun to read, but makes a powerful statement about living your authentic self. Fans of the Arthurian legend will be delighted with all the nods and easter eggs, but one need not know the story of King Arthur to enjoy this. Croucher's diverse cast of characters are hilarious and empathetic, and you'll find yourself cheering for every single one of those kids to find their place in the world. Highly recommend for fantasy and romance readers, alike

Thank you @netgalley for giving me access to this ARC 🫶🏻 I was unsure what to expect going into this book… Was this an Arthurian retelling? A love story? A historical fiction novel? I think it was a little bit of all that and none of it at the same time. This novel stands as its own story outside of the legends, with its own characters and stories. I loved that even though the book is seen from two POVs (Gwen’s and Arthur’s), at the center of the story is the tale of two siblings navigating the expectations set by their parents since early in their age and their responsibilities for marriage and leading. Through this relationship they start seeking what truly makes them happy and well… you get to read the rest 🩷 I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for it ti be released so I can buy a physical copy 📚 Coming out Nov 28 in the US! ⏰

A cute, quick and enjoyable read that is 100% "A Knight's Tale but make it Gay" until the last fifth of the book or so, when it took all the heart it had been building up and really leant into it. Up until that point it was fairly standard romcom fun, complete with bad disguises, sneaking out to parties, and characters who are secret softies but drive everyone around them away. The last act really ties everything together and makes it special, letting the characters finally shine, even though it ends open-ended for a YA romcom. It's fun and feel-good and charming.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gwen & Art Are Not In Love is a delightful YA queer fantasy romcom! Funny, charming and full of witty banter! The story had me hooked from beginning to end!

I really loved our diverse cast of characters; not only Gwen and Art and their respective love interests but also the side characters! Everyone needs a Sidney in their lives!

I will definitely be buying a physical copie and see many rereads in my future!

(Thanks NetGalley for providing this EArc)

This was cute and fun but I think romances aren’t for me, even though that’s the case I did want to give this a try because it’s gaaaay and that’s what I wanted but it was a little toooo lighthearted for me and that’s not at all the authors fault but mine.

Several hundred years after the reign of King Arthur and his knights (or so the cultists believe), Gwen, son of the Catholic king, and Arthur, son of a cultist lord find are engaged. The problem, they despise each other!

That is until Gwen finds Arthur kissing a stable boy, and Arthur finds out Gwen has a secret crush on the only lady knight in the realm. What starts as blackmail slowly results in them covering for each other and learning to love themselves for who they are.

This book has tournaments, sword battles, ancient secrets, and more.... all with queer representation and an amazing found family trope.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Gwen and Art Are Not in Love and can't wait to add a physical copy to my bookshelf!