Let's be real this is one of those books I was going to read regardless of quality. I mean queer re-imagining of King Arthur? What's not to like?

Imagine then my wonderful surprise to find that this is a story onto itself! Instead of re-imagined legend, it's a re-imagined medieval period wherein the Arthurian legend has taken on a pagan like following. The titular Gwen and Arthur not being the Guinevere and Arthur Pendragon of legend but instead two gay teenagers stuck in an arranged marriage.

What follows is a hilarious and action packed romantic comedy which was exactly the lighthearted fluff I needed in my life. Truly a wonderful time.

I have never laughed so hard reading a book before. There were plenty of endearing moments but the love/hate relationship between the two main characters had consistently hilarious banter. The story is a bit slow to start but it definitely progresses well. It's easy to read and you can become attached to every character that is introduced. Overall, I loved this book and would happily read it again. Thank you for the advanced copy!

It was a fun book. I was expecting something different. Sadly, it didn’t meet the expectations I had. If you like realistic historical fiction, this is definitely not the book for you. I did like that it involved gay characters in medieval times, but the setting didn’t really feel medieval so that took away some of the interest for me However, the banter was hilarious.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a quite charming YA romance novel. The novel follows Gwen and Art, two royals that are set to be married. One problem. Neither of them are straight and they do not get along with each other. At all.

With a premise that blends elements of medieval romance, LGBTQ+ representation, and humour, this is a fun and entertaining novel. The characters of Gwen and Arthur are complex and multi-dimensional, with their own personal struggles and motivations that drive the story forward. One thing about me is that I will read ANYTHING if I like either the setting, or the characters (or both), even if the other is bland. In this book, the characters were brilliant-- they were witty and sharp, adding depth and richness to the world-building of Camelot and the political atmosphere that surrounds the characters.

The novel tackles themes of identity, self-discovery, and the courage to challenge societal norms in a way that feels both authentic and contemporary. I did enjoy the writing style-- I was scared that something set in this era could be challenging to read, but it was genuinely a good, easy, read.

That being said, I felt like I was expecting more out of it. There wasn't really an end that I felt comfortable with. It all built up to something and that something came and went and it still didn't feel complete. I really do hope that this means that there is a sequel in the works!

This book is about friendship, love, being true to oneself and making sure to stand up for what you believe in-- it truly is a heartwarming read.

Thank you to Lex Croucher, St. Martin's/Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A very engaging and interesting read. I thoroughly enjoyed this and would definitely pick up another work by this author!

I really wanted to love this story, as a fan of so many Arthur, Guinevere, etc, retellings! And I know so many other people really fell for these characters and their story. I love the twist on the Arthur - Guinevere love story, as well as the centering of queer characters. However, I had trouble really immersing myself in the story at times, struggling to fall into that sweet spot where the story melts over you. Considering how many people have loved this, it may have just been me, and I would still recommend for anyone who likes YA reads with LGBTQ+ characters, Arthurian legend, or even just knights and jousting.

From the quick and quirky banter to the many secret midnight meetings, this book held my attention from cover to cover! I was both shocked and impressed to find that the authors writing convinced me to care for each of these wonderful characters! Whether they were ladies in waiting, ‘satan incarnate’, or royalty themselves - each character had such a unique and irreplaceable impact on the story as a whole. I enjoyed the twists and turns and found myself on the edge of my seat as I read through the final chapters, excited to see what could possibly come next. I’ll definitely be adding a copy to my collection and recommending it to anyone who will listen!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy to read in return for an honest review.

& honestly, I adored this book, this story, the drama, the antics. All of it. I loved the contradicting, but completely similar story lines of the two heroines (Gwen & Gabe) & I loved the back story pertaining to Arthur. All of the quips, the fun, the blackmail, & the blossoming friendships & romantic relationships were each integral & conducive to the fun, intimate parts of the book.

Even the unexpected, yet entirely anticipated, battle at the end of the story was critical in the storyline & as sad as the outcome was, it genuinely sat so somber & yet so melodic with the storyline itself.

I will say that there are other words for “said”, & this is not the first ARC where I’ve seen it grossly overused. It makes dialogue boring when there are several dozen other terms that can be used.

Overall, this was a 4.5/5 for me. & I’d happily read it again. & I’m even more excited to read some of Lex Croucher’s other works now.

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is a wonderful take on Arthurian legend/lore! The characters, storyline, and generally Croucher's writing was intriguing and kept me reading for more. If I'm being picky, the very ending seemed rushed and a little "neat". But I truly recommend this book!! I can't wait to see what Croucher does next as well!

This book was such a pleasant surprise! It was witty, unique, and fit comfortably into a time setting so many of us are familiar with while remaining fresh.

I loved the variety of relationships that developed over the course of the plot. I went into it expecting romance, but the friendships between Arthur & Sidney and Gwen and Gabriel were just as special.

Did I already mention that it was funny?? I can’t believe how clever the banter is!!

I would have liked a bit more development in the beliefs of the cultists (believers in the OG Arthurian legend & Merlin) as well as more about Morgan Le Fay. The section about her secret ritual was too short and I wanted more!

I also did not see the ending coming. It confused me a bit because it shifted the tone of the book considerably. This is not to say I disliked it, I just wasn’t prepared for where it went.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would love to read another story in the same universe!

In true Lex Croucher fashion this was witty, queer, and subversive. I loved the medieval setting and the cast of main characters!! This made me laugh out loud and was such a fun reading experience! Highly recommend this when it comes out :)

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

A winning heartfelt teen fantasy romance. Im eager to recommend this to my student readers. A fun modern twist on the Camelot saga.

Omg! I loved this book! The romance, the lore: this was the queer Arthurian retelling I dreamed of. There were some stylistic choices I didn’t love, but overall I highly recommend!

This is a DELIGHTFUL historically inspired queer YA rom com in the vein of FT Luken, and I really enjoyed it.

The character names, Gwen and Art, certainly signal an Arthurian retelling, but while the society here is set in Camelot and Arthur is a part of the lore, it’s actually not as much a retelling as an “inspired by” kind of story.

Be aware that this is very much a modernized historical romance, so characters are speaking with modern language, like A Knights Tale, but it really works here. The book has humor, good pacing, and heart, and I read it in a day, so that speaks to its bingability.

Overall I highly recommend!

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. And don’t even get me started on Sidney or Bridget! I immediately fell in love with each and every one of these characters, scars, flaws and all. The ridiculous situations and conversations they kept falling into, were hilarious and heartwarming at the same time. Lex Croucher has such talent for writing some of the most witty banter and cheeky humor! (My face actually hurt from smiling and laughing so much.)

Surprisingly the plot even kept me on my toes. You might wonder how a “Medieval romantic comedy”, could possibly do that… But the wonderful bits of Arthurian lore, strategically placed throughout the story, really created a wonderful book.

Can we please have more amazing, queer, romantic comedies like this?!?! I think the world would be a better place, if people read adorable books like this more often.

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.

3.5/5 ⭐

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a cute historical romance. This is the 2nd book I've read by Lex Croucher and it didn't disappoint. I loved the plot of this book. It was so unique to me and was very different then anything I've read before.

The only thing I didn't like about this book is that it was slow. I don't know why, but it took me forever to want to continue reading this book. There wasn't anything interesting or engaging that kept me wanting to read the first few chapters. Of course that changed as I kept reading. The story does build and becomes VERY interesting😉

Overall, it was a good book and I would Definitely recommend to a friend who wants to read a historical romance with a twist.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc!

Such a fun read! I enjoyed seeing the characters grow and had fun with both POVs. It is an interesting mix of historical setting and modern language but does it well!

Here we are in alt-Britain, some centuries after the events of King Arthur and the Round Table, but combat still entails mounted knights in armor, a central social conflict is between Catholics and "cultists" (who more or less worship the original King Arthur), and royal children can be betrothed more or less at birth, because that's how politics works. For maximum enjoyment, let go of quibbles about details inconsistent with the not-alt-history we live in. Is there a palomino in the royal stables, even though that word didn't appear in English till 1914? Fine, there's a palomino in the royal stables. I'm serious, just let that stuff go.

Let it go, because the reward is so worth it.

Our principals are Gabriel and Gwen, the royal siblings; Arthur, the son of an unpleasant lord; and Bridget LeClair, the one and only lady knight in the realm. Gabriel is going to be king someday, like it or not; smart and bookish though he is, he doesn't really like it, because it means giving up his dream of scholarship and spreading education to his people. Gwen is going to marry Arthur, whom she knows all too well: they dislike each other immensely, having spent a fair amount of childhood time playing tit-for-painful-tat. Also, Gwen has a huge crush on Bridget, and Arthur only likes boys. Let me not omit to mention that Gabriel too is gay, and he's seriously attracted to Arthur. And that queerness is frowned on, this alt-Britain not being alt in that respect.

That last bit aside, this could be a setup for a romcom, but -- lighthearted title notwithstanding -- Gwen and Art turns out to be an emotionally complicated story of four people looking for a way to choose the course of their lives even though it looks an awful lot like all they can do is hurtle along a pre-laid track. They succeed -- more or less -- though it turns out to cost them all dearly.

In spite of the cost, the ending feels not only hopeful but joyful. The lovers are paired as they should be, and powerful people can, it turns out, use their power to effect change. As for the pain this costs them, it's emotionally realistic despite the fantasy setting. I couldn't find a way to describe it without spoilers, so I won't, except to say that the price of the victory makes it all the sweeter. This the ending says, this was worth it.

A small ding because (1) Bridget feels less well realized than the other three, and (2) early on I came thisclose to ditching the book because Gwen acts like such a nitwit at such a crucial time. (You'll know when you hit that point. Don't ditch the book.)

4.5 stars, and many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I want more happy, gay love stories! Especially fun ones set in the Middle Ages with jousting and sword fighting. I really enjoyed this book and had a lot of fun reading it.

The blurb for the book made me think it was going to be more romance involved, but there was actually a lot of politics and discussion of Arthurian Legend too. Lex Croucher makes three things very clear on her Instagram that maybe aren't as clear in the blurb.

1. It is not a retelling of Arthurian legend. Which I preferred! It takes place a few centuries after Arthurian legend events, so the story felt more unique and you're not always sure what's going to happen next. It did have a lot of discussion of Arthurian Legend, which I have basic knowledge of. I enjoyed it, but big Arthur fans might feel differently.

2. It's not a high fantasy; it's a historical fantasy. Which again, I preferred! The book is more character and romance driven and is more fun since it takes place in a medieval setting.

3. It is not written in Middle English, but instead in Modern English. Which is okay, but sometimes took me out of the story. It felt a little weird to read phrases like "equal-opportunity" when watching a joust.

My one critique is that the plot felt a little fast at certain times and glacial at others, but overall it's a fun and quick read! 3.5/5 rounded up to four

I lover queer retellings and this one did not disappoint. I just loved it so much!!
Such a heartwarming and charming story following a group of friends while they struggle with love, self-identity, acceptance and what truly matters in life. It was so refreshing to read about such a young but unique and varied group of characters. I could see pieces of myself in every characters, which is always something I enjoy while reading a book. It was not only emotional but also quite funny, which I wasn’t expecting.
Such a wonderful book that I would recommend to everyone but especially fan of Alice Oseman’s writing and anything historical.
Thank you to St.Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing me of an arc in exhange for a honest review.