rating: 2.5/3

i really REALLY wanted to like this more than i did. the premise was stellar, there was literally laugh-out-loud humor dispersed throughout, there were vibrant queer characters that went for what they wanted- and yet i just kind of felt unpleasant most of the time reading it.

half of the main characters have such a deeply self-imposed sense of misery and distrust in others to be good humans and i found it very taxing. of course, circumstance contributed to some of their more morose perspectives, but i find that conflicts where characters get in the way of themselves for too long regardless of circumstance are not quite my cup of tea. in this way, i struggled with multiple main characters (because it seemed like they were all written with the intention of being mutli-faceted and redeemable, but a few of them felt lackluster because i ultimately found them unlikeable). it was so disheartening to see the proud queer characters be dimensional and flawed but redeemable when i just wasn’t given the same pull towards the ones who needed to come to terms with themselves more. you can absolutely be coming to terms with your sexuality and where that lands you in society, be making mistakes (because that’s more than realistic), and still be redeemable with noticeable growth. i just don’t feel like they were redeemable enough for my personal taste?? grand gestures in lieu of consistent effort towards progress just doesn’t really do it for me conceptually. i do appreciate the juxtaposition the author created and what was attempted in contrasting the main characters though.

the concept of this story resonates with me. unfortunately, i just didn’t connect with its actualization. and i know i will likely be in the minority for that. i think what it really boils down to is that i just personally felt the vibes of this being something written during the pandemic and it weighed me down a bit too much. there was a thread of the lack of belief in humanity that i felt was weaved throughout this story through multiple characters that made it feel less like a love story and more of a struggle for self and world acceptance story. by no means the worst thing, just not what i expected based on the description and other reviews.

on the bright side, this book was extremely inclusive. in terms of gender presentation, race, sexuality, and disability. multiple characters became more disabled over time and it was never treated as anything other than normal- just another reality to respect. i did quite enjoy that aspect. also! the banter was all very witty and the clandestine fun made you feel like you were there with the characters enjoying their secrets. there were moments dispersed throughout that will make your heart surge with queer joy. also shoutout to sidney for being a funky little ally. he’s just a silly little guy, a goofy little dude. and a very loyal royal friend :)

i am rounding up to 3 stars because i can see the quality and value this has outside of my personal preferences. the combination of a serious story with depressing undercurrents and bright, cutting humor will, objectively, Do It for many readers.

thank you to netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was everything I wanted and needed it to be. As soon as I honestly read the blurb I was hooked. Shout out to my 10th grade English teacher and her obsession with Heath Ledger for making me obsessed w/ knights tale!! Such an under rated theme

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher is set in Camelot several hundred years after the time of King Arthur’s court. Princess Gwendoline has been betrothed since birth to Arthur, the future Lord of Maidvale. Unfortunately, they have detested each other since childhood.

Arthur arrives at Camelot to spend the summer before the upcoming wedding. Soon after his arrival, they each discover the other’s secret. I’m not spoiling anything by telling you that they are both gay.

Gwen has a crush on the only female knight in Camelot, Bridget. Arthur prefers the company of Gabriel, Gwen’s brother. So Gwen and Arthur make a pact to keep their true feelings to themselves. In spite of their original dislike, they do develop a friendship.

Well, the plan would have been fine except for an unexpected political coup and impending battle. I won’t spoil that part except to say the coup leads to other events that change Gwen and Arthur’s plan.

My favorite character is Arthur. He is much kinder than I expected. At the beginning of the book, Gabe and Arthur share a cat, unbeknownst to anyone but the cat. Arthur provides quite a bit of comic relief.

If you like romance novels with a bit of mystery, then you will enjoy Gwen & Art Are Not in Love.

If you are a vicious, power-hungry villain, then you might not enjoy the book as much at the moment.

I received this ebook from NetGalley. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own. Obviously.

GAH!!! I loved this so much! Gwen & Art Are Not in Love was so cute and funny. I loved the relationships between the different characters, and Arthur was a particular standout for me. If you love found family and queer stories, definitely give this a try.

This one is added to the list of the EASIEST 5 stars I've ever given. You know it's good when you sit 4 chapters in and know you can go ahead and click all the stars in your head. Don't go into this expecting a retelling because it most definitely isn't. It's the queer rom-com of my dreams that younger me most definitely needed. It's honestly refreshing to know that so many YA readers who are just starting out will have something like this to connect to and most likely cherish the rest of their lives. Reading this was as easy as breathing and I flew through it so fast, at times, I slowed myself down on purpose. Our main character's are a delight and the f/f m/m relationships sell you from the very start. I'm a lover of both the light and MAINLY the dark when it comes to reading but sometimes pausing and finding something like this blows me away. I absolutely can't wait to purchase this and re-read it over and over. I don't want to spoil the plot because there's quite a bit of time before this comes out but PLEASE try this when you're given the chance!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this book. This book is queer YA comfort the whole way through. The characters are witty and the banter is amazing, similar to Alice Oseman in style. It’s obviously not the book to read if you’re looking for historical accuracy or information on medieval Europe, but it is a beautiful story.

This book was such fun and I wanted to wrap Gwen, Art, Bridget and Gabriel in a giant hug!! Croucher balanced lighthearted moments alongside more serious and emotional discussions in this epic and touching story about finding your voice and forging your own history. While each character had moments of being frustrating, they were relatable, flawed, very human young adults trying to navigate the unknown while possessing very admirable qualities: Bridget’s bravery and loyalty, Gwen’s empathy and hope, Art’s spontaneity and vulnerability, and Gabriel’s leadership and conviction.

I did have some issues with the uneven pacing and the book’s length. The story had a slow start, picked up some speed and then fizzled, leaving me somewhat unsatisfied that we didn’t get a grander ending for these characters who went through so much. I think the pacing might have been different had the book not been quite so long as there were some parts feeling slightly repetitive and detracting from the main focus.

Overall, I found the story to be clever, tender, and hopeful with the most endearing characters quite, but I wanted more from the ending.

3.5/5

Our two protagonists, Art and Gwen, have been betrothed to marry since childhood, in the hopes to help heal political rifts in their kingdoms. Besides for some encounters in childhood that went quite bad, they haven't spent much time together, until their parents decide to have them publicly court during the kingdom's tournament season in preparation for their wedding. Art and Gwen, once they overcome their childhood enmity, find they have much more in common then they originally thought--a penchant for the same sex. Awkwardness and hijinks ensues as they support each other in pursuing their crushes, unpack childhood trauma, and develop a genuine friendship.

I genuinely enjoyed this book, and found the banter between characters like Gwen and her brother Gabriel really charming and funny. Between the two romances, I found Art's to be the most compelling, but I also think Gwen learned some important lessons as well. Given that the book was so well-written and paced, the one thing that threw me for a loop is that I feel there were some themes of substance abuse that weren't dealt with in an appropriate manner for YA. The character had struggles with addiction that felt unrealistic and romanticized, and I think definitely could disrupt the experience of a reader who is sensitive to those themes. I know how sensitive topics are treated in YA versus adult books is a huge conversation, where lots of lines are being blurred, but this was a sticking point for me as an educator that made this otherwise lovely book lose a star.

I have been impatiently waiting for this book ever since I first heard about it - and oh did it deliver. Croucher crafted such an entrancing story reminiscent of the classic knight tales. The characters - especially Gwen and Art - are so wonderfully written and effortlessly relatable. This novel is truly such a beautiful gift for every queer person that’s ever wanted our own fairytale.

Thank you to St Martins Press / Wednesday books for sending me an arc in exchange for review.


I unfortunately didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would. The writing style was a bit hard for me to enjoy and I didn’t connect with any of the characters.

This book has a really amazing and fun premise, and a ton of promise. Unfortunately, the pacing made it sometimes difficult to get through. The first 75-80% could be tightened up a good bit, and then from 80-98% was really good. The last chapter (or two) could have been stretched out so it didn’t feel so rushed.

Pacing aside, all of the characters are fun, and like I said the premise is as wonderful as the description makes it sound. I wish that the main couples were developed more in their relationships, but it was overall a very fun story. I read the ARC, and since the release is still the better part of the year away I’m hoping some last minute changes can be put in to tighten it up. This has SO MUCH potential to be a really really top tier book.

4.25⭐️
This novel is described as a “queer medieval rom com” and that part didn’t disappoint. The text is filled with cute, adorable, and funny scenes. Once I got 60% in, I don’t think I put the book down. Despite absolutely loving it, there were some things that could have been better.
The beginning of this book was a bit difficult to get through. While it did pick up about 15% in, there were a few scenes in the first chapter that felt unnecessary and kinda icky. I also found Gwen unlikable, so I was just skimming thru her pov to get to Arthur’s. The plot was also slow until 60% in, and once it picked up, it felt pretty predictable.
As for the Arthurian part, I’ve never read King Arthur, but I do think the book would’ve been better without the lore. It was just kinda infodumped onto to reader, and while it did sort of play a part, the novel would’ve been the same if the characters were just the descendants of a random king.
If you’re reading this for a cute queer love story, I think you’ll love it. If you’re looking for a more plot heavy book, you might not enjoy it as much. (Also, this book isn’t fantasy, idk why I thought it was, but it isn’t).
I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book more than exceeded my expectations, which are pretty high already for a Lex Croucher book. I saw it marketed as a queer retelling of Arthurian legend; however, the book is so very much more.

In fact, the Arthurian content is more of a backdrop for the setting in a time when Arthurian legend is regarded more as fairly recent history which creates the socio-political landscape the main characters have to navigate. Art, Gwen, and Gabriel have a destiny- which is to basically re-enact the traditional roles of the Arthurian trio. Unfortunately, none of them are temperamentally suited to these roles.

Art and Gwen have been destined from birth to marry. At first, they think they hate each other, but they gradually learn what they really hate is having the terms of their lives dictated. They rebel- at first against each other, and then against the system that has boxed them into these roles. When Art discovers Gwen has a thing for Lady Bridget and Gwen finds Art kissing a cute blonde guy, they join forces to help each other live their own lives. Gwen and Art do grow to love each other. They may not be IN love like the story is supposed to go, but their banter, vulnerability in showing someone else who they really are, and support for one another will have readers calling them their new comfort characters. In contrast, Gabriel tries to do his duty, to be the king that Arthur was and that his father wants him to be. This is made quite complicated by the fact that he's by nature an academic who values social justice and is hopelessly in love with Art. Gabriel sees no path to a life where he can have what and who he wants without letting down the country. The stakes are raised when the threat of rebellion looms over Camelot and England.

The dialogue is the truly outstanding feature of this book. Each character has a distinct voice and the banter is not only clever, but effectively drives the plot. Much of this book, including the dialogue, is anachronistic, but that's rather the point. Come for the enemies to lovers, enemies to friends, and found family. This is delightful and moving and one of the best reads of the year.

This was so, so wholesome. I really greatly enjoyed this book and how gay it was. Rarely do I read a YA romcom and want to keep following the characters instead of having the bite of them I got, but I would genuinely love to see where our little queers go next. I wish I had this when I was a closeted teen, frankly.

The only reason it’s 4 stars instead of 5 is that I absolutely hated Gwen and Art at the beginning. They were insufferable until about 20% in, and then I said “you know what, they’re just closeted confused teens” and decided to like them. Conveniently that’s also around when they decided they weren’t mortal enemies. After that I loved them all.

Amazing delightful queer YA retelling. I saw someone describe this as a knight’s Tale, but make it Gay. And that is a PERFECT description. This book was an absolute joy to read. I laughed. I cried. I wanted to give everyone a big hug! The banter is incredible and you will simply fall in love with all the characters. I adored Sidney and Gwen so much, but truly- every character is just so well written and colorful. This is my top comfort read of the year so far! And I’m not even a big YA fan. Excellent!

Pub Date: 11/28/23
CW: death, parental death, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, blood

THAAAAAANK YOU NETGALLEY!!!! I was so excited to receive this arc, since I LOVE any and all things Arthurian.

So.

It took me three weeks to finish this book. Usually with arcs, that’s not the case. I try to finish them asap, so I can get my review up but G&AaNiL was really, kinda, slow. I mean, nothing major happened till like the last 30% of the book. I felt like it was lacking a plot, besides the whole “Arthur and Gwen cover for each other”, which was kinda disappointing considering how great this book and the premise could’ve been.

There was really no lead up to the big reveal, the major event, or anything. There was really no explanation for WHY certain things happened, just that they did. I’m not gonna say much else to avoid spoilers, but a certain character got super hurt and after he healed and all that, he wasn’t the same. All things considered—YES, his injuries were bad, but NO—they weren’t that bad unless you put into account the time period. Same goes for the other character that got super hurt… they were more normal afterwards than the first character that got hurt, despite the injury, imo, being a bit worse.

But overall, the book was good. Arthur and Sidney’s banter was top notch and Arthur’s personality itself was great.

Listen! It's no Astolat's Emblazoning but it's about as close as you can get and still be a published work of original fiction! I laughed, I cried, I empathized with the characters and their situations. A strong recommend for anyone who enjoys Arthurian content.

Absolute perfection! As a queer fan of fantasy, it's so rare to find a story that combines both of these interests. The story is fun to follow and will be a hit with Young Adults and Adults alike. The main characters are lovable but also well thought out and 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, any fantasy fan would find themselves enjoying the ride.

Gwen & Art are Not in Love is a wonderfully queer and wholesome story of a group of young adults finding love and friendship in a world of expectation and duty. Set sometime in the medieval period in England, it follows crown princess Gwen as she navigates her betrothal with the rakish and charming Arthur, although they soon find out neither of them are particularly well suited to the match. Gwen only has eyes for Bridget, the only female knight, and Art is more keen on getting to know Gwen’s brother— Englands crown prince Gabriel. As soon as the two realise each other’s preferences, they decide to keep up the betrothal ruse to allow them to follow their romantic hearts. WLW and MLM solidarity for the win!

I loved the found family aspect of this story and how everyone seemed to genuinely love and care for each other. The groups dynamics were hilarious and reminded me of being a teenager, despite the time period and setting. I also loved the bit of Arthurian legend mixed in, especially the letters. Most of the plot revolves around the romance, with a side dash of political intrigue to spice things up. It was a little bit long and the middle dragged a tad without a higher stakes plot, but that won’t be an issue for readers looking for a cozier story. The prose and relationships are well suited to the age demographic and I think this will go down very well with teen readers. Overall, Gwen & Art are Not in Love was an easy, fun read, perfect for anyone looking a heartwarming queer YA love story set in a medieval time period. 4/5 stars!

“Gwen & Art Are Not in Love” 4.5/5 ⭐️

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for sending me the ARC of this book! 🫶🏻

First of all, the banter and dialogue in this book are phenomenal! I was literally giggling while reading the back-and-forth between the characters. Arthur and Gwen especially were hilarious!

I loveeeeee the sibling dynamic between Gwen and Gabriel. They have such a good relationship and really care for one another, which I love. Family and one’s legacy in general are important themes in this book, which is interesting. I enjoyed the tension it created between duty and autonomy.

The relationships in this book are also great! I love the representation of both WLW and MLM relationships! (Bridget Leclair >>>)

I also enjoyed the ending of this book! It wasn’t something I really expected. The last 15 pages had me in my feels 🥺

Overall, I loved this book! I think the concept is super cool. I always love a good historical fantasy, especially one set in this time period.