Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is delightful. The characters are complex and loveable, the worldbuilding is skillful and believable, and the plot is crafted beautifully. All of this book's elements complement each other perfectly.

It is overall light, humorous, and romantic, but it is more serious in places. Sometimes I find the use of multiple romance tropes constrains characters, but here they allowed for deeper character exploration-- it was very well done.

There are two things I might recommend revisiting before publishing. First, there were two very obvious references in the first chapter (Riverdale and Twelfth Night) and none (that I picked up on at least) in the rest of the book-- this seems a bit unbalanced. Second, there wasn't a clear resolution to the issues one of the couples faced. After a disagreement/potential breakup, they kissed and agreed to talk, but they didn't actually resolve the underlying issues.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is an easy five stars and I would highly recommend it to fans of LGBT romcoms and lighthearted fantasy.

Title: Gwen and Art are Not in Love
Author: Lex Croucher
Genre: Fiction, Fairy tale, Romance, LGBTQ+

_________________________________________________________________________
Overview: This book is a twist on the classic story of King Arthur. Only instead of a basic retelling, it makes use of the classic tale as part of its actual history. Gwen and Arthur have been betrothed to each other since birth and have never gotten along well with each other. So much so that they had even injured each other on many occasions and had to be separated until they were about ready to make their betrothal official. Still having harsh feelings towards one another, they soon learn that one another have at least one thing in common. Both of them find attraction in those they shouldn't. They keep each other's secrets and even go along as if they are trying to fall in love or at least taking a fancy to one another. All the while danger lurks around them and threats of internal war arise.

Favorite Things: I loved how real Gwen and Arthur's bickering felt. I could feel their hatred for each other and believe that it would continue on. And even when they began to reconcile their differences, it wasn't something that felt forced. They both had their reasons for acting as they did and even after they spoke their secrets and reasons to each other, they still acted towards each other in a way that made it feel natural. The way siblings fight for example is very much the vibe they gave off after they became friendly with each other, and it was apparent that both of them were relived to finally have some common ground between the two of them.

Least Favorite Things:
The idea that Gwen fell for a female knight was so beautiful, and there's nothing I hate about it, but for my least favorite part it would have to be the lack of communication between the two until the end. With Gabe and Arthur there were at least some instances where they spoke and flirted and got to know each other on a more personal level. However with Gwen and Bridget, it felt more like questioning turned to yearning for something 'dangerous' turned to being together in a very lose sense of the term. I would have loved to see them flirting more and getting to know more about each other. Instead their closest form of intimacy beforehand was Gwen consoling Bridget while she had very bad period cramps. It was sweet, but I would have liked more depth.



Overall opinions: This is a great fairy tale read that I would recommend to anyone who likes medieval type stories with bits of King Arthur lore thrown in the mix. The romance although at the forefront of the story is also very calm and slips by without too much force, making the entire story feel a bit more natural when you bring it all together. If you like slightly toxic romance, I will admit this is also that as there are many issues between the 'couples' that don't necessarily get resolved completely by the stories end.

Set in medieval England, the story begins with the reluctantly betrothed Princess Gwen and Lord Arthur, who have loathed each other since childhood. They couldn't be more different: Gwen enjoys her embroidery and alone time, while Art enjoys drinking, galavanting, and shirking his political responsibilities. With their wedding just around the corner, Art arrives at Camelot to spend the summer with Gwen. The two immediately butt heads and, when Gwen stumbles upon Art kissing a boy, he blackmails her with his own discovery of her crush on Lady Bridget Leclair. Thus begins their grudging truce: they will pretend to get along while covering for each other's romantic pursuits.

The setting may be medieval but the dialogue feels contemporary. Gwen and Art's constant bickering is delightfully hilarious, and from the first few pages I was laughing out loud. The banter isn't limited to the protagonists; the supporting characters are equally as fun and lovable. I love the diversity of the characters and the representation of women in this book. While the story leans cozy, it addresses the difficulties of coming out and trying to live up to parental expectations. The stakes are relegated to the background for most of the novel, but when things start to ramp up everything unfolds very quickly! This is easily one of the best queer romance novels I've read.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital galley.

Art and Gwen have been betrothed since birth. Gwen is a hard-headed princess of a country on the verge of war and Art a silver-tounged, dashing son of a Lord. Sounds like a match made in heaven, right? There's one problem, Gwen and Art are very much NOT in love. More specifically, a roguish female night has caught Gwen's attention while Gwen's brother, Gabriel, has caught Art's.

Gwen and Art finally reach the age where their marriage must become a reality yet they cannot stand each other. However, salvation comes in the form of a shaky truce to play nice in public and look the other way in private. Stubborn as they may be, the truce holds until tensions rise in between couples as well as tensions in the kingdom in between the cultists and the Catholics.

The flimsy peace Gabe and Gwen's father has been slowly crumbling, as the war comes to a head so does the truth about their real feelings. Gwen, Art and co. are full of heart, bravery and fun. This coming of age story has more than one revelation at it's core. It's about how to love family, friends and yourself amongst internal and external pressure. Most importantly, it's about paving your own way in the world and finding your voice amongst the crowd.

look i shouldn't be reviewing this because post-medieval romance is v much not my thing and I KNEW THAT GOING IN. it was fast paced a lot of the time, funny like lex croucher always is, full of queer chaos, but also just like, i couldn't care that much which i hate for me! i just genuinely am not moved by like jousting and scheming about kingdoms and like horses and swords and giant gowns in general. if you like those things, you will LOVE this book because it really is a romp! but, if you do not, i am sorry to inform you that i don't think that you will get over that distaste for these legitimately charming characters.

As a reader, I didn’t fall in love with book like I was hoping. The timeline and the history surrounding the story was a little confusing and well as a very slow pace. That being said, I think we need more gay characters in all stories and time periods. I think this book may be for a niche audience, but if I ever meet someone within that audience, I will happily recommend this book.

- Love a cute medieval LGBTQ+ romance!
- Arthur with the orange cat was so funny to me. “Begone tiny demon!” LOL
- All our characters related in the two couples are so likeable in their own ways
- Love the way our characters evolve so realistically and almost deny it in the beginning

This was a very out of the box read for me. I’m always apprehensive starting more fantasy based books because I worry about world building. I loved the way the story of Camelot was incorporated! It added an amazingly fun element.

Characters! The way each person falls in love and works off one another is both adorable and hilarious. I love Art and Sid’s banter. Gwen and Gabriel have a great bond too.

This story makes me hopeful for a sequel but if not I believe it’s a very good read on its own. I’m very excited to add it to my shelves!

This book was funny and I liked the concept, but it just wasn’t for me. The retelling aspect was interested and I really did find some parts funny. But I didn’t find it super intriguing for me and it didn’t hold my attention.

Five stars. This book is so, so much fun. This is what teens want from humour in YA fiction. The comedy doesn't undercut the important themes, or the enveloping feel of an Arthurian England setting, but it's there almost every step of the way... unless there's a dramatic moment that requires full gravitas. I devoured most of the book in one sitting, because its pull is strong enough to give "one more chapter" about twenty repeats. The Gwen and Arthur dynamic unfurls perfectly from enemies to friends/beards. The happy-for-now ending is perfect in a situation where these kids can't fully take their lives into their own hands, and where our valiant knight won't give up her dreams to play bodyguard. And again, the hilarious dialogue, from Arthur especially... Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is gold.

i genuinely loved this book so much, i finished it in less than a day because i could not put it down. i originally thought it was a retelling, but it isn’t, and is instead a nice mix of arthurian legend as well as a retelling.

i love gwen, arthur, bridget, and gabriel so much. in books i tend to not like some of the main or side characters, but in this story i liked them all. i don’t want to spoil too much because it isn’t yet published, but pick up this book when you can!

the only reason why it’s not a five star read is because i didn’t feel like there was enough world-building. it takes place in olden england but the characters definitely sound like they’ve seen an iPhone before. (despite that, i liked the riverdale reference, coming from someone who’s only seen the first episode).

i also wish we got more at the end, but that could be because i always want to read more about what happens after their endings.

This queer medieval rom com was certainly a unique read. Certainly, a must-read for lovers of Arthurian mythology who dislike how heterosexual the medieval times seem to be in historical fiction.

REVIEW: SPOILERS AHEAD

In full honesty, this book took a little bit of time for me to warm up to. I found Gwen and Art’s hatred for each other annoying, and I wish the author had focused on less petty reasons for their hatred. Perhaps, the author could have made Gwen a little less annoying and spoiled, but I believe that was the point, and she does get better as the book moves forward.

But, I loved Gwen and Art’s friendship once they finally got there. I also enjoyed Art and Gabriel’s relationship. Unfortunately, I feel like Gwen and Bridget’s relationship didn’t have the same strength in the development of their characters. I wish I got to see more regarding Bridget’s personality because I love a badass woman with a sword.

I am so disappointed in this book and I am so sad that I have to write this. I wanted to love this book - the premise truly pulled me in. I love Arthurian tales and put a queer spin on it? Sign me up! Unfortunately, this did not live up to the hype I made up in my head. I was honestly bored by most of the story and wound up not finishing this one. It just wasn't for me.

Thank you so very much for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book regardless.

I absolutely adored this book! I love Arthurian legends so I went in with high expectations and it did not disappoint! I laughed, I cried, these gays own my heart

[netgalley arc] WOWWW it's been a while since i read a romcom this good. i was literally so obsessed with this that i was reading chapters during my breaks at work. gwen and art are such lovable and realistic characters -- i think the highlight of this book was their friendship (although both romances were also great). the only complaint that i rly have is that the the entire middle chunk of the book was like 80% dialogue... great, realistic dialogue but still... a lot of dialogue.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

4.5 stars! Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a fun rom-com that follows a group of teenagers as they discover love, friendship, and their identities. While this is not a retelling, it does take place generations after the legend of Arthur Pendragon and the lore was weaved in throughout the story in an interesting way. If you're looking for a light hearted, coming-of-age historical romance, this is the one! This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023 and Lex Croucher delivered.

There is humour, there is romance, there is politics, and I was kicking my feet, giggling throughout it all. Every single character is lovable and flawed in their own way. The banter between the characters is genuinely funny and endearing and I found myself unable to put the book down for the last half. Lex Croucher managed to inject the right amount of humour into even the heavier scenes.

My only qualms with this book were that for an otherwise historical setting, the random pieces of modern dialogue were jarring and the ending wrapped up a bit too quickly for my liking (I wanted to see more about how the two couples resolved their conflicts to end up together). The political plot line was predictable as well, but the real draw of the story is the developing relationships between all the characters anyway.

This is a good fit for fans of The Other Merlin by Robyn Schneider.

4.5 I had so much fun reading this and falling in love with all of the characters. Arthur and Gwen's dynamic had me laughing all the time and I love how everything played out. Sidney also has a special place in my heart (along with Bridget because sword-wielding lesbians reign supreme). This is one of the most entertaining books I've read in a while, I had a stupid grin on my face for most of it. In addition to the fun, this was a refreshing change from all the retellings and it really stood out. To emphasize how much I enjoyed this book, I started at 8pm and finished at 9:50pm.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this Digital ARC

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a fun, sweet, and heartfelt story of love of all kinds, even in a society that may try to tell you who you should or shouldn’t love.
  
The main strength of this book was definitely the relationships, and not just the romantic ones. Gwen and Gabriel’s sibling dynamic was really lovely—they care about each other a lot, but they’re also not afraid to call each other out on their poor behavior or decisions. However, my favorite non-romantic duo was absolutely Arthur and his best friend, Sidney—I was always happy to read a scene with the two of them, because I knew I was going to be laughing out loud at the shenanigans they'd get into together.
 
That’s not to say that I didn’t love the romantic couples, though! Gwen and Bridget was the more pining-filled, slower burn of the two, whereas Arthur and Gabriel had a lot of ups and downs when it came to them figuring out their feelings for each other, and that difference between their romantic arcs made reading each of them compelling—I was concerned going into it that they might end up being too similar to one another, so I was pleased that it wasn’t the case.
 
And of course, we get to see Gwen and Arthur’s friendship grow and become something really wonderful as well. I’m a sucker for solid fictional friendships, and they had just the perfect “rivals to best friends” arc. For each of them, they really only had their own respective best friends—Gabriel for Gwen and Sidney for Arthur—so it was wonderful to watch as they both opened up to the new people in their lives, and the ways they helped one another do that.

So while the overall tone is mostly humorous, but it does shift to more dramatic as the book approaches its end, and I thought that balance between humor and drama was done pretty well throughout, so that even when serious events happen, it’s not too upsetting, even if you feel for the characters. However, it did feel like a lot of the plot threads were often forgotten about in favor of the relationship developments—for example, the reason Bridget is there is for a tournament she’s participating in, and the tournament does become plot relevant by the end, but for pretty much the entire time leading up to that point, it didn’t feel like it was brought in as well as it could’ve been. That’s the largest example, but there was a lot going on outside of the romance, and at times it didn’t seem as though those plot threads were being utilized to their fullest potential.
 
But, that aside, this was a really fun read! If you like the Montague Siblings books, or the BBC Merlin show, I think you’d enjoy this book. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, even if it deals with some serious topics, and I couldn’t help but smile the entire time I was reading it.

First of all I would like to thank Lex Croucher for writing the story and thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Growing up and figuring out yourself is hard enough to do without the added struggles that come with being betrothed to the son of a cultist who is a descendant of Arthur Pendragon who is sent to Camelot to court you in preparation for your wedding. But Gwen and Arthur both quick discover that they’re both hiding secrets, and neither one of them is interested in the other. Arthur is caught kissing a guy and Gwen is found to have a crush on the kingdoms only female knight.

This book was one I really had a hard time putting down. The way that Croucher wrote both of the main characters, Arthur and Gwen, was truly amazing. Their constant banter and the way the reader gets immersed in a genuine friendship being built between the two of them is amazing. I truly fell in love with both of these characters, for many different reasons.

While the setting of the story is far from the world we live in today (medieval England), there are many problems that the main characters face that anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community would be familiar with and be able to relate to. Sacrificing the life you’ve known forever for being able to live as your true self is easier said than done, even if it would be for the good of an entire kingdom in this case.

Found family is strong in this story, and is something that almost anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community can relate to. The relationships that the characters create in this story are truly beautiful, and I could see them continuing to grow in Camelot if Croucher chose to do so.

I’m so very grateful to have had this opportunity to read this book, and I hope to read more by Croucher in the future, especially if they choose to return to the world of Camelot.

I have posted these reviews to good reads and storygraph immediately and will post it to instagram at a future date.

A medieval, queer rom com? Yes!!! From the first few chapters I knew this was going to be one of my favourites this year. I was just hoping the ending wouldn't disappoint (with the usual miscommunication-two-week-breakup in every romcom, which I hate!!) but the end had me literally at the edge of my seat, trying to read faster and faster to get to the end sooner, I was so stressed.

This novel had both the romance AND the comedy. I've never laughed at a book before this one, I was constantly grinning. The chemistry between all 6 MCs, the banter, the jokes, it was all *chef's kiss*! I caught myself looking at upcoming pages and getting excited when I saw a lot of dialogue, all the conversations were so fun and interesting or cute and flirty!

This book also doesn't skimp out on character flaws, sad, scary and stressful moments either! It's a good balance of happy and sad and the characters even reflect on their lows - they don't just ignore them!! That was one of my favourites parts, one character goes through something hard and the next chapter they go over how it made them feel and how they'll get through it. It was awesome.

Last but not least, the couples!!!! The romance!!!! The flirting!!!!! It was perfect. I love all these characters ❤️

I can't wait to buy the physical copy once it comes out. I WILL be rereading this! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is a fun, warm-hearted medieval YA romance. Princess Gwendoline and noblemen Arthur have been betrothed since childhood. Forced to spend the summer together, the two realize they must keep each others’ secrets when Gwen catches Art kissing a boy and Art discovers Gwen’s crush on a female knight.

Enemies-to-Supportive-Gay- Best-Friends might be my new favourite trope! I loved all the characters, particularly Bridget and Gabriel. I also like how Arthurian legend was woven into the story – this was not a retelling, but rather a society still very much in awe of King Arthur.

It does take a bit of time for the story to build, and the first few chapters are a little slow. However, the last section of the book is extremely fast paced in an action-packed ending. Overall, this was an easy, whimsical read, and I enjoyed it very much.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC!