I absolutely adored the characters in this book. I think that this is one on the best YA Romance I've read so far this year. I loved the way that this book was written and the story line. What a great retelling with a new twist on the situation.

I just reviewed Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Dual pov enemies to lovers except the lovers aren’t who you think they are. Well, if you’ve been paying attention at all you’ll get a pretty good idea within the first 2 chapters. Still, this medieval romance was everything I’d hoped it’d be- from the banter, characters, swoon-worthy moments and more.

I also thoroughly enjoyed that for the setting and time period, the author was able to make a diverse cast & make it seem absolutely normal- which it is because in case you didn’t know, you really can do WHATEVER YOU WANT when writing fiction & if you hear otherwise… well, I’ll just say that ought to be a red flag. Lex, I applaud you.

This was amazing!!

This is the first romance book I have read set within this time frame; it was honestly eye-opening to see queer love play out within this setting, as the circumstances of it were likely very true to the time. This book was also one of the first I have read that has delved into subjects such as PMS and depression which, again, is incredible to examine in this historical setting.

The writing itself kept me captivated the entire time! I adored having both Gwen's and Art's perspectives. I was entirely going into reading believing only to read Gwen's perspective and was pleasantly surprised to find Art's as well. It added a much-needed layer of complexity in seeing how different friendships and relationships played out! It was a rollercoaster of emotions in the best possible way!

Romance books are not my favorite genre, but this is definitely going to become a new favorite! I found the plot entertaining the whole time, adored the themes of love, friendship, and betrayal, and I adored seeing myself reflected in the struggles of Gwen and Art (but this book is still equally as captivating without relating to the characters).

I am not too familiar with the legend of King Arthur but, based on the knowledge I have, it was incredible to see the history in it. If it was not obvious, I love the historical aspects of books, and seeing queer love play out the way it did in this story warmed my heart! I highly recommend it!

I absolutely loved this book, I read through the whole thing on Valentine's Day and it was the perfect book to read. I don't really have the words to explain why I liked the book so much, but what I can say is that the development of Art and Gwen's friendship was so great paired with the two simultaneous romances that were occuring.

I don't think I'll ever be disappointed by anything Lex Croucher writes.

If you like "A Knight's Tale", royalty, banter and yearning, then you're in the right place!

We follow Gwen and Art in England, generations after Arthur Pendragon's reign.
Gwen (princess) and Art (named after Aurthor Pendragon) are engaged. And they loathe each other since childhood. They don't just loathe each other, they actually find that they can't possibly be attracted to one another.... Especially not when Gwen can't help but watch the lady knight Bridget and Arthur finds he has an odd fondness for Gabriel, Gwen's brother and Prince of England.

I was giddy and loving the different banter between characters for about 70% of the book and absolutely STRESSED for the last 30%. This seemed like such a doomed-from-the-beginning type of story but it didn't end the way I expected and I'm happy for that.

✨️Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book before publishing! ✨️

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was disappointed with this book. While I found the writing and storyline to be decent enough, I did not find the characters interesting enough to continue reading. I started this one back in January and it has sat on my Currently Reading shelf since. I set it down one day and did not have the desire to pick it back up. It took too long to get into. I plan to try to pick it up again in the near future but at this time I have to move on.

gwen and art are not in love tells the story of gwen and art, two teenagers who a) despise each other and b) are engaged. unfortunately for their parents, both are a little fruity. shenanigans ensue.

things i loved:
- THE CHARACTERS OH MY GOD. this is the kind of book where you smile nonstop because the characters are being ridiculous but you live them anyways
- the humor. i don’t find myself actually laughing at books but this book had me wheezing on public transit.
- they addressed the inbreeding possibility

things i… didn’t love:
- the pacing. the plot started out of nowhere 70% in and the climax started five pages after.
- the romantic chemistry wasn’t really there for me. platonic chemistry? absolutely, but romantically? ehh

anyways i’m conflicted.

"To be truly brave, first you must be afraid -- and to be afraid, you must have something you cannot bear to lose."

(thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc)

If you like royalty, banter, sword-fighting, yearning, and maybe had a BBC Merlin phase, please for the love of god read this book.

We follow Gwen and Art, in an England a few generations after the reign of Arthur Pendragon, as they enter an arranged marriage despite the fact that the two cannot stand each other. In fact, Gwen isn't at all interested in Arthur, especially with the return of a certain lady knight to Camelot. And Arthur isn't one bit interested in Gwen, not when her brother has captured every bit of his attention.

This book is queer and fun and so emotional. It genuinely has some of the best quality banter I have ever read, I was giggling out loud at so many points because the pseudo-sibling dynamic between Gwen and Art is just actually incredible. The side characters were all so well-fleshed out and I adored each and every person in the little group they formed. My heart hurt for Gabriel/Arthur and Gwen/Bridget more than anything, because this was a true doomed love story with a hopeful ending and I ate it up. Seriously, please read this one. It's the perfect mix of light-hearted fun and emotional damage.

This was such a wonderful YA Queer romance book! First, I want to say how much I loved that this was set in a historical context. Getting to learn a bit about Arthurian England while also getting to know these characters and their stories was so fascinating. I also absolutely adored the characters of this book. They all are trying to figure out who they are in their own individual and unique ways and are learning to come to terms with who they are.

I loved how both romances were set at different paces and how they developed differently. It made me feel more connected to both relationships and understand the connection they had with each other.

The only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because I feel like the ending was a bit rushed. I would have loved to see some more development in the relationships and even to see how the end event would have played out. Overall, however, this was such a fun read and I definitely forsee myself picking it up again in the future.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in advance in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I want to say a huge thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for providing me with this arc. I couldn't get enough of this and I am eagerly anticipating the publication so I can purchase my own copy as well as add one to our Young Adult shelves!

I went in thinking that the book would simply be a fun read about 2 queer characters trying to cover for each other - I wasn't wrong, it was that - but it was also so much more.

The characters? Delightful. I instantly fell in love with Arthur's sarcasm and wit, possibly because I see a bit of myself in him. I empathized with him on a deeper level than I had expected. I didn't really expect to like Gwen as much as I did, but it was a real treat to see her grow into herself over the course of the book and go from this person who was afraid to be herself to someone who is able to speak up for what she believes in feel comfortable being herself.

Probably my favorite thing about this book is how well it is written and how it doesn't seem to take itself too seriously in the best kind of way. If you're looking for a fun, lighthearted read about queer characters in a historical setting then this is absolutely the book for you. It's witty and all of the characters are loveable, but I really enjoyed the emotion that I wasn't really expecting. I laughed, I cried, the banter was superb and I couldn't get enough. This is something I could happily read again and be just as delighted.

Thank you again to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC. I can't wait for the publication!

Gwen and Art are not in love (actually they loath each other) BUT I just might be in love with this book. What a lovely queer rom com set in an Arthurian world complete with Excalibur, royalty, betrothals, and rumblings of unrest. This isn’t a retelling of the Arthurian legend since Gwen and Art are descendants of King Arthur. This story plays out hundreds of years after King Arthur with his descendants trying to live up to the glory, and/or regain, the glory of the Camelot era. I truly enjoyed main characters, their witty banter…and their “imperfect” reactions to events.
I have a friend that only gives 5 stars for books that she will reread. Pretty sure this book will satisfy that criteria and I will find myself picking up this book when I’m looking for a feelgood queer rom com. Once this book hits my library bookshelves, I will booktalk it to everyone. I know I will also be keeping an eye out for more books from Lex Croucher.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC.

Gwen and Art aren’t in love but I love them both and their group of friends so much. This book was so cute and so sweet and so funny!!! I knew I was gonna love when there was a “You don’t know the high and lows of high school football” reference in there. The friendships in this book were so sweet and all of the chemistry was so apparent! I loved reading this and will definitely be recommending this to everyone once it’s released.

This book left me speechless. It was written so well! The banter, the slow burn, the friendship. It was all perfection!

I think Gabriel was my favorite character of them all. He was so witty and had me laughing the entire time.

You can’t help but love all the characters. It’s written so beautifully and a top favorite for me this year.

Thank you so much NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review !

Just the most enjoyable, readable, adorable but also emotional, YA LGBTQ+ novel that I have ever read.

Gwen and Gabriel are siblings and they have the immense pressure on them of being the children of the King and Queen. Up until now they have followed the rules (for the most part) and stayed behind the gates of the castle grounds (for the most part), but when Arthur, Gwen’s betrothed since she was very young, comes to stay the summer so they can get more acquainted, we already know they are both not too fond of the other. Yet after they uncover secrets about each other, they choose to stay cordial in agreement of the keeping of the secrets, and grow to become friends and partners in hijinks, roping in crushes and friends and even service staff.

This book is clever, funny, loveable, while also being emotional, representative of the queer community, and layered with different perspectives a teen coming to terms with their sexuality with experience.

I laughed and and teared up, I loved the characters, and the banter was priceless.

Thank you to NetGalley for this E-Arc! Cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy! I love Lex Croucher’s work and want to own her whole collection of books!

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is the queer, medieval rom-com I didn't know I needed in my life. Set in a post-Arthurian medieval England, teenagers Gwendolyn and Arthur (Gwen and Art) have been betrothed since they were children. As the title would suggest, neither of them are happy with the situation, primarily because they're both very gay.

Told in alternating chapters between Gwen and Art's POV, we watch as their unhappy engagement grows into a fake courtship and then a very real friendship. Although the two of them may not be in love with each other, there is plenty romance to go around. Gwen falls for a dashing lady knight. Art falls for Gwen's brother, Gabriel. Lots of queer coming-of-age hijinks ensue.

One thing about the book that could be a positive or a negative depending on the reader is that the conversations around queerness and discrimination feel very 1990s-2000s but in a medieval setting. So, if you're looking for a coming of age romance and lovable characters, this book is perfect for you! However, if you're looking for accurate historical fiction or unique high fantasy world building, the book may not be for you.

Overall though, Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a delightful book that left me with the same warm, fuzzy feeling as any of my favorite fairytale or rom-com movies. It has the same charming energy as The Princess Bride or Ever After but so much better because of how queer it is. I definitely recommend checking it out once it's released!

I will preface this review by reiterating the fact that this it is a YA book. What this means is that miscommunication and questionable decisions WILL be made.

Moving on to my thoughts: I loved it! It was fun and quirky and deliciously queer. I laughed out loud with Arthur and I felt Gwen’s pain as she hurt. I loved Bridget’s strength and confidence in who she is and what she deserves. I adored Sidney’s loyalty to Arthur and their friendship. I enjoyed the intertwining of the King Arthur myths and how they influenced this world in terms of beliefs and character development.

I would read more about these characters in a heartbeat! Yes, you may see the ending ‘twist’ coming, but it’s YA and these characters are barely 18 you should see it coming!

Arthur’s little talk of being who you are and the happiness you deserve made my queer heart skip a beat. It was perfectly put and what I think a lot of us needed or wanted to hear when growing up.

Overall, this book is a fun adventure following characters who are just trying to figure out themselves and the world around them.

Gwen & Art Are Not In Love is a delight. Its funny and its charming. Its an all around enjoyable read. Its my first from Lex Croucher, but now I'm interested in reading more.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

This book is chock-full of slow-burn romances and friendships, all of which made me melt. The pacing of the progression for each relationship was perfect. I was invested in all the highs and lows and never felt like any relationship was being neglected in favor of another. Even the side characters developed relationships among each other and with the main characters, ultimately creating a solid matrix of found family support.

The author also balanced and paced the characters' internal arcs perfectly. All of the moving parts between and within the characters made them feel real and relatable. I was impressed by the subtle complexity the author built throughout the story.

I appreciated that the characters acted their age. Gwen, a 17/18 year old princess, actually behaved like an immature, sheltered teenager. (Don't get me wrong, she behaved like a likeable main character too.) Arthur was the most interesting character to me, with his struggle between giving in to his unhealthy alcohol coping mechanism and still trying to act from a place of positivity. He does some of the jerkiest things, but he also does some of the sweetest ones. Gwen's birthday party was my favorite scene.

Speaking of sweet, Arthur and Gabriel bonding over their mutual affection for animals was possibly my absolute favorite part. There's nothing quite like being co-adopted by a cat or helping a bird to heal to indicate that the romance is unquestionably meant to be.

Another possible favorite part for me (there are so many to choose from!) was the strong dialogue. The banter between characters often made me literally laugh out loud.

Aside from the characters, the worldbuilding was also interesting. I especially liked the cult that rose up around Morgana. While the author did a fantastic job peppering in foreshadowing and clues from the very beginning, the intense focus on relationships for the first 3/4 of the book made the political climax feel a bit over the top. I was a bit lost sometimes, like when a chapter ended mid-scene with one character yelling at another to basically watch out, and then in the next chapter the action is over and we never find out what happened. The whole climactic part definitely got my heart racing, though, and provided the pressure points for the characters to show how they'd grown throughout the story.

All in all, I'm delighted that I read this book. The dialogue alone makes it worthwhile, and the complexity of characters and world is icing on the cake.

You might like this if you like: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers; The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune; the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire; the Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer

Thanks to NetGalley for an arc of this book. Below is my honest review.

I always *want* to like King Arthur retellings. For some reason, I rarely do. Happily for me, this one was one of the very few I really enjoyed.

This book takes place generations after Arthur Pendragon was king. We begin right before the start of a royal tournament.

Princess Gwen hates Arthur. She was promised to marry him the day she was born. Not only that, but brother Gabe isn’t betrothed. It is not fair, especially because Gwen just wants to be left alone.

Arthur doesn’t want to marry Gwen, either. When his father alerts him he missed the first day of the tournament, Arthur is shipped off to start officially courting Gwen. He has to stay for the entire summer. Nothing sounds worse to him, did you hear Gwen BROKE HIS WRIST when they were kids?

One day, Gwen saw Arthur kissing a boy and Arthur realized Gwen was interested in Lady Bridget Leclair—and she is a knight! So, clearly they threaten/blackmail each other to keep each others secrets. And hey, while they are at it, why not pretend to get along to mollify their parents. What could possibly go wrong?

Gwen, Gabriel, Arthur, Lady Bridget, Gwen’s lady’s maid Agnes, and Arthur’s body-man Sidney form a most excellent cast of characters. I was rooting for each and every one of the romances and the groups growing friendship was a joy to read. Gwen’s birthday party was a fabulous scene. The Arthurian legend was a key player in the plot, but not overtly so, and it was quite well done.

I’m kinda maybe really hoping we get a sequel…

This book isn’t for Arthurian purists who get nit-picky about things like the spelling of ‘graal’. This book is for people who like the Camelot High scene in Shrek 3 a bit too much. And lucky for me, I fall very firmly into the latter category.

In all seriousness, though, modern Arthuriana has been very hit or miss for me. Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher was definitely a hit. There are a lot of reasons that I think it worked so well - clear, evocative writing, excellent pacing, a strong cast of characters, and absolutely impeccable comedic timing - but I also really loved that it was not exactly a retelling of a single story or even a collection of stories, but rather a reimagining of several centuries of British history. What if England was ruled from Camelot instead of London? What if quasi-pagan Arthurian cultists had coexisted for centuries, mostly peacefully, with Christians? It’s not so much a story of King Arthur as it is an alternate history, a peak at a Britain that still lies under the shadow of Arthur, where noble families hold tight to a claim of distant descent from his knights, and where Excalibur is such a prized artifact that they’re on their ninth version of the sword because it keeps getting stolen. It’s got great nods to stories in the Arthurian canon like the Historia Brittonum, but it doesn’t try to correct them - it expands on them!

This book hit all of the emotional highs for me - it’s by turns laugh-out-loud hilarious and heart-wrenching. I often struggle with Arthurian YA because it feels too gimmicky or overdone, but I never once got that feeling while reading this book. It’s a serious book that doesn’t take itself too seriously. My favorite element was definitely the cast of characters, who each felt fully realized and very vibrant without becoming caricatures of themselves. Gwen and Arthur in particular were so very well-written, from Gwen’s introversion bordering on self-isolation to Arthur’s near-constant snippy dialogue. I fell in love with Gwen, Arthur, Gabriel, Bridget, and all of their friends, and I can’t wait for everyone else to meet them!

Tl;dr - I loved this book, and I can’t wait for it to be out so that I can hold a physical copy in my hands and gush about it more without spoiling it. It’s got a solid place among my favorite modern Arthuriana and it was so much fun to read!