One of my favourite reads of the year so far, I loved this from start to finish. This is equally funny and deeply endearing especially romance. Lex Croucher's has written another excellent LGBTQ story.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An unforgettable romance with deep emotional resonance. The characters’ journey is beautifully portrayed, making this a truly inspiring love story. I loved every moment!

This book was hilarious!
I loved how there was a good balance between being serious and funny, it meshed so well with the story I finished it in one night.
I highly highly recommend to anyone, it's YA but I feel like everyone would enjoy it!

Perfect. A perfect book. Everything you could possibly want from queer fantasy, queer romance, YA, and a story set in the Robin Hood universe. (Not a retelling!) This is Lex Croucher at her absolute best. Everything wonderful about Infamous AND Gwen & Art Are Not in Love — and also, just, more. It's got all the classic Croucher Queer Found Family feelings. It's a swoony, pining romance with one prickly heroine and her counterpart who gives just as good as she gets, even though she's the sunshine half of the pairing. Deeply engaging voice, sparkling dialogue, so much hilarity. There's villains you're not expecting, heroes you wouldn't guess, and none of them are pure evil or squeaky clean. I have loved so many 0f Croucher's queer characters over the years, but Clem is my hands-down favorite. She's so competent and confident and sweet, even though she's got major PTSD. She's so funny. And, wow, so many lovable gay idiots! Also, Lex Croucher is three for three on making me yell out loud at her heroines at least once per book. I'm gonna turn right around and read this again. I've been waiting for this novel since I saw Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves at a middle school sleepover and all my friends wanted to be Maid Marian so Kevin Costner would fall in love with them, and I wanted to be Kevin Costner so Marian would fall in love with me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

sapphic granddaughter of robin hood x the healer she kidnapped.

SO. MUCH. FUN.

i loved this <<3 of the thirteen arcs i’ve read so far this year, not for the faint of heart is only the second i’ve given five stars to because how could i not? this was funny and wonderful and featured a found family (my favourite trope), so what’s not to love?

the humour in this book was my fave, and the slowburn romance was so cUTE! i really loved clem as a main character and seeing her breaking into the rest of the group and then breaking down mariel’s walls was everything.

i laughed loads and i cried as well and i cannot wait to own this physically when it comes out <<3

Lex Croucher does not miss. Ever. With each release, they reaffirm why they deserve a large readership and all of the recognition they've received. Fun, emotional, romantic without being suffocating. This ripped my heart out and remade me. Croucher does so well at weaving together heavy emotions and humor, and it's such a delight to see that here.

⭐️ 4.5

Once again Lex Croucher knocks it out of the park with an exciting, heartfelt, and hilarious adventure that’s impossible not to love. Their writing is so immersive, I was immediately sucked in and couldn’t put the book down.

I love this beautifully queer group of kids, and following them through the forest as they worked through some tough emotional situations was amazing. This is a great diverse read that I can see so many teenagers getting lost in.

I don’t think I can ever forgive the heartache this gave me, and I know it’ll hurt for a good while 🥲

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

I have recommended this to my neighbors, and my niece and nephews for a great summer book! This was phenomenal. Well done!

I loved Lex Croucher's first YA novel, so I was excited to receive an ARC of Not for the Faint of Heart! This book was both funny and charming. I often found myself laughing outloud when any of the characters were speaking. I really loved Clem as a character, as she was the funniest to me and I loved how she handled being kidnapped. Honestly, all of the characters were very likeable and it was easy to become invested in their stories! I really enjoyed reading Not for the Faint of Heart and can't wait to recommend it to my friends!

Not for the Faint of Heart is a thrilling adventure by Lex Croucher, brimming with found family and a romance that will forever change the lives of the Greenwood Forest's inhabitants. As Mariel and Clem navigate their growing feelings for each other amidst the dangers of the forest, they must confront their pasts, challenge their beliefs, and decide where their true loyalties lie. Their journey is filled with intense moments of self-discovery, courage, and the unbreakable bonds of love and friendship. With its richly drawn characters and a story that seamlessly blends action, humor, and heartfelt emotion, this novel is destined to captivate readers and leave a lasting impression.

Lex Croucher saves lives, say thank you. ( No I mean it, say thank you!)

This was an incredible all around, funny, lovely blinking back tears and shrieking into the night romp of a time and what else can you possibly want???

I am beyond thrilled to be adding this to my collection of books 16-year-old me would have been feral about and 28-year-old me is very unchill about to be frank.

Sweet historical queer romance! I adore the MC Clem and the band of Merry Men she finds herself kidnapped by. I liked how the plot didn't focus entirely on the romance and there's strong character development for both Clem and Mariel. I'm a big fan of Lex's other books, and this one did not disappoint!

Robin Hood and his Merry Men of Sherwood Forest were famous outlaws and legendary characters. This YA novel continues with the Merry Men concept but they are not all men and their leader is not anything like the popular Robin.

I enjoyed the diverse characters and their camaraderie with each other especially Mariel and her group of young fighters. They were not perfect and didn’t always agree on decisions, but they supported their leader particularly through the most challenging periods.

This was an action adventure tale that contained fighting scenes. Characters were harmed and there were a few deaths. It also contained many humorous dialogue and romantic moments . So the story was nicely balanced.
I also enjoyed the few surprises the author created with some of the more familiar characters of the past.

Overall, this was an engaging and entertaining story.

I love Lex Croucher's books, and this one did not disappoint. She has a great voice when storytelling that causes you to fall in love with the characters and root for them throughout the novel. This book was a great found family story, and I loved the characters, getting to know them, and seeing their interactions with one another. The pacing is fast and keeps you engaged; however, Croucher never skips characters and gives them each the attention they deserve, which shows a great balance between pacing and attention. This was a great book and I highly recommend it

Not for the Faint of Heart is a YA historical fantasy rom-com that follows Robin Hood’s granddaughter’s exploits with the Merry Men.

The problem? There are several. The Merry Men have morphed. Robin Hood’s vision is watered down. Less charitable, more power hungry. Also, they may have kidnapped a local healer and still have to fight the Sheriff’s gang.

This queer retelling is Croucher’s second YA attempt. It is action-packed and features a funny, dedicated ensemble of characters.

I recommend this fun read. If you like Robin Hood or The Princess Bride (but make it an enemies-to-lover, sapphic, romantic comedy), you will surely enjoy this story.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for the ARC.

LGBTQIAP+ | Teens & YA
#NotfortheFaintofHeart #NetGalley

This was my first book from this author and I quite enjoyed it! The premise reeled me in and I think it was executed very well. The main characters were loveable, the romance was lovely, and the adventure was fantastic. Big fan!

This is a beautiful story written by Lex Croucher and I cannot stop until I finish reading this book. This is like a whole experience in one package and you should read it.

loved this! great anxiety rep, and I love a good slow burn enemies to lovers. I love the whole vibe of it- like who doesn’t want to run around the woods and stop in villages??

This was so cute! I love Robin Hood so much and this being about his descendants and the Merry Men was so fun! And I loved that it was LGBTQ! I absolutely adorned both of the female main characters and the other characters were also fun to get to know! I can't wait to read more by Lex Croucher! Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for my digital ARC!!

An incredible book full of humor, fantastic queer representation, wonderful characters and a powerful plot. Lex is a master and their craft!

An adorable, surprisingly heartfelt teen retelling of Robin Hood with a queer twist. A found family story at the core, about a sunshiny healer, Clemence, who gets abducted by a band of Merry Men and their grumpy leader (and granddaughter of Robin Hood), Mariel. The group goes through rescue missions, heartbreak, and many a wound patch-up around the legendary woods from the original Hood stories.
The characters were lovely and the romance was perfectly paced. My coworkers are big fans of Lex Croucher, and now I am too!

I feel emotionally compromised by this book.

It took me a bit to get into it but I feel so lucky to have been sent this book early. Lex Croucher has done it again with this medieval masterpiece inspired by Robin Hood and it tugged at all my heartstrings and left me quietly crying in the middle of the night. I'm a sucker for found family and this delivered in the best way possible - I would literally die for every single one of these characters, especially Clem because she's a woman in science and she speaks to my soul. And Mariel. God. That girl deserved so much better in life and my heart broke for her so much throughout it all.

I love this. I love this. I would've read 400 pages more but if this is all we get I'm so happy it exists.

I can’t think of anything else you would need to make a YA novel perfect. The author weaves in each characters differences like a tapestry. I loved reading of a world where being LGBTQ+ was normal. The characters and plot were real and realistic when dealing with flawed humans.

*Mild spoiler* As a recovering perfectionist & people pleaser it was particularly interesting to see the character growth in Clem and Mariel.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and lovable. The pacing was perfect and left you wanting to read more. I can't wait to read more by this author!

I loved Lex's debut and this solidified her as a must read for me. The prose and voice are stunning and paint wonderful depictions of the characters and setting. Would recommend for those who enjoyed My Lady Jane!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this advanced copy! This was one of my most wanted books of the year. 🥹
Lex never fails to impress me! Every book is such a different vibe, but always so good!! Clem and Mariel, and all of their group of found family - rope you in from the very beginning of the book. The banter is one of my favorite things throughout the novel! Can’t wait to read more from this author in the future, and will always support when the book officially cones out in the states!

A fun YA historical romp with lots of action and heart. The best part was of course Lex Croucher's fantastic writing - all her books make me laugh out loud and this is a great addition to her work for teen readers. Check the author's website for content notes.

Not for the Faint of Heart by Lex Croucher is a gripping and darkly comedic novel that dives into the chaotic and often brutal world of Victorian London. Croucher's sharp wit and vivid characterizations bring this historical setting to life, blending intrigue with a satirical edge. The narrative's exploration of power, morality, and survival makes for a compelling and thought-provoking read. If you enjoy historical fiction with a blend of humor and darkness, this book might be right up your alley

Not for the Faint of Heart by Lex Croucher is a fantastic book.
A sapphic LGBT with great representation, I absolutely loved this book!

Endearing with wonderful characters filled with adventure, this is my favorite book of the authors!

Not for the Faint of Heart was a witty and heartwarming story that was the perfect fantasy book! Lex Croucher has become an auto purchase author for me. If you enjoyed Gwen & Art Are Not in Love then you will definitely love this book!

Queer story set in the world of Nottingham, with one of the main characters being Robin Hood's grandchild. Charming and emotional. Lex continues to write books I love.

ARC from publisher via NetGalley, but the opinions are my own.

Not for the Faint of Heart is my definition of a comfort read. It’s a spectacular romp that will have you grinning ear to ear (until, of course, you’re crying but alas here we are).

I am a sucker for queer found family and this was the perfect place to be. I was hooked on Clem from the first line of this novel and every moment since. The Merry Men were a superb group of mischiefs that quickly felt like close friends.

Lex Croucher has the magic touch when it comes to sapphic romance. I’m always left in a puddle of butterflies once tensions build between the MCs. Clem and Mariel were firmly in slow-burn territory but once things kicked off between them, it was marvelous.

This whole book was marvelous, and I will definitely be picking it up for a reread.

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for the Advanced Reader Copy!

Lex Croucher, the person you are<3 Incredibly huge thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for this arc! After Gwen and Art, Lex Croucher immediately became and auto buy author for me and they have absolutely done it again. Taken a well known classic tale and went “ oh this can be so much gayer” Not For The Faint Of Heart is a beautiful and entertaining story about finding yourself and letting yourself be cared for. Clem was absolutely hilarious and Mariel was so relatable. (she is an only child but she is so hispanic eldest daughter coded) All of Mariel’s crew were incredibly interesting and important and I definitely didn’t cry when Baxter died. All together this is a beautiful and fun read!

Not for the Faint of Heart is another fantastic YA romance by author Lex Croucher. This reimagining of Robin Hood with a queer romantic adventure that had me hooked from the very first pages. The story is completely unique but we know the world it is set in from Robin Hood to Sherwood Forest, to the Sheriff of Nottingham. Robin Hood's granddaughter has much to prove, Mariel just can't seem to please her father and gain his trust. After kidnapping Clem, who is a talented healer and a ray of sunshine, her group needs to put her skills to use almost immediately. As they work to free her captured father, Jack, Mariel starts to see that things have changed under her father's leadership. Are the Merry Men still in the right and are they doing the work that her grandfather started?

I loved this grumpy sunshine duo. Clem is an amazing character. She can make the best of a bad situation and raise spirits as well as heal wounds. The story has a well-developed adventure. There is action and fighting, but we also get to know the characters. The group that Mariel is the captain of is close and like a family. Their personalities and importance to the group added depth to the story. It was to root for this group even as the author showed us how much Mariel still needed to grow.

I have loved all of Lex Croucher's books but this one may be my favorite so far. I am anxious to see what is next.
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Wednesday Books for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

This was such a delightfully funny read, and I’m so glad for it! Clem is kidnapped by Mariel and her Merry Men — ahem, I mean “a collection of people experiencing a full range of emotions” and so kicks off an adventure in this queer YA novel. The crew consists of several mismatched characters with the singular goal of living up to Robin Hood’s name under the leadership of their captain, Mariel Hartley-Hood (yes, his granddaughter).

I appreciated how the author dealt with Mariel’s complicated relationship with both her parents and the accompanying trauma that it has caused in her life. Most importantly, however, I loved the character of Clem — her hilarious asides and general misguided optimism really made me give this book 5 stars. I liked this book so much more than Gwen and Art, and would recommend to anyone who wants a queer retelling of Robin Hood.

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

NetGalley prerelease review!

I do not, as a rule, read YA. Just the words "young adult" generally makes me dismiss a title. I am so glad I've given Lex Croucher an exception to this rule as Gwen and Art and now Not for the Faint of Heart are two of my favorite books of the past couple years. I am particularly a fan of this one, as the Robin Hood tales are some of my childhood/teenage favorites and it felt so magical to have a story told in the aftermath of those legends. All of the characters are massively lovable, including the initial (apparent) villain, and I got immediately so attached to all of them. I really enjoyed this start to finish and am greatly looking forward to its release.

I’m a huge fan of retellings or expansions of beloved favorites and Robin Hood is one of my all-time faves! Then the author makes it queer—I’m sold! But honestly, this was such a fun romp with love, great banter, and so much adventure! I absolutely loved Croucher’s first book and after reading this one, I know I will be reading everything they write!

Lex Croucher does it again!! I could not put this book down!
One of my favorite books so far this year. It has everything--Robin Hood setting, fantasy elements, romance, adventure, deeply relatable and engaging characters, believable dialogue, resonant character arcs and Croucher's wonderful sense of humor and timing.
The found family element in this book was profound and deeply emotional.
Clem is such an endearing protagonist--funny, dependable, brave, confident, but with deeply held trauma and history. Marian is the grumpy to Clem's sunshine but she carries so much on her shoulders--the care of her friends, her family's legacy, the complicated history that comes with that legacy.
This book made me laugh out loud, it made me cry. It made my heart ache and it made me yearn. I was on the edge of my seat and cheering these characters on. It made me want to hug them, make them a cup of tea, yell at them, and laugh around a fire with them.
All the stars. An absolute triumph of a book.

This was a fun story about what happens with the Merry Men after Robin Hood retires, featuring his granddaughter and a young village healer. If you like folklore and queer stories, this is worth a read. It's fast paced, adventurous, and emotional.

Mariel and Clem are both relatable characters in different regards, trying to do their best to help people and keep their friends alive.

I enjoyed this novel more than Lex Croucher's previous Gwen and Art Are Not in Love.

This book was so much fun. You have Mariel, who is the granddaughter of Robin Hood, and Clem, who is the healer that she's ordered to kidnap.

It's queer, it's diverse, it's full of adventure, and it has such a good grumpy/sunshine duo. Mariel might be one of the most stubborn characters I've read in a while (and we love her for it). The side characters are well developed and lovable, and the dynamic between the whole group is just sweet and endearing. The pacing is fairly quick, but it's an easier read, and the banter between all the characters is entertaining.

Lex Croucher has become an automatic buy author for me and this book has definitely solidified that. It was a spectacular read the characters were all so unique and felt so real I was laughing and crying along with them. This one is deffinitly a must read if you ask me!

Yet again, Croucher has captured my heart with a lovable cast of characters alongside a wonderfully paced and packed adventurous tale. This author will surely appeal to any reader searching for a heartwarming tale that will bring comfort and solace, a glimmer of hope in a chaotic world.

Lex Croucher's YA has never failed to hook me. I wasn't sure if this would top GWEN & ART, but it was so much fun. I loved the entire cast of characters and their relationships, and I found the plot and themes to be super well done. Mariel's character arc in particular felt very important for teen readers to read, and I can't wait to see where this author goes next! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Tottaly understated and unexpected is what I felt about these books. I did not expect to quickly fall in love with the story and characters like I did. Bravo

This book was an adventure and I was so glad to be in it! The chemistry between Clem and Mauriel was so so good, and every single interaction of theirs was intense. I went from laughing to crying to back laughing throughout reading this book, which made the reading experience so exciting. It was a queer take on Robin Hood, and I really loved all the queer elements. The stakes are always high and the journey is intense. I need to read more from this author immediately.

This book was wonderful!! I loved the cast of characters, especially the main two, Mariel and Clem. The romance was sweet and the plot around the Merry Men was gripping and well-done.

This is an action-packed adventure that deals with some very profound subjects. As always, with Lex Croucher, social and economic injustice is front and center, but also in this case, the issue of growing up without parents or with parents who are unloving, gives this book a gravitas that makes calling it a 'rom-com' quite inaccurate. I loved the riff on the Robin Hood story, and the cast of characters were complex and deeply drawn.
Clem was the true hero, in my opinion - a young woman of great courage and conviction. I would recommend this book to readers of fantasy adventure who like to be left with much to ponder on after the last page has been read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Not for the Faint of Heart is a Robin Hood retelling with queer characters and a queer romance. I appreciated the representation across the characters and the way that they were just part of who the characters were -- it wasn't about their struggles as LGBTQIA characters; they just existed as part of the story. Furthermore, strong, capable female and LGBTQIA characters who are leads and not side characters was exciting to read. For these reasons, I think this one is worth adding to any library. I enjoyed the dual POV and the ways the characters, especially the main characters, played off of each other. I would recommend it to anyone who likes retellings, myths, the story of Robinhood, or the time period.

Lex Croucher has done it again folks! They have created a beautiful retelling of Robin Hood while using the original characters from the old fable in their book. This book is an amazing story of unconventional friendship, found family, love, and loss, all in a neat little adventure package. The character and world-building are exquisite and you truly become absorbed into their writing.