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* Home * My Books * Browse ▾ * Recommendations * Choice Awards * Giveaways * New Releases * Lists * Explore * News & Interviews Genres * Art * Biography * Business * Children's * Christian * Classics * Comics * Cookbooks * Ebooks * Fantasy * Fiction * Graphic Novels * Historical Fiction * History * Horror * Memoir * Music * Mystery * Nonfiction * Poetry * Psychology * Romance * Science * Science Fiction * Self Help * Sports * Thriller * Travel * Young Adult * More Genres * Community ▾ * Groups * Quotes * Ask the Author * People * Sign in * Join Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $11.99 Rate this book GWEN & ART ARE NOT IN LOVE LEX CROUCHER 4.10 7,122 ratings2,505 reviews Want to read Kindle $11.99 Rate this book Heartstopper meets A Knight’s Tale in this queer medieval rom-com YA debut about love, friendship, and being brave enough to change the course of history. It’s been hundreds of years since King Arthur’s reign. His descendant, Arthur, a future Lord and general gadabout, has been betrothed to Gwendoline, the quick-witted, short-tempered princess of England, since birth. The only thing they can agree on is that they despise each other. They’re forced to spend the summer together at Camelot in the run-up to their nuptials, and within 24 hours, Gwen has discovered Arthur kissing a boy, and Arthur has gone digging for Gwen's childhood diary and found confessions about her crush on the kingdom's only lady knight, Bridget Leclair. Realizing they might make better allies than enemies, Gwen and Art make a reluctant pact to cover for each other, and as things heat up at the annual royal tournament, Gwen is swept off her feet by her knight, and Arthur takes an interest in Gwen's royal brother. Lex Croucher's Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is chock full of sword-fighting, found family, and romantic shenanigans destined to make readers fall in love. Show more GenresRomanceYoung AdultLGBTFantasyHistorical FictionQueerLesbian ...more 416 pages, Hardcover First published May 11, 2023 Book details & editions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,068 people are currently reading 50.8k people want to read -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THE AUTHOR LEX CROUCHER 7 books1,942 followers Follow Follow Lex Croucher grew up in Surrey, reading a lot of books and making friends with strangers on the internet, and now lives in London with an elderly cat. With a background in social media for NGOs, Lex now writes historical-ish rom coms for adults (REPUTATION, INFAMOUS) and historical fantasy rom coms for teenagers. GWEN AND ART ARE NOT IN LOVE is their YA debut. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- READERS ALSO ENJOYED Items 1 to 4 of 20 A Power Unbound Freya Marske 4.38 3,180 Imogen, Obviously Becky Albertalli 4.28 14.1k Iris Kelly Doesn't Date Ashley Herring Blake 4.25 11.5k Godly Heathens H.E. Edgmon 3.99 632 All similar books All similar books -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RATINGS & REVIEWS What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FRIENDS & FOLLOWING Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! COMMUNITY REVIEWS 4.10 7,122 ratings2,505 reviews 5 stars 2,475 (34%) 4 stars 3,185 (44%) 3 stars 1,228 (17%) 2 stars 189 (2%) 1 star 45 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,504 reviews hope anna 37 reviews Follow Follow January 17, 2023 I have it on good authority that this is not a retelling 169 likes 1 comment Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Snjez 797 reviews614 followers Follow Follow August 3, 2023 I really enjoyed this book for the first 70% or so. I found it very entertaining and the humor was right up my alley. All the characters are so well-written. They are a bunch of lovable idiots who sometimes find themselves in the most ridiculous situations. I can't even choose who my favourite was or whose relationship I loved the most. Gwen and Arthur were often pretty insufferable and bratty, but I absolutely loved their banter, as well as the banter between Arthur and Sid. Sid is such an amazing and loyal friend, I loved his friendship with Arthur so much. Gabe, Bridget and Agnes were just as wonderful and the romance part of the story was really sweet. The last 30% of the book caught me off guard a bit. One of the characters gets brutally attacked, off-page but there are extensive descriptions of his injuries, and there is a battle towards the end that was more violent than I would have expected. Up to that point, the story felt very lighthearted and humorous, so I definitely wasn't prepared for that. It's also not mentioned in the blurb. There were hints of who the 'bad guys' are and it wasn't hard to guess, but I still didn't expect such an outcome. I wish the author had kept it on the lighter side, because I don't think it fit with the rest of the story. I'd like to add that this story is not a retelling. It's just inspired by the Arthurian legend and takes place in the seemingly same world, but several generations after. It's humor and the medieval setting with a modern twist reminded me a lot of the movie A Knight's Tale and the Adventures in Aguillon series by Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey. Both are my favourites. 😊 Show more historical ya-fantasy ya-lgbtq 133 likes 2 comments Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- aggie. 83 reviews746 followers Follow Follow May 17, 2023 → 4.5 ☆ > “to be truly brave, first you must be afraid—and to be afraid, you must have > something you cannot bear to lose.” i loved the relationship dynamics throughout the book. everyone felt real, it was refreshing to read. quick disclaimer: this review (kind of) contains subtle spoilers, so beware. sid and art's friendship? perfect. they're unbreakable, humorous, and each other's best friend. i ADORE them together and as separate people. > “because he kissed me back.” > sidney gaped at him. “in the bird shed?” > “you’re awfully fixated on the bird shed.” sidney was so much fun. a former manwhore that has been wooed and wowed into a faithful man who only has eyes for agnes—who i also, undoubtedly, love dearly. sidney was so loyal, and you could feel his utmost love for art, who he stayed by the entire book and didn't once falter on his loyalty. his retorts to art's mood swings and little jabs would also count as a plus. > “ah,” sidney said wisely. “you just want him to hold you like a baby crow.” art, our local moody and alcoholic gay, made my heart ache. i felt personally attacked every time he used fake confidence to hide his self-doubts, or whenever he made self-depreciating jokes as a coping mechanism. he needs a hug! he needs a couple hundred hugs, but i'll settle for just one. a funny lad, he is. his banter with literally anyone had me giggling or puffing a little air out of my nose. > “better off dead.” he said it with such violent self-hatred, even > half-conscious, that gwen winced. gwen's character was annoying at first, she was judgmental, crass, and often felt like everything was targeted regardless of it was or not. i felt so proud seeing her character development! watching gwen grow from someone who assumed the worst and sort of outcasted herself to someone who was doing things out of her comfort zone and deepening her relationships. she becomes so sweet and an overall joy (flaws and all). she's also such an introvert, and i love that she's not forced to become some social butterfly. however, we do get to see her find a spine and her own voice. seeing her be more understanding of bridget's situation? mwah. > “it was dangerous to want things, and gwen was out of practice. in fact, the > only thing she had truly wanted for years was to be left alone.” BRIDGETTT! woman knight = perfection. i don't make the rules here, so... anywayy, i love her so much. she knows what she wants, and she doesn't let anybody tell her what they think she should. even though she faces soo much discrimination being the only female knight (to put herself out there), she still stays focused on her goal. she wants to be better, she wants to become a great knight, and she has no intentions of letting anybody try to force her to stop. > “but i didn’t say no to you, gwen. i said no to giving up my whole life to > wait around for moments with you, whenever you could spare them. that’s not > who i am, and it’s not what i want.” agnes, what a fantastic person. sidney + agnes >> they're so cute and i love them, they practically have hearts in their eyes every time they see each other. i love how we get to know her better as gwen gets to know her better, we get to see how much of a lovely person she actually is outside of gwen's assumptions. > “yes.” agnes should have been very angry at her—could have raged at gwen for > depriving her of her last glimpse of Sidney—but instead she reached over and > took gwen’s hand. overall, this was a really good (slight slowburn) romance. the only reason it isn't the full five stars, is because the politics kind of just hit me! of course, it makes sense later on, but the book wasn't engaged in the conflict enough for it to make sense until the climax. unrealistic, but cute ending, as well. ok, the end isn't like cute-cute because of obvious reasons, but i mean the veryy end. thank you to netgalley and wednesday books for this arc in exchange for an honest review mwah, alayla. 📖 Show more 2023 arc ebook 104 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marieke (mariekes_mesmerizing_books) 540 reviews454 followers Follow Follow March 12, 2023 Gwen & Art might not be in love, but I’m in love with them and with Gabriel, Bridget, and above all Sidney! F.T. Lukens’ vibrancy and banter meets Alexis Hall’s wit and drama. I have a soft spot for sadder and darker stories, but I’m also a sucker for stories full of delightful dialogues and sharp humor that pull the corners of my mouth up and make lights dance in my eyes. As soon as I read the first page, I knew this would be a five-star read. It’s funny. It’s heartfelt. It’s uplifting. It’s serious at times. Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a marvelous book that embraced me wholeheartedly and melted my heart. I cheered Bridget on when she jumped into a fight to save someone, and I said aww, when Gabriel took care of a wounded baby crow. I laughed out loud when Sidney told Art that he probably wanted to be held like a baby crow too, and Gwen and Art, well, they just captured my heart. Gwen, who needed to be a bit braver to color outside the lines, and Art, who hid his self-hatred behind a wild and playful mask. This historical YA romp is a delight, and I’m secretly hoping for a sequel! Read this one when it’s out in November 2023, everyone!!! You won’t be disappointed! Thank you so much, Gwyneth from Macmillan International, for sending me the ARC of this book! Follow me on Instagram Show more arc-netgalley-edelweiss history young-adult 82 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- lou 247 reviews501 followers Follow Follow January 25, 2023 these types of books are exactly what we queer people need. historical retellings that are gay as fuck because why do we need to hear over and over again the real history that's straight and boring when we can pretend this is what actually happened? right? buddy read with sea! this book was very emotional, especially the last chapters. it's a very slow paced book that if u take your time to enjoy and appreciate, you'll be given an incredible story that will forever be in your heart. the way the author wrote the characters reminded me of the way Alice Oseman wrote them in novels like Heartless and Loveless, and that couldn't be a better thing. everyone was charming and distinctive, and just a delight to read. following gwen who has to deal with how people see her and how she actually is, arthur who was loved carefree throughout his entire life and wants people to live like that too, gabe that it's the total opposite, not wanting any complications even if it means hiding a huge part of yourself and bridget, someone that has to carry the weight of everyone's judgements for wanting to be something else. lverall, this author just created an amazing story that will be comforting to many of us, and that's exactly what our community needs. Show more 5-stars arcs favorites-2023 85 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shannon 245 reviews31 followers Follow Follow Want to read January 6, 2023 thank fucking god someone wrote a gay arthurian tale. 78 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rachael 187 reviews178 followers Follow Follow May 13, 2023 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. *Update* I loved this book so much, that I even bought a special edition from Waterstones and paid for international shipping. Yeah… it’s THAT good. 💕 Show more best-of-2023 netgalley-arcs romcom-s 59 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hannah B. 965 reviews1,446 followers Follow Follow July 14, 2023 ✨A (Lusty) Knight’s Tale✨ *spoilers betwixt these lines below, proceed with caution* It was a bit too metal for me at the end. I definitely wouldn’t classify the second half of the book as a romance novel: too much death and limb loss (sorry but it’s no Kresley Cole). It took a while for the couples to pair off and then it took even longer for emotional things to develop and then there were battles and death and it never rest regained the happy, charming feel of the beginning. I think we definitely saw more growth between Gwen and Bridget, and I definitely was more convinced by their romance. I was actually living for it. The massage got me down SO BAD. I also liked how they compromised in their relationship at the end. But I definitely needed more from Art and Gabriel; I never was really sold that they were a good match. Gabriel was a tough nut to crack and since we didn’t have his POV, a lot of necessary inner monologue didn’t happen. Art and Gabriel were never really together, with Gabriel fully embracing who they were until the very last chapter. I adored Art, but yeah Gabriel needed to cook a bit longer. They had the makings of such a sweet relationship, but what we saw on page didn’t have too many sweet moments. For as long as the book was, the relationships really weren’t given enough space to develop, just with how the book was paced and plotted out. I guess the way the book ended in the last third needed to happen so they could all get their HEAs…but I guess I’m not entirely happy and honestly the characters didn’t really either?? Just sad and a bit miffed all around. The book was very long and kinda felt that way towards the end. Overall, The ambiance of the book was incredible, and it definitely hit that A Knight’s Tale modern historical mark, but I wish it developed the romances fully. I loved the friendships in the book as well. The one between Sidney and Arthur REALLY embodied that Heath Ledger and Alan Tudyk energy. I’d have preferred this book be split into two books in a duology, rather than the one with both relationships. But even then, I feel like the book as a whole will work better for me via audio, as that creates a more cinematic experience. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 Big spoilers: I’d also just prefer a nice father not get stabbed in the neck lol. On a scale of 1-Lion King…ngl I felt a bit like Simba reading that. Also I just do not think Gabriel was ready to be king, he didn’t break out into song ONCE with a persnickety hornbill. And Arthur was hurt for like 70% of the book, poor chap. Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own. Show more 2023-releases 45 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coco 871 reviews41 followers Follow Follow December 3, 2023 A fun and cute queer medieval rom-com. This story follows Gwendoline and her betrothed, the honorable Arthur. Against their will, they find themselves forced to spend the summer days together within the walls of Camelot. However, events take an unexpected turn when Gwen stumbles upon Arthur engaged in a passionate embrace with another young lad. But little does she know, Arthur is not unaware of her longing for Brigidet, a valiant lady knight in her realm. Realizing the potential advantages of their situation, they reach a pact to feign affection towards each other, all the while pursuing their true romantic interests. I absolutely adore the witty exchanges between Gwen and Arthur. However, I only wish the story had delved deeper into the secondary characters, allowing more growth and development alongside the main characters. Despite that, it was still a fun read. Perfect for fans of queer romance. ***Thank you to NetGalley, Lex Croucher, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.*** Show more arc-giveaway-freebie historical-fiction lgbtq ...more 41 likes 10 comments Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- megs_bookrack 1,688 reviews11.4k followers Follow Follow December 25, 2023 Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a Queer Medieval YA Rom-Com that is absolute sugar to read. I walked away feeling light and airy on its sweetness. This is a YA-debut for this author, and I'm really hoping we'll be seeing more from them in this space. I feel like this one definitely succeeded in what it set out to do. This story follows Gwen and Arthur, who have been betrothed since they were kids and they're not happy about it. The only thing they've had in common over the years is the ability to annoy one another. As they reach marriageable age, Arthur travels to Camelot to stay for the Summer in the lead up to their impending nuptials. It doesn't start off well, as Gwen catches Arthur kissing a boy, and Arthur discovers Gwen's long-held crush on the kingdom's only lady knight, Bridget Leclair. It's now clear that it's more than general disdain keeping them apart. Having a new found understanding for one another, and their predicament, the two make a pact to cover for each other as they pursue their love interests. This was adorable and so much fun. I think this would be a great fit for Readers who enjoy the style and feel of the Lady Janies books, such as My Lady Jane, or My Contrary Mary. I definitely recommend the audiobook. There is dual narration for Gwen and Arthur, which is incredibly well done. The narrators captured the spirit of these characters. The dynamic between Gwen and Arthur was the highlight for me. It was a bit of a journey of self-discovery for them both and I enjoyed watching them open up to one another. Through their honesty with themselves and each other, they were able to develop a much needed support system in their new friendship group. There is a strong found family element to this story, so if that is something you enjoy seeing, you'll definitely find it here. I enjoyed the level of humor that Croucher brought to this story and that it didn't get steamy at all. It's fun, playful and flirty, but without being drowned out in unnecessary details for characters who don't feel ready for all of that just yet. For me, I could have used a bit more action, intensity or intrigue in the overall plot, it was just lacking a little of that for me. That is 100% personal taste though, and you may not feel that at all when you read it. The action did amp up a bit right at the end, with a battle and some political changes, I just feel like I sort of needed a little more during the bulk of the story if I were going to give this a 5-star rating. At the end of the day, this is a hugely enjoyable story. It's heart-warming, it's fun and I would definitely recommend it to Readers looking for a fun Queer story, or for Readers who enjoy witty dialogue, or a Medieval setting. Thank you so much to the publisher, Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I will be picking up more from Lex Croucher! Show more arcs-read 40 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- may ➹ 502 reviews2,293 followers Follow Follow Want to read March 5, 2023 I’m not a YA romcom girlie anymore… but I’ll become one again for Thai sapphic character!!!!! 37 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anniek 1,929 reviews794 followers Follow Follow March 13, 2023 Don't read this for historical accuracy. Do read this for a perfect comfort read full of banter. It seems like YA historical fiction is starting to become more popular again, and I couldn't be happier about it. This is such a fun romcom, full of genuinely funny moments and dialogues, with both an f/f and m/m romance that I guarantee you will love. Like I said, it's an excellent comfort read, and I loved how it pokes fun at Arthurian legend. 1-2023-releases 2-ya 3-historical ...more 35 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amina 527 reviews326 followers Follow Follow August 15, 2023 ✰ 3.5 stars ✰ “To be truly brave, first you must be afraid – and to be afraid, you must have something you cannot bear to lose.” With Gwen and Art Are Not in Love, I felt that Lex Croucher was attempting to 'kill two birds with one stone' - trying to write a book that successfully portrayed a romance of two different pairings. It's a big feat to pull off - sometimes it's a hit, sometimes a miss. After reading it, though, I have to say that it was definitely the latter, for me. Gwen and Arthur may have been very unlikable characters at the start - not only to each other, but to me, as well - but what was very gratifying to watch was how their mixed and multiple experiences actually brought them closer together. Once their secrets were outed to each other, they shared a sense of camaraderie and kinship that actually made them appreciate one another. Arthur was VERY annoying at the start - I really could not stand him or anything that he was spouting from his mouth - believe me, I TRIED. 😥 But, as you learn more about him, get to see his real side, he became a better person in my eyes - but only a little bit. ‘Nobody else is ever going to care as much as you do about the things that you want, Gwendoline. So it’s up to you – you can put them aside forever, if you can live with that, or you can put on your big-girl girdle and demand more for yourself.’ Gwen and Bridget were a very cute couple. Gwen being so smitten over her knight in shining armor was adorably written and even if Bridget was the more sensible one of the two, I liked that Gwen was able to bring out the fun and frolic in her - even with her armor on - literally and figuratively. 🥰 Arthur and Sidney were a fun pair - their banter wasn't so much very funny and witty, rather snarky and clever, which really showed how close best friends they were, that genuinely cared for each other. 💕💕 ‘No,’ Arthur said, sounding unconvincing even to himself. ‘I don’t. But he intrigues me. And he feels like one of my own, you know? I ought to help. Tell him he doesn’t have to be a lost lamb, stealing kisses in secret and then agonising over them afterwards.’ ‘Ah,’ Sidney said wisely. ‘You just want him to hold you like a baby crow.’ ‘Oh, go to hell. It’s not like that.’ ‘I mean, for one thing, I don’t really believe you,’ said Sidney. ‘And for another – don’t you think you should meet people where they are?’ Strangely enough, the only character I really did like was Gabriel - despite his own personal misgivings and view on the world, I would have liked to have known more about him. Maybe I'm so accustomed to dual POV's alternating between the two love interests, I FELT SOMEWHAT deprived of getting a glimpse into his mind - what he was thinking, what he was truly feeling at those moments with Arthur. 😢 The chapters alternated between Gwen and Arthur's perspectives at a rather imbalanced rate. They didn't feel like the story was progressing at each meeting - it was more like reading a glimpse into a diary entry to one said part of their life and then we don't get any immediate follow-up to it, jumping right into the other character's situation. And as each chapter was relatively short, it would then be almost a necessity to have another chapter from said character's POV, to complete that scene. I mean, what's the point of alternating POVs one at a time, and then having two chapters dedicated solely to the character's POV? It just makes for inconsistency and abrupt cut-offs without really allowing the depth of the story to sink in. 🤔 The ending was bittersweet rightfully so, but rather abrupt; unless the author intends to continue the story, I would have liked some more closure to how people would react to the future king and his shift in values. I am glad everyone got their own version of a happy ending, in whatever possible way conceivable, but it just felt like something was missing to tie it all together. 😔 If you enjoyed that movie from yester-year, The Knight's Tale, then I'm sure the writing would definitely be to your liking. It was just too hip, too modern, too uncharacteristically unfitting to the timeline it was representing. I get that it's 'historical-ish' and I should just treat it as an Arthurian romcom set in a medieval-ish setting, but there's only so much I can take when 'shit' is part of their daily vocabulary or knowing what century the characters were living in! 😩 Perhaps it was intentional to be as ambiguous as possible about the world-building, but it just left room for me to contemplate that I might in fact be reading a story set in modern times, acting as if they were living in the past. I shouldn't take these things too seriously, but it does - to no fault at all to the author who will definitely have readers who don't mind it in the slightest. I wish I could have liked it more as a cute fun YA romcom with a modernish medieval twist, because I really feel like a dark cloud over the happy and promising reactions to it. 😶🌫️ There's a lot of potential for this to be series - one in which, I would appreciate that there are books dedicated solely to one pairing. Believe me, there would be so much more growth to the characters - some time for us to actually digest their interactions and get a little understanding into their own thoughts and feelings. 🤷 Show more true-threes 34 likes 2 comments Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell Author 52 books18.9k followers Follow Follow Want to read January 18, 2023 Very curious what a medieval rom-com looks like. Do they have a meet-cute in the apothecary when they each reach for the same leech to bleed out the humors from their plague pustules? I GUESS I'LL FIND OUT 31 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- amy ☆ | cabeswriter_ 107 reviews28 followers Follow Follow May 25, 2023 the gay arthurian story bbc was too afraid to give us 30 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Linh 247 reviews10 followers Follow Follow November 29, 2023 Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is one of the best rom-com I've read this year. Fun and funny. The medieval settings are quite unique. I love the heavy Arthurian references, although that makes it a bit disappointing that there wasn't any real magic in this book's world. 😅 But then that gives space to more romance, comedy, and less dense/info-dumpy worldbuilding; all of which I enjoyed. The ending was... surprising. I'll leave it at that, but would love to discuss it with anyone who'd like to. I'd recommend this book! Show more 29 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Laura 216 reviews42 followers Follow Follow April 29, 2023 *The publisher has provided me with an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.* DNF at 35% Kurt Vonnegut once famously said that true terror is waking up one morning to discover your high school classmates running the country. I'll raise him a millennial variation: true terror is reading a book that you can tell was written by someone who used Tumblr at the same time you did. You guys, I tried with this book. I tried REALLY HARD. I wanted to like it; I requested an ARC in the first place because I thought it sounded cute. And it is cute - an extremely self-aware, winking-at-the-reader, poisoned-by-pop-culture-irony sort of cute. This is a book that quotes the memefied "epic highs and lows of high school football" Riverdale line in a medieval fantasy romance. (Side note: I'm fairly certain that this particular meme never broke Tumblr containment, and Tumblr these days is largely populated by thirtysomethings. But this book is aimed, ostensibly, at teenagers. If they recognize the line at all, the only emotion it's going to evoke is puzzlement at why this novel is quoting a CW soap.) Yes, the book is overflowing with anachronisms in the dialogue (King Arthur isn't dead, he's "on sabbatical") but the problem with that is, the author wants to have their cake and eat it too; the reader is meant to chuckle knowingly at these modern references, but Croucher also clearly wants them to take the emotional stakes seriously. And I'm sorry, but it doesn't work like that. You can be a Shrek-style sneering goof fest, or you can take your plot and characters seriously. In trying to do both, this book succeeds in doing neither. And honestly? Even if the obnoxious tone hadn't overwhelmed the story for me, the cardboard cutout characters and worldbuilding would have finished the job. I could tell you from the jump which archetype everyone was meant to slot into: Art is the cocky jerk nursing a secret vulnerability over the expectations his father has placed on him (yes, Lex Croucher, I also watched BBC's Merlin back in the day), Gwen is a Hermione-style priss whose "awkwardness" came across more like a chip on her shoulder, Gabriel is the sad, studious gay boy who is no doubt intended to launch a million tiktok edits to whatever song is trending right now (the Wylan, if you will), and Bridget is - actually, Bridget is a glorified prize for Gwen's character development, because she certainly has none of her own. She's a Pinterest board titled "hot lady knight aesthetic" and not much else. The worldbuilding is likewise a mess - this book takes place in the real world, we know that because there are mentions of England and Norway and Catholics, but also England is split between Catholics and "cultists" (people who believe in/worship the legends of King Arthur) and also, see above re: the proliferation of anachronisms that are just there for the sake of a joke. If Croucher isn't taking any of this seriously, why should I? Now, to be fair, I did DNF this book, and it's possible that the author pulls a 180 in the back half that retroactively justifies every issue I had with the first hundred pages. But it's quite frankly too little, too late, because if the beginning of your book - the part you present to the reader in an attempt to hook them - is this messy, this smug, this convinced of its own nonexistent charm, your readers are not going to stick around for a third act heel turn. Show more genre-ya 28 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- dani ༊ 140 reviews180 followers Follow Follow July 5, 2023 ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 4/5 stars read if you like: ♡ dual pov ♡ very loose arthurian inspiration ♡ queer, medieval & knightly escapades ♡ lgbtqia+ rep ➸ you will never meet a more lovable pair of bickering beards than art and gwen. a ruthlessly hilarious and buoying coming of age rom-com, gwen & art are not in love grapples with themes of friendship, sexuality and self-acceptance in the face of external expectations - all cast in the melodrama of teenage angst. ➸ it would be a sisyphean task to try to find two individuals who get along more poorly than the ferocious princess of england, gwen, and the dissipated nobleman’s son/descendent of the fabled king arthur, art. and yet in a stroke of extraordinarily ill-luck, they have been shackled to an engagement between them since birth. locked in a frosty battle of wills with no detente in their foreseeable future, things come to a boil when they’re forced to spend time together for an entire summer at camelot until the day the wedding bells ring for them. not even a day has passed when art is caught in flagrante with another boy by gwen and it dawns on them that they might have more in common than they would like to believe. ➸ as a character-driven novel, it should come as no surprise that, sweepingly, every character figuring in it is unfailingly and ineffably worthy of adoration. not only that, but they are each of them so unlike one another that crouch virtually caters to every palate. don’t like abrasive and dagger-tongued gwen whose self-imposed social isolation forms the plate of her armour? well then why don’t you try your luck with the callous and rakish art, whose barbs and debauchery are no more than a front for a vulnerable young man compelled to hide the truth of his sexuality and thereby hide his all? still no? not to worry, there’s still gwen’s reticent and sweet brother, gabriel, mournfully peering out from the bars of his cage as future king. and if none of the above have secured your attention there is always the good-humored sidney pumping out jokes which will have you bent double ten ways from sunday. or the admirably brave and self-possessed bridget, or, failing all else - the lovely agnes. with a cast like this one, suffused with the chemistry of popping candy, lively and well-timed verbal jousting is therefore a foregone conclusion. ➸ crouch’s debut ya novel is absolutely overflowing with sugar-spun prose and a thoughtful mix of era-appropriate lexicon as well as more facetious modern-day idiom. this is not a historical fiction work nor a retelling and in skirting the limitations of such, crouch is given more room to play around with the story and keep it all fairly light-hearted/unpretentious. that is, until we enter the last third of the novel wherein the tone assumes a darker pitch. this variation of the novel’s character stumbled on so suddenly i experienced a tremendous degree of whip-lash and not for the better. by the end however, i came to a slightly begrudged acceptance of this new direction for the plot and the ending was beautiful albeit tempered with bittersweetness. ➸ conclusion : a divinely soft and alternately heart-wrenching tale of awkwardly coming into one’s own, i will cherish gwen & art are not in love with every particle of my being. thank you netgalley for the arc ! Show more arcs 27 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lyra (Cardan's tail's version) 310 reviews582 followers Follow Follow July 1, 2023 I need to stop reading books and start writing reviews but review to come for this lil cutie review-to-come rtc 26 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lauren Lanz 743 reviews270 followers Follow Follow January 16, 2023 Gwen & Art—a princess & a noble—are betrothed to be married, but find themselves far from loving each other considering they're both queer. Gwen can’t help admiring the only woman competing in the palace’s tournament of knights, while Art is falling for Gwen’s brother, the prince soon-to-be king. Unconventional royal romances are a lot more fun that I give them credit for. This one was an all-around good time with easy banter between protagonists, and several heartwarming moments between both couples. Art and his bodyguard were too funny for their own good, while Gwen and her brother tugged at my heartstrings all throughout this story. I flew through this book in a day, which is a commendable achievement considering how slowly I’ve been reading because of school. Art was easily the standout character for me. Something about effortlessly charming (and effortlessly dumb) character have the key to my heart. The consistent drunken humour was top tier. This, paired with the fact that he began falling for Ben because of how kindly he treated his bird (and animals in general) was possibly the greatest thing ever. Animal lovers rule! My only qualm with this book was the flimsy world-building. I found it hard to care about the magical politics in a book that is centrally focused on romance, so I didn’t piece together much of what was going on in that regard until the final scene. To Croucher’s credit, I was honestly shocked by how crazy the climax was. When I tell you I was stressed for these characters, I mean it. It’s a shame the ending wasn’t a bit longer, I really wanted more!! This was a really fun story, with so much genuine heart and meaning spread throughout both protagonists’ experiences! Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the arc! Show more 4-stars arcs 25 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pooja Peravali Author 2 books73 followers Follow Follow September 15, 2023 Hundreds of years after the time of Arthur Pendragon, his descendent Arthur Delacey is betrothed to Gwen, the princess of England. If only she wasn't more interested in the only female knight in the realm; if only he wasn't more interested in her brother... I picked up this book because I was excited by the premise, which seemed sure to have plenty of humor and romance, and because I was interested in the setting, which is a sort of alternate history set in an England where King Arthur is a factual figure whose life and rule is an important part of the country's heritage. This is a very cute book, populated with lovable characters. I really liked that the developing friendship between Gwen and Arthur was given as much attention as their respective romances with Bridget and Gabriel. It was fun seeing Gwen come out of her prickly shell, and Arthur was just a ridiculous rogue. I also really loved Sid and Agnes, who are often much more sensible than the people they work for. There's plenty of cute, humorous moments throughout that had me laughing out loud. However, I did think that the book suffered from an uneven tone. The first half of the book is very light-hearted, so the sudden swerve into much darker territory in the second half is jarring, even though the actual plot points were foreshadowed earlier on. I feel that I would have enjoyed the book better had the escalation in stakes was smoother. I also wished we got more of an understanding of Bridget and Gabriel; though we spend plenty of time with them, I didn't feel that we got in their heads as much as I would have liked, especially Bridget. Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review. Show more arcs 24 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- bee ꒰ა♡໒꒱ 136 reviews29 followers Follow Follow August 5, 2023 thank you to netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book! this was so... wow. i've always toed around the line of historical books, because sometimes i like them, and sometimes i don't, so this was an absolute treat for me. i devoured this in a few hours, that's how good this was. all of our characters were easy to enjoy (to no one's surprise, my favorite was gwen.) and their relationships were easy to root for. this placed a heavy emphasis on accepting yourself, rather than focusing on everyone else's expectations and standards, and it makes me really, really happy to see themes like this in books for queer youth! especially with this being a romcom, i think the heavier themes and topics were handled incredibly well and in a way that wasn't too "light", yet didn't weigh the book down either. all in all, completely lived up to my expectations. the writing style was light and easy to follow, the characters were lovable, and the story had me hooked from start to finish. 5 stars! Show more 2023-reads comfort-books favorites ...more 22 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colby 115 reviews44 followers Follow Follow December 26, 2022 GWEN & ART ARE NOT IN LOVE is everything i want in a novel. a queer, medieval rom-com following the undesired betrothal of the princess of england and the descendant of king arthur himself, lex croucher’s upcoming young adult debut is a gorgeous exploration of love, friendship, history, and self-discovery that joyfully tears down the idea that we must sacrifice our truths to be happy and make a difference in the world. no book i’ve read all year has made me laugh, cry, and read with such breathless abandon as this and i can’t wait to make myself as dramatic and insufferable as possible about it in the new year. thank you to macmillan/wednesday books and edelweiss+ for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Show more favorites 22 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- charlotte, 3,311 reviews959 followers Follow Follow May 7, 2023 read my review here Rep: bi mc, British Iranian gay mc with depression, Thai sapphic li, gay li, Black side character achillean historical-fiction knights-chivalry-and-so-forth ...more 23 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- mary (ferrari's version) 134 reviews63 followers Follow Follow July 23, 2023 This is the absolute best book I've read this year. Thank you NetGallery for providing me with an opportunity to read it! GET THIS: KNIGHTS BUT THEYRE QUEER I loved every single part of it, it managed to keep me engaged and interested for the whole of its 416 pages, which is, frankly, quite rare for me. We follow a princess, Gwen, and her betrothed, Arthur, and they are as much in love as this book is an arthurian retelling, which is not at all. In fact, Gwen has eyes for a knight, Bridget that comes to participate in the tournament every year, and Arthur is starting to feel something he definitely isn't supposed to, towards the heir to the English throne, Gwen's brother, Gabriel. This book is an absolutely delightful rom-com, full of humour as well as heartfelt moments that will bring tears to your eyes. I fell in love with the characters, my favourite ended up being Gabriel, he won me over with his sweetness, shyness, and determination to do the right thing. I was sooo invested in every relationship in this book (special shoutout goes to Sidney and Agnes, love them), I was giggling, kicking my feet, and twirling my hair. I lived for the cultural references in this book, which I know isn't for everybody, but they really made me fall in love with this book. Mt favourite parts of this book were definitely towards the end, but also the scene in the shed??? and the first kiss between Gwen and Bridget??? iconic, outstanding, never done before. Love it. Everybody should read this. Show more 2023 2023-releases-im-excited-for favorites ...more 21 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- vanessa (effiereads) 263 reviews85 followers Follow Follow October 21, 2023 october 21, 2023 audiobook was so so good! apr 7, 2023 - second read god i love these medieval idiots. i laughed my ass of again. i sobbed again. i fell in love with this rag tag group of stumbling kids who form a family within themselves, somewhere they truly feel seen and belong, and i feel so happy for them. if you haven’t already, pre-order this book!! jan 4, 2023 - first read “It was dangerous to want things, and Gwen was out of practice. in fact, the only thing she had truly wanted for years was to be left alone.“ MOOD, gwen. look, this review is gonna be a mess cos i can barely form thoughts about my love for this book but let’s try & get something coherent on the grid shall we? ‘gwen and art are not in love’ is the queer, medieval ya rom-com you didn’t know you needed in your life. told through the dual-pov of the fiery princess gwendoline & her betrothed, arthur (who is actively avoiding living up to his namesake), we find ourselves on the brink of the annual royal tournament. only after a night of revealed secrets, the begrudged pair find they have more in common than they thought and decide to become allies instead. ✨ first off, this book is FUNNY. i was maybe 6 pages in, hit with one ridiculous riverdale reference, and i didn’t stop laughing. lex has this way of being so effortlessly funny in their work that it’s a joy to just turn the page and see what new hilarity awaits you. second, the characters. omg, this book had me hair-twirling, kicking my feet giddy & in no time, i found myself a little bit in love with all of them. arthur and his swagger and sarcasm - “needing to be constantly entertained” as a front for his pain; gwen’s snarky, anxious mouth as she navigates the world and her heart; gabriel with his ink-stained fingertips and messy hair, struggling with his destiny; the dreamboat knight, lady bridget, filled with so much ambition, courageous and confident— to quote gwen, “god, i hope she stabs me.” —don’t even get me started on sidney!! i love all of my children equally but sidney fitzgilbert‼️ i would be proud to have sid by my side 🥹 this book messed me UP tho. i’m glad i had mariko to hold my hand bc i wouldn’t have survived otherwise lmaooo i had to make a playlist just to cope tbh so 🫠 before i go, i’d just like to say lady bridget le clair if u read this, i am free on thursday night. if you are also free on thursday, we could go out on thursday when i am free. 😌 Show more history-huh lmaooooo reread-whenst 19 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- akacya ❦ 1,140 reviews244 followers Follow Follow January 25, 2023 2023 reads: 32/350 2023 tbr: 13/100 buddy read with lou! new comfort book just dropped<3 gwen and art are not in love. in fact, they can’t stand each other. but they are promised to each other due to a deal their fathers made when they were young. they’re spending the summer together in camelot, where gwen lives, and within twenty-four hours they discover something about each other: gwen saw arthur kissing a boy, and arthur found gwen’s diary, in which she describes lady leclair very romantically. they agree to cover for each other, which proves especially helpful as gwen grows closer to lady leclair…and arthur to gwen’s brother. ahhh i thought this would be a five-star read, but i didn’t go in expecting it to be a new favorite. i can definitely see myself revisiting this book. there were so many funny moments, and i actually laughed out loud at some points. plus, all the romantic moments were so sweet, and i loved both of the main couples (+ the side couple) so much. i fell in love with each character and was so sad to say goodbye at the end. i highly recommend to anyone looking for a queer historical romance that will make you laugh, swoon, and even cry. Show more arcs-finished audience-young-adult favorites ...more 23 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- gray (my.rainbow.bookshelf) 251 reviews36 followers Follow Follow September 23, 2023 September 2023 reread: if it's possible I think I might have had even more fun during my reread than the first time I read this :) February 2023: what the actual hell am I supposed to do now that this book is over? I would give my life for every single one of the citrus six and truly don't know how I'm going to cope without them 😭 --- It’s been centuries since the legendary King Arthur reigned, and now his descendent future lord Arthur Delacey has been betrothed to Gwen, the princess of Camelot, much to both of their dismay. Gwen and Arthur despise each other and can’t seem to agree on anything except the fact that are very much Not In Love. However, when Gwen discovers Arthur kissing a boy and Arthur finds out about Gwen’s crush on the knight Lady Leclair, the two reluctantly agree to help each other out, potentially changing history in the process. It’s been days and I’ve yet to stop thinking about Gwen and Art Are Not In Love. I had some pretty high expectations going into this book, but never in my wildest dreams did I think Gwen, Arthur, and the rest of the Citrus Six (I’m taking full responsibility for this name) would make themselves as at home in my heart as quickly (and rightfully) as they did. And now that they’re there, I don’t think I’ll ever let them go. There’s Gwen with her spitfire temper and anxiety ridden heart, still trying to figure out where she belongs in this world; Arthur with his sarcasm and bravado, hiding behind humor to conceal his true fears; Bridget with her sword and ambition, determined to keep fighting no matter what; Gabriel with his books and quiet demeanor and his steadfastness to do the right thing for his country (even if it’s not what’s right for himself); and Sidney and Agnes with their constant support and protectiveness toward their friends. Each one a messy, imperfect thread to the embroidery on Gwen’s tapestry. Separately, they might be a bit all over the place, but over time, as they grow and change and slowly weave their way into each other’s lives, growing closer and closer until they’re one big intertwined family- god it was beautiful. Enemies to found family hits so different and this book was no exception. There’s also something to be said about how special historical fiction is, especially stories like this one. One that carves out a little pocket of time and space and makes it so beautifully real, tangible, and fun. And especially one that leaves no room for speculating: queer people truly have been here all along, even in the most unlikely of places, and we will always be here. Gwen and Art might be fictional, but their presence in history is anything but, and the reminder of their existence has me feeling both humbled and very grateful. Gwen and Art Are Not In Love somehow managed to exceed all my expectations and I’m still trying to figure how to cope with it being over. Despite Suffering through a good 15% of this book, it’s easily one of the funniest, most heartfelt books I’ve ever come across and I felt right at home in its pages. I feel so lucky to have a physical copy so I can give it all the hugs and kisses it deserves. Go ahead and do yourself a favor and preorder this one- you won’t regret it. Show more books-i-m-obsessed-with sapphics warm-hugs-comfort-reads 15 likes 1 comment Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X 736 reviews Follow Follow March 12, 2023 “A Knight’s Tale, but make it queer.” If you heard that sentence, knocked over your pint of ale in excitement, and demanded of your trusty companion, “who do I have to joust to read THAT?” then this is the book for you! Yes, okay, I LOVED it. (1) The perfect amount of historical (in)accuracy, especially for YA. When people are like “you have to know the rule book before you can throw it out”… well I don’t think that’s necessarily true but I do think you need to know the *history* book before you can throw it out and this author absolutely does. Ngl I saw their previous books and was like “oh god, somebody else writing unrealistic under-researched Regency romance? Just throw ‘em on the pile I guess.” And now I have to go pull ‘em OUT of the metaphorical pile so I can read them because clearly this author knows what they’re doing! And this is the kind of book where you can tell you’re just getting a snapshot - there’s so much more that you just get to see the edges of. Which is WILDly impressive to pull off in this almost theme-park-medieval tone. (2) I want to say specifically that this book’s plot? Genius. Just… reeling me in like a fish! I NEEDED to know what was going to happen. And it works because there are four main characters and a bunch of others and yet they all feel so sharply drawn, like all the author had to do once they’d figured them out was toss them in the same setting and then take notes as incredibly compelling chaos ensued. (3) I mean, Gwen & Art & Bridget & Gabriel… lovable, bad decision-making teenagers, all of them! There was a moment maybe two-thirds of the way through where Gwen was the emotionally perceptive one and I literally laughed out loud in astonishment and delight. Just… Ah! How is this book so GOOD?! Look it starts strong, ends strong, and is also strong in all the parts in the middle. Did I mention the plot??? I was on the edge of my seat needing to know what was going to happen with the cultists and Art’s dad, I just KNEW there was something brewing and I was so stressed and yet somehow it all worked out happily but sadly but perfectly?? Show more netgalley-arc st-martins-press 17 likes Like Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Katie.dorny 1,031 reviews629 followers Follow Follow September 20, 2023 Already read in 2023 but for some reaspn this back on my to be read list...le sigh I will read anything Lex Croucher writes 2023 lgbtq 16 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,504 reviews More reviews and ratings JOIN THE DISCUSSION 16 quotes 2 discussions 3 questions CAN'T FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center COMPANY * About us * Careers * Terms * Privacy * Interest Based Ads * Ad Preferences * Help WORK WITH US * Authors * Advertise * Authors & ads blog * API CONNECT * * * * © 2023 Goodreads, Inc. DISCOVER & READ MORE Sign up to get better recommendations with a free account Continue with Amazon Sign up with email Already a member? 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