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kickitupanotch7's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Gore, War, Death of parent, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Colonisation, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Classism
fanboyriot's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
♡ Rom Com
♡ Royal Fantasy Vibes
♡ The Lady Gets the Knight (but make it Sapphic)
I loved the humor in this book. The way the characters interacted was nicely done as well.
When I read this I wasn’t in much of a mood for it but pushed through and ended up really enjoying it. The plot wasn’t too confusing as some fantasy books can be, but this kept my interest. It was such an entertaining read.
And the queer rep was better than I was expecting actually.
Spice Level: n/a
Angst Level: 💧(1/5)
POV: Duel, Third Person
Release Date: 28, November 2023
Rep: Sapphic (Main Couple), Achillean (Main Couple), Thai (Side Character), Biracial Iranian/White (Side Character)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death, War, Death of parent, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Blood
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Vomit, Grief, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Murder, Misogyny, Sexism, Alcohol, and Medical content
Minor: Kidnapping, Animal death, Gaslighting, Biphobia, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Gore, and Outing
artsycupcake's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Physical abuse, Death, War, Violence, and Death of parent
sneaky_snake22's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Great book, very sweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Violence
jkneebone's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Gwen and Art Are Not in Love takes place in a sort of alternate-history, King Arthur-inspired England. In this world, Arthur and co. are distant, maybe-mythological figures who still heavily influence the political landscape of England - the country is ruled by Catholics, but there is also a faction of cultists who believe that King Arthur was a real person who will eventually return to rule again.
Against this backdrop, we have the story of Gwen (the princess) and Arthur (a lord's son who is descended from/named for the legendary king himself), who have been betrothed since they were children. There's just one problem: they absolutely hate each other. Although they haven't seen each other since they were children, when Gwen tricked Arthur into breaking his arm, this is the summer they are finally going to be married. So Arthur and his manservant/best friend/bodyguard Sidney arrive in Camelot, glad to be away from Arthur's controlling father and ready to wreak havoc.
Although our POV characters are Gwen and Art, we also get a lot of screen time from Gabe, Gwen's bookish older brother who is the reluctant heir to the throne; Bridget, the only female knight in the country, who Gwen is fascinated by; the aforementioned Sidney; and Agnes, Gwen's lady-in-waiting. The impetus of the plot is that, after Gwen and Art discover that they both aren't interested in marrying someone of the opposite gender, they decide to pretend to be infatuated with each other to get everyone else off of their scents. Although at first they are still putting up with each other, they eventually become friends, while also growing their romantic relationships with other characters.
One thing I really enjoyed about Gwen and Are Are Not in Love was how it felt fresh and modern, but also semi-believably historic. Croucher clearly put some thought into the King Arthur-obsessed alternate historical background, and it paid off. The characters were diverse in terms of race, sexuality, and even neurodivergence, but not in a way that felt like putting modern diagnoses or terms into a setting where they didn't belong. (Maybe it's just my reading, but I definitely got neurodiverse vibes from most of the main characters, haha.) The dynamics between all of the different characters were equally lovely - Gwen and Gabe's sweet sibling relationship, Gwen and Art's reluctant friendship, Sidney being so ride-or-die for Arthur, and of course the romantic relationships as well - and I loved how they all became a group working together by the end. I also liked the backstory/subplot of unrest between the Catholics and the cultists, and Gabe's preparation for becoming the next king of England.
For me, this is only a 3.5 star read rather than a 4 star read because of the tone shift at the end.Although I didn't really mind the suddenly raised stakes of the battle, I wish that Gwen had been given more of an opportunity to shine w/r/t strategy and kingdom management, which I thought was where things were headed. And even though part of me liked the ending, I did feel it was a little too happily-ever-after - even in this alternate history, I thought Gabe announcing all of their relationships was pushing credulity. I would have liked it better if they'd come up with some kind of plan to let them fly under the radar for longer. However, I do think it is a super fun read. It's not actually a fantasy, but it has more fantasy than historical fiction vibes; I think the feel is modern enough that even readers who aren't usually into those genres might be persuaded to give it a go.
In terms of language (none/extremely minimal) and sexual content (on page kissing and extremely brief allusions to more) this is totally high school appropriate. I'd hesitate to hand it to a younger reader because Arthur and Sidney are drunk a lot in the first half-ish of the book. Obviously this is a situation where the characters are teenagers, but adults in the world of the story, so it's not underage as such; it's also made pretty clear by the other characters' reactions - and even Arthur's own self reflection - that he knows his drinking is a problem.He even decides to stop at the end of the book, although it's fairly glossed over. That being said, it felt excessive and uncomfortable to me as an adult reader, because it was clearly unhealthy, but I wouldn't want this to be a younger reader's first introduction to how teenagers should or do interact with alcohol.
Against this backdrop, we have the story of Gwen (the princess) and Arthur (a lord's son who is descended from/named for the legendary king himself), who have been betrothed since they were children. There's just one problem: they absolutely hate each other. Although they haven't seen each other since they were children, when Gwen tricked Arthur into breaking his arm, this is the summer they are finally going to be married. So Arthur and his manservant/best friend/bodyguard Sidney arrive in Camelot, glad to be away from Arthur's controlling father and ready to wreak havoc.
Although our POV characters are Gwen and Art, we also get a lot of screen time from Gabe, Gwen's bookish older brother who is the reluctant heir to the throne; Bridget, the only female knight in the country, who Gwen is fascinated by; the aforementioned Sidney; and Agnes, Gwen's lady-in-waiting. The impetus of the plot is that, after Gwen and Art discover that they both aren't interested in marrying someone of the opposite gender, they decide to pretend to be infatuated with each other to get everyone else off of their scents. Although at first they are still putting up with each other, they eventually become friends, while also growing their romantic relationships with other characters.
One thing I really enjoyed about Gwen and Are Are Not in Love was how it felt fresh and modern, but also semi-believably historic. Croucher clearly put some thought into the King Arthur-obsessed alternate historical background, and it paid off. The characters were diverse in terms of race, sexuality, and even neurodivergence, but not in a way that felt like putting modern diagnoses or terms into a setting where they didn't belong. (Maybe it's just my reading, but I definitely got neurodiverse vibes from most of the main characters, haha.) The dynamics between all of the different characters were equally lovely - Gwen and Gabe's sweet sibling relationship, Gwen and Art's reluctant friendship, Sidney being so ride-or-die for Arthur, and of course the romantic relationships as well - and I loved how they all became a group working together by the end. I also liked the backstory/subplot of unrest between the Catholics and the cultists, and Gabe's preparation for becoming the next king of England.
For me, this is only a 3.5 star read rather than a 4 star read because of the tone shift at the end.
In terms of language (none/extremely minimal) and sexual content (on page kissing and extremely brief allusions to more) this is totally high school appropriate. I'd hesitate to hand it to a younger reader because Arthur and Sidney are drunk a lot in the first half-ish of the book. Obviously this is a situation where the characters are teenagers, but adults in the world of the story, so it's not underage as such; it's also made pretty clear by the other characters' reactions - and even Arthur's own self reflection - that he knows his drinking is a problem.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Homophobia
fatimaelf's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a fun read! It felt like a weird rom-com, found family book for about two-thirds of it, then turned quickly into a fast-paced espionage royalty novel as the ending picked up a whole lot of speed. This book isn’t set in Arthurian times, but a hundred years after, but it kind of resembles modern times in terms of attitudes and speech — minus, of course, the pretense of monarchy, knights, and tourneys. The cultists versus the Catholics, though, felt very relevant. I will say that I found Arthur unbearable for a lot of the book; his sarcasm, barbs, and general demeanor were just cruel, and the explanation of his abusive father didn’t do enough to make him sympathetic. I would have liked to have seen much more interaction between Arthur and Gwen, Gwen and Bridget, and Arthur and Gabriel, because all of their relationships felt just a bit rushed, but I enjoyed when they came together and the dialogue was witty and fun. The world building was sufficient for a YA novel, and did a great job of setting each scene. The ending wasn’t quite unexpected — it wasn’t a book that relied too heavily on mystery — but it was satisfying enough and I put the book down feeling as if it had delivered its promise. Overall a mostly light-hearted, very enjoyable book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
mattiedancer's review
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Writing: 4.5⭐️/5
Lex Croucher did a good job with this novel. Not only did I feel – viscerally and fully – the emotions and internal conflicts of the character, but I also understood deeply the mood and tone of the novel with ease. I liked the ease of writing, which at moments did turn to beautiful prose.
Characters: 4.5⭐️/5
I thought the characters were extremely fun to read about. Where some of the characters may have felt a little trope-y, I’m willing to forgive because they also felt real and raw and conflicted. I loved their struggles to come to terms with both their histories and their desires and how to move forward in a world that is unlikely to accept them.
Plot: 3.5⭐️/5
I think 90% of the plot is so well done. At the end of the novel, it takes a turn I wasn’t expecting and, though it made sense in the course of the book, it really moved it from a fun, romantasy read to a more serious fantasy plot. The sudden change was jarring, but overall the plot was still enjoyable.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of King Arthur retellings – with twists
- Those looking for a light fantasy-esque novel with LGBTQIA+ vibes
Content Warnings?
Death of parent, death, war, violence, homophobia, biphobia, outing, misogyny, sexism, gore, blood, classism, emotional abuse, gaslighting, injury, injury detail, excrement, vomit, physical abuse,
Post-Reading Rating: 4⭐️/5
Cute, sweet, and a little jarring at the end.
Final Rating: 4⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gaslighting, Blood, War, Excrement, Vomit, Physical abuse, Biphobia, Classism, Violence, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Outing, Sexism, Gore, and Misogyny
amanda_mh's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is everything I needed in a story! It’s all about love, friendship and unexpectedly a little bit of kingdom politics. The characters are so real and my heart goes out to the main six 🥰 the writing is heart warming, tear jerking, while also being laugh out loud funny in different moments.
🥰 It’s a story of a princess betrothed to a boy , but the boy likes her brother, and the princess likes the only lady knight in the kingdom. 🏳️🌈 🧡🩷 💚💙
🥰 It’s a story of a princess betrothed to a boy , but the boy likes her brother, and the princess likes the only lady knight in the kingdom. 🏳️🌈 🧡🩷 💚💙
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Murder, War, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Blood, Addiction, Alcohol, Grief, and Gore
gidgetdraws's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I wanted to like this book more, I mean, fruity A Knights Tale? What wouldn’t be to love? But I’m realizing Lex Croucher might not be for me as an author.
This is my second Lex Croucher book (the first being Infamous) and in both works I was disappointed by the lack of trigger warnings for more upsetting content that was in no way hinted at in the marketing of either book. I also liked the side characters way more than the main characters. I will say I liked this book more than Infamous, but I struggled to stay motivated to finish the book in a timely manner.
That being said, I wouldn’t dissuade anyone from reading this book as there were very cute moments and entertaining banter/shenanigans, however bare in mind the following trigger warnings: parental verbal/physical abuse, graphic depictions of violence/gore/war of a medieval type setting, blood, and homophobia.
This is my second Lex Croucher book (the first being Infamous) and in both works I was disappointed by the lack of trigger warnings for more upsetting content that was in no way hinted at in the marketing of either book. I also liked the side characters way more than the main characters. I will say I liked this book more than Infamous, but I struggled to stay motivated to finish the book in a timely manner.
That being said, I wouldn’t dissuade anyone from reading this book as there were very cute moments and entertaining banter/shenanigans, however bare in mind the following trigger warnings: parental verbal/physical abuse, graphic depictions of violence/gore/war of a medieval type setting, blood, and homophobia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Addiction, Death of parent, Gore, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Blood, Homophobia, Body horror, Physical abuse, and War
nearbethexperience's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
SUCH a fun read. It was a really smart choice on the author's part to set the book in a post-Arthurian world, to be able to play with it and not be burdened by the actual myth. If you don't like anachronistic dialogue this book is not for you, but I thought it was fun and the Riverdale reference made me actually laugh out loud! I did feel the HEA ending was a little bit unearned but that is just the tiniest critique, and hey it's YA. Overall this book was a balm for my inner Arthurian nerd child!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, War, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Physical abuse