You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the arc!
Gwen and Art have a problem. They have grown up thinking the worst of each other and dreading the day the betrothal that's been in place since their birth comes to fruition. Much to their chagrin the time is drawing near and they have to spend the entire summer together in preparation for the announcement of their wedding day. In what may turn out to be a stroke of luck for the two betrothed, Gwen catches Art in a compromising position that allows her to see that they may have more in common than she anticipated. Could a mutual arrangement allow Gwen to follow her heart to the brave knight Lady Bridget who's caught her eye? Additionally, could this be a chance for Art to reconnect with Gwen's older brother Gabriel and find a spark that he never expected? Alongside all of this, is there something deeper brewing beneath the surface of the kingdom as the people gather to celebrate the royal tournament being held?
This was an absolutely adorable tale of young and unrequited love. Additionally, I appreciated that none of the main characters had things figured out yet, especially since they are teenagers and that's a messy time in your life full of self-discovery. This really shined in the candid conversations between Gwen and Art revealing that, despite what might appear to be external confidence, they are still kids and still learning who they are and how to navigate their new feelings. I appreciated the unapologetic queerness of this book. Obviously, the environment still wasn't conducive to straying from heteronormativity, but the characters themselves reinforced that there was nothing wrong with who they were and who they chose to love. I also didn't expect the sort of deeper lore of conflict and mystery and feuding factions, but it was a pleasant surprise as it wove through the novel, culminating in an unexpected twist. Overall, I think this was a great coming-of-age romance and I would read it again in a heartbeat. I can't wait until it's out and I can listen to the audiobook.
Gwen and Art have a problem. They have grown up thinking the worst of each other and dreading the day the betrothal that's been in place since their birth comes to fruition. Much to their chagrin the time is drawing near and they have to spend the entire summer together in preparation for the announcement of their wedding day. In what may turn out to be a stroke of luck for the two betrothed, Gwen catches Art in a compromising position that allows her to see that they may have more in common than she anticipated. Could a mutual arrangement allow Gwen to follow her heart to the brave knight Lady Bridget who's caught her eye? Additionally, could this be a chance for Art to reconnect with Gwen's older brother Gabriel and find a spark that he never expected? Alongside all of this, is there something deeper brewing beneath the surface of the kingdom as the people gather to celebrate the royal tournament being held?
This was an absolutely adorable tale of young and unrequited love. Additionally, I appreciated that none of the main characters had things figured out yet, especially since they are teenagers and that's a messy time in your life full of self-discovery. This really shined in the candid conversations between Gwen and Art revealing that, despite what might appear to be external confidence, they are still kids and still learning who they are and how to navigate their new feelings. I appreciated the unapologetic queerness of this book. Obviously, the environment still wasn't conducive to straying from heteronormativity, but the characters themselves reinforced that there was nothing wrong with who they were and who they chose to love. I also didn't expect the sort of deeper lore of conflict and mystery and feuding factions, but it was a pleasant surprise as it wove through the novel, culminating in an unexpected twist. Overall, I think this was a great coming-of-age romance and I would read it again in a heartbeat. I can't wait until it's out and I can listen to the audiobook.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Blood
Minor: Animal death, Homophobia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit
Unfortunately because of the time period and the setting, there are quite a few content warnings.
As part of the royal tournament, there is some blood, injuries, and violence as a function of the event itself. This is rather mild though, and the more severe instance is later in the book There is a large conflict at the end of the book that is essentially the first battle of what could become a war and it is everything that war is. It's bloody and gruesome and people and animals are falling to those who are now their enemies. While everything is described vividly, I don't think the author lingers unecessarily or expands on the gory details in a distasteful way. It was enough to let you feel the impact of the setting without delving too deep into the gore of it all. There is one larger spoiler In this battle, the king does die, leaving his son the new ruler.
Art's father comes off as very emotionally abusive. He cares very much about himself and not about the well being (both mental and physical) of his son - although it should be noted that there is no direct physical abuse. However, Art's father does hire men to "send him a message" leaving him in a forever changed physical state after months of grueling recovery.
It is mentioned that Art's dad is an alcoholic, and Art and his body guard/friend Sidney can frequently be seen drinking to excess. This does involve some brief mentions of other characters vomiting - however it is not described in detail.
I tagged homophobia, but it's important to note that while Gwyn thought another character was ignoring her because she told them she liked women, they were actually ignoring her because her truth spurred a more personal reflection for them that they weren't ready to accept. The author's writing always comes off as incredibly accepting - even throughout this misunderstanding.
Finally, there are a few times when Art makes comments in jest that could be seen as suicidal, especially considering they come up - in forced jest - when he is at his lowest. It's never specifically addressed, but Gwen catches on and provides support in the way Art needs. Suicide and self harm aren't ever mentioned in a serious manner.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! This is 3.5 stars rounded up.
This is the first book I’ve read centered around Camelot/Arthurian times/etc so my knowledge on that is very little. I cannot speak to how similar it may be to the stories or if fans of that will be pleased but from what I can tell there are tons of references back to the origins. In fact the story was pulling up information I learned in the past but forgot about.
Obviously this story has a queer twist to it, with Gwen and Art not actually being in love. Although sexualities are never specifically stated it seemed to me that Gwen is Demi/Bi while Art is gay. I kind of wished there was confirmation for the other queer characters in their sexualities. Either way, the book gives what it says it will, which is queer romance with a lot more angst than I was expecting.
The story is very character driven surrounding their personalities and relarionships to eachother as well as circumstances seemingly beyond their control. The main plot point happens within the last couple of chapters and felt a bit rushed and skimmed over. I think if this happened 10 chapters earlier with more development into these characters and their relationships with eachother while enduring that plot point would have upped the ante. I think given that it is a romcom it is unsurprising that those moments happened as an afterthought that it will just come down to reader and preference. For myself I would have liked more but I do think a majority of readers will not be disappointed by the pacing.
As for critiques I have several. There is character growth and the transformation is lovely but the beginning was a bit overkill. I kept thinking “okay we get it, they hate eachother.” And if I’m remembering it correctly, the one character sort of stirring the pot and making things worse never apologized. Especially when there is blackmailing involved, which is fine to some but not my cup of tea when I’m supposed to be rooting for these two characters.
The sexism and misogyny is very period typical but once again, it was hard to stomach at times. I’m not anyone who thinks characters need to be perfect or morally correct, in fact I prefer them flawed, but I would have loved for the women being targeted, like Gwen, to get one over on them all. I think she takes the mistreatment from literally everyone and directs that frustration towards others like Agnes and other women. It madeAnd I worry people will not give her grace like they might with Art who, despite his quirks and growth, I didn’t care for. He agitates Gwen and Gabriel from start to finish, often pushing boundaries and I was hoping by the end he would have settled that.
I also felt like certain characters were pushing others to come to terms with their sexualities, as expressed by said character being pushed, and it is just not something I personally care for. For the sake of the story I get why there is inklings of this, and it might come down to perception, but again, not my cup of tea.
Despite my critiques, I think there is some great growth without feeling too inauthentic. It felt more like they were in the beginning stages of growth rather than magically being a different person after getting a critique. These things can be a process. I wish we had seen more of this with Agnes and Gwen but it was alright for what we did get.
Even though this book does deal with struggling to accept yourself, fitting into shoes you’re not sure you can feel, dealing with a patriarchy, and growing as a person, there is still often a lighthearted tone. The characters really draw you in even if you’re not the fondest of them at times. I can see the appeal that is captivating so many people.
Overall, I will be recommending and think it was actually sort of nice to get queer characters that are messy and flawed. I might not have loved everything about their flaws but that is what makes them flaws. At the core of the book you can see the heart and intention.
This is the first book I’ve read centered around Camelot/Arthurian times/etc so my knowledge on that is very little. I cannot speak to how similar it may be to the stories or if fans of that will be pleased but from what I can tell there are tons of references back to the origins. In fact the story was pulling up information I learned in the past but forgot about.
Obviously this story has a queer twist to it, with Gwen and Art not actually being in love. Although sexualities are never specifically stated it seemed to me that Gwen is Demi/Bi while Art is gay. I kind of wished there was confirmation for the other queer characters in their sexualities. Either way, the book gives what it says it will, which is queer romance with a lot more angst than I was expecting.
The story is very character driven surrounding their personalities and relarionships to eachother as well as circumstances seemingly beyond their control. The main plot point happens within the last couple of chapters and felt a bit rushed and skimmed over. I think if this happened 10 chapters earlier with more development into these characters and their relationships with eachother while enduring that plot point would have upped the ante. I think given that it is a romcom it is unsurprising that those moments happened as an afterthought that it will just come down to reader and preference. For myself I would have liked more but I do think a majority of readers will not be disappointed by the pacing.
As for critiques I have several. There is character growth and the transformation is lovely but the beginning was a bit overkill. I kept thinking “okay we get it, they hate eachother.” And if I’m remembering it correctly, the one character sort of stirring the pot and making things worse never apologized. Especially when there is blackmailing involved, which is fine to some but not my cup of tea when I’m supposed to be rooting for these two characters.
The sexism and misogyny is very period typical but once again, it was hard to stomach at times. I’m not anyone who thinks characters need to be perfect or morally correct, in fact I prefer them flawed, but I would have loved for the women being targeted, like Gwen, to get one over on them all. I think she takes the mistreatment from literally everyone and directs that frustration towards others like Agnes and other women. It madeAnd I worry people will not give her grace like they might with Art who, despite his quirks and growth, I didn’t care for. He agitates Gwen and Gabriel from start to finish, often pushing boundaries and I was hoping by the end he would have settled that.
I also felt like certain characters were pushing others to come to terms with their sexualities, as expressed by said character being pushed, and it is just not something I personally care for. For the sake of the story I get why there is inklings of this, and it might come down to perception, but again, not my cup of tea.
Despite my critiques, I think there is some great growth without feeling too inauthentic. It felt more like they were in the beginning stages of growth rather than magically being a different person after getting a critique. These things can be a process. I wish we had seen more of this with Agnes and Gwen but it was alright for what we did get.
Even though this book does deal with struggling to accept yourself, fitting into shoes you’re not sure you can feel, dealing with a patriarchy, and growing as a person, there is still often a lighthearted tone. The characters really draw you in even if you’re not the fondest of them at times. I can see the appeal that is captivating so many people.
Overall, I will be recommending and think it was actually sort of nice to get queer characters that are messy and flawed. I might not have loved everything about their flaws but that is what makes them flaws. At the core of the book you can see the heart and intention.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Outing
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury
Invasion of privacy, blackmailing.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a tale full of adventure, mishaps, blackmail, and misunderstandings. Gwen, princess of England, has been engaged to Arthur, future duke and distant descendant of King Arthur, since birth. Their relationship up til now has consisted of pranks, insults, and broken bones, but Gwen's parents have decided it's time for the two to start preparing for the wedding. There are a few issues with this: Gwen catches Arthur kissing another boy, and Arthur finds Gwen's diary where she daydreams about kissing the beautiful and strong knight, Bridget Leclair. If you like LGBTQIA+ stories with lovable characters, you'll enjoy reading Gwen & Art Are Not in Love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. Thank you!)
“To be truly brave, first you must be afraid—and to be afraid, you must have something you cannot bear to lose.”
Fun fact:
I LOVE historical comedies.
And when I say “historical comedy,” I don’t mean a comedy that was written in times past (although, Pride and Prejudice can GET IT). I mean, hand a classic IP to a queer Zoomer who majored in English Lit and minored in History and tell them to make it funny.
I have no idea if Croucher’s credentials meet those specifications, but either way, it appears she’s up to the task.
H o w e v e r
Side effects of reading this may include:
- Giggling in the dead of night like a deranged schoolgirl
- Sapphic panic
- Long-suffering sighs
- Emotional damage
- Existential dread
No, you didn’t misread those last two. No, I’m not reviewing the wrong book.
For a purportedly wholesome, Arthurian-derived YA… this got quite a bit more grisly and emotionally harrowing than I expected. In fact, the more I read, the more often I had to remind myself that this wasn’t written by Madeline Miller and therefore (probably) wouldn’t end in tragedy and buried gays.
(I wish I could say I’m kidding)
Of course, there’shomophobia: internalized, externalized, internalized turned into externalized. I wouldn’t say that it was unexpected, given that homophobia is a staple of queer literature, but I will admit to finding it inexplicably gut-wrenching here.
Then there’s the whole “we can only ever be each other’s dirty little secret” conflict. Which, again, not unexpected… but still hurt a surprising amount?
There’s also some pretty graphic injury and violence present.
Plus multiple major-character death scares.
And a coup culminating in several gruesome battle chapters, the death of a parent, and lifelong disability.
So… yeah. Um. Pretty chill.
I wouldn’t say any of it was handled poorly. I wouldn’t even say that it ought to be tempered or taken out.
I just wish I had a little more… I don’t know… warning? Transparency about what I was getting myself into? As much as I prefer cozy fiction, I can handle heavier material. I promise. I just need a chance to prepare myself first.
I’m not quite sure if the problem here is overly-optimistic subversive advertising or a lack of self-awareness. Maybe it’s neither. For all I know, the tonal bait-and-switch might’ve worked like a charm for some readers. But the only experience I can speak to is my own, and personally, I felt a little blindsided.
That said, I still enjoyed GAAANIL. I wouldn’t have minded more than two short aftermath chapters, but then again, I’m just happy it ended on a high note.
Ya know. Considering.
“To be truly brave, first you must be afraid—and to be afraid, you must have something you cannot bear to lose.”
Fun fact:
I LOVE historical comedies.
And when I say “historical comedy,” I don’t mean a comedy that was written in times past (although, Pride and Prejudice can GET IT). I mean, hand a classic IP to a queer Zoomer who majored in English Lit and minored in History and tell them to make it funny.
I have no idea if Croucher’s credentials meet those specifications, but either way, it appears she’s up to the task.
H o w e v e r
Side effects of reading this may include:
- Giggling in the dead of night like a deranged schoolgirl
- Sapphic panic
- Long-suffering sighs
- Emotional damage
- Existential dread
No, you didn’t misread those last two. No, I’m not reviewing the wrong book.
For a purportedly wholesome, Arthurian-derived YA… this got quite a bit more grisly and emotionally harrowing than I expected. In fact, the more I read, the more often I had to remind myself that this wasn’t written by Madeline Miller and therefore (probably) wouldn’t end in tragedy and buried gays.
(I wish I could say I’m kidding)
Of course, there’s
Then there’s the whole “we can only ever be each other’s dirty little secret” conflict. Which, again, not unexpected… but still hurt a surprising amount?
There’s also some pretty graphic injury and violence present.
Plus multiple major-character death scares.
And a coup culminating in several gruesome battle chapters, the death of a parent, and lifelong disability.
So… yeah. Um. Pretty chill.
I wouldn’t say any of it was handled poorly. I wouldn’t even say that it ought to be tempered or taken out.
I just wish I had a little more… I don’t know… warning? Transparency about what I was getting myself into? As much as I prefer cozy fiction, I can handle heavier material. I promise. I just need a chance to prepare myself first.
I’m not quite sure if the problem here is overly-optimistic subversive advertising or a lack of self-awareness. Maybe it’s neither. For all I know, the tonal bait-and-switch might’ve worked like a charm for some readers. But the only experience I can speak to is my own, and personally, I felt a little blindsided.
That said, I still enjoyed GAAANIL. I wouldn’t have minded more than two short aftermath chapters, but then again, I’m just happy it ended on a high note.
Ya know. Considering.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Violence, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, War
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, Sexism, Violence, Blood, War
Minor: Child abuse, Vomit, Death of parent
Mentions of severe menstrual symptoms/presumed endometriosis
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was a really fun read! It’s set in medieval times and follows Gwen and Arthur, who are betrothed to one another, though they hate each other. However, this plan takes a turn when Gwen sees Arthur kissing a boy, and Arthur snoops in Gwen’s diary to find that she’s in love with a female knight. They make a pact to cover for each other, which gets difficult as they both find themselves falling in love.
I absolutely loved the characters in this book and found them very fun, though I wish I got to see more of Bridget, the knight. It was a very fun plot filled with shenanigans and hijinks. My favorite part of this book wasn’t necessarily the romance but rather the reluctant friendship that forms between Gwen and Arthur. They may not be in love in the way they were supposed to be, but they do love each other by the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Death of parent
Minor: Violence, Blood, War
There was some homophobia in this book. It was a part of the plot and was in no way aggressive or violent. Gwen’s mother is stated to not be happy that Gwen likes girls, and her brother (who was figuring out his own queerness at the time) does say some awkwardly homophobic things. Arthur also is implied to have a homophobic father.
One of the characters has a mother that died when he was young Gwen’s father dies at the end
There is violence and blood as knights fight in a tournament. Someone gets beat up very badly outside of said tournament, and there is a battle at the end that results in many wounded and few dead. None of this is described in heavy detail.
There is a battle and talks of uprising.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for giving me access to an arc.
I can honestly say that this is by far the best book that I have read so far this year and this would be my 28th read. So many things worked for me, especially the found family aspect of this book. Croucher does a wonderful job of making you care for all of the characters. I found them to all be extremely likable and they were able to have their own unique personalities, outside of one another.
This book, to me, deals with many things but especially our legacies and the tension between who we think we should be versus who we actually should be. The choices that we make about the life that we want to live. I think the blurb doesn't go far enough about explaining how deeply touching, heart-wrenching, and beautiful this story is. Sure, it is a sapphic and achlliean story but it is also bout love, expectations, and friendships. Croucher made me feel so invested in this story. Not only did she tell us but she showed us.
Lastly, I want to just say that the dialogue was superb. It was really funny! I was actually snorting and laughing out loud. It was witty. The banter was amazing because it felt so organic. Anyways, I just really loved this book so much and it definitely we become one of my comfort reads. Now I must read the rest of Croucher's books.
I can honestly say that this is by far the best book that I have read so far this year and this would be my 28th read. So many things worked for me, especially the found family aspect of this book. Croucher does a wonderful job of making you care for all of the characters. I found them to all be extremely likable and they were able to have their own unique personalities, outside of one another.
This book, to me, deals with many things but especially our legacies and the tension between who we think we should be versus who we actually should be. The choices that we make about the life that we want to live. I think the blurb doesn't go far enough about explaining how deeply touching, heart-wrenching, and beautiful this story is. Sure, it is a sapphic and achlliean story but it is also bout love, expectations, and friendships. Croucher made me feel so invested in this story. Not only did she tell us but she showed us.
Lastly, I want to just say that the dialogue was superb. It was really funny! I was actually snorting and laughing out loud. It was witty. The banter was amazing because it felt so organic. Anyways, I just really loved this book so much and it definitely we become one of my comfort reads. Now I must read the rest of Croucher's books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, War
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
Read this review on my blog: https://stormyreadsya.home.blog/2023/02/20/gwen-and-art-are-not-in-love-by-lex-croucher-arc-review/
My rating: 5/5 stars
I am going to be honest. I have no complaints. I loved this book. I stayed up extremely late when I had classes the next day to finish it. I loved all the characters, especially one Bridget Leclair (I’m actually in love with her). I loved the plot, it was the perfect balance of light hearted and high stakes.
One of my favorite things about this book was the point where Bridget got her period. She is in immense pain and even faints at one point. As someone who experiences chronic periods this made me inexplicably happy. It was also a very important moment to see how everyone but Gwen (the main character obvi) ignores her pain, even the doctor. It is very reflective of my own experiences with healthcare in the modern day and I could talk about the implications of that all day but this is a book review so I will not. This is all to say I very much enjoyed this part of the book.
Seeing how Gwen and Art transition from enemies to such close friends at such a natural pace was such an amazing part of the book. I’ve never really read an enemies to friends story and the way this one was executed makes me want to read more.
Although this was historical fiction, it is still rife with the humorous moments readers of YA romance will be familiar with. Especially Arthur and his best friend Sidney have the funniest interactions, but all of the characters are hilarious in that way teenagers tend to be.
Honestly I think Arthurian retellings are my new thing because I have loved every single one I have read, including of course this one. 5/5 stars without a doubt, I highly highly recommend this. I have absolutely no complaints, even though I honestly tried to find even one thing I did not like.
Anyway, please please read this. That’s all thank you so much for reading!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, War
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
Thank you so much to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Lex Croucher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is such a quick-witted, fun read. Its setting is both satisfyingly Arthurian and exceptionally original, its characters are lovably authentic and funny, and its plot is engaging through its moments of lighthearted courtship and contrasting serious reflections on homophobia and sexism alike-- this book is exactly what I’d hoped it would be. My high expectations were met and surpassed!
This novel’s setting was, for me, a major selling point: an Arthurian backdrop, but not as a mere conduit for a retelling. The way this book weaves in elements of Arthurian legend while also presenting a completely fresh story is absolutely compelling. I love how self-aware of contrivance it is, using the overdone-ness of some of its elements as a commentary on exactly that; Excalibur Nine is my favorite example of this, but I also love the characters’ lighthearted frustration with the persistence of etymologically Arthurian names through generations of children. So many Gawains!
To have a Camelot setting where King Arthur and his knights are a debated, distant yet overbearing, almost tired part of history in the eyes of the main cast is so interesting-- the audience can feel how heavily that history lays over the characters, how exhausting it is to be defined by ancient tradition and lore without an ounce of consideration for personal identity. I really think the setting is perfect for exploring the plot and themes of expectation and identity and self-actualization that this book presents, and it manages to cover all of this while also being genuinely entertaining to read and learn about. It’s fun: medieval at times, mystical at others, ironic but with just the right amount of sincerity to counter it.
Much of the vibrance in Gwen and Art are Not in Love’s setting is brought to life by its cast. The two main point of view characters, the titular Gwen and Art, are gloriously witty and endearing-- and their rivalry is all the better for it. The way the characters interact with each other and the world is authentic and relevant despite its setting; self-exploration in the face of a society that refuses to allow it is a timeless theme, and this book handles it with a grace and realism that only characters with this level of authenticity can convey. Every character gave their own sense of charm to the lighthearted parts of the plot, and in turn each patterned the more serious parts with individual emotional depth. My favorite character arcs to follow were those of the title characters, but I also really enjoyed the less focal ones-- even side characters were afforded attention and care by the narrative. Agnes was definitely a favorite for me in that regard.
Overall, I really enjoyed Gwen and Art are Not in Love. It tells a fun but genuine story with real emotional impact, handling serious themes and plot beats with sincerity while also committing to its lighter moments’ brightness. The characters are lovable and authentic, and the writing matches their wit in dialogue and worldbuilding alike. There are a few bits of the plot that feel slightly contrived, but for a YA fantasy novel, that isn’t unusual-- and this book carries a sense of self-awareness that makes such scenes not only bearable, but enjoyable, which puts it leagues ahead of others in its genre. I’m so glad this wasn’t simply a retelling; this book is heartwarmingly and intelligently original, and I appreciate it so much for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Blood
Moderate: Violence, War
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Gwen and Art arent in love: Arc
I was very lucky to get read such an early copy. I enjoyed the relationship layout of Gwen and Gabriel, early. Nice brother and sister dynamics.
The introduction’s to Lady leclair was so good as well as Gwen’s reaction.
Art is and will be the guy who is hurting and we will want to make feel better. I wanted to learn more about him and Gabriel as well early one.
So, early on…it was pretty predictable of who was going to be together. The love story. The arc but as I read I hoped Gwen would grow on me because in the start she is annoying and why some people write women to be so incredibly mean its hard to read.
I get the argument it’s the period and but I went from hopeful to chapter 5 and I honestly, was annoyed by a lead character. It’s hard to come back.
I know woman then are meant to seen and not heard but I am sorry. How is show weak when people around her so strong.
You are well into the story. Well developed into the characters and you know. But the issue really is you are just starting to understand everyone.
Gwen is controlling and being controlled.
Gabe is not just shy but nervous
And they are pushed and taught to shown to be for their families namesake.
Arthur is for all tense and purpse a child. Who is put on the line as a barter and learned how to play the games early. It
Then, you have the most free in this period Bridget. Her father wanted a son, got a daughter and trained like one. I saw more free because she has more room to explore and experience.
Thats when you start to like and see Gwen.
It’s here bonding with Art. Here sharing. Its funny. And sweet and nice and sarcastic and delightfully wonderful.
everything finally falls into place. Character development and the storyline. I feel like at this point it has been dragging on but here we are.
I finished the book. I am writing a well experience of my thoughtsBut I feel like so much of it was drawn out. Unnecessary and fine.
But then, the ending the tie up.
It’s pretty good. There are some parts that feel missing like how they figured out Arthur was set up. I knew there would be a death and it made sense for growth.
I would reread it was sweet story. It wasn’t favorites but I enjoyed it.
Overall, 3.75
I was very lucky to get read such an early copy. I enjoyed the relationship layout of Gwen and Gabriel, early. Nice brother and sister dynamics.
The introduction’s to Lady leclair was so good as well as Gwen’s reaction.
Art is and will be the guy who is hurting and we will want to make feel better. I wanted to learn more about him and Gabriel as well early one.
So, early on…it was pretty predictable of who was going to be together. The love story. The arc but as I read I hoped Gwen would grow on me because in the start she is annoying and why some people write women to be so incredibly mean its hard to read.
I get the argument it’s the period and but I went from hopeful to chapter 5 and I honestly, was annoyed by a lead character. It’s hard to come back.
I know woman then are meant to seen and not heard but I am sorry. How is show weak when people around her so strong.
You are well into the story. Well developed into the characters and you know. But the issue really is you are just starting to understand everyone.
Gwen is controlling and being controlled.
Gabe is not just shy but nervous
And they are pushed and taught to shown to be for their families namesake.
Arthur is for all tense and purpse a child. Who is put on the line as a barter and learned how to play the games early. It
Then, you have the most free in this period Bridget. Her father wanted a son, got a daughter and trained like one. I saw more free because she has more room to explore and experience.
Thats when you start to like and see Gwen.
It’s here bonding with Art. Here sharing. Its funny. And sweet and nice and sarcastic and delightfully wonderful.
everything finally falls into place. Character development and the storyline. I feel like at this point it has been dragging on but here we are.
I finished the book. I am writing a well experience of my thoughtsBut I feel like so much of it was drawn out. Unnecessary and fine.
But then, the ending the tie up.
It’s pretty good. There are some parts that feel missing like how they figured out Arthur was set up. I knew there would be a death and it made sense for growth.
I would reread it was sweet story. It wasn’t favorites but I enjoyed it.
Overall, 3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Vomit, War
Minor: Homophobia