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adventurous
funny
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
Honestly what a funny, well thought out story. I am a sucker for a good queer romance and this one really got me! The characters were all flawed in their own ways but completely lovable. The banter between Art and Gwen and just Sidney’s whole character really shined to make this funny. Sure, the subplot was a bit predictable but, who cares?! The book wasn’t about the subplot, it was about the character development. This was just a fun read and interesting retelling.
My one complaint is that the book was so character driven that there was very little setting description. I think the idea is that everyone has their own idea of Camelot and Excalibur and medieval England, but a bit more description of the castle and grounds would have been helpful! Other than that, this was a great, quick read. I would read one of the author’s books again for sure.
My one complaint is that the book was so character driven that there was very little setting description. I think the idea is that everyone has their own idea of Camelot and Excalibur and medieval England, but a bit more description of the castle and grounds would have been helpful! Other than that, this was a great, quick read. I would read one of the author’s books again for sure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
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:
Complicated
I know I will love everything Lex Croucher writes, so perhaps it was unfair from the start, but this book will likely be my favourite read of the year. Yes, I’m aware it’s January 4th. But hear me out!
I’ve been waiting for this book for years, since Lex announced it even before we knew about Infamous coming out last year. I was excited for the mess and the jokes and queerness. But even with all of the hype, Gwen & Art Are Not In Love exceeded all of my expectations.
Some of the plot I saw coming, in the way that the foundations were well set up, foreshadowing clear, and the arc of the story was well established. Although this book was YA, there was nothing that prevented it from being totally enjoyable for an adult reader. Even though the form of the plot was familiar, it didn’t stop the hard-hitting emotional moments from being any less impactful. The betrayals still felt shocking, the victories still felt well-earned, the pain and sadness still felt raw. There was a level of emotional depth and nuance to this story that I never could have predicted, and it had me tearing up on multiple occasions.
I have absolutely no notes for the reading experience: I was fully engaged, laughing out loud, absolutely lost in the story and characters. It was one of those rare times where you really forget you’re reading. I absolutely adored every single one of the characters, Art especially, but Gwen, Bridget, Gabe, Sidney, and Agnes all felt like fully-formed, real people, and the banter felt like falling in with old friends.
Lex mentioned something on Instagram once about how in doing pass pages for Reputation, they were realizing how much they had improved as a writer since then. I think that is incredibly evident in GWART. It’s artfully put together, absolutely hilarious, and vividly written. It’s so clear how much Lex poured their heart and soul into the writing of it, but also clear how much fun they had. It makes me wonder just how impossibly good any future books from Lex Croucher will be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Vomit, Alcohol, War
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
I received a free ARC of this book from Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review.
I have loved Lex Croucher's Regency books, so I was intrigued by their latest book. I was pleasantly surprised, though slightly disappointed, to discover that it's not a direct Arthurian retelling, but a story that tells of the medieval legacy of those legends. On the one hand, that's a very clever and unexpected move, but on the other hand, I love a good Arthurian fantasy. I loved the relationships that bloom in these books and that they explore all of the complicated feelings that can surround them. Overall, though, I thought the writing felt a bit silly. Croucher admits in the afterward that this book was written in a very silly mood during a very strange time, so it makes sense. It just wasn't quite what I was looking for right now. It is a fun piece for those looking for cute LGBTQ+ romances with a bit of political intrigue thrown in to keep you on your toes.
I have loved Lex Croucher's Regency books, so I was intrigued by their latest book. I was pleasantly surprised, though slightly disappointed, to discover that it's not a direct Arthurian retelling, but a story that tells of the medieval legacy of those legends. On the one hand, that's a very clever and unexpected move, but on the other hand, I love a good Arthurian fantasy. I loved the relationships that bloom in these books and that they explore all of the complicated feelings that can surround them. Overall, though, I thought the writing felt a bit silly. Croucher admits in the afterward that this book was written in a very silly mood during a very strange time, so it makes sense. It just wasn't quite what I was looking for right now. It is a fun piece for those looking for cute LGBTQ+ romances with a bit of political intrigue thrown in to keep you on your toes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Gore, Homophobia, Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, War
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A blended perfection of hilarious, heart warming, and delightfully queer reimagining of post-Arthurian England.
Gwen and Art are young royals, betrothed since childhood to keep the delicate balance of Catholicism and Arthurian cultism in check. However, after Gwen realizes that the only thing her and Art have in common is their affinity for the same-sex, they form a truce to fool their parents so they may pursue their real true loves.
I was absolutely hooked by this book and read it with a goofy smile on my face at every page. I think this will be the best YA romantacy of 2023 with its down to earth prose, relatable struggles of finding ones self, and hilarious banter. I absolutely adored the characters and felt that each one was well-rounded with a balanced amount of page-time amongst them. A more specific note was how I enjoyed that Croucher really calls out the "enduring girlish gossip"/internalized misogyny we are currently seeing in fantasy books that feature female MC's. That rather than leaving "Gwen hating the court ladies for their girlish gossip", it was in fact, brought up that it was her veiled loneliness from feeling like the "other" for her inherent queerness she could not vocalize. I thought that was important as it is so easy to slip in those little woman-bashing moments into books.
So was it a nail biter? YES! This was my favorite YA read of 2022 and I thank the publisher St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Gwen and Art are young royals, betrothed since childhood to keep the delicate balance of Catholicism and Arthurian cultism in check. However, after Gwen realizes that the only thing her and Art have in common is their affinity for the same-sex, they form a truce to fool their parents so they may pursue their real true loves.
I was absolutely hooked by this book and read it with a goofy smile on my face at every page. I think this will be the best YA romantacy of 2023 with its down to earth prose, relatable struggles of finding ones self, and hilarious banter. I absolutely adored the characters and felt that each one was well-rounded with a balanced amount of page-time amongst them. A more specific note was how I enjoyed that Croucher really calls out the "enduring girlish gossip"/internalized misogyny we are currently seeing in fantasy books that feature female MC's. That rather than leaving "Gwen hating the court ladies for their girlish gossip", it was in fact, brought up that it was her veiled loneliness from feeling like the "other" for her inherent queerness she could not vocalize. I thought that was important as it is so easy to slip in those little woman-bashing moments into books.
So was it a nail biter? YES! This was my favorite YA read of 2022 and I thank the publisher St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Sexism, Lesbophobia, War
Minor: Suicidal thoughts