Reviews with content warning for Chronic illness - Gwen and Art Are Not in Love

Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

5 reviews

vaguely_pink'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

**Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review eARC**

This was real cute. I'm not the biggest historical fiction reader, but this queer Arthurian reimagining with just the most delightful cast of characters had just enough magic and fantasy vibes to keep me hooked start to finish. The whole ensemble cast is wonderfully written. The banter? Amazing. I loved them all from the jump. Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a masterclass in how to write all the kinds of representation. (The scene where

Gwen sticks up for Bridget when her pelvic pain is dismissed by the royal physician

??? My heart is healed even if my uterus isn't.) While I agree with many of the reviews that the latter 30ish% is a major tone shift and a bit jarring, it didn't impact my enjoyment of this book, especially since I'm much more of a fantasy reader than a romcom reader. Highly recommend!

Content Warnings

emily_mh's review against another edition

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lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

For a romance book this was just not very…romantic. It seemed like Arthur only got a crush on Gabe because of proximity, meanwhile we never find out why Gabe likes Arthur at all. I didn’t like how Gabe got to have a D+M about his challenges, but they didn’t have a similar conversation about Arthur’s, as this left their connection feeling shallow. They just didn’t seem to be into each other very much (and no, I’m not referring to Gabe’s personal obstacle and how it impacted their relationship), and their ending was only really an HFN. The situation with Gwen and Bridget was similar. It appears that Gwen gets a crush on Bridget because of proximity, and we never know why Bridget likes her back. Their connection seem to be purely physical, and their ending was barely an HFN. The dual HFNs were rendered even worse as the author tried to establish them in the light of a tragic event which happens with like, 20 pages to go. I was just so disappointed in how lacklustre the romance was. I wanted to be swept away in a whirlwind of romance, historical pining and soulmate-level bonding, but all I got was a small gust of air.

The characters themselves were similarly disappointing. I’ll begin with the MCs, Gwen and Arthur, whose perspectives we read from. Honestly, Gwen’s storyline was about getting her hand held by those less privileged than her as she realises that maybe she should use her power to help others. There was development in this area, which was something, but overall I found it exasperating.

There was so much potential with Arthur’s character, but it was squandered. Arthur is suffering domestic abuse and (let’s be real) with alcoholism, yet neither of these factors are given the weight they deserve. I feel like no one talked to him properly about his home life; he never got that chat and chance for support and connection regarding it. Arthur also has an alcohol problem which he decides won’t be a problem anymore and then miraculously it’s gone. Also, his trust issues, which are set up in the beginning, aren’t actually a thing? When situations crop up that would trigger them, they don’t. Instead his character is reduced to someone who exists to support Gwen and Gabe. This is a poor way to treat any character, but is especially concerning in light of the fact that Arthur is Iranian, and Gabe and Gwen are white. (Please let me know if I’m stepping out of my lane here, or have read the situation wrong.)

Bridget, Gwen’s love interest, is similarly poorly developed. We never get a sense of her as a person. Granted, we know what she likes, what she is good at and wants to do, but Croucher gives her no depth. For example, what is her history? Was she born in England or did she move? Where are her parents, who are so important to her? Also, we don’t see her just talk, just be, we only really see her framed by Gwen’s physical attraction. Like Arthur, she ends up existing only to handhold Gwen. This is again a poor way to write a character, even more so considering Bridget is Thai while Gwen is white. (Again, please let me know if I’m stepping out of my lane here, or have read the situation wrong.) Furthermore, Bridget has endo but this rep felt tokenised. If you’re going to give your character a chronic illness, then you need to show it as a consistent part of their character, not as something that shows up once. Bridget’s symptoms only make the page once when she is on her period (this book takes place over several months, by the way, and endometriosis symptoms are not limited to times of menstruation).

On a more positive note, Gabe was the most interesting and dynamic character to me, and we didn’t even get his POV! I was so engaged by how he was torn between duty and himself, being so focussed on serving others that he didn’t even know what he wanted for himself, let alone allow himself to voice and seek those wants. I was struck by the ways in which Gabe set impossible standards for himself, and the lengths he would go to to meet them, including suppressing an essential part of who he was. He felt like an actual person with real and understandable reactions to the impossible situation he found himself in.

In terms of plot, it was meandering at times with repetitive moments, especially between Arthur and Gabe. I wish there had been a little more direction with fewer random time jumps. With the writing style, I wasn’t a fan of the attempts at humour. I think authors think the type of dialogue employed here is unique when nowadays it’s very much not, and so makes characters seem generic. Also, it was just overdone in this specific instance.

So given all the negatives I’ve recorded here, why the 2.5 stars? Firstly, because I found the book to be a comforting space to be in, in terms of the nostalgic European fantasy vibes. The political element was compelling. Also, I genuinely was enjoying it for a while, because I was expecting it to go places. It didn’t.

Rep: sapphic MC, gay biracial English-Iranian MC, Thai sapphic LI with endometriosis, gay LI

Content Warnings

krisalexcole's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.75

Content Warnings

_teoeo's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted 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

3.75

The dialogues really were peak comedy! When I started that book I didn't think I would relate to Arthur this much 🤠

But the story was really slow and sometimes dragged on, so it was a little hard for me to get through the book.

Content Warnings

bookishmillennial's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? No

General disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews, I feel like a peasant and don’t like leaving them and most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book. Thus, no stars doesn’t indicate that the book wasn’t worthy of any starred system. It just means I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all, even if the lesson is that I’m a ho for the smut, recognizing a genre/book/author is not for me, or confronting my own mommy/daddy issues lol. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Happy reading! Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is not a retelling -- it's set in an alternate history a few hundred years after the events of King Arthur & the round table. Also Arthur is half-Iranian and Bridget is Thai. I think I sped through too quickly because I didn't catch this but was reminded haha. Love this representation!

This was a pensive, slow-burn coming-of-age with a romance subplot with somewhat current dialogue, which kept the mood lighthearted and goofy. I know others may not like this for a historical fictional book but I thought it brought levity and fun to an otherwise serious storyline! As far as the plot, ye be warned because there is ultimately zero plot until the last 20% of the book, as this mostly focuses on character relationships and personal growth in each character, especially as they come to terms with their sexual orientations.

Arthur and Gwendoline only fake date to be able to further explore their queer connections with

Bridget and Gabriel,

but Arthur has already become more comfortable with his sexuality, making self-deprecating jokes and displaying lots of dry, sarcastic humor.

Meanwhile Gwen struggles a bit more to go after what she wants and to vocalize what she is feeling. Her repressed sexuality and her shame is so relatable, and I loved when she was finally able to

ask Bridget for what she wanted/needed with her.

Bridget is a badass butch lesbian and is not afraid of anyone. She is focused on her goals and living a full life. Bridget truly is goals!

The other side characters were fun too: Sidney & Agnes! I loved the friendships and the sibling dynamics. So sweet! I think this whole group was so lovely to get to know, & I'd happily take spinoffs for Sidney & Agnes. The chaos of this group is just delightful.

The issue of marrying someone of your same gender or just non-heterosexual marriage is interesting in the way Croucher presents it and I wish they had shown

the final resolution ON PAGE at the end but it's fine. I will imagine that eerything ended well and that gay marriage was legalized in this world there haha.

Last but not least, one of the characters goes through severe period pain and there is a bit of a storyline about medical gaslighting with making the women feel like they "simply can't handle pain" and OMFG THE WAY I FELT SO SEEN! *insert sob session* I loved how powerful this moment was, where they did not accept "get over it" as medical advice and looked for alternative medical opinions, to help with the character's nausea, fatigue and pain.

Quotes that stood out to me:

“The path to love never did run straight.”
“I like some risk now and again, if what’s at stake is worth having."
“How am I supposed to know what I want?” Gabriel said quietly. “There’s only ever been room for what I’m . . . destined to have.”
“𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘕𝘪𝘯𝘦.”
“𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘕𝘪𝘯𝘦? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵?”
“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺—𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.”
“Looking at her felt a lot like wanting something.”
'"Cheers," Arthur said despondently. "To a long and happy life together."
"Don't say that," Gwen said, wincing and taking a sip of her own tea. "I'm already depressed enough as it is."'
'"...plus I'm a fantastic kisser. If you'd kissed me, you'd be singing a different tune.'
'That's not a tune,' Gwen said. 'That's the sound of retching.'"
"'Off to bed then?' he said, for lack of anything else.
'Actually, I-I'll probably go to the library.'
'In the middle of the night?'
'In the middle of the night.'
'Oh,' said Arthur. 'That's...admirable, I suppose.'
'Is it?'
'Well, somebody's got to do it.'"
“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.”
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, and I think that, given some time, you’ll realize that it isn’t what you want either.”
To be truly brave, first you must be afraid—and to be afraid, you must have something you cannot bear to lose.”
“I don’t think doing a difficult thing and being happy are mutually exclusive, Gabriel. I think you could both have some of the things you want, if you’re brave enough to ask for them.”
“If you think about it, some variety of magic turns up in the story of every country and kingdom in the world. It goes by different names, but it’s always there. Other religions have their own magic words—their own rituals. It seems unlikely that magic never existed, and yet everybody came to the same conclusion of their own volition.”

Fun Facts:

They have a cat named Merlin
Gwen loves embroidery as a hobby
Since we spend a lot of time insides castles and around princesses and princes, there is a LOT of velvet and gold mentioned, along with ornate, ornamental, regal, delicate designs -- it's very easy to imagine this world
Flowers mentioned: bluebells, roses
Scents mentioned: orange, sandalwood, grapefruit, ginger, cinnamon

I think people who enjoyed BBC's Merlin, A Knight's Tale, Heartstopper, and Sex Education would love this!

Content Warnings

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