Gwen and Art Are Not in Love: ‘An outrageously entertaining take on the fake dating trope’

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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. to be truly brave, first you must be afraid—and to be afraid, you must have something you cannot bear to lose.” Exactly what I needed right now – a delightful, heartwarming, hilarious historical romp, overflowing with queer panic and terrible jokes. I loved it' - ALICE OSEMAN, bestselling author of HEARTSTOPPER

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. 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. 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. Lex Croucher on Gwen and Art Are Not in Love “I love how the drama of jousting and castles and medieval dances”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.” It had me laughing out loud, especially with Arthur who is truly a wonderful character (but then I have a penchant for messy characters who can't help themselves). If you don't like sarcastic, self-deprecating lordlings, never fear because there are strapping lady-knights to sweep you off your feet, beautiful princesses, and sensitive book nerds. CASEY MCQUISTON, #1 New York Times bestselling author of I KISSED SHARA WHEELER and RED, WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE 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. 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?

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 & Art Are Not in Love was exactly what I needed right now—a delightful, heart-warming, hilarious historical romp, overflowing with queer panic and terrible jokes. I loved it.” - Alice Oseman, New York Times bestselling author of the Heartstopper series 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.

Lex Croucher Press Reviews

PDF / EPUB File Name: Gwen_and_Art_are_not_in_love_-_Lex_Croucher.pdf, Gwen_and_Art_are_not_in_love_-_Lex_Croucher.epub 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 😭 An utter delight. Croucher conjures a fresh new Camelot, full of jousts, hijinks and exuberantly queer characters that will make you swoon. This is the gay Camelot I always wanted! this book messed me UP tho. i’m glad i had mariko to hold my hand bc i wouldn’t have survived otherwise lmaooo 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.

With Gwen growing closer to Bridget, and Art becoming unaccountably fond of Gabriel, Gwen's infuriatingly serious, bookish brother, the path to true love is looking far from straight ... About This Edition ISBN: 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. 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. When her parents decide that the forthcoming tournament season is the perfect time to stage the long-planned wedding, Gwen is horrified at having to spend time with her nemesis. The only comfort is that she will also be able to indulge in watching the jousting tournaments, particularly those featuring the realm’s only Lady Knight, Lady Bridget Leclair, who has recently starred embarrassingly often in Gwen’s dreams.

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Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is an engaging read that will appeal to fans of Rainbow Rowell and Alice Oseman who are looking to stretch their reading tastes into the realms of historical fiction. 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?

Fun and genuinely funny, with lovely friendships and first-rate dialogue. Gwen and Art may not be in love, but I fell for both of them.” - Rainbow Rowell, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Simon Snow trilogy 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.’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.