Gwen & Art Are Not in Love: A Novel

by Lex Croucher

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Snappy dialogue and human relationships are just two of the many factors that make this a standout. It's a historically-based rom-com with sword fighting, shenanigans and swoony queer romance all wrapped up in one immensely satisfying story.

An Instant New York Times Bestseller!

"A total, rollicking delight. Gwen & Art gave me the same cheeky, swoony, giddy, irresistible high of the first time I saw A Knight’s Tale. Lex Croucher is one of my favorite romcom authors, and they should be yours, too." - Casey McQuiston, #1 New York Times bestselling author of I Kissed Shara Wheeler

Heartstopper meets A Knight’s Tale in this queer medieval rom com YA debut about love, friendship, and being brave enough to change the course of history.

It’s been hundreds of years since King Arthur’s reign. His descendant, Arthur, a future Lord and general gadabout, has been betrothed to Gwendoline, the quick-witted, short-tempered princess of England, since birth. The only thing they can agree on is that they despise each other.

They’re forced to spend the summer together at Camelot in the run up to their nuptials, and within 24 hours, Gwen has discovered Arthur kissing a boy and Arthur has gone digging for Gwen's childhood diary and found confessions about her crush on the kingdom's only lady knight, Bridget Leclair.

Realizing they might make better allies than enemies, they make a reluctant pact to cover for each other, and as things heat up at the annual royal tournament, Gwen is swept off her feet by her knight and Arthur takes an interest in Gwen's royal brother. Lex Croucher's Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is chock full of sword-fighting, found family, and romantic shenanigans destined to make readers fall in love.

"In this frivolous medieval romp of a queer rom-com, Lex Croucher toys with Arthurian legend to delightful effect." - Entertainment Weekly

“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

“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

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250847218
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	11/28/2023
Pages:	416
Sales rank:	24,713
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.60(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Lex Croucher is the New York Times bestselling author of Reputation, Infamous, and the YA novel, Gwen & Art Are Not in Love. Lex grew up in Surrey reading a lot of books and making friends with strangers on the internet, and now lives in London.

Editorial Reviews

★ 09/25/2023

In this riotous, queer Arthurian rom-com remix by Croucher (Infamous, for adults), no-nonsense teenage princess Gwendoline of Camelot and louche, sardonic Arthur—a descendant of Mordred—have been betrothed since birth. They claim to despise each other but have both accepted the inevitability of their marriage, meant to secure an alliance between their families. When Art comes to Camelot for the summer, the two quickly discover a complication: they’re both gay. Agreeing that a conspiratorial marriage of convenience might be the best way forward while they secretly pursue their preferred partners, the pair resolve to remain inconspicuous. But their burgeoning affections—Gwen for dashing knight Lady Bridget Leclair and Art for Gwen’s handsome and serious older brother Gabriel—throw a wrench in their plans. Then Camelot’s political climate begins shifting, threatening to unearth their secrets, and Gwen and Art must figure out whom they can trust if they’re going to make it out unscathed. Croucher’s simultaneously sharp and subtle prose boasts delicious banter and a propulsive story populated by intersectionally diverse characters whose interactions feel fresh and vital through the novel’s climactic conclusion. Ages 14–up. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

An Instant New York Times Bestseller!

An Instant USA Today Bestseller!

An Instant Indie Bestseller!

A November/December 2023 Kids' Indie Next Pick!

One Of Amazon's Best Books of December!

"In this frivolous medieval romp of a queer rom-com, Lex Croucher toys with Arthurian legend to delightful effect." - Entertainment Weekly

B&N Reads, "Our Most Anticipated YA Books of November/December 2023"

Book Riot, " November 2023 Horoscopes and Book Recommendations"

Distractify, "TikTok Favorite Sequels, Fantasy Novels, and Historical Fiction for Your November 2023 TBR"

Epic Reads, "LGBTQ+ Books We Can’t Wait to Read in 2023" and "The 30 Must Read Books for the Rest of 2023"

Goodreads, "2023's Most Anticipated Young Adult Books" and "45 Great New YA Historical Fiction Novels to Read in 2023"

Lambda Literary, "November’s Most Anticipated LGBTQIA+ Literature"

PopSugar, "Young-Adult Books to Add to Your Reading List in November" and "All the New Books to Read This November"

The Nerd Daily, "11 Mythology Inspired Book Releases To Look Forward To In 2023"

"Croucher’s simultaneously sharp and subtle prose boasts delicious banter and a propulsive story populated by intersectionally diverse characters whose interactions feel fresh and vital through the novel’s climactic conclusion." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Lex Croucher offers readers a quirky, queer Arthurian remix in which lighthearted, entertaining banter alternates with political machinations and intense battlefield scenes." - BookPage (starred review)

"A wonderful expansion of the YA romance genre...Frankly a delight." - Kirkus

"A high-spirited medieval adventure with a modern heart." - Booklist

"Croucher has created a vibrant medieval world for their readers to fall into with funny, well-developed characters to flesh out the story, and complex royal family dynamics adding layers to the drama...Heart-warming and hilarious." - School Library Journal

"A humorous and charming ode to found family and true love, this queer YA novel is a perfect find for fans of Merlin and Alice Oseman novels." - In Between Drafts, "The Best New Books of November"

"Every time I think about this book, which has the royals-in-love (though not with each other!) vibes of Red, White & Royal Blue yet set in a distinctly A Knight’s Tale-esque setting, I just grin...Every autumn should have at least one queer remixed SFF romp like this." - LitHub, " November’s Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books"

"An enjoyable Arthurian-adjacent story with a charming cast of diverse queer characters, Gwen & Art Are Not In Love applies a modern sensibility to its historical roots...A sweet, lighthearted story about friendship and found family, with a dash of popular romance tropes on top." - Paste Magazine, "The Best New YA Books of November 2023"

"If you have an afternoon and a fireplace and a cat and a cup of something hot and any amount of fondness for a romance novel, this will surely satisfy." - XTra Magazine

"Swoonworthy, hilarious and full of witty repartee, this gorgeous historical romance will sweep readers off their feet." ― The Bookseller Teen & YA Editor's Choice

“Lex Croucher’s debut young adult novel is crowned a huge success...Gwen and Art are not in Love is the perfect book to read after a long day, and can be finished all in one sitting but will leave a lasting impression.” - Children’s Books Ireland

“[A] fun Knight’s Tale-esque medieval story that’s part romantic romp, part subversive comedy, and all kinds of brilliant.” - Culture Fly, "12 Must-read YA Books for Summer 2023"

“Finally… A historical rom-com that’s queer as hell. And fun! Pitched as ‘A Knight’s Tale’ meets ‘Heartstopper’, this medieval story has everything: sword-fighting, sharp wit and ridiculous shenanigans to warm the heart.” - Gay Times, "11 LGBTQ+ Books to Read This Summer"

"Smart dialogue drives this outrageously entertaining take on the fake dating trope." - The Guardian (UK)

“A queer Knight’s Tale (that should persuade you already) this rom-com has a glittering cast of adorable characters, cheeky world-building (the royalty are so obsessed with their potentially magic lineage to King Arthur that there’s a court wizard) and more witty repartee than you can shake a sword at…Croucher writes with vivid exaggeration and touching relatability the wild adventures of love and lust, yearning and horniness. We all dutifully pledge allegiance.”- LoveReading

"A queer medieval romp with contemporary sensibilities...Smart dialogue drives this outrageously entertaining take on the fake dating trope." ― Observer

"A total, rollicking delight. Gwen & Art gave me the same cheeky, swoony, giddy, irresistible high of the first time I saw A Knight’s Tale. Lex Croucher is one of my favorite romcom authors, and they should be yours, too." - Casey McQuiston, #1 New York Times bestselling author of I Kissed Shara Wheeler

“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

“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

"Congrats to Gwen and Arthur on their permanent acquisition of my ENTIRE heart. Suffice it to say that I loved this book to a degree that’s slightly ridiculous." - Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Kate in Waiting and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

“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!” - C.S. Pacat, New York Times bestselling author of Dark Rise

“This book does a flirty tango with the Arthurian legends while also sticking a KICK ME sign on their back: it contains enough sword fights and banter to keep the pages flying, but it’s also a sharp and compassionate look at the terrifying wonder of being a queer young person coming to terms with yourself. Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is a work of hilarious and heart-mending genius. I read it in a joyous rush and I can’t wait to buy it for literally everyone I know.” - Freya Marske, nationally-bestselling author of A Marvellous Light

“This is the queer YA take on A Knight's Tale I’ve always dreamed of! A charming, witty, and completely unputdownable adventure.” - Ava Reid, New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning

From the Publisher

01/26/2024

Gr 9 Up—In this queer historical romp, similar in tone to "The Lady Janies" series and the TV show Merlin, the descendants of Arthurian legend have grown up nemeses until a political betrothal forces them to turn their future marriage into something that might work in their favor. Both Art and Gwen are queer and prepare to use each other as beards to pursue their own happily ever after without causing too much political discord. But parents and politics have other ideas as the summer tournament circuit becomes something more serious: cultists of King Arthur begin to foment rebellion, and their parents are pulling them to opposite sides of the coming war. With their found family in jeopardy, Gwen, Art, and their love interests are forced to claim their power quickly, or have it taken from them. Croucher has created a vibrant medieval world for their readers to fall into with funny, well-developed characters to flesh out the story, and complex royal family dynamics adding layers to the drama. Their vivacious writing style lends modern tone and humor to historical elements, pulling readers close and carrying them through court politics, tournaments, and battle scenes. The romances that fuel the narrative are delightful, from their tension to the queer-panic to the kissing. In addition to the queer characters, there is coded racial diversity throughout. VERDICT Heart-warming and hilarious, a first purchase for library collections.—Emmy Neal

School Library Journal

2023-07-31
A lively queer Camelot for modern audiences.

Several hundred years after the time of the fabled king Arthur Pendragon, Gwendoline and her older brother, Gabriel, are princess and prince of Camelot. Gwen has been betrothed since birth to Arthur Delacey, whose father’s family claims ancestry from Mordred. Gwen’s first problem with this arrangement is that she and Arthur hate each other. The second is revealed when Arthur comes to the royal castle for the summer tournament in which knights compete for renown—and Gwen catches him making out with a servant boy. But then Arthur obtains proof of Gwen’s obsession with Lady Bridget Leclair, England’s only female knight and a competitor in the tourney. Engaging in mutual blackmail, they form an understanding, though over the course of the summer it turns into an initially begrudging, then supportive friendship, especially when Arthur starts learning more about heir-to-the-throne Gabe. In this fun summer romance, Croucher creates main characters who feel distinctly modern in their dialogue and interactions. They maneuver through the historical setting, including social expectations and limited medical care, in ways that both seem natural and often offer commentary on more current affairs. This is a wonderful expansion of the YA romance genre. Gwen and her family are white, and she is coded queer and demisexual. Arthur is Iranian on his mother’s side and coded gay, as is Gabe. There is additional diversity in the supporting cast.

Frankly a delight. (Historical romance. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews

A dual narration defines the alternating viewpoints and brings out the contrasts, humor, and high jinks in this YA queer medieval rom-com. Sarah Ovens's crisp delivery depicts the temperament of the rule-bound Gwendoline, princess of England. There are moments, however, when Ovens's more emotional tones reflect Gwen's heartstrong feelings; her disdain for the irresponsible Lord Arthur, her intended husband; and her passion for the only female knight in the realm. Alex Singh's narration captures Arthur's entitled nonchalance, ne'er-do-well persona, and penchant for misdeeds, all of which contrast with Gwen's austerity. Gradually, Singh reveals Arthur's love for Gwen's brother. Dialogue in each chapter drives the story's fast pace. Characters grow on listeners as they do on each other, especially as situations reveal their strengths and caring. S.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2023 - AudioFile

A dual narration defines the alternating viewpoints and brings out the contrasts, humor, and high jinks in this YA queer medieval rom-com. Sarah Ovens's crisp delivery depicts the temperament of the rule-bound Gwendoline, princess of England. There are moments, however, when Ovens's more emotional tones reflect Gwen's heartstrong feelings; her disdain for the irresponsible Lord Arthur, her intended husband; and her passion for the only female knight in the realm. Alex Singh's narration captures Arthur's entitled nonchalance, ne'er-do-well persona, and penchant for misdeeds, all of which contrast with Gwen's austerity. Gradually, Singh reveals Arthur's love for Gwen's brother. Dialogue in each chapter drives the story's fast pace. Characters grow on listeners as they do on each other, especially as situations reveal their strengths and caring. S.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2023 - AudioFile