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The Camelot Disasters #2
Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay
The sequel to the unforgettable New York Times bestseller Gwen & Art Are Not In Love that invites readers on a quest chock full of wit, undeniable yearning, and second chances.
They fell in love. They fought a great battle. And they won. Now, Camelot’s famous couples have fallen apart.
Newly crowned King Gabriel is having panic attacks in cupboards in-between council meetings. He can't tell Arthur just how not okay he is—so he's set him free, to find love with someone who can get through the day without breaking down.
Bridget has lost her spark for sparring, forfeiting again and again in the lists. When she’s invited to join Gabriel's round table, she hopes it’ll be the change she needs. But trying to navigate the post-happily-ever-after reality of a relationship with Gwen, when Bridget no longer feels like the dashing knight Gwen fell in love with, feels impossible.
With the kingdom still reeling from an attempted uprising, and rumored sightings of the holy grail, the questing beast, and the green knight happening across the country, the gang depart on a PR tour destined for disaster. Can Gabriel be the king his country deserves? Can Bridget get her jousting groove back? And will they find their way back to the courtly love that once seemed fated?
In the much anticipated follow-up to Gwen & Art Are Not in Love, Gabriel and Bridget set out on a daring quest to put love back on the table.
They fell in love. They fought a great battle. And they won. Now, Camelot’s famous couples have fallen apart.
Newly crowned King Gabriel is having panic attacks in cupboards in-between council meetings. He can't tell Arthur just how not okay he is—so he's set him free, to find love with someone who can get through the day without breaking down.
Bridget has lost her spark for sparring, forfeiting again and again in the lists. When she’s invited to join Gabriel's round table, she hopes it’ll be the change she needs. But trying to navigate the post-happily-ever-after reality of a relationship with Gwen, when Bridget no longer feels like the dashing knight Gwen fell in love with, feels impossible.
With the kingdom still reeling from an attempted uprising, and rumored sightings of the holy grail, the questing beast, and the green knight happening across the country, the gang depart on a PR tour destined for disaster. Can Gabriel be the king his country deserves? Can Bridget get her jousting groove back? And will they find their way back to the courtly love that once seemed fated?
In the much anticipated follow-up to Gwen & Art Are Not in Love, Gabriel and Bridget set out on a daring quest to put love back on the table.
Audible Audio
First published August 6, 2026
About the author
Lex Croucher
9 books3,148 followersLex Croucher grew up in Surrey, reading a lot of books and making friends with strangers on the internet, and now lives in London with an elderly cat. With a background in social media for NGOs, Lex now writes historical-ish rom coms for adults (REPUTATION, INFAMOUS) and historical fantasy rom coms for teenagers. GWEN AND ART ARE NOT IN LOVE is their YA debut.
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Want to Read
August 8, 2025to know me is to know how much i adored gwen and art are not in love. just know that i am seated. i’m so seated that the bookstore employees are actually terrified and begging me to leave, but i am simply too seated.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⚔️🏰 Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay 🏰⚔️
I’ll admit this didn’t land the same for me as book one, but I still enjoyed it. The tone is noticeably more somber this time around and leans away from the whimsical humor that made the first book stand out. That shift isn’t a bad thing, but it did change the overall reading experience, and I think some readers will be surprised by it.
That said, there’s still a lot to appreciate here. The found family dynamic continues to be one of the strongest parts of the story. The group has to navigate their relationships with each other. There’s a big focus on communication and working through conflict. Naturally, there is alot of miscommunication at the beginning. They figured it out by the end.
True to the book's title, Bridget and Gabe are not ok, and the story doesn’t shy away from that. This book also takes a deeper look at grief, burnout, and healing. I thought the author handled those themes with care.
💔 What to Expect
• Queer relationships
• Grief and healing
• Found family
• Mental health rep
• Court politics
• Quest adventure
• Arthurian retelling
_ _ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 3.75 stars
📅 Pub Date: August 11, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
I’ll admit this didn’t land the same for me as book one, but I still enjoyed it. The tone is noticeably more somber this time around and leans away from the whimsical humor that made the first book stand out. That shift isn’t a bad thing, but it did change the overall reading experience, and I think some readers will be surprised by it.
That said, there’s still a lot to appreciate here. The found family dynamic continues to be one of the strongest parts of the story. The group has to navigate their relationships with each other. There’s a big focus on communication and working through conflict. Naturally, there is alot of miscommunication at the beginning. They figured it out by the end.
True to the book's title, Bridget and Gabe are not ok, and the story doesn’t shy away from that. This book also takes a deeper look at grief, burnout, and healing. I thought the author handled those themes with care.
💔 What to Expect
• Queer relationships
• Grief and healing
• Found family
• Mental health rep
• Court politics
• Quest adventure
• Arthurian retelling
_ _ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 3.75 stars
📅 Pub Date: August 11, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Want to Read
September 9, 2025why did i think this was a retelling from Gabe's and Bridget's POV and not a sequel?? I would like the second POV better than "the couples have fallen apart" sequel
March 16, 2026
lex croucher, the author that you are!
Oh, how nice it is to be reunited with my children. As much as I loved Gwen & Art, I did not expect a sequel. I was obviously excited when it was announced, but I was a bit worried I wouldn’t like it as much. Not only did I just adore the first one, but I would not consider myself much of a YA enjoyer these days. However, I feel quite silly now for ever having any doubt. I know I sound like a broken record by this point, but boy, do I just love how funny Croucher is. I remember the ending of GWART taking quite a dark turn, which made sense considering the circumstances, but after such a humorous romp, the stakes really came to a head and these characters endured some harrowing losses. That’s why it was so nice to see this addressed in Bridget & Gabe. I think enough weight is given to the struggles each of these characters, but especially Bridget and Gabe, go through following the events of the last book, while still allowing for the humor of the original book to shine through. These are kids!! They’ve been through a lot! They’re hurt and scared and might not know how to express all that! It’s refreshing to see a realistic look at how each character would fare; battling ptsd and anxiety and not having a true understanding of either, especially considering the historical setting. As is custom for any Croucher book, the characters are very much oops! all queer (which I obviously love), but I appreciated how it was portrayed as something that still had to be fought for. I know some queer historicals will either make queer normative worlds or make only two characters have to hide their secret from most, but it’s nice to see everyone stand together for each other, even if the wider world isn’t necessarily ready. The new characters were a welcome addition, even if I didn’t realize I had even MORE room in my heart for additional characters in this universe. I should know by now that the charm of a Croucher character is unmatched. Anyway, all that to say I loved it. Who’s surprised?
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Oh, how nice it is to be reunited with my children. As much as I loved Gwen & Art, I did not expect a sequel. I was obviously excited when it was announced, but I was a bit worried I wouldn’t like it as much. Not only did I just adore the first one, but I would not consider myself much of a YA enjoyer these days. However, I feel quite silly now for ever having any doubt. I know I sound like a broken record by this point, but boy, do I just love how funny Croucher is. I remember the ending of GWART taking quite a dark turn, which made sense considering the circumstances, but after such a humorous romp, the stakes really came to a head and these characters endured some harrowing losses. That’s why it was so nice to see this addressed in Bridget & Gabe. I think enough weight is given to the struggles each of these characters, but especially Bridget and Gabe, go through following the events of the last book, while still allowing for the humor of the original book to shine through. These are kids!! They’ve been through a lot! They’re hurt and scared and might not know how to express all that! It’s refreshing to see a realistic look at how each character would fare; battling ptsd and anxiety and not having a true understanding of either, especially considering the historical setting. As is custom for any Croucher book, the characters are very much oops! all queer (which I obviously love), but I appreciated how it was portrayed as something that still had to be fought for. I know some queer historicals will either make queer normative worlds or make only two characters have to hide their secret from most, but it’s nice to see everyone stand together for each other, even if the wider world isn’t necessarily ready. The new characters were a welcome addition, even if I didn’t realize I had even MORE room in my heart for additional characters in this universe. I should know by now that the charm of a Croucher character is unmatched. Anyway, all that to say I loved it. Who’s surprised?
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for inviting me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I didn’t expect a sequel to this book, so I was excited to see I was invited to read it!
This unfortunately wasn’t as good as the first one. I wouldn’t say it’s not worth the read if you liked the first book, but I don’t know if you necessarily need to jump on it right away.
I respect the author for wanting to explore mental health representation as well as a from of PTSD, but I don’t think breaking up the characters to start the novel is the way to go.
I can’t stand when we wait a whole book for the couples to get together, only for the sequel to have them break up. I get that authors want to add conflict, but there are other ways to explore that. Have Gabriel and Bridget go through their struggles, but let Arthur and Gwen be a part of that journey and help them out!
The miscommunication was awful. I get it may be hard to talk about your feelings, but Gabriel and Bridget should know Arthur and Gwen well enough that they love them and wouldn’t judge them for how they are feeling. If they were open and honest with them, half of their pain would have never happened. I also can’t stand when a character assumes what is good for another person and makes a decision for them. Gabriel and Bridget really hurt Arthur and Gwen by pushing them away. If Arthur and Gwen decide it is too much for them to handle, then at least they had a choice! I get that it may be hurtful to tell someone your struggles and they decide it’s too much, but again Arthur and Gwen clearly loved the two of them, and that wouldn’t have happened.
I hate to say it, but there wasn’t really a point to this book. It felt like it was just like, oh the first book did well enough, let’s just write a second. I think the character’s struggles are important to talk about, but everything else that happened wasn’t really necessary. I personally feel like everything we got in the first book was enough for me! Sure I was a little curious how the aftermath would be and to see more of the couples, but it could have been a novella or something brief, not a whole entire book.
The best thing about this book that was consistent with the first book was the humor! The humor is 10/10. Practically every page I was actually laughing out loud. The banter is so funny, as well as the character’s inner thoughts. Any comedic bit was my favorite part about the book and thankfully there was a lot of it.
Arthur remained the best character. I do really love him and Gabriel. I loved Gabriel and my heart ached for him at how scared and overwhelmed he was feeling. I thought Bridget and Gwen were a little underdeveloped compared to the first book. They were in it a decent bit, but I thought they sort of took the back burner for Gabriel. Which in a way makes sense, since he is the king, but still.
I really liked all the characters we were introduced in this novel. I loved Neil, he was so endearing. Sir Bowen and Sir Leonard were also pretty funny! Sidney wasn’t in it too much, but when he was he stole the show. Florian was my favorite addition to the cast of characters! I loved him. He gave off such baby energy. Not that he was childish, but just so adorable and endearing!
I wasn’t as impressed with this one as the first book, but if you want to read another book with these characters in it, it is not a terrible read.
I didn’t expect a sequel to this book, so I was excited to see I was invited to read it!
This unfortunately wasn’t as good as the first one. I wouldn’t say it’s not worth the read if you liked the first book, but I don’t know if you necessarily need to jump on it right away.
I respect the author for wanting to explore mental health representation as well as a from of PTSD, but I don’t think breaking up the characters to start the novel is the way to go.
I can’t stand when we wait a whole book for the couples to get together, only for the sequel to have them break up. I get that authors want to add conflict, but there are other ways to explore that. Have Gabriel and Bridget go through their struggles, but let Arthur and Gwen be a part of that journey and help them out!
The miscommunication was awful. I get it may be hard to talk about your feelings, but Gabriel and Bridget should know Arthur and Gwen well enough that they love them and wouldn’t judge them for how they are feeling. If they were open and honest with them, half of their pain would have never happened. I also can’t stand when a character assumes what is good for another person and makes a decision for them. Gabriel and Bridget really hurt Arthur and Gwen by pushing them away. If Arthur and Gwen decide it is too much for them to handle, then at least they had a choice! I get that it may be hurtful to tell someone your struggles and they decide it’s too much, but again Arthur and Gwen clearly loved the two of them, and that wouldn’t have happened.
I hate to say it, but there wasn’t really a point to this book. It felt like it was just like, oh the first book did well enough, let’s just write a second. I think the character’s struggles are important to talk about, but everything else that happened wasn’t really necessary. I personally feel like everything we got in the first book was enough for me! Sure I was a little curious how the aftermath would be and to see more of the couples, but it could have been a novella or something brief, not a whole entire book.
The best thing about this book that was consistent with the first book was the humor! The humor is 10/10. Practically every page I was actually laughing out loud. The banter is so funny, as well as the character’s inner thoughts. Any comedic bit was my favorite part about the book and thankfully there was a lot of it.
Arthur remained the best character. I do really love him and Gabriel. I loved Gabriel and my heart ached for him at how scared and overwhelmed he was feeling. I thought Bridget and Gwen were a little underdeveloped compared to the first book. They were in it a decent bit, but I thought they sort of took the back burner for Gabriel. Which in a way makes sense, since he is the king, but still.
I really liked all the characters we were introduced in this novel. I loved Neil, he was so endearing. Sir Bowen and Sir Leonard were also pretty funny! Sidney wasn’t in it too much, but when he was he stole the show. Florian was my favorite addition to the cast of characters! I loved him. He gave off such baby energy. Not that he was childish, but just so adorable and endearing!
I wasn’t as impressed with this one as the first book, but if you want to read another book with these characters in it, it is not a terrible read.
physical-books
November 27, 2025SEQUEL???
Did Not Finish
July 26, 2026DNF @ 47%
I loved Gwen and Art Are Not in Love and Bridget and Gabe Are Not Okay was one of my most anticipated books of this year so I was super excited to get sent both an eARC and ALC of this book.
Sadly, after reading half the book and giving both formats a go, I ended up dnfing for two main reasons.
While book 1 was mostly joyful and funny, this one had a completely different tone to it. It was sad and heavy and felt somewhat forced.
The two main characters in this book, as self-evident by the title, are Gabe and Bridget. I understand both carry trauma from the events at the end of book 1 but Bridget went from a character I loved to one who constantly felt sad for herself and angsted. I get it but I just wish she'd been slightly more kickass and less pathetic. And Gabe... he was the weakest character in book 1 and he doesn't feel like a strong enough character to be a lead in this book. I found him boring and honestly like a bit of a wet blanket throughout. We got maybe a single scene of Arthur trying to wrangle a new pet and that one scene was far more interesting than any of Gabe's throughout the first half. Basically, neither Gabe and Bridget were interesting as main characters and I continued to find Gwen and Arthur much more enjoyable even if they had very few scenes.
I'm pretty bummed this one didn't work for me but I guess that's just sometimes how it goes with sequels.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio for the ARCs
I loved Gwen and Art Are Not in Love and Bridget and Gabe Are Not Okay was one of my most anticipated books of this year so I was super excited to get sent both an eARC and ALC of this book.
Sadly, after reading half the book and giving both formats a go, I ended up dnfing for two main reasons.
While book 1 was mostly joyful and funny, this one had a completely different tone to it. It was sad and heavy and felt somewhat forced.
The two main characters in this book, as self-evident by the title, are Gabe and Bridget. I understand both carry trauma from the events at the end of book 1 but Bridget went from a character I loved to one who constantly felt sad for herself and angsted. I get it but I just wish she'd been slightly more kickass and less pathetic. And Gabe... he was the weakest character in book 1 and he doesn't feel like a strong enough character to be a lead in this book. I found him boring and honestly like a bit of a wet blanket throughout. We got maybe a single scene of Arthur trying to wrangle a new pet and that one scene was far more interesting than any of Gabe's throughout the first half. Basically, neither Gabe and Bridget were interesting as main characters and I continued to find Gwen and Arthur much more enjoyable even if they had very few scenes.
I'm pretty bummed this one didn't work for me but I guess that's just sometimes how it goes with sequels.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio for the ARCs
Want to Read
August 10, 2026ARC received! Thank you so much, Macmillan Audio!!
I had so much fun with the first book, so am looking forward to being back with this set of characters. I'm ready to laugh!
I had so much fun with the first book, so am looking forward to being back with this set of characters. I'm ready to laugh!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Gwen & Art was one of my favorite books of 2023, so naturally this sequel was one of my most anticipated books of this year. Amazingly, I loved it just as much as I hoped it would. It was a perfect follow-up. Rather than feeling like needless conflict to justify a sequel, it felt like the logical continuation of the ending of the first book.
That does mean this book was a lot less funny. The stakes are higher, and after everything that happened in the first book, they're not in a great place mentally. On top of that, Bridget and Gabriel are both just less inclined to humor in general than Gwen and Arthur. However, it didn't feel like a departure or an absence. It still very much felt like the same world and the same author, and the humor that was there still worked.
Maybe I'm biased because I love these characters so much I would read a five-book series of them just kind of hanging out, but I do think this sequel enhances the first book as well. It's a reminder that change is never easy, and there will always be closed-minded people who will hate you for it, but it is still necessary and worth fighting for. I was so proud of them by the end, and I will treasure my time with them always.
That does mean this book was a lot less funny. The stakes are higher, and after everything that happened in the first book, they're not in a great place mentally. On top of that, Bridget and Gabriel are both just less inclined to humor in general than Gwen and Arthur. However, it didn't feel like a departure or an absence. It still very much felt like the same world and the same author, and the humor that was there still worked.
Maybe I'm biased because I love these characters so much I would read a five-book series of them just kind of hanging out, but I do think this sequel enhances the first book as well. It's a reminder that change is never easy, and there will always be closed-minded people who will hate you for it, but it is still necessary and worth fighting for. I was so proud of them by the end, and I will treasure my time with them always.
Want to Read
November 7, 2025WE HAVE A COVER PEOPLE!!
August 11, 2026
4.5 stars! Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, Macmillan Audio, and Macmillan Young Listeners for this advanced copy! You can pick up Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay on August 11, 2026.
Oh, my heart. After seeing how much these poor characters went through at the very end of Gwen and Art Are Not in Love, it shouldn't have come as a shock that they'd still be reeling from everything they endured. But Lex Croucher led us on a heartachingly beautiful journey through both Bridget and Gabe's POV as they navigated the aftermath of battle, loss, and the identity crisis so many young adults feel but can't articulate.
Gabe, unused to being King and unable to live up to his father's legacy, suffers from constant panic attacks and anxiety as he struggles to rule Camelot. Even with Gwen's help, he feels lost and unmoored, especially without Arthur beside him. Meanwhile, Bridget is on the tourney circuit, jousting and attempting to be the knight she always dreamed she'd be. But the things that once came easily to her now feel foreign and strange, and she can't shake this sensation that she's lost before she even begins. And when it comes to Gwen, Bridget is sure her long-distance relationship with the princess is more fairytale than reality.
I love how the concept of gathering the "knights of the round table" and chasing down different Arthurian legends brought our characters back together and forced them to open up to one another. Both couples' breakups and second chances felt organic, and I loved the growth we witnessed throughout the story as Bridget, Gabe, Gwen, and Art finally confronted the fears that held them back. We still get the hilarious banter and moments of comedy that make Lex's writing so distinctive, but this book felt much more balanced to me with tangible plot and character development.
And the narrators were absolutely phenomenal. Bridget's especially really felt like her inner voice, emphasizing the struggles she faced and how much she yearned to fix herself like she's a machine. It was easy to tell when we were in Bridget's head vs listening to other characters in dialogue.
All in all, I loved this one and how well it wrapped up the tale of these disasters of Camelot. If you're looking for a queer Arthurian retelling full of heart and laughter, this is def the duology for you!
Oh, my heart. After seeing how much these poor characters went through at the very end of Gwen and Art Are Not in Love, it shouldn't have come as a shock that they'd still be reeling from everything they endured. But Lex Croucher led us on a heartachingly beautiful journey through both Bridget and Gabe's POV as they navigated the aftermath of battle, loss, and the identity crisis so many young adults feel but can't articulate.
Gabe, unused to being King and unable to live up to his father's legacy, suffers from constant panic attacks and anxiety as he struggles to rule Camelot. Even with Gwen's help, he feels lost and unmoored, especially without Arthur beside him. Meanwhile, Bridget is on the tourney circuit, jousting and attempting to be the knight she always dreamed she'd be. But the things that once came easily to her now feel foreign and strange, and she can't shake this sensation that she's lost before she even begins. And when it comes to Gwen, Bridget is sure her long-distance relationship with the princess is more fairytale than reality.
I love how the concept of gathering the "knights of the round table" and chasing down different Arthurian legends brought our characters back together and forced them to open up to one another. Both couples' breakups and second chances felt organic, and I loved the growth we witnessed throughout the story as Bridget, Gabe, Gwen, and Art finally confronted the fears that held them back. We still get the hilarious banter and moments of comedy that make Lex's writing so distinctive, but this book felt much more balanced to me with tangible plot and character development.
And the narrators were absolutely phenomenal. Bridget's especially really felt like her inner voice, emphasizing the struggles she faced and how much she yearned to fix herself like she's a machine. It was easy to tell when we were in Bridget's head vs listening to other characters in dialogue.
All in all, I loved this one and how well it wrapped up the tale of these disasters of Camelot. If you're looking for a queer Arthurian retelling full of heart and laughter, this is def the duology for you!
March 11, 2026
Thank you so much to Lex Croucher, NetGalley, St.Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for access to this ARC. This is an open and honest review.
----
It's just a dog, Bridget thought, palms sweaty inside her gauntlets. Stop being weird about it. But what was a knight if not an obedient dog scenting blood, hungry for the death of their master's choosing?
----
Gabriel is the king of England. Bridget is an honored knight. Both have reached the goals that others thrust upon them, but neither are truly happy. After the battle that took Gabriel's father from him and dampened Bridget's courage, England's favorite couples are very, very not okay. While Gabriel's anxiety and panic attacks force a wedge between him and Arthur, and Bridget's need to prove her strength to herself warding away Gwen, worries of an unsettled kingdom force the four out on a quest to investigate a resurgence of Arthurian legends plaguing their lands. As the stakes soar ever higher, it becomes a question of what is truly the greater good: doing what is best for the country or carving out a home for yourself.
----
Croucher absolutely nailed this continuation of Gwen & Art Are Not In Love! While the first book was a fun romp through the woes of courting someone within the castle walls, Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay really ups the ante and thrusts the group into the chill of reality. While the story is still witty and the dialogue outright hysterical at time, this a story of the ripples of the trauma of war. The loss of the king affected the kingdom a great deal, and the characters are all struggling with the aftermath in their own way. This weaves a story of grief, anxiety, self-image, and regret that deeply resounds with those who have loved and lost.
Reading through the POVs of Gabe and Bridget was illuminating. Gabriel is possibly one of my favorite MMCs in YA. He's not cut out to be a king with his soft and studious personality, but he's fiercely loyal to his father and the kingdom he created. I sympathized with him so much in this book, my heart aching at times when everything he wanted was just out of his reach. His love for Arthur is so very pure and seated in a need to be something to somebody that I truly treasure. Bridget, too, offers a stunning portrayal of the lasting trauma of war and death and the ways it can muddle identity and confidence. Poor Bridget deserves a kiss on the forehead and a warm tea for everything suffered, brave and polished knight or not.
If you're a fan of Arthurian legends, this is the book for you! The Green Knight made me laugh out loud, and encountering the Lady in the Lake was equally as fun. I truly appreciate the way Croucher is able to weave humor with the Arthurian legacy and the heart of what it means to be queer despite adversity. These books have become such a home for me, and it was such a joy to be able to experience them. Five stars, no notes.
----
It's just a dog, Bridget thought, palms sweaty inside her gauntlets. Stop being weird about it. But what was a knight if not an obedient dog scenting blood, hungry for the death of their master's choosing?
----
Gabriel is the king of England. Bridget is an honored knight. Both have reached the goals that others thrust upon them, but neither are truly happy. After the battle that took Gabriel's father from him and dampened Bridget's courage, England's favorite couples are very, very not okay. While Gabriel's anxiety and panic attacks force a wedge between him and Arthur, and Bridget's need to prove her strength to herself warding away Gwen, worries of an unsettled kingdom force the four out on a quest to investigate a resurgence of Arthurian legends plaguing their lands. As the stakes soar ever higher, it becomes a question of what is truly the greater good: doing what is best for the country or carving out a home for yourself.
----
Croucher absolutely nailed this continuation of Gwen & Art Are Not In Love! While the first book was a fun romp through the woes of courting someone within the castle walls, Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay really ups the ante and thrusts the group into the chill of reality. While the story is still witty and the dialogue outright hysterical at time, this a story of the ripples of the trauma of war. The loss of the king affected the kingdom a great deal, and the characters are all struggling with the aftermath in their own way. This weaves a story of grief, anxiety, self-image, and regret that deeply resounds with those who have loved and lost.
Reading through the POVs of Gabe and Bridget was illuminating. Gabriel is possibly one of my favorite MMCs in YA. He's not cut out to be a king with his soft and studious personality, but he's fiercely loyal to his father and the kingdom he created. I sympathized with him so much in this book, my heart aching at times when everything he wanted was just out of his reach. His love for Arthur is so very pure and seated in a need to be something to somebody that I truly treasure. Bridget, too, offers a stunning portrayal of the lasting trauma of war and death and the ways it can muddle identity and confidence. Poor Bridget deserves a kiss on the forehead and a warm tea for everything suffered, brave and polished knight or not.
If you're a fan of Arthurian legends, this is the book for you! The Green Knight made me laugh out loud, and encountering the Lady in the Lake was equally as fun. I truly appreciate the way Croucher is able to weave humor with the Arthurian legacy and the heart of what it means to be queer despite adversity. These books have become such a home for me, and it was such a joy to be able to experience them. Five stars, no notes.
May 31, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for the arc!
Bridget and Gabe are not okay is the second book in the series and follows our other two main characters, Bridget and Gabe, as they navigate the aftermath of the epic and bloddy battle of Camelot. Gabe is now king and Bridget, one of the most famed nights in the country, and both have their worlds flipped upside down. It is clear that neither is handling their new lives well, and although Gwen and Art are more than willing to help, it will take a lot of self reflection and personal growth (and maybe an epic trip around the country) get back on their feet.
I honestly did not expect this to be a series, but I think the author made a good choice by focusing on the two other characters in the first story, and giving them a chance for some major character development. It's always intresting to see the afermath of the "getting together" part in relationships, especially fantasy, because sometimes authors forget the trauma and action of the book can actually have a negative impact on both the characters and their relationships. To me, this was a very character-driven book, as we really got to focus on Gabe and Bridget finding themselves and really establishing the two relationships. There was still action and adventure, however it felt a bit secondary, and while there were some interesting, and certainly funny, moments during their travels, I didn't feel as impactful as the first book.
In the first book, Bridget was a total badass, and I'm glad she got some much needed love in this book. Being able to really see her emotions and coming to terms with her identity really rounded out her character. Gabe also changed a lot, seeing him going from a bit shy and insecure to a king who is able to stand up for himself and the ones he loves and enact meaningful change in the kindgom. My maybe one critique about the characters is that because the first book focused on Gwen and Art, it felt a bit like Gabe and Bridget were catching up to them a bit in terms of maturity and development, however based on their archetypes, I can undestand why.
I would give this 3.75 rounded up because I did actually laugh out loud a couple times while reading this. Arthur quickly became one of my favourite characters because wholy cow did he kick himself into shape in this book.
Bridget and Gabe are not okay is the second book in the series and follows our other two main characters, Bridget and Gabe, as they navigate the aftermath of the epic and bloddy battle of Camelot. Gabe is now king and Bridget, one of the most famed nights in the country, and both have their worlds flipped upside down. It is clear that neither is handling their new lives well, and although Gwen and Art are more than willing to help, it will take a lot of self reflection and personal growth (and maybe an epic trip around the country) get back on their feet.
I honestly did not expect this to be a series, but I think the author made a good choice by focusing on the two other characters in the first story, and giving them a chance for some major character development. It's always intresting to see the afermath of the "getting together" part in relationships, especially fantasy, because sometimes authors forget the trauma and action of the book can actually have a negative impact on both the characters and their relationships. To me, this was a very character-driven book, as we really got to focus on Gabe and Bridget finding themselves and really establishing the two relationships. There was still action and adventure, however it felt a bit secondary, and while there were some interesting, and certainly funny, moments during their travels, I didn't feel as impactful as the first book.
In the first book, Bridget was a total badass, and I'm glad she got some much needed love in this book. Being able to really see her emotions and coming to terms with her identity really rounded out her character. Gabe also changed a lot, seeing him going from a bit shy and insecure to a king who is able to stand up for himself and the ones he loves and enact meaningful change in the kindgom. My maybe one critique about the characters is that because the first book focused on Gwen and Art, it felt a bit like Gabe and Bridget were catching up to them a bit in terms of maturity and development, however based on their archetypes, I can undestand why.
I would give this 3.75 rounded up because I did actually laugh out loud a couple times while reading this. Arthur quickly became one of my favourite characters because wholy cow did he kick himself into shape in this book.
August 13, 2026
loved to be back with these guys soo much! idk if it's nostalgia or my immense love for the first book (back when i've read it ages ago and sadly haven't had the time to reread before this one ugh but it left a deep enough impression so all good ig) but even tho in the majority of this one there was absolutely nothing happening (in terms of action not romance antics)-there was just tiny bit of it almost at the very end (80ish percent or smth) it still filled me with so much joy to be able to return to this world with these characters and altho gabe had real potential to be the mc since book one imo i was not so sure about bridget at least initially since i didn't really remember much about her from the first book but as it progressed she proved to be deliciously complex and more than capable to stand as the mc too. and yeah i've probably would've liked more concentrated plot/action but it still delivered even without all the shenanigans of the first instead focusing on often quiet interpersonal relationships and its difficulties after trauma which is a feat in itself imo
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Thank you to Edelweiss for the ARC!
I think this suffered from me not re reading the previous book before reading this, as I had a bit of a harder time getting back into the cadence of the writing and the characters. All in all I think it covered some really important ground and topics, and didn't shy away from certain things or say "and then love fixed it!" I also think the addition of the Arthurian legends was pretty fun.
I think this suffered from me not re reading the previous book before reading this, as I had a bit of a harder time getting back into the cadence of the writing and the characters. All in all I think it covered some really important ground and topics, and didn't shy away from certain things or say "and then love fixed it!" I also think the addition of the Arthurian legends was pretty fun.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book had a very different vibe from the first one, in my opinion. I guess that makes sense, considering the note the first book ended on.
Gabe and Brigit are not okay. They are both in pain, but they are so focused on being strong that they can't acknowledge their trauma or accept it enough to begin healing.
Honestly, I really appreciate how Lex Crouch portrays PTSD and panic attacks so realistically. I felt much more connected to the main characters' struggles than I did in the first book.
I think this book digs much deeper into emotions and trauma, and I really liked that. I enjoyed watching Gabe's whole world fall apart under the sudden responsibility of having to do everything right and live up to his idealised image of a leader. I also loved seeing him slowly accept that mistakes are inevitable and learn to be brave enough to carve out his own path.
I also loved Brigit's journey as she tried to rediscover herself after both her passion and her purpose were shattered by the never-ending nightmare of real war and death. Watching her learn to open up and realise that she could be loved without constantly proving herself through achievements was one of my favourite parts of the book.
Still, Art remains my favourite character. Even in this book, his habit of using jokes as a shield, together with his open heart and puppy-like approach to people (meaning he'll keep giving you chances even after you've hurt him), completely stole my heart. He's so me.
What didn't work for me was Gwen's sudden change. I understand that people react differently to trauma and responsibility, and perhaps her suddenly becoming mature, serious and supportive is a believable response. We even saw hints of it in the first book when she put on the armour. Still, the change felt too abrupt for me. Or maybe she's simply a character I don't connect with.
The other thing that gave me pause was the disability representation. I know it wasn't the main focus of the story, but losing an arm is life-changing. Both the physical and emotional recovery are significant, yet here it felt like it was mentioned so briefly that I sometimes forgot it had even happened.
Perhaps that was the author's intention—to make it simply one aspect of the character rather than something that defines him, while focusing more on his personality and emotional struggles. But I'm not entirely convinced that approach worked for me. From my own experience talking to people who acquired disabilities because of the war (I'm Ukrainian), many of them don't want to be defined by their disability or treated as helpless. At the same time, they also don't want people to pretend it isn't there. It's part of who they are, and learning to live in a changed body is also part of their story. That said, I can't speak for people with disabilities as a whole. If the book had sensitivity readers and they felt this representation worked, then I'll happily accept that my perspective is simply limited.
I also didn't enjoy the plot very much. It felt like it existed mainly to keep the characters together and give them opportunities to have emotional conversations. I wasn't particularly invested in the adventure itself, and I honestly think you could remove most of that storyline without changing the emotional core of the novel.
Maybe it's my own fault for expecting more plot from a romance, but I picked this up because it was advertised as an Arthurian-legend-inspired romance. In reality, I felt the Arthurian elements were mostly limited to the medieval setting, the names, and occasional references to the legend, albeit in a heavily reimagined form.
Overall, I'm struggling to rate this book.
Emotionally, it absolutely got me. I cried, I related to the characters' mental health struggles, and I think Lex Crouch did an amazing job portraying those complicated emotions. Plot-wise, however, I came away disappointed. I also felt that the romance itself was less prominent than in the first book.
So... I think this book will really depend on what you're looking for. My expectations were probably different from what this sequel was trying to deliver.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for honest review.
Gabe and Brigit are not okay. They are both in pain, but they are so focused on being strong that they can't acknowledge their trauma or accept it enough to begin healing.
Honestly, I really appreciate how Lex Crouch portrays PTSD and panic attacks so realistically. I felt much more connected to the main characters' struggles than I did in the first book.
I think this book digs much deeper into emotions and trauma, and I really liked that. I enjoyed watching Gabe's whole world fall apart under the sudden responsibility of having to do everything right and live up to his idealised image of a leader. I also loved seeing him slowly accept that mistakes are inevitable and learn to be brave enough to carve out his own path.
I also loved Brigit's journey as she tried to rediscover herself after both her passion and her purpose were shattered by the never-ending nightmare of real war and death. Watching her learn to open up and realise that she could be loved without constantly proving herself through achievements was one of my favourite parts of the book.
Still, Art remains my favourite character. Even in this book, his habit of using jokes as a shield, together with his open heart and puppy-like approach to people (meaning he'll keep giving you chances even after you've hurt him), completely stole my heart. He's so me.
What didn't work for me was Gwen's sudden change. I understand that people react differently to trauma and responsibility, and perhaps her suddenly becoming mature, serious and supportive is a believable response. We even saw hints of it in the first book when she put on the armour. Still, the change felt too abrupt for me. Or maybe she's simply a character I don't connect with.
The other thing that gave me pause was the disability representation. I know it wasn't the main focus of the story, but losing an arm is life-changing. Both the physical and emotional recovery are significant, yet here it felt like it was mentioned so briefly that I sometimes forgot it had even happened.
Perhaps that was the author's intention—to make it simply one aspect of the character rather than something that defines him, while focusing more on his personality and emotional struggles. But I'm not entirely convinced that approach worked for me. From my own experience talking to people who acquired disabilities because of the war (I'm Ukrainian), many of them don't want to be defined by their disability or treated as helpless. At the same time, they also don't want people to pretend it isn't there. It's part of who they are, and learning to live in a changed body is also part of their story. That said, I can't speak for people with disabilities as a whole. If the book had sensitivity readers and they felt this representation worked, then I'll happily accept that my perspective is simply limited.
I also didn't enjoy the plot very much. It felt like it existed mainly to keep the characters together and give them opportunities to have emotional conversations. I wasn't particularly invested in the adventure itself, and I honestly think you could remove most of that storyline without changing the emotional core of the novel.
Maybe it's my own fault for expecting more plot from a romance, but I picked this up because it was advertised as an Arthurian-legend-inspired romance. In reality, I felt the Arthurian elements were mostly limited to the medieval setting, the names, and occasional references to the legend, albeit in a heavily reimagined form.
Overall, I'm struggling to rate this book.
Emotionally, it absolutely got me. I cried, I related to the characters' mental health struggles, and I think Lex Crouch did an amazing job portraying those complicated emotions. Plot-wise, however, I came away disappointed. I also felt that the romance itself was less prominent than in the first book.
So... I think this book will really depend on what you're looking for. My expectations were probably different from what this sequel was trying to deliver.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for honest review.
August 6, 2026
This queer King Arthur retelling is a very charming sequel told from the dual POVs of Bridget, a celebrated Knight, and Gabriel, who is now King. They are both gripped by PTSD from the battle at the end of Book 1, and Gabe has debilitating social anxiety. It’s about the pressures of being King, and the pressures of being a famous Knight, both required to perform for the public and they are reluctant. So relatable!
Gabriel has declared that you can love anyone you want and he loves Arthur. He hates being King and just wants to stay home and read (also relatable!) His “PR” person asks that they gather a round table of Knights and the entire group, including a few new faces, go on a PR quest and “love is love” campaign through the English countryside to Wales. It’s very cute.
It's a very slow burn with a lot of Romantic suffering for both main couples Bridge & Gwen and Arthur & Gabe. A tad too much angst and longing for my current mood, but it pays off nicely. If you liked Gwen & Art Are Not in Love you will like this sequel.
*Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the ARC
Gabriel has declared that you can love anyone you want and he loves Arthur. He hates being King and just wants to stay home and read (also relatable!) His “PR” person asks that they gather a round table of Knights and the entire group, including a few new faces, go on a PR quest and “love is love” campaign through the English countryside to Wales. It’s very cute.
It's a very slow burn with a lot of Romantic suffering for both main couples Bridge & Gwen and Arthur & Gabe. A tad too much angst and longing for my current mood, but it pays off nicely. If you liked Gwen & Art Are Not in Love you will like this sequel.
*Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the ARC
August 14, 2026
i love these characters sm these books have become a comfort read for me. i rr the first one before diving into this one and i finished both of them in 2 days couldn't put them down.
there was some unnecessary miscom but i can overlook that bc the resolution was great. i liked all the additional characters as well. i did miss gwen and art's pov in this one and i hope there's a third book with all 4 povs coming up next
there was some unnecessary miscom but i can overlook that bc the resolution was great. i liked all the additional characters as well. i did miss gwen and art's pov in this one and i hope there's a third book with all 4 povs coming up next
July 18, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
When I started Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay, I'll be honest—I did not do my due diligence and give myself a refresher on the events from Gwen & Art Are Not In Love. So, it did take me just a little bit longer than I wanted to get back into the rhythm again. But again, that's my own fault, not anything that Lex Croucher could do.
Once I *did* get caught up to speed, I had so much fun with this sequel. With everything that happened in Gwen & Art, this natural progression and exploration of the mental effects within these characters felt very realistic. It was painful, awkward, and vivid. I felt the anxiety attacks, I felt the emotional rollercoasters everyone went on. It just made sense. Croucher did a great job portraying it, while still reminding the audience that at the end of the day, these are teenagers grappling with the HEAVY events of the last novel.
Bridge & Gabe had the same quick-witted humor that I look forward to in all of Croucher's books and her characters are loveable and fun.
I found the pacing to be a bit wonky near the end. It started to feel a bit rushed compared to the first 3/4 of the novel. Overall though, I had a ton of fun with the book and also cried!
When I started Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay, I'll be honest—I did not do my due diligence and give myself a refresher on the events from Gwen & Art Are Not In Love. So, it did take me just a little bit longer than I wanted to get back into the rhythm again. But again, that's my own fault, not anything that Lex Croucher could do.
Once I *did* get caught up to speed, I had so much fun with this sequel. With everything that happened in Gwen & Art, this natural progression and exploration of the mental effects within these characters felt very realistic. It was painful, awkward, and vivid. I felt the anxiety attacks, I felt the emotional rollercoasters everyone went on. It just made sense. Croucher did a great job portraying it, while still reminding the audience that at the end of the day, these are teenagers grappling with the HEAVY events of the last novel.
Bridge & Gabe had the same quick-witted humor that I look forward to in all of Croucher's books and her characters are loveable and fun.
I found the pacing to be a bit wonky near the end. It started to feel a bit rushed compared to the first 3/4 of the novel. Overall though, I had a ton of fun with the book and also cried!
April 8, 2026
I don’t think this book was necessary. We could’ve just had Gwen & Art Are Not in Love and been okay. This whole book is these two couples not being able to communicate and being angsty while on this random quest trying to improve the public opinion of Gabe after he said that gay people were cool. I think that it would’ve been better if it was fully just a romance. However, it is a quick read and entertaining! I just found myself not caring about any of the characters except for Arthur. How hard is it for people to communicate?????? I must remember they are teens. I must give them grace. But good lord.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
Want to Read
April 21, 2026i am SO EXTREMELY excited to be brought back into this world. thank you Lex Croucher i am literally shaking in anticipation. if i could sacrifice my first born child for an ARC i would
update: ARC ACQUIRED i can't wait to revisit this world, i hope it matches the level of whimsy of the first book, i missed these silly royals so much. review to come
update: ARC ACQUIRED i can't wait to revisit this world, i hope it matches the level of whimsy of the first book, i missed these silly royals so much. review to come
July 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
4.75⭐️
When I first read this Gwen and Art back in 2023, I couldn't rate it any higher than 4⭐️ (which increased to 4.5⭐️ during my reread last month) as I felt it desperately needed a sequel and did not work as a standalone. I'm glad to say that past me was 100% correct, as this was such a perfect sequel that brought so much to these characters, this world, and this story. Genuinely, this is one of the most well-done sequels I've ever read, and I'm so glad I got the chance to read it early.
Whilst book 1 was fairly lighthearted in tone until the final sections, book 2 takes a darker, more emotional tone that I really loved! My preference usually tends towards darker/more serious toned books anyway, so this was very welcome to me, but Lex Croucher did such an amazing job of exploring these heavier more emotional journeys whilst still maintaining the humour and goofiness of book 1 throughout. I thought this decision leant a great deal of depth to the characters, as Croucher went beneath these guises of humour and flippability and explored their emotional sides so beautifully. I praised Croucher's exploration of mental health and disability in my review of book 1, and this was again such a wonderful strength in book 2. Mental health, grief, trauma, and adjusting to life with a new disability was such a key element of this story, and one of the strongest elements of the book overall, that really well-suited the direction taken at the end of book 1, and the more emotional and serious tone of book 2.
Both Bridget and Gabe's journeys in this book were so moving and hard-hitting, and I found myself teary and deeply proud of these fictional characters multiple times. I'm disabled myself, and have often struggled with many of the things that these characters struggled with, and I found myself relating to them deeply and feeling so happy that this sort of representation exists for young queer and disabled people, in a story were such care and respect was given to these emotionally nuanced journeys. Bridget and Gabe understandably got the most space to develop as the two POV characters, and Gabe's journey with finding his confidence and the strength to live the life he wants was particularly powerful, and Bridget's journey with accepting herself and that she doesn't need to be perfect all the time, that she doesn't owe anyone anything, and that rest is not a failure but healthy, were both particularly hard-hitting and important journeys. I felt Arthur also got to have a deeply nuanced journey alongside Gabe, and would've liked to see a bit more time given to doing the same for Gwen, who felt a bit backgrounded to me compared to the other three protagonists. The characterisation across this book as a whole was truly excellent, with each member of the round table having such a distinct and vibrant, and always lovable, personality, that added so much depth and realness to the relationships and humour throughout this book.
I also really enjoyed seeing how the world-building and political landscape expanded in this book. The lack of focus on the political aspects of the book was a criticism I had of book 1, and I really appreciated how Croucher leaned into this in book 2, exploring how much 'marketing' and propaganda is involved in monarchy and politics, the divide between regular folk and the nobility, the impact of coups and violence, and the realities of trying to enact great change. Croucher's message with this book was clear, that there will always be resistance to change and diversity, always be bigots who try to fight back and protest, and yet we must always fight back harder, and never give up on fighting for the change we know is right. I think, for our current times, this was a particularly powerful message. The plot was also excellent fun, with questing and antics and interactions that involved meeting real people with real personalities and issues, and I think this style of narrative was perfect for telling this story. I do think things were a bit too crammed in at the end and wrapped up a bit too quickly, but the ending was still satisfying and heart-warming and so deeply hopeful in our dark times.
Reading this series has been such a highlight, such a wonderful combination of fun and humour and antics, whilst still respectful and impactful in exploring the darker realities of life, mental health, and trauma. The representation across both of these books has been wonderful and so vital, and made me, as a queer and disabled reader, feel so very happy. I really recommend this series and am so glad that Gwen, Art, Bridget, and Gabe finally got the sequel they deserved!
4.75⭐️
When I first read this Gwen and Art back in 2023, I couldn't rate it any higher than 4⭐️ (which increased to 4.5⭐️ during my reread last month) as I felt it desperately needed a sequel and did not work as a standalone. I'm glad to say that past me was 100% correct, as this was such a perfect sequel that brought so much to these characters, this world, and this story. Genuinely, this is one of the most well-done sequels I've ever read, and I'm so glad I got the chance to read it early.
Whilst book 1 was fairly lighthearted in tone until the final sections, book 2 takes a darker, more emotional tone that I really loved! My preference usually tends towards darker/more serious toned books anyway, so this was very welcome to me, but Lex Croucher did such an amazing job of exploring these heavier more emotional journeys whilst still maintaining the humour and goofiness of book 1 throughout. I thought this decision leant a great deal of depth to the characters, as Croucher went beneath these guises of humour and flippability and explored their emotional sides so beautifully. I praised Croucher's exploration of mental health and disability in my review of book 1, and this was again such a wonderful strength in book 2. Mental health, grief, trauma, and adjusting to life with a new disability was such a key element of this story, and one of the strongest elements of the book overall, that really well-suited the direction taken at the end of book 1, and the more emotional and serious tone of book 2.
Both Bridget and Gabe's journeys in this book were so moving and hard-hitting, and I found myself teary and deeply proud of these fictional characters multiple times. I'm disabled myself, and have often struggled with many of the things that these characters struggled with, and I found myself relating to them deeply and feeling so happy that this sort of representation exists for young queer and disabled people, in a story were such care and respect was given to these emotionally nuanced journeys. Bridget and Gabe understandably got the most space to develop as the two POV characters, and Gabe's journey with finding his confidence and the strength to live the life he wants was particularly powerful, and Bridget's journey with accepting herself and that she doesn't need to be perfect all the time, that she doesn't owe anyone anything, and that rest is not a failure but healthy, were both particularly hard-hitting and important journeys. I felt Arthur also got to have a deeply nuanced journey alongside Gabe, and would've liked to see a bit more time given to doing the same for Gwen, who felt a bit backgrounded to me compared to the other three protagonists. The characterisation across this book as a whole was truly excellent, with each member of the round table having such a distinct and vibrant, and always lovable, personality, that added so much depth and realness to the relationships and humour throughout this book.
I also really enjoyed seeing how the world-building and political landscape expanded in this book. The lack of focus on the political aspects of the book was a criticism I had of book 1, and I really appreciated how Croucher leaned into this in book 2, exploring how much 'marketing' and propaganda is involved in monarchy and politics, the divide between regular folk and the nobility, the impact of coups and violence, and the realities of trying to enact great change. Croucher's message with this book was clear, that there will always be resistance to change and diversity, always be bigots who try to fight back and protest, and yet we must always fight back harder, and never give up on fighting for the change we know is right. I think, for our current times, this was a particularly powerful message. The plot was also excellent fun, with questing and antics and interactions that involved meeting real people with real personalities and issues, and I think this style of narrative was perfect for telling this story. I do think things were a bit too crammed in at the end and wrapped up a bit too quickly, but the ending was still satisfying and heart-warming and so deeply hopeful in our dark times.
Reading this series has been such a highlight, such a wonderful combination of fun and humour and antics, whilst still respectful and impactful in exploring the darker realities of life, mental health, and trauma. The representation across both of these books has been wonderful and so vital, and made me, as a queer and disabled reader, feel so very happy. I really recommend this series and am so glad that Gwen, Art, Bridget, and Gabe finally got the sequel they deserved!
Did Not Finish
August 5, 2026DNF at 26%
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!
Gwen and Art are Not in Love was one of the first ARCs I ever read and I absolutely loved it, so I was pleasantly surprised and excited when I saw there was a sequel coming out. Unfortunately at a story structure level this book was never going to work for me. To start off though, there were a couple things I liked or appreciated about this one. First, I thought it was a nice switch up that this story is told from Bridget and Gabe's point of view. I also thought the quest to investigate a relic related to the Arthurian myth had a lot of potential to be quite interesting and could make for some fun situations the characters might find themselves in. I also liked that we got to see what ruling looks like for Gabe, and the struggles that come with being a new and very young king. These two plot elements had so much potential
The biggest most glaring flaw in this story which made me immediately want to DNF was having the two main couples break up (sort of in Bridget and Gwen's case) in between book 1 and 2. I really do not like third act breakups or other conflicts that don't feel justified and/or are clearly there to be plot devices, so I was extremely frustrated by this being introduced so early in. If this wasn't an ARC I absolutely would have stopped after the first chapter, but I wanted to see what the author was trying to cook up so I gave it a chance. This choice was a problem for me for a couple reasons. First, it tarnished the ending for me. The ending of book 1 wasn't a full closure, but I liked that it was a happy ending while leaving the future open ended. Additionally, to have this happen off page made the beginning of the book so jarring. The tone is so different immediately, it feels like a completely different series by a completely different author. Which leads me to the second problem I had with this choice. For me, this author's strengths, especially in this series, is their sense of humor and the way they wrote this chaotic found family dynamic. This book strives to be more serious, and for me that's just not what I look for from them generally, but especially in this series. I can understand that this was also done to create conflict, and that the characters are brought back together by this relic that needs investigating, but I think this relic plot line, plus the politics of having a new, young ruler could have more than enough conflict on it's own. Personally, I think this book would have been better if it was shorter, more novella style, or a collection of short stories like other YA authors have recently done. Especially given that the first book was a standalone. Credit where credit is due, there are some funny moments, but they are much fewer and farther between compared to book 1 which had me laughing out loud fairly frequently. It just felt really lacking of this author's unique tone and sense of humor that I've come to know and love
Even though this book wasn't for me, I'm sure there are other who would enjoy it. If you don't mind conflict or couples breaking up, are more interested and/or know more about Arthurian legend there's a good chance you'll enjoy this more than I did
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!
Gwen and Art are Not in Love was one of the first ARCs I ever read and I absolutely loved it, so I was pleasantly surprised and excited when I saw there was a sequel coming out. Unfortunately at a story structure level this book was never going to work for me. To start off though, there were a couple things I liked or appreciated about this one. First, I thought it was a nice switch up that this story is told from Bridget and Gabe's point of view. I also thought the quest to investigate a relic related to the Arthurian myth had a lot of potential to be quite interesting and could make for some fun situations the characters might find themselves in. I also liked that we got to see what ruling looks like for Gabe, and the struggles that come with being a new and very young king. These two plot elements had so much potential
The biggest most glaring flaw in this story which made me immediately want to DNF was having the two main couples break up (sort of in Bridget and Gwen's case) in between book 1 and 2. I really do not like third act breakups or other conflicts that don't feel justified and/or are clearly there to be plot devices, so I was extremely frustrated by this being introduced so early in. If this wasn't an ARC I absolutely would have stopped after the first chapter, but I wanted to see what the author was trying to cook up so I gave it a chance. This choice was a problem for me for a couple reasons. First, it tarnished the ending for me. The ending of book 1 wasn't a full closure, but I liked that it was a happy ending while leaving the future open ended. Additionally, to have this happen off page made the beginning of the book so jarring. The tone is so different immediately, it feels like a completely different series by a completely different author. Which leads me to the second problem I had with this choice. For me, this author's strengths, especially in this series, is their sense of humor and the way they wrote this chaotic found family dynamic. This book strives to be more serious, and for me that's just not what I look for from them generally, but especially in this series. I can understand that this was also done to create conflict, and that the characters are brought back together by this relic that needs investigating, but I think this relic plot line, plus the politics of having a new, young ruler could have more than enough conflict on it's own. Personally, I think this book would have been better if it was shorter, more novella style, or a collection of short stories like other YA authors have recently done. Especially given that the first book was a standalone. Credit where credit is due, there are some funny moments, but they are much fewer and farther between compared to book 1 which had me laughing out loud fairly frequently. It just felt really lacking of this author's unique tone and sense of humor that I've come to know and love
Even though this book wasn't for me, I'm sure there are other who would enjoy it. If you don't mind conflict or couples breaking up, are more interested and/or know more about Arthurian legend there's a good chance you'll enjoy this more than I did
April 3, 2026
Thank you NetGallery for the eARC!! 4.5 ⭐️
Omg!! This book was so lovely. Most of the time sequels are very hit and miss, but this sequel was definitely better than the first.
Bridget and Gabe are both struggling heavily after the fall of the king. Bridget dealing with PTSD, while Gabe deals with intense anxiety. The angst is poignant and really allows the reader to understand the importance of speaking about these struggles.
With this, queerness is also a constant issue in this book—meaning the kingdom is still not entirely for the Lancelot laws. This reflection of society reacting to queerness hit a nerve for me (in a relatable way) reminding me of the struggles we still have with acceptance in our world today. But what really mattered to me was the way they never stopped fighting and let the haters rage on. A lot of books idealize a world without homophobia when that is not reality, but this world accepts that not everyone is ready to be loving, unfortunately, but that doesn’t mean you should stop being true to yourself. There was also an addition to more gender exploration in this novel, although subtly (cough, cough, Sir Bridget), which was also wonderful.
Below are two quotes toward the end of the story of Gabe and Bridget declaring/experiencing their truest loves, which I found very impactful:
“Gabriel kissed him, smiling, and Arthur's arms slid up around Gabriel's neck as he kissed him back. Arthur, the sky, the sea. In another life, perhaps he'd have been allowed peace like this all the time. He could close his eyes for a moment and pretend.
Imagine that they had all day, all week, to do nothing but walk and kiss and talk, and hold each other under the blankets at night, and remember how to be loved again.
Not in this life. But Arthur was here, and that was the part that mattered.”
“But knight or not, whether I'm a noble, a mercenary, a thiet, a damned monk... I swear myself in service to you. I will protect you, speak the truth to you always, honor you with my life and deeds. I will shield you with my body and keep you with my heart. My sword is yours. I don't know if you meant it when you said you loved me the other day-but I love you.”
I recommend picking up the first novel specifically for reading this one. An absolute recommendation from me.
Omg!! This book was so lovely. Most of the time sequels are very hit and miss, but this sequel was definitely better than the first.
Bridget and Gabe are both struggling heavily after the fall of the king. Bridget dealing with PTSD, while Gabe deals with intense anxiety. The angst is poignant and really allows the reader to understand the importance of speaking about these struggles.
With this, queerness is also a constant issue in this book—meaning the kingdom is still not entirely for the Lancelot laws. This reflection of society reacting to queerness hit a nerve for me (in a relatable way) reminding me of the struggles we still have with acceptance in our world today. But what really mattered to me was the way they never stopped fighting and let the haters rage on. A lot of books idealize a world without homophobia when that is not reality, but this world accepts that not everyone is ready to be loving, unfortunately, but that doesn’t mean you should stop being true to yourself. There was also an addition to more gender exploration in this novel, although subtly (cough, cough, Sir Bridget), which was also wonderful.
Below are two quotes toward the end of the story of Gabe and Bridget declaring/experiencing their truest loves, which I found very impactful:
“Gabriel kissed him, smiling, and Arthur's arms slid up around Gabriel's neck as he kissed him back. Arthur, the sky, the sea. In another life, perhaps he'd have been allowed peace like this all the time. He could close his eyes for a moment and pretend.
Imagine that they had all day, all week, to do nothing but walk and kiss and talk, and hold each other under the blankets at night, and remember how to be loved again.
Not in this life. But Arthur was here, and that was the part that mattered.”
“But knight or not, whether I'm a noble, a mercenary, a thiet, a damned monk... I swear myself in service to you. I will protect you, speak the truth to you always, honor you with my life and deeds. I will shield you with my body and keep you with my heart. My sword is yours. I don't know if you meant it when you said you loved me the other day-but I love you.”
I recommend picking up the first novel specifically for reading this one. An absolute recommendation from me.
August 15, 2026
*just a psa that i rated this 5 stars not because it is perfect (because what is, really), but because emotionally/attachment-ly speaking i have waited for this day for years and not rating it 5 stars would be criminal*
to know me is to know that i love gwen and art, because i truly think about that book maybe once a month. and it is it perfect? no, absolutely not. and to be honest, i think that while the 1st book was better technically/writing-wise (sue me), emotionally i think this one delivered a lot more.
this book has an entirely different tone than gwen and art. while g&a i would describe as a happy, funny story with a darker, sadder ending, this book is more of a darker, sadder book with happy moments sprinkled throughout. every single character in this book needs therapy (myself included because i live in this society in case you weren't aware) and the miscommunications that go on truly were so hard to read (but in a good way, not in an annoying way).
next, i think this book just pushed the envelope more than the first one in terms of humor, identity, emotion, & writing. (also the amount of sat vocab words i found in this truly should be studied, but at least now i'll hopefully remember what they mean).
lastly i just think this was a lesson in how to write 3d characters. i feel like i understand them, i know them, i've met them, (and obviously we're all besties). having the book written in bridget and gabe's perspective really highlighted their own perspective on the events of book one while also showcasing the different ways that they cope with trauma.
overall, i love this book, i love this author, and this experience made me happy, so that's why it's 5 stars, because i read to be happy not to be critical (okay maybe that's a lie but nobody needs to know that)
to know me is to know that i love gwen and art, because i truly think about that book maybe once a month. and it is it perfect? no, absolutely not. and to be honest, i think that while the 1st book was better technically/writing-wise (sue me), emotionally i think this one delivered a lot more.
this book has an entirely different tone than gwen and art. while g&a i would describe as a happy, funny story with a darker, sadder ending, this book is more of a darker, sadder book with happy moments sprinkled throughout. every single character in this book needs therapy (myself included because i live in this society in case you weren't aware) and the miscommunications that go on truly were so hard to read (but in a good way, not in an annoying way).
next, i think this book just pushed the envelope more than the first one in terms of humor, identity, emotion, & writing. (also the amount of sat vocab words i found in this truly should be studied, but at least now i'll hopefully remember what they mean).
lastly i just think this was a lesson in how to write 3d characters. i feel like i understand them, i know them, i've met them, (and obviously we're all besties). having the book written in bridget and gabe's perspective really highlighted their own perspective on the events of book one while also showcasing the different ways that they cope with trauma.
overall, i love this book, i love this author, and this experience made me happy, so that's why it's 5 stars, because i read to be happy not to be critical (okay maybe that's a lie but nobody needs to know that)
May 19, 2026
ARC provided directly by the publisher and this is my honest review.
Like many people I think, I was both skeptical and excited about a sequel to “Gwen & Art Are Not In Love”. Did the book really need a sequel? Not really, as everything was wrapped up well. But I was also excited since I loved the world Croucher created and was just thrilled to get more.
In some ways, “Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay” feels a bit more mature. We deal with PTSD, grief, and all that good stuff. If I were to compare this to another book, it would be the second in the Cursed Crown Duology - “The Lure of Their Graves”.
I think my biggest complaint about this book is that we lose Gwen and Art as narrators. They were so much fun and while they are still main characters here, it’s a bit of a shame to not be in their heads. I did really like POVs from Gabe and Bridget though. So, the answer is just to have a third book from all four of their POVs.
I would not be surprised if Croucher returns to the Camelot Disasters again. Since we don’t see a conclusion to the heir subplot, I wonder if we’ll see this explored in the future!
“Bridget and Gabe Are Not Okay” also just had some really funny bits throughout. Gabe, especially, was sarcastic and cynical in the most endearing way.
4.5 stars!
Like many people I think, I was both skeptical and excited about a sequel to “Gwen & Art Are Not In Love”. Did the book really need a sequel? Not really, as everything was wrapped up well. But I was also excited since I loved the world Croucher created and was just thrilled to get more.
In some ways, “Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay” feels a bit more mature. We deal with PTSD, grief, and all that good stuff. If I were to compare this to another book, it would be the second in the Cursed Crown Duology - “The Lure of Their Graves”.
I think my biggest complaint about this book is that we lose Gwen and Art as narrators. They were so much fun and while they are still main characters here, it’s a bit of a shame to not be in their heads. I did really like POVs from Gabe and Bridget though. So, the answer is just to have a third book from all four of their POVs.
I would not be surprised if Croucher returns to the Camelot Disasters again. Since we don’t see a conclusion to the heir subplot, I wonder if we’ll see this explored in the future!
“Bridget and Gabe Are Not Okay” also just had some really funny bits throughout. Gabe, especially, was sarcastic and cynical in the most endearing way.
4.5 stars!
August 13, 2026
I saw this sequel available and just by the title I was intrigued so I went to look for the first book to be up to speed. You can immediately tell that the focus of this story on Bridget and Gabe, which are much more stoic characters in comparison to Gwen and Arthur, is darker and moodier.
This book is post battle and the death of Gwen and Gabe's father and his ascension to the throne and you can tell how much the crown and the pressure of his position are weighing on him, so much so that he broke up with Arthur and is wholly unhappy. Bridget, having been the knight to kill the crown’s attacker, is deeply traumatized. Every time she participates in a competition she’s reminded of that battle and freezes. She has also drifted apart from Gwen and has stopped responding to her communications. In summary, Bridget, Gabe, Gwen and Arthur are not okay and none knows how to process it so of course they must all embark on a long journey as knights of King Gabriel’s round table to prove the existence of the magical creatures in Arthurian legends and visit different places in his kingdom.
I loved when Neil the squire referred to himself as a “friend of Lancelot”. 10/10 reference.
The narrators were wonderful at capturing every emotion for the character and went above and beyond to show the difference of the characters speaking. The author is just incredible at what they do and this book is no exception. I’m looking forward to what they’ll write next.
Thank you to Lex Croucher, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC and an ALC.
This book is post battle and the death of Gwen and Gabe's father and his ascension to the throne and you can tell how much the crown and the pressure of his position are weighing on him, so much so that he broke up with Arthur and is wholly unhappy. Bridget, having been the knight to kill the crown’s attacker, is deeply traumatized. Every time she participates in a competition she’s reminded of that battle and freezes. She has also drifted apart from Gwen and has stopped responding to her communications. In summary, Bridget, Gabe, Gwen and Arthur are not okay and none knows how to process it so of course they must all embark on a long journey as knights of King Gabriel’s round table to prove the existence of the magical creatures in Arthurian legends and visit different places in his kingdom.
I loved when Neil the squire referred to himself as a “friend of Lancelot”. 10/10 reference.
The narrators were wonderful at capturing every emotion for the character and went above and beyond to show the difference of the characters speaking. The author is just incredible at what they do and this book is no exception. I’m looking forward to what they’ll write next.
Thank you to Lex Croucher, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC and an ALC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2026
This was a really sweet depiction of grief at a young age and coming of age in a way different from one’s peers - at least in one’s own perspective. The subtle introduces of characters’ neurodivergence and sexuality were very tastefully done; those who get, get it, and those who don’t get to learn empathy! There were a few times Croucher threw in some modern gen Z slang that just way too deliberate and anachronistic and threw me off a little, but overall the language was very readable and mostly immersive. It was nice to see new points of view in this sequel, and the newly introduced characters added a lot to character and story growth without needing too much backwards explanation of who they are
August 6, 2026
Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay continues the Camelot Disasters, this time following King Gabriel, who thought his romantic involvement with Arthur in the face of his new duties as king was too much for Arthur to handle, and Sir Bridget, who pulled away from Gwen due to her struggles with post-traumatic stress. This book deals with a lot more serious mental health subplots, but is complemented by adventures through Britain searching out the Arthurian miracles cropping up. Again, Lex does a great job of setting heavy against humor. The Green Knight and the visit to Avalon are two of my favorite little stops along the quest—and you bet there’s a Questing Beast! I wish Kitten had gotten more page time!
This book was narrated by Kishore Walker, who did excellently, and author Theodora Taylor, dang what a voice!
Thank you Mac Audio and Wednesday Books for these widgets!
This book was narrated by Kishore Walker, who did excellently, and author Theodora Taylor, dang what a voice!
Thank you Mac Audio and Wednesday Books for these widgets!
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