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Cora is currently reading

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love

by Lex Croucher (Goodreads Author)

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read in November 2023

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Cora said: " Digital copy provided by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Gwen & Art is a completely brilliant and unique story that I absolutely adored.

Lex Croucher's new book is a contemporary historical f Digital copy provided by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Gwen & Art is a completely brilliant and unique story that I absolutely adored.

Lex Croucher's new book is a contemporary historical fiction, with a focus on an alternate, Arthurian-inspired history and queer romance. I call it "contemporary historical" and "Arthurian-inspired" because it's worth emphasizing: this book is NOT a retelling of King Arthur's story, or a dense, historically-accurate novel. Rather, it takes place in a version of medieval Europe in which King Arthur, Morgana, Merlin, and the Knights were REAL people. At the time of this story, some people, referred to as "cultists", worship these historical figures and their magic. The religious conflict between these cultists and Christians is one of the many surprisingly complex plots woven through the romantic storyline.

In case you haven't heard of this book: The story follows the princess of England, Gwen, and her betrothed, Arthur. Though the two despise each other, they decide to "cover for each other" after she discovers Arthur kissing a boy and he unearths proof of Gwen's crush on the lady knight Bridget Leclair. The result? 300 pages of witty banter, high emotions, cute queer romance, and a heartwarming found family. Also lots of bullying and betrayal and political drama--but that's more of an impressive side plot.

This book and I got off to a rough start. I wasn't sure I'd enjoy the "romcom" meets "historical fiction" genre, and it seemed full of run-on sentences and childish characters. However, Lex Croucher develops their voice and writing style quickly as they settle into the pace of the story, and it became much more enjoyable to read.

The characters also grew on me. The focus on their flaws, though sometimes annoying, made them feel much more real. Their dynamics, from the sibling bonds to the friendships to the romantic relationships, killed me with cuteness. I laughed out loud at the banter, kicked my feet and giggled at the love confessions, and held my breath during the drama.

While Gwen & Art is very different from the books I normally read and didn't hook me right away, it won me over with its complex characters, worldbuilding, and plotlines. If you're looking for something lighthearted but still adventurous, I cannot recommend this book enough times. ...more "

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(page 10 of 412)
— Dec 17, 2025 09:45PM

Nov 25, 2023 10:58PM · see review