Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

Arthur is firmly aware of his sexuality and, though he knows the society he lives in won’t accept it, he finds his own moments of joy. The main three points of view on queerness come from Arthur, Gwen and Gabriel, all of whom engage with it very differently. It is genuinely funny, tense at points and offers multiple perspectives on the queer experience that I think are really important to discuss. It may not have started out as the most gentle and caring relationship, but it is a beautiful example of why we need friends who see the world in an entirely different light to us. Arthur cannot help but cajole and irritate Gwen into trying new things and accepting herself, and in return she holds him up and supports him through his addiction and the following recovery. The beauty of this enemies to allies to friends path is seeing how they find validation, support and platonic love in the person they least expected. As Arthur battles with his mental health, the expectations of his traitorous father and a blossoming alcohol addiction, all whilst nursing a rather large crush on Gwen’s brother, Gabriel, his reluctant fiancée is coming to terms with herself, accepting that she is attracted to the determined and unashamedly individual Knight of the Realm, Bridget and learning how to let go and enjoy herself.

What would you do if you had been betrothed to someone since birth, spent your whole lives hating one another, bullying one another and trying your very best to get out of the arrangement, only to realise later that both of you are queer in a world that won’t accept that? Well Gwen and Arthur couldn’t be less attracted to one another if they tried, but an uneasy alliance is formed on the foundation of keeping one another’s secrets. Thank you so much to Lex Croucher and the team over at Bloomsbury for my ARC! SPOILERS AHEAD

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher