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hazychapters's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i’ve bought this book after my friend Anna, who hadn’t read it yet at that moment, convinced me to take it as we were browsing in one of our favourite bookstores. the promise of a very gay arthurian retelling was here and i’m so glad i read this book because it was all i needed!
we follow Gwendoline - the princess of Camelot - and her betrothed Arthur - son of an opponent to Gwen’s father. they are promised to each other as the sign of an alliance between their two fathers. but the problem is: they are not interested in each other at all, if you know what i mean 👀
i absolutely loved this book. the story is about friendship, love, first experiences and coming-out. the characters are all incredible, from Art and Gwen, Bridget and Gabriel, Sid and Agnes. i won’t call it a romance book because for me, it’s more about discovering, accepting and loving yourself. every character is different, with their own background, fears and experiences. but they are also a unique group of friends, and i loved how Art was like « you’re gay. you too. and you as well. because everybody is secretly gay ». by the way, we love the mlm/wlw solidarity!
this book warmed my heart and i can't really explain why. but to read the story of these young queer teenagers, who overcome assumptions to love whoever they want, without fear of the gaze of others, it's just incredible. i think this book healed something in me. i couldn't stop smiling reading these lines, laughing at some sour and sarcastic responses from Gwen and Art, and being happy watching them find their soul mates and do everything to make their love possible. i think that if i had been able to read this book when i was younger, i would have asked myself a lot fewer questions and i would not have tried to bottle up what i was feeling. it just felt safe to read this book ❤️🩹
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Outing, War, and Injury/Injury detail
krisalexcole's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexism, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Minor: Cursing, Self harm, Kidnapping, Grief, and Religious bigotry
emilo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Religious bigotry
achingallover's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
queerloras's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Vomit, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Classism
ladyfaceplant's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
God I loved this book. I just wanted more of it. Lex Croucher writes romance like no one else. One of the kissing scenes made me genuinely burst into tears. The characters were somehow all my favourite but I think Gwen will always have a special place in my heart. She’s very autistic coded and I really saw my younger self in her. It’s so wonderful to read a queer historical story that’s so full of hope and yet still feels grounded and meaningful. I would read about these six idiots for the rest of time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia
rai_ishardtoplease's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. Thank you!)
“To be truly brave, first you must be afraid—and to be afraid, you must have something you cannot bear to lose.”
Fun fact:
I LOVE historical comedies.
And when I say “historical comedy,” I don’t mean a comedy that was written in times past (although, Pride and Prejudice can GET IT). I mean, hand a classic IP to a queer Zoomer who majored in English Lit and minored in History and tell them to make it funny.
I have no idea if Croucher’s credentials meet those specifications, but either way, it appears she’s up to the task.
H o w e v e r
Side effects of reading this may include:
- Giggling in the dead of night like a deranged schoolgirl
- Sapphic panic
- Long-suffering sighs
- Emotional damage
- Existential dread
No, you didn’t misread those last two. No, I’m not reviewing the wrong book.
For a purportedly wholesome, Arthurian-derived YA… this got quite a bit more grisly and emotionally harrowing than I expected. In fact, the more I read, the more often I had to remind myself that this wasn’t written by Madeline Miller and therefore (probably) wouldn’t end in tragedy and buried gays.
(I wish I could say I’m kidding)
Of course, there’shomophobia: internalized, externalized, internalized turned into externalized. I wouldn’t say that it was unexpected, given that homophobia is a staple of queer literature, but I will admit to finding it inexplicably gut-wrenching here.
Then there’s the whole “we can only ever be each other’s dirty little secret” conflict. Which, again, not unexpected… but still hurt a surprising amount?
There’s also some pretty graphic injury and violence present.
Plus multiple major-character death scares.
And a coup culminating in several gruesome battle chapters, the death of a parent, and lifelong disability.
So… yeah. Um. Pretty chill.
I wouldn’t say any of it was handled poorly. I wouldn’t even say that it ought to be tempered or taken out.
I just wish I had a little more… I don’t know… warning? Transparency about what I was getting myself into? As much as I prefer cozy fiction, I can handle heavier material. I promise. I just need a chance to prepare myself first.
I’m not quite sure if the problem here is overly-optimistic subversive advertising or a lack of self-awareness. Maybe it’s neither. For all I know, the tonal bait-and-switch might’ve worked like a charm for some readers. But the only experience I can speak to is my own, and personally, I felt a little blindsided.
That said, I still enjoyed GAAANIL. I wouldn’t have minded more than two short aftermath chapters, but then again, I’m just happy it ended on a high note.
Ya know. Considering.
“To be truly brave, first you must be afraid—and to be afraid, you must have something you cannot bear to lose.”
Fun fact:
I LOVE historical comedies.
And when I say “historical comedy,” I don’t mean a comedy that was written in times past (although, Pride and Prejudice can GET IT). I mean, hand a classic IP to a queer Zoomer who majored in English Lit and minored in History and tell them to make it funny.
I have no idea if Croucher’s credentials meet those specifications, but either way, it appears she’s up to the task.
H o w e v e r
Side effects of reading this may include:
- Giggling in the dead of night like a deranged schoolgirl
- Sapphic panic
- Long-suffering sighs
- Emotional damage
- Existential dread
No, you didn’t misread those last two. No, I’m not reviewing the wrong book.
For a purportedly wholesome, Arthurian-derived YA… this got quite a bit more grisly and emotionally harrowing than I expected. In fact, the more I read, the more often I had to remind myself that this wasn’t written by Madeline Miller and therefore (probably) wouldn’t end in tragedy and buried gays.
(I wish I could say I’m kidding)
Of course, there’s
Then there’s the whole “we can only ever be each other’s dirty little secret” conflict. Which, again, not unexpected… but still hurt a surprising amount?
There’s also some pretty graphic injury and violence present.
Plus multiple major-character death scares.
And a coup culminating in several gruesome battle chapters, the death of a parent, and lifelong disability.
So… yeah. Um. Pretty chill.
I wouldn’t say any of it was handled poorly. I wouldn’t even say that it ought to be tempered or taken out.
I just wish I had a little more… I don’t know… warning? Transparency about what I was getting myself into? As much as I prefer cozy fiction, I can handle heavier material. I promise. I just need a chance to prepare myself first.
I’m not quite sure if the problem here is overly-optimistic subversive advertising or a lack of self-awareness. Maybe it’s neither. For all I know, the tonal bait-and-switch might’ve worked like a charm for some readers. But the only experience I can speak to is my own, and personally, I felt a little blindsided.
That said, I still enjoyed GAAANIL. I wouldn’t have minded more than two short aftermath chapters, but then again, I’m just happy it ended on a high note.
Ya know. Considering.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and War
shelvesofivy's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Right off the bat, this book is funny. I'm talking, "laugh out loud through nearly the entire book" funny. Even though Arthur really stole the show for me, every single character had their own humor and charm. What can I say? I'm weak for a character who uses dark humor to deflect their own pain :")
Gwen was also so so special to me; I related to her need for safety and routine, and loved seeing her development as she let herself make friends ♡
And to address the actual premise of this book – I'm obsessed. I loved seeing the two very different dynamics between the two main couples (and of course Sid and Agnes!) play out through the book. Gwen and Bridget with their somewhat awkward flirtation, and Arthur and Gabe with their tortured pining? Incredible ♡
I will say that I wasn't quite as invested in Gwen and Bridget as I was Arthur and Gabe, and I'm not entirely sure what to pin it on. I think ultimately, the latter felt more genuine from both parties, whereas the former felt rather surface level.
As a whole though, this book and the characters had so much charm and wit, and the main six have become so so special to me ♡
Gwen was also so so special to me; I related to her need for safety and routine, and loved seeing her development as she let herself make friends ♡
And to address the actual premise of this book – I'm obsessed. I loved seeing the two very different dynamics between the two main couples (and of course Sid and Agnes!) play out through the book. Gwen and Bridget with their somewhat awkward flirtation, and Arthur and Gabe with their tortured pining? Incredible ♡
I will say that I wasn't quite as invested in Gwen and Bridget as I was Arthur and Gabe, and I'm not entirely sure what to pin it on. I think ultimately, the latter felt more genuine from both parties, whereas the former felt rather surface level.
As a whole though, this book and the characters had so much charm and wit, and the main six have become so so special to me ♡
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Outing
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Religious bigotry
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