happy pride and happy vibes!

Oh, so this was a whole lot of fun. I love any sort of subverted expectation love trope, so of course Gwen and Art can't be in love because Gwen has a major crush on a super hot female knight, and Arthur has a crush on Gwen's older brother and future king to be, Gabriel! I thought most everything about this managed to feel original despite being based on arguably one of the oldest and most classic English stories. I highly support finding inspiration in classic stories and tropes because there's a reason they endure for centuries across the world with millions of varying audiences! And changing this particular Arthurian legend to hold characters that can represent the queer community as well as function as unique, complex, and fun people was just so fun to read. I loved following along on their journeys, specifically since it takes a bit for Gwen to realize parts about herself and attractions that Arthur embraced about himself long before. I thought it was realistic for Gwen and Art to want to initially blackmail each other and refuse to accept any sort of help or alliance, but loved seeing an uneasy, quirky friendship emerge from the suspicion. I also appreciated how the story was able to sustain a more political B plot that fully unfolded toward the end of the book. Things got a lot more serious in a way that felt appropriate, ​and this is one of the rare times where a miscommunication trope actually worked for me (they hardly ever do). I once again just had a really fun time laughing at the really well-written dialogue (Arthur's quips are seriously enviable) and trying to predict the twists and turns of all the characters' matchmaking. This is a book I'd recommend for any month, but you might as well squeeze it into the last few days of the lovely month of June if you have the time. :)



Some of my favorite quotes from Gwen & Art Are Not in Love:

"To be truly brave, first you must be afraid. And to be afraid, you must have something you cannot bear to lose."

"'Now hang on,' said Arthur. 'I’m a man, and my crotch isn’t a burden.'

'Maybe not to you,' said Gwen. 'But it’s a burden on the rest of
humanity.'"

"I'm crying because I was just in a bloody battle. It was awful, I hated every second of it and I would not recommend it to a friend. And, yes I supposed I'm also crying because I love you and I'm so pleased to see you."

"Shame. That was the feeling. She felt flooded with it, like it was curdling the blood in her veins and taking root in the pit of her stomach. This is what comes of wanting things."

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