BRIDGET & GABE ARE NOT OKAY

A year on from the events of Gwen & Art Are Not in Love (2023), things are awkward in Camelot.

When an uprising resulted in the death of King Allmot, 21-year-old Gabriel ascended the throne—and no one was more disappointed than he. Gabriel lost his left forearm in the battle, and he’s experiencing worsening panic attacks, largely due to the pressures of ruling. He and Arthur haven’t spoken much since Gabriel paused their romantic relationship so he could “focus on being king.” Nineteen-year-old Bridget and Gwen (Gabriel’s younger sister) are still together, although Bridget has been fumbling things as she isn’t good at feelings talk. Plus, she’s frustratingly still mentally troubled by battlefield trauma. To improve his public image, Gabriel reinstates the round table of old with a new set of knights (including Arthur and Bridget) and agrees to a royal tour to investigate new “Arthurian miracles.” While on the road, they face the societal growing pains of Gabriel’s queer-friendly “freedom-to-love laws.” This sequel is an indulgent, satisfying thrill ride that revisits beloved characters through new perspectives. The dual coming-of-age journeys contain emotional vulnerability, wry humor, a healthy helping of romance, and deft treatment of trauma. Croucher weaves queer representation and proclamations of beautifully defiant resistance throughout the story. Bridget is of Thai descent, the earlier book established Arthur as part Iranian, and the royal siblings are cued white.

Bloody fantastic.