I hadn’t read anything by Lex Croucher before (for some reason I thought I had read Gwen & Art Are Not in Love), and for me, this was a lovely, gentle romp – exactly what I needed right now! It’s a similar premise to her earlier novel, in that Croucher has taken a Queer spin on a famous legend, in this case Robin Hood.

It is not a retelling; it's actually a sequel of sorts because it's about Robin Hood’s granddaughter, Mariel, and other characters who are descended (vaguely) from the original Robin Hood story. I like this way of approaching legends as it could in effect be canon because the original story wasn’t touched.

However, things are very different! This is seamlessly set in a queernormative world, which was the best thing about this book for me! Nearly all of characters are Queer in some way; there is lesbian and gay rep and ‘they’ pronouns are used all without comment. If only we were so advanced in our current era!

Mariel is determined to prove herself a good Captain as part of the Merry Men, who, years down the line from Robin’s day, have become… well, rather less merry.

As Clem, a healer from the forest states when she is kidnapped:
“I have to be honest. That doesn’t sound very merry. And you aren’t all men. So there’s been a bit of marketing confusion, at some point down the line.”

Indeed, in Robin’s absence, the Merry Men have become more a kind of militia and are more concerned with Fighting and Organisation and Doing Things The Proper Way, so there’s a lot less time for robbing from the rich to give to the poor, and more martialling the poor into fighting a personal vendetta against the Sheriff of Nottingham and his posse.

Mariel, oblivious to this in her desire to gain her father’s favour (Robin’s son), does things By The Book. Clem doesn’t. As a hostage (yep, the Merry Men now take hostages) she, in fact, does nothing she’s supposed to do – she’s helpful to everyone, regardless of whether they’re nice to her, regardless of allegiance. This is rather problematic for Mariel, who is, essentially, Grumpy.

The sunshine/grumpy thing became a little annoying/overdone at points (couldn’t Clem occasionally get annoyed? Or Mariel occasionally be nice?), which was my main criticism. Other readers have talked about the slow pace, which I didn’t find myself… although the ‘vibes’ were definitely more important than the plot. Technically, there were high stakes and a few moments of peril and genuine sadness, but really it was character >plot. This worked well for me – for various reasons, I’m currently in the headspace for Not Too Much Plot and a BIG Nope To Subtlety, which may be why I enjoyed it more than other reviewers?

I must also mention the adorable supporting characters – Jordan and Kit (who’s also incidentally Japanese, but this is all unremarked on in this world) and Baxter and Josey… although I have to admit I did occasionally get them confused… they were still very cute.

An easy, comforting read, with some interesting thoughts about how initially well-intentioned organisations can become skewed, and we should all look at our humanity first and (I quote) just “f*ck the fascists.”

Thanks to Bloomsbury for giving me a free copy – although I’m still not quite sure how that happened since this has been out for almost a year… still, who am I to question a free book? ;)

Actual rating: 3.25 stars

Thank you so much to the publisher for sending this my way. I found Not for the Faint of Heart to be a cute, funny Rom-com. However the humour and the plot did get a little bit silly at times.

Thank you for my earc of this book! I really enjoyed my time with this, and thought it was fun and engaging!

Totally enjoyable and a fantastic YA read. I have recommended and hand-sold this to lots of customers in the shop since having the opportunity to read an ARC and will look forward to reading more from Lex Croucher in future.

The second book I read by this author: loved it as it's a well plotted and entertaining story. Solid characters, a cute romance
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Requested this as I really enjoyed 'Gwen & Art Are Not in Love' and Lex Croucher's latest did not disappoint. Fast-paced and funny, this one was a genuine delight.

Lex Croucher has absolutely become an auto-read author for me; I will pick up anything they write because at this point I just know it’ll be excellent. As a kid who loved the Robin Hood BBC show, I knew Not for the Faint of Heart was one I needed to pick up.

Just like Gwen and Art Are Not In Love, this one is not a retelling of the Robin Hood story - and I think it’s much stronger for it. Instead, we follow Robin’s granddaughter Mariel as she begins to forge her own path within the Merry Men and gain the approval of her father. Along the way she picks up Clem, a local healer, and begins to understand more about the people the Merry Men are meant to be protecting.

I really enjoyed this; Mariel and Clem honestly both started off as deeply annoying to me and I really enjoyed the level of character growth they went through by the end of the novel. I read this while travelling over a weekend (think two four-hour trains kind of travelling) and it was such a fun way to pass the time and get some escapism while dealing with the regular trials of the British railway system.

Like Croucher’s other books, I also loved how fleshed out the side characters felt (like with their Regency-era set of books, this just made it so much easier for me to immediately fall into the story) and how there was an excellent balance between the lighthearted comedy elements alongside some heavier topics. I think there is SO much skill in writing YA that doesn’t come across as patronising or watered down and Croucher once again manages to absolutely smash it.

Lex Croucher's voice is so easy to read, squeezed between wit and authentic emotion.

Her characters are juicy, sassy - vividly reminded me of 'Voyage of the Damned' by Frances White.

My only turn-off was that Mariel was just a wee bit too nasty for a wee bit too long. I found that my keenness for the slow burn almost burned out!

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK and ANZ) for the ARC!

One of the best books I’ve read in the last few years, and DEFINITELY Lex Croucher’s best so far! The character building and growth throughout this book was absolutely delightful, and provided so much depth to the words I was reading. It felt like I knew the characters personally, like I was in these situations with them. Croucher’s writing style was once again phenomenal, so descriptive and so effective. I have nothing but genuine love and respect for both this book and for the wonderful and immensely talented writer behind the words

I absolutely loved Gwen and Art Are Not In Love was one of my favourite books of 2023 so I was very excited to receive a proof copy of Not For the Faint of Heart ahead of it's release and it absolutely lived up to what I expected.

I constantly found myself grinning from ear to ear, it was wonderful. The characters are great, as is how they interact with each other, the story was excellent and the writing was great too.

Mariel and Clem are the perfect Grumpy/Sunshine pairing.

I really enjoyed this book. Even though it had a relatively serious backstory going with the whole militant group making everybody’s life terrible, it was still very lighthearted and fun. I really enjoyed watching all the characters get close to clem and go off on their in-advised missions. I also enjoyed that this book wasn’t too long and was a very easy read

A great story inspired by the Robin Hood myth. This time though, the Merry Men are not all men, They are not even all fully grown adults. The heroics of Mariel (grand daughter of Robin Hood) and her Merry Men - who as already stated are not all men - as they learn to trust their instincts, and each other, to be the protectors of the powerless that Robin would be proud of. Lex Croucher is a great champion of queer representation, they draw rounded characters whose lives and loves are ones you want to learn about.

Looking forward to their next retelling.

this was really fun and entertaining! i absolutely loved one of our main characters clem, she was so charming and fun to read. mariel on the other hand was kind of annoying, but it was an interesting balance between the two and it was nice to watch them find their sweet spot with each other. i do wish there had been a little bit more tension or build-up to their relationship, their first kiss was a little bit of a surprise because it didn't feel like they had spent a lot of time getting to that point?

either way i had a blast reading this even though i did cry towards the end!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for sending me this ARC!

3.5 stars

I loved Gwen and Art are Not in Love, so I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, I struggled to get into the story, and it took until about 40% of the way into the book before I felt I could connect with any of the characters. Once I finally connected, I enjoyed the storyline and the slow build of tension between Mariel and Clem. I thought the side characters were well thought out, and I cried when Baxter died to save them.

Overall it was a good read, but it wasn't my favourite.

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

One of the standout qualities of *Not for the Faint of Heart* is its brilliant cast of characters. Each one is a joy to get to know, and the dynamics within the rebellious group at the heart of the story are so much fun to watch unfold. Their interactions bring the book to life, creating a sense of camaraderie that feels genuine and heartwarming.

As someone who loves retellings, I was thrilled with how well this one was done. Retellings can sometimes feel like a simple copy-and-paste job—swapping out the characters and calling it a day—but Lex Croucher goes above and beyond, truly making the story their own. The plot feels fresh, exciting, and entirely original, while still honouring the spirit of Robin Hood with clever nods to the classic tale. This is exactly what a retelling should be: respectful of its roots, yet bold enough to try something new.

The plot itself is fantastic, striking a perfect balance between action, betrayal, and humour. The moments of tension are gripping, but the lighter, sillier scenes give you a chance to really connect with the “merry men” and all their quirks. On top of that, the slow-burn romance is incredibly well done, adding an extra layer of depth and emotion to the story.

With its strong character work, clever twists on a familiar tale, and a plot that keeps you hooked from start to finish, *Not for the Faint of Heart* is a truly delightful read. Lex Croucher has crafted a retelling that feels fresh, fun, and full of heart.

Not for the Faint of Heart was a cute and fun alternative history following the descendants of Robin Hood. This was a fast and, at times, funny read with witty characters and found family — a real, feel-good novel for when you’re looking for something to brighten your spirits! The queer rom-com wasn’t centre stage, and, although there were more challenging moments in this book these didn’t detract from the overall vibe. Cute.

I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Bloomsbury, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read this one in a hurry and didn’t have much time to get into it (with publish date deadline). I will more than likely revisit this as I love Croucher’s previous works.

4 stars

Not For the Faint of Heart had some hilarious banter, and some good RomCom vibes following the granddaughter of Robin Hood and the merry men. It was cosy in a way, and fast-paced albeit with a slow start. However I felt this could have been longer, and there were some modern references throughout that threw me off a little.

With found family and grumpy sunshine tropes, I loved the banter and dynamic between Clem and Mariel. It also unexpectedly ripped my heart right out of my chest! I am really looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lex Croucher is a smash hit with my students who all fell in love with Gwen and Art are Not in Love. This new story, inspired by Robin Hood, use the same formula to ensure another smash hit for Lex.

One thing I love is a good fantasy I love a book that can make me forget what's going on in the world and go into an imaginative world where the impossible happens and you meet characters and creatures you would never meet for real and this book had ot all