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

This was the fun, rag tag band of misfits I needed. What an excellent ride this was. I loved the characters and I want to prance through the forest with them.
The adorable queer romance was cute and I loved how much representation there was.
Such a fun adventure with great humour throughout.
What truly made this book for me was the found family. It came up time and again for different characters in different ways and it was just perfect.

NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART is another romp through a vaguely medieval world that takes a classic British legend and goes "what happens afterwards?"

This is Robin Hood inspired, but, like GWEN AND ART ARE NOT IN LOVE, isn't about Robin Hood et al but their descendants. Now the Merry Men aren't stealing from the rich and giving to the poor and they're not all men. I am enjoying how these books riff of the legends, using the freedom of being after to not worry about what parts of the legend to follow and which to ignore.

I do appreciate that Lex Croucher puts a "this is not in anyway meant to be even vaguely historically accurate" note at the start. It's more a vaguely medieval vibes book, picking and choosing whatever the author felt like from all over history. That warning helps set expectations for what the book is and isn't.

Clem was so much fun as a character. She's perpetually cheerful even in the middle of being kidnapped and the various disasters the band of outlaws find themselves in. It's such a nice character archetype and immediately made me like her. Plus it was very funny how much her constant positivity (and chattiness) rubbed Mariel up the wrong way. It was such a stark contrast to Mariel's grumpiness that it creates a great dynamic between them (optimism breaking down walls.)

In all, a very fun read - and I hope we get another YA from Lex Croucher in the not too distant future.

I did not finish this one. I e read other books by this author but somehow couldn’t get into this even though it seems a fun light hearted read and had some original and engaging characters. I’m giving it 3 stars as I think there are strengths here but I’m probably an unreliable reviewer to base purchases (or not) on,

An enjoyable historical romp, which maintained its lighthearted humour even when dealing with hard topics.

Clem is the highly skilled assistant to the local healer, if she does say so herself. She’s forever investigating new ways to treat injuries and diseases, and she doesn’t hold with any of that blood letting nonsense. She’s most surprised one day to come home and find she’s being abducted by Robin Hood’s Merry Men - now under new ownership - however it’s all a bit of a lark, right? …right?
Facing mortal peril, possible Stockholm syndrome, and eventually just deciding that she thinks she quite likes her kidnappers, Clem finds herself more and more embroiled with the Merry Men and one particular Captain, the beautiful and severe Mariel. And after all, there’s plenty of healing to be done around here!

I loved Clem as a character immediately.
She takes everything in her stride and brings a certain humour to situations, as well as seeking out the good in people. She’s sworn to heal anyone who needs her aid, and that’s what she’s going to do goshdarnit.
The small group of Merry Men we spend most of our time with are equally fabulous. I’m a sucker for a found family and this one is wonderful, so I was very pleased.

The plot felt well paced and the world richly imagined. Underground isn’t somewhere I usually like to be, but I would make an exception for the inn built into the roots under Sherwood Forest.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Not for the Faint of Heart and would absolutely recommend it for anyone looking for a lighthearted read which isn’t lacking in stakes or adventure!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I think I preferred this novel to Gwen and Art Are Not In Love - Mariel and Clem are great characters and I loved the twist on the Robin Hood tale, plus great found family. I liked that it didn't shy away from the darker elements of the plot and that everything wasn't completely neatly tied up in a bow at the end.