Fun read! Queer historical romance, Robin Hood reimagining, great characters. It took me a while to get into and took me longer than I expected to finish. It didn't quite grip me the way I hoped but I did still have fun. It was light hearted and a nice palette cleanser.

I loved this! I found the ‘descendants of Robin Hood and the Merry Men’ to be a lovely touch as it allowed for more creative freedom with how the merry men were now run, and some glimpses of how it was done previously. Mariel and Clem were fantastic protagonists and I loved the humour throughout, and the other merry men were really well-written. I couldn’t put the book down!

This book was so good. It took me a while to read, and it took time for me tor really get into it, but that's not a bad thing.
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I really liked the characters, except for Jack and Regan, for what I hope are obvious reasons if you've read it.
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Kidnapping is objectively a bad thing. However, the relationship between Clem and Mariel makes that worth it. I also really enjoyed the interactions between Mariel's particular band of Merry Men.
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I hate both of Mariel's parents, Jack and Regan, neither of them made good decisions, and they also both lied to Mariel for her whole life. They both made terrible decisions that impact many people, and I'm glad to Mariel eventually got to see that, and was able to learn from it and begin to heal.
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Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book.

Not for the Faint of Heart is an excellent blend of humour, heart and queer historical romance that made my heart sing. It had excellently flirty dynamics that built from enemies to lovers and a touching exploration of legacy, expectations and found family.

Croucher’s character work is excellent, taking this ragtag group of misfits and instantly finding a place for them in your heart. I really connected with each of them, making the stakes that much higher and increasing the tension. You wanted the best for each of them and therefore your heart broke when this was not always achieved. It really feels like a love letter to found family, which is especially pertinent in a queer community. We sometimes have to find our people to allow ourselves to have the acceptance and love we deserve. So to see this in YA is heart-warming and delivers such an important message.

Our two central characters are Clem and Mariel, both shouldering the weight of legacies and familial expectations on their shoulders. Mariel has this magnified to the extreme and this often guides her actions throughout the narrative. Clem is a healer, wanting to save as many as she can, whereas Mariel has always been in the role of the leader, but striving to actually been seen as powerful. I loved how outspoken and passionate Clem was. Their dynamic is just everything to me and grew naturally over the pages. There is an initial evident dislike that grows into something more. Their chemistry spills out of the pages and their dialogue is often hilarious but also heartfelt, with a little extra charge in there that wasn’t there before. That’s something I really enjoyed here - the pitch perfect balance of humour and heart. It is sometimes a darker tale but keeps its focus on these brilliant characters.

Not for the Faint of Heart was such a fun and wholeheartedly excellent read.

"If she lived through this: no more doing other people favours. Probably. Maybe. She'd take weekends off, at least.”

I was very excited to receive this NetGalley arc and it did not disappoint. Lex has such a fun and joyful writing style that tells a great story without taking itself too seriously.
Clem is my perfect main character whose humour is top tier. She's joined by Mariel and a diverse cast of side characters each with their own intriguing arcs that are woven into the main narrative
Overall a super fun time

Very much enjoyed this queer-skewed reimagining/extending of the Robin Hood mythology. Loved the world-building, loved the characters, and the found family dynamic of the small band of Merry Men that we join. Literally laughed and cried, and kept putting off important tasks to keep reading.

I have, from the beginning, always enjoyed Lex Croucher’s books, so I had no doubt that Not for the Faint of Heart would go the same way. And, broadly, it did! It was a quick fun read, a romance based on Robin Hood tales, and a book that I would recommend.

But I have to admit that, compared to the rest of their books, it would be my least favourite. I don’t mean this in an I-didn’t-like-it way, just that it felt like it was missing something compared to the others. I think it was most likely in the central relationship or the found family, in a way I can’t really put into words, but mostly that I just didn’t connect with them in the same way as in Croucher’s previous books. They were funny, they seemed to have everything (or, as becomes apparent, almost everything) that I might want, but there was just something missing. That was most clear towards the end with some big emotional scenes that I just didn’t feel emotional about. Maybe that’s my feelings about YA now finally coming to affect even the authors I thought it would never touch, or maybe not. Either way, it had an impact here. (Of course, that’s not to say I wouldn’t still continue to read Croucher’s books. Let’s just chalk this up to an anomaly.)

If this doesn’t put you off then, what you can expect is much like the other books: found family, some good humour (I think Croucher may be one of the only authors who can make me laugh out loud while reading), and a fast-paced adventure alongside the romance plot. It was, despite everything, still a fun read and one that I’d definitely recommend.

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.

Vibrant and brimming with excitement, this enemies-to-lovers sapphic young adult fantasy is delightfully charming. It evokes a nostalgia for the youthful spirit within me that craved such tales during my teenage years.

The story is told from Clem’s and Mariel’s alternating perspectives. You follow Mariel, a fledgling captain of the Merry Men, as she strives to live up to her grandfather's legacy, the renowned Robin Hood. And Clem, a village healer with innovative remedies, simply wishes to aid those in need.

It all kicks off when Mariel's band of outlaws abducts Clem as retaliation for her guardian's assistance to the Sheriff of Nottingham, their plan takes a tumultuous turn when Mariel's father, Jack Hartley, is seized in a perilous trap. Conflict brews within the woodlands. Doubts arise about the Merry Men's allegiance to justice. While tending to the wounded, Mariel begins to question her lifelong dedication to a cause.

I loved that this queer enemies-to-lovers romp also features a cast of racially diverse Merry Men who, of course, are not all men—the gang members use a variety of pronouns and represent a range of sexualities. While Croucher captured my attention throughout, however, it is not perfect, the pacing was a bit off and other minor issues. Nevertheless, I found it to be a refreshing queer reimagining of a classic historical legend. Not For The Faint Of Heart is quite the sapphic romp!

Thanks Bloomsbury Publishing Plc and Netgalley for the arc

I adore everything about Lex Croucher but this one takes the cake. Sapphic, slowburn robin HOOD. Heck YES. This was the perfect summer romance. The plot was nice and the pacing great and if you love your slow burn then this is perfect.
Please give yourself a break and enjoy this book!

What a delightful read!

Our two fmcs are polar opposites, Mariel being a by-the-book, follow orders kinda character and Clem being more chilled, go with the flow, wisecracking vibes kinda gal. But these two had SUCH good chemistry. They made me so giddy! Clem had me snorting loudly (and embarrassingly) a multitude of times with her hilarious one liners. I loved her soft and gentle nature, being the ‘companies’ healer/kidnapee, and how that contrasted Mariels stoic resolve.

The other members of Mariels company were outstanding, a ragtag group of ruffians if ever there was!

After being eased into the story, with some cracking world building and deep dives into each character, it becomes quite obvious that Mariel is conflicted with how the Merry Men are ‘doing business’. As Robin Hoods granddaughter, she holds a prestigious position in the ranks, but still her Father is the one in charge. When he is captured, Mariel thinks it’s a perfect opportunity to prove herself to him, but also get back to the roots of the Merry Men, which means breaking some of her father’s rules!

With plenty of action, bloodshed, heart ache, adventure and humour, Not For The Faint of Heart had me laughing, crying, laughing til I was crying, kicking my feet with glee, (did I say laughing?!) gasping out loud and just generally having a good time.

Kudos to the lgbt rep, I need more Clemariel in my life 🥹 (and the others but I won’t spoil it!)

Also the Easter eggs/nods to the original Robin Hood storyline were tasteful yet refreshing, a new and unique spin on a story that made it thoroughly enjoyable!

It had a sweet round up toward the end (I was desperate for a bit more) the found family has my heart and I would now like a green cape to wear whilst I ride horseback through the forest. Anyone want to join?

First up, thanks publishers and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review!

The TLDR? I enjoyed it, it’s a light-hearted and easy read, with lots of queer representation, and likeable characters. Although it feels slow until the 2/3 mark when it really comes into its own!

The story follows Clem, an “apprentice” healer kidnapped by the Merry Men. And despite he name, the ragtag gang she finds herself in are queer as anything. Including their stoic leader, Mariel, the granddaughter of Robin Hood and daughter of the current gang leader.

I found the book started well, the kidnapping playing out quickly. But after that, the pace slumps. The Merry Men walk through the forest, go to camp, and Mariel has a lot of angst. Mariel has a huge chip on her shoulder, given her lineage, and does her best to act the hardened soldier. There are some cracks in the facade, but I found they were so tiny and infrequent it was hard to like her, although she is meant to be frustrating.

There is a slow-burn, grumpy one and sunshine one, romance. I found you can see it coming a mile off, but would have liked more build up before the eventual get/together. But at that point you are 2/3 through and the book finally finds its pace and runs easily and quickly to the end. Which I enjoyed much more, but means there isn’t much look at the couple as a couple.

As mentioned, the book really finds its feet at the 2/3 mark. From that point, I couldn’t put it down. The characters seemed their most rounded, and the action was quick. Before that, I did find the book quite slow.

As for the style, it’s typical to Croucher. The language is conversational and easy to understand.

The dialogue feels very human and snappy. And the eclectic cast of queer side characters were a joy to know. I wish we got a slightly deeper look at each of them, but that might be because I liked them more than the FMC. Although I found the descriptions of them scant and struggled to visualise them.

Overall, it’s a fun, light-hearted, incredibly queer book. Lots of representation all across the spectrum!

However, I am also biased because I have read Croucher’s previous work. This one didn’t stand out as much as Gwen and Art, it feels softer and more vibey. Very much the same feel though, so fans will enjoy it a lot.

Links to reviews elsewhere:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6720101405
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/02492c84-1329-4a6d-9ec4-dde0d8593afc

DNF 9% into the book.

I did not find myself engaged with the characters or the writing style. I do not say this to criticise Croucher's writing, I think I just am not the right reader for this book at the moment. There is a chance I could revisit this book and enjoy it but it is not the book for me right now.

I really enjoyed this post-Robin Hood romp through Sherwood forest, with all the adventures and shenanigans that would entail. The cast of characters is wonderfully diverse and casually so, with no questions of homophobia or transphobia. The story romps on instead as a pure adventure of fun, shenanigans, and thoughts on the nature of power vacuums and coming to understand more about your parents and their shortcomings. For all that, though, I found the ending dissatisfying, because of the age of the characters involved. Overall, though, very enjoyable, engaging, and entertaining.

Generally well written and engaging story. There was a big cast of characters and the constant switching between first and surnames meant it was more confusing keeping than was necessary. Also not sure why Mariel and Baxter had to be cousins it felt odd and didn't add anything. 


The story was facepaced and very readable with likeable characters. I enjoyed the interspersed familiar elements of Robin Hood and felt it could have leant into this a little more but enjoyed it all the same. Offers a new, fresh and enjoyable reading experience.

Not for the Faint of Heart is an alternate history, queer romcom following the granddaughter of Robin Hood and her band of misfit Merry Men. It has romance, found family and silliness. This author's historical books are always full of comedy and cheeky characters, and this one is no different. It is full of charming, witty characters, and those who talk back and always have a sarcastic quip at hand, even whilst being kidnapped (again!)

Fun, action-packed and a very enjoyable ride. Fans of Lex Croucher's previous YA historical novel, Gwen and Art Are Not in Love, will enjoy this one too. It has much the same feel to it.

This book was a feel good romcom, it was lighthearted and fun, definitely the younger end of YA. It follows a company of queer(normative) teens in the MerryMen, the captain of which is both the daughter of the current leader and granddaughter of Robin Hood and their captive Clem. The objective as to why they kidnapped her was never super solid, and so there was no imminent deadline/doom with that plot point. The romances were young and sweet, and the pacing was okay for the size of the book. I’m really glad for the queernormalcy, and that the point of contention in the love story has nothing to do with why their “sexuality is wrong” or what would people think etc and was only to do with the ongoing conflict between the MerryMen and the Sheriff and his associates. The ending had a real 80s/90s coming of age credit roll vibe I just wish that this actually meant a happy ending for everyone. The book was almost dual narrative but there was nothing indicating whose narrative it was going to be, usually when I read this writing (style?) there’s the characters name at the beginning I thought the photos at the beginning indicated this but this might be my mistake but sometimes I don’t think it lined up. I really liked the cast I just wish Josey character had a bit more dimension/connection because at times she felt like a bit of a meaningless addition (sorry Josey). I love love loved the non-binary representation that’s exactly how you do it, they were never introduced as anything other than themself the first impression was “young person” they are never on page misgendered or outed, and honestly I think they were my favourite character. Overall I enjoyed this book it was a nice summer read and even made me tear up a bit. Also I’m really really grateful for the ending not having a time skip prologue/gen My only gripe was that when the author was doing an aside, letting us into the characters further monologue during a sentence, it was often disruptive to the narrative. It sometimes felt too long and like a sentence in itself that I had to reread it all to get the full picture.
I received this book as an arc but my opinions and review are entirely my own. #ad

This was a really fun spin on Robin Hood .I love how Lex takes characters you know then tells you a story about *just* after them.
I thought the characters were well fleshed out. I enjoyed the plot even if it seemed to come secondary to the characters. I found it a fun read & would recommend to anyone looking for a lighthearted read (though there are deaths just to warn)

Mariel’s grandfather is the legendary Robin Hood, and she is determined to live up to his legacy. As a newly appointed Captain in the Merry Men, she sets out to do exactly what she’s ordered to, kidnap a healer. But the healer’s assistant has other ideas and offers herself up instead. Clem is eternally optimistic and just wants to help people. Even the people holding her hostage.

Considering this starts off with an adorable homage to Disney’s Robin Hood (Clem is trying to put a hat on a fox’s head), this was less fun than I was expecting it to be. The Merry Men no longer rob from the rich to give to the poor; instead, they’re a militia who go around getting people killed and kidnapping healers for the terrible crime of being paid for their work

I think marketing this as “Rip-roaringly romantic, fast-paced and funny” is doing it a disservice. It’s a totally valid story of how the Merry Men lost their way, but that’s a little bit depressing, and I picked this book up when I wanted something light and fun. I was expecting it to be more like Gwen and Art are Not in Love.

The grumpy-sunshine trope doesn’t work for me when the grumpy one is holding the sunshine one hostage. Why on earth would Clem fall for a kidnapper who isn’t even the slightest bit likeable? Mariel has a difficult relationship with her father, and it’s understandable that she wants him to be proud of her, and so acts a certain way. There is nothing wrong with her as a character, but I didn’t feel any chemistry between them.

I did appreciate Clem’s dedication to medicine. As a true healer, she treats her patients without prejudice. They deserve medical attention no matter who they are or what they’ve done. The fact that the Merry Men disagreed with this tenet left me with a bad feeling towards them.

There were some fun moments, and I liked the supporting characters, but the romance fell flat for me.

This book has a lot of wonderful, special things about it but I think the strongest is that it feels fiercely connected by love — and found family. It’s witty, genuinely funny, touching and great fun, and it’s all about what people will do for the good of other people. A brilliant take on the age old, beloved Robin Hood’s Merry Men, infused with casual queerness that makes Sherwood feel like a home for anyone who needs it. Clem and Mariel will steal your heart, and have fun doing it!