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!

It starts off quite slow that I wasn’t really feeling it and was debating DNfing. However, at the halfway mark it started to pick up and became more interesting.

It's a cute, enemy-to-lovers trope but Robin Hood style. The romance isn't the star of the show which was a bit disappointing and had me wanting more when it was featured.

For me, I didn’t find it as enjoyable as GWEN AND ART ARE NOT IN LOVE but it was an enjoyable read.

Another excellent, voicey historical(ish) fiction leaning novel from love Lex Croucher. Love to see some gays in Sherwood forest and a band of loveable characters.

Aren't kidnappings SO fun in books? Clem is kidnapped by the Merry Men to be the groups healer. Mariel is the leader of the Merry Men and Robin Hood's granddaughter. (If that premise doesn't hook you already I don't know what will!)

The characters were brilliant, the pacing was so perfect I really struggled to put it down.

In short. I loved this very much and can't wait for Lex Croucher's next one!

Dnf at 25%.

I really tried to get into this but it just wasn't working for me. Thank you for the digital copy.

e-ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

After falling in love with Lex Croucher’s writing with Gwen & Art Are Not in Love, I am both relieved and impressed that Not For the Faint of Heart lived up to my expectations (and the hype).

From the very first lines, I knew Clem – the sunshiniest of sunshines – was going to be a character I loved. From the first kidnapping (a line I didn’t expect to be typing), you are instantly thrown into a world of adventure with a loveable group of misfits as they navigate a post-Robin Hood era.

The story feels less structured and more like a languid journey as you get to know and love the two MCs and their little queer found family by following along with their adventure. Lovable characters are truly in abundance.

Speaking of things being in abundance, the shining factor of this book was the humour. Page 1 had me giggling in my chair and I don’t think I really stopped until the end (excluding those 3 chapters around the 80% mark that had me crying tears of sadness rather than joy). Lex Croucher has proven before that they’re a master at writing a group of opposing personalities and making them a lovable team. But add all those personalities together and of course you are left with something truly hilarious.

Whilst I still loved this book, the love story between the two MCs felt like a secondary part of the story, always at 0 or 100 with no real in-between. And although I won’t deny that when they got going Clem and Mariel had real chemistry, the development of their relationship and its presence in the story at all felt a bit lacklustre and unneeded in a book already full of so much love.

But if you’re looking for a book that will bring a lot of joy and a heaping of roguish adventure, it’s definitely worth a read. Just think, Robin Hood but with an added helping of queer joy.

"Clem had clung to the belief that they were untouchable gods of the forest, good to the core."

3.5 star YA sapphic romance!

This was a fun story that showcased a large and enjoyable cast of characters. I enjoyed the spin on the original story and how that was used to create this new look into the story of Robin Hood and Merry Men. It would have been easy for the characters to spill into each other and for it to become muddy, however I really enjoyed that all the characters had their defining personalities and moments within the story. All the characters had their bits of background and development that allowed them to feel developed to the reader and not just tools to pad the wider story and romance out further.

The two FMCs were enjoyable to follow. I definitely enjoyed the character of Clem throughout the entire story, I enjoyed how the character was fleshed out, developed and brought a different kind of life to the story compared to the other characters. Mariel was also an enjoyable FMC whose character has more (present in the story) complicating characteristics. I can't deny that at times I wished that the development of Mariel's character would progress with a bit more speed, but overall her character arc was good.

I will say that I found this story to be more character-focused, rather than a plot heavy focus. It didn't detract anything from the story and the writing (the writing allowed the story to flow very well), but I think I had a pre-expectation of their being more to the story plot and development. I think I would have really loved to have seen more of that alongside the strong lean of the characters driving the story.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing UK for the eARC, I am voluntarily leaving a review.

I am so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. A top notch sapphic historical fantasy romcom which was a total breath of fresh air.

For lovers of found family, chaotic capers, loveable characters you’ll be immediately protective over after three seconds, an engaging plot (though this was mainly vibes, in a good way?) and tongue in cheek narration which perfectly blends humour, teen angst and also anti-fascist rhetoric (amen) in an unlikely harmony, then this is the read for you!

We have a dual POV narrative, split between Clem and Mariel, which offers a fast-paced experience and a wider understanding of both protagonists mindsets.

Clem is a healer who volunteers herself to kidnapped by the Merry Men (a la Robin Hood) in place of her elderly mentor, and winds up thrown-head first into a series of rescues, betrayals, coups and discoveries under Captain Mariel Hartley-Hood. Mariel is a Captain of the Merry Men, the band of once steal-from-the-rich-and-give-to-the-poor do-gooders of Robin Hood and Arthurian legend. Nowadays they’re led by Commander Hartley-Hood, Mariel’s father. Discourse agains the Sheriff of Nottingham is rife as ever, but Mariel and Clem and Mariel’s band of Merry Men soon discover that the Merry Men’s leadership is not as selfless as they once were.

There is peril and danger, lighthearted banter between Mariel’s band of Merry Men, a twisty plot with enough happening to be engaging without dampening the “slice of life” feeling this book has. It’s mostly found family vibes, and as a reader who will happily die on the found family hill, this was a wholesome and much needed read.

I really enjoyed Clem and Mariel’s relationship! It bloomed in a way that felt organic, natural, considering their “grumpy x sunshine” dynamic, but wasn’t beholden to that underdeveloped “insta-love” trope that much YA has. They felt right, in my head, and shored up each other’s weaknesses. Their connection therefore meant that I was 😍 when we finally got a few more intimate scenes - all closed door and in line with the YA genre! I didn’t need anything other than Clem drawing on Mariel’s facial features with her fingers to feel their connection. 🥰

However while the narrative is light, this book is hugely critical of oppressive leadership, and of organisations/systems that masquerade as being “for the greater good” while being self-serving to the point of detriment, harm and poverty of wider society. Which I LOVED. This is a liberal book, hidden in plain sight amongst the folds of a joyous and occasionally heartbreaking YA romp.

I LOVED Mariel’s crew, each character was well written, distinctive and added a little flair to the group. Morgan was your typical moody teen with a heart of gold, running from past familial trauma. Kit was calm and good and gentle, Josey your typical cheeky badass who wound up being the first stan for Clem and Mariel’s relationship, and Baxter the big loveable giant who said the most cheesy cute things.

Despite the humour, there was a character death that I’m NOT over, and had me weeping like a baby in my bed as I read it. Croucher manages to write in a way that is charmingly irreverent but also nails those emotions that need weight, like loss and grief in a way that feels very human. The tone sits perfectly in the YA crossover genre!

I WILL be eagerly anticipating everything that Lex Croucher releases from now on 😭😍

I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately it just didn’t click with me. I loved the Robin Hood setting as well as all the references and hearing about what happened to him when he got older. However, there was just not enough plot for me in this book. Nothing really happens up until the last third of the story and I just got bored. Also didn’t care too much for the two main characters and their romance, because there was just no chemistry and they had no personality. I did really like the rest of the Merry Men though.
Overall I was quite disappointed by this book, because I had really high expectations that were not met at all.

DNF - I tried so hard to get into this book. I really wanted to like it but something about it just didn't work for me.

Not for the Faint at Heart is a cute and cosy historical romantasy reimagining of Robin Hood that will make your heart smile!
Full of irresistible tropes like forced proximity, opposites attract and a personal favourite grumpy X sunshine, coupled with Lex Croucher's humour make for the best kind of read.
This is the Sapphic Romance of the Summer!
I could not stop smiling!

DNF at about 10%. I love love love Lex Croucher's adult books, but this one fell flat for me, especially the writing style. I will stick with their adult books from now on!

Following in her grandfather’s footsteps, Not For the Faint Hearted follows Mariel as she and her group of Merry Men try to create their own legend - whilst Clem tags along for the ride.
It wasn’t an action-heavy book, much more about the friendships that are made throughout. I loved how Clem infiltrated the group and inevitably became part of it - she was like a walking ray of sunshine.
Mariel, on the other hand, was moody and closed-off and spends most of the book trying to please her father. She does eventually learn, but thanks only to her friends supporting her.
I think the expected romance was well-done and there was a lot of other casual LGBTQ+ rep.
The book was easy to read and I was always happy to read a couple of chapters.

𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 | 𝐋𝐞𝐱 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 | 𝟒*

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
⟡ Cosy historical romantasy
⟡ Sapphic grumpy X sunshine romance
⟡ Opposites attract
⟡ Robin Hood reimagining
⟡ Forced proximity
⟡ Lighthearted humour

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
Our main character, Clem, is sunshine personified in this cosy and entertaining tale. Even when she’s kidnapped by Robin Hood’s granddaughter, Mariel, this does not dampen Clem’s optimistic outlook on life.

Clem and Mariel are complete opposites. Clem is perpetually happy, Mariel is determinedly brooding. Clem is a healer, Mariel is a fighter. Clem forgives easily, Mariel holds a grudge for years. However, their forced proximity: only one bed, only one horse, kidnapper and kidnappee situation is one that’s rife with delicious tension.

My favourite element about this book is its lighthearted humour. I genuinely just love characters who are generally unafraid for their own lives, and Clem is one of them. I loved the Robin Hood vibes too.

Unfortunately I thought that Mariel really sucked. There’s grumpy and then there’s nasty and she felt like the latter yet all the characters rally around her. Thankfully she was the love interest and not the MC or I’d have enjoyed this a lot less. Hands up for Clem to lead the Merry Men 🙌.

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:
𝘊𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴, 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘫𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥. ‘𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦, 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘨?’
‘𝘞𝘦’𝘭𝘭 … 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣 𝘺𝘰𝘶?’ 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧-𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘺.
‘𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴,’ 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘉𝘢𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘳.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯–𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺.

‘𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 … 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘧𝘪𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭.’
‘𝘈𝘩,’ 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘊𝘭𝘦𝘮. ‘𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.’