Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for approving my request to read an arc of this book.

After devouring Gwen And Art Are Not In Love, I have been very eagerly awaiting this book, so when I saw it was available to request an arc, I didn’t even hesitate!

Not For The Faint Of Heart is a sapphic romance that follows the story of Robin Hood’s descent and a very gifted healer as they learn that the story you’ve been told, isn’t always what happened and that fighting for what’s right doesn’t always mean you need a weapon.

I really enjoyed the characters, especially Kit and Morgan. I think that this will be a book that will be beloved by many readers to come.

I’m new to Lex Croucher’s books but when I saw that this was a sapphic Robin Hood story, then I had to dive right in and it was honestly such a wonderfully delightful read! We follow Mariel who is the granddaughter of Robin Hood and Clem, a sweet healer who is kidnapped by the Merry Men. I adored the opposites attract nature of their dynamic with how soft, sunshiney and optimistic Clem was, while Mariel was hard-headed, stubborn and bold. The sapphic spin on a classic tale was so fun to read, especially with all of the familiar nods to Robin Hood but with a band of fun new characters we got to fall in love with and grow with— especially Mariel and Clem. The book confirmed that I need more sapphic historical in my life!

Not for the Faint of Heart follows Mariel, newly appointed captain of the Merry Men and granddaughter of the famed robin hood, and Clem, an assistant healer kidnapped by Mariel's crew, as they prepare to fight for their lives in the war for the wood. Clem's consistent optimism and light-heartedness is a direct opposite to Mariel's stubborn and serious nature, leading to enjoyable interactions between them both. These interactions were also improved with the help of a loveable cohort of side characters in the form of Mariel's crew, propelling the story forward and providing heart-warming, funny moments in between the scenes of conflict. As the story progresses Mariel's internal conflict forms as her interactions with the people of the wood lead her to question whether or not the Merry Men are on the right side of history, which leads to a satisfying character arc over the length of the book. The main romance between Clem and Mariel was set up well and was my favourite part of the story. I would recommend Not for the Faint of Heart for anyone wanting a fun, light-hearted, queer historical romp.

I really love Lex Croucher’s books and this one is no exception. It has all the hallmarks of one of their novels; historical setting, irreverent narrative voice, LGBTQIA+ rep and loveable characters.

This one is centred around a healer, Clem (with whom I immediately fell in love) who finds herself kidnapped by a rather young and inexperienced group of Merry Men. The other POV is that of Mariel, leader of said group and none other than Robin Hood’s granddaughter. Despite the high stakes (there are deaths in this book, and the situation felt rather more tense than the author’s previous novels), it really had a cozy vibe - probably largely down to Clem. I sort of wish I could be friends with her.

The found family was just lovely and reminded me a lot of the gang in So This is Ever After. I think fans of that would definitely enjoy this.

Overall a thoroughly enjoyable read - and if you haven’t picked up a Lex Croucher book yet, do. I don’t think you’ll regret it.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Full disclosure: I began reading fully expecting to be a bit curmudgeonly about modern dialogue and attitudes in a historical novel.... However, I am very happy to have been wrong! Within pages I had been thoroughly charmed, and by the end I might have shed a tear or two.

This is enormous fun, but also hugely satisfying in the characters' development and love story. There were sections in Mariel's voice that just brought me up short - needed to read and re-read to revel in the full impact. Absolutely brilliant! I'm a total convert who feels daft for not realising sooner, and have immediately gone out and bought the author's earlier work.

Thanks to the publisher for sharing and showing me I needed this in my life...

When I found out that this was a sapphic reimagining of Robin Hood, I was interested right away! And as always, Lex Croucher doesn't disappoint with their amazing characters and witty one-liners.

We initially follow Clem as she is captured by the Merry Men to be the groups healer. Later, we also get the POV of Mariel, the daughter of the leader of the MM and the granddaughter of Robin Hood. These characters are just such a dream to read about, especially Clem (she has my whole heart and I adore her!).

This novel felt like a real change of pace from the usual books this author writes, and I enjoyed that! I will say that I found it a little tricky to get into at first but that's on me, not the writing/plot. And when I tell you I CRIED... omg.

I'd recommend this ones to fans of the authors previous books but also anyone who enjoys adventure tales with a super cute romance!

Thank you so much to Lex Croucher, Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced copy inexchange for my honest review!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Not for the Faint of Heart is an electric, fast paced, hilarious, adventurous LGBTQIA+ update on Robin Hood. I loved Mariel’s fire, Clem’s wit and growth throughout the book and of course, the gorgeous romance between the two. I’m a huge fan of Lex Croucher and this book is an excellent five stars for me.
I hope there’s a sequel.

What better way to burst into pride month than with this hilarious, action-packed, queer-tastic work of art? It's Sherwood Forest at its merriest, most diverse and most fun.

A generation on from the antics of Robin, Marian, Little John and Will Scarlet the war against the Sheriff of Nottingham goes on and healer Clem gets accidentally caught up in it when she is kidnapped... by the most attractive, annoying Merry Person she has ever met. Flirty arguments, one-bed tropes and found family loveliness ensues, alongside battling the Sheriff's men for justice of course.

To me this felt like an updated version of those bright Technicolor Hollywood romps of the 1940s and 1950s, with Robin in tights with a rakish moustache and a quiverful of witty quips. Great fun.

This was so much fun, full of adorable found family and snarky banter, but also packs an emotional punch. Both of the lead characters are engaging - one for being innately likeable, and the other for being so obviously flawed - and the grumpy/sunshine romance flows beautifully. I particularly enjoyed seeing Mariel's growth as she re-evaluates her views on the way of life she's been raised with and learns to stop seeking approval from her parents.

A cute sapphic romance, with lots of heart. Croucher updates the classic stories of Robin Hood and his Merry Men to match more modern sensibilities than the more staid versions I grew up on, snd she does she with heart and joy, producing a sweet, gentle novel that has a deep heart of steel. I’m not ashamed to say that this book made me cry. It also made me laugh. A lot. I probably stopped to read out more passages or lines or this out to my partner more than any other book I’ve read in a long while.

This is my first Croucher novel, but if certainly won’t be my last. Sweet, whimsical and cosy, this is a warm hug of a book and exactly what I needed right now.

“These were the people who always found her at the end of the night, who’d come to her without her even having to ask, and thought she was worth coming back for, even when she had fallen so far she couldn’t see a way out”

Mariel is the granddaughter of Robin Hood and daughter of the leader of the merry Men. Desperate to live up to the legend and impress her father, she is strict, serious and determined. Clem is a clumsy, outspoken, creative healer who just wants to help people and couldn’t be more different from the strait laced Captain Hartley Hood. When their paths cross, due to somewhat of a badly executed kidnapping, they have to find a way to work together when Mariels father is - also kidnapped. The fate and future of the Merry Men as we know them hangs in the balance.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this arc, I absolutely love Lex Crouchers books so was very excited to be able to read this early. One continuing theme in this authors books is a penchant for dry, sarcastic humour which makes you laugh out loud and has an uncanny ability to make you fall in love with every single character at a faster rate than usual. The Merry Men are known for being rag tag bandits and these characters deliver this in such a fun way, you feel as though you get to know all the characters well enough to understand and like them which is difficult with larger casts and its a perfect little found family you get to join. I felt at home with these characters and their love and warmth emanated through the page.

The plot is fast paced and keeps you engaged throughout, the contrast between the main characters personalities was brilliantly done, Clem is probably one of my favourites now - you will love her! There is a lot of action packed into this but it’s well paced and you never know what’s coming. You will laugh, cry and laugh again. This was a sapphic romance too of course and it was beautiful to read, a true grumpy sunshine pairing where walls have to be pulled down and trust has to be built. The flirting, banter and slow build romance in this was top tier. There are a lot of ups and downs in this book but it is a fast paced, wonderfully hilarious, romantic and extremely witty retelling that I won’t stop reccomending it.

First of all I would like to thank NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I recently read Gwen and Art are not in Love and adored it so was super happy to see the notification that I had been approved for the Arc of this book.

This is everything I could possibly ask for in a book, a reimagining of Robin Hood but throwing in a YA queer rom-com twist and this is just the perfect combination. There are such a good set of diverse characters who were all so loveable and gave the cosy found family vibe.

There is also a really cute nod to the Disney Robin Hood at the start of the book (at least that's what I interpreted it as) and it made me love the book even more than I already did.

Lex Croucher has been an automatic buy author for me since Reputation, and they have absolutely not disappointed! Not For The Faint Of Heart has the wit that I’ve come to expect of Croucher, as well as a full world that I didn’t want to leave! The greenwood that the Merry Men and Clem are traipsing through feels alive in Croucher’s writing and makes you understand how much is at stake! It took me a little while to warm to Mariel, but then I got a gut-punch and if anyone comes for her, I will defend her with my life! The beautiful cast of characters like her company are funny, friendly and so lovely to be around… like every time I read a Lex Croucher book: I didn’t want to leave!!

If you don't love the group dynamics in this one then I'm sorry but you have no taste.

"She needed a tightly knit unit of trained disciplined fighters. What she had was infants, hentle giants and aspiring florists."

This was AMAZING! I loved Gwen and Art are not I love and I hoped for another cute book. This was not only cute but also full of action and it kept me up at night reading!
It was so much fun! <3

Lex crouched has done it again!! If I could give this 100 stars I would. It transported me into another world filled with queer joy and merry men.

Not as amazing as Lex's first entry - I may be biased, I LOVE A Knight's Tale - but frivolously enjoyable nonetheless. The perfect mix of grumpy sunshine and found family.

Lex Croucher's newest book is a fun romp! I'm a big fan of Queer retellings so this was very up my alley! Recommend!

AMAZING!! this was one of my most anticipated books this year and it did NOT disappoint.

Lex Croucher is an incredible author. i felt so connected to all the characters, not just the mcs, and the setting felt so realistic. the romance was also well thought out and i loved them together.

one of the best parts of this book for me was the platonic relationships. there was so many amazing friendships, both old and new, and i loved them.

i highly recommend this book!

Love it love it love it! This was a fantastic breath of fresh air. The writing was superb. The world building was lush and intricate. The Robin Hood continuation plot felt realistic and very fitting. Our mc's were joy and hell a tough and sparked beautifully off each other. The found fam of merry men were the best. I cried and giggled and involuntarily curled my toes all the way through and honestly didn't want it to end. I haven't beamed and snorted my way through a book in a while, wholeheartedly recommend. Can't wait for more from this author!
Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for an arc, all thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

This was a wonderfully charming take on the Robin Hood mythology! Robin Hood's grandaughter as a prickly leader trying her best to do right by her people and also live up to her father's impossible standards meets a cosy cottagecore healer - and by meets I mean accidentally kidnaps - and they go on an adventure that challenges the way they see themselves and the world. Not only was the relationship between the lead characters lovely and compelling, but the cast of supporting characters were excellent and I loved the focus on how important communities of mutual support are. Overall a hilarious and heartwarming book.

Thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced and funny sapphic Robin Hood retelling. Can't remember when I last had so much fun with a book.

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 😭😍

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!