Book Review: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Plus, An Announcement)
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(Side note, I've been thinking about making some list-type posts of cute holiday gift ideas for book lovers. Would this be interesting to you? Is it gross when people monetize their blogs? I don't know anymore man, I took down ads but like you KNOW you're gonna shop on Amazon anyway...)
Clearly I have very mixed feelings about this.
ONTO THE REVIEW!
"The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue" by Mackenzi Lee follows the adventures of one Henry "Monty" Montague, his sister Felicity, and his best friend Percy, as they head off on their grand tour of Europe before heading their separate ways forever. Monty is a drunk, a flirt, a troublemaker who's been kicked out of school; Percy is an adorable mixed-race sweetheart who suffers prejudice with a patience I can only admire; and Felicity is a prickly enigma, a decidedly unromantic figure who spends all her time reading romance books (or so we think).
Whatever you think the plot of this book is going to be, based on that beginning? It's not that.
This book was an adventure. It was surprising, it was funny, it was pretty aggravating at times, it was sweet and romantic and I loved it. It was, however, not perfect. There were some... issues. But I still loved it.
If you've ever had the desire to see 18th-century Europe through the eyes of a bisexual, alcoholic reprobate, I highly recommend you pick this up. That's about as much as I can say without spoilers! Read on at your peril.
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Ok. Can we talk about what an idiot Monty is? Several times, while reading this book, I had to set the book down and text my sister (who also read it), "What is wrong with Monty? How is he this stupid? HOW?"
Monty is SO convinced that Percy doesn't love him back, but, like, how. They made out in Paris, Percy got upset because Monty said he wasn't serious and just likes kissing everyone, and Monty took that to mean "stay away from me, I'm straight."
?????
I can't stay mad at him, though, because he's such a woobie. His dad is a complete tool, everyone is constantly disappointed in him, and he's really, genuinely, miserable. Does he cause half his own misery? Why, yes, yes he does. I don't care. I still woob him.
In all fairness, though, his character is pretty irritating at times. His refusal to improve himself, his stubborn commitment to his deeply wrong beliefs (Percy doesn't love him, Percy needs to be cured in order to be happy, Felicity is his enemy) make for some pretty aggravating reading, at times. Fortunately, the plot moves quick enough that he never wallows for long, and I have to say, this story took some sharply unexpected turns. I mean, they end up with pirates, people.
Pirates.
I was very happy about the pirates.
This book tackled a lot of issues-- racism, sexism, ableism, heteronormativity. I don't know that I can really say it discussed all of them perfectly, but I feel they were handled with realism and frankness.
As the book ended, I was medium-to-very unready for it to end. Specifically, I was ready for Monty's narration to end. I loved him, but by the end, I was tired of being stuck in his head. I really wanted to follow Felicity and the pirates on their adventures. And happy freaking birthday month me, because apparently I can, because as I was writing this review I realized there's a motherforking sequel.
So that's jumping to the top of my "Want to Buy" list, which was already... just... so long.
(See, this is why I need my new driver's license to arrive, so I can get a library card, and check out gluttonous stacks of library books like the wormy little bookworm I am.)
3.5 out of 5 stars.
Happy Monday and thanks for reading! What do you think of this review? Are you interested in seeing affiliate links, over ads? How was your weekend? Comment and let me know!
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