The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Montague Siblings, #1)

by Mackenzi Lee

A hilarious and swashbuckling stand-alone teen historical fiction novel, named one of summer's 20 must-read books by Enternatinment Weekly! A young bisexual British lord embarks on an unforgettable Grand Tour of Europe with his best friend/secret crush. An 18th-century romantic adventure for the modern age written by This Monstrous Thing author Mackenzi Lee-Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets the 1700s. Henry "Monty" Montague doesn't care that his roguish passions are far from suitable for the gentleman he was born to be. But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quests for pleasure and vice are in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family's estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy. So Monty vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty's reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.
Witty, dazzling, and intriguing at every turn, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue is an irresistible romp that explores the undeniably fine lines between friendship and love.

Reviewed by nitzan_schwarz on

4 of 5 stars

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I'm trying to think what to say about this book, because I really did like it a lot. Even though it took me literally ages to finish it lol

It's a fun (gay) adventure story set in Victorian times, complete with the slightly mystical, the highwayman and the pirates.

If you like cute romances, you will probably like Monty and Perce and their bumbling, stumbling, awkward romance. I feel like Lee really captured the uncertainty of love in her characters and the always existing mixture of joy and fear that accompanies it, especially when you love the same gender as you.
"A small shift in gravity between us and suddenly all my stars are out of alignment, planets knocked out of their orbits, and I'm left stumbling, without a map or heading, through the bewildering territory of being in love with your best friend"

Speaking of Monty and Percy, I loved both lads, although I have to admit to adoring Monty. I'm fairly certain I would've hated him and though him callous and stupid if I had read out of any other pov, but Lee really manages to make you (or at the very least, me) see how truly well-intentioned he is. He just always has his foot in his mouth, and he simply sucks at letting other people know what he's thinking and feeling, instead preferring to hide it behind booze and sarcasm and pretend indifference. So from the beginning, I felt really sad for the guy, and if anything the only thing I wanted him to get out of this book is that he can strive harder to be more because he is not worthless or useless. I think he did, kind of, and it will be interested to read about his character in Felicity's book if only to see if he had changed slightly from her pov

Now, FELICITY! The girl is a certified badass. Book smarts and street smarts and this girl is not afraid to pick up a needle and sew people up. She read about it a lot, after all. Clearly, she can do it. Honestly, it's always beyond me why in historical fiction people try to change women like her. WHY? They are so amazing!! Although, Felicity, cut Monty some slack, will you. There is more to your dandy of a brother than a brainless peacock (although, maybe not much more... lol)

About the settings... I felt they were slightly misused? They all felt very very modern day in their speech and actions, enough that sometimes I forgot where we were in time, and just occasionally dipping into the many obstacles that a gay couple will face in Victorian times, not the least of which having to hide their association for the entirety of their lives or risk getting killed for it. Or the obstacles women face since they are not men. As an avid historical romance reader, I feel like this could have been done much better and utilized more, but that's just me.

Also, anyone else here wondering how the pirates got their due because they totes deserve it and now with the whole thing with Perce and Monty they probably won't???

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 22 September, 2017: Finished reading
  • 22 September, 2017: Reviewed