Reviews with content warning for Panic attacks/disorders - The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

This was so good - just a really enjoyable book! Dramatic and ridiculous adventure, delicious romance with tension drawn out over the whole book via some faintly ludicrous and catastrophic misunderstandings, a good amount of angst but enjoyable angst rather than traumatic because it's the kind of writing where you feel secure that everything is going to turn out alright in the end, and some great characters and character development - the main character is a bit of an idiotic arsehole but you know he's had a rough go of it and very quickly you realise he's got a heart of gold so start really rooting for him. Highly recommend this as a fun pick-me-up kind of read.

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lanid's review against another edition

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adventurous funny

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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loveyoulike's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

wow, i almost forgot just how wonderful this book is. this is how you deliver a good best friends to lovers story. this is how you do mutual pining. this is how you do character development. this is how you do 1st person pov prose. some of the plot events feel extra convenient, but i'm willing to led them slide because they made the story much more fun.

in some parts the story leaned into a "force-feeding white men the concept of decency" story, but it's probably just monty's reckless no thoughts whatsoever voice that amplified that. the switch-up at the end could've used some enlightening moment though. like i know the author drops hints that monty didn't want to go home and all, but i thought he was still confused about what to do the entire time so a "...Wow, i can't leave percy ever" moment that's NOT done in dialogue would've sealed the deal for me personally

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laurenw's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Very fun romp of a book

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breadbees's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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gcoulsxn's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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leonormsousa's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

TRIGGER WARNINGS

violence, child abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, forced institutionalization, murder, slavery, trafficking, racism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, panic attacks/disorders, blood, injury/injury detail, medical content, chronic illness, vomit, alcohol

REPRESENTATION

bisexual MC, mixed-race (Black) gay LI with epilepsy

REVIEW

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue was a refreshing, fun and surprising read. I was expecting just a light-hearted queer historical romance, but I got, on top of that, an adventurous book with more depth than I imagined.

Switching things up and starting with the ending, let me just say: I loved the author’s note at the end of the book. The author explains some of her research and clarifies what parts of the book are very much inspired by what is actually known about eighteenth-century Europe (the setting of the book). I thought it was such a powerful way to help the reader learn from the story and turn the novel into more than just a cute romance.

Among the topics that are covered throughout the book (and some in the author’s note), we have queerness culture, race relations, epilepsy, misogyny, child abuse, politics and piracy; all really important and/or really interesting subjects that add layers to this great YA romance.

As for the main plot, it is not your typical (historical) romance. It is filled with adventure and mystery and it even has a fantastical side to it, which was something that I completely loved. It all provided the perfect set-up for me to see the characters grow (and grow on me), especially Monty, while keeping me invested in the story.

I’m not a big fan of friends to lovers, but this book was proof that when something is well done, it doesn’t matter if you’re not a big fan of the genre or the trope: it can still get you! Seeing Monty’s and Percy’s relationship grow as they learn how to love was just marvellous. For me, it was just a shame that we had to see a bit of the miscommunication trope (not my favourite), although I do think that it came to show the extra lack of confidence that can be felt in expressing your feelings in the case of queer relationships.

While it didn’t completely blow me away, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue was a solid 4-stars that found its way to my heart. And since Felicity was my favourite character, I’m very much curious to see how the author has approached misogyny and asexuality in the second book of the series, where she takes the lead.

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