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mamthew42's review against another edition
4.0
The distinctive covers of Mackenzi Lee's The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue and its sequels catch my eye pretty much every time I walk past the YA section of the library, but I hadn't really planned to read it. In June, I had it on my Pride Month display for a bit, as it won the Stonewall Honor award, but I replaced it when I stumbled on You Should See Me in a Crown. In July, the title popped up as a book I could use on my Disability Pride Month display, and I did so with some trepidation, as I had trouble finding much discourse on its use of disability and was kinda worried that maybe the book was on the list erroneously. I couldn't tell you why I was so cagey about using it on displays, exactly, except that the clear 18th century aesthetic of the cover had me nervous that it might handle these topics through an 18th century lens. Now that I've read the book, I know I shouldn't have worried.
In the author's note at the end of the novel, Lee discusses the historical context for several aspects of the story, including epilepsy, race relations, and queer culture. She raises the topic of the thorniness of discussing queer history while looking back as far as the 18th century - something I've discussed and thought about often. After discussing what we do know of queer culture at the time, she ends by saying "the optimist in me likes to believe that the twenty-first century is not the first time in history that queer people have been able to live full romantic and sexual lives with the people they love. And if that makes me anachronistic, so be it." To me, that final line sums up much of what works about this novel. Lee writes with an eye toward history, and it's possible to trace the lines of historical research and theory throughout the novel. But she's willing to allow her characters to see this intricately realized world through anachronistic eyes if it serves the story and the message.
And what a story it is. Protagonist Henry "Monty" Montague is the eighteen-year-old son of a lord and monumental fuck-up. He was expelled from Eton college and is now an alcoholic hanging around his father's manor. In a last-ditch effort to set Monty straight, his father sends him on a tour of Europe with his sister Felicity and his longtime best friend Percy, during which they will drop Felicity off at finishing school and after which Monty will take over the estate or be disowned and Percy will begin studies at a law school. Monty is bisexual - though he doesn't have the terminology for it - and hopelessly in love with Percy. At the beginning of the tour, a series of events set the three off their planned course and on an adventure across Europe to find a cure for epilepsy before an evil French duke finds it first.
It's a ton of fun and made more so by Monty's character voice, as he's witty and sarcastic in a swashbuckly kind of way even as he's small-statured and useless in a fight. The novel's told from his perspective, but he's afraid of the vulnerability it would take to be honest with himself, so he often lies to himself in ways that are flattering and easy to catch. It takes time for him to gain enough humility to understand how much privilege he has as a white lordling compared to Percy, who's Black and has epilepsy, or Felicity, a girl who wants to learn medicine and is being sent to finishing school to have these headstrong notions trained out of her. That lack of humility, however, is also an act. Monty deals with the trauma of physical abuse for his queerness by drinking a lot and pretending he doesn't care, and it takes a lot of work to break down that kind of wall. This complexity of character and Monty's own wit combine for a very satisfying narrator. I read this book in two sittings just because the character voice made the book go so much more quickly than most.
There's a lot more I could say about this book, but I might have already given away more than I'd like to. If you want an adventure story about queerness and disability in the 18th century, then grab this book if you haven't. It's a ton of fun, and I'm heavily considering checking out the three sequels at some point, which I usually avoid doing while at the library. Still, if they're anywhere close to as readable as this first entry, the whole series will go by in a flash.
In the author's note at the end of the novel, Lee discusses the historical context for several aspects of the story, including epilepsy, race relations, and queer culture. She raises the topic of the thorniness of discussing queer history while looking back as far as the 18th century - something I've discussed and thought about often. After discussing what we do know of queer culture at the time, she ends by saying "the optimist in me likes to believe that the twenty-first century is not the first time in history that queer people have been able to live full romantic and sexual lives with the people they love. And if that makes me anachronistic, so be it." To me, that final line sums up much of what works about this novel. Lee writes with an eye toward history, and it's possible to trace the lines of historical research and theory throughout the novel. But she's willing to allow her characters to see this intricately realized world through anachronistic eyes if it serves the story and the message.
And what a story it is. Protagonist Henry "Monty" Montague is the eighteen-year-old son of a lord and monumental fuck-up. He was expelled from Eton college and is now an alcoholic hanging around his father's manor. In a last-ditch effort to set Monty straight, his father sends him on a tour of Europe with his sister Felicity and his longtime best friend Percy, during which they will drop Felicity off at finishing school and after which Monty will take over the estate or be disowned and Percy will begin studies at a law school. Monty is bisexual - though he doesn't have the terminology for it - and hopelessly in love with Percy. At the beginning of the tour, a series of events set the three off their planned course and on an adventure across Europe to find a cure for epilepsy before an evil French duke finds it first.
It's a ton of fun and made more so by Monty's character voice, as he's witty and sarcastic in a swashbuckly kind of way even as he's small-statured and useless in a fight. The novel's told from his perspective, but he's afraid of the vulnerability it would take to be honest with himself, so he often lies to himself in ways that are flattering and easy to catch. It takes time for him to gain enough humility to understand how much privilege he has as a white lordling compared to Percy, who's Black and has epilepsy, or Felicity, a girl who wants to learn medicine and is being sent to finishing school to have these headstrong notions trained out of her. That lack of humility, however, is also an act. Monty deals with the trauma of physical abuse for his queerness by drinking a lot and pretending he doesn't care, and it takes a lot of work to break down that kind of wall. This complexity of character and Monty's own wit combine for a very satisfying narrator. I read this book in two sittings just because the character voice made the book go so much more quickly than most.
There's a lot more I could say about this book, but I might have already given away more than I'd like to. If you want an adventure story about queerness and disability in the 18th century, then grab this book if you haven't. It's a ton of fun, and I'm heavily considering checking out the three sequels at some point, which I usually avoid doing while at the library. Still, if they're anywhere close to as readable as this first entry, the whole series will go by in a flash.
gracemw's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
anreid42's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.75
inquiring_minds_saugerties's review against another edition
5.0
This book was entirely what I expected while also being nothing like it. The Gentlemen's guide is not a guide I recommend necissarily following if you want to keep all of your appendages, though it is definitely a guide worth indulging in. This book met and exceeded expectations while meeting ones that I didn't even know I had. The writing went from beautiful, to gross, and back to beautiful again in a way that you wouldn't know what hit you, and somehow I love that. The Gentlemen's guide to vice and virtue is one I would recommend to anyone with a desire for a trope-y tale of adventure that is 'not like the other books' in the truest sense of the phrase. Adding this to my shelf of favorites, and trust me, this review does not do the true book justice. -Matt
teereadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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
What a fun adventure this was. This story had a lot going on. Adventure, romance, mystery, humor. All that kept me interested. All the characters are layered and so interesting. Monty is an interesting protagonist, and we experience the story mainly through his POV. Percy is an awesome character and offers so much to the story. And Felicity is just a badass. I seriously look forward to her her book. The relationship development for Monty and Percy was a journey, but it made sense. They have been friends, and they both had to work through some things before taking that final leap with their feelings. The alchemy aspect to the story was quite compelling and I really enjoyed that. Overall, this was just an all-around fun read.
philipregalado's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
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
omg not what i was expecting but i loved every second of it — the queer romance was perfect, i was gagged by the amount of action and adventure, and there was so much history i never wouldve known.
such a hysterical read and emotional at the perfect times, i need more of monty and percy 🙏
such a hysterical read and emotional at the perfect times, i need more of monty and percy 🙏
matt_worthen's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
claire_not_rebecca's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
So many things about this book held so much promise, but up until the last 20%, I was simply bored. Had I not been listening to this on audio, I don’t think I would have finished it. I didn’t find myself carrying about the characters much at all, though I did like Percy okay. However, the main characters (and narrator) was so deeply unbearable as a person that I zoned out regularly
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Gun violence, Blood, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Violence, Alcohol, Biphobia, and Emotional abuse