Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

I started and finished this book via audiobook and reading along with the physical in just a day. It abso-bloody-lutely consumed me lmao! I was hooked from the start with Monty's strong narrative voice and how bold and crass and humorous and bisexual it was in the face of all the trouble he was constantly getting in. I loved his character even more the further he got fleshed out and I just thought him and each of the other main characters were so well-written, I loved their trio dynamic. The plot is a bit wacky but it is definitely a wild adventure that kept me entertained the whole way through and it never felt like it was dragging on. It was very well-paced for a 500 page book. I was also pretty impressed with how the author handled the range of social issues that would be realistic in the setting and time period, and it felt like one of the few times when a white author wrote about people of color with intention beyond just representation and included racial issues without overstepping or being cringey. This book was so fun to read and definitely a great one to read during pride month so I'm so glad I finally got it off my tbr and into my brain lol.

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rileyswan's review

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious 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

4.0

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thesadcowboy'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

4.0

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katie0528's review against another edition

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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

A fun adventure following Monty, the rakeish bisexual son of a lord, his younger sister Felicity, who wishes to become a physician, and Percy, Monty's Black best friend who he is desperately in love with. The trio set out on a Grand Tour of Europe but it doesn't take Monty to make an enemy of one of the most powerful men in France who chases them across the continent. There are touches of magic in this novel which I didn't expect at first.

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lou_loo's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

It was a re-read for me. I had first read it 3-4 years ago. I decided to re-read it for the nostalgia since I loved it so much when I was younger. What I didn't expect was to enjoy it just as much, if not more. The characters are great, well-written and fun, Monty has a serious character development and seeing him evolve was so cool. The plot of the story is captivating, and it's quite an adventure. Our trio makes such a nice team and seeing them together, with their differences and relationships is amazing.
Overall super cool book, I would recommend it to anyone interested in a fun adventurous story occurring in XVIIIth century Europe, with some stakes (but not too high). It's an overall lighthearted read which can be read fast but will still touch your heart because of the characters and their personalities.

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