Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

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

7 reviews

solitaire_and_checkers's review

adventurous emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

It's a good book if you want to get somewhere a historically accurate queer couple from the 70's (I think that's when the story takes place). The amount of character development from Monty is a lot and it all is reasonable. Monty's relationship with Felicity was quite impressive. And I can't end this review without mentioning the beauty of Monty and Percy. They go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly. 5 Stars🌟

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cursing, Homophobia, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Racial slurs and Sexual content

Minor: Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

bingypup's review

adventurous emotional funny 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Medical content

Minor: Forced institutionalization

thegezzell's review

adventurous emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

4.5

For fans of 1700's fare, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue has everything a puffy pirate shirt wearing son of a lord might desire. Big cities, treasure, pirates, kidnappings, escapes, and yes, even true love. This is a kissing book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Blood, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

elspethmigliore's review

adventurous emotional sad tense slow-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

i really enjoyed this! i’ve read this book around 5 times now because it’s so unique and interesting, and it never fails to impress me. like i was actually obsessed with this book 4 years ago. i will say that the most recent time i’ve read it, i found it to be very difficult to get through and kind of boring, but i think that’s because i know the story so well. 

all of the characters are hilarious and unique and i very much appreciate monty’s growth. i’m excited to finally read the rest of their stories. 

definitely reread material ✅

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse and Slavery

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment

elleandon's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Outing, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

aplatt's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book is fun and full of potential, but I can’t help but take issue with the way it discusses racial issues. In taking place in several European countries in the 1700s, the book quickly stumbles into the conversation of race as one of the main characters is black. I think there were about a million other ways the racism in this era could have been exemplified better without the use of racial slurs and yet the author felt she must resort to it. 

Some might argue that it’s historically accurate, but seeing as it’s a historical fiction novel about three upper class/high society British citizens who manage to make their way across the European continent with no money and no worldly experience outside of the boarding schools and palaces they grew up in, it think the author could have taken the liberty to not use this language. 

Furthermore, I loved the main relationship at first, and I still find it adorable, but I can’t bring myself not to dwell on how toxic it is. Though the story ends in a vow to be better, the mental health of one of the main character does not allow him to be a good partner and it is to the detriment of his better half who stupidly forgives him time and time again. 

Overall, the story is cute and full of ridiculous adventure if you’re able to look past it’s screaming faults. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Homophobia and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Slavery, and Toxic relationship

clairestream's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Kidnapping

Minor: Slavery