Reviews

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

raynorn's review against another edition

5.0

My first interest in these characters came from hearing of this second novel being published last year. On its own, even the title seemed interesting and historical setting was the main reason I decided to pick up the first in this series, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue. After reading that and falling in love with Monty, Percy and Felicity, I was ready to move onto this and find out more of Felicity. Her narrative is exciting and fresh, and shows the way she attempts to break out of the expectations she is given as a woman in the 18th century. Lee often has her affirm herself telling herself, "I am Felicity Montague" and even after the trials she faces of the medical juries she ultimately is rejected from, she comes out still fierce and strong. I loved this about Felicity, and that the historical writing of her character doesn't paint her as compliant to her surroundings and proves that it is the power of one that creates change in the world. Felicity is an empowering character and Mackenzi Lee writing her as asexual and managing to portray this in a 18th century setting was written as brilliantly as she managed Monty and Percy's relationship in the first novel. From Monty's Grand Tour in the first, to the medical knowledge and treatises that Felicity reads mentioned in the second, this is the single best piece of historical YA I have read.

bunny_herondale's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring fast-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

mslelouch's review against another edition

4.0

I forgotten to update this hehehehe. I think every woman should read this

tisya's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

3.75

lau_vansunshine's review against another edition

adventurous 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

2.5

croissantmusain13's review against another edition

4.0

I feel resonate w the aro-ace rep in this book, and I dare say this book is better than the previous one, though Monty n Percy's appearances delight me to no end.

Sim is definitely the best character.

judyflutey's review against another edition

Returned to library, will try again another time

sophkos11's review against another edition

2.0

(listened to as audiobook.) I don’t know why but I just didn’t like this book. Maybe it was the weird pacing of the story and too many different settings? Or the voices in the audiobook which kind of just irritated me? Though I understand why many others enjoy this book, it just wasn’t for me!

thebookberrie's review against another edition

2.0

This sequel wasn't terrible but my feelings are for giving it a big meh.

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy begins a year after the first book but now from Felicity's POV. Felicity has wanted all her life to be a doctor, but she's in a time where that isn't very possible. After turning down a marriage proposal and getting rejected from medical school (due to being a woman), Felicity gets the chance of a lifetime when she hears that a doctor she idolizes is getting married to an ex-friend of hers in Germany. While she believes he can change her future, she has no way to get there until a mysterious young woman offers to pay her way. Once her true motive is revealed, Felicity gets tangled in an adventure that spans several countries.

Because women don't have to be men's equals to be considered contenders; they have to be better. That's the lie of it all. You have to be better to prove yourself worthy of being equal.

This book was such a let down compared to the first one, which I actually really loved. While this one did have some fun banter and another adventure, I just wasn't feeling it at all. Felicity is an awful character. Even though I loved her rebelling, and standing against the expectation of what women are meant to do and fighting the close-minded men for her dream- she's super judgemental and rude. She has such a "I'm not like other girls" mindset and she thinks she's better than everyone else. Sure she learns later on that huh, this super feminine friend who loves dresses isn't terrible and maybe I'm the jerk but still too late. It sucks because I really did like her in the first book. There was also an attempt at a f/f romance and while I respect the effort, uh no. It felt so forced and came so suddenly, I didn't buy it.

The adventure? Ehh.... it was kind of all over the place and I wasn't invested. They just bounce around from one thing to another and it was just a big meh. I do like how Monty and Percy were involved but it felt like just getting teased from a POV and story I would rather have instead. This is probably just a me thing but wow I really hated the audiobook, and I hated the weird voice that was given to Johanna. I get it, Johanna is a woman who likes dresses and comes off as ditzy (when she isn't of course) but it was nails on a chalkboard every single time she spoke. I couldn't stand Sim's voice either. It was just a weird time because I don't normally have a problem with audiobook narrators.

Some parts were still kind of fun and I didn't really hate anything, I was just so bored. Might still read a third one if she continues on at least?

longtimewish's review against another edition

4.0

3.5