Reviews

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

fiifarts's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted 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? It's complicated

3.75

cammielawton's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

gemstonejasper's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This story follows Felicity, a young woman in the 18th century who wants nothing more than to go to medical school. But no matter how many education boards she petitions, she isn't accepted solely based on her gender. The harder she fights for a place at these schools, the more she is criticized for being hysterical. She learns of a doctor who has worked with women in the past, so she goes on an adventure to meet and get close to him while learning valuable lessons about society and being a woman along the way.

I love this story as much as I loved the first. I can't wait to read the third. Even though the story takes place in the 18th century, the topics it discusses are still relevant to this day.

I think Mackenzie Lee has this way of giving each main character one glaring fatal flaw while making them still likable. Because they are likable, you want to follow their story. But you want them to overcome that one fatal flaw so bad that it almost hurts when they fall back to their old way of thinking. In the first book, Monty was so self-absorbed that he struggled to relate with his best friend/love interest and sister. Felicity despises her womanhood and rejects traditional notions of femininity so much so that she looks down on anyone who engages in these feminine aspects. Mackenzie Lee is a master at character arcs in my opinion.

I love the lesson Felicity learns about respecting other women. All of them are affected by society in their own way. They can be strong women who are crushed by society regardless of whether they like dresses and make-up. I find "pick me" girls so annoying in stories. Characters who "aren't like other girls" can be so frustrating because it implies that other girls are wrong in what they like and who they are. But this book twists that and shows Felicity that her type of womanhood is no more or less valid than any other's type of womanhood. She starts as a "pick me" girl, but grows and changes during the story.

Okay, so this is just my opinion. But I truly believe that Felicity has ADHD and is asexual/aromantic. Hear me out. In the first book, it is clear to me, as someone with ADHD, that Monty shows many signs and symptoms. ADHD is genetic, so it wouldn't be a stretch that Felicity could have also inherited it. But, just like many mental and physical health conditions, it often presents differently in girls. Girls are more likely to have internal symptoms. She is pretty equal to Monty in impulsivity, but her impulsiveness often isn't as publicly and socially noticeable. I mean, sailing the ocean to meet a guy who might just take you on as a student, then sneaking into his wedding party, etc. are all very risky things that she chooses to do without much time to think through the actual potential consequences.

The asexual bit is pretty self-explanatory towards the end of the book. Sim seems to have feelings for her, but Felicity doesn't have feelings for anyone. She's never felt anything while kissing a boy. When she kisses Sim, she still doesn't feel anything. She talks about wanting to live alone with a community of friends, it seems clear to me. Not everyone has to agree on all of this, but this is how I personally interpret the book and character.

rosska22's review against another edition

3.0

This book wasn't bad. It was, however, overly long. All of the action in this book occurs in the last hundred pages, if that. It was simultaneously long winded and terribly rushed. Felicity Montague was not a sympathetic character, and in fact I spent most of the book terribly unimpressed with her. Towards the beginning of the book, a doctor fellow tells her (after many rejections to many medical schools) that she should endeavor to become a midwife, or a nurse, or some such position much like that of a doctor but without the "having been admitted to medical school" bit. She disregards this as a fantastical and misogynistic nonsense option. What I think she failed to take into account was that what she wants to do is help people. She could do one of those typically female jobs, gain the practical experience and then use that as a lobbying position to gain admittance to a medical school. She could go somewhere besides England and apply for a medical license. There are many options, and it isn't until WAY TOO FAR INTO THE BOOK that she begins to even consider that maybe her position has been a bit stilted. She's whiny, she's mean, and she has no consideration for others feelings, thoughts, or opinions, and it made it very difficult for me to support her in her endeavors, because I felt like she was in the wrong of it the entire time.

Also,

Spoiler

I was VERY CONCERNED for Percy, which is never a position I want to occupy, please let the man be happy

margotgabriella's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars

izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition

3.0

3.5/5

I liked this book, but not as much as the first one. The medicine part of the book was interesting.. but the Pirates parts were better. You know me, pirates are always a win. The characters were ok, I thought I would enjoy them more.

theunfriendlyghost's review against another edition

5.0

I loved the first book so much that I absolutely raced to read this one, and I got swept up in it just as thoroughly. Felicity's character arc was subtle and realistic enough that I almost gave up on her and dropped the book out of annoyance, but I'm so glad I stuck around!
Much like the first book, I was impacted and influenced by Felicity's inner conflict with internalized misogyny, and I genuinely feel I'm a slightly better person because of it.
I absolutely love the depth the author brings to the characters, especially those who come across as initially shallow and stereotypical.
This was a fast romp of a read, and I'm currently enjoying the third book!

gabrielle_erin's review against another edition

2.0

This book was average. That's really all I have to say about it. I really disliked the main character, I thought the feminist elements in the book were handed poorly and the story was predictable and bland. I finished it eventually but kept forgetting I was even reading it.

smack_books's review against another edition

4.0

This is one of the most well written and refreshing women-against-sexism books I’ve ever written and it’s so nice. Also love the fact that instead having an mc that’s just “not like other girls” she thinks this at first but then learns that there’s nothing wrong with other girls or being feminine but without some weird makeover done to her. A lot of books/movies/shows etc that freak out about “girl power” always frame it was “she could do it despite being a woman” and it has always bothered me. This book literally rips this idea apart like my dog tearing up cardboard. Instead, it’s message is “these women prevail because they’re smart and baddies” and their gender isn’t seen as some road block to themselves or what the author is trying to convey. It’s the system that makes it difficult.

I also really love the dynamic between the main cast I love all of them

heidi_mcj's review against another edition

4.0

It was slow in places but it was entertaining. I hope there will be more books.