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imds's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Murder, Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Ableism, Alcoholism, Classism, Abandonment, Blood, and Homophobia
pucksandpaperbacks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
A funny, grumpy x sunshine about two men who meet unexpectedly. I loved the banter between Kit and Percy and how their romance evolved over time. I especially appreciated the perspective of Kit, a bisexual man being with a man for the first time. I read this via audiobook and it was great! Kit is also living with chronic pain due to an injury he sustained in battle. I really liked his character and how he grew throughout the book to unpack his internalized ableism and learned how to live with his disability. However, there is constant use of the c-word, an ableist slur.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Blood
Minor: Child death
internalized ableism and ableist slursjaelovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Homophobia
booksthatburn's review against another edition
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
4.0
This was fun but weirdly forgettable. The story never stays tense for too long, and most of the stressful topics are handled as things that are at least partially processed or happened a while ago. Even Kitt's very tragic backstory isn't discussed fully until well into the book, and at a moment where it specifically matters to the story and isn't just tragedy for the sake of complexity.
I like that the book begins by establishing that Percy isn't going to be rich for very long, thus reducing the tension in the story. Even though Kitt doesn't learn this for a while, I was much happier knowing that the giant disparity between their stations wouldn't stay forever.
If you want a romance that has a bit of danger but usually keeps the stress low, try this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Violence, Medical trauma, Medical content, Death of parent, Death, Grief, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Religious bigotry, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Cancer, and Terminal illness
valpuri's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Cursing, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child death, Homophobia, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Sexism, Cancer, Alcohol, and Ableism
kaitlinlovesbooks's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Murder, Ableism, and Death of parent
noellelovesbooks's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
4.25
Content Warnings: Explicit sexual scenes, blood, violence, loss of loved ones [adults and children], alcoholism, ableism, and homophobia.
I actually hadn’t really heard anything about this book until I saw a summary of the second book [The Perfect Crimes of Marion Hayes] which is due to release in early June. Having been offered an ARC of book two, for being part of Avon’s influencer program, and loving to fully immerse myself in worlds I knew I needed to get my hands on this book and jump in before reading book two.
We first meet Kit, a retired Robin Hoodesque highway robber, as he’s running a coffee shop and leading a lawful life. Having retired, after sustaining an injury that prevents him from being as mobile as he used to be, and reliant on a cane, Kit tries hard to forget the thrill of highway robbery and be happy with his life as a business owner.
Percy desperately needs to have a book stolen from his father, if he ever hopes to ensure the safety of himself and a close friend. Whatever secret the book holds, which he assumes since the book is always on his father’s body, Percy needs and will do whatever it takes to get it…even hiring a retired highway robber and having his father held up at gunpoint.
Kit has had a lot of tragedy in his life and has trouble opening up to, and trusting, new people. He has no idea how Percy found him or knew his highway persona. No longer confident in his ability to rob, which comes from a combination of still adjusting to his disability as well as being afraid of losing anyone in a heist due if he’s not able to perform like he used to, Kit refuses to perform the heist for Percy. Though he refuses to perform the heist himself Kit is happy to train Percy so he’ll be able to pull it off himself, along with some of Kit’s closest friends.
One of the things that made me happiest, while reading, was that although Kit has never been romantically, or sexually, attracted to a man before meeting Percy…he never once questions the attraction they share. There’s never a moment of homophobia or self-hate…he’s just open and accepting that he is attracted to Percy and Percy is attracted to him. Not even a moment of hesitation, from the start he mentally acknowledges his attraction and never denies his attraction to Percy. I loved this so much.
I adored this book and look forward to seeing what all unfolds in book two. If you’re looking for a historical romance with disability and queer rep that involves a highway robbery and a grumpy sunshine romance…I highly recommend giving this book a read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Homophobia, Child death, Death, Ableism, and Blood
unsuccessfulbookclub's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.25
Do you ever try to hire a highwayman to rob your a-hole dad and then end up falling in love with him? I know. It happens to me all the time.
If you are looking for a low-angst, lighthearted, exciting, sweet sweet sweet sweet, queer love story set in Georgian England with deep social messages about the landed gentry and the inequalities present in every day life: this is the book for you. Basically, Cat Sebastian said “Be gay, do crimes? I gotchu.”
As far as Hissy RoNos go, this one takes some common character types and flips them in a wonderful way. The way Kit and Percy fall for each other and the way they communicate is super swoony and soft, even though both of them have more at stake than may appear at first. It’s a slow-ish burn but the payoff is oh so worth it. 🔥
⚠️Word of warning: there is a sequel to this book coming out this year called The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes. Yes, Marian is Percy’s childhood friend and his stepmother in this book. DO NOT look at the synopsis for Marian’s book if you are reading The Queer Principles of Kit Webb - it has major spoilers for Kit’s book.
👍🏻Recommended for fans of the Princess Bride, hijinks and soft love stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Classism, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Child death
Minor: Ableism and Homophobia
bisexualwentworth's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! I’m always here for anti-capitalist and anti-aristocracy sentiment in historical romance or anywhere else, and Cat Sebastian absolutely delivered on that front.
I liked both main characters, and I thought they had a good dynamic. I also really like the 18th century as a setting. I think it’s under-utilized in historical fiction, and this book fully took advantage of the time and place.
Also sidenote but yay lube!
Some of the plot twists felt simultaneously predictable and a bit clumsily executed, but I didn’t really mind.
The pacing was weirdly slow for a book with such an exciting plot, and I do wish that there had been literally any racial diversity, but overall I really enjoyed this one and will be reading the sequel when it comes out!
I liked both main characters, and I thought they had a good dynamic. I also really like the 18th century as a setting. I think it’s under-utilized in historical fiction, and this book fully took advantage of the time and place.
Also sidenote but yay lube!
Some of the plot twists felt simultaneously predictable and a bit clumsily executed, but I didn’t really mind.
The pacing was weirdly slow for a book with such an exciting plot, and I do wish that there had been literally any racial diversity, but overall I really enjoyed this one and will be reading the sequel when it comes out!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Classism, Cancer, Child death, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, and Gun violence
Minor: Homophobia
armontheroad's review
adventurous
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was unable to get to this before the release date, however, that did not discourage my adoration for this novel! THE QUEER PRINCIPLES OF KIT WEBB is truly a masterpiece. This book had witty dialogue, a swoon-worthy romance, and a cast of characters you'll adore. I am very excited to read more of Cat Sebastian's works!
Dislikes: I do wish this had characters of color, as I am so tired of the "I can't add People Of Color in my historical fiction" discourse. We, POC, have been around since the beginning of time. There truly is no reason to exclude us from your pieces. ESPECIALLY fictional pieces! I also wish the robbery was a tad longer. We spent the entirety of the novel planning for this big event and it lasted two seconds.
Likes: This book is hilarious! The romance was perfectly executed. Watching Kit and Percy find their rhythm and grow to deeply love one another was utterly romantic. I was obsessed with the disability rep in this; Kit needs to use a cane to walk and seeing him slowly come to realize his disability is just a part of himself was so nice. Internalized ableism is very real and it's difficult to unlearn those biases.
Overall, 4.5!! I would recommend this to loads of people (queer people, romance readers, historical fiction lovers, etc).
TWs/CWs: Gun violence, death of a child (past tense), death of a parent/death of a parent to cancer (past tense), sexual content, alcohol consumption, ableism, etc.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Child death, Death of parent, Cancer, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Ableism