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A review by alexampersand
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
I loved this book!!! I received it as a gift in Christmas 2021, and it shamefully sat on my 'to-read' pile because obviously the gift-giver thought I would enjoy it, but historical fiction didn't really sound up my street, even if it did have gay stuff in it.
And then I started reading it, and it immediately seemed like a really standard 'straight boys suddenly realise they are gay after many years of friendship!' story, and like it was going to be about someone trying to come to terms with why he is suddenly attracted to his male friend, and honestly Heartstopper was enough of that trope for me.
But then, surprise! It's actually about an openly bisexual character! Who's had a crush for a long time! And his crush has never spoken about any romantic relationships with anyone of any gender! And the 'coming to terms with sexuality' is barely even mentioned, the romance just deals strictly with their feelings for each other (and how 1700s society will react to their feelings for each other)
And then - an even greater surprise! The plot is really engaging and exciting!! At first I thought the romance was going to just be the front and centre plot, and the tour around Europe was just going to be a fun little background... but then I found myself hugely engaged in this slightly fantastical, heroic quest plot, that's all set against this fraught romantic tension.
So that's me pulled in entirely. And I fell in love with these characters, and with the story, so much so that when they're in peril at the end I had actual TEARS IN MY EYES. I'm not sure I even remember the last time I cried at a book, but that's how much Percy and Monty got to me, man!!!!!
And then I started reading it, and it immediately seemed like a really standard 'straight boys suddenly realise they are gay after many years of friendship!' story, and like it was going to be about someone trying to come to terms with why he is suddenly attracted to his male friend, and honestly Heartstopper was enough of that trope for me.
But then, surprise! It's actually about an openly bisexual character! Who's had a crush for a long time! And his crush has never spoken about any romantic relationships with anyone of any gender! And the 'coming to terms with sexuality' is barely even mentioned, the romance just deals strictly with their feelings for each other (and how 1700s society will react to their feelings for each other)
And then - an even greater surprise! The plot is really engaging and exciting!! At first I thought the romance was going to just be the front and centre plot, and the tour around Europe was just going to be a fun little background... but then I found myself hugely engaged in this slightly fantastical, heroic quest plot, that's all set against this fraught romantic tension.
So that's me pulled in entirely. And I fell in love with these characters, and with the story, so much so that when they're in peril at the end I had actual TEARS IN MY EYES. I'm not sure I even remember the last time I cried at a book, but that's how much Percy and Monty got to me, man!!!!!