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

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing 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

this book is the best thing that's happened to me since my discovery of ao3, and that's saying something. it made me so happy. i've laughed a lot and gotten my heart broken at times, too, only to mend it right back. i've fallen irrevocably in love with monty, and despite his very many flaws, i wouldn't have him any other way. he is a delightful character to see the world through, with high levels of self-loathing masked behind a great show of narcissism. he is, however, very much self-absorbed, and by the end, begins to realise this and makes an effort to change, to show love and empathy to those around him. 

i'm honest to god head over heels for every character: monty, percy, felicity, scipio, and even ebrahim, the very minor character and a part of the worst pirate crew in the history of piracy. percy and monty's relationship is written so beautifully, equal parts gut-wrenching pining and light-hearted banter. 

Can’t seal up a conversation with a casual Oh, by the way, could you perhaps not touch me the way you always have because each time it puts fresh splinters in my heart? Particularly when what I’d really like to say is Oh, by the way, could you please keep touching me, and perhaps do it all the time, and while we’re at it, would you like to take off all your clothes and climb in bed? They’re both weighted alike.

and i love, love the p.o.c representation, the fact that the author could have very easily taken the "oh, it's 18th century england" route to simply not have any non-white characters yet chose not to, and in fact wrote them well, doing justice to the struggle of racialised people of this era without making the entire personality be their race and racial trauma. 

and i am so happy to find out that there's a sequel, and i can't wait to dive right back into this world, this time through the eyes of felicity "men are such babies" montague.

(also, this book concludes my 2024 reading challenge of reading 24 books, and im glad this was the book i decided to end my year with.)
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