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A review by thewordsdevourer
The Gentleman's Book of Vices by Jess Everlee
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.0
the gentleman's book of vices is a fun, nicely written novel that belies real depth and impactful thematic exploration. i love this book's recipe: gays! grumpy meets sunshine! gays w/ great friends! gay angst! impending doom but ultimately happy ending!
i rly like the characters. the main duo charlie and miles are great individually and tgt, each has complex characterization and development. the side characters esp charlie's friends and alma are also great; i enjoy the former's banter and quips, and the latter's refreshingly non-streotypical portrayal.
the writing imo is very nice and flows smoothly. another thing i rly enjoy is everlee's handling of the themes and emotional moments. the parallel between charlie and miles' reality and fictional erotica make for some great character development and thematic exploration. i esp enjoy the more unique take of charlie's noble idiocy, how it plays into his deeper fear but also illustrates the impact of miles' works on him. the high stakes of marriage also ups the angst level, but i think it's handled nicely and doesnt feel gratuitous.
as fort the smut, it was ok; it's a lil weird bc i feel like charlie and miles' simple interactions, makeouts, and foreplay are more sizzling than the actual sex scenes, which i think are too short, making the payoff unsatisfactory despite the lengthy lead-up. and i wish there more of them as well.
nevertheless, this was one of the best romances ive read this yr. the story's nicely executed, peppered w/ great characters and a main couple whose lovelorn passages actually make me feel things, in addition to an adept exploration of the themes. happy w/ a gay happy ending and cant wait for the sequel.
i rly like the characters. the main duo charlie and miles are great individually and tgt, each has complex characterization and development. the side characters esp charlie's friends and alma are also great; i enjoy the former's banter and quips, and the latter's refreshingly non-streotypical portrayal.
the writing imo is very nice and flows smoothly. another thing i rly enjoy is everlee's handling of the themes and emotional moments. the parallel between charlie and miles' reality and fictional erotica make for some great character development and thematic exploration. i esp enjoy the more unique take of charlie's noble idiocy, how it plays into his deeper fear but also illustrates the impact of miles' works on him. the high stakes of marriage also ups the angst level, but i think it's handled nicely and doesnt feel gratuitous.
as fort the smut, it was ok; it's a lil weird bc i feel like charlie and miles' simple interactions, makeouts, and foreplay are more sizzling than the actual sex scenes, which i think are too short, making the payoff unsatisfactory despite the lengthy lead-up. and i wish there more of them as well.
nevertheless, this was one of the best romances ive read this yr. the story's nicely executed, peppered w/ great characters and a main couple whose lovelorn passages actually make me feel things, in addition to an adept exploration of the themes. happy w/ a gay happy ending and cant wait for the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Death