Book Review :: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
ISBN: 0062693115
Series: Montague Siblings #1
Also in this series: The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks
Published by Katherine Tegen Books
on 27 June 2017
Genres: Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+, Young Adult
Pages: 513
Goodreads

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

Last updated on 21 June 2023

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What is The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee about?

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, by Mackenzi Lee, is the story of Monty, Percy and Felicity. They are headed off around Europe for what we might call their big O.E. (overseas experience), or their gap year, and while it seems like a jolly idea, things don’t go the way Monty planned.

Monty longs for their year-long trip to be one of bonding and exciting adventures around the Continent before Percy is shipped off to college in another country, and Monty has to start being in charge of the family estate. Felicity is meant to be stopping her trip when they get to Paris so she can begin life as a proper young lady, but all she wants to do is go to university and become a woman of medicine.

When Monty does something rash (which actually happens on most pages of the book), the trio find themselves on a wild goose chase around Europe with a stolen artefact, meeting strange people, searching for miraculous cures, being attacked by highwaymen and joining a crew of pirates.

‘That can’t possibly happen all in one book’ you say. Well, my friends. It can. We follow book-nerd Felicity as she overcomes womanly stereotypes, Percy as he deals with issues and bouts of discrimination over his race, and Monty as he falls more and more hopelessly in love with his best friend.

“We are not broken things, neither of us. We are cracked pottery mended with laquer and flakes of gold, whole as we are, complete unto each other. Complete and worthy and so very loved.”

My Thoughts on The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue

This was seriously one of my favourite books of the year so far. It was such a fun read and I found myself wanting to re-read it as soon as I put it down.

Beautifully written, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is a tale of friendship, loyalty, love, family, adventures to be had, and fights to be fought. It’s 18th-century Europe, it’s pirates and highwaymen, it’s upper-class pomp and prestige, it’s hilarious and witty, alarming and exciting, and beautiful and sweet all rolled into one.

As you can tell, I really loved this book, and I recommended picking it up if you’re into your YA novels (period, or otherwise). The second and third books in the series are just as fun (though this is my favourite of the three!). You can check out my reviews for them here: The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy and The Nobleman’s Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks.

Have you read this book? What did you think?