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

“I don’t think you can claim your entire face is your best feature. You’re meant to be a bit more discerning”.

I loved The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue.

LOVED IT.

Loved. It.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue wasn’t recommended to me per se. I had seen people raving about it on the interwebz. Last year, I really got into audiobooks. I enjoyed nothing more than closing my eyes every night and being read to. I had been borrowing audiobooks from my library for a few months and it is there that I discovered The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, narrated by Christian Coulson (who played 16-year-old Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets). I knew that many people loved it but I, a contemporary reader, was a little apprehensive… historical romance with pirates?! And yet, I’m so, so happy I gave it a chance.

Henry (aka Monty) and Percy – our two boys, the absolute heart and soul of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue – are among my favourite characters of 2017, if not ever. Monty is being punished by his strict, disapproving father. Despite attending posh English boarding schools, he’s enjoyed himself rather too much lately and so is being sent on a Grand Tour of Europe – alongside his best friend Percy and younger sister Felicity – to learn how to be a proper gentleman. Monty has been absolutely forbidden to drink, gamble, party and engage with boys, but he makes no (honest) promises. He has an odd talent for getting into trouble, only Monty, Percy and Felicity get into more than they bargained for – and become embroiled in a manhunt across Europe, from Paris to Rome.

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If you could interview any fictional character who would it be be and why? ? ? ⚓️ The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue is here!! What do you get when you mix a roguish bisexual lord, the 1700s version of a road trip, pirates, robbers and one very steamy romance? You'll find that and so much more in this fun romp!

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“We’re not courting trouble,” I say. “Flirting with it, at most.” 

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue has one of the most realistic, heartbreaking and lovely instances of unrequited love that I’ve come across in YA. Monty has been in love with Percy forever – how could he not be? – but he doesn’t like to admit it. And besides, Percy isn’t even interested in boys, so it would ruin their friendship. It’s best kept to himself, and it’s not like there aren’t many other beautiful people around. As the story goes on and we discover more about Monty’s past and family, we begin to understand who he is, why he’s so reckless, and why he uses humour as a defence mechanism – and whether he really does have it in him to become more gentlemanly.

I don’t often giggle whilst reading books but The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is genuinely hilarious. It’s so, so fun. Monty is absolutely brilliant – Christian’s narration was spot on – and Percy is lovely and Felicity is awesome. And put them together? They’re a fantastic pirate-fighting trio. I know a lot of books are said to be funny, but I laughed out loud so many times whilst listening to Monty – and not even just because of all the sex and swearing.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is a much-needed read for so many reasons: LGBT romance, interracial relationships, challenging racism, politically active women in a period of history that ignored them, plus the wonderful characters, exciting shenanigans and humorous repartee. I’m going to buy myself a copy when the companion novel, The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy – narrated by Felicity, featuring travel, (more) pirates and a science girl gang – is out.

Read it! Listen to it!

“Just thinking about all that blood.” I nearly shudder. “Doesn’t it make you a bit squeamish?”
“Ladies haven’t the luxury of being squeamish about blood,” she replies.