Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

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

207 reviews

megelizabeth's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

I did not expect to completely, utterly love and adore this book the way I did. It's easily a new all-time favourite and I am entirely obsessed. It was the kind of book that I kept trying to slow myself down from reading as I didn't want it to be over, but at the same time I physically couldn't stop myself fully devouring it. I was hooked from the very beginning and I loved Monty and Percy's characters so, so much and I just could not wait to see how things turned out for them. I don't usually gravitate towards adventure-type stories and so this sat on my shelf for literally years before I finally read it and whilst I wish I had done so sooner because I ended up loving it so much, I'm at least glad that I was able to experience the thrill and unadulterated joy of reading it for the first time now! It's definitely one I can see myself going back to and loving even MORE each time around. The characters, the plot, the relationships, the 1700s setting, the balance of humour and discussion of serious topics, the character development (particularly Monty's).........all 100/10.

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imskylow's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny reflective 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

4.0

Okay this was actually really adorable. I didn’t know what to expect with a historical yet bi/gay romance but it was handled very well and they even used the strange terminology they would have used back then. I loved the characters and the adventure and the forbidden love. Monty is a laugh. Percy is an absolute cinnamon roll. And, Felicity is so fierce. I just wish that for all the talk of sex, they could have had a moment. Either talk about it and do it or don’t wave the idea in our faces so much 🤣

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not_another_ana's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

I've always been of the mind that subtlety is a waste of time. Fortune favors the flirtatious.

Henry “Monty” Montague is a rake and a disappointment to his family. He drinks, he gambles, he shirks his responsabilities, and is promiscuos with partners of all sexes. His father gives him an ultimatum right before he goes on his Grand Tour of Europe: conform to the norms or be disinherited from the family fortune. Knowing this is the last time he'll be able to let loose, Monty heads off to Europe with his younger sister and Percy, his best friend and hopeless crush. But the Tour doesn't turn out quite the way he hoped after a reckless decision turns everything upside down.

This is the kind of book that either charms you and drags you into it's own quirky internal logic or completely loses you, sadly I happen to be in the second camp. The plot isn't heavy in the historical accuracy, it's more of a fantasy or a Bridgertonesque alternate universe and I could have looked past that if the characters had grabbed my attention or if the plot was good. Monty is the narrator of this book and I just never liked him. He never got over himself or showed any signs of positive growth nor was he, at least, interesting. Coupled with that is the mess that was the plot. I like to think about this as everything AND the kitchen sink. This book had everything (derogatory). It had aristocrats, robbery, multiple countries, a conspiracy, alchemy, PIRATES, you name it you have it. There was never any space to breathe, to connect with the characters and their actions.

The author should have focused more on the romance. I never cared for Monty and Percy together, in fact I don't think they're good for each other. Too much of their story happened before the book, and what I saw in the plot wasn't romantic. It also rested heavily on the miscommunication trope which is one of my most hated tropes.

Spoiler

For me the moment that made me go yeah no was when Monty basically told biracial Percy to go act like the slaves at Versailles and how that was never really adressed. Like YIKES, that's the love interest??? In general the way race and racism was handled, or not handled tbh, in this book was questionable.

Felicity was fine as a character, even if she came across as a 21st century feminist and not an actual girl in that time period, however I have zero interest in continuing with this series.

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atomicmelody's review

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adventurous funny hopeful mysterious 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

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kal517's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted 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

4.0

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elspethmigliore's review

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adventurous emotional sad tense slow-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

4.0

i really enjoyed this! i’ve read this book around 5 times now because it’s so unique and interesting, and it never fails to impress me. like i was actually obsessed with this book 4 years ago. i will say that the most recent time i’ve read it, i found it to be very difficult to get through and kind of boring, but i think that’s because i know the story so well.

all of the characters are hilarious and unique and i very much appreciate monty’s growth. i’m excited to finally read the rest of their stories.

definitely reread material ✅

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