Guide
Young Adult Fiction
Katherine Tegen Books
June 27, 2017
Audio Book
528
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets the 1700s in this hilarious and swashbuckling stand-alone teen historical fiction novel. A young bisexual British lord who embarks on an unforgettable Grand Tour of Europe with his best friend/secret crush stars. An 18th-century romantic adventure for the modern age written by This Monstrous Thing author Mackenzi Lee. Henry “Monty” Montague doesn’t care that his roguish passions are far from suitable for the gentleman he was born to be. But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quests for pleasure and vice are 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. So Monty 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, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores. Witty, dazzling, and intriguing at every turn, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue is an irresistible romp that explores the undeniably fine lines between friendship and love.
WrensReads Review:
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book.
The beginning was glorious. Henry Montague, or Monty, the worst character to love because he is just so hilariously self-centered. Like seriously, he gets what he wants because until he gets it, he won’t stop pursuing it (and that includes people too). Yes, Monty is a slut, and yes, Monty is in love with his gentlemen best-friend Percy but doesn’t know what to do about that besides the complete opposite of what would make that fantasy a reality. Monty is quite stupid when it comes to actually understanding how he feels instead of what he wants, you see.
Anyway, his father is ashamed of him and his sister treats him just like a sister would treat her brother: with spiteful love. Their relationship as a whole was really refreshing because some books these days don’t accurately develop sibling relationships the way I feel most are. It was realistic.
So, before Monty goes off to the finest boarding school in England and his sister Felicity goes to finishing school for ladies and Percy does, er, whatever Percy is going to do, he is bound to go on a Grand Tour of Europe. What his father doesn’t know, is that Monty plans on being completely trashed the whole time and having multiple people in his bed (possibly at the same time if he is lucky).
And you would think that this would be a fun little book about the adventures of three teenagers across Europe getting in and out of trouble and having the times of their lives. And you would think that possibly Monty may have a smooth, happily ever after with his gentlemen friend and his book-adoring sister would find her rightful place (which oddly enough is not learning how to curtsy and make a man look good with her on his arm).
And truly, it is all of that.
But then there’s this weird – I don’t want to say magic because it isn’t magic, it’s science but kind of magically (really you just have to have read it to understand the mild confusion there) – aspect that seem to really just seep into the book. It’s kind of like you enjoying a nice day at home on a rainy day cuddled up with your furry-creature on your lap and reading a book and then all of a sudden, your ceiling falls through or your house starts flooding. It just didn’t belong in this book in my opinion.
The book would have been a five-star rating for me if it focused more on their trip and them finding themselves instead of on the accidentally-finding-this-scientifical… magical-thing-that-kind-of-makes-them-detour-from-their-plans-since-their-lives-are-at-stake.
Like Mackenzi Lee has the most enjoyable humor I have read since My Lady Jane. I will be reading more books, and a sequel to this one if it comes. I just think the book kind of strayed from the path for me.
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