by Mackenzi Lee
publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
release date: June 27th, 2017
intended audience: Young adult
series: Guide, book 1
source: library, Hoopla Digital
Mackenzi Lee holds a BA in history and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Simmons College. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the historical fantasy novels THIS MONSTROUS THING and THE GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE (HarperCollins), as well as the forthcoming THE LADY'S GUIDE TO PETTICOATS AND PIRACY and SEMPER AUGUSTUS (coming in 2019 from Flatiron/Macmillan). She is also the author of BYGONE BADASS BROADS (Abrams, 2018), a collection of short biographies of amazing women from history you probably don't know about but definitely should, based on her popular twitter series of the same name.
She currently calls Boston home, where she manages an independent bookstore, drinks too much Diet Coke, and pets every dog she meets.
release date: June 27th, 2017
intended audience: Young adult
series: Guide, book 1
source: library, Hoopla Digital
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.
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.
My thoughts:
If you haven't jumped into this fun, adventurous, shenanigan-filled, romp of a story---you are missing out. Furthermore, if you HAVE read this story and haven't listened to it's audiobook counterpart---YOU ARE ALSO MISSING OUT. While this new trio will capture the hearts of many just on the written page, the audiobook performance of this was 100% spot on. Read by actor Christian Coulson (Tom Riddle, himself!), he managed to perfectly portray Monty's spoiled cheekiness and longing, Percy's sweetness and conflict, and Felicity's intelligence and indignance.
Monty is off on a Grand Tour with his best friend and secret crush, Percy. His headstrong and booksmart sister, Felicity is along for the ride. He's determined to ditch their appointed chaperone and have some fun. So Monty, being Monty, does something brash and ridiculous---and his reckless actions get them hunted down and mixed up in a dangerous secret that will have them veering off-tour and crossing paths with mysterious scientists, strangely conscientious pirates, and all manner of undesirables.
The adventure kicks in almost immediately, twisting and turning and whisking them all over the world and hardly letting up until the end. The romance is swoony and complicated, but there were definitely times when Monty's pining and whining and just plain cluelessness got to be a little much. Still, for the most part he's hilarious and his character definitely progresses. Percy is quiet and troubled and faces challenges from many sides, his station, his illness, his ethnicity,...all things he just can't get Percy to understand. Felicity is disapproving and ready to roll her eyes at all her brother's antics, but she was also absolutely brilliant and refuses to let society's ignorant view of a woman's place hold her back. She proved to be one of my favorite characters in the story and I absolutely can't wait for her to take center stage in book two!
•ABOUT THE AUTHOR•
She currently calls Boston home, where she manages an independent bookstore, drinks too much Diet Coke, and pets every dog she meets.
Purchase the book: Indiebound • BookDepository • Amazon
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