The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

Mackenzi Lee

Jun 2017 · Montague Siblings Book 1 · Katherine Tegen Books · Narrated by Christian Coulson

About this audiobook

A Kirkus Prize nominee with five starred reviews! A New York Times bestseller!

2018 Audie Award® nominee for Best Male Narrator!

Named one of the best books of 2017 by NPR and the New York Public Library!

""The queer teen historical you didn’t know was missing from your life.”—Teen Vogue

""A stunning powerhouse of a story.""—School Library Journal

""A gleeful romp through history.""—ALA Booklist

A young bisexual British lord embarks on an unforgettable Grand Tour of Europe with his best friend/secret crush. An 18th-century romantic adventure for the modern age written by This Monstrous Thing author Mackenzi Lee—Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets the 1700s.

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.

Don't miss Felicity's adventures in The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, the highly anticipated sequel! 

Ratings and reviews

I've listened to this book at least four times through my library. The storytelling is well-balanced between plot and character development, the narrator does an incredible job of bringing the characters to life, and it's just tons of fun.

I really enjoyed this one. I haven’t read a historical book in a while, and it was just what I needed. The narrator was fantastic. I’m giving this 5 out of 5 stars! Just a forewarning, there are some things such as abuse and homophobia in this book, so take care while reading. I’ve heard amazing things about this book, and I have to agree. It was interesting, witty, funny at parts, and had adventure with a side of trouble. You’re in for an entertaining read with this book, that’s for sure. I’m not sure I really connected with the main character on a personal level, but I liked him for the most part. I really adored Percy and Felicity though, especially Percy. I was either smiling, laughing, or sitting on the edge of my seat for the majority of the book. I also speculated on what was going to happen next. I got some of it right, and some of it wrong. Overall, I highly recommend this book (especially the audio version, if that’s your kind of thing). I can’t wait for the next book to come out this year!

This narrator is EVERYTHING! This story is so much fun, absolutely hilarious and at times heartbreaking. One of my all time favourite audiobooks due to the immensely talented narrator!!!

About the author

Mackenzi Lee holds a BA in history and an MFA from Simmons College in writing for children and young adults. Her short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in Atlas Obscura, the Boston Globe, Crixeo, and the Newport Review, among others. Her debut novel, This Monstrous Thing, won the PEN New England–Susan P. Bloom Children’s Book Discovery Award. Her second book, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, was a New York Times bestseller and an ABA bestseller, earned five starred reviews, was a #1 Indie Next Pick, and received a 2018 Stonewall Book Award Honor and a New England Book Award. She loves Diet Coke, sweater weather, and Star Wars. On a perfect day, she can be found enjoying all three. She currently calls Salt Lake City home.