A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

A charming, reckless young English lord in the eighteenth century, a bisexual rake given to drinking, gambling, and pining hopelessly after his beautiful best friend, sets off on a grand tour of Europe meant to be his last hurrah before adult responsibility, only for a moment of impulsive theft to turn the trip into a chaotic, continent-spanning chase involving highwaymen, pirates, alchemy, and real danger, all while he wrestles with his feelings and his own privileged blindness. Lee writes a fast, funny, swashbuckling young adult historical adventure with a queer romance at its heart, balancing rollicking escapades and witty banter with surprisingly serious explorations of privilege, abuse, chronic illness, and prejudice, as the roguish hero is forced to grow up and truly see the people he loves. The tone is exuberant and warm, the adventure breathless. This suits readers who want a joyful, romantic, action-packed historical romp with a bisexual hero, a slow-burn best-friends romance, and real emotional substance beneath the fun. It fits less well anyone wanting historical rigor or a serious tone throughout, since the book prizes adventure and charm. The detail that a rakish lord's farewell grand tour spirals into a madcap chase across Europe while he pines for his best friend gives the book its irresistible energy. Fun, romantic, and warm, it rewards readers who love adventure. Those wanting realism may find it broad, but its charm and heart are exactly what make it beloved.

Best for readers who want something warm and easy, comfort reading at its best. The prose is accessible: you can read this quickly and it never asks too much of you. It moves quickly: once you're in, it's hard to stop. Not a book for when you want something that challenges or lingers.