How is this the 8th monthly Calendar Girls?! And how is it already August! It feels just like yesterday that Melanie and I were putting our heads together trying to figure out what we wanted our blog event to be. Before we know it, our baby will be turning 1 year old! *sniffle* Well, maybe not quite yet. But anyway! This month it’s all about that historical fiction, and I cannot wait to see what all of you will have picked / will pick!
Also, for those of you who might have missed it, we have made some updates to Calendar Girls Books, specifically to when our monthly #CGBchat is happening on Twitter. I am also hosting a readalong this month, to go with our historical fiction theme, and the book I myself and other participants are reading is My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows. Although we have already started reading, I will continue to accept participants until the first discussion (August 9th). Or maybe longer. I will see how things go. For more info on the readalong and the sign up form, please go here. You can read more about these updates here! I also have an info page about the event now, which is all up to date and everything, and you can go here and bookmark it if you’d like!
For those of you new to Calendar Girls, it’s a blog event which I am co-hosting with my friend Melanie, and is inspired by Neil Sedaka’s 1961 song Calendar Girl. Just like in the song, we decided to use a specific theme for each month and choose a book based on these themes! The event is meant to incite discussions with other bloggers about books we’ve read and loved, is meant to help bloggers meet other bloggers, and also for bloggers and readers to find out about blogs and books which they normally may not have come across!
If this sounds like your cup of tea, please check out my info page for more details, and sign up for the newsletter, and/or let us know that you will be participating if you are still interested after reading everything. Also, if you would like to see examples of past posts, you can look at Melanie and I’s July posts here and here, where the posts of other participants will also be listed. We’d love to have you join in the fun!
And now…without further ado, here is my choice for August’s theme…
– Best Historical Fiction Novel-
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Synopsis: 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.
Those of you who have been following my blog even for just the last month or so, shouldn’t be surprised that I picked this book! I’ve been rambling about it here on the blog, as well as all of my social media quite a bit. Even while I was reading it, followers would have seen me gushing over how perfect it is, and even more so after I turned the last page and wrote my review. And I will say it all again here. This book was so so good! It was witty, very well-written, with a great plot, great pacing, contains my newest OTP, action, adventure, travel, gender rights, diversity, and matters of race. It was pure perfection, and if you enjoy historical fiction (or even if you don’t, or simply haven’t tried it out yet) I recommend that you read it!
Other Participants:
Melanie –> The Devil’s Queen by Jeanne Kalogridis
Katie @ Never Not Reading – The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy
Shanah @ Bionic Bookwork – City of Thieves by David Benioff
Darque @ Darque Dreamer Reads –> The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman
Lauren @ Two Birds One Blog –> Outlander by Diana Galbadon
Deanna @ Deanna Writs About… –> The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue
by Mackenzi Lee
Sophie @ Beware of the Reader – Fall of Giants by Ken Follet
Little Blind Book Finds – The Book Thief by Markus Zusack
And now for the September theme which
you picked through the use of the poll!
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and the September theme is
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BEST CONTEMPORARY NOVEL!!!
The GIF above is from the film adaptation of Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon! And I wish I’d read it! But maybe someday soon!
THANK YOU FOR READING MY CALENDAR GIRLS POST! HAVE YOU EVER READ ANY OF THE BOOKS OTHER PARTICIPANTS AND MYSELF HAVE MENTIONED? IF SO, WHAT DID YOU THINK? AND IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THEM YET, DO YOU WANT TO, OR NOT? HOWCOME? IF YOU ARE A CALENDAR GIRLS PARTICIPANT (AND EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT), YOU ARE WELCOME TO COMMENT ON ANYTHING REGARDING MY POST BELOW! ALSO, WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT ALTHOUGH THE EVENT HAS THE WORD “GIRLS” IN THE TITLE, THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT ALL GENDERS, SEXUALITIES, ETC. ARE NOT WELCOME! ALL ARE WELCOME! I LOOK FORWARD TO READING ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS!
Excellent choice! This is definitely one of my favourite books of the year! I adore all of the characters and can not wait for the second book!
Yesss! It was so good! I’m happy to see how many people love this book as well 🙂
[…] – The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee Katie – The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska […]
[…] – Calendar Girls!!! Hosted by the ever amazing Melanie @ MN Bernard Books and Flavia @ Flavia the Bibliophile. If you’re not aware of this event, here is some info. Each month a new topic is chosen for […]
I have a copy of A Gentleman’s Guide coming in the mail and I CAN’T WAIT for it to get here so I can read it already!!! I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about it!
YAY! I’m actually so jealous that you’ll be able to experience it from the very beginning! This is one of those books that I wish I could forget and then experience all over again. That being said, I’ll probably re-read it someday just for funsies 😀
I haven’t read this one yet but I’ve heard amazing things about it! Now I’m really interested since it made your list!
It is one of the best books I have EVER read! I hope that you get to read it soon. It is laugh out loud funny, excellently-written, witty, a quick but detailed read *rambles on* Haha.
Best books EVER?! Those are some strong words! Now I absolutely must add it to the TBR!
Hahaha for meeee. Doesn’t mean it’ll be amazing for you lol
Gentleman’s guide!! Loved that book!!
I’m so glad you did! I’m always worried when I’ve loved a book and then my good friends read it and I’m not sure if they’ll love it or hate it hahaha
It can be such a scary thing haha especially if you rec’d it to them
[…] Books. To find out more about the Calendar Girls, visit either of their August picks. Here’s Flavia’s and […]
EVERYONE LOVES GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE! I STILL NEED TO READ IT BUT I’LL BE GETTING TO IT SOON!
My favorite historical would be either The Book Thief or Salt to the Sea. Both are amazing WW2 novels told from inside Germany (wow didn’t notice that similarity until now… XD) and they will both keep you up crying!
YES PLEASE READ IT SO WE CAN FANGIRL! Haha. Ahhh those two books are in my TBR! But who knows when I’ll get to them because I’m addicted to requesting ARCs lmao. And I had a feeling that both of them would make me cry. WW2 books and movies in general make me bawl my eyes out lol
It’s making the buzz right now Flavia so even if I did not read it I would say: great choice! Oh by the way pfew I’m saved with next month’s subject. Just the hardest part to choose only one book!!!!!
Hehe thank you! It was truly very very good. And hehehe. I don’t read that much contemporary, so my choices will be few….which SHOULD make it easier to choose. But we’ll see, haha. I look forward to seeing what you pick!
Excellent choice. I feel sad admitting that I still haven’t managed to read Gentleman’s Guide. I REALLY want to, but there’s so many other books that I need to read as well. I will find the time to read it, but sadly it might have to wait a few weeks…or a couple months. I definitely plan to read it before the end of 2017.
Ahhh I hope that you get to read it ASAP. It was such a good book! Truly. I do understand though. It’s the same with me with so many other books, just because my schedule is insane. I’m still trying to keep December open for TBR books that I should read.
Right now it’s looking like I’ll have November and December for fun books. I haven’t been requesting any other books lately.
Awesome! I’m hoping to keep up this no requesting for November and December as well. Although November is already full of ARCs that I received late, or that were sent without my being asked first….and I requested Timekeeper and its’ sequel…….I failed…oops
Good luck with keeping up with the limited requests!
Thanks! You too!
So excited to read this soon! I got it in my Owlcrate box!
Yay! I hope that you get to read it ASAP! If you’re liking My Lady Jane, I think that this book is right up your alley 😉
That’s what I was thinking! Hooray!
Excellent choice I knew at least 1 person was going to choose it. It was a really fun book, I borrowed it from the Kitchener Public Library haha. Question re: September theme – straight contemporary literature? Or can it be contemporary genre fiction?? PLlllllllllllllllllease say the latter I never read straight literature if I can avoid it, genres are my jam hahaha.
Thanks so much! I’ll be surprised if I’m the only one who chose it, hehe. Although I’m sure that there are many amazing historical books out there! And it can be contemporary genre fiction! I’m pretty sure I’ll be choosing a romance one hahaha
I haven’t read this one yet, but it sounds so good! Everyone seems to love it!
Yes! It was SO good! I hope you get to read it soon 😀
Yes, it’s definitely purchaseable on Amazon since it’s been out for a bit now 😀 I hope that you can read it soon!
Outlander! YAY! I read it in June, then binge-watched the first season on Netflix. SO GOOD. I need to read the next book ASAP so I can watch more episodes.
Yesss! I binge the first season TWICE hahaha. Still need to watch the second season. But I might read the first book in December first.
Ya, I started watching the second season, but I decided I want to read the book first. Not enough time, too many books! lol
Hahahaha I know exactly how that is!
[…] – The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee Melanie – The Devil’s Queen by Jeanne Kalogridis Katie – The Scarlet Pimpernel by […]
[…] Calendar Girls #8 / August 2017 […]
I can’t wait for you guys to read it and see what you think of it! Thanks so much for participating, ladies! 😀
Of course! Thanks for being such a great host!
Aweeee I wish I had time to be a better host! I don’t think I time to comment on any of the posts this month! Might do that now hehe. It’s my first full day off in a while
It’s ok! You and Melanie both are great hosts and I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say, we understand!!
Awe thank you so much! <3
❤️
[…] Books. To find out more about the Calendar Girls, visit either of their August picks. Here’s Flavia’s and […]
[…] – The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee Melanie – The Devil’s Queen by Jeanne Kalogridis Katie – The Scarlet Pimpernel by […]
[…] know that I’ve already picked this book before, for Best Historical Fiction Novel back in August, but I’d be lying if I didn’t pick this one as my favourite book that […]