July Owlcrate Unboxing and Book Review

Today I'm unboxing the July Owlcrate box.

The theme is Wanderlust.

I was a little bit disappointed that the items in this box weren't as well coordinated as the ones last month. (Check out the unboxing on our Instagram - everything was green and white.) I love the map prints and would have liked to see that theme continued on some of the other items.

Here's what's in the box:

Lord of the Rings backpack designed by Owlcrate.

I would like this better as a tote, but that's just me. I do like the design though.

Owl luggage tag from Mudpuppy is a really thick felt design that would be cute on a backpack. I'd be afraid it might not stand up to baggage handlers if you put it on a suitcase though.

Newt Scamander Funko Pop keychain. You really can't go wrong with Funko Pops and I didn't have Newt yet.

A Darker Shade of Magic pocket mirror by Miss Phi. It's a little hard to tell in the picture, but it says "As Travars" with a rose on the back. This will probably find its way into some future bookstagram pics.

Pocket Journal from Ooly. There were 8 different ones. Mine's a cityscape that says "You are beautiful."

Art print by Shailey Ann designs. It features a quote from Francois Rabelais, "Go to seek a great perhaps" over a map of Alaska and was inspired by the novel Looking for Alaska.

The book is The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee. I actually guessed the book correctly this time and it's one I'm looking forward to. It came with a signed book plate, a letter from the author and a map. (That one will be showing up on our Instagram too!) And it has an exclusive cover. The original is below if you want to compare them.

Last month I started including a book review in my unboxing posts. We've already reviewed The Gentleman's Guide so here's a little bit of  Rose Red's 5 star review:

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
Mackenzi Lee
Release: June 27, 2017
Goodreads Amazon
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.

An unforgettable tale of two friends on their Grand Tour of 18th-century Europe who stumble upon a magical artifact that leads them from Paris to Venice in a dangerous manhunt, fighting pirates, highwaymen, and their feelings for each other along the way.

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.

Witty, romantic, and intriguing at every turn, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is a sumptuous romp that explores the undeniably fine lines between friendship and love.

Review:
One of my favorite things in the world is to pick up a book and know immediately from page one that I'm going to love it and that it will soon have a spot on my favorites shelf. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue was one of those books for me. I loved everything about it: the characters, the mystery, the romance, and the Grand Tour setting! But most of all, I loved the feeling of nostalgia it gave me. I'm not sure I can explain how much I absolutely adored this book without gushing but I'm going to try.

This book is pitched by the author as "the big gay road trip novel set in the 18th century you didn't know you needed!" which set the bar high and it was abso-bloody-lutely amazing! It's a coming of age story that kind of read like historical fanfiction and I mean that in the best way possible! This was the adventure novel of my heart given an actual physical form with words. There's pirates and highway men and tombs and alchemy and streaking at the palace of Versailles. The story started off fast and doesn't let up until the book is over.

I'll post more photos on Instagram if you'd like to see some of the items in the box up close.

*As always, I paid for this box and am not sponsored by the company.*