Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

After following her brother Monty and his "best friend" on their Grand Adventure, Felicity Montague is having to decide what her grand adventure is going to be. She wants to become a female physician but no one else in the 18th century seems to agree with her. When Felicity discovers that her idol Dr. Alexander Platt is about to marry Joanna, one of her childhood friends, Felicity immediately sets out to meet them.

As is par for the course with the Montague siblings, nothing goes according to plan. And soon, Felicity finds herself on a different adventure with Joanna and Sim, a Muslim, Algerian, and ….pirate?! This journey will take Felicity from Edinburgh to Germany to lands yet undiscovered in the Atlantic. And maybe she'll learn a little more about herself, and the world for women.

I adored this book way more than I did Monty's. Probably because I am a woman, but also because I am in the healthcare industry. There are so many advances women have had in any career setting, but we can certainly do more. It was encouraging to read the same inner struggles for my career and identity that Felicity had. Mackenzi Lee certainly knows how to make these characters relatable to a specific audience.

I also liked Mackenzie's ability to talk about women. The different types and the different things they like. I, for one, have never been a girly girl, and it has actually hurt me as an adult. I don't wear any makeup, so most of the time I am asked if I am sick or did I get enough sleep. It took me years to find that I prefer my hair long, and never super short. But I also have trouble maintaining long hair, so I created a new system. However, I do like nice clothes. I prefer long flowy pants over sweats, and I like to wear soft skirts. I also love football, soccer, and just about any sports. There is no right or wrong way to be feminine. Some are more than others, but if it makes you happy, then that's all that matters. And it's a lesson that Lee exemplifies for Felicity.

Overall I rated this novel 4 out 5 stars. The plot was a little far fetched for me. I mean, who invites a wedding crasher to an expedition, and who actually believes said invitation? But the underlying themes made the book worth reading.