*Received as a free ARC*
Tough topics, easy read! Oliver and Darcy were delightful. I've been aware of this series, but never read any and it's delightful! I continue to love queer historical books and this was excellently and thoughtfully done. The trigger warning at the beginning is important for readers, but I'd recommend it to anyone who is dealing with dysphoria and identity issues.

I enjoyed the writing style and I like many of the choices that the author made in this retelling, but it's overall a 3.5 rounded down for me. I just think that the pacing could've used some work. It was still fun to see Darcy and Oliver in this context, but I do think that some moments could've been better handled.

I also feel like the juxtaposition of Charlotte and Oliver was giing to be tough to deal with in general, but with Lu being introduced as a character as well as Mr. Collins's role in this book in particular, the commentary made by Charlotte seemed really ill-fitting. Wickham also felt a tad too hamfisted. Mrs. Bennett served her purpose well, but got too overbearing at times.

Loved Jane, Bingley, Caroline and Mr. Bennett though, as always. 😂

Myth: 5/5

I love Pride and Prejudice. This remix was so unique — capturing the spirit of the characters while using many of them differently than the original. My absolute favorite part of this remix was the relationship between Oliver and Mr. Bennet. It was so true to the spirit of the original I found myself nodding my head along, saying, “Yes, that would have happened that way.”

Magic: NA

Not our usual genre. This is historical fiction, retelling a classic. No magic here, but it’s definitely a great read.

Overall: 5/5

It is a very different story, showing a new perspective. This remix was so enjoyable. While it had challenging scenes, it was overall heartwarming.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s/Feiwel & Friends for allowing me to read this early!

I have been dying to read this book since I first heard about it. Not only is the cover stunning but the whole concept and of this remix is. This is the first remix I have read within this collection, though I have been reading classics retellings for a while. This will be added to my list of favorite retellings. While I am not trans and cannot speak to the experience I truly think this book does a great job at retelling this classic story for a new generation of individuals who need it. Retelling Pride and Prejudice was the perfect choice for a trans story to be told as there are so many overlapping lessons, and feelings. Gabe Cole Novoa has done an amazing job and has solidified Oliver Bennet as a character that is forever cemented to the Pride and Prejudice story, world.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this Pride and Prejudice remix, I went into it thinking that it would be a line by line retelling but that was not the case at all. I really enjoyed all the added scenes and the dual identity aspect that was added to the story. Watching Oliver and Darcy connect together on their own outside of social obligations was so heartwarming and I loved seeing how easy it was for Darcy to open up to Oliver. I'm not trans, but I really felt for him every single time he was misgendered or felt trapped by societal expectations. I loved that he and Darcy got the happy ending they deserved and that Oliver was able to inherit Longbourn. And nothing for you Wickham and Collins!!!!!!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
At long last, Remixed Classics takes on Jane Austen, with Gabe Cole Novoa’s compassionate trans-inclusive remix, Most Ardently. While the series can be hit-or-miss when it comes to authors who don’t have a background in writing historicals, Novoa was actually a great choice here, with a clear understanding of the nuances of the Regency era, and especially its queer culture, and combining that with a subversive reimagining of arguably one of the most retold works of fiction.
Elizabeth Bennet being reimagined as Oliver is beautiful, and I loved the care with which this was rendered. From the start, with the note that some people in the story will misgender and deadname him, but he’s consistently referred to by his prefered name and pronouns by the text itself was a solid compromise, highlighting the transphobia of the era, while showing that trans people have always existed, and affirmation for them back then wouldn’t have looked too different from what it looks like today. And while I’m pretty well-read on the nuances of the era, even I didn’t know that birth certificates did not exist in the Regency (although that does check out, given how poorly records were kept of births of common people in times past), thus presenting the possibility that, with the support of a compassionate physician to vouch for them and family supporting them, trans people could indeed “pass,” perhaps many more than we’re even aware of.
Oliver’s identity also adds some interesting nuances to his relationship with Darcy. While Darcy is still very socially awkward in his initial encounters with Oliver when he’s presenting as “Elizabeth” in public, I love the addition of scenes between them in a Molly house, highlighting how both of them act with their guards down. And while I feel like it was a missed opportunity to not have Darcy have some sort of inkling as to Oliver’s secret, given he does still ask “Elizabeth” to marry him, there’s still a plausible reasoning given, albeit one tinged with irony.
The supporting cast is also beautifully reimagined as well. Jane being a supportive ally is only to be expected, given the two eldest Bennet siblings are thick as thieves in just about every incarnation, although I did feel her relationship with Bingley got sidelined for the sake of time, with Bingley not even really appearing after his untimely disappearance…which sucks, since early scenes really built up the possibility of a friendship between him and Oliver, while exploring the tension between Oliver and Darcy. On a similar note, the younger Bennet sisters are basically nonexistent in this book…Mary and Kitty were already pretty irrelevant, but with the ending changed, Lydia is also similarly boring. But thank God no one marries that awful Wickham…it’s just a shame Charlotte’s still tied to Collins.
However, I did like how Mr. and Mrs. Bennet were written. Mr. Bennet, being disposed to favor his second-eldest child to begin with, has a lovely relationship with Oliver, and I really appreciated his compassion when Oliver came out to him, especially in wanting to take his time to tell his mother. While Oliver’s transness is kept secret from Mrs. Bennet for most of the book, and I feared the worst due to her marriage-minded nature, she surprised me by proving to be incredibly open-minded and accepting, with her affirmation being particularly heartrending.
This is a beautiful reimagining, balancing a largely beat-for-beat rendering of Pride and Prejudice with the story of a trans boy’s coming-out and coming into his own in the face of immense societal prejudice and obstacles. If you’re a fan of the original, but are interested in a version that is more explicitly queer, I’d recommend checking this out!

Every time I read a Jane Austen retelling I can never decide if I'm grateful that I haven't read the originals or if I am missing out because this book was fine. I really love the transjoy of it all but I didn't love it as a whole. I think maybe I'm missing some context but this one was an enjoyable read but not a favorite.

I am obsessed with all things Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice, so I was so excited to read this book! I have read queer retellings of Pride and Prejudice before, but they are normally changed to a modern setting, so this book was so unique and fun! I loved Oliver's character and how he refused to be anyone else, even as the world saw him as the second daughter of the Bennet family. It also made his relationship with Darcy so interesting! Darcy did NOT want to court Elizabeth (not HANDSOME enough to tempt me has a whole new meaning in this book) but was falling quickly for Oliver, putting Oliver in an uncomfortable position. This book was so sweet and emotional, and I really enjoyed how the characters stayed true to themselves, even with all of the changes. Wickham was still the worst, Mr. Bennet was still the best, and Charlotte Lucas was still queer (let's be honest, she always was). This was a great retelling and a very emotional but enjoyable read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Feiwel & Friends for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Most Ardently does a great job of reimagining Pride and Prejudice in a way that still feels true to the original writing. I really liked how the author included actual queer history that is in line with the times and showed us how a trans man might find ways to exist as himself in that time period.

I liked how Wickham's actions changed, but he's still as despicable as ever. I felt like all the characters still felt like the originals and their reactions seemed in character (except for Mrs. Bennett at the end-- you'll know it when you read it). I did think that the ending was rushed, and I would've loved a little more there. Overall, I really enjoyed this read!

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for the ARC!

I first saw this book on an ad in instagram and immediately RAN to netgalley to see if they had it! The day I was approved was one of the best days of my life. Reading the first line was amazing as I believe any sort of pride and prejudice adaptation should have the iconic “it is a truth universally acknowledged…” As for the book it was absolutely wonderful. I was captivated the whole time and I love reading stories of trans joy especially now. I can’t wait until it comes out so I can buy it day of!

Overall, this was a great adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, which is not easy to do. I liked the writing style and especially how closely it stuck with most of the original plot. I enjoyed how the character of Darcy felt like it stayed very true to the original and the slight changes fit in seamlessly. I enjoyed that we spent more time with Darcy at the beginning than we do in the original. However, the book's primary focus was on Oliver's gender dysmorphia. It was understandable that it would be forefront to his thoughts, especially at that time period. But for this retelling specifically, not enough time was spent on the romance at the end. It was nice that Oliver's family accepted him, which might not have been realistic but it helped with the necessary happy ending. I thought it was well done but I was also hoping for more.

Pride and Prejudice but queer?? Babies, I'm already at the finish line I ran so fast!

We have our cast of characters from the OG P&P minus one. The MC is Oliver Bennet. A trans boy who does not want to live a life as anyone other than himself. And being someone's wife is not it. But it is 1812 London and only a select few of his loved ones know (and accept) who he really is. Then he meets Darcy as his true self and sees a side of him not many get to.

I found it to be a quick read. I basically read it one weekend. I will say that maybe the second half could've have been a teeny bit more fleshed out. But also I am a huge P&P fan so I have something to compare it to in my mind. As it is a popular story that would be hard not to. My initial reasoning for picking the book was the remixing of the Austen original. TBH it read more like the movie than the book (and I don't mean that in a bad way as I watch the movie 987 times a year.) All in all, I loved this book and I'm super happy to have gotten an E-arc of it.

I was apprehensive about this one because I *adore* Pride and Prejudice and retellings don't always hit the mark for me. This one though, was perfect. I might even like it even more than the original which is saying a LOT. I will definitely be rereading and it's one of my favorite reads this year.

Gabe Cole Novoa managed to create an incredibly faithful retelling that is also very much its own thing, hitting all the familiar beats but changing things just enough to make this version feel perfectly plausible.

Of course Elizabeth is a trans man named Oliver. Of course Darcy is gay. It makes so much sense? The writing was loving and careful and clever. Oliver's dual identity was handled brilliantly as well.

I do have to include a trigger warning for misgendering (unknowing for everyone important to Oliver) and gender dysphoria. It was so vivid to be in Oliver's thoughts and his discomfort and pain at being addressed over and over as a woman (with sexism thrown on top) and being forced into dresses. I really felt for him. It felt real.

I really really identified with Oliver. My own discomfort with femininity made his struggles really ring true. The more he let himself present as a man, the more right it felt and the more painful presenting as a woman became for him.

I absolutely adored the additions of his interactions with Darcy while presenting as a man. That really deepened their connection and made their love story that much more believable.

I am also really, really glad that while most of the conflict in the story is internal as Oliver struggles with whether to come out to his family, they ultimately embrace him. Being nonbinary myself, with the way the world is today -- we need all the happy endings and affirmation we can get.

The audiobook narrator's performance was brilliant and it was so easy to get pulled into the story with all the easily distinguishable voices. I finished it in one sitting and promptly pre-ordered my own copy of the audiobook.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Feiwel & Friends, and Macmillan Audio for providing an early copy and early audio copy for review.

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

The newest installment in the Remixed Classics line is Most Ardently brought forth by Gabe Cole Novoa. An evident Pride and Prejudice retelling, the "Elizabeth" of the story is Oliver, a young trans man who is struggling to navigate staying true to who he is along with societal expectations of the Regency era. Coupled with a Darcy whose brusque qualities are, in part, due to his utter disinterest in female companionship, this remixed retelling shines.

Because Oliver is closeted to most people in his life, he is frequently referred to by the incorrect name and misgendered. The author addresses this in an author's note prior to the start of the narrative, but any readers who struggle with dysphoria may find this story hits close to home. Novoa, as a trans author, is able to put into words the feelings of not fitting into one's own skin and the pain of not being seen. It is, to me, beautiful representation from inside the the trans community, though some folks may find it all the more difficult for its accuracy.

The queerness of Oliver and Darcy truly is the change-up for this piece as it otherwise remains pretty true to the original work it retells. I was grateful for Novoa including a support system for Oliver, both of family and friends who knew him as himself and the development of new people coming to know him as himself and reacting well.

Overall, this was a fun retelling which was exactly as advertised and I already have a copy pre-ordered for my own library.

I loved the concept of Most Ardently and have enjoyed most of the classics remixed in this series, and while overall I really enjoyed this the pacing was glacial

Genre: YA queer historical romance, closed door
London, 1812

Oliver Bennet chafes against his role in the large Bennet family, but doesn't know how to tell his family he is the Bennet son and not one of many daughters. All he knows is that he absolutely cannot be anyone's wife. (For those of you familiar with Mrs. Bennet, you'll understand the depth of Oliver's problem...) When he meets Fitzwilliam Darcy while at a ball - unfortunately forced to wear a dress and not as his true self - Oliver sees a boy who is standoffish and proud. When he meets him again, as Oliver, Darcy begins to open up, and Oliver realizes he’s introverted rather than aloof, and someone he desperately wants to spend more time with. Meanwhile, Mrs. Bennet is still on the quest to marry off her children, and sometimes, a man in possession of good fortune does not, in fact, want a wife.

I'm an absolute sucker for Pride and Prejudice *anything* so when I saw this trans queer regency era Pride and Prejudice, I jumped at the chance to read it. This is decidedly young adult - Oliver is 17 and refers to Darcy as “boy” (I think he may be a couple of years older) - and while I as a reader would have enjoyed it even more as an adult book, I am delighted this is a version of P&P that teenagers can read. There is true joy in Oliver’s ability to connect with and embrace his true self, and watching those around him accept his identity.

Any time I pick up a P&P book, I spend time looking for the similarities and differences between the retelling and the original. Luckily, I reread the Jane Austen original only a few months ago, so it was fairly fresh in my mind. I don’t look to critique, specifically, but look for the choices an author makes as their incorporate or leave out elements from the original. I was pleased with most of the choices, which open up room for queer characters. And maybe a little redemption for Lydia. The setting feels historically appropriate, and I appreciated the author’s note situating legalities and illegalities surrounding a 19th century queer and trans experience.

✰3 stars✰

This was cute, really. Just maybe not as detailed and deep as it had the potential to be, or as I wanted it to be.

Oliver was born in the wrong body, he was never meant to be Elizabeth Bennet and living his life as a young lady is stifling and dreadful and leaves him feeling trapped.

His mother, Mrs. Bennet, is determined to have him married off to make the perfect wife, and Oliver wants none of it.
Early on, Oliver meets Mr. Darcy while dressed as Elizabeth. At this point, Darcy is rather cold and rude, and it’s assumed that he just isn’t vey kind with women.
However, not long after, Oliver meets Darcy again while dressed as himself and they form a genuine friendship and Darcy is different than Oliver imagined he would be.

This remixed classic is clever and a heartwarming trans love story, but does fall a little flat with the actual believability of the romance. While it’s certainly YA, you don’t feel as invested in the romance between Darcy and Oliver in the way you’d expect from a remix of a Jane Austen novel. There is a line between maintaining YA romance and just leaving out appropriate details that make the love believable, and this very much toes the line of not being quite enough to be invested as a reader.

I loved Oliver being able to come into himself, and I did appreciate the brief longing moments between Darcy and Oliver. At times the pacing felt off in what seemed like an effort to keep some of Jane Austen's classic scenes (but in the remixed way), and I almost wouldn't have minded if the author had deviated a little more just to give Olive and Darcy more depth and new moments outside of sticking closer to the classic.

Even still, it’s a nice and quick read that does leave you feeling good. So while I was left wanting more, it was still a comforting read with a promising plot.

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am just a huge sucker for a Pride & Prejudice retelling and when I found out this one was queer and trans, I needed no further information! I absolutely loved it and really flew through the book, which I read via a mix of the audio and the ebook. It hits all the highlights of the original P&P, but is also unique and has changes that make a lot of sense for this adaptation.

The scenes between Oliver and his family members who know who he is (particularly his dad!) were so sweet and made me feel so many EMOTIONS! What was also surprising to me was the amount of queer/trans joy really exists within these pages! The gender euphoria Oliver experiences when he is able to be truly himself just again, gave me all the emotions.

I gave this a truly enthusiastic 5 stars. Would I have enjoyed it more if it was adult (even closed door)? Yeah, probably but this was still so enjoyable of a reading experience and I'm so so glad it exists.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4.5 stars rounded up

I feel like retellings of Pride & Prejudice can be very hit and miss, but I ended up really liking this take on it. Most Ardently features a trans Bennett main character, a queer Darcy, and a queer Charlotte (this last one is often read into the text anyway). It's a clever approach that hits the main plot beats of the original and feels like it gets what Austen was doing, but diverges in ways that make sense and integrate real queer history of the time period. We do know that trans people existed back then too, and there is even a documented case of a trans man inheriting an estate that went through the male line. This offers a really wholesome and lovely version of a classic that reimagines it through a queer lens.

It is worth noting (and this is in an author's note at the start of the book as well) that due to the specifics of the story and the constraints of the time period, much of the book does involve the main character- Oliver Bennett being mis-gendered and mis-named while still living much of the time acting as a woman. But while that is the case and there is some transphobia and homophobia, most of the people that matter are wonderful and supportive. I do recommend this one! And the audio narration is excellent as well. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and Feiwel & Friends for the eARC!

I first read "Pride and Prejudice" when I was 12 and I hated it. I wanted nothing to do with it. As I got older I grew to appreciate the story and it's context. This is a long way of saying I actually enjoyed this more than I ever enjoyed P+P.

I feel I understand Olivers struggles to be seen for who he truly is than the period drama of it all.

This was such a fun, quick read. I really enjoyed myself!