Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book, so I was very excited to hear this announced. I thought this was a cute, important book that is heavily focused on the closeted trans experience. I think it is successfully aimed at its YA audience as well. Unfortunately, I felt that some of the characterizations and the pacing was off. Darcy’s first proposal to Oliver, who is dressed as Elizabeth, was over three quarters of the way into the book! There’s so much that gets crammed into the last quarter of the book. We also see a cartoonishly evil Wickham, who colludes with a surprising character to bully Oliver.

Overall, I think this will be a hit with the intended audience and I loved the representation of queer people on Regency England.

Firstly, I’d like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and author for allowing me the pleasure of reading this as an ARC. As someone who was never sold on the original Pride and Prejudice I was extremely excited to read a queer retelling. I enjoyed this, most ardently. Seeing this time period through Oliver’s eyes and getting a glimpse of what it would have been like to be him was captivating. As far as retellings go, I preferred it over the original and only wish there could have been more to the story!

After reading a few other Remixed classic retellings, I knew I wanted to read this one. A queer Pride and Prejudice, obviously give it to me. I enjoyed my time with Most Ardently; a quick and very cute read indeed! I wish it had been a bit longer just so I could read more about certain couples.

This was just okay for me. I was looking forward to the premise - I'll read just about any Austen retelling - but somehow it fell flat. I never connected to the characters, especially Oliver, and overall feel pretty "meh" about it. I still think it's a fun and important premise, and will hopefully draw more readers to Austen's work, but I won't be readily recommending it to my students.

The cover is to DIE for, though!

Pride and Prejudice but gay. What more can the world ask for? This is phenomenal. Reading these remixes has healed the inner teenager and shown me that even the classics that are idolized can be relatable as well.

3*

I was beyond hyped for a queer retelling of Pride and Prejudice, and though this book blew me away in some aspects, there were others that I found incredibly disappointing and, from reading other reviews, I don't think I'm alone.

Let's start with the good: Novoa entered a Herculean task by rewritting P&P and they did it with queer aplomb. Trans characters need to be more prevalent in literature, they deserve wonderful, happy endings and Darcy's acceptance of Oliver was a joy to read. I also loved that Mrs Bennett was open and accepting of Oliver by the end of the book.

The not so good: I felt that Oliver's issue with misogyny was not because it was bad, but because he wasn't a woman. I hated the ending for Charlotte, who Oliver very quickly seemed to forget about, and I wish that there had been some additional queer love there. Finally, the pacing of the book wasn't quite right and sometimes this made it difficult just to read through.

I was very, very excited to have a chance to read this ARC- the premise is directly relevant to my interests, and I've read other titles in the "Remixed Classics" series that I thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, this book fell very flat for me. For reference, I am not coming at this review from a historical accuracy angle but instead a YA story angle. As a youth services librarian, I am on the lookout for upcoming YA books with good queer rep.

The biggest issue that I had was the way Oliver being trans was expressed through the narrative. There is a LOT of trans pain in this story, with Oliver constantly reminding himself and the audience how his family/acquaintances/society as a whole will never accept him as he is. While this is a real concern for trans people, especially in this era, the amount of times it is mentioned felt excessive. Additionally, Oliver is completely set on living as himself, and doesn't seem to understand why his friends Charlotte and Lu would accept marrying men to keep themselves safe and cared for. During an argument with Charlotte, who is supposedly Oliver's dearest friend but feels more like a convenient plot device, Oliver essentially tells her that he is not content with living a lie. This implies that the way Charlotte is living is a lie, when in reality her situation is how many queer people in history kept themselves safe. With Oliver's insistence on coming out and his constant reminders about his situation, he read as a very flat character to me. Trans people are more than their transness, but the reader learns very little about Oliver's interests and dreams beyond being seen as a man by others.

The other characters in this book also did not compel me very much. Oliver's father is immediately supportive in a way that felt almost too perfect, and the same thing happened with Oliver's mother at the very end of the book. As mentioned, Lu and Charlotte feel more like plot devices than Oliver's friends. They seem to be there for Oliver to have a safe place to change and to show the sort of life Oliver can't bear to live. At the end of the story there is no mention of them, even though Charlotte is married to Collins, who is in a plot to forcibly out Oliver. Other character interactions feel unrealistic- instead of microaggressions that pile up on Oliver, there are blatant comments pointing out Oliver's femininity that never seem to get pointed at actual female characters.

The romance between Oliver and Darcy is very different from the original, which I thought did this retelling a disservice. In this story, Darcy's dislike for "Elizabeth" seems to stem from either misogyny or the fact that he's gay (it's never really explained). As soon as he's interacting with Oliver dressed as a boy, he's quiet but kind. To me, this diminishes a lot of what is compelling about their relationship in the original story.

Overall, I wouldn't have minded a retelling of Pride and Prejudice that changed up some of the plot details the way "Most Ardently" did. I appreciated how the author included historical details like molly houses, and I could feel that there was care put into this story. However, I just couldn't enjoy how this felt like a contemporary trans story where the main character feels like they MUST come out, just set in the Regency era. While coming out stories reflect real experiences, queer people do not HAVE to come out to everyone they know to still live authentically and wholly as themselves, and I wish this story had carried some of that nuance.

TLDR: A reader in want of a good book and a heart-warming tale will find what they seek.

Retellings can be hit and miss. I admit as a P&P fangirl I was a little cautious going into this story at first. I've read a few P&P retellings over the years, as well as essays and analyses into Austen. The social commentary and nuanced balance between the characters can sometimes be lost when thrown into a new universe, but I was really pleasantly surprised to see how well it translated here. I admit, there was a moment early on that felt like I stumbled on a crack in the sidewalk and I feared that this retelling wouldn't keep the pride and prejudice in the pride and prejudice retelling. Darcy seemed to soften too quickly for the slowburn I was first expecting. However, the changes this book takes on from the original inspiration really make sense for the plot, for the characters, and for the social commentary it tackles. It's very impressive how the spirit of P&P is still here.

P&P analysis aside, gosh. Oh the feels. Oh my heart. Tears shed. Heart warmed. Love sought and found. This is such an affirming and lovingly handled tale. I really appreciate the author's warning about the potential triggers, and really really appreciated how the narration never wavered on the MC's identity, even if the society within the book's pages had to still catch up.

I cried a lot at the acceptance the MC (eventually) found. Just a warm hug around my heart. Crying remembering it now that I'm writing a review. Just 10/10 beautiful.

Also that cover? We need to give the cover artist an award, truly. Absolutely stunning.

First, absolutely grateful to have been gifted this ARC for an honest review by the publishing house, authors, and Netgalley.

Most Ardently is a “remixed” version of Pride and Prejudice, and I think remixed is the operative word. Usually when I read a retelling, I love seeing how the authors fit their change within the established canon, in Most Ardently, while the canon was left mostly intact, specific canon events were changed- which is fine but unexpected.

First off, I’d give this story 4-4.5 stars. For a YA book it fits the perfect register of regency lite, with quite a bit modern and simple language. The authors got some parts of Pride and Prejudice incorrect, such as the locations (they were not in London but in Sheffield I believe but in this story the Bennett’s lived in London). Other than that I felt the story was incredibly well thought out and such an amazing look into a transmasc perspective, especially within such a popular love story as Darcy and Oliver (Elizabeth). I would recommend this to my students and would teach it if America were more tolerant.

One thing I love about the story is that it is one of Trans acceptance and success. While we see Oliver’s internalized turmoil and trauma, ultimately everyone accepts him, which is wonderful to see. I felt this was an incredible novel that took inspiration from P&P and highlighted a great many aspects of the Regency era I did not know, such as Molly Houses. There was a helpful explanation of queerness in the Regency era but I would have loved a discussion question section at the back to really aid in educators use of the book.

I adored this book. What a gift it was to read this as a trans Austen fan. I thought this stayed true enough to the source material while also changing a lot to give it a new, fresh pacing and story. It was impossible to put down.

"Most Ardently" by Gabe Cole Novoa is a delightful and emotional reimagining of Regency Era England through the eyes of Oliver, a trans man and second eldest Bennet child. The book is a heartfelt exploration of identity, love, and societal norms. Novoa's storytelling is both engaging and poignant, making it easy to root for Oliver as he embraces his true self and finds love and acceptance in unexpected places, particularly with Darcy.

The novel skillfully weaves heavy themes with moments of levity. I especially enjoyed the snippets of queer history such as the secret coffee houses for queer individuals which add depth to the historical backdrop. Comparing it to "Pride and Prejudice" offers a unique perspective; some aspects even outshine the original, in my personal opinion.

While I yearned for more character development and a longer narrative, "Most Ardently" left me craving more from this captivating world and talented author. It's a must-read for those seeking a fresh take on a classic tale.

Most Ardently was a good retelling with a super introduction to queer characters and inclusion in the story. The story and characters were solid. The plot was well paced. Overall, a nice read.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

Nice and very original reboot of Pride and Prejudice ! As a parent of a transgender teen, I appreciated the authenticity of the dysphoria presented throughout the novel. I liked the representation offered up in a classic tale. I would gladly suggest this to students if I didn’t live in such a hateful state full of book banning and retribution against allied teachers and staff. Please keep writing with stories and characters like this. They are absolutely necessary.

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix is a fantasticly queer contribution to the canon of Pride & Prejudice retellings. I appreciated how specifically this spoke to a young adult audience and how affirming it is for our trans main character despite how transphobic this time period was. The author's note is essential for understanding the intent and potential impact of the story and serves as an important content/trigger warning for folks, as our main character is deadnamed by most of the main cast of characters for a very large portion of the story, and only comes out to the majority of his family and close friends at the conclusion of the narrative. I would recommend this to those who are looking for retellings that stay extremely close to the original narrative while also introducing queer and marginalized characters.

“They were two boys dancing together for all in the room to see, and Oliver never felt happier.”




Oh, gosh, what can't I say about this book! When it comes down to retellings of Jane Austen classics, I focus on several things: The characters (how 2-Dimensional are they? Do they feel real? Do they grow?) and how closely the author sticks to the original story (Sticking too close to the story isn't always a great thing! It can feel stifling!), and how believable does the setting feel. And Novoa kills all three!

I really love the way Novoa wrote all the characters from the original story, and how he weaved new characters into his retelling as well. I adore Oliver Bennet. I loved this new side of Darcy! I understand the motives of Charlotte Lucus, even though I mourn for her. Every character felt real and wanted nothing more than to see all of them experience this world and grow. Novoa clearly loves the original story and researched the new elements to make them feel believable in this text. He doesn't stick too closely to the narrative-- he makes Pride and Prejudice his own! He took a chance and it really payed off.

I do wish there was more time spent towards the conclusion of this novel, and I do wish more time was spent focusing on how the system is unfair for everyone, and how different people navigate this system, though. That said, I really enjoyed that the transgender and queer characters were treated with nothing but respect not only in the narrative (the narrator never misgenders Oliver,) but by other characters as well. The interactions between Mr. Bennet and Oliver were so heartwarming I cried. Transgender readers really do deserve this sort of support and recognition. I feel like me, as a cisgender reader, understands how Oliver feels about being misgendered, and I think that's a lovely lesson to leave a book with.

The author describes this best in his epilogue: "To my trans siblings: We deserve romance that will sweep us off our feet, too. That's why this book is for you."

"Most Ardently" is such a breathtaking relief after the transphobic nightmare that was Curtis Sittenfeld's "Eligible." The transgender character is not here for shock value, nor to be edgy and different. Oliver Bennet is a real, 3-Dimensional character with wants and dreams who grows into himself. Every book in a library has a reader; If a reader wants a transgender main character in a Jane Austen or Regency romance where the character thrives in the original world, this is their book.

Absolutely beautiful. The Classic Remix series hasn't failed me yet.

I’m a huge fan of fairytale retellings, and last year, I learned that there are retellings of various classic novels. So here we are with an LGBT remix of Pride & Prejudice. I’m a fan of the original book, so of course I was all over this retelling the second I saw it. We follow Oliver Bennet, a transgender man living in London. It’s 1812, and he’s forced to pretend to be a woman among the majority of his family as well as the world during family outings in society. Oliver savors every second he is able to live as his true self rather than being forced into corsets and dresses and go by a name that was never his.

One of the things that I love about this book is that there is so much depth to the characters. While I’m a fan of the original story, I always preferred its movie adaptations because I always felt that the book was lacking in a few ways. However, this retelling gave me what I always felt was missing and then so much more. Oliver and Darcy are the two characters that we know the best throughout the story. I truly felt for Oliver at every turn, especially as we watched him struggle with the prejudices against him and anyone in the LGBT+ community. One of the most heartbreaking things was to watch him deal with the fact that he may lose some of the family members he cared so much about once they learned he is a trans man.

Generally, Darcy is a very closed off character, so it was nice to see him given so much depth. I could really see how and why Oliver falls in love with him. I could also see and understand why Darcy appears to be extremely closed off and stand offish to most people. It was extremely exciting to read Gabe’s take on Darcy as well as his budding friendship and romance with Oliver.

While it would’ve been nice to see more time devoted to getting to know more supporting characters, I am satisfied with the other supporting characters. Jane is extremely supportive of Oliver and every bit the kind and caring character she’s always been. There are a few other characters who accept Oliver from the second he trusts them to see and know his true self, but I don’t want to say who they are because that’d be a smidge spoilery. That said, I absolutely loved Gabe’s take on these characters even though we didn’t get to see much of some of them beyond the surface.

The overall story is absolutely excellent. I breezed through the book because I didn’t want to put it down. A few of the characters are not harmless like they are in the original book, and it was interesting to see what happened with them as their plots came to an end. I will say that one of those characters does impact one of Oliver’s friendships, so it was kind of strange to see that loose end left completely in the air even through the epilogue. I think that’s the only complaint I really have because it’s a pretty major loose end that crops up right at the end of the book and then is left in the air as if that friendship was suddenly long forgotten. Otherwise, this is a truly excellent book and I look forward to checking out the author’s other work.

This book made my heart happy. Almost any and all historical queer books do, and almost any and all Austen retellings do, so this was truly the perfect book for me. For starters, I loved Oliver. He was a fantastic character, with a lot of nuance. And he was a book lover, which made me love him even more. He also had amazing development, learning to be more true to himself. On top of all of that, he had great relationships with those around him, especially with Jane, Charlotte and Lu, and his father. I liked his relationship with Darcy, as it was wholesome and sweet, but I struggled a bit with Darcy himself because I felt like not all of his flaws were well addressed. I also struggled a bit with the plot of the book. I loved the way the author twisted the original story and characters, making the story his own and so fantastically queer, but I wish that the ending had been a bit more dramatic and felt more complete, especially in regards to Mrs. Bennett. However, overall, I really did love this queer, trans Austen retelling and I highly recommend it.

I LOVE the idea of remaking classics with a realistic twist that highlight real stories, like this one. I loved other books in this series, and this one was cute. An easy, quick read. I think that there were a few bits that didn’t translate as well from the original but it is still a good remake. No boiled potatoes mentioned, though. 😉


Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of this book! Opinions are my own.

*4.5 stars

I'm always down for a queer P&P retelling and this hit the spot! I do wish the book was longer since it did feel like there were a few rushed things. But ultimately I read this in four hours which tells me I was invested all the way through and enjoyed it.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and am very glad to have read this book.

It's a truly immaculate premise for a fellow trans boy-ish gay person to read. Oliver Bennett moves through a rough approximation of Pride and Prejudice, but with fun asides and story changes along the way. I deeply enjoyed watching Oliver navigate his life, watch him navigate his relationships both as himself and as a pretend girl, and seek out new experiences. It was great to see the fair, to see Molly Houses, and other queer folks in the Regency. Reading about a bunch of queer people finding each other always makes me feel like I've stumbled upon a treasure box.

With all of these things in mind, I'm giving this two stars for a few reasons:

There was no need for the characters to be aged down to teenagers. It was very clear that they were aged down to market the book as YA, but in the original book, Elizabeth is about 20. This is not wildly out of the YA market range. Making him 17 in this book was distracting, and frankly pointless. It makes Mrs. Bennett's urge to get him married more alarming, since 17 was still considered young to be married in the Regency.

Secondly, and most importantly, there was very little nuance with the emotional notes and characterizations. Oliver is debilitated by dysphoria in an almost stereotyping way, and he doesn't have a realistic method of navigating his world. He behaves as though secrecy and safety are lies he is telling people, rather than necessities that he can learn to navigate. I do not love a transphobic world. But in the transphobic framework of the world that is established in this book, Oliver is deeply out of step with how I think he would be. It is impractical and dangerous to assume the happy ending here would be living publically, out loud, rather than in privacy and security.

Along this vein, the villains are villainous in a comically overdramatic way, with everything they say apparently specially designed to give a trans person dysphoria. There are no microaggressions here, there are hammers here like "You have beautiful child bearing hips." It's unbearably black and white, and ludicrous to read. Likewise, the heroes of this story never falter, never have anything less than perfect acceptance and understanding.

I would be fine with the unwavering support but unfortunately it is also boring. One can be a supportive father of a trans son and still be surprised, can still be funny, can still have emotionally deep and interesting conversations about it. But even the supportive comments are copy-and-pasted "I love and support you and I'm proud of you." There is nothing of substance there, nothing complex and human, nothing with teeth.

I was very set up to love this book, but it just missed the complexity and the heart.