I think retellings work best when they aren't so beholden to the original plot, but stay very true to the original personalities...and I felt this did the opposite of that. Some sections of the book seemed like word for word recreations of Pride and Prejudice, Oliver and Darcy's personalities felt off (and I do think Elizabeth's personality could totally work for a male character). I also was disappointed by how little many of the side characters were involved in the story, since they are part of what makes the original great.

I got an advanced reader copy of this thanks to @netgalley, and I’m so happy I did! It’s a retelling of Pride & Prejudice where our main character, Oliver Bennet, is a trans man. A lot of the major story beats are still there, and some things have changed. But don’t worry, Darcy is still there!

I teared up at the end of it. It was so lovely and joyful. Also look at this cover! So well done, @thegabecole!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Publishers for this ARC!

My freaking heart. I already loved Pride and Prejudice, and when I heard there would be a gay and trans remix of it? Sign me the fuck up. Except I don't think even I was prepared for all the emotions that are packed into this book. Oliver's story shattered my heart and put it back together in turn - experiencing all the gender euphoria and the happiness in his romance with Darcy just as much as the pain of being forced into a gender he doesn't belong in. I will be honest, I wanted to murder multiple characters in multiple pages, and I regret absolutely nothing. It was sweet and so affirming just as much as it was sad, and I think I literally gobbled the last 50% of this book in such a short time - even stayed up until like 3 am for it - that I still feel like I'm immersed in this world. Highly HIGHLY recommend to anyone who's interested in regency romance but with a queer twist.

Thank you @netgalley for sending me an ARC of Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix in exchange for an honest review!
This novel is a retelling of Pride & Prejudice, where Elizabeth is actually a closeted trans boy called Oliver! It focuses a lot on important issues, such as trans rights and discrimination against queer people.
I fell in love with this book! The plot is very similar to the roiginal novel, but it has certain changes that I loved (I'm so glad Whickam and Lydia didn't have a relationship!).
Oliver is such a sweetheart! He dreams of a life where he can be his true self without judgement. He's very smart and won't settle for anyone who doesn't treat him as an equal.
Darcy is also a very affable character. We see more of his interactions with Oliver and seeing them warm up to each other was heartwarming. He also longs for a life where he can be free from the expectations of marrying a woman.
Jane and Bingley are lovely supporting characters! Jane knows Oliver's trans and helps him all the time! She's a great sister! Bingley is also a good friend to Oliver, being the one who introduces him to Darcy.
Mr Bennet is such a great father! He supports Oliver in everything. Oliver's uncles are also supportive, providing him the love he needs!
Mrs Bennet on the other hand is even worst than the original one. She sends Jane in the pouring rain to Bingley's house so that she gets sick on purpose. That was just vile. But she did come through at the end! I wasn't expecting her to accpet Oliver, but I'm so happy she did! In the end, she does care about her children, even if her methods are very questionable.
It's so sad that both Charlotte and Lu had to resign themselves to marry men because they couldn't marry each other. Unfortunately that's the reality for most queer women at the time, but it still breaks my heart. Also considering Oliver's family cut ties with Collins, Oliver probably won't be able to see Charlotte much more.
If you enjoyed Pride and Prejudice, you should definetely check Most Ardently out!

TW:transphobia, outing, homophobia, arranged marriages, gender dysphoria, deadnaming.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!
What an unbelievably adorable queer retelling of Pride and Prejudice!! As soon as I saw promo for this book, I HAD to get my hands on it. This is undoubtedly a YA book, and it is quite short (I wished it were longer!) and very accessible to a modern reader. It is by no means a scene-for-scene remake of the original, though it does include most of the original characters and some similar storylines. Oliver and Darcy were both such sweet characters, and I especially loved Jane, though most of her story is cut out. There isn’t quite enough detail or character development for anyone outside Oliver and the story goes very quickly, so I think having at least some familiarity with Pride and Prejudice helps, but it was still very enjoyable and cozy. I love the fact that we got a supportive family even in a Regency era story, and the historical notes by the author at the end were really great. We have always existed!

rep: transgender male MC, gay male MC & LI, sapphic side characters

A lovely story, retold in a truly original way. I've always loved Pride & Prejudice, and have consequently read many, many retellings. While they're often enjoyable, I can't remember another that has felt like such an important and timely re-imagining.

Oliver was born in the wrong body and suffers greatly for it. By reframing the story of Elizabeth Bennet as one of a trans boy, Novoa allows the reader to really understand what it's like to live as a trans person. I was fully invested with Oliver's story, utterly pleased when he found joy, and terribly saddened when he suffered crippling dysphoria. Some of the details of the story differ from Austen's version, but the heart remains the same. (Wickham remains the WORST!) Oliver's story is unique, and yet, it's the universal story of searching for one's place in the world, and for friends, family and love.

Well worth the read for my fellow Pride & Prejudice fanatics.

I received an eARC of this book through a NetGalley promotion, in exchange for an honest review.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Remixed Classics books that I have read thus far, and I am an avid Jane Austen lover, so when I saw Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa, I didn't hesitate to request this ARC. I loved this retelling when I just did a surface-read, and I would absolutely recommend it to people who love queer retellings; however, there are some problematic elements when you look under the surface.

The story focuses on Oliver Bennet, who has been mistakenly raised as a girl by the name of Elizabeth. There are very few people who know the truth of who he is, and he is struggling under the weight of living a false, unauthentic life. Enter Darcy, a most confusing boy who is horridly rude at first introduction to Elizabeth, but genial and warm when meeting Oliver. Of course, Darcy does not know the truth and thus Oliver encounters Darcy multiple times as both his true self and as Elizabeth. This retelling is incredibly endearing, and there are some very Austenian, subtle-flirt interactions between Oliver and Darcy that were absolutely everything.

Now for the bits I struggled with. The women in Oliver's life are mostly present as plot devices for Oliver's story rather than three dimensional women in their own right. There is a lot of focus on Oliver's insistence that he should not be forced to marry and live life as a wife because he is not a woman. When his best friend marries, his only objection is that she is not straight, not that she shouldn't have to marry simply because she's a woman. The only time the women in the story really show personality is when it is on Oliver's behalf. So I did struggle with that aspect of the book and it took me out of the story at times.

Overall, the story was very well done. I thoroughly enjoyed the retelling, and I will likely read it again. I loved seeing Oliver's euphoria at getting to live life as his authentic self. His absolute joy was infectious, and my heart broke with his every time he had to go back home and wear Elizabeth's clothes. All of his interactions with Darcy made my heart absolutely soar and, without spoiling the conclusion, the ending couldn't have been more perfect. Definitely a 4 star read, and one of my favorite queer books this year!

Most Ardently is the queer spin on Pride&Prejudice everyone needs, especially me! The way this take follows the source material more for note while still creating its own path and unique story is truly exquisite. Oliver’s struggle is relatable but his joy is what shines through the most — which is how all trans stories should be. The care, love, and attention put into conveying Oliver’s experiences is what makes this book stand out amongst all the queer stories I’ve read this year.

Most Ardently is a queer Pride and Prejudice retelling set in its original Regency period. I adored this novel. It felt so fresh.
I enjoyed Oliver and Darcy's interactions and blossoming love. As any bookish person can attest, bonding over a love of reading is always swoon-worthy.
The characters felt like themselves in essentials, and Mr. Bennet tugged on my heartstrings as he always does. I felt I could empathize with Oliver's struggle to live a life where he may never be recognized as his truest self. I even learned a little history, as Molly Houses were a term brand new to me.

This was not a 1 to 1 retelling and contains a surprising number of twists and turns for those familiar with the original novel. The only major issue I can think of was the length. I could have easily stayed in this world for another 50 to 100 pages. The climax was resolved slightly too quickly and could have been done with a bit more conflict and suspense.

The ending was a delightful HEA. Is it realistic? Probably not, but who cares. Queer joy is just as impactful to read as queer suffering.
I'm excited to pick up a few more of the Remixed Classics series, especially if they're all as fantastic as this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

3.5/5 stars

This is the second Remixed Classic I've read, and one thing I like about these remixes is seeing the interesting ways the story changes just by switching up certain elements of a character's identity. I absolutely adored Bethany C. Morrow's So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix---it really changed my perspective of the story after seeing it told through a Black version of the March family. Similarly, I think that is a highlight of Most Ardently.

While queer regency romances have become more popular in recent years, it's rarer still to find a regency romance with a trans lead. This version, of course, is a remix of everyone's favorite romance Pride and Prejudice in which the second-eldest Bennet child, Oliver, is a transman challenged with finding love and coming out.

The characterization in the books is strong, the drama of the original was all there, and I learned some stuff about the regency period I didn't already know. This is also my second Gabe Cole Novoa book, and I think he's shaping up to be a great new author.

This is ultimately a happy romance, as is the original. I'm glad for that, and I am happy the book is focused on queer joy. However, I do think things wrapped up a little quickly and conveniently for my tastes. I wish the book would have been a tad longer so we could dig just a little deeper into certain characters. This ended up being the kind of book I could turn my brain off and just enjoy on an entertainment level---that might not be to everyone's tastes, but it was a nice palate-cleanser for me.

If you like romance, historical fiction, and queer literature in general, this is the book for you. While the book is pretty light, it does deal with the transphobia and homophobia of the time period, so check content warnings if you are sensitive to those issues.

I could not put this book down. Reading about Oliver was a wonderful experience full of emotion. It tugged at my heart and I loved every second. I love oliver and Darcy’s happiness.

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends for this advanced copy! You can pick up Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix on January 16, 2024.

I've always been a Pride & Prejudice (2005) girlie, but seeing one of my favorite stories retold through a queer lens added so much depth and complexity to an already excellent tale. Oliver mirrors the original Elizabeth character in so many ways, but he adds his own nuance to the story through his determination to be seen for who he is. The plot points you think you know in Pride & Prejudice are tweaked in the best possible way to make this Oliver's story, and I love the liberties Gabe Cole Novoa took with characters and situations to make them relatable to a queer experience in 19th century England.

While exploring the story through new eyes, Most Ardently still captures what we love most about P&P: the angst, the complicated family ties, the self-discovery, the hand clench. I cannot recommend this enough, especially for historical romance lovers and P&P lovers!

I've read a couple of these classics remixes now, and have overall enjoyed them, and this one is no different. I'm pretty fond of Pride and Prejudice, and while this one is pretty simple it is a fine retelling. "Elizabeth" Bennett in this book is Oliver, a trans boy who feels trapped in his body and the expectations of a society that sees him as a woman. I feel like these YA books with trans guys in it straddle a fine line between like "being seen as a woman makes me want to peel out of my skin from dysphoria" and "woman hobbies bad and woman bad", but I think this one falls largely into the first, thankfully.

The ending kind of made me laugh, the way the villains ended up being one-dimensional monsters, and the way that Mrs. Bennett was somehow immediately Team Oliver after being so nasty the whole book. And the estate inheritance!! The author kind of touches on it in the author's note, but that was a truly baffling neatly-tied strings ending. But oh well!

Most Ardently, I did love and adore this book. An amazing tale of overcoming ones fears, accepting yourself, and loving who you truly love. This is a Trans story that left me feeling every emotion under the sun. Dysphoria, Joy, Pain, Fear, Love, sometimes all of them all at the same time! Following Oliver as he sheds his fears, overcomes adversaries, and comes out to those he loves was a journey I didn't know I needed. the ending was so sweet I cried, and the characters where all so relatable I felt completely immersed and I was so invested in the lives of not only Oliver, but of his sisters, of Mr. Bennet, and Darcy, that I couldn't put the book down!

As a warning, if you are having a bad day with dysphoria, you might perhaps wait to start this book. The depictions of dysphoria are real, and they are written very well and accurately. Make sure to read the Author's note for the list of possible triggers. We must be gentle with ourselves, for the world is a hard place. don't let this wonderful, amazing book be something that causes you pain.

This is a book I will certainly treasure for the rest of my days.

This book was an emotional rollercoaster, I wanted wholeheartedly to hug Oliver throughout it. It was so lovely to see him stand by his truth no matter what happened, he struggled so much to be true to his real self despite the weight of being born into the wrong gender. There are few characters I find myself so proud of and he is one of them. The story did well following the original story but giving life to the remix as well. The supporting characters made the book flourish as well as really helped Oliver see things in many different lights, and while not everyone's path was one he was willing to follow I appreciated the conversations as tough as they were. I loved watching Darcy and Oliver blossom and cried so many times throughout this story the end really wrecked me in the best way and I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

I think this book is so important! It’s such a beautiful retelling! I love the references to Molly Houses, as well as the author’s note at the end. I think that it did a very good job of explaining the struggles of being trans. This book, and books like this, are so important!!

Oliver Bennet is not a woman, despite his mother's insistence that he wears frilly dresses and participates in so-called womanly pursuits like playing pianoforte and drawing. The only time Oliver truly feels like himself is when he escapes to his friend Charlotte's and dresses in his secret stash of men's clothing. When two strangers come to town, the handsome and rich Charles Bingley and Darcy, everything changes. Suddenly, Oliver finds himself spending time with Darcy and Bingley as his true self. As Oliver and Darcy spend more time together and discover more shared interests, Oliver finds himself hoping for a future where he can finally live as his true self.

A wonderfully detailed reimagining of Pride and Prejudice, sure to delight new generations of Jane Austen readers. With many allusions to regency England queer history to underpin the plot, Most Ardently is a tender-hearted and hopeful story of two people growing in confidence in themselves and finding a match that helps them thrive.

The coziest, queerest P&P retelling of them all?

Most Ardently follows Oliver, a closeted trans man, through his family dynamics and relationship with Mr. Darcy in this queer Pride and Prejudice remix. Most Ardently is not a historically-accurate retelling— the dialogue and attitudes towards queerness take a more modern approach, similar to books like Gwen & Art are Not in Love or even Bridgerton. These modern attitudes succeed in maintaining the lightness and coziness that many of us love about the original novel, while also allowing a more diverse readership to see themselves in a familiar story. Novoa sometimes struggles to balance modernity and history, and there are times when dialogue or characterization reads as too out of place— many characters are extremely accepting of queerness, while the general public is portrayed as period-accurate anti-queer. In some ways, the story might be more successful as its own cozy regency-era romance set in an alternative queernormative world rather than trying to follow in the very large footsteps of Pride and Prejudice.

That being said, reading this book is the literary equivalent of wrapping your middle school self up in a big queer blanket, and if that sounds up your alley, Most Ardently is absolutely a worthwhile and comforting read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s for the opportunity to read and review Most Ardently!



rep: ftm trans & gay mc, cis gay li, wlw relationship sc

tw: dysphoria, transphobia, closeted identity, deadnaming, suicidal ideation, misgendering, period-typical homophobia

Finally! I can actually say I read the original book of a remixed classic!

With that said, I think reading this book made me appreciate Austen a lot more. Even though Novoa did a good job with the enormous task of rewriting Jane Austen's most beloved work of all time, it still fell short in some ways, such as the dialogue being awkward and stilted at some points and Mrs. Bennet being unrealistically supportive when Oliver came out to her (It was immediately, too -- Oliver came out as trans and gay at the same time and, despite all the pushing and nagging his mom did on Oliver being a woman, she just shrugged and quipped "Well, that's why you never liked dresses, huh?")

Besides that, I wouldn't say this was a bad read, whatsoever. Oliver and Darcy had some cute moments, especially when he officially came out to him, and exploring trans/queer identities in the early Victorian era was very interesting. I'm sure this will hit big with its intended audience, but I'm a bit sad that I'm not among them.

This review is surprisingly hard for me to write, because I absolutely loved everything about it, and it’s hard for me to talk about that without either spoiling the book or sounding repetitive. However, there are some specific good things that I want to talk about. I loved the way that the mollyhouse was depicted (accurate to history) as a queer space that was not inherently an explicitly sexual one, because often they are seen as constantly on the same level of brothels, which they are very much not. As someone who has extensively researched the history of queer spaces (for fun), this was a nice thing to see. I also particularly enjoyed the way that gender euphoria was talked about, and how it was connected to the double life that Oliver lived.
Also the ending and the family dynamics were something that I cannot talk about at length because of spoilers– but I cried. That is all I am going to say on the matter of it, but it personally affected me as a trans person myself.
Overall this book is definitely going to serve as a new favorite for me, and if you are even thinking about reading it– please do.