A beautiful young adult retelling of Pride and Prejudice, Most Ardently is a joy in its ability to be true to the source material while infusing this classic tale with a refreshing queer love story.

Oliver Bennet is a young trans boy who fears his future will not match up to his hopes and dreams. With family who mistakenly believes he is a girl and society pressuring him to marry well - and to be a wife, which is something he could never be - he despairs of ever finding happiness. The only time he can truly be himself as Oliver is when he slips away from home to explore the city, dressed in the menswear he keeps hidden away in a trunk beneath his bed.

His life only becomes more complicated when he meets Darcy, a wealthy young gentleman, first when dressed as a girl at a ball, and then again as his authentic self, Oliver. He soon finds himself falling for Darcy, but will he ever find happiness? Will his family accept him for who he really is, and could Darcy?

I absolutely adored this young adult novel. Fans of Pride and Prejudice will find all the familiarity of the story there, while the author made artful changes to the plot to suit the nature of the tale.

Though I would warn readers there may be aspects of the story that may be difficult to read and may be triggering, the author prepares the reader with trigger warnings in an author's note that precedes the story. As the author notes, though Oliver is misgendered and deadnamed throughout the book, the *narrative* itself never does.

Where the book really shines, however, is all of the moments of trans joy. I found myself grinning with delight - and getting teary-eyed on more than one occasion. It was precious and adorable and such a sweet read, and though I received my copy as an ARC (thank you, Netgalley!), I immediately recommended it to my son and have purchased him a copy. He is already eagerly reading!

For me, this book is a solid 5 stars!

This was utterly delightful! While I haven’t read the original text, I really liked Novoa’s take on the story creating a trans Bennet sibling, a gay Darcy, and featuring a sapphic side couple. The book follows Oliver as he is coming of age, fighting off suitors and struggling to find a way to live as himself. I thought the writing was lovely and liked the way Novoa built up the character of Oliver. I also appreciated that while Oliver is misgendered and deadnamed by characters he is not out to, Novoa takes care to endure the text itself always calls him as Oliver. I liked the way the book crafted what it might be like to be queer in this era in a hopeful manner.

While I really enjoyed y time with this book, I did find the pacing at the end really was too fast for my taste. I don’t often say this, but I would have loved an additional 50 or so pages to really flesh out the relationship between Darcy and Oliver and what it would be like for Oliver to be truly living as himself.

Overall, I’ve read 4 of the 9 of these remixed classics currently published and 3 of them have been big hits including one favorite of the year the year I read it, so I think it’s safe to say I recommend these books!

Elizabeth Bennet does not exist. No matter what people call him or how many dresses he’s forced to wear, Oliver Bennet knows who he is, and it isn’t a woman. The one respite he’s found is sneaking out dressed as himself, but that small taste of freedom may soon be ripped away. Being of marriageable age, the specter of matrimony and unwanted pregnancy is closing in, especially now that there is a new wealthy bachelor named Mr. Bingley in town. His presence (and fortune) kicks Mrs. Bennet’s desire to marry off her daughters into overdrive. Required to attend a ball, all Oliver wants is to fade into the shadows. Unfortunately, Mr. Bingley’s friend Mr. Darcy is encouraged to ask Oliver to dance, and Oliver is thoroughly humiliated by Darcy’s rude dismissal. Between being trussed up like a goose for sale and Darcy’s humiliating snub, attending the fair is a much deserved hiatus.

Basking in his much needed freedom, Oliver is dismayed to run into Bingley and Darcy. However, the pair only see him. He is thrilled to not only spend the day with other men, but to be invited to do so again, and their outings allow him to get to know Darcy. Though Darcy is still somewhat standoffish and terrible at social graces, Oliver learns how much more comfortable and less abrasive Darcy is in the company of men. As the two grow closer, Oliver becomes enamored of the introverted and bookish Darcy, but Oliver’s double life makes his feelings complicated. Increasingly bombarded with unwanted proposals, reprimands to be a proper woman, cautions to be realistic, and threatening behavior, Oliver has to make his irrevocable choice—stay trapped miserably performing womanhood or risk it all on living his truth.

Most Ardently is an emotional, but ultimately sweet story that is part of the Remixed Classics series, featuring authors from marginalized groups who retell classic stories from their personal cultural experience. It’s a Pride and Prejudice reimagining that follows a transgender boy’s journey to asserting his identity and unexpectedly finding love. Oliver sneaks away to briefly relieve the ever-growing strain and anxiety from presenting as a girl. He’s already struggling with dysphoria, but suddenly being thrown into the marriage market and having people talk about his child-bearing hips and womanly duties makes him want to crawl out of his skin. Socializing with Darcy as a boy is a dream come true because he can relax, be himself, and be treated as an equal. Oliver and Darcy form an easy camaraderie that quickly turns into flirtatious friendship. The pair find solace from familial obligations with each other, especially once they discover their mutual attraction to men. Their shy flirting, love of books, and comfortable companionship is adorable, and their loves blossoms more naturally as the barriers of misunderstanding, distance, and differences in social standing aren’t prevalent.

While Darcy isn’t much more developed than the original, his relationship with Oliver and being gay offers an interesting perspective. It smooths (some of) Darcy’s sharper edges and changes the dynamics of his behavior and proposal because he’s presented as an introverted gay man who disdains the idea of marriage, rather than the idea of marrying below his station. Many changes to the original plot and characters work well; they streamline the narrative and combine the new and original material satisfactorily. One of the most impactful changes is to Mr. Bennet; he is more engaged and stalwart than before. He’s less detached, actively protects and encourages Oliver, and their relationship is an immensely profound and affirming one. The support Oliver receives from his father and Jane is a bastion in the household that Oliver desperately needs, especially as his mother’s haranguing becomes increasingly unpleasant and hurtful. Charlotte’s character is also expanded, as she now has a female lover named Lu. As women and as people in a relationship viewed as abnormal, they have a personal understanding of Oliver’s situation. They are part of Oliver’s support system, and Charlotte’s home provides freedom and a safe place for Oliver.

In many ways, Oliver is the same as his counterpart—intelligent, witty, a bit of a firebrand, and affectionate when allowed. He’s also as idealistic, judgmenta,l and slightly sanctimonious regarding Charlotte and Darcy’s position on marriage, but it has added connotations because of their queerness, almost making his idealism too extreme. Oliver comments on the danger of being queer so misdirecting his anger and passing judgment on them without taking that into account (while still fearfully hiding himself from his family) is . . . a choice. That being said, he’s young, grew up in comfort, and has support from his aunt and uncle, so his ‘I’d rather die’ attitude and overconfident naïveté about making his way in the world is understandable. Moreover, since this is a sweeping romance about living your truth, love conquering all, and not settling, Oliver’s sometimes too modern language/out and proud rallying cries and his fantastical HEA fit the story it seems Novoa wants to tell.

Most of differences in Oliver’s personality are as great as the familiar traits, but to me, there is one that misses the mark. In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth is protesting the suppression of women’s autonomy and status as second-class citizens; however, this doesn’t feel true for Oliver. To me, Oliver’s negative responses to being disrespected and infantilized are because he is seen as a woman. At times, it feels like he’s protesting his subjugation to womanhood, not that women shouldn’t be subjugated, period. His upset at Charlotte marrying for security is about hiding her love for Lu; he rails against the societal mores that dictates who you are and who you can love, not the dictates that strip Charlotte and Lu of equal personhood. It’s understandable that he focuses on the oppression of queerness, it just seems odd that in a story about “subverting society’s patriarchal” expectations, he doesn’t affirm that woman should be treated as equals.

While most of the original material Novoa keeps fits his reimagining well, there are some elements that do hurt the narrative, the most notable being Mrs. Bennet. Whereas Mr. Bennet’s glow-up enhances the story, Mrs. Bennet’s almost complete stagnation doesn’t. Her dramatic and overbearing behavior is fine, but to me, her portrayal needed a few positive tweaks to not detract from the ending. A week before Oliver comes out to his family, Mrs. Bennet was screaming at him about not allowing deviancy in her home; yet,

Spoiler

To me it’s still jarring and unearned.
Overall, Most Ardently is a heartwarming and effective young adult adaptation. Novoa does a great job conveying how mentally and spiritually draining and demoralizing it is to be seen and treated as someone you’re not and the euphoric liberation that comes with being yourself. It’s also lovely to see joyous outpouring of affection from loved ones after speaking your truth. Oliver and Darcy’s relationship is sweet and period appropriate, and their courtship is mostly comprised of bonding over reading. How much more romantic can it get?

gabe cole novoa does it again! the remixed classics does it again! my heart is so full and my words are lacking, as always. this is now the third book i’ve read in the “classics but make very explicitly queer” series. and with each one, i fall more deeply in love with these retellings.

in attempting to write this (truly insufficient) review i went back to what i said for the first two books. and i think i’ve already said it best: with each iteration of these remixed classic, my inner queer teen soul heals a bit more. i spoke about how i wish i had this representation back i was in high school, about ten years ago now, when i was forced to read the originals. when i didn’t know so many things i know now. and it still holds perfectly true after this story too.

maybe even more so with most ardently. reading novoa’s previous release, i already knew i loved his writing. loved the way he tells stories. but this was the first retelling where i hadn’t actually read the source material yet. hadn’t seen any of the adaptions all the girlies (gender neutral) fawn over. i have the book. have the ability to learn what the story entails first. but i went in blind. i don’t know how much of the story was carried over and how much was changed (besides the obvious, of course). and yet, i still came out absolutely adoring it.

adoring oliver and this rendition of darcy (which mygod his name was fitzwilliam the whole time??? that’s the man’s name who we’ve all been in love with?? an abomination). oliver’s sheer determination. in his wills. in not allowing this society to beat him down or force him to fully comply. it gives a whole new layer to what i know of with the original austin’s “elizabeth bennet”. these stories are always so full of tender moments and for that i am always extremely grateful. grateful to see them being published. gaining a readership. hopefully introducing young teens to happily ever afters no matter who you are and how you walk in this world.

Thank you to NetGalley who provided me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Most Ardently" is a unique take on the classic tale of "Pride and Prejudice." We follow Oliver, a trans boy trying to live authentically in a world that constantly misgenders him and depicts him the way they want (a girl named Elizabeth). When Oliver spends more moments as his true self, he becomes acquainted with Darcy, a poised but sulky young man who hides his true persona under layers of hatred. As Oliver grows to know the true personality of Darcy and his warm heart, he also begins to shed his own layers of identity.

This was such a heartwarming reimagining of "Pride and Prejudice." Although I loved the queer joy of Darcy and Oliver as their relationship and feelings for each other blossomed, there was so much misogyny as people viewed Oliver as a woman. It was frankly confusing as it kept switching from Oliver's true gender verses how he was perceived.

Overall, an enjoyable read, but I wish Darcy and Oliver were fleshed out more in their individuality before becoming romantically involved.

5 Stars!!!!

Admittedly this is my 3rd or 4th Pride and Prejudice retelling/remix story and I must confess......I have never read the original classic nor have I watched either movie the masses rant and rave about! I have purely consumed the plot mechanics off vibes alone. But all that being said, I loved this book!!!!!

I appreciate Gabe Cole Novoa for working with the original text to fit this lovely trans and queer remix. It felt so right and perfect and warm and loving!

I hope other readers will be delighted with this book as much as I was!

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends for making this ARC accessible!

Loved how this followed the story of PP but Lizzy was a trans boy trying to be himself in a world of corsets and ball gowns. Loved his meetings with Darcy. Darcy who wasn't interested in girls. Loved this take on it. And as usual Collins and Wickhamn were the villains.
Another delightful queer retelling remix.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year! Pride and Prejudice is my all-time favorite book, so I have really been looking forward to reading this trans-twist. And it did not disappoint!! It has all the essence of the classic, but with an lgbtq spin. Darcy is everything I had hoped for…and the struggles of MC Oliver (dead name Elizabeth) create a compelling plot full of conflict, inner battles, pining for love, and so much romance 😍 I loved the two together, just as much—if not more—than before!

The Remixed Classics are a series of books written by a diverse range of authors. Each book reimagines and reinvents a literary classic, bringing a fresh new spin to beloved stories.

I was so looking forward to reading this, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations. I was expecting more descriptive, atmospheric writing, but to me it felt dull and overly detailed. The story itself was heartwarming and compelling, but not enough to truly capture my heart. I’d still recommend this, but it could have been so much better.

Novoa does Austen proud in this queer take on Pride and Prejudice. Oliver Bennet is a delightful rendition of our beloved Lizzie, albeit more sentimental and not quite so sharp tongued. Darcy is as Darcy ever was- confused about feelings and struggling to exist in society. Their romance is a bit less fraught in this adaptation, but no less exciting and interesting. There are a few minor changes to the overall story, but none of them are unpleasant. Mostly the changes are omissions in service of creating a more compact story. This one isn’t nearly as long as its source material. I do wish some of the scenes had been a little longer, the last quarter of the book felt a little rushed. Overall, a delightful queer retelling of a legendary classic.

Pride and Prejudice retellings are my weakness and this ranks as one of the best. It is so beautifully written and reading Oliver’s journey was pure joy. The romance had me swooning and I was absolutely sobbing at the end.

While the romance aspect was the focus, I was most impressed with how Oliver’s family reacted to and supported his true self. Shoutout to Mr. Bennet for being the parent I strive to be.

Gabe Cole Novoa is steadily becoming one of my favorite authors. The Wicked Bargain was my top YA read of 2022 and I cannot physically wait to read The Diablo’s Curse.

Thank you so much to Macmillan, Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

Book 6 of 2024 - ✅ ! Thank you to NetGalley, Gabe Cole Novoa, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends for an ARC of Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second book in the Remixed Classics series that I have read (the first was Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore,) and Most Ardently was such a delight. For those who don’t know, the Remixed Classics series by Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group is, in their words, “[where] authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon.”

In this retelling of Pride & Prejudice, the 2nd eldest Bennett sibling is a trans boy named Oliver, and Darcy is gay — many of the supporting characters are also queer, and there are a number of allies in the mix as well. This is the first of Novoa’s books that I’ve read, and it certainly won’t be the last. Admittedly, I haven’t reread Pride & Prejudice since I initially read it in high school, but I’ve revisited movies, retellings & homages (hello, Bridget Jones’ Diary & that scene in Bridgerton where Anthony pulls a Darcy climbing out of the water after he falls in), so many times, as P&P permeates through romance & rom-com culture. Novoa’s writing is so vivid and drew me in immediately. I feel like even the most staunch of P&P fans would enjoy this retelling, as it’s so well done. I also appreciated the historical context bit at the end that Novoa provided - I always enjoy learning as I’m reading, and this was perfect to include in the book.

This is a young adult book - the characters kiss, but in terms of steam, a spice rating isn’t relevant here. 4.5/5 ⭐️ overall! The book was released yesterday, 1/16/24! 🎩 💕 📕 #NetGalley #mostardently

I thoroughly enjoyed this read! I appreciated how they author made a queer and trans story fit into the time period in a way that felt genuine. The care for the historical setting but also for the queer and trans readers of today was very clear, and I appreciated the author's note providing context. I also really enjoyed the beginning note emphasizing that while other characters would misgender Oliver, the narrative never would. This was a refreshing remix to a classic story. I found myself smiling on more than one occasion.

Do you ever re-read Pride and Prejudice for the millionth time and find yourself thinking, "man, I wish this was more queer"? Because I always think that, and this book absolutely scratches that itch. I knew coming in that I was going to love this book, as Gabe Cole Novoa's The Wicked Bargain as one of my favorite reads of 2023. As a trans nonbinary/transmasc person, I felt all of the discomfort that Oliver experiences in this novel so intensely. For me, it might have been slightly too much of that discomfort, even if it is a bit cathartic to have those experiences shared and validated by a character that I love. Oliver and Darcy feel so heartwarming and perfect and I could not imagine loving them more, and the change of Charlotte in particular to a queer character made her feel so much better and more well-developed than the original. There is so many more levels and nuance into the idea of marriage and its politicization at the time, especially as viewed through a queer lens, as that was something that, though present in the original, gets so much more depth.
One weird moment for me, personally, was realizing that some of the characters (specifically Oliver and Darcy) were aged down for this novel in order to make it fit better into the young adult age range. For me, reading Oliver as a transboy rather than a transman threw me slightly out of the story for a moment, but that is probably just a me concern. That said, this is still a story that I adore, and I loved the remix. I would hope that a non-queer reader could enjoy and potentially learn from this story as well.

This book was ABSOLUTELY LOVELY. There's almost no other word to describe it than lovely. I ADORE this retelling and think Novoa did an incredible job re-imagining this story as a trans and queer love story. I think it would be incredible to have students read this alongside the original and evaluate each telling of the story. I think it would be a great addition to every kind of library. As a student I struggled with classics because they felt so irrelevant and unreachable. This is a book so many kids will see themselves in even if they are not trans or queer. For me the struggle for authentic happiness and following your heart was so compelling. I appreciated that there were actual reasons for Darcy's unpleasantness and surly behavior in this retelling. I thought the MC's friends Charlotte and Lou were great foils to the MC and I loved seeing them all navigate the times they lived in and the choices they had to make; this made it seem more realistic. I appreciated the author's note on historical accuracy at the end. I loved that I learned more about queer history during this time. I'm so excited to read the other books in this series after reading this and Self-Made Boys which is also incredible. Highly recommend!

I have read several P&P retellings, so was excited when this was announced, and it did it justice. Some aspects of the story were updated - Longbourne is just outside London now, and Wickham’s misdeeds were more personal - but they made sense for the development.
As a transboy, Oliver is feeling trapped in the societal expectations for him to find a husband and be a good wife. In the beginning, only Jane and Charlotte know who he truly is and support him, and as the story progresses he finds the courage to come out to more. I love the support his father gave him, definitely in character for Mr. Bennet. I also liked how Darcy’s first proposal was done, and how they were able to work it out in the end.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. It was a fast read and gave me more insight as to the inner feelings and struggles of trans people. This is a YA novel, so the characters were aged down a bit, but then it felt a little odd to still be proposing so much while referring to everyone as boys/girls, even though that was the age they would be getting married historically. I found myself wishing there was a little more to the relationship at the end, a peek into their time at Pemberly.

If I’m going to be honest, I was a bit nervous about this remix. I have read a few from the series in the past and while I love the different tales spun by the talented authors some just don’t quite work. This was absolutely wonderful! First of all the cover? One of the best I’ve ever seen and I cannot stop staring at it, I will be buying a physical copy for sure. Jane Austen is a giant of literature and a large inspiration for the historical romance genre and I was pleasantly surprised with how the author made changes but still stuck to the bones of the story. Darcy and Oliver were truly * chef’s kiss*. Do you like Austen but wish it was much more queer? This is definitely the book for you!

Gabe Cole Novoa quickly became one of my favorite new authors last year with the release of his book, The Wicked Bargain, and I'm super excited for the followup coming out later this year! So, of course, I was hyped to see that he was getting a book in the Remixed Classics series.

First, a confession: I don't know Pride and Prejudice, either the book or any of the movies, though I suppose that's something that I should remedy at some point. I have a passable familiarity with the basics of the story. In this case, I don't think I was missing a lot of context by not being familiar with the original, though I can imagine it would be interesting to see how Novoa plays off of that story.
Oliver Bennet, second oldest child of the Bennet family, is living a double life: the life of Elizabeth that most of the world expects and believes him to be, a girl who should love dresses and balls and be preparing to marry a man for the betterment of the family, and the Oliver that he knows himself to be: a young man who loves to explore the city and read books. During one of these hated balls, he meets Darcy, who immediately seems to hate his very existence. And yet, when he encounters Darcy again as Oliver a few days later and isn't recognized, they get along amazingly - and Darcy turns out to be sweet, gentle, well-read, and interested. But pressures are growing for "Elizabeth" to get married and settled down from all sides, and Oliver is starting to crack under the pressure of his double life and hiding his secret from Darcy.

Oh the trans joy! That's what radiates more than anything through this book, just like in Novoa's previous writing. While there are certainly people who are unaccepting of Oliver's transness, everyone who matters is so accepting of him. Oliver finds so much acceptance in his life and it's beautiful to read and experience. The relationship with his father is particularly beautiful and brought me to tears more than once.
The romance between Oliver and Darcy was also lovely, though I'll admit I wouldn't have minded a few more detours of just the two of them together! While their romance was believable and very sweet, I would never turn down more.

Overall, this is just a sweet well done remix to add to the series and I'm super happy to have another one to add to my classroom shelves!

✨ Review ✨ Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa; Narrated by Harrison Knights

This is a trans remix on Pride and Prejudice with Oliver, a trans boy, who falls for Darcy. I was totally captivated by this book, and even though I knew how it would end, I stayed up late to finish because I was just so drawn in.

The book shows Oliver having to dress up as a girl around her family and in social situations, frustrated at the dysmorphia this public life he must hold. But then, he frequently escapes in his boy clothes his uncle helped him procure and befriends Darcy as Oliver. This juggling of multiple realities with Darcy added a compelling twist to the story!

I was left wanting a little more Darcy and Oliver and saw space for the story to deviate a bit more from the traditional narrative, but with that said, I think this was a brilliant rewrite. The author really smoothly found the space to make a trans / queer story within the shape of the P&P we know and love.

The audio narration is fantastic -- full of emotion and feeling! Kudos to another great remix in this series!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)
Genre: m/m historical romance, trans representation
Setting: London / rural UK
Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
Reminds me of: Alexis Hall's historical romances like A Lady for a Duke
Pub Date: Jan 16, 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ queer / trans rewrites of classics
⭕️ all things Jane Austin
⭕️ the idea of Charlotte as a lesbian

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Remixed Classics has been a series that has given me a lot of joy so I was extremely excited for the new interpretation of Pride and Prejudice. While I did ultimately enjoy it, it did not quite live up to what I wanted it to be.

The romance between Oliver and Darcy was the best part of the book. The way in which they meet both when Oliver is himself and when having to live as Elizabeth really helps to further their romance in a way that is very enjoyable. Since Oliver is able to speak to Darcy as a man, he is able to get to know him better than a woman would during the time period so it does feel like they genuinely like each other and have a bond.

I did not like Darcy's infamous proposal scene. I did not feel as though it made sense as there is no mention of the issues Darcy discusses in the original proposal such as how the Bennett family is lower class than his and embarrassing and the Bennetts have connections in trade. I do not want to provide too much detail as it would be spoiling some of the details. Nevertheless, this scene really took me out of the whole plot.

Beyond that, the pacing felt somewhat off and the ending felt rushed due to this.

Regardless, I liked the romance and Oliver's journey to be able to be himself in an extremely gender-based society, even if the story itself and pacing were not quite what I wanted.