Oliver Bennet's story was such a great addition to a classic. I loved the crises from Mr. Darcy as well as the exploration of other elements of queer culture. The "main" romance did lose a bit of its oomph but the queer plot more than made up for it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Most Ardently is the next installment in Macmillan's Remixed Classics collection, and is a remix of Pride and Prejudice in which Elizabeth Bennet is a trans boy named Oliver, who must navigate society in a body he does not feel at home in. When he begins to grow closer to newcomer Darcy as his true self, his feelings and his future become tangled.

I LOVED this book! Gabe Cole Novoa is such a creative storyteller, and Most Ardently is no exception. Oliver had such richness of character, felt so nuanced and so tied to a modern truth, I am so excited for the YA readers who will be able to see themselves in his journey.

More than that, though this took plenty of liberties with the Pride and Prejudice story, something about this book made me feel the same kind of breathless, heart-wrenching magic that its inspiration does, and I think that is what really set this read apart for me. It genuinely was such a unique, refreshing, and heartfelt retelling of a story I hold dear.

I really enjoyed this retelling of Pride & Prejudice. I thought it was fun and well-written. I also thought that the LGBTQIA+ spin would make it appeal to our teen audiences.

More Austen adaptations forever. A motto I live by, and am so pleased to see happening more and more in the world. So, of course, I am thrilled that Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa exists.

More than that, I’ve now read it (yes, I’m jumping back into Austen and adjacent reviews!) and want to share a little more about the book for other fans who might want to read it.

Oliver is just trying to navigate a complicated world of trying to support his sister Jane, avoid his mother (Mrs. Bennet) constantly pushing cringe-gender roles and terms on him AND avoid Mr. Darcy, who is an ass. All this while trying to find time to be himself, leaving the Empire-dresses at home and going out into the world in lovely trousers and cravats and waistcoats. (And also not get caught because he hasn’t told many people at all about who he really is.)

We loosely follow the main beats of Pride and Prejudice, but there are wonderful moments of Oliver striking out on his own (and deviating from the main P&P plot) that I felt were actually the strongest. There’s a superb author’s note at the end that goes into detail about Regency history and attitudes that I highly recommend reading and delving deeper into. Because of this real history, we get to follow Oliver to Molly Houses! And on one such trip he happens to run into Darcy (the ass!) who does not recognize him. Tension ensues! And plot!

I felt this book was all tenderness and concern for Oliver. As a reader, it was heartbreaking to hear Oliver be misgendered and then subjected to sexist treatment. For folks going through their own journey, or who are triggered by this, please read the author’s full warning before checking out this book. Take care of yourself.

This was an exceedingly clever and charming reimagining of Pride and Prejudice. I love that these books are considered a "remix" rather than retelling or even reimagining because ultimately they really are their separate thing. Using the bones of Pride and Prejudice to tell Oliver's story was extremely smart and immediately ingratiated me to the character and his journey as the book went on. I know the beats of P&P like the back of my hand so I was on Oliver's side from page one and so interested to see how his story would unfold among the confines of the familiar story I love and the restraints of Regency England.

Some of the side parts of the story do fall by the wayside and I think the book is more interested in Oliver's journey as a trans man than the romance, but it is still fascinating and compelling and although I'm still deeply in love with all the intricacies of the original story, this remix does such a good job of focusing on Oliver. I do wish maybe we got a little more with his relationship with Darcy and more romance, but the most pleasing part of this version of the story is the way Oliver is able to carve out a place for himself rather than at the hands of matrimony to a powerful man.

The ending was maybe my favorite part - the way Novoa wrapped up the story in an interesting and cool way, using the laws of inheritance and gender to wrap everything up and it was unexpected but also genius.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I very much enjoyed the story, particularly Oliver’s relationship with his father. If you are looking for a good hearted, queer, historical “remix” this is definitely a book to check out!

~ 3.5 Stars ~

Gabe Cole Novoa’s Most Ardently pays homage to the source material while introducing its own themes and representation in Oliver Bennet, the teenage boy who is unseen and unheard in a society that would not accept him for who he truly is.

Though Oliver is not without a handful of allies, he is known to most as the second eldest “daughter” in the Bennet family, one of the five children whom Mrs. Bennet is desperate to marry off to wealthy and well-connected suitors for reasons which don’t need to be spelled out given the setting and time in which the story is told. Every hero needs a nemesis and in Oliver’s case, while Darcy would be expected as the prime candidate, Mrs. Bennet herself serves in that role too, giving Oliver multiple fronts on which to fight the stereotypes, sexism, genderism, and expectations he faces. The moment of redemption Mrs. Bennet gets in the end is effortless and without much in the way of contrition, which discounted the extremes to which she went, but when the time comes to stand up for her family alongside Mr. Bennet, who has already lovingly accepted Oliver as his son, Mrs. Bennet steps in to protect her own.

Most Ardently is a definitive enemies-to friends-to more story. Darcy behaves as Darcy does to “Elizabeth”; though when Oliver finds the opportunity to sneak out of the house as his true self, he gets to know a different Darcy, a softer and kinder Darcy—a boy who loves books and enjoys the company of other boys rather than the girls he is expected to woo, as he is, as the original poses, in possession of a good fortune and therefore must be in want of a wife. It’s clear that Darcy can be charming and sweet, that he is enamored of Oliver, and that interest is reciprocated. But there are those who would wish to smear Darcy’s character. Oliver grapples a bit with those rumors while connecting them to both the off-putting Darcy he’d first encountered and the Darcy he comes to know.

Gabe Cole Novoa’s adaptation of this classic story reads as personal and intimate, resonant with the voice of lived experience and offering queer teens the opportunity to see some of their own cares and concerns on the page. The story is told with an abundance of heart, Oliver’s strife and struggles both internal and external, and while I do feel there could have been a deeper dive into the characterizations—Most Ardently relies on the reader being at least somewhat familiar with P&P—and its conflict was wrapped up too handily, it reaches the sweet and uncomplicated happy ending Oliver and Darcy deserved.

Thank you to Macmillian and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Gabe Cole Novoa book and it did not disappoint! I read this book in one sitting, it was so good. The transmasc retelling was a perfect addition to the classic and it honestly just made sense with the story as a whole. Novoa's retelling made me fall in love with Pride and Prejudice all over again.

I am really loving this remix series. This one is so so good. It’s very similar to the original Pride and Prejudice but adapts and changes perfectly. Really well done! The relationship between and Oliver and his parents, beginning with his father and later on his mother, is just lovely. I was very emotional during their scenes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book in a day and I regret nothing.

MOST ARDENTLY is a wonderful Pride and Prejudice retelling where the main character is a trans man trying to find his place in the world.

I loved every second of this book, it had me on the edge of my seat for the whole day. Oliver is already such a special character to me because I can relate to his story so heavily. The absolute fear he has about coming out to his mom and not knowing how she will react is something I struggle with all the time. I fell in love with the way he sees the world and how he makes a place for himself.

I think my favorite part about this book is Oliver's relationships with those closest to him. His relationship with his sister Jane is so heartwarming. Her undying support and love for her brother are so near and dear to me. The only thing I loved more was the friendship - and ultimately relationship - between Oliver and Darcy. Making Darcy gay as opposed to just rude and indifferent to women was a stroke of genius. Seeing their interactions on both sides of the table was an interesting look at how sexuality and the forced conformity of their society impact how people interact. watching Oliver and Darcy grow in friendship and companionship was beautiful.

I absolutely devoured this book and loved every second of it. Maybe now I will find the motivation to read the original...

I received this eARC from Netgalley and Fiewel & Friends in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends for providing a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The second I heard a description of Most Ardently, I had to read it. Pride & Prejudice, but gay Darcy and Oliver, a trans man, in the place of Elizabeth? I'm absolutely in.

I don't feel a need to summarize this one further, simply because most people know at least the basics of Pride & Prejudice. Content warnings abound misgendering/deadnaming/transphobia, but given the entire premise of Oliver's character, I expected that.

As much as the P&P retelling aspect was a HUGE part of the draw, a part of me wishes the plot had been given a bit more room to wander from the source material. There are places where the beats from the original felt forced into the story rather than feeling organic - which stands out when there are additions and places where the plot was tweaked to better fit the story. Maybe that's why the places where it wasn't felt off to me?

In spite of those moments, I truly enjoyed this version of the story and where it ultimately went. The acceptance Oliver finds among those who matter, and the comeuppance for those who would deny who he is with the ending tied everything into a very neat bow that some might call unrealistic, but I'm all for it. We need more stories of acceptance and understanding.

Trans joy and a retelling of an old favorite? Yes please.

4.25/5

I loved this book... Most Ardently.

This is the latest release in The Remixed Classics Series and it is my favorite so far. A re-imagining of Pride & Prejudice, Most Ardently, features the love story of Oliver Bennet & Mr. Darcy.

Readers, expect to meet all your beloved Austen characters in a fantastic new light!

Recommended for: readers looking for more queer & trans rep in their romance; clean romance readers

Content warning: dead naming & characters trying to enforce gender roles through nefarious means

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's essential I start by pointing out that I absolutely love all things Pride & Prejudice, so I was more than a little excited when I was approved for this arc. And Most Ardently was definitely well-worth that excitement!

The novel centers around Oliver, born Elizabeth. Changes to the story largely deal with this twist. There is a very clear note at the beginning offering warnings about the content for readers, which I appreciated. I can only speak as an ally, but I thought these changes and the content were handled well.

Honestly, my only issue comes from some confusion about the locations in the story. There seemed to be some changes made to the distance being traveled from Longbourn and other places that I'm not sure if I missed being addressed, but it took me out of things a couple times.

I loved the adaptation itself and enjoyed the small changes to the story, but I would be lying if I didn't say I wished it had changed just a bit more. Still, it's well-worth the read and I'll definitely be buying a physical copy to add to my collection!

I received an arc from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Funny and poignant, deliciously true to the original text and yet wholly original in itself, this trans reimagining of Pride and Prejudice is beautiful and full of joy.

I knew I was going to love this book, but still entered with a touch of trepidation about how it would be executed. However, my fears were completely unfounded. Novoa’s thorough understanding of Austen’s wit and humanity shines through the difficult duty of such a radical departure from what we believe of the era. But, of course trans people existed in these spaces, and their journeys, though lost in time, are just as poignant.

Thank you for this heartwarming and affirming exploration of the heart! And thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.

In what could be my favorite of this whole remixed classics so far, Most Ardently has stolen my heart. For the keen eyed reader, there are so many Easter Eggs to the original from our favorite movie moments, to book nods. Just like with many of the classics remixed series, there's an attention to detail and to having a conversation with the original. It's not just a copy paste. There's an attention to details, to the ways they would have their stories, loves, and possibilities for endings here. Most Ardently is swooning, charming, and heartfelt from beginning to end. It celebrates the individuals breaking convention and living their lives in this historical fiction time period. The marginalized folks who have always been there.

Thank you to Macmillan for the ARC and ALC of Most Ardently.

I am so happy that this book exists. The discussions around existing as a trans person are intimate and powerful. It was a fascinating take on the Pride and Prejudice story.

Unfortunately, this book was not *for me*, which is ok. Not all books have to be for me. As a reader, I love Pride and Prejudice, and I love my P&P retellings to be a little closer to the source material. While I have read retellings set in high school, it bothered me that these characters were aged down. In particular, Oliver referring to Darcy as “boy” really threw me off.

The narrator was well suited to narrated Oliver, Darcy, and Bingley, but when we had scenes with the female Bennetts I didn’t always agree with his choices. For example, he gave Lydia a lisp. And as a die hard Lydia supporter (and apologist - she was only 15!!), it just didn’t fit with how I characterize her.

Again, I think this is an important story that will connect with many readers. It’s a fresh take on the original, that explores many of the different societal expectations of men and women in this time period, and the legality of being a trans person at this time.

I look forward to reading other books by this author in the future.

I have been loving all the queer classic remixes being released. I have read many classics due to school and it’s so lovely to see these new versions of them. With that being said I’ll have to be honest and say I have never read Pride and Prejudice or watched any of the tv adaptations. So my knowledge is very limited to small clips I’ve seen now and then.

In my head this remix did the book well because the popular characters made their appearance. Plus, from what I know of the plot the plot lines are similar. So overall to me I felt like that aspect was done justice. Others who are familiar with the classic might have different opinions about that. For me having limited knowledge I was able to read the remix just fine and didn’t experience much confusion.

I had a few problems with how certain themes were handled. I don’t believe others really felt the same once I read the reviews so I won’t go deep into detail but I felt like the misogyny that occurred could’ve been handled better. I understand why it was there, that wasn’t the problem I just felt like it could’ve been handled better. The pacing with Oliver and Mr. Darcy felt rush I felt like there could’ve been a little bit more of their development.

Overall, I really did like this remix. Maybe this means I’ll finally read the classic since my interest is piqued. I think this will be a really popular remix that everyone can enjoy.

3.5 stars

You likely know, I read all things Pride and Prejudice-inspired. So as soon as I saw Most Ardently, I clicked “request” so fast your head would spin.

Most Ardently had a slight P&P twist. Elizabeth Bennett was actually Oliver, a trans boy, stuck in a girl’s body during a time frame where this wasn’t socially acceptable. I enjoyed Oliver’s friendship with Darcy, watching them both share longing looks and form a deeper relationship.

But Oliver did annoy me. His disdain towards Charlotte and ignorance of the realities of the life of women during that time in history was deplorable. It’s idealistic to say he would never pretend to be a woman and marry a man for security, he’d rather be a pauper, but that’s exceptionally classist. This boy has never had to work a day in his life, he wouldn’t survive in poverty. But noooo, he can judge Charlotte for choosing to marry for financial security.

Okay, I’m stepping off my soapbox.

I really loved the concept of Most Ardently, and I think Darcy’s portrayal was a great way to twist him into this narrative. I loved Oliver’s family—how supportive they all were. At the end of the day, this was a mostly cute P&P retelling.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the review copy.

All the comforts of Pride and Prejudice with new and better surprises. I LOVED this retelling and the gentleness with which it told Oliver's story. It is low trauma but retains the tension and yearning of the original.
A really beautiful trans story for teens and adults alike.

I *devoured* this queer retelling of Pride and Prejudice and it was the cause of my first cry of 2024 (although it was a happy cry). It comes out next week (1/16) and I think you should 100% grab it.

In this retelling, Darcy is a gay man and the second eldest Bennet sibling is Oliver, a trans man who wants with his whole being to be able to live and love as the man he is. Oliver and Darcy meet as themselves, but also when Oliver is being forced to act and dress like a woman. I think these truths help explain why Darcy is so cold to Oliver when he’s in his woman-costume. This book and Darcy/ Oliver’s journey to each other and their true selves was so so heartfelt and beautiful.

This is ya, so there isn’t spice, but I actually think the sweetness and lack of spice added to the romance set in the Regency period and a romance between two people who are having to pretend they aren’t who and what they are. It also paired down some of the original story to focus more on Oliver, which I appreciated. When Oliver is revealed to his family, they are accepting and for me I’m so glad. I don’t know that this acceptance would be historically accurate but I think trans people deserve this kind of happiness and I’m glad to see it on page. I DO wish we would have gotten more of Darcy and Oliver together or a longer epilogue that showed them years down the road, but that’s my only (minor) complaint. Overall I thought this was *stunning* and would definitely recommend it to you all