In the beginning years of my blog, I used to read a lot of Jane Austen retellings, especially P&P because it’s one of the very few classics I still enjoy in all its forms. But it’s now been a while since I’ve read any because I’m only reading mostly SFF these days. But when I saw that this new retelling was coming out as part of the remixed classics series, I knew I had to give it a try. I’m so thankful that the publisher sent me an audiobook in advance so that I could immediately get into this and I can only say this was a lovely experience.

The one thing I’ve loved about the 3-4 books I’ve read in the remixed classics series is how easy they are to read - very accessible both to lovers of the original book and anyone new to the material; and this book remained the same. Once I started listening, I didn’t wanna stop and I kept going during every little bit of time I could spare. The write was cute and charming and mostly happy, despite the major theme of the book being exploring gender identity in a historical time period when gender roles were more rigid.

Oliver has just been getting comfortable in his identity as a man for an year, but it’s getting very difficult when he has to still pretend to be a woman in front of some of his family members and general society. But the moments where he is able to be himself, comfortable in the clothes he wears, the joy he feels when someone treats him like a man - it’s all explored beautifully and I only wanted the best for him. Darcy on the other hand gets a much different side to him explored in this retelling because of his sexuality and I loved how nice it was to see a friendship developing between Oliver and Darcy, even more so than the original.

While there were some lovely interactions between Oliver and his dad, sister Jane and friend Charlotte, I thought none of the side characters got as much time as we get in the original- I guess this book is just shorter and it’s also young adult. I also had minor gripes with how Oliver reacted to Charlotte’s decision to marry in this one when compared to Lizzy’s in P&P because Oliver and Charlotte share a very different equation here and I was expecting him to be more empathetic.

However, in the end, I had a smile on my face for most of time while listening to this. The narrator Harrison Knights does a lovely job bringing Oliver to life with his voice. This is a mostly adorable retelling of a beloved classic, albeit with a slightly more open ending because of the reality of queer people in Victorian England; and I believe any P&P fan would be charmed by it. I feel like I should now start checking out more Austen retellings I may have missed in the past couple of years because I had forgotten how much joy they give me.

I adored this retelling! I have had the bulk of the remix of classics series on my TBR forever but the moment I saw this one I had to get ahold of it immediately!

The story follows the main character of Pride and Prejudice, known as Elizabeth in the classic, who is reimagined here as a transgender boy named Oliver. Darcy is gay - which even in the classic version I could honestly see being true - and their story unfolds. Contrary to some queer retellings of Pride and Prejudice, this one remains set in the time period of the original piece. I loved the author’s note at the end describing their research into trans and queer history in this era. Though there are some aspects that are less plausible than others, this book was beautifully written and hit all the sweet spots for me. And it gave me even more of a reason to hate Collins and Wickham, if possible!

Oh and of course I adored the Charlotte Lucas story line - it reminded me of Anne With an E’s version of Diana’s Aunt Josephine.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

4.5 Stars

I’m a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice, and I love reading retellings. So I was especially excited about this ‘remix’ by author Gabe Cole Nova, who I had a previous read and REALLY enjoyed!!

This was relatively a quick read, and followed the original story generally well. The author took this story and created something that had me smiling and falling in love. I absolutely adored every character that accepted and respected Oliver, it was pure joy to watch as parts of his family showed their true selves to Oliver.

I’m already looking forward to what the author will release next, I can’t wait!

First of all, I am overjoyed to announce that I am starting 2024 as a healed man. I read 91% of this book in one day/sitting, and I have never felt better or more fulfilled. If I reset my reading challenge to 300, look away.

Second of all, it is my absolute pleasure to introduce MOST ARDENTLY to you, the ninth installment in Feiwel & Friends' young adult remixed classics series. I've been watching this project attentively but hadn't been brave enough to dip my toes into trying them until MOST ARDENTLY, a reimaging of Pride & Prejudice with a trans Bennett boy falling in love with a gay Darcy. I blacked out and when I opened my eyes, the ARC had been requested and was open on my Kindle. I cannot thank past me enough.

Those like me who already love Pride & Prejudice will recognize the bones of the story: an overbearing mother of five pushes her oldest to catch the eye of a new neighbor, his friend is prideful and arrogant and enters into a push-and-pull relationship with the second oldest Bennett, and said Bennett suffers a series of awful proposals. It keeps many of the core story beats of the source and many of my favorite scenes, but also carves out its own original space inside the world of Pride & Prejudice in a lighthearted and engaging way.

Die-hard Austen fans who are expecting a 1:1 remix are not going to find that here, and of course they won't. MOST ARDENTLY is not intended to be, and it's honestly exactly what I was hoping for. The writing and dialogue preserve the Regency era feel, but the story has been expertly condensed to a YA pace and . I simply couldn't put it down once I truly got into the groove, and it was all I was thinking about every time I had to pause for even a moment.

If you're a fan of Pride & Prejudice, of trans boys finding love and happiness, historical romances, and happy endings, I cannot recommend this one enough, but do be sure to read the author's note at the beginning for content warnings. Please preorder and support this wonderful series!

Thank you to the publishers for providing an e-ARC through Netgalley!

REVIEW
I have conflicted feelings about Most Ardently.

On one hand, it was a quick, fluffy read, which did an excellent job at portraying the suffocating experience of being queer and closeted in an extremely hetero normative, misogynistic, gender essentialist society. I liked Oliver's relationship with Jane--I always love to see healthy, supportive sibling relationships in fiction.

The narrative is, at its core, YA wish fulfillment featuring a gay trans man x Pride and Prejudice. It's an easy, quick read.

Additionally, as someone who has no strong feelings about the Pride and Prejudice novel, nor has watched the 2005 movie, I still enjoyed the book and feel that, in this particular case, having read the original brought very little extra to the retelling reading experience. So this can totally be read without having read the original.

On the other hand, once I thought about the narrative beyond that very surface level wish fulfillment, I found to have several problems with Most Ardently.

I'll get the less in-depth one out of the way first.

As other reviewers have pointed out, the last quarter of the book feels very rushed. The ending is a happy one, yes, but I personally found it unfulfilling due to how rushed it was. For example, <spoiler>Mrs. Bennet--despite being extremely gender essentialist throughout the novel and disapproving of Oliver wearing trousers--immediately turns around and not only fully accepts but fully understands the concept of Oliver being a man. I'm not saying she should have rejected Oliver or not been accepting, but the choice to felt in opposition to her character. As a queer person, I would have liked to see a more realistic moment of an accepting but uneducated parent, rather than the sudden, perfect about heel to being cool with Oliver not being a woman that we got.</spoiler>

The more in-depth issue I have has to do with how the narrative handles gender.

First, most of the female characters essentially stop being characters at all. The sisters (beside Jane) barely exist, and Mrs. Bennet is even more shallow and annoying than she is in the original novel. Oliver's friendship with Charlotte, as discussed more in-depth below, is purely a device to have a side conflict.

Pride and Prejudice is such an iconic novel because of its sharp, witty social critique. While this novel retains most of the wit from the original, particularly in the dialogue, it only offers social critique on a very basic surface level: misogyny bad, queer people should be able to be happy.

There are moments where the novel begins to approach that social critique. Conversations between Oliver and his best friend, Charlotte, explore what it means to be a queer AFAB person in this society.

Charlotte's position is that marriage is a matter of survival, especially for people who are of a lower social class, and that marriage is an option that Oliver may eventually have to consider. Oliver's position is that marriage would be suffocating for him, and that entering a marriage would not be survival but death.

Both of these stances are valid. As a queer person, I am intimately aware that choices about gender expression, marriage, and financial support often have to be made as a question of survival, and the answer to those questions differ depending on the person. On the other hand, queer people do deserve joy and acceptance, and shouldn't have to hide themselves simply just to survive. However, deciding to come out and choose "authenticity" is not an option for many, many people.

However, the novel does not fully explore this dichotomy in a nuanced, caring way.

This conflict comes to a head in an argument between the two when Charlotte tells him that she is marrying Collins. (Quote taken from the e-ARC copy. May differ in final version.)

<spoiler>"But you aren't friends with Lu!" Oliver protested. "How will you ever be happy pretending to love someone you never could? You're in love with Lu, not Collins!"

"But I can't marry Lu, can I?!" Charlotte cried. Oliver's mouth snapped closed as his friend wiped at her glassy eyes. He'd never seen Charlotte cry before, and he'd certainly never imagined the first time would be because of him.

"Of course I would marry Lu if could, Oliver, but it's impossible!" she went on. "And even without marriage—which, by the way, would be crushing to me in and of itself—we'd never survive on our own. I can't—" Her voice tightened with emotion, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I can't live in a fantasy that will never happen. It's time to grow up. This is the best I could possibly hope for."

Oliver was frozen, his friend's pain blazing hot in his chest, mingling with his own. It wasn't until he tried to speak that he realized his own voice was strangled with the tears he was fighting to keep at bay. "I can't accept that," he said. "I refuse to settle for a future that will deny me the happiness I deserve-the happiness we both deserve."

"Then don't," Charlotte said, her voice frosting over. "But if it never comes to pass, don't say I didn't warn you." </spoiler>


(Emphasis mine)

Charlotte has to make a horrible, difficult choice--the best choice she can make, considering her position. <spoiler>It's not an easy choice to make, and if she could marry the person she actually loves, it's clear she would. She makes it very clear she is talking about her own circumstances. Oliver's response? Take it as a personal attack and tell her that this horrible, difficult, heart-breaking decision is her 'settling.'</spoiler> Ew.

After the wedding, Oliver visits Charlotte; during this visit Charlotte says that <spoiler> being married is great, actually, and she's super happy being Collins' wife. She loves maintaining the estate and Collins lets her girlfriend visit whenever so actually this is great!</spoiler> Charlotte and Oliver then trade apologies. <spoiler>Charlotte apologizes for "implying" Oliver would never find happiness (something which, mind you, she did Not Fucking Do during that argument), while Oliver apologizes for not supporting her.</spoiler> After this scene, Charlotte <spoiler>completely disappears from the narrative, only being mentioned briefly in passing by other characters.</spoiler>

In other words, once that specific argument between them is over, the narrative washes its hands of her. The reality of Charlotte's difficult choice, the danger it inherently puts her in, and <spoiler>Collins' willingness to forcibly out Oliver have for Charlotte's safety is given nary a thought, either by the narrative or by Oliver.</spoiler>

That last point also leads me into another, minor complaint; Oliver is extremely self-centered, in a way that seems unintended. This makes him extremely dislikable in moments when we are supposed to empathize with him (see discussion re: Charlotte).

The ending also does not reckon with or consider the power Oliver now holds as a man, nor does its characters actively challenge gender roles. For example, the fact that Oliver can now inherit property is a gender-affirming moment, not a horrifying reflection of misogyny. Oliver does not consider how he can use his manhood to help those around him, or the new power it gives him over his sisters and how that may change his relationship with them.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Ultimately, Most Ardently is just fine and that's it. Inoffensive if you don't think about it and might hit that feel-good wish fulfillment vibe for some readers. However, if you want a well-written woman or a thoughtful, nuanced exploration of queerness, you'll need to look somewhere else.

Thank you again to the publishers for the e-ARC!

I really loved this remix of Pride & Prejudice, Oliver had my heart instantly! It was hard seeing him dead named by everyone he was afraid wouldn’t understand and was very happy with the growth of everyone. Mr Bennetts reaction to Oliver made my heart happy. Definitely recommend and would read again.

This was phenomenal! Oliver is such a relatable and sympathetic protagonist! I found myself deeply invested in his journey, his friendships, and his growth as a young man. There were points where I found myself pushing against the boundaries of my suspension of disbelief due to how accepting certain characters were, but I am willing to overlook them for the sake of trans joy.

I already know at least one kiddo I'm recommending this to!

I absolutely adored this take on P&P and I’m iffy on rewrites and refmixes. Trans people belong everywhere, however, and that includes historical fiction - and especially in romances. Can’t wait to hand this one off to my non-binary trans masc kiddo.

4.5 Stars

This retelling of Pride & Prejudice is so well done and such a joy to read. I have the privilege of listening via audio and the narrator makes the characters come alive and I fuses so much personality into Oliver.

Born as Elizabeth, Oliver Bennet has to keep his true identity inside and sneak off to feel like himself, because regency era England wasn’t a safe place for our trans hero. With all of the classic plot points from our beloved original, Oliver’s story of self discovery and subsequent romance with Darcy is an absolutely stunning story. I loved the moments within the plot that were adjusted to fit this narrative (Wickham is still truly a villain, but not necessarily for what we originally knew him to be a villain before, and Collins…still just as annoying).

While the story does touch on tougher moments including body dysmorphia and feelings of claustrophobia within one’s own body, this book is so far from anything that would be depressing or hard to read. It’s pure trans joy and a much needed retelling!

As someone who holds Pride and Prejudice in a very special place in my reader heart, I knew I was either going to love this book or be sorely disappointed. I am thrilled to say that I adored Most Ardently! Gabe Cole Novoa manages to capture the essence of the original work while braiding in Oliver's struggles as the second eldest Bennet child in a society that refuses to acknowledge his existence as a son rather than “Elizabeth” the daughter. The author shows a mastery of the original material with his own added flair from his lived experience as a trans man.

For anyone familiar with Pride and Prejudice, the plot of Most Ardently will be comfortingly familiar. We have the Merriton Ball, Jane’s illness, Mr. Collins (the dreaded cousin), and the Netherfield ball playing out as expected, but with a shift in Oliver’s perspective and the way other characters interact with him. It makes for a fun way to experience the story of the Bennet children in a new and refreshing way!

My absolute favorite thing about this new addition to the Remixed Classics series is the faithful portrayal of the relationships between characters. Jane and Oliver's relationship is as close as Jane and Elizabeth’s. The friendship between Charlotte and Oliver is as honest as it is in the original. The relationship between Oliver and his father is explored even more deeply, and at times, it genuinely brought me to tears.

Bingley is a solid mix of the original and the 2005 Pride and Prejudice film adaptation to my utter delight. He has the same charismatic, puppy-dog energy in Most Ardently while his sister, Caroline, is still a pill. While the main point of contention in the stories is shifted from Lydia to Oliver, I appreciate the way the author handled this change, shaping the existing characters to fit the problem in ways that made sense for their original rendering from Jane Austen.

I also want to express my appreciation for Novoa's historical research into queer lives in the regency era, especially with the historical note at the end. My hope is that this book serves as a reminder to trans and nonbinary individuals that people like them have always existed, have a right to exist as they are, and can be happy and supported living their lives as their authentic selves. Over and over, Novoa reaffirms this possibility in his beautiful story about a young trans boy finding love. Most Ardently is a beautiful take on Pride and Prejudice, and I hope everyone gives it the chance it deserves!

CW: deadnaming, outing, extortion

I liked this book and really loved the main character. I think that Oliver's experience is the most powerful aspect of the book.

What worked less well for me were the other characters, who I felt lacked some of the humor and nuance of the original. Indeed, as a whole, I think this story works best if you haven't read Pride and Prejudice and therefore aren't comparing the two. As it was, I couldn't help the comparisons. This was too alike the original story to not be compared, and though there were myriad differences, a lot of those differences, apart from the character of Oliver himself, did not work for me. It felt unfair to cast Mr. Bennet in the role he has here, which is so very different from in the original, and to make Mrs. Bennet even more of a sort of embarrassing nag. I think that there are reasons in the original that make the reader able to understand why she is so worried for her daughters, as they will have nothing once their father dies. That isn't really touched on as much here, and so she becomes a sort of over the top eye rolling annoyance. I just think a lot of the humor and the nuance of the characters and the situations they are in doesn't come across. I also found the total last minute turnaround of a character to ring untrue.

I guess I hoped that Oliver would question the way in which society treats women versus men more than he does. It is touched on a bit, but I wanted that delved into more. How is he treated as a son versus as a daughter and what does that say about their family and about their society?

Apart from Oliver, a lot of the characters are changed a great deal, and the way the relationship between Darcy and Oliver unfolds is very different here. Again, I think a a reader who hasn't read Pride and Prejudice would be more able to just fall into this story without missing some elements of the original.

I did love the idea of imagining what the experience of a trans man would have been like during this time period and the reminder for young people that trans people have always existed. Again, I think that Oliver and his experience are at the heart of this book and are the best aspect of it.

I'd definitely recommend this book to YA readers who are looking for a historical romance with a trans character and a very happy, if in some ways rushed, ending. I preordered the print to lend out to the students I work with and I think they'll love it.

This was so heartfelt and delightful. Oliver Bennet is trying to figure out his place is this Pride & Prejudice retelling. All of our favorite characters are here, Wickham is a dick, Collins is insufferable, Jane is sweet and lovely, and Oliver has all the wit and charm we expect from a Jane Austen lead.
I loved the ending, I loved watching Oliver and Darcy banter, I loved how emotionally vulnerable this story felt.

Most Ardently is a novel that I wanted to enjoy far more than I actually did.

Let me back up for a second and assert that this book was fine, a solid three-star read, and I think a lot of readers will love it. For me, however, it missed in several ways—most notably in pacing, its examination of sexism, and the underdevelopment of all secondary characters—which tarnished my overall reading experience.

Still, this is a cute YA queer love story and a clever twist on a classic. I will definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy Austen retellings and sweet romances.

I did not put this book down. I couldn’t. How could you even want to? This is my first book that I’ve read by the author and wow… what the heck? I want a series I want more I want to live in this world!

The representation of Oliver living his authentic self but going back to what his mother expects of him gave me flashbacks to my early trans youth days. Those moments and scenes made me weep from how far I’ve come and how far Oliver gets to where he gets to live as himself.

I don’t care about how true it could’ve been during those times. I just love that the author wrote what they felt and still let the read know “this is still a story I don’t know if this happened during those times.”

I need more. I want more. I FOREVER LOVE THIS BOOK

This is a remix of Pride and Prejudice wherein the protagonist is a trans man named Oliver Bennet. He is the second oldest Bennet child, just as in the original. Only his older sister Jane and a few of his close friends know Oliver as himself, as he doesn’t get too many chances to dress in men’s clothes and go out in public. He is constantly expected to dress in corsets and gowns and go to social functions as ‘Elizabeth.’

On one of these rare outings he meets Darcy, a man that has been super rude to him at one of the aforementioned social functions. But with Oliver dressed as himself, Darcy is sweet and pleasant to be around, and as they continue to spend time together, the catch some feels at each other. D’aww.

But as Oliver is expected by his parents to marry and be somebody’s wife, suitors that he is absolutely not interesting in marrying are starting to become more insistent and threatening, and poor Oliver just wants to be himself.

This was a quick and pleasant read! I thought Oliver was adorable and easy to cheer for. I have always found Darcy to be a complicated character in most versions of Pride and Prejudice that I’ve read or watched, and this one is no exception. Nonetheless, as rude as Mr. Darcy tends to be, I can never help wanting to smush them together from the very beginning. This one is also no exception.

I definitely recommend picking this one up if you’re interesting in an LGBTQ+ remix of P&P. Considering the time period, there’s transphobia and homophobia as well as misogyny, which I thought was handled well. That considered, if you’re anything like me, queer Darcy is just a instant read.

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends/NetGalley for a copy of Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix in exchange for an honest review.

The Oliver “Twist”
I’ve never read anything by Gabe Cole Novoa before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from his writing style. He blends modern quite nicely with the Regency world of Pride and Prejudice. I’ve read the Jane Austen original, but that was nearly 20 years ago, and my memory’s a bit dusty. Still, in my rusty opinion, I think Novoa rises to the challenge admirably.

Oliver is equally charming and frustrating as his cis-straight Austen counterpart, Elizabeth. And honestly, Novoa’s explorations of Darcy in this context make a lot of sense. (Dare I say more than Austen’s?) Here, I adored both Oliver and Darcy as characters. Novoa’s book contains fully realized characters who share many traits with their counterparts in Pride and Prejudice. Yet Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix doesn’t feel like a simple rehashing. It’s all really well done.

Another thing: Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix stretched my brain with regard to pronouns in usage. There are passages throughout the book where I caught myself unsure of who a “he/him/his” was referring to. And then I’d realize, “Duh: it’s Oliver.” I don’t think that is a fault in the writing. Nor do I mean I saw Oliver as anything other than a boy, but rather, how sentences are structured challenges you.

Should You Read It?
If you’re an Austenphile or simply someone who was forced to read her work in high school, you’ll enjoy Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix. If you like queer stories, particularly about gay trans guys, you’ll like it. Are you a fan of both? Well, then, you’ll adore this lovely novel.

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix hits stores on January 16, 2024. Pick up a copy at your local indie bookstore or library. 📚🎩

i couldn’t tear my eyes away from this book. i read it in one sitting! the story took me through such a whirlwind of emotions and had me kicking my feet in the air with a girlish giggle in the same way the pride & prejudice movie did. i absolutely adore the queer representation in this!!

i did feel, however, that the story wrapped up too perfectly. but at the same time i didn’t mind! it made the story more relaxing and enjoyable to read.

This Pride and Prejudice retelling is told from the main character "Elizabeth" Bennett's POV, who is actually Oliver Bennett, a transgender man. I went into this book excited for the tension and retelling of Oliver and Darcy's story, but it fell flat to me in many moments because we really didn't get enough time with them together in this book. I also believe I would of liked the book more if we got Darcy's POV as well because by the end of the book, Darcy still feels like a stranger. Overall I did like the representation of Oliver's character and having a story like this being told in this London, 1812 setting. I would still recommend this book for Oliver's journey and character development.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the arc!

Most Ardently is a charming twist on the classic story of Pride and Prejudice. Oliver is an incredibly endearing main character and I love how Novoa weaved Oliver’s journey as a trans man into the familiar narrative.

It was really fun to see Pride and Prejudice as a remixed classic. I was immediately drawn into the story because of the familiar premise. My anticipation of iconic moments from the original book propelled me through the story. The changes to the pacing and series of events also made this a quick and engaging read.

I do wish Most Ardently had strayed from the source material a bit more in order to make some of the character relationships feel more fleshed out. The story prioritizes Oliver’s experience as a trans man over the romance with Darcy. Though I appreciate that Oliver was able to find a solution to his problems outside of Darcy I would have loved to see more time dedicated to building the close relationship between them. I love the changes to Darcy’s character in this remix. He and Oliver were absolutely adorable together and I couldn't stop smiling during their interactions.

I also feel like the effort to hang on to some of the original Pride and Prejudice scenes felt a bit forced at times and threw off the pacing towards the middle. I love the existing changes to the story so I feel like even more separation from Austen’s novel could have made Most Ardently that much stronger.

Most Ardently is a heartwarming story of trans joy that brings a unique twist to a familiar favorite.

What a joy this book is! Anything Pride & Prejudice related is always going to hit for me, and MOST ARDENTLY was no exception. I adored the queer twist on this classic story, and the way the plot carried forward. We enter into the story through Oliver, a trans man living a double life as himself and as his mistaken identity in Elizabeth. His mother is insistent he wed this season, and Oliver finds himself on a journey of identity crises, dysphoria, and dodging engagement. What I loved most sincerely about this is the sweetness in Oliver coming out to his family and friends. What a joy that was to read about Oliver’s security and happiness in these moments.

Of course, the romance was compelling (because Darcy is compelling!), and I really enjoyed how this all came together. There was enough of the classic P&P story with new elements and details. I could have done with a little more Charlotte and Oliver moments - particularly towards the end during the climax of the plot. It felt that there was more to be unpacked there. Lovers of P&P and queer romance absolutely should pick this up! Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.