If you are looking for a 1:1 retelling of Pride and Prejudice but in modern times, this is not it. I went into it with those expectations so I had a hard time with the story at the beginning. By about the 30% mark, I was able to get past that and see the similarities in the characters as the original story and enjoy this book for what it actually was.

The romance in this book was nothing like P and P but it was a great story. It focused a lot of figuring out who you are and what you wanted in a partner. Ben and Avery were definitely made for each other.

(4.25 stars) This was a wonderful contemporary queer Pride & Prejudice retelling. It's not literally beat for beat (which is good, matching exact plot points is not what's interesting to me about retellings), but the main themes are recreated with so much affection, it's a beautiful homage and unique story on its own. Definitely check this out if you're looking for a wonderfully infuriating slow burn romance with lots of pining and delightful side characters.
(This was a review of a free advanced review copy. Thanks to Rattling Good Yarns Press, Samantha Ryan, and NetGalley for that privilege!)

I am obsessed with this book. OBSESSED. From the very first line I knew I would love it, and it just continued to deliver until the very end. I couldn’t put it down, and devoured the whole thing in less than 24 hours.

First, let’s talk about the yearning. There was so much yearning, and I felt it, deep in my soul. This is the sort of book where the first-person narrative really shines, because we got to know about Avery alongside Ben. We got to unpack the layers of his character, we got to get to know him, and there is that glorious, glorious moment when us as the reader get to realise something before Ben and have to watch it all unfold painstakingly slowly. The story takes place over a whole year, and we really do get a whole year’s worth of character development, and of these two characters really getting to know each other.

I really liked how Ben and Avery quickly became friends, and the author really made the most of that. Although their friendship does (spoiler, I guess?) end in romance, it was still a celebration of everything friendships can bring us, and for the importance of friendship in romance. The surrounding cast of characters were so vividly realised, especially Ben’s sister and their family. There was a very real sense of this network of people, and the complicated relationships between them all.

I was completely gripped the whole way through. Not to give anything away, but there is a subplot brewing the whole time that you don’t even know about until it leaps out and punches you in the face and I LOVED it! (My fiancée, who I usually turn to in these situations, was out of the room, so instead I told my dog all about it because I couldn’t hold it in.) It also brought together all of the P&P elements of the plot really nicely, and in a way that really suited the themes of the story.

Speaking of. I had no idea at the start how emotional this book was going to get. The way the author explores what it truly means to be out, what it’s like for men to experience compulsory heterosexuality (which is rarely discussed), it was all so well done. My heart was so full at the end of this book, and I just wanted to reach inside and give the characters a massive celebratory hug.

This is a really, really incredible book, and I hope it gets all the hype and celebration it deserves because it is an absolute triumph.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

This is a very tender rom com and a very enjoyable and sweet read. It has some fun references to Pride and Prejudice but isn’t a close retelling of the story. Quick and fun read.

A spectacularly adorable, queer retelling of Pride and Prejudice with a fun modern twist!

Ben owns an indie book store that’s struggling. Avery is an oil tycoon heir and a bit snooty. These two have the slowest of burns that’s wonderfully reminiscent of one of my favorite classics.

But even more, we see more of the side romance as well. In this story, it’s Ben’s sister Mal with the enigmatic Beck.

Honestly a fun and interesting tale of queer pride and prejudice.

Acknowledgements and grateful thanks to NetGalley and Rattling Good Yarns Press for the opportunity to read and review this e-ARC: 'Pride by Samantha Ryan'. All opinions are my own and are not a reflection of the publishers and/or author, of which I have no association with.

3.5 Stars (rounded up to 4).

Publish Date: Feb 04, 2025.
#LGBTQIAP+ #Fiction #Romance #Queerfiction #AdultFiction

"Ben Bennett treasures the cozy rhythm of his life: running his beloved bookstore, curling up with his sassy cat Ziggy, and putting up with his spirited sister Mal. He’s not exactly searching for love—despite the occasional swipe on Grindr—and he’s definitely not interested in anyone messing with his hard-won peace, even if he could use an extra set of hands around the shop. But everything changes the moment he crosses paths with Avery Fitzgerald," — from NetGalley.

I didn't realise this was an adult fiction and was surprised when I realised after reading it as there were dade to blacks and it was more a slow-burn novel than I had been expecting. Honestly it was refreshing to have a queer (m/m) romance where the characters took their time.

In saying this it was easy to read with it's style and dramatic flourish (not to mention Tulsa setting) that reminded me of my Hanson fanfiction writing days. What can I say, there were a few things that did it for me. But Ben reminded me of a few Taylor's I had read about. Not a bad thing, just made me feel a bit home sick.

Excuse your judgement for a little while, yeah? I was young.

Anyway, I had a good time with this, but... The drinking, there was too much of it for my liking as I have a personal trigger thanks to my alcoholic father. We don't need alcohol to be happy, okay?

I only took off point five for this. It's a taste thing and didn't make it unreadable for me.

Check it out if you like queer slow burn romances with enough flirting to have you tugging at your collar, but not enough to have you peeking through your fingers to read—yes I do do that.

This book is a masterpiece in slow burn, heartache, humor and hope. The story of Ben and Avery is beautifully messy, raw and a real exploration of identity, vulnerability and love. Ben's stubbornness clashes with Avery's guarded personality and the tension from the two keeps you hooked until the very end. The dialog and interactions are sharp, extremely authentic and relatable. The emotional payoff, along with the twist at the end, is absolutely worth the journey. This romance will stick with you long after you turn the last page.

“A heartfelt tale of love, identity and second chances. When two opposites collide, can they find the courage to rewrite their own stories? " — J. Orozco

I received a copy of this book for review from Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.


For the first bit of the book Ben Bennet felt like he was just hiding from his own life, but once he met Avery Fitzgerald I saw some fire in him.

Meeting Avery gave Ben some much needed excitement. It’s like he wanted to dislike him so much because he really just wanted to know more about him because he thought he was cute and if that ain’t the gay experience, I don’t know what it is. It’s funny because Avery is described as aloof and cold, but his actions are the complete opposite when it comes to Ben.

This book has “Didn’t realize they were dating” which is actually one of my favorite tropes, because it’s cute that they’re obsessed with the other and don’t realize it! It’s just fun and cute.This was mild angst with mostly comfort and I loved it!

My only bit of criticism , which could be because this was an advanced copy, was there was never a clear description of Ben or the characters (besides hair and eye color) which was nice because I was able to mentally fan fan cast in my head, but because of that I forgot about the ages so sometimes my Ben and Avery were older other times they were younger in my head, but this oddly worked. Otherwise I really loved this and would love to read more from this author!

3/5 Stars
It’s got a cute cat and a nonbinary character, but it’s no Austen.

Samantha Ryan’s Pride is a modern, queer reimagining of Pride and Prejudice—at least in theory. While the premise had potential, the execution left much to be desired, with thinly developed characters, a rushed romance, and an ending that feels like someone hit the fast-forward button.

Let’s start with the positives: Ben Bennett’s cozy bookstore and his sassy cat Ziggy are definite highlights, adding some much-needed charm to the story. The inclusion of a likable nonbinary character is another plus, offering representation that feels fresh and natural. Unfortunately, these elements can only carry the book so far.

The chemistry between Ben and Avery is practically non-existent, more like a flicker than a flame. Their interactions lack the tension and spark that make enemies-to-lovers dynamics so enjoyable, and their romance unfolds at warp speed, leaving no time to develop emotional depth. As for the characters, Ben and Avery both feel like sketches rather than fully fleshed-out people, and the supporting cast isn’t much better—though Ziggy the cat steals the show.

What’s most frustrating is how far the book strays from its Pride and Prejudice roots. Aside from a few nods to the original (a snooty, wealthy love interest and a family connection through Mal), it barely resembles Austen’s masterpiece. Fans looking for a faithful retelling with a queer twist may find this deviation disappointing.

By the time the ending rolls around, it feels abrupt and unsatisfying, wrapping up loose ends without giving the story or the romance the conclusion they deserve.

Pride has its cozy moments, and readers who love books about bookstores, cats, and lighthearted LGBTQ+ stories may still find enjoyment here. But for those expecting a layered, engaging retelling of Austen’s classic, this one falls short.

Thansk to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a great debut! Even though I could predict what was going to happen, it was still really enjoyable reading about Ben and Avery and watching their relationship blossom. This was a clean story, but intimacy abounded even without sex scenes. Samantha Ryan is certainly an author to watch—she has a wonderful way with words and I chuckled so many times at the banter between the characters!

I devoured this easy-to-read book about queer love and expression in one day, and though it was far from perfect, I really did enjoy it. Yes the book was trope-y, cliche and read very YA for being about 40 year olds (despite the heavy amounts of drinking— seriously, every scene??) but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

I really wanted to shake the characters at some points. I wanted to scream “JUST KISS EACH OTHER” like 600 times through the middle, but at the same time the tension and yearning just made the ending sweeter. Oh, but the ending…

This book was a solid 4/5 stars the whole time (sometimes even a 4.5/5) until the end reveal, which was so absurdly ridiculous that I couldn’t honestly rate it any higher than 3.5. I mean, really??? I laughed out loud, but not in a good way. Horrible way to create a climactic “problem” that got solved way too quickly.

I will say, the messages throughout this book of self acceptance, queer joy and liberation, and overall learning to love oneself and others was really lovely, and though I can’t say this book is super special or stands out from any other queer romance, I do recommend it and I had a good time reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rattling Good Yarns Press for allowing me to read this book early. All opinions are my own.

This is a cute story. I didn't love it, but I liked it. The writing is pretty basic and doesn't pull you in. It reads kind of like the way someone who is not very comfortable reading out loud would sound, a little stilted and robotic. The way it's marketed, I expected a much heavier resemblance to Pride and Prejudice, but the similarities are few. I liked the characters enough to enjoy seeing them fall in love, but I didn't feel any deep investment in their story. It's a quick read if you're looking for an LGBTQ romance, but it's nothing special.

I tried so hard to like this book and to finish it, but I couldn’t. The voice of the narrator drove me up a wall and I couldn’t make it past like 25% if it. Dialog and thoughts felt stilted and awkward and it really ruined the whole thing for me.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the characters, the story, and the romance a lot. It was a slow burn set during less than 300 pages, but didn’t feel like it!

I kinda wish their first time being intimate wasn’t when Avery just extremely drunk, because that felt really sketchy in terms of consent and clarity of mind. I liked that they talked about it afterwards, and Ben apologized since they were both intoxicated. It just made me really uncomfortable.

I appreciated that the third act conflict was short, even though I thought it was a wild reaction on Ben’s part. He spent a large portion of the book saying how he’s never push anyone to come out before they were ready. Yet, when Avery finally admits everything to him, Ben gets really upset. He’s allowed to be upset, but I wish he was able to understand it more since he was so adamant he wouldn’t rush Avery.

I did love how much they cared for each other. They were so sweet and warm and tender with each other, and I adore them together.

I wish we got more of Mal, Beck, Nathan, and the rest of the side characters. I feel like we barely saw them, and when we did it was a short interaction.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I would definitely read more from this author,

A slow burn, high on pining low on spice, darling little romance inspired by Pride and Prejudice.

It is dangerous for authors to so closely yoke themselves to the greats, for this certainly doesn’t live up to the drama, tension and wit of its inspiration - but if you go in understanding this will be more homage and “hallmark does Austen” you’ll find you can enjoy for what this is.

Some of the character choices are problematic- I feel there is room for a looooot of discourse on if Fitz really earns his redemption in this one BUT the slow “what are we” pine and burn is SO UP MY ALLEY that I personally can forgive. There is also potentially some Bi-erasure??? The author does call our MC out on it though so there’s that.

I had fun; I liked how in denial about their relationship they were; I loved the Cheesecake Factory and Bowling Alley jokes. Recommend this one for. Fluffy read.

For the publisher: I do feel the cover is bland and that the title will be difficult to find due to its simplicity - I wish another play on the "Pride and Prejudice" title could have been workshopped to be more unique/memorable.

This was a lovely and charming read! I would say it's more P&P inspired rather than a retelling, since it strays pretty heavily from the original.

I enjoyed that the characters were more mature in their 40s rather than young and naive in their 20s. I liked all the characters and they all felt complex in their own way. This book shined in that it it offers a message of acceptance and hope for the LGBTQIA+ community.

As a P&P retelling, I wish it had both MCs be more prideful and angsty, with discussion of class/wealth. Avery was a bit too outgoing to be compared equally to the original Darcy, but I found both Ben and Avery to be solid, complex characters and I enjoyed their journey tremendously.

I loved the scene with Ben's mom at the holiday gathering, and liked how Wickham's character was connected in this rendition.

Overall a great read and I look forward to seeing more works from this author!

A Swoon-Worthy Spin on a Classic

Pride by Samantha Ryan is a delightful queer retelling of Pride & Prejudice that will leave you grinning, swooning, and occasionally shouting, “Just kiss already!” The story follows Ben Bennett, a charming and witty protagonist, as he finds himself drawn to the enigmatic, handsome, and ridiculously wealthy Avery Fitzgerald. Their relationship unfolds with the perfect blend of tension, slow-burn romance, and heart-melting moments that will have you hooked from the start.

While the plot stays mostly predictable—true to its roots—Ryan injects enough playful twists to make it feel fresh and fun. That said, some subplots (like Avery’s mysterious purchase of the building next door) feel underdeveloped, leaving a bit of untapped potential for added drama or romantic excuses to throw Ben and Avery together more often.

However, these minor quibbles don’t detract from the overall charm of the story. If you’re in the mood for a light, playful, and occasionally steamy read, Pride is a fantastic pick. It’s easily one of the best queer reimaginings of a classic I’ve read in a while.

Overall, Pride is a modern romantic gem, perfect for fans of Austen and anyone craving a queer twist on a timeless tale.

Thank you Rattling Good Yarns, NetGalley, and Samantha Ryan for this eARC!!

thank you netgallery for the advanced copy of this book!

I have really liked this story. it is a little cliche, a little fun, and all the more romantic. I could find the tropes I have liked in books before—and I have loved them all the more in a sweet romance such as this one.

I would however just point out that the PDF format of the arc did make it a little hard for me to read it on a mobile phone!

I wish I had started reading this book the way I ended reading it. I started reading it linked to Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and looking for all the obvious links between the two books. And it kind of ruined it for me because I wasn't sinking into this wonderful book the way I would have normally.
Once I gave that up and threw myself into the story, I could really embrace and appreciate the work on its own merits. And there are a lot of them.
Without giving anything away, I just loved reading about Ben and Avery and watching how they evolved.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

This sweet romance between Ben, a gay man, and Avery. It was fun to read their mild enemies-to-lovers dynamic shifting into heartfelt love. Told from Ben’s POV, it’s filled with a lot of angst, tender moments, and witty humor. I absolutely adored this book for it's sweet, slow-burn romance, with its perfect mix of tension, humor, and tenderness.