eh… i don’t know. i guess it was just fine, but i do hate it when 30-somethings in fiction act like teenagers, and that was definitely the case with the mc here. the romance was cute, but i didn’t totally vibe with it in a smiling-giggling-kicking-my-feet kind of way, which should always be the case with a romance story, but oh well.

This is an excellent Pride and Prejudice retelling. It takes the framework and uses it like a trellis, to shape the actions and events of the story while still allowing the characters to flourish and bloom in their own ways. Ben and Avery have none of Elizabeth and Darcy’s drama; instead of starting with brittle social tension, Ben and Avery get along. Instead of avoiding one another, they seek each other out. Their relationship feels natural and grounded and so very real. There’s no drama for plot’s sake; instead the plot moves around their decisions.

However, it’s very rushed. Each chapter is a month in the character’s lives and each scene is to a specific purpose, leaving very little filler or connecting scenes to slowly build up the characters. There’s no tension, just the expected story beats — and while they are familiar, they are well done. Even the introduction of such characters as Beck’s wife and the Whickham stand in are done in a way that fits in to this world, this story.

It’s light, quick, and only slightly shallow. I had fun with it, but I don’t know that I’d ever feel the urge to re-read it. Thank you very much to Net Galley and the publisher for granting me an ARC!

A cozy retelling of Pride and Prejudice, this charming tale follows bookstore owner Ben and his unexpected friendship with the wealthy Avery, exploring themes of love, self-acceptance, and the messiness of relationships. With delightful banter and relatable characters, it beautifully captures the struggle of finding oneself while navigating the ups and downs of love.

I finished this novel today and I couldn’t wait to share it.
Pride is one of the best mm romances I’ve read. It’s a modern take on Pride and Prejudice. With Samantha own twist. I read a lot mm romance and this one ticked all my boxes.

Without giving too much away.

I really adored this book from beginning to end. The characters, the setting, the friendship, which was my favourite part. The emotions. I felt everything.
It completely sucked me in.
Reading a man fall in love with someone without him taking the step that would ruin their friendship was something else. It’s was the most refreshing read.

A little about the book -
Ben owns a book shop and one day he tags along to his sister work mixer and meets Avery who tags along with his friend to the mixer. Avery is a single, rich, beautiful man. He spend a lot of time travelling for work.
They meet each other and over time Avery keeps popping up. He buys the building next door to Ben’s books shop. Avery constantly finds ways to be in Bens life. They become very close friends over a period of time. And Ben develops feelings but doesn’t understand what is going on with his friend.
If I say anymore I’ll spoil it.

I have to mention that this book doesn’t have any smut. The story stands all on it own. It a beautiful romance story. One that I won’t ever forget.

I can’t wait to read more books by this author.
What an amazing debut novel.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶.5

An MM retelling of Pride and Prejudice, this story is absolutely amazing. It's such a slow burn (which usually drives me crazy) and I could actually feel the tension and the anxiousness of Ben and Avery's relationship throughout the book which really makes it work. With themes of self-discovery, overcoming homophobia, found family, and self-acceptance, Pride is a book that hits all of the heartstrings. Stories like these are important and I feel privileged that I got to read this.

I have never read Pride and Prejudice, but I did read a plot summary to see how closely the story followed. I think the general plot follows fairly closely, but it is not an exact retelling, plot point by plot point. I have read some other early reviews saying it wasn't close to P&P but honestly, I think it is more creative and showcases better story-telling to use the original as a basis, but not a carbon copy.

I really enjoyed this book - probably one of my top reads of the year. I would have never guessed this is Samantha Ryan's debut - I sincerely hope she writes more just like this.

This was generally a cute, queer story and I liked that it was a Pride & Prejudice adaptation. I love it when authors reinvent the stories they adapt, which was certainly done here. I liked the balance of making the characters their own while still being recognisable as an adaptation. It was funny, and I love a good there was only one bed trope.
However, I had a few things that bothered me while reading. Firstly, there is a lot of telling instead of showing. Everything is spelled out for the reader, which I don't particularly like, it feels a little condescending. Especially when it comes to queer topics, it felt a little like the target audience for this book might be straight, judging by the amount of explanations featured.
Secondly, I was bothered by the vast amount of alcohol consumption. It feels like the main characters are drinking in every second scene, there is several instances where they are driving after having been drinking and I personally deeply dislike it when characters have sex while drunk, especially when one of them is decidedly more sober than the other. It didn't add anything to the story for me besides making both main characters a little less likable.
Overall a 2.5 rating, rounded up to 3.

✰ 2.75 stars ✰

​“You don’t know if you’re making the right decision unless you have all the information in front of you.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Apart from the namesake,​ soon-to-be-forty Benjamin Bennett did not share many similarities with his counterpart. And then even so, it was not so much a retelling of Jane Austen's beloved novel, as much as a mix and mash up of Ryan and Hank's beloved take of the classical romance, as well. But, what I can tell you that it was very much about taking Pride in yourself, and to be happy in accepting what it is you want and who you know yourself to be​. 🥺 To celebrate and be proud of whatever letter you represent and not to take any hassle or hate from anyone who is too much of a simpleton or a prejudiced bigot to not treat someone with the respect that everyone is entitled to.​ 🌈

​​“I wanted to tell Avery that this could be our life—safe together, protecting one another from the outside world. Us against everyone else.”

​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ This was a fun read; yes, it is not quite original or anything, but the characters were a likeable sort that I was able to get into it and enjoyed watching the romance between Ben and Avery unfold. ​I was pleasantly surprised that it did not start off with the enemies to lovers vibe, more one that slowly dug its heels into their lives as their relationship deepened into something more. For it is that notion, in which Ben did not quite mind striking up a friendship with the slightly older, devilishly handsome salt-and-pepper Avery Fitzgerald, longtime best friend to his older sister's intended beau, Ben and Avery's friendship developed nicely and a smooth and steady pace. 🥰 There was a softness to their interactions that I liked, and how Avery patiently listened to Ben - earnest and deep with his affection for him. Despite how it somehow felt that Ben spent most of his time reasoning his being gay, while also sharing his own experiences of the difficulty in being able to express himself as openly as he would like to, simply because of how people would react or judge him. 😢

​“You have no idea how much I want this.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ When that fierce ache did stir up, the tension and the desire was tangible. There was an intensity to their chemistry that was both rewarding and heartwarming and pleasant to watch unfold. Avery's adamant trust in Ben's potential - never knacking him, even when Ben's inner demons made him feel so inferior - so weak - '—boys don’t cry, don’t be a sissy, don’t be so weak, don’t do this, don’t do that. Just. Don’t. Be. Gay.' 😟 ​It was hard to get an exact hold on what Avery's deal was, considering how closed-off he was about his personal life - you were never quite certain what he wanted from his friendship with Ben.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ And yet, I never did not feel that he cared for Ben, just never quite apparent of what reason he could have for not really being with him. And I did feel for Ben and the restrain he had to hold on numerous occasions to prevent his real feelings from surfacing. 😟 It was heartbreaking, too, especially when his mind and heart was in constant turmoil that he simply cannot crush on a friend that is straight, for he would lose a friendship that he loves and holds very dear. Willing to protect it rather than risk losing it for the sake of his own happiness.

“I remembered that feeling—the first time I was able to be myself so naked in front of someone else in the way that I had always wanted to.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The conflict​, however - came out of left-field - simply as a reason for it would lead to a fall-out between the two. ​So much so​ that I was blindsided by it. Not a build-up, not a word, not even a glimpse into the potential of it becoming a problem; that particular aspect needed better development.​ I haven't read ​P&P​ in awhile, so maybe there is some relation to the abrupt appearance of it, but for me, it literally threw me for a loop - ​in not the best way​.​ 🙅🏻‍♀️ I had been wondering what was the significance and relevance of Benjamin's occupation, but I never quite expected it ​in that light​.​ I also felt the resolution was a bit too forgiving and lenient - for my part - ​and the groveling could have been written in a slightly more convincing manner - but, I think I'm just rather petty that way. 😅

​“I would allow space in my life for one person, and when that person showed any kind of interest in me, would cling to them like a life raft.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The writing had a​ friendly cadence to it - a levity that made it easy to read - if that makes sense.​ 😊 It translated in the way that each of the characters were a likeable sort, although I do have certain choice words for Ben's mother, and it was easy to see that while they did not bear complete similarities to their respective counterparts, there were distinctive differences that made me glad that they were not.​ Ben and Mal had a strong sibling dynamic and it was nice to see their concern for each other felt genuine and sincere. 🫂

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ​However​, when the scenes consisted of a slightly larger gathering, I had trouble following the dialogue. It's easier to avoid who is speaking when there are only two parties involved, but when it was more than two, I think it was unwise ​not​ to have it spelled out who was speaking and when. I get that it was meant to depict how conversation is overlapping amongst the guests, but I was not a fan of ​this particular format.​ 🙂‍↔️ 🙂‍↔️

​​“It still usually surprised me, though, that people felt like they could so casually make hateful comments about gay people without any second thoughts about how absolutely shitty it was to do so.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ There was one ​particular​ scene that stood out for me when a closed-off simpleton was very judgmental and harsh towards Ben - 'Everyone has to be woke now. I’m sick of this woke shit. I can’t keep track of LBGTLMNOP'.​ I was offended and hurt and rather upset. 😥 How Avery and Ben both reacted differently to this rash treatment was a​ thought-provoking one that even forced me to look at myself and assess my own stance and views. It was powerful, in a quiet way; that it evoked an understanding within myself to be more respectful and not be afraid into silence. 😔🏳️‍🌈

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The message the story essentially captures is the importance to love yourself and believe in your heart that you are not alone. That as much as you are afraid to be yourself, there is someone who sees you as someone worth fighting for - worth living for - worth caring for. For all of Ben's self-deprecating thoughts about himself and the whiplash of a sudden twist, it was rewarding to see him get the happily ever after that he most rightfully deserved. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Generously received an E-ARC thanks to Netgalley !!

I really really loved this one so much !! I’m usually pretty picky when it comes to slow burn because I’m painfully impatient but this one was perfect !! You could feel the tension from the second they met and it was so pleasing when they finally got together.

This one really digs into accepting yourself as you are and learning to love others while also loving yourself. Lots of great moments where the characters are discovering they’re queer and realizing that’s it’s indeed okay to just ~be~.

The characters were all so loveable (minus THAT one ew) and even if they were questionable at first you had no choice but to accept that they actually had a heart and redeeming qualities in the end. All of them had depth and they weren’t all picture perfect rom-com characters which was also an extra plus. It felt natural even during the cheesy moments.

Overall such a GREAT read and I’m so grateful I received a copy so could read about the love story of Ben and Avery !!

Listen, I'm trash for a good Pride and Prejudice retelling, especially a queer one. I was worried that I'll compare it to my current queer retelling, Fire Island, but this is very much it's own thing. Sure it's not the most nuanced writing or particularly intersectional. But I enjoyed how it didn't feel beholden to retreading the tropes too stringently, the character banter and dynamics were very organic and engaging. Also the bookstore and academia backgrounds of the characters took away some of the more contentious class dynamics elements of the original. It amounted to a fluffy, cozy read that could stand on its own without the shadow of its inspirational source.

I just love a good lgbtq+ book. Add in some cozy vibes and it’s a winner for me. The characters were likable, and the story was easy to get through. I did want a little more spice, though. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Great! Really quick and easy read! I loved the characters and found that I related a lot to Ben. It's the sort of book where I want to hear more about every single character in the book. It's exactly what I'd describe as cosy vibes.

The book reads super easily and Samantha Ryan writes incredible banter and characters that are easy to like. Obviously I enjoyed it since I finished it in one sitting and I wasn't forcing myself to continue.

Plot (4/5): 📚📚📚📚
Character Likability (4/5):👱🏽‍♂️👱🏽‍♂️👱🏽‍♂️👱🏽‍♂️
Character Development (1/5):🌱
Romance (3/5):❤️❤️❤️
Spice (1/5):🌶️

Things I liked:
- The characters are easily likeable
- Low stakes conflict while also still being interesting and having drive
- Excellent banter
- Easy and enjoyable to read

Things that were lacking (nothing I really *didn't* like):
- Overall it felt like it just needed a couple more editing pass throughs
- The characters were fairly shallow, and I tend to prefer more character driven novels
- I found myself questioning a lot of Avery's actions. His character, while likeable, didn't seem as clear in his motivations and reasoning. Several things happened that I felt like were convenient to the plot, but I didn't quite have the understanding of why and it was never revealed later.
- The tension went on just a little too long, with too few carrots given. I was finding myself skimming at parts because it was just the same, "He seems to be into me, but he's straight" resolution and little to no tension/stress on Avery's part.
- The romantic pay off wasn't enough for me. I don't mind a fade-to-black/low spice situation, but there was almost no reward for the amount of build-up.

Overall, a 2.5 for me, rounded up to a 3.

Thank you to NewGalley for the ARC!

I got this as an ARC and am so glad I got the opportunity. This book is just so wholesome and I adore it. I read it in one sitting and finished with a smile on my face and an urge to go tell all my friends and family how much I love them.

The writing is good and it flows well. The characters are so lovable and endearing and by halfway through the book I wanted to take a frying pan to their heads because they’re the absolute cutest and can you please just admit your feelings dang it?! I love them together so much and enjoyed the growth we see in Avery through the book and the confidence in Ben. I hope everyone reaches a point where they can be as unapologetically themselves as Ben is.

The reveal at the end was great - I started having a sense that maybe it was coming and really enjoyed watching it happen. What a fun twist in the story!

Overall, if you love a good queer romance this one is for you. It’s cute and wholesome and a true storybook type of romance.

Pride by Samantha Ryan is a sweet LGBTQIA+ romance that centers around the protagonist, Ben, who owns a bookshop. When he goes with his sister to a bar one day, he ends up meeting Avery Fitzgerald, the best friend of his sister’s coworker. They become quick friends and as the get closer, Ben begins to wonder if Avery is hiding something.

I really loved the writing style of this story and moved through it very quickly. Once I got into it, I finished it within 24 hours. My one complaint is that the chapters are very long. I often found myself having to stop in the middle of a chapter because there was no good stopping place close by. I am one who typically likes short chapters, however, so this is just a personal opinion. I loved the characters, and really loved the relationship between Ben and Avery. The surprise twist at the end is easily predictable, but I don’t come to a romance book looking to be surprised. I choose to read them for the sweetness, and this book definitely provides.

I do wish there was a bit more character development throughout the book. At times, this story gave off “cozy romance” vibes in that there was not a large amount of conflict or character change. The exception to this is Avery, who does have a bit of an awakening throughout the story. I wish I knew more about his job or his connections to his family’s oil company. It feels like these details were added, but then not expanded upon.

Overall, I give this book 3.5/5 stars. It was a very cute romance and I loved the relationship that formed between the two characters. I moved through it very quickly and I felt like both the writing style and the pacing were very well done. I would recommend this story to anyone who is looking for a new and unique romance to read.

I had a fun time with this book, I really did. At no point did I feel forced to keep turning the page, it was a quick read, there were a lot of funny and romantic moments that I really enjoyed. I don't want to spoil anything, so I can't say what I particularly liked, but I did love how mature "some" moments were, and I especially loved how original this story felt. It's a Pride and Prejudice retelling, but there are enough changes that it feels so fresh and unique and interesting, while still maintaining some of that inspiration from the original. There's no smut, but I didn't even notice until 80% of the way through, and I honestly couldn't have cared less because the main characters had that much chemistry that I was really enjoying all of their intimate moments. Also, I totally saw the big reveal coming the second it was mentioned 😂 but I don't think it was meant to be a surprise, and it was handled SO painfully well, I really enjoyed it.

All of that said, the reasons I couldn't rate this book any higher were few, but they were pretty consistent:

- There was a lot of telling and not showing, especially around the love interest. Again, I can't go into specifics, but the way he was described was not at all the way he was acting, so that characterization never made any sense to me.

- There was a character who we were supposed to feel sorry for in the end? I didn't. I'll leave it at that.

- It felt like the main character was making a lot of... ill-conceived decisions. I could understand his motivations, I really could, but it was tough to read or sympathize at times.

While I enjoyed Pride as a story of self-acceptance and love, I found myself constantly comparing it to Pride and Prejudice, and not in a good way. The parallels to Austen’s classic were superficial, with elements like the names, a meddling mother, and the sudden appearance of a “scoundrel” three-quarters of the way in. Honestly, I would have preferred if the novel had distanced itself from Pride and Prejudice altogether. It could have been a much stronger book if it had its own identity, rather than relying on the famous opening line and loose character resemblances.

That said, Pride has its strengths. Ben, the bookstore owner, is a likable character, though his aversion to putting a café in his store (was this supposed to represent his pride?) seemed a bit forced. His love interest, Avery, was harder to connect with. Despite being portrayed as easygoing, Avery often came across as distant and flighty. Their romance had its moments, but at times it felt like Ben was putting in all the effort, while Avery faded into the background.

The vacation setting, which set up the classic “one-bed” trope, felt forced and didn’t do much to develop their relationship. Avery’s struggle with his identity, revealed at the end of the book, could have been explored more deeply. Instead, it felt rushed, and I wish the themes of identity, acceptance, and love had been woven throughout the story more thoughtfully. These concepts had real potential, but they were crammed into the final pages when they could have driven much of the narrative.

The chapter with the therapist also felt out of place, and I could have done without it. Additionally, the subplot involving Ben’s sister Mel and her romance with Beck seemed like an unnecessary distraction from the main story.

Despite its flaws, I still found Pride enjoyable. Samantha Ryan’s writing shows promise, and while this book felt like it needed more editing and focus, I’m open to reading more of her work. Pride could have been a standout romance if it had distanced itself from its Austen inspiration and leaned more into its own unique story. Fans of Pride and Prejudice retellings may enjoy it, but don’t expect a perfect parallel to Austen’s timeless work.

While I generally enjoyed this book of self-acceptance and love, I felt that I was constantly trying to draw comparisons between Pride and Prejudice and this novel. The similarities begin and end with superficial things such as names, a crazy mother, and a no good scoundrel who randomly appears 3/4 of the way in the book. I would rather have read this book without any strings attached to P&P. If the book began without that famously overused line of Jane Austen's and the characters were simply renamed, the book would be far better for it. In general the characters were easy to like, Ben came across as a good natured man prone to love the wrong person and had an aversion to putting a cafe in his bookstore (was this pride?). His love interest, Avery, was a much harder read as he was supposed to seem easy going but at the same time aloof. There were many times the two characters felt flat in their attraction, as though Ben had to struggle to keep liking Avery, and Avery was just... not present as a character? The vacation setting was very contrived and while I'm all about some tropes, the one bed trope here was confusing. Sure Avery was struggling to accept/reveal his identity, as we find out at the very end of the book, but he just came across as flighty - which frankly happened often. As I was mentally comparing Avery to Austen's Darcy, I felt that he just wasn't a substantial character. The end reveal could have been half the book instead of a blip at the end and explored the ideas of identity, acceptance, trust and love ingrained in the book. And the whole chapter with the therapist felt random and I could've done without it. I'm not even going to get into Mel, the sister, and her side quest with her love interest Beck.

I don't mean this to at all sound like I disliked the book. I actually did enjoy it and thought it could use some tightening up and perhaps some more editing. I'd definitely read more by Samantha Ryan.