3.5 stars- I picked this up because I really enjoy Pride & Prejudice retellings. I liked the writing, it felt very personal and I liked how it touched on queer identity and romance- the difficulties and vulnerability of being out, of being with partners who don't necessarily feel the same. I think an essential part of any P&P retelling is the banter between the two protagonists, and I thought Ben and Avery's banter was great- I liked that it was clear that Avery had feelings for Ben throughout. If anything, I wish we got more of Ben processing these feelings and reacting to them- instead, he'd often just move on, but one of the best parts of romances is the thrilling feeling that someone may like you back. I also liked the ending and the "final twist"- it was sweet and a good finish to the book. I do wish the pacing was a bit faster, but overall I enjoyed this and am excited to see what Samantha Ryan writes next!

What a great queer representation of pride and prejudice

It’s a cosy MM friends to lovers romance

Very likeable character I loved the dynamic between Ben and Avery

Pride is a modern m/m retelling of Pride & Prejudice. Ben Bennett is the owner of a small bookstore that is barely hanging in there. Avery Fitzgerald is a wealthy developer who travels often for work. They meet when Ben’s sister Mallory and Avery’s best friend Beck invite them respectively to a work mixer.

Overall I found Pride to be a warm and cozy romance. There is a slow slow burn as Ben and Avery work their way from a maybe friendship to something more. There is enough fun banter and palpable tension in their interactions to make the relationship interesting and natural. I loved Ben Bennet as the indie bookshop owner with a cat, and a more reserved Avery who seems to always pop up around Ben. I loved the sibling relationship between Ben and Mallory. I think this book is rather loosely tied to Pride & Prejudice which is perfect for me because I enjoy more plot creativity and less of a strict retelling structure. The social hierarchy aspect is still apparent but not as big of a factor as in the original novel. Instead, we have a very enjoyable and sweet rom/com about miscommunication and self discovery.

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

* M/M
* Close proximity
* One bed
* Friends to lovers
* Opposites attract
* Secrets
* Slow burn

I am 100% down for a gay Pride & Prejudice retelling. I need more of these on my life. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t hit the right notes for me.

Ben is the owner of a cozy bookstore. When his sister Mal starts dating a rich professor, Beck, Ben finds himself developing a friendship with Beck’s best friend, Avery. As far as Pride & Prejudice retellings go, this is very loosely based on the original story. The only real similarities are the names and the very bare bones outline of the character (i.e. sister’s boyfriend’s rich best friend). From there, really nothing is related to the original story. This is fine, but I expected a closer relationship to the novel given the title and the way this book was marketed. The story itself felt a little all over the place. We’re left at the end with several loose threads and things that should have been more central to the plot are barely touched on.

Overall I thought this was a cute story with pretty likable main characters, but it just missed the mark for me.

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

When I saw the name of the book, I just knew I had to read it. Pride drew me in immediately and I finished it in two days wishing it was longer.

Ben was such a down-to-Earth character. It felt like he made peace with his surroundings, at least from the outside. Like the fact that his mom will always find a way to remark about him being gay (like it's something he can change / decide on) or that eveyone around him simply must comment on his bookstore. Avery, on the other hand, had this smart, mysterious, rich vibe and felt like the opposite of Ben. Two men, two different worlds, but somehow their friendship bloomed.

The dialogues were amazing. It's been a while since I read such funny conversations in a book and the couple's banter felt natural, overall showed their relationship and its growth. I would say it's a very slow burn. Even though the men spent a lot of time together, only time from time there were small hints of their friendship slowly growing into romantic relationship territory. And with Avery being an extremely closed person, it was hard to say, how he saw Ben.

I did have an issue with the amount of drinking in this book. It was like Ben and Avery's meetings always had to include a drink, which, I get it, maybe made both men a bit braver, but started to bother me as soon as I realised how many times the drinks were mentioned. And I was a little disappointed when fade-to-black happened: the build-up was great & then no reward.

Overall, the story was very interesting, I didn't see any of the big reveals coming, I was simply enjoying a gread read. My absolute favourite part was the end: oh how beautifully the meaning of the novel's name got revealed!

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.