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Reviews tagging 'Deadnaming'
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa
142 reviews
spark_879's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
i loved this book! i highly recommend it to anyone considering reading it :)
in a few places the story seemed a bit too good to be true but i think that was something i needed to read when i kept expecting bad reactions from everyone at all times when learning about the mc being trans.
in a few places the story seemed a bit too good to be true but i think that was something i needed to read when i kept expecting bad reactions from everyone at all times when learning about the mc being trans.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming and Misogyny
Moderate: Homophobia and Transphobia
Minor: Stalking
stalking:neglet's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I love the premise of this book: take the basic starting situation of P&P, but make the two leads a trans boy whose mother lumps him in with his sisters and a rich boy who's not interested in women. The development of their relationship is lovely, but I found myself wishing the plot strayed a bit from the original a little more, just to give the story a bit more tension. The ease with which Oliver's parents accept him as trans is beautiful and affirming, but it rather robs the story of conflict. But I imagine I'm not the target audience for this book, so I wouldn't say that's a drawback, just not to my taste.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Misogyny
its_vendetta's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this book was so beautiful!! I loved Oliver so much and it’s so nice to see historical romances about trans people. Trans people have always existed and I think this book does an amazing job at representation in an accurate, yet uplifting way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Dysphoria, and Transphobia
Moderate: Outing
Minor: Stalking and Classism
james_orion's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
as a gay trans man who had a hyperfixation on pride and prejudice a few months ago this book feels like it was written for me. I had a fantastic time listening to the audiobook and just enjoying this story. Oliver's conflict with Charlotte was a really strong point for me and their queer identities enhance their perspectives in a different way that I really enjoyed. the romance was so cute and I really liked the scenes early on with Darcy and Oliver.
This might have been more apparent with the audiobook but I felt like the word 'boy' was really overused, and while they were teenagers I think using the word 'man' would have been less jarring and weird for me On occasion it was very confusing why Oliver was acting a certain way with darcy. I think it was supposed to convey that he was conflicted about him but in reality it ended up being confusing why onw moment they were flirting and the next oliver was thinking about how much he didn't like Darcy. I think this is a fault of trying to stay too true to the original work, in P&P Elizabeth and Darcy misunderstand each other often but Oliver and Darcy here don't really do that? it feels like Oliver just wildly swings back and forth on Darcy at times. Also I wish this story had dived a bit more into class issues more along the lines of the original, there are hints of it (Bingley and Darcy being able to afford books that would be a huge luxury to Oliver, and Charlotte living in near poverty compared to the rest of our main characters) but I would have really loved to see these things explored more.
All in all I really enjoyed this story and I had such a fun time listening to it!
This might have been more apparent with the audiobook but I felt like the word 'boy' was really overused, and while they were teenagers I think using the word 'man' would have been less jarring and weird for me On occasion it was very confusing why Oliver was acting a certain way with darcy. I think it was supposed to convey that he was conflicted about him but in reality it ended up being confusing why onw moment they were flirting and the next oliver was thinking about how much he didn't like Darcy. I think this is a fault of trying to stay too true to the original work, in P&P Elizabeth and Darcy misunderstand each other often but Oliver and Darcy here don't really do that? it feels like Oliver just wildly swings back and forth on Darcy at times. Also I wish this story had dived a bit more into class issues more along the lines of the original, there are hints of it (Bingley and Darcy being able to afford books that would be a huge luxury to Oliver, and Charlotte living in near poverty compared to the rest of our main characters) but I would have really loved to see these things explored more.
All in all I really enjoyed this story and I had such a fun time listening to it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria and Outing
Moderate: Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Homophobia
zydecovivo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I first saw this book on Goodreads. I believe it was recommended after finishing a different LGBTQ historical fiction book. While I was starting to write off all historical romance books due to my boredom with the genre, Most Ardently has given me hope to keep trying.
As the title specifies, the book basically follows the premise of Pride & Prejudice. However, our narrator is Oliver, a trans man struggling to find his way in Regency society while still in the closet. I think this layer of complexity is what I needed, both to reinvigorate my interest in historical romance and to better enjoy Pride & Prejudice. Basically all of my dislikes of the source material were resolved. This includes: Lydia being forced to marry Wickham, Mr. Bennett seeming uncaring & aloof towards his children, Elizabeth never really spending time with Darcy before “falling in love”, and Mr. Collins and Wickham never facing any repercussions. All of these are fixed. In fact, the Wickham/Lydia subplot is basically entirely removed (thank goodness). I do think the resolution and ending came a bit quickly, and there wasn’t really a resolution as far as how Oliver and Darcy will continue their relationship. But it’s still a historical romance, so who cares?
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and think it would be a great discussion to compare the two stories in a classroom setting. I’m now going to try more of the Remixed Classics series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming
Moderate: Misogyny, Body shaming, Homophobia, Dysphoria, and Transphobia
river_jean_sterling's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Dysphoria, Sexism, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Outing, Homophobia, and Misogyny
carpenterbeeoli's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Transphobia, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, and Homophobia
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Classism
There is a moment when the main character describes, in detail their dysphoria-induced disassociation. This may be triggering to some queer folks.novella42's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This might be the most intense and effective depiction of gender dysphoria and euphoria I've ever read as a cis person.
I read and loved A Lady for A Duke, an original love story with a transfemme protagonist who used the chaos of Waterloo to escape her old life. That book had many of the same elements of this one, and I don't suppose it's fair to compare the very different stories. But there was something especially effective about setting this in the framework of a classic that gave it an extra kick.
There's just something about writing this particular story within that of a familiar, famous character in a time period where gender roles were even more rigid than they are today. It was powerful to read the dysphoria and euphoria of Oliver's internal experience, set against the backdrop of all our expectations that come with the story of Pride and Prejudice.
Jane Austen's version of Elizabeth Bennett has become a very particular kind of role model for femininity and for a certain kind of feminist, and that framework provided a kind of fuel to the fire of this story. Over the course of the book I became acutely aware of nuances of my own social programming and emotional baggage I brought to the story. It was a relief to acknowledge them and let them go.
Oliver's discomfort and constant pain was visceral but gracefully depicted. Seeing his happiness at even the smallest affirmation was a profound relief and a joy to read.
Highly recommend this.
I read and loved A Lady for A Duke, an original love story with a transfemme protagonist who used the chaos of Waterloo to escape her old life. That book had many of the same elements of this one, and I don't suppose it's fair to compare the very different stories. But there was something especially effective about setting this in the framework of a classic that gave it an extra kick.
There's just something about writing this particular story within that of a familiar, famous character in a time period where gender roles were even more rigid than they are today. It was powerful to read the dysphoria and euphoria of Oliver's internal experience, set against the backdrop of all our expectations that come with the story of Pride and Prejudice.
Jane Austen's version of Elizabeth Bennett has become a very particular kind of role model for femininity and for a certain kind of feminist, and that framework provided a kind of fuel to the fire of this story. Over the course of the book I became acutely aware of nuances of my own social programming and emotional baggage I brought to the story. It was a relief to acknowledge them and let them go.
Oliver's discomfort and constant pain was visceral but gracefully depicted. Seeing his happiness at even the smallest affirmation was a profound relief and a joy to read.
Highly recommend this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Deadnaming, Body horror, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Transphobia
Moderate: Classism, Suicidal thoughts, and Outing
Minor: Bullying
roseleebooks's review
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
This was a lovely retelling. I really enjoyed Oliver as a character and the insight into his struggles in 1800s English society. I would qualify this as a cozy read for me due to the comfort of it being a Pride and Prejudice retelling, though it does explore some themes that may be difficult for some readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Sexism
kirkspockreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Deadnaming, Classism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Outing and Panic attacks/disorders