Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa

6 reviews

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Dysphoria, Sexism, and Deadnaming

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Outing, Homophobia, and Misogyny

booksthatburn's review

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? No

4.0

MOST ARDENTLY is a retelling of Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, where Oliver is a trans boy whose family still thinks his name is Elizabeth. When he meets Darcy originally, Oliver is dressed as a girl and the other boy is very dismissive of him. A day or so later, he's at a local fair as himself and ends up spending the day with Darcy and Bingley. As the two sides of his life collide, soon he has to choose whether to declare himself or to let nefarious actors force the issue for him.

One of my favorite parts of this retelling is the way that it provides an explanation beyond plot convenience for Darcy to have inconsistent reactions to Oliver. Instead of Darcy being hot and cold to someone who seems to be the same person, his reactions around Oliver as a girl are impacted by getting to spend time with Oliver as a boy and maybe starting to fall for him. For those not familiar with the original story, this stands on its own and doesn't require any prior knowledge in order to make sense. 

I enjoyed this as a retelling and as its own story, a great addition to the Remixed Classics series!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Classism, Sexism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, and Deadnaming

Minor: Death, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Emotional abuse

shelvesofivy's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I'm not gonna lie: I was beyond excited for this book from the moment I heard that there would be a Pride & Prejudice installment of the remixed classics. And that excitement only grew with everything I learned about it leading up to the release. (Plus, this cover!!!) 

That is to say, my personal hype made way for a very large possibility that I'd be disappointed if this wasn't executed well. But that wasn't the case at all. I love the original love story, and fell in love with this version as well ♡
And there's just something so special and beautiful about reading stories with trans joy in a historical setting. 

(I do have so many more thoughts and things I love about this book, but words are failing me right now.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Misogyny, Sexism, and Deadnaming

Moderate: Transphobia, Classism, Outing, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Stalking

peroxide_princes's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This was a really great book! I grew up absolutely ADORING Pride and prejudice, so to have a trans retelling out there is just fantastic. I think the end moves a little quickly and feels slightly forced, but that could definitely be my own personal taste. The characters do feel a bit flat,

with the most character development happening in Darcy’s character in my opinion. Though I think Oliver’s parents being supportive of him in the end is a very nice and healing touch out there for many trans kids picking up this book

. Overall, I think perhaps my personal tastes have moved away from young adult fiction, hence my rating, but this book fits itself well in that category. I would certainly recommend it for any trans youth out there who are in need of a book to speak to their souls and give them a heartwarming and hopeful end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Transphobia, Deadnaming, Misogyny, Bullying, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, and Homophobia

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Stalking, Incest, Outing, and Panic attacks/disorders

vagaybond's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Transphobia, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Misogyny, Transphobia, and Outing

Oliver's mother is emotionally abusive and yells at him many times about him refusing proposals and not dressing femininely enough.

In the end she understands once Oliver comes out to her, but in the meantime she is very enforcing of gender roles.

beanaroni's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

not officially rating this one because I'm glad young queer people get to read books about themselves and I am starting to recognize that I, personally, need to stop reading books for teenagers. there was a lot I appreciated here from the perspective of a queer trans dude, but Oliver's experience is pretty far removed from my own and I honestly found being in his head a little irritating sometimes. grateful that this exists though. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Deadnaming, Classism, Stalking, Transphobia, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Outing and Emotional abuse