Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix

Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

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

127 reviews

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.

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kirkspockreads's review against another edition

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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

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moonsgrace's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.25

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dragongirl271's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

“I'd rather be secretly happy with you, than openly living a lie.”

Attention Pride & Prejudice/Jane Austen fans! I present to you: Pride & Prejudice but this time gay and trans 🏳️‍🌈

Oh, do you need more?

Gabe Cole Novoa crafted a beautiful retelling of one of the most iconic Jane Austen novels of all time with some lovely, historically-inspired queer representation thrown into the mix. Elizabeth Bennet is now Oliver Bennet, a trans man wishing for a life where he can be himself. Mr. Darcy is still the same grump we all know and love, but there are maybe other reasons why he detests society and the marriage mart so.

Novoa expertly matches Austen's tone and pacing from the original novel, but also gives us plenty of original scenes and moments with Oliver and Darcy. You can tell while reading just how lovingly crafted this project was. Is this my new favorite version of the story? The jury's still out, but time will tell.

Now, go! Add this to your list of reads for Pride Month and thank me later 😊 Happy Pride!

CW: deadnaming, misgendering, homophobia, misogyny, transphobia

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aceofjades's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

3.5

Honestly enjoyed reading it, but the historical inaccuracies really took me out at times... No, I'm not talking about the queerness, the historical note at the end (and a quick google search) will tell any reader that queer people did indeed exist in the Regency era. In fact, we've existed since the dawn of civilization.
It's the way characters talk to each other that took me out. I understand that the addressing conventions of IX century England can be confusing for modern readers, but I don't think anyone who isn't at least a little familiar with Jane Austen novels (or at least the movie adaptations of her novels) would be reading this book, so I don't see any reason for characters to be calling each other by FIRST NAME as if they're very very intimate, when in fact they've only just met and/or have animosity towards each other.
Below is spoilers for more specific parts that personally peeved me, might get nitpicky:

In general, how Mr. Collins and Mr. Wickham were rewritten to be real big baddies, and their nearly comical villanous "death" at the end of the novel... They weren't complex characters in the og novel either, but I feel like there's a missed opportunity for making really "evil" characters look back at themselves and realize their mistakes. Also did the author forget that Mr. Collins is a clergyman? He doesn't just "tell boring stories" to the Bennets, he recites sermons! Making them say terribly misogynistic things to Oliver was... a choice, a choice which genuinely made me uncomfortable and made me root even more for some kind of redemption arc where they become embarrassed of themselves, instead of punished but never changing their ways of thought.
Speaking of Mr. Collins, what happened with Charlotte after his and Wickham's schemes are revealed? In general, I think this book was way too short to follow all the little plotlines that were introduced. How did the Bennet sisters react to Oliver coming out? Will Mr. Bingley ever find out too? I would've gladly read a 100 or more pages just to give the plot some breathing room.
And speaking of villanous figures, I was kind of hoping for Madam De Bourgh to be rewritten in favour of her nephew's queerness... that's just wishful thinking on my part, and I didn't detract any points for it, but I feel like it's another big missed opportunity...
Not a spoiler, but in general this book is written in a very fanfiction-esque language which really took me out of the immersion at times... I wasn't expecting it to fully imitate Jane Austen's prolix style, but certain metaphors and locutions were really out of place.

Overall, though, the book was greatly redeemed (at least for me) by how wholesome it gets by the end.
There isn't much tension in the midpoint and, as mentioned in the spoilers, the plot didn't have enough breathing room. I feel like the lack of any real tension might be because of that as well. This book would've benefitted from a 100 or so more pages, and I would've gladly read those and possibly given a higher rating.

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koredayaddams42's review against another edition

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inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

This is one of the best books I’ve read all year and perhaps within my entire life. The remix of the historical and classic fiction with queer themes and topics without the pretentiousness of classics or historical fiction. The authors take on the characters is quite amazing and hope inspiring, including their forward and afterward that connects the story to both their own life and historical accuracy when it comes to queerness and LGBTQIA+ people. This is definitely a great read and if one is interested in historical fiction, classics, queer and LGBTQIA+ stories/characters, sociocultural hegemonies and challenging them, love, hope and courage in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, then this is a good fit as a read for you.

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ghostlyprince's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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ghostingarden's review against another edition

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4.75

saying this through tears this book actually means so much to me. as a retelling there’s probably some things that I wish were done differently but on its own I adored it so much it’s earned such a special place in my heart

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lucylou's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful fast-paced

4.5

While not a faithful retelling, it’s was a wonderful read about trans joy. There were many moments I teared up, especially when

Mr. Bennet accepted Oliver’s true self so readily with open arms.

Some characters I thought remained the same, like Charlotte’s pragmatism and Darcy’s stoic but awakened nature really shining through, while some characters seemed entirely different, with

Wickam and Mr. Collin’s being grotesque misogynists and actively evil

compared to what was described in the original material. Overall, it’s a lovely story I would recommend for the story’s queer take on P&P, with mild warnings for Oliver’s descriptions of his dysphoria and the gross misogynistic comments some of the men make.

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daryn's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

this is a very sweet queer regency romance but i don’t think it functions well as an adaptation as the main theme of the source material (lizzie and darcy’s initial pride and prejudice for each other, and they way their perceptions of the other are proved wrong) is completely missing. i think this would have worked better as an original book without being attached to p&p.

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