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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
readsforlove's review against another edition
5.0
This novel is so tender and touching--absolutely perfect for fans of the original book and movie! So many lines are exact, but the weight of everything is so different and moving due to Oliver's transness. It brings a whole new depths and clarity to the story, and makes Oliver's struggle to live in this time and society so heartwrenching. Yet even in all the heart ache and the seeming impossibility of living authentically, this book carries hope and joy along with it. We see so many moments of pure joy and euphoria as Oliver gets to express himself and live as himself. Joy accompanies the pain and discomfort of his life, making his fight for himself be held in an understandable light. We know why he's doing what he's doing, and we want to fight right alongside him.
Mild spoiler (related to coming out and something I, a queer person, would like to know going in)--no one that Oliver chooses to come out to has a huge negative reaction. He's not yelled at and kicked out of his home or anything like that. While the society is transphobic, and several characters are and his transness is discovered and he is forced to come out to his family, those whom he comes out to are ultimately supportive. I had a lot of trouble getting through the book because I was afraid there was going to be some big back lash about Oliver's transness, and would have enjoyed it more thoroughly if I had known the author wasn't going to do that. Having read Wicked Bargain by the same author, though, I should have trusted that I was in good hands.
All in all, this was a fantastic retelling that stayed mostly true to the plot of the original but with its own unique twists that really served to highlight the themes of the story and Oliver's journey as a trans person in the early 1800s.
Mild spoiler (related to coming out and something I, a queer person, would like to know going in)--no one that Oliver chooses to come out to has a huge negative reaction. He's not yelled at and kicked out of his home or anything like that. While the society is transphobic, and several characters are and his transness is discovered and he is forced to come out to his family, those whom he comes out to are ultimately supportive. I had a lot of trouble getting through the book because I was afraid there was going to be some big back lash about Oliver's transness, and would have enjoyed it more thoroughly if I had known the author wasn't going to do that. Having read Wicked Bargain by the same author, though, I should have trusted that I was in good hands.
All in all, this was a fantastic retelling that stayed mostly true to the plot of the original but with its own unique twists that really served to highlight the themes of the story and Oliver's journey as a trans person in the early 1800s.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Dysphoria
Moderate: Transphobia and Body horror
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