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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
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
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Absolutely gorgeous novel! As others have stated, this is very much a remix and not a retelling. But I honestly love that. Novoa captured such a genuine and interesting queer story that makes me wish there were more historical romances like this one! As a trans person myself I related on so many levels to Oliver, and as such I did find myself crying while reading at least once. The ending is slightly idealistic/wish-fullfilling but I personally don’t think it takes away from the story itself—I was just really glad to see these characters get the happy ending that all queer people deserve :)
I don’t often reread books but I will definitely be rereading this!
I don’t often reread books but I will definitely be rereading this!
Content Warnings
Minor: Deadnaming, Transphobia
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Chalk it up to personal taste or more likely not being the target audience (a younger or newly out trans person might find it more rewarding), for me, the book was too singularly focused on Oliver's transness. I did not need to be explicitly reminded every other sentence why he felt uncomfortable in settings where he was to pretend to be a girl. It rather felt like the author didn't trust me to make that connection myself.
I also felt that the author's present-day understanding of gender was imposed onto the historical setting, making it feel rather inauthentic. In particular, the seemingly effortless understanding extended to him by several people read as very unrealistic to me and broke my immersion. While I understand that the author wanted to write a hopeful story, I personally would've preferred a more historically grounded exploration of someone in Oliver's situation rather than what felt a bit like wish fulfillment pride and prejudice fanfiction to me.
I also felt that the author's present-day understanding of gender was imposed onto the historical setting, making it feel rather inauthentic. In particular, the seemingly effortless understanding extended to him by several people read as very unrealistic to me and broke my immersion. While I understand that the author wanted to write a hopeful story, I personally would've preferred a more historically grounded exploration of someone in Oliver's situation rather than what felt a bit like wish fulfillment pride and prejudice fanfiction to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Outing, Dysphoria
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Cute gay trans story! In enjoyed it thoroughly
This was an okay book.
The writing was okay, altough I feel like I'm not in the target audience's age, because it was somewhat too simply worded and a little childish (?). It was also pretty anachronistic. I'm quite sure that in the time of Jane Austen nobody said things like wow. My other issue was the overuse of the word "boy". In Oliver's case, I get it, he's 17 years old, still a little childish minded and stuff. But with Darcy and Wickham, I found mismatched the fact that Wickham tried to seduce Darcy's sibling, and tried to trap Oliver in a marriage when he is still a boy. And in my mind Darcy (played by Colin Firth :D), who is 19 years old if I remember correctly in this book, is neither a boy, but a man.
The story was okay. I feel that this book was too short, or had too many things going on, and because of that we had less time with our main love interests. Like, they met two times as themselves and the next thing I know that they love each other? C'mon. I believe in love and first sight and it could be plausable that they felt in love in a short period of time, but the book didn't show me in a way that I can believe it. Although, the plot follows the original book main points quite well (as far as i remember, although I read Pride and Prejudice 10 years ago), and I had the same issue with that book too. But on the other hand, if someone writes a retelling, then it's a perfect opportunity to fix some issues.
The characters were okay. I enjoyed Mrs. Bennett, and it was nice to hear about her nerves again, and Jane was a sweetheart, but apart from them noone else became precious to me, just okay-ish. As I mentioned, Oliver was sometimes a little childish for me, especially with his view about Charlotte's choice, but it's excusable, since he just recently find himself, and is still quite young. Darcy had potential, but I guess he didn't appear enough for me to bond with him.
Overall, Most ardently was a decent book, but not one I would like to re-read, or which I will think about very fondly. But since this was my first book about a trans boy (gosh, this word will hunt me), it's still somewhat special.
The writing was okay, altough I feel like I'm not in the target audience's age, because it was somewhat too simply worded and a little childish (?). It was also pretty anachronistic. I'm quite sure that in the time of Jane Austen nobody said things like wow. My other issue was the overuse of the word "boy". In Oliver's case, I get it, he's 17 years old, still a little childish minded and stuff. But with Darcy and Wickham, I found mismatched the fact that Wickham tried to seduce Darcy's sibling, and tried to trap Oliver in a marriage when he is still a boy. And in my mind Darcy (played by Colin Firth :D), who is 19 years old if I remember correctly in this book, is neither a boy, but a man.
The story was okay. I feel that this book was too short, or had too many things going on, and because of that we had less time with our main love interests. Like, they met two times as themselves and the next thing I know that they love each other? C'mon. I believe in love and first sight and it could be plausable that they felt in love in a short period of time, but the book didn't show me in a way that I can believe it. Although, the plot follows the original book main points quite well (as far as i remember, although I read Pride and Prejudice 10 years ago), and I had the same issue with that book too. But on the other hand, if someone writes a retelling, then it's a perfect opportunity to fix some issues.
The characters were okay. I enjoyed Mrs. Bennett, and it was nice to hear about her nerves again, and Jane was a sweetheart, but apart from them noone else became precious to me, just okay-ish. As I mentioned, Oliver was sometimes a little childish for me, especially with his view about Charlotte's choice, but it's excusable, since he just recently find himself, and is still quite young. Darcy had potential, but I guess he didn't appear enough for me to bond with him.
Overall, Most ardently was a decent book, but not one I would like to re-read, or which I will think about very fondly. But since this was my first book about a trans boy (gosh, this word will hunt me), it's still somewhat special.
I usually would never have thought of picking up a classic... but this is definitely one way to get me to do so. Absolutely loved it.