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sollie's review against another edition
3.0
My head just feels kind of empty as I finish this. I have never read or watched any pride and prejudice media before, I only know pop culture references and the like, so my lukewarm feelings on this book aren't coming from me loving/defending the source material. I spaced out a lot listening to the audiobook (maybe because the narrator sounded pretty bored idk) and even when I was engaged I was just... eh.
The good:
*The story made good commentary on adults praying on teenage girls, it completely and openly smacked down on any arguments made in defense of the predatory adults, I think that was very well done and it condemned the shit out of those adults and supported the victims and I think that's super important, that subplot had me legit invested and nervous and angry
*The dialogue was fun
*Bi latina protag, black lesbian love interest, it was nice to read
*A good protagonist for the most part
The eh:
-Characters blended together for me
-The setting could feel really out of place sometimes (because of the source material being set in a different time period, I assume), and the reactions/actions could get really confusing. I mean it did feel a bit extra for the mother to a character to rant like "oh how dreadful, butler, throw it to the poor, this piece of filth does not deserve to speak to my son!! she is a piece of trash, hear me, a piece of filth!" like how is this still in a modern American setting
-Some subplots could have gone with some extra development I think, but I also didn't want them to because I was already kind of bored with most of them
It was a fine contemporary lgbtq+ romance but for me, it just lacked *focus* somehow. I'd still recommend it if the premise sounds interesting to you, but 3 stars seemed to be a good middle ground for me on this one.
The good:
*The story made good commentary on adults praying on teenage girls, it completely and openly smacked down on any arguments made in defense of the predatory adults, I think that was very well done and it condemned the shit out of those adults and supported the victims and I think that's super important, that subplot had me legit invested and nervous and angry
*The dialogue was fun
*Bi latina protag, black lesbian love interest, it was nice to read
*A good protagonist for the most part
The eh:
-Characters blended together for me
-The setting could feel really out of place sometimes (because of the source material being set in a different time period, I assume), and the reactions/actions could get really confusing. I mean it did feel a bit extra for the mother to a character to rant like "oh how dreadful, butler, throw it to the poor, this piece of filth does not deserve to speak to my son!! she is a piece of trash, hear me, a piece of filth!" like how is this still in a modern American setting
-Some subplots could have gone with some extra development I think, but I also didn't want them to because I was already kind of bored with most of them
It was a fine contemporary lgbtq+ romance but for me, it just lacked *focus* somehow. I'd still recommend it if the premise sounds interesting to you, but 3 stars seemed to be a good middle ground for me on this one.
sjbabyyyy's review
Soft no...I was really into this, considering its a pride & prejudice t retelling there was a grooming predator plot line that was unnecessary and just felt like a plot moving device
blomsterdrengen's review against another edition
I am so here for a w/w enemies to lovers, pp retelling! COUNT ME IN
sapphicsolace's review against another edition
4.0
I received an arc from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I personally like starting reviews of retellings by going through the significant changes so I'll do that.
Elizabeth: name is Elisa. She's Mexican-American and bisexual.
Darcy: still named Darcy, cis women lesbian as well as biracial (Black and white)
Kitty: her name's Camilla and she's a trans girl
Collin: is Darcy's cousin
Colonel Fitzwilliam: cis girl named Willow
I've read a lot of Pride and Prejudice retellings in my time. This is the second f/f one I've read as well (the first is called The Story of Lizzy and Darcy) and I'm honestly happy to see another one.
This one was really fun. I liked both Elisa and Darcy a lot. This felt like a retelling that can stand on its own while keeping the personalities of both Lizzie and Darcy.
Another element I thought was interesting was that Mr and Mrs Bennett were divorced in this. I thought that was an interesting change to the dynamic of things.
Another element I liked was during the scene of Collin's whole deceleration of love, Elisa rejected him to the level I could tell the author felt a certain way about Collin and had been wanting to get it out for years. It was honestly delightful.
This was a lot of fun and I'd recommend it whether or not you've read the source material.
I personally like starting reviews of retellings by going through the significant changes so I'll do that.
Elizabeth: name is Elisa. She's Mexican-American and bisexual.
Darcy: still named Darcy, cis women lesbian as well as biracial (Black and white)
Kitty: her name's Camilla and she's a trans girl
Collin: is Darcy's cousin
Colonel Fitzwilliam: cis girl named Willow
I've read a lot of Pride and Prejudice retellings in my time. This is the second f/f one I've read as well (the first is called The Story of Lizzy and Darcy) and I'm honestly happy to see another one.
This one was really fun. I liked both Elisa and Darcy a lot. This felt like a retelling that can stand on its own while keeping the personalities of both Lizzie and Darcy.
Another element I thought was interesting was that Mr and Mrs Bennett were divorced in this. I thought that was an interesting change to the dynamic of things.
Another element I liked was during the scene of Collin's whole deceleration of love, Elisa rejected him to the level I could tell the author felt a certain way about Collin and had been wanting to get it out for years. It was honestly delightful.
This was a lot of fun and I'd recommend it whether or not you've read the source material.
lotsa_matcha's review
3.0
A solid 3.5 stars, rounded down. The second half was a drastic improvement on the first. Aka, once Colin yeeted Lady Catherine, things got a lot better. Lady Catherine and Mr Wickham got what they deserved. So the plot was good, but I wasn't a huge fan of the characterization of Elizabeth and Darcy.
kj468's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is almost a scene for scene retelling of Pride and Prejudice, which personally, I quite liked. Sometimes retellings are a little looser, and that gives the author more freedom, but I liked the predictability of the plot points and really enjoyed seeing how the author applied the classic plot to the modern world and characters she created. If you love Pride and Prejudice a lot and want to read a queer, modern version of it, this is the book for you!
sheii's review against another edition
2.0
This book was honestly quite disappointing.
There was also a lot of things that I didn't enjoy.
One of the main ones was the general character of the mom. I know, I know, there's always that one character were bound not to like— whether or not they were written that way, but she just got on my nerves. It's really hard to explain my dislike, but it is what it is.
Second, I didn't feel that amazing spark and chemistry between Darcy and Elisa. It was very mellow, and not in the cute way, but in a 'this-is-a-pretty-empty-thing' way.
And while I was reading, I just kept looking at how many pages there was left, and wondering when it'll end. It just wasn't very fun to read.
(But it could just be me
There was also a lot of things that I didn't enjoy.
One of the main ones was the general character of the mom. I know, I know, there's always that one character were bound not to like— whether or not they were written that way, but she just got on my nerves. It's really hard to explain my dislike, but it is what it is.
Second, I didn't feel that amazing spark and chemistry between Darcy and Elisa. It was very mellow, and not in the cute way, but in a 'this-is-a-pretty-empty-thing' way.
And while I was reading, I just kept looking at how many pages there was left, and wondering when it'll end. It just wasn't very fun to read.
(But it could just be me
junibjones's review against another edition
3.0
Susan Mesler-Evans has given us “Most Ardently,” a modern and queer take on Jane Austen’s beloved Pride and Prejudice. Set in an Ohio town, we are introduced to familiar characters in new and unfamiliar packages. The Benitez family is Mexican while Darcy Fitzgerald and much of her family are mixed race. While the bones of Pride and Prejudice are what support the plot, Mesler-Evans creates situations in which I doubt the Bennet sisters had ever found themselves to be in.
We’re introduced to Elisa Benitez, a high school senior given early access to college courses. It is through this class that she meets Darcy Fitzgerald and Elisa is quick to note all of Darcy’s less attractive qualities (snobbery, pretentiousness, cold demeanor just to name a few). As the story rarely deviates from Elisa’s perspective, the reader is only privy to her thoughts on the subject. Darcy, the audience notes, is incredibly decisive in her opinions of the people she surrounds herself with. Elisa soon realizes that while she can’t seem to stand her for a good portion of the story, people in Darcy’s circle are all in agreement that she’s a wonderful person.
The plot follows the events in Pride and Prejudice but gives them a modern twist. Gone are the balls and parties in grand homes with vast properties—in their place are rundown apartment buildings, drunken parties in woodland cabins and obscene McMansions. Instead of horses and a carriage, the Benitezes have a janky minivan that’s seen them through all five daughters. Bobby Charles is the same oblivious good natured person that Charles Bingley was and Wickam’s character is still a predator.
As happy as I was to find a queer retelling of Pride and Prejudice, I found the story lacked the necessary tension to keep me invested the entire time. I didn’t feel any chemistry between Elisa and Darcy and while she was one of five, I couldn’t really distinguish any of Elisa’s sisters from each other. Even her sister Camila, whom I was happy to find out was trans, didn't have a memorable personality to make her stick in my head. It was genuinely like, “wait which sister was she? Oh, the trans one right” like it was her one defining characteristic. I wished that other characters were as fleshed out as Elisa. Most of the other characters felt very one dimensional to me.
Colin’s relationship to his mother made sense, being a giant mama’s boy who was never self actualized, up until she attacked him for choosing to stay with his girlfriend over listening to her. Katherine wasn’t like her character from Pride and Prejudice. Where Catherine de Bourgh was regal and classist, Katherine just seemed like a bitch for the sake of being a bitch. Minor nobility vs Head of the PTA— they’re on very different levels of snobbery.
It wasn’t my favorite story, but it also wasn’t the worst take on Pride and Prejudice I’ve ever seen. As a queer person I’m always leaning for decent wlw or mlm rep, and Most Ardently meets the criteria—leaving much to be desired, but it still counts. For anyone that hasn’t read the source material, the story is fine. It just didn’t blow my expectations out of the water.
We’re introduced to Elisa Benitez, a high school senior given early access to college courses. It is through this class that she meets Darcy Fitzgerald and Elisa is quick to note all of Darcy’s less attractive qualities (snobbery, pretentiousness, cold demeanor just to name a few). As the story rarely deviates from Elisa’s perspective, the reader is only privy to her thoughts on the subject. Darcy, the audience notes, is incredibly decisive in her opinions of the people she surrounds herself with. Elisa soon realizes that while she can’t seem to stand her for a good portion of the story, people in Darcy’s circle are all in agreement that she’s a wonderful person.
The plot follows the events in Pride and Prejudice but gives them a modern twist. Gone are the balls and parties in grand homes with vast properties—in their place are rundown apartment buildings, drunken parties in woodland cabins and obscene McMansions. Instead of horses and a carriage, the Benitezes have a janky minivan that’s seen them through all five daughters. Bobby Charles is the same oblivious good natured person that Charles Bingley was and Wickam’s character is still a predator.
As happy as I was to find a queer retelling of Pride and Prejudice, I found the story lacked the necessary tension to keep me invested the entire time. I didn’t feel any chemistry between Elisa and Darcy and while she was one of five, I couldn’t really distinguish any of Elisa’s sisters from each other. Even her sister Camila, whom I was happy to find out was trans, didn't have a memorable personality to make her stick in my head. It was genuinely like, “wait which sister was she? Oh, the trans one right” like it was her one defining characteristic. I wished that other characters were as fleshed out as Elisa. Most of the other characters felt very one dimensional to me.
Colin’s relationship to his mother made sense, being a giant mama’s boy who was never self actualized, up until she attacked him for choosing to stay with his girlfriend over listening to her. Katherine wasn’t like her character from Pride and Prejudice. Where Catherine de Bourgh was regal and classist, Katherine just seemed like a bitch for the sake of being a bitch. Minor nobility vs Head of the PTA— they’re on very different levels of snobbery.
It wasn’t my favorite story, but it also wasn’t the worst take on Pride and Prejudice I’ve ever seen. As a queer person I’m always leaning for decent wlw or mlm rep, and Most Ardently meets the criteria—leaving much to be desired, but it still counts. For anyone that hasn’t read the source material, the story is fine. It just didn’t blow my expectations out of the water.