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A review by fromthefoxhole
Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
3.5
I’m a transmasc Austenite, of course i loved this.
The things i loved:
1. Most Ardently does a pretty great job of remaining faithful and respectful of the source material, while also bending and altering the plot to remain fresh and engaging. The story is a much snappier read overall, with much of the “background” information and characterization cut for brevity or glossed over in favor of new scenes, but it all still works and feels Right.
2. Darcy and Oliver retain their charming banter and titular shortcomings, Bingley and Jane remain ever gentle and kind opposite a bratty Caroline and scheming Wickham. The puzzle pieces still slot into place as expected, even with new and perhaps more tense stakes.
3. TRANS LEAD!!! Being in Oliver’s mind, the juxtaposition of how he perceived himself v how others perceive him, the regency era binder, all delightful. Watching him juggle the pressure of keeping himself a secret while still aching to be out and proud and himself made me deeply emotional.The fact that Mr.Bennett worked with their family physician and updated his will to bequeath Longbourne to him made me get up from my seat with excitement.
4. Charlotteand Lu!! I’m not…thrilled about Charlotte’s ending but this is Regency era and unfortunately this is the way the dominos fell for a lot of real people during this era. They were still wonderful background characters, and i’ll always have a soft spot for my “no money and no prospects” queen.
The things I struggled with:
1. Oliver objects to so much of the societal expectation **bc he’s a man**, rather than because they’re unfair and ridiculous. Liz is a character who to this day people see as a feminist icon, and while i understand the nuance of introducing a trans story into this world, i think there is space for both things to coexist.
2. The aging felt a little off. In P+P, Liz is 20, which is young, but having Oliver be 17 made a lot of the language more juvenile (I think he refers to both himself and Darcy as “boy” exclusively) even though he turns down THREE marriage proposals and is expected to be a fully actualized and accomplished person. It’s an odd point of contention, but it’s definitely felt throughout.
3.I miss the sisters. Mary, Lydia, and Kitty are barely mentioned,especially considering we’ve reworked the Wickham/Lydia plot (thank god, i hope Wickham rots). I think *because* of that plot changing, we needed a little more with them in other areas.
4. It’s a touch insta-lovey. This one is a personal preference, but given how much quicker paced this is compared to the original, I think a slower burn would have still been a good call. By their third meeting, Oliver has heart eyes. It’s a regency book, dang it. Their hands shouldn’t even touch until 98% of the way through!
5.I’m a little confused about how everyone is 100% immediately supportive of trans gay Oliver. Like i recognize we’re going for happy ending, not all coming out stories are bad and sad and awful, but…the conversations were so short. Mrs. Bennet, as described through the entire rest of rest of the book, would not have been on board. One conversation with Darcy would not have been able to flip the script when he was already so clearly struggling with his own sexuality. The framework we’re given throughout the book clearly explains why everything won’t be peaches and gravy, and then it turns out that it is in fact peaches and gravy.
I think it would have benefited from being a modernized Regency where the lgbtqia community is open and accepted, or perhaps a touch more gravity should have been placed on these very large and important conversations.
All in all, a sweet and fun read. I had my grievances, but it’s a trans retelling of one of my all time favorite books. At the end of the day, I’m over the moon that this exists at all 💚
The things i loved:
1. Most Ardently does a pretty great job of remaining faithful and respectful of the source material, while also bending and altering the plot to remain fresh and engaging. The story is a much snappier read overall, with much of the “background” information and characterization cut for brevity or glossed over in favor of new scenes, but it all still works and feels Right.
2. Darcy and Oliver retain their charming banter and titular shortcomings, Bingley and Jane remain ever gentle and kind opposite a bratty Caroline and scheming Wickham. The puzzle pieces still slot into place as expected, even with new and perhaps more tense stakes.
3. TRANS LEAD!!! Being in Oliver’s mind, the juxtaposition of how he perceived himself v how others perceive him, the regency era binder, all delightful. Watching him juggle the pressure of keeping himself a secret while still aching to be out and proud and himself made me deeply emotional.
4. Charlotte
The things I struggled with:
1. Oliver objects to so much of the societal expectation **bc he’s a man**, rather than because they’re unfair and ridiculous. Liz is a character who to this day people see as a feminist icon, and while i understand the nuance of introducing a trans story into this world, i think there is space for both things to coexist.
2. The aging felt a little off. In P+P, Liz is 20, which is young, but having Oliver be 17 made a lot of the language more juvenile (I think he refers to both himself and Darcy as “boy” exclusively) even though he turns down THREE marriage proposals and is expected to be a fully actualized and accomplished person. It’s an odd point of contention, but it’s definitely felt throughout.
3.I miss the sisters. Mary, Lydia, and Kitty are barely mentioned,
4. It’s a touch insta-lovey. This one is a personal preference, but given how much quicker paced this is compared to the original, I think a slower burn would have still been a good call. By their third meeting, Oliver has heart eyes. It’s a regency book, dang it. Their hands shouldn’t even touch until 98% of the way through!
5.
I think it would have benefited from being a modernized Regency where the lgbtqia community is open and accepted, or perhaps a touch more gravity should have been placed on these very large and important conversations.
All in all, a sweet and fun read. I had my grievances, but it’s a trans retelling of one of my all time favorite books. At the end of the day, I’m over the moon that this exists at all 💚
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Outing, Deadnaming, Misogyny, Transphobia, and Sexism