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A review by raven_goodwoman
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa
5.0
"This moment, here, kissing a boy /as/ a boy, with Darcy’s warmth like a furnace against his skin, and Darcy’s hands on his back made him feel safe— it was everything Oliver had ever wanted. It was everything he’d dared not dream.
But it was real, and nothing and no one could take that away from him."
-------
“They were two boys dancing together for all in the room to see, and Oliver never felt happier.”
Oh, gosh, what can't I say about this book! When it comes down to retellings of Jane Austen classics, I focus on several things: The characters (how 2-Dimensional are they? Do they feel real? Do they grow?) and how closely the author sticks to the original story (Sticking too close to the story isn't always a great thing! It can feel stifling!), and how believable does the setting feel. And Novoa kills all three!
I really love the way Novoa wrote all the characters from the original story, and how he weaved new characters into his retelling as well. I adore Oliver Bennet. I loved this new side of Darcy! I understand the motives of Charlotte Lucus, even though I mourn for her. Every character felt real and wanted nothing more than to see all of them experience this world and grow. Novoa clearly loves the original story and researched the new elements to make them feel believable in this text. He doesn't stick too closely to the narrative-- he makes Pride and Prejudice his own! He took a chance and it really payed off.
I do wish there was more time spent towards the conclusion of this novel, and I do wish more time was spent focusing on how the system is unfair for everyone, and how different people navigate this system, though. That said, I really enjoyed that the transgender and queer characters were treated with nothing but respect not only in the narrative (the narrator never misgenders Oliver,) but by other characters as well. The interactions between Mr. Bennet and Oliver were so heartwarming I cried. Transgender readers really do deserve this sort of support and recognition. I feel like me, as a cisgender reader, understands how Oliver feels about being misgendered, and I think that's a lovely lesson to leave a book with.
The author describes this best in his epilogue: "To my trans siblings: We deserve romance that will sweep us off our feet, too. That's why this book is for you."
"Most Ardently" is such a breathtaking relief after the transphobic nightmare that was Curtis Sittenfeld's "Eligible." The transgender character is not here for shock value, nor to be edgy and different. Oliver Bennet is a real, 3-Dimensional character with wants and dreams who grows into himself. Every book in a library has a reader; If a reader wants a transgender main character in a Jane Austen or Regency romance where the character thrives in the original world, this is their book.
Absolutely beautiful. The Classic Remix series hasn't failed me yet.
But it was real, and nothing and no one could take that away from him."
-------
“They were two boys dancing together for all in the room to see, and Oliver never felt happier.”
Oh, gosh, what can't I say about this book! When it comes down to retellings of Jane Austen classics, I focus on several things: The characters (how 2-Dimensional are they? Do they feel real? Do they grow?) and how closely the author sticks to the original story (Sticking too close to the story isn't always a great thing! It can feel stifling!), and how believable does the setting feel. And Novoa kills all three!
I really love the way Novoa wrote all the characters from the original story, and how he weaved new characters into his retelling as well. I adore Oliver Bennet. I loved this new side of Darcy! I understand the motives of Charlotte Lucus, even though I mourn for her. Every character felt real and wanted nothing more than to see all of them experience this world and grow. Novoa clearly loves the original story and researched the new elements to make them feel believable in this text. He doesn't stick too closely to the narrative-- he makes Pride and Prejudice his own! He took a chance and it really payed off.
I do wish there was more time spent towards the conclusion of this novel, and I do wish more time was spent focusing on how the system is unfair for everyone, and how different people navigate this system, though. That said, I really enjoyed that the transgender and queer characters were treated with nothing but respect not only in the narrative (the narrator never misgenders Oliver,) but by other characters as well. The interactions between Mr. Bennet and Oliver were so heartwarming I cried. Transgender readers really do deserve this sort of support and recognition. I feel like me, as a cisgender reader, understands how Oliver feels about being misgendered, and I think that's a lovely lesson to leave a book with.
The author describes this best in his epilogue: "To my trans siblings: We deserve romance that will sweep us off our feet, too. That's why this book is for you."
"Most Ardently" is such a breathtaking relief after the transphobic nightmare that was Curtis Sittenfeld's "Eligible." The transgender character is not here for shock value, nor to be edgy and different. Oliver Bennet is a real, 3-Dimensional character with wants and dreams who grows into himself. Every book in a library has a reader; If a reader wants a transgender main character in a Jane Austen or Regency romance where the character thrives in the original world, this is their book.
Absolutely beautiful. The Classic Remix series hasn't failed me yet.