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A review by sarahbythebook
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa
5.0
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
As someone who holds Pride and Prejudice in a very special place in my reader heart, I knew I was either going to love this book or be sorely disappointed. I am thrilled to say that I adored Most Ardently! Gabe Cole Novoa manages to capture the essence of the original work while braiding in Oliver's struggles as the second eldest Bennet child in a society that refuses to acknowledge his existence as a son rather than “Elizabeth” the daughter. The author shows a mastery of the original material with his own added flair from his lived experience as a trans man.
For anyone familiar with Pride and Prejudice, the plot of Most Ardently will be comfortingly familiar. We have the Merriton Ball, Jane’s illness, Mr. Collins (the dreaded cousin), and the Netherfield ball playing out as expected, but with a shift in Oliver’s perspective and the way other characters interact with him. It makes for a fun way to experience the story of the Bennet children in a new and refreshing way!
My absolute favorite thing about this new addition to the Remixed Classics series is the faithful portrayal of the relationships between characters. Jane and Oliver's relationship is as close as Jane and Elizabeth’s. The friendship between Charlotte and Oliver is as honest as it is in the original. The relationship between Oliver and his father is explored even more deeply, and at times, it genuinely brought me to tears.
Bingley is a solid mix of the original and the 2005 Pride and Prejudice film adaptation to my utter delight. He has the same charismatic, puppy-dog energy in Most Ardently while his sister, Caroline, is still a pill. While the main point of contention in the stories is shifted from Lydia to Oliver, I appreciate the way the author handled this change, shaping the existing characters to fit the problem in ways that made sense for their original rendering from Jane Austen.
I also want to express my appreciation for Novoa's historical research into queer lives in the regency era, especially with the historical note at the end. My hope is that this book serves as a reminder to trans and nonbinary individuals that people like them have always existed, have a right to exist as they are, and can be happy and supported living their lives as their authentic selves. Over and over, Novoa reaffirms this possibility in his beautiful story about a young trans boy finding love. Most Ardently is a beautiful take on Pride and Prejudice, and I hope everyone gives it the chance it deserves!
CW: deadnaming, outing, extortion
As someone who holds Pride and Prejudice in a very special place in my reader heart, I knew I was either going to love this book or be sorely disappointed. I am thrilled to say that I adored Most Ardently! Gabe Cole Novoa manages to capture the essence of the original work while braiding in Oliver's struggles as the second eldest Bennet child in a society that refuses to acknowledge his existence as a son rather than “Elizabeth” the daughter. The author shows a mastery of the original material with his own added flair from his lived experience as a trans man.
For anyone familiar with Pride and Prejudice, the plot of Most Ardently will be comfortingly familiar. We have the Merriton Ball, Jane’s illness, Mr. Collins (the dreaded cousin), and the Netherfield ball playing out as expected, but with a shift in Oliver’s perspective and the way other characters interact with him. It makes for a fun way to experience the story of the Bennet children in a new and refreshing way!
My absolute favorite thing about this new addition to the Remixed Classics series is the faithful portrayal of the relationships between characters. Jane and Oliver's relationship is as close as Jane and Elizabeth’s. The friendship between Charlotte and Oliver is as honest as it is in the original. The relationship between Oliver and his father is explored even more deeply, and at times, it genuinely brought me to tears.
Bingley is a solid mix of the original and the 2005 Pride and Prejudice film adaptation to my utter delight. He has the same charismatic, puppy-dog energy in Most Ardently while his sister, Caroline, is still a pill. While the main point of contention in the stories is shifted from Lydia to Oliver, I appreciate the way the author handled this change, shaping the existing characters to fit the problem in ways that made sense for their original rendering from Jane Austen.
I also want to express my appreciation for Novoa's historical research into queer lives in the regency era, especially with the historical note at the end. My hope is that this book serves as a reminder to trans and nonbinary individuals that people like them have always existed, have a right to exist as they are, and can be happy and supported living their lives as their authentic selves. Over and over, Novoa reaffirms this possibility in his beautiful story about a young trans boy finding love. Most Ardently is a beautiful take on Pride and Prejudice, and I hope everyone gives it the chance it deserves!
CW: deadnaming, outing, extortion
Content Warnings
Moderate: Deadnaming and Outing