Scan barcode
A review by cookiemonstaly
Most Ardently by Susan Mesler-Evans
4.0
CONTENT WARNING: paedophilia, statutory rape, victim blaming by authorities
I picked up MOST ARDENTLY on a whim, looking for something easy to get me out of my reading slump - and it definitely did the job.
A modern, queer, and very feminist retelling of PRIDE & PREJUDICE, it features a rather diverse cast: Darcy is a Black biracial lesbian woman, Elisa is a bisexual Mexican-American woman. One of the Benitez sisters is also trans.
The bantering between the main couple and between the sisters was at times laugh out loud hilarious. Though you can honestly tell the author is an avid Tumblr user (no shade, as per her bio!) because the book is rife with references that seem plucked from the site (and thus, I have also revealed that I am also an avid Tumblr user - which makes this an enjoyable read, since I was in on the joke all the time).
It did feel like there wasn't much chemistry between Elisa and Darcy, and their witty banter lacked any of the sexual tension one would expect for a modern retelling.
Though, Colin Burger - aka Mr William Collins - has a very significant role in this retelling. Personally, I felt he had the most obvious character growth and I enjoyed that the author explores his relationship with Charlene and how it develops.
The novel's crisis also gets an update in this modern retelling - it tackles paedophilia, statutory rape, and how victims who try to seek justice are retraumatised in the process. The juxtaposition of Gianna's and Lucia's case and how they each responded to it makes it absolutely clear that neither of them are at fault for what happened to them and spells out that the perpetrator is at wrong.
A great romance novel that can breezed through, but just note that it does deal with heavy topics.
I picked up MOST ARDENTLY on a whim, looking for something easy to get me out of my reading slump - and it definitely did the job.
A modern, queer, and very feminist retelling of PRIDE & PREJUDICE, it features a rather diverse cast: Darcy is a Black biracial lesbian woman, Elisa is a bisexual Mexican-American woman. One of the Benitez sisters is also trans.
The bantering between the main couple and between the sisters was at times laugh out loud hilarious. Though you can honestly tell the author is an avid Tumblr user (no shade, as per her bio!) because the book is rife with references that seem plucked from the site (and thus, I have also revealed that I am also an avid Tumblr user - which makes this an enjoyable read, since I was in on the joke all the time).
It did feel like there wasn't much chemistry between Elisa and Darcy, and their witty banter lacked any of the sexual tension one would expect for a modern retelling.
Though, Colin Burger - aka Mr William Collins - has a very significant role in this retelling. Personally, I felt he had the most obvious character growth and I enjoyed that the author explores his relationship with Charlene and how it develops.
The novel's crisis also gets an update in this modern retelling - it tackles paedophilia, statutory rape, and how victims who try to seek justice are retraumatised in the process. The juxtaposition of Gianna's and Lucia's case and how they each responded to it makes it absolutely clear that neither of them are at fault for what happened to them and spells out that the perpetrator is at wrong.
A great romance novel that can breezed through, but just note that it does deal with heavy topics.