Gabe Cole Novoa

A trans boy searches for a future—and a romance—in which he can live and love openly as himself in this heartwrenching YA reimagining of Pride & Prejudice, the ninth book in the Remixed Classics series.

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix

Ohhhhhh, Mr. Bennett!!! I knew you wouldn’t let me down.😭

Catherine

“Father," Oliver forced himself to say before his voice failed him again. "You should know..." God, he was trembling. His insides felt like a plucked string, reverberating with sound. “You should know my name is Oliver. And I'm...I’m your son."

 Mr. Bennet's smile grew into a full grin, spreading across his face like a plant turning its leaves to the sun. "You most certainly are," he said, and then his arms were around Oliver.

Giggling kicking my feet the entire time  sobbing by the end. Perfectly encapsulated Austin’s ideal of romance with a hopeful queer twist.

Florence

I think, that more than the fact it is a beautifully written remix of Pride and Prejudice, preserving important scenes from the original book, the whole context behind Oliver's experience being a trans male is what captured me and kept me going through the pages. 

It's well written, well built, preserves important traits from the original characters, and it is suffocating as much as it is comforting, I loved it!

soir

I think, that more than the fact it is a beautifully written remix of Pride and Prejudice, preserving important scenes from the original book, the whole context behind Oliver's experience being a trans male is what captured me and kept me going through the pages. 

It's well written, well built, preserves important traits from the original characters, and it is suffocating as much as it is comforting, I loved it!

This was such a beautiful read. So the stakes at face value seem extremely high, Oliver has to pretend at home and major social functions to still be his deadname but does go out as himself so initially I had so much sadness and anxiety for him. But this truly ends up being a warm hug of friendship and acceptance, and prejudice of that nature never comes from Darcy. This had me in tears multiple times with Mr Bennett and Oliver’s family. Darcy is soo cinnamon roll sweet in this I loved it. 

Abigail

Mr. Bennet's supportiveness makes me want to cry. Also Oliver and Darcy ❤️❤️ Did NOT expect the Mama (Mrs. Bennet's) character development 🥹🥹

Susan

It is a tender, heartfelt, amazing retelling of 

, told from the point of view of Oliver Bennet, a trans man living in a time when being trans wasn't socially accepted. 

This book made me cry several times. It made me blush and giggle and suffer right alongside the characters. 

 makes you question - if you've ever consumed the original tale - "What if Elizabeth's motives for not wanting marriage were a bit different?" and "What if Darcy's cold demeanor was a by-product of being forced into a heteronormative marriage?". 

Although it is based on a Jane Austen book, it carves a life of its own. It exists independently of anything else and brings a much-needed story of trans love and resilience into the spotlight.

Nico A.

It is a tender, heartfelt, amazing retelling of Pride & Prejudice, told from the point of view of Oliver Bennet, a trans man living in a time when being trans wasn't socially accepted. 

This book made me cry several times. It made me blush and giggle and suffer right alongside the characters. Most Ardently makes you question - if you've ever consumed the original tale - "What if Elizabeth's motives for not wanting marriage were a bit different?" and "What if Darcy's cold demeanor was a by-product of being forced into a heteronormative marriage?". 

Although it is based on a Jane Austen book, it carves a life of its own. It exists independently of anything else and brings a much-needed story of trans love and resilience into the spotlight.

thank you to macmillan children’s publishing group, feiwel & friends, and netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

gabe cole novoa does it again! the remixed classics does it again! my heart is so full and my words are lacking, as always. this is now the third book i’ve read in the “classics but make very explicitly queer” series. and with each one, i fall more deeply in love with these retellings.

in attempting to write this (truly insufficient) review i went back to what i said for the first two books. and i think i’ve already said it best: with each iteration of these remixed classic, my inner queer teen soul heals a bit more. i spoke about how i wish i had this representation back i was in high school, about ten years ago now, when i was forced to read the originals. when i didn’t know so many things i know now. and it still holds perfectly true after this story too.

maybe even more so with most ardently. reading novoa’s previous release, i already knew i loved his writing. loved the way he tells stories. but this was the first retelling where i hadn’t actually read the source material yet. hadn’t seen any of the adaptions all the girlies (gender neutral) fawn over. i have the book. have the ability to learn what the story entails first. but i went in blind. i don’t know how much of the story was carried over and how much was changed (besides the obvious, of course). and yet, i still came out absolutely adoring it.

adoring oliver and this rendition of darcy (which mygod his name was fitzwilliam the whole time??? that’s the man’s name who we’ve all been in love with?? an abomination). oliver’s sheer determination. in his wills. in not allowing this society to beat him down or force him to fully comply. it gives a whole new layer to what i know of with the original austin’s “elizabeth bennet”. these stories are always so full of tender moments and for that i am always extremely grateful. grateful to see them being published. gaining a readership. hopefully introducing young teens to happily ever afters no matter who you are and how you walk in this world.

ash (smokedshelves)

thank you to macmillan children’s publishing group, feiwel & friends, and netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

gabe cole novoa does it again! the remixed classics does it again! my heart is so full and my words are lacking, as always. this is now the third book i’ve read in the “classics but make very explicitly queer” series. and with each one, i fall more deeply in love with these retellings.

in attempting to write this (truly insufficient) review i went back to what i said for the first two books. and i think i’ve already said it best: with each iteration of these remixed classic, my inner queer teen soul heals a bit more. i spoke about how i wish i had this representation back i was in high school, about ten years ago now, when i was forced to read the originals. when i didn’t know so many things i know now. and it still holds perfectly true after this story too.

maybe even more so with most ardently. reading novoa’s previous release, i already knew i loved his writing. loved the way he tells stories. but this was the first retelling where i hadn’t actually read the source material yet. hadn’t seen any of the adaptions all the girlies (gender neutral) fawn over. i have the book. have the ability to learn what the story entails first. but i went in blind. i don’t know how much of the story was carried over and how much was changed (besides the obvious, of course). and yet, i still came out absolutely adoring it.

adoring oliver and this rendition of darcy (which mygod his name was fitzwilliam the whole time??? that’s the man’s name who we’ve all been in love with?? an abomination). oliver’s sheer determination. in his wills. in not allowing this society to beat him down or force him to fully comply. it gives a whole new layer to what i know of with the original austin’s “elizabeth bennet”. these stories are always so full of tender moments and for that i am always extremely grateful. grateful to see them being published. gaining a readership. hopefully introducing young teens to happily ever afters no matter who you are and how you walk in this world.

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. This book is perfection. I love this remix. These characters breathed new life. I just loved this story so. 

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix

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