NetGalley Review: Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa

Hey all, Sam here.

I feel like I’m starting to get my groove back when it comes to getting these posts written up and scheduled. That feels pretty nice. I’ve honestly missed talking about books here on the blog. I know I should probably work on upping my game with my Instagram, trying to come up with nice photos and adding little reviews in there, and I definitely need to actually work on trying to do videos for TikTok. Eventually I’ll get there, but for now I’m still trying to work up the courage to get in front of the camera.

Anyway, I’m continuing to play catch up on book reviews, and I started with the books I read last month, but I do still have books I read last year I still need to write up. Considering I read 20 books in January, and I’ve already finished 5 books in February, I have enough material to keep me going for at least a few weeks before I’m delving into my review backlist.

All right, let’s go ahead and jump into today’s review.

A trans boy searches for a future―and a romance―in which he can live and love openly as himself in this heartrending young-adult reimagining of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, part of the Remixed Classics series.

London, 1812 . Oliver Bennet feels trapped—not just by the endless corsets, petticoats, and skirts he’s forced to wear on a daily basis, but also by society’s expectations. The world, and the vast majority of his family and friends, think Oliver is a girl named Elizabeth. He is therefore expected to mingle at balls wearing a pretty dress, entertain suitors regardless of his interest in them, and ultimately become someone’s wife.

But Oliver can’t bear the thought of such a fate. He finds solace in the few times he can sneak out of his family’s home and explore the city rightfully dressed as a young gentleman. It’s during one such excursion when Oliver becomes acquainted with Darcy, a sulky young man who had been rude to “Elizabeth” at a recent social function. But in the comfort of being out of the public eye, Oliver comes to find that Darcy is actually a sweet, intelligent boy with a warm heart, not to mention attractive.

As Oliver spends more time as his true self, often with Darcy, part of him dares to hope that his dream of love and life as a man can be possible. But suitors are growing bolder―and even threatening―and his mother is growing more desperate to see him settled into an engagement. Oliver will have to choose: settle for safety, security, and a life of pretending to be something he’s not, or risk it all for a slim chance at freedom, love, and a life that can be truly his own.

My Thoughts

Rating: 5 stars

This book was released January 16th in the US, so you can pick up a copy for yourself if you want.

I LOVED this book, so much.

I did not realize that this was a P&P adaptation that I needed, but here we are. Honestly I think I enjoy this version better. There’s more interaction between our leading couple, and that allows for more relationship development.

Plus there were some interesting shifts in family dynamics that worked nicely, as well as friendship dynamics. It was interesting to see who knew Oliver’s truth and who discovered it along the way. Along with that, of course, was being able to see how folks reacted to learning about Oliver. Considering how close Elizabeth is to her father in the original, I was happily tearing up in this version when Oliver reveals himself to Mr Bennet.

Yes, the story pretty much follows the plot points we all know from the classic Pride & Prejudice, with only minor adjustments for it to fit with the added character and story changes.

I was obsessed with this, and didn’t want to stop reading. The fact that it read very quickly as well meant that the journey was over too soon, but at least I can always enjoy a reread, because this is a book that will be staying in my library for a while.

Oh, I should say that there is a good amount of deadnaming in this book, so if you are sensitive to that, be aware before you begin. I know every time someone said Elizabeth, I was finding myself as internally frustrated as Oliver was.

Overall, I can absolutely say that Most Ardently is in the running for my top reads of 2024 list, and I definitely hope to read more of these remixed classics going forward.

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Well, that is all from me for today. Thank you so much for stopping by and I’ll be back soon with more geeky content.