A Pride and Prejudice retelling in which Darcy is gay and falls in love with the second eldest Bennet who is a trans boy? Sign me up.
In Most Ardently, we escape to London, 1812, where Oliver Bennet feels decidedly trapped. The world and a vast majority of friends and family thinks that Oliver is a girl named Elizabeth, the second eldest daughter of the Bennet family. Expected to dress in frilly petticoats and subject to the conventions of society, Oliver can only be himself and find solace when he sneaks out in the middle of the night where he can explore the city as the young gentleman he is. When he becomes acquainted with Darcy during one of those fateful nights, a sulky man he has only met as “Elizabeth” at a social function, everything changes. Oliver gets to know Darcy and realises just how kind, intelligent, and sweet he is.
As Oliver finally gets the chance to spend more time as his true self, he begins to dream of a different future than what society and his family expects of him: instead of becoming someone’s wife, he could be who he truly is: a free man. But as obligations grow harder and suitors become more threatening, Oliver will have to choose: settle for a life of safety pretending to be something he’s not or risk it all for the chance at freedom, his true self and a love to rival them all.
I’m not saying that this is better than the original, but okay yeah, that’s what I’m saying. I binged Most Ardently in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down. There is so much to love and if you’re ever in need of a pick-me-up, then this one will surely deliver that feeling of happiness.
Darcy and Oliver’s romance was so well done and tugged at my heartstrings. From their initial rocky meetings, Oliver’s struggle to reconciliate the two sides of Darcy he meets, and then to their eventual soft and genuine love is beautiful. Darcy in and of himself was fascinating—whether you have read the original or this is your first exposure to his character, you’re sure to find him as mysterious and magical as he deserves to be. Oliver, meanwhile, has all my love. His internal thoughts felt so soothing in a way that I can’t really describe. From his courage to his fierce belief in equality and community all the way to him teasing Darcy, I just couldn’t get enough of his point of view.
One of my favourite parts in queer historical retellings is that the aspect of community, of finding your tribe is so intricate to the plot. In Most Ardently, we see the importance of connecting with other people who just “get” Oliver right from the get-go and who support him in the best ways.
Also, despite the bigotry of the times, it was enjoyable to see how the author generally focused on the validation of Oliver’s identity. Whenever he is struggling with his secret, acting in front of his family when he can be himself with his sister or his friend Charlotte, there is always some reminder how valid Oliver is and how there will always be people who will welcome him with open arms.
Beyond creating a found family, Oliver also has the support of his family members which I was incredibly happy about. Novoa here chose to make this a story about struggle, yes, but overwhelmingly, this is a story where trans and queer joy is at the centre of every scene. Also Oliver’s father deserves an award, I just want to meet him and hug him and tell him he’s the best. Of all the ways I imagined him to react when Oliver came out to him, I couldn’t have hoped for a more validating, more heart-warming scenario. This book is filled with so much love and it is marvellous to see. I can already tell that this is going to be a comfort read for me and many other readers out there.
Filled with trans joy, Most Ardently is the compulsively readable Pride and Prejudice retelling that proves that true love—and being your true self—will always persevere.
Most Ardently is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 16th 2024.
Will you be picking up Most Ardently? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
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 Jane Austen’s Pride & 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. And not to mention incredibly attractive.
As Oliver is able to spend more time as his true self, often with Darcy, part of him dares begin to hope that his dream of love and life as a man to 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, honestly his own.
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