Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix

Remixed Classics, Book 9

By: Gabe Cole Novoa

Narrated by: Harrison Knights

ALA Stonewall Book Award: Honor Book, 2025

Long-listed, NPR Best Book of the Year, 2024

Nominated, Goodreads Choice Awards, 2024

In the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon. This bittersweet Pride & Prejudice remix follows a trans boy yearning for the freedom to live openly, centering queerness in a well-known story of longing and subverting society’s patriarchal and cisheteronormative expectations.

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 could 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.

The Remixed Classics Series

A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee

So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow

Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi

What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri

Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore

My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron

Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb Roehrig

Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa

A Macmillan Audio production from Feiwel & Friends.

©2024 Gabe Cole Novoa (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"The minute I finished, I knew this book had already replaced the original Pride and Prejudice in my heart. Gabe Cole Novoa has infused this timeless love story with so much care for its transgender protagonist, so much reverence for its queer love story, that I’d happily hand him my whole stack of classics to remix. A beautifully crafted novel, and a gift to those of us still looking for a home in literature’s most celebrated tomes.”—Tehlor Kay Mejia, bestselling author of We Set the Dark on Fire

"This triumphant queer and trans retelling of Pride and Prejudice holds and cares for its readers, offering a gentle story during an especially difficult period in history for those outside the norm. The relationship between Darcy and Oliver is tender and rooted in mutual compassion. For every reader who fell in love with Pride and Prejudice but wished it was a little more queer."—Booklist

"There is much this book does well, including the historical details of clothing being used to highlight both Oliver’s discomfort when wearing women’s attire and his euphoric freedom when wearing men’s outfits. ... Queer people living full, happy lives have too often been erased from history, and this book is a fine attempt to paint them back into the picture."—The Bulletin

So much queer joy

I was hooked when I heard "queer and trans Pride and Prejudice retelling" but I had no idea just how wonderful this book would be. The whole book gave me so much to smile and laugh about, the rejections were incredibly satisfying, and all of the reveals towards the end of the book were absolute perfection, especially when Oliver told Darcy his given name. Easy five stars, can't recommend this book highly enough.

soo freaking good!

It was a perfect blend of angst and fluff that you can typically expect from a Jane Austen story. This was so well done, I loved Oliver with all my heart!

Very moving and clever

A generous and thoughtful take on the familiar story. Oliver is beautifully drawn and tenderly realized.

Represented trans person so well

Love the representation and clever retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Gave modern twist to those lenses.

amazing book

beautiful story with amazing queer and trans representation!! The historical context was so interesting and very cool to read about as well

a beautiful love story with a Trans male MC

I LOVED it so so much, it was absolutely stunning and the ending left me teary-eyed in the most amazing way! I genuinely recommend this as a read, even more so if you are looking for a queer Trans love story. I plan to listen to this again and I've already bought a physical copy of the book 1000/10

Sweet

A very sweet story that deals heavily with dysmorphia, and gender biases. You need to suspend disbelief in several places in order to fully enjoy the fantasy of the tale. To be totally honest, I've never read (or watched) Pride & Prejudice so I wasn't impacted by changes made to the story. I'm in full support of having more trans love stories like this in the world.

Brought me to tears

The writing in this story truly expressed the emotions that a trans man goes through while having to parade as someone he is not. I cried multiple times while listening to the love that was shown to our dear Oliver and felt the euphoria of acceptance through his eyes. I cannot express how much I enjoyed this book and look forward to more works from this author. The characters are lovable, real, and filled with a life that can only be written by someone with real passion for their work. I knew I would adore this book from the moment I saw it and yet, I was surprised by just how much it affected me. My little trans soul was healed a little more by every word.

Podia ter sido mais Criativo

Repensar um clássico não é nada fácil, mas dava pra trazer mais criatividade ao invés de repetir cenas de orgulho e preconceito

Emotional View of trans-masculinity

I enjoyed this remix very much so overall. The struggles faced by Oliver and the quiet, meaningful victories he made on his path to truth were inspiring and heartfelt. I felt the ending wrapped up a bit quickly, and as the author noted in the epilogue (spoilers) I’m not sure a person in Oliver’s position could have pushed for such an inheritance realistically, but for the purposes of this telling it was the resolution my heart wished for truthfully. I would highly recommend this book.

Kudos to our narrator as well for a connected, genuine-sounding performance of this interesting cast of characters. Lovely range displayed across genders, ages, and classes.