 | Most Ardently: A Pride and Prejudice Remix is one of a series of novels reimagining classic stories through the lens of historically marginalized groups such as LGBTQ+, racial, or religious minorities. In this particular novel, the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, is a trans boy longing to be recognized as her parents’ son, Oliver. The story opens with Oliver in a cinched dress that makes him feel nauseous both for the way it distorts his body and because in this guise he’s referred to as a girl. His sister Jane (and another relative) are aware of his desire to be known as male, but his mother Mrs. Bennet is decidedly not—and this deception is a primary source of tension in the novel. |
Oliver is attracted to other boys and his first glimpse of Darcy is telling: “The boy’s hair . . . framed his face in loose waves that curled out like a crown. It looked very soft. What would it feel like to run his fingers through it?”
And on the next page:
“There was something magnetic about Darcy’s dark eyes, about his slightly furrowed brow as the boy held eye contact with him. Oliver's face warmed, his heart pounding in his ears so loudly the music of the room fell away.”
When Darcy looks away with a look of disgust, Oliver decides, “He needn’t waste a second more of his time with a boy determined to be so miserable.”
And thus the enemies-to-lovers trope begins!
And on the next page:
“There was something magnetic about Darcy’s dark eyes, about his slightly furrowed brow as the boy held eye contact with him. Oliver's face warmed, his heart pounding in his ears so loudly the music of the room fell away.”
When Darcy looks away with a look of disgust, Oliver decides, “He needn’t waste a second more of his time with a boy determined to be so miserable.”
And thus the enemies-to-lovers trope begins!
 | One night, Oliver sneaks out of the house in boy’s clothes, later running into Darcy and his friend Bingley, who invite Oliver to a men’s club—which leads to more misunderstanding with the socially awkward Darcy when Oliver assumes Darcy resents him for his modest origins. But like many places where the author creates conflict and tension, it is quickly resolved: “I see,” Oliver said stiffly. Darcy frowned, looking at him quizzically. Then his eyes widened. “Oh! Apologies, I wasn't trying to imply—I only meant that I hadn’t seen you there before.” |
Similarly, when Oliver’s father, Mr. Bennet catches him returning home in menswear, the tension isn’t sustained. There are a couple of pages detailing Oliver’s visceral terror in bodily reactions, leading to this courageous resolution:
“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.
“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.
 | When, Darcy and Oliver share a kiss, and the author does a wonderful job expressing Oliver’s excitement and joy: “Darcy’s mouth was every bit as soft as he’d imagined. His lips brushed featherlight against Oliver’s. A taste at first, then again with slightly more pressure. Kissing Darcy was like sitting in the sun on a perfectly temperate day, eating a fresh plate of strawberries dipped in sugar. Kissing Darcy was like jumping off a cliff into a pool of refreshingly cool water. Kissing Darcy was like sinking into the warmth of his favorite blanket in front of a fire. Kissing Darcy was like drinking hot mulled cider, the steam making his face flush as the hot, spiced liquid warmed him from the inside out. Kissing Darcy was everything.” |
The tension of not being accepted by Mrs. Bennet, Oliver’s mother, resolves relatively easily. Compared to Keyne’s emotional journey to gender acceptance in Sistersong, Oliver’s unconditional approval by his family—proper Mrs. Bennet in particular—feels unearned. But that might be too demanding of this light-hearted fantasy. Superficial characterization aside, the ending is delightful:
“Darcy’s firm chest against his own bound torso triggered a euphoria unlike any Oliver had ever known when he’d pretended to be a girl. This moment, here, kissing a boy as a boy, with Darcy’s warmth like a furnace against his skin, and Darcy’s hands on his back making him feel safe—it was everything Oliver had ever wanted. It was everything he’d dared not to dream.
But it was real, and nothing and no one could take that away from him."
If you’re looking for a gender-queer story with a decidedly happy ending and aren’t particular about deep literary writing, Most Ardently delivers.
“Darcy’s firm chest against his own bound torso triggered a euphoria unlike any Oliver had ever known when he’d pretended to be a girl. This moment, here, kissing a boy as a boy, with Darcy’s warmth like a furnace against his skin, and Darcy’s hands on his back making him feel safe—it was everything Oliver had ever wanted. It was everything he’d dared not to dream.
But it was real, and nothing and no one could take that away from him."
If you’re looking for a gender-queer story with a decidedly happy ending and aren’t particular about deep literary writing, Most Ardently delivers.
For other enjoyable stories with gender-queer characters, try Sistersong, Spear,
Light from Uncommon Stars, The Four Profound Weaves, or The Bruising of Qilwa
Light from Uncommon Stars, The Four Profound Weaves, or The Bruising of Qilwa
