Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa

I just finished Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa, and it was exactly the kind of book I needed right now.

The novel is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, but in this version Elizabeth Bennet is Oliver Bennet, a transgender boy navigating Regency society. I only have a passing familiarity with Jane Austen’s original story, so I went into this open to whatever the book wanted to be. What I found was a warm, gentle, and surprisingly cozy reading experience.

From the beginning, the story is told through Oliver’s eyes. Early on, we see him navigating the expectations placed on him while still being known publicly as Elizabeth. There’s a ball, family introductions, and the usual social maneuvering that comes with Regency settings. But there’s also a fair where Oliver gets to present as himself, and the shift in those scenes is noticeable. The world opens up for him. The prose feels lighter. Men simply have more freedom in that world, and you feel that difference immediately.

I appreciated most about this book was the tone. The language suggests the time period without becoming overly flowery or bulky, which can sometimes make classic literature feel a bit like wading through molasses. This book moves along easily while still feeling appropriate to its setting.

The best part was how safe the story felt.

That may sound like an odd thing to say about a novel, but readers know what I mean. I never felt like I had to brace myself for violence or cruelty. The stakes were emotional rather than physical. Oliver is trying to figure out how to live authentically while navigating family expectations, inheritance issues, and the complicated social rules of the time.

When Oliver tells his parents that he is a boy and not Elizabeth, the response is one of the most touching parts of the book. His father is supportive throughout, but the real surprise is his mother. Mrs. Bennet spends much of the story aggressively trying to secure marriages for her children, but when Oliver introduces himself as her son, she accepts him immediately. Her response reframes everything about her character. She isn’t simply pushy; she’s trying to protect her children the only way she knows how.

The romance between Oliver and Darcy is hinted at early and develops in a gentle way. It’s sweet, not dramatic. There’s no spice, no melodrama, just two people slowly recognizing each other.

By the end of the book, they aren’t even rushing into marriage. They’re simply dating, which felt refreshingly modern in spirit even within a historical setting.

Overall, this was what I like to call a “candy bar book.”

It’s not meant to be dense or challenging. It’s meant to be enjoyed. As someone who reads widely across genres, I rely on books like this to carry me between heavier or more demanding reads. Sometimes I’ll even read something light alongside a more serious book just to have something calming to settle into before bed.

Most Ardently fit that role perfectly. It was warm, kind, and easy to read, with just enough mild turbulence near the end to make the happy ending satisfying.

After the emotional chaos of the last book I read, this one felt like exactly the right choice.

Sometimes you just need a story that lets your nervous system relax for a while.

➡Read Most Ardently

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