YA LGBT Books discussion

The second winner this month was Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa

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.

Content warnings : (view spoiler)[ misogyny, transphobia, mental health issues, misgendering, deadnaming, dysphoria, homophobia, (hide spoiler)]

I will be interested to see what the group thinks of this one.

I think its a shame no one commented, but I will admit I had difficulties getting into the book with how it starts out. I felt like in the beginning there was quite a few personal trauma for me too- with how the family interacts with our main character so I never really finished the book but will be getting it again soon to give it another chance because the remix of classics collection was a brilliant series, which this book is a part of.

If anyone would like a buddy to read along with let me know because. Its one of those books that hit me personally hard and I want to give it another go because the writing itself was masterful in my opinion

Louis wrote: "I think its a shame no one commented, but I will admit I had difficulties getting into the book with how it starts out. I felt like in the beginning there was quite a few personal trauma for me too..."

<3 Thanks for stopping by to comment and for the kind offer

Kaje wrote: "Louis wrote: "I think its a shame no one commented, but I will admit I had difficulties getting into the book with how it starts out. I felt like in the beginning there was quite a few personal tra..."

It is a book worth the time, its just whether or not people can digest some of the language used in it. The book is very clever, it captures the essence of the original book great, but I forget sometimes how it was a different world back then in the time the book is set- a book with less hate but more confusion and a world where things are complicated beyond just language.

Also no problem, its always nice to buddy read with someone, it can make books that appear scary seem less scary when you read along with someone else x