Most Ardently Yours by Freya Sampson Review: The Book Magic Trend Continues

by Donna Huber

Zoe Knight, a struggling romance writer, has sworn off men for good. At least…the ones in real life. Once a believer in a happily ever after, she now curbs her loneliness with the help of the best book boyfriends in literature – and there is no better man than Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy. So when she stumbles into a classic London bookshop and argues with the annoyingly attractive store owner, Nick, who refuses to sell romance novels, she decides to liberate him of a dusty copy of Pride & Prejudice abandoned on a top shelf.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

July 2026; Sourcebooks Landmark; 978-1464277894
audio, ebook, print (320 pages); romantic comedy

Freya Sampson continues the trendy book magic theme of the past year with her new novel, Most Ardently Yours. In my spoiler-free book review, I break down just how this London-based rom-com has the magic of the written word literally jump off the page.

The Book Boyfriend Trend

Who hasn't dreamed of a book boyfriend walking out of his story and into your life? Sampson goes with the obvious fictional book boyfriend - Mr. Darcy. I don't understand why so many people pick him as their ideal boyfriend. My first book boyfriend was Sydney Carton for A Tale of Two Cities. I mean, he died so that the woman he loved could be with the man she loved. Who wouldn't want a man who would die for her?

But I concede that reading a French Revolution-era character out of a book would not have worked so well with the setting of this book.

More Than a Romance Novel: Unraveling Fictional Expectations

Putting aside that I'm not a Jane Austen fan, having Mr. Darcy show up in modern-day London does provide several moments of comic relief. He quickly becomes enthralled by television. At least Zoe tried to keep his brain from rotting by having him watch documentaries. Mrs. Attallah, on the other hand, was all for the brain-rotting reality shows. 

I've never kept it a secret that I'm not much of a romance novel reader. When I was a young adult, though, I devoured them. But there came a point where I realized that they were giving me unrealistic expectations of relationships. Zoe's best friend accuses her of the same thing. 

Does she dismiss guys because they don't live up to her fictional ideals, or is she just picking bad dates? The main example we get of her choice of boyfriends points towards the latter. 

It's not that Darcy is a different person when he pops out of the book. While initially aghast at the thought of a man (particularly of his class) doing domestic duties, he does accept that it is the way of the times and makes his own breakfast. I also don't think it really changes the underlying standards of who Zoe would consider a worthy partner. 

Instead, his presence awakens Zoe to the fact that she uses her book boyfriends as a way to hide. One of her greatest fears is abandonment. She fears that every man will leave her. Book boyfriends are safer as they are always there when you crack open the cover.

How it Compares: The Charmed Library vs. The Astral Library vs. Most Ardently Yours

If you read The Charmed Library last winter, you may think you are experiencing a little deja vu when you start this book. Outside of the magic to read a character into the real world and the dangers of doing so, this is a different story. 

Most Ardently Yours has a little soft commentary on romance novels, but it isn't as heavy-handed as the commentary on book banning as you find in yet another bookish fantasy novel that came out earlier this year, The Astral Library

Classic Romance Tropes and 90s Rom-Com Vibes

This is a romantic comedy and has a few of the typical tropes found within the genre. If you are an avid romance reader, you will quickly identify the Grumpy/Sunny set-up. 

You also know that there must be some obstacle or wedge that keeps the two lovers apart. You may assume it is Zoe's fixation on Mr.Darcy. While it is a distraction for Zoe and keeps her from recognizing the chemistry between her and Nick, it isn't the obstacle. What keeps these two apart is something much more magical. Yet, let me assure you that this isn't a paranormal romance, and I use the term "magic" for lack of a better term.

There is a sex scene, which I skimmed over. So the book isn't squeaky clean, but it isn't steamy either. It actually reads more like women's fiction, where the growth of the main character is the focus of the story more than the romantic relationship.

I enjoyed Sampson's descriptive setting. I loved the opening paragraph as it places the reader squarely in the story.

"If you've ever visited London's West End, you might well have walked past Baskerville Books. It's situated in Cecil Court, a narrow thoroughfare between the bustling theaters and restaurants of Charing Cross Road and St. Martin's Lane, just a stone's throw from Trafalgar Square. Venturing into Cecil Court is like stepping back into Victorian London. Ornate hand-painted signs hang above the shops, advertising antiques dealers and art galleries, and every December, Londoners congregate there to sing Christmas carols and drink mulled wine, like something out of a Richard Curtis movie."

It is reminiscent of the Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks movies of the 1990s.

Final Verdict: The Perfect Summer Beach Read

This book is perfect for readers who have ever dreamed of a book boyfriend coming to life. Most Ardently Yours is less about swooning over a classic Regency hero and more about learning to close the book and face real life. If the whimsical concept of The Charmed Library left you wanting more. This light, character-driven story with Notting Hill vibes is the one to pick up. Toss it in your beach bag or take it to your favorite local spot with a glass of wine, and enjoy a perfectly cozy summer read.

Buy Most Ardently Yours at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us. Get even more book news in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter today! Or Follow Girl Who Reads with Bloglovin. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.