From my blog post: Alright, so I have been itching to read this book since Kalynn announced it and even more so after the cover reveal (it gives Baron Samedi vibes, look him up). For transparency, I am guilty of not having read the original but knew the premise (so it was fine). I will say that I believe anyone who didn’t read the OG will be fine as this book stood well on its own. The story had so many different layers to it covering being Black in the 1800s, being gay in that era, respectability politics and so much more. While there isn’t necessary magic in this story, there is that fantastical/otherworldly nature of science and determining how far is too far to go with it. There’s mystery, intrigue and twist & turns throughout the entire story that will keep you on your toes a bit.

Listening to the audio, I was talking back out loud to the narrator (who did a good job) every once in a while (rather than in my head if I read the physical version) & I’m sure I had a lot of facial contortion going on as well. The narrator had a pretty good pace and did a good job giving voice to the other characters. This was a great addition to the Classics Remix family.

I'm really a fan of Kalynn's work. This is the first book I've read in these remix series - tbh I didn't know they were all remixes. This is the first one I've wanted to read, and I wasn't disappointed. Also, let me say that because I listened to this and those us who listen to audiobooks knows a narrator makes or breaks an audio, Samuel did a fantastic job narrating this. I really enjoyed this take on a classic story. ♡

As Gabriel’s father pushed him to become a doctor, he finds himself accepted to London Medical School under many different provisions surrounding his race. While applying himself to his studies, Gabriel forms an attachment to Henry Jekyll that is scandalous for the 1880s and causes them both to be expelled. Henry pushes Gabriel away, but Gabriel can’t let go or move on. As he tries to relocate Henry, he runs into Hyde, an odd young man who is quite charismatic. Gabriel’s jealousy grows as he sees Hyde free to enter and leave the Jekyll residence, and the jealousy causes Gabriel to become aggressive in his hunt for Henry.

I thought it was quite clever how the author used the duality found in the original Jekyll and Hyde story to examine sexuality, class, and race. This was one of the greatest strengths of this work, and this intersectionality made for interesting characters with depth and development. The antagonistic relationship between Henry and his father was also well written and impactful. The author included relevant and interesting details about how race and sexuality impacted and limited Black men in London at the time through three of the main characters, which was excellently done. Similarly, the setting was well written and 19th century London came to life, from the stuffy and hypocritical college of medicine to the filthy backstreets and hidden apothecaries.

There were several jumps in time during this work that weren’t clearly delineated, so it always took a second to resituate myself in the story. These left some gaps in the story that disappointed me. For example, not long after Henry and Gabriel meet, there’s a time jump and suddenly they’re romantically involved. I wanted to see how their relationship came to be and the foundations it was built on, information that I think would have made the rest of the work more impactful. In the same way, the story progressed rapidly without including much background information on any of the characters, making it difficult to completely connect with any of them.

This was an atmospheric YA retelling of the classic Jekyll and Hyde story that tackled some difficult subjects; I definitely recommend this read! My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work, which will be published on March 7th, 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I'll admit that I haven't read the OG Jekyll and Hyde story. I came for the gothic Victorian vibes and I was surprised to also find a sprinkling of dark academia. The novel left me satisfied on that end.

I'll start with the things I liked. I received an audio arc and I really liked the narrator, Clifford Samuel. His voice was very soothing and nice to listen to. I liked the antagonistic relationship between Dr. Jekyll and his son, Henry. The fact that he doesn't like his son being gay and the lengths he'd go to "fix" it felt realistic (sadly).

I also loved how race and being LGBT is interwoven into the storyline. We learn how much it limits each of the major characters (Dr. Jekyll, Henry, and Gabriel) when it comes to their career goals, upward social mobility, and interactions with white men who wield power. Also, the last 10% of the novel was very dramatic and kept me on the edge of my seat.

On to the things I didn't like... Everything felt like it was happening so quickly that it was hard to get to really know the characters. While I wanted to root for Gabriel/Henry, it felt like insta love. One day, they meet each other and then Gabriel mentions that a summer went by and now they're in love. We never get to see the relationship really develop between the two. You just take it at face value.

Characters would also be introduced and Gabriel would mention how they knew each other and then suddenly they become integral to the plot. It feels like you're dropped into Gabriel's world without much information about his past, so it was very hard for me to understand the importance of Gabriel's relationships to each character that's involved in the main plotline.

All in all, I think this is a good, quick YA read.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this audio arc.

Kalynn Bayron has once again blessed us with a masterful tale! This retelling of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was perfectly paced to keep us engaged. Told from the viewpoint of Gabriel Utterson, a young black man trying to make his way in 19th century London. He encounters an obstacle to his plans when homophobic and racist ideologies of the time period force him into a different path. Despite all of this and a brief absence from London, Gabriel is determined to try to maintain his relationship with Henry Jekyll. When odd things start happening around Henry and the strange Mr. Hyde starts coming around, Gabriel needs to get the bottom of the changes. Clifford Samuel does an excellent job setting the stage and keeping the suspense. His voice was perfect for this story.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan audio for an audio arc of this book.

This is the first book I've read by Kalynn Bayron and I went into it completely blind. Kalynn has such a beautiful way of writing that draws the reader in and keeps you wanting to turn each page. I was invested in these characters and their experiences broke my heart. The book deals with heavy themes of racism and homophobia which were heavily challenged throughout the book. I found the pacing was rushed which did not allow for the story to be flushed out and caused the romantic relationship to be under developed. It was definitely an interesting take on the classic story and I will be checking out Kalynn's other retellings.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and Netgalley for an ALC of this book.

Gabriel is studying medicine when he really wants to be studying law. When he meets Henry Jekyll, things are better. But then something happens to Henry and he withdraws. Gabriel needs to find out what happened to him and what changed.

Such an interesting Jekyll and Hyde remix! I actually have never read the original, but I loved this! There is some good talk about respectability politics, living as a Black queer person in the 1880's, as well as the really interesting scientific and slightly magical plot. I really liked this book and its dark academia type setting. Will read anything Kalynn Bayron writes!

CW: racism, homophobia, torture, sexual assault, murder

I’ve read the original Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, so I was curious about this retelling. I’m a fan of Bayron’s, so that made me even more eager to read it.

Dark alleys, an ominous science lab, foggy streets – atmosphere certainly isn’t lacking in this novel. Henry and Gabriel are young, gay Black men studying to become doctors, a goal not easily accomplished in Victorian England. Homophobia and racism are prevalent, but considering the setting is 1885 that’s not surprising. I liked that the author didn’t shy away from those issues, and her MCs had to deal with them on an ongoing basis throughout the story. They way they’re treated angered me, but is consistent with the times.

When Henry suddenly becomes distant and cold and practically a recluse inside his home, Gabriel is desperate to learn the reason. He’s even more perplexed and jealous when Hyde shows up and has unlimited access to the Jekyll household. There’s something familiar about him Gabriel can’t put his finger on, and he cares too much about Henry to let the situation rest.

For me, Henry and Gabriel’s relationship seemed to develop over the span of a few pages. Another reviewer mentioned a year passes between chapters, but I listened to the audiobook and didn’t immediately pick up on that. My impression was they meet in one chapter, write several letters to each other, and are in a serious relationship by the next chapter. Don’t get me wrong, they’re adorable and take a chance even being together, but it was initially difficult to be invested. It’s a short novel, the primary focus of the story is on Henry’s transformation to Hyde and the monsters (literal and figurative) he’s forced to deal with, and that’s what I’d hoped.

This is the second remix I’ve read in this series, and I’ve enjoyed both retellings (the endings are better than the originals!). I’m looking forward to reading more.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I very much enjoyed this book. It was a heartbreaking, yet beautiful story of fighting for your truest self. All while standing tall and proud, even in the face of evil. I loved the fact that the MC was BIPOC and queer and that you really got to see things from a different point of view during that time period. This book is a perfect example of why it’s important to diversify your reading. I am not a classics girly because I find them lack luster and dense but this series of remixes of the classic novels are exceptionally good.

Thank you to #netgalley and #macmillianaudio for the ARC. I am a fan of Kalynn Bayron so I requested the ARC. As stated in the title this is a Jekyll and Hyde remix.It still takes place in the 1800s London. The main characters are black and it is a YA gay romance. Intially reading the book I thought it was just a queer main like Bayron's other works. Overall I just thought it was okay. It was kind of boring to me.

This is my first remix of Jekyll and Hyde. Bayron's writing is amazing - the description and vividness absolutely immersed me in this story. She captured gothic Victorian London perfectly. The feel of the cover is very much the feel of the book and the narrator was also a perfect fit.

This story is dark and full of racism and homophobia. It made my heart sad and heavy but this was true to the time period and I enjoyed the take on this classic tale.

Content warnings: racism, homophobia, sexual harassment, assault, attempted sexual assault, fictional elements that are reminiscent of conversion therapy and gore.

A huge thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC. All opinions are my own.

As a lover of horror, I was excited to see this retelling come across my screen. Jekyll & Hyde is a cautionary tale laced with lessons that are still apt to happen today. In Bayron's retelling, she beautifully ties the subtext of the original tale with a modern twist; the focus being on race, sexuality, and class. The plot became more visceral with a younger Gabriel telling the story and watching the madness unfold within the Jekyll household. I very much enjoyed this retelling and the added layers it was given to lend young readers a great introduction to the terrifying tale of Stevenson's 'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.' The narration was so well done and his voice added so much to the story.

A totally new take on Jeckel and Hyde. Henry is a good student and seems to be enjoying university but when his dad gets fired from the school for unjust reasons it seems Henry goes down a bit of a rabbit hole but when Henry Jekyll goes missing and returns in his place is the rude pertinent Mr. Hyde his best friend doesn’t know what to make of it. When he questions the man Mr. pool he is reluctant to say anything but says enough to throw kerosene on the already smoldering curiosity game possesses. This book is told in retrospect by Gabe this is the third book in the six classic remake but I have read and have been joyed all of them and have only found Paul with one of them and it definitely wasn’t this book. This book is awesome I love it I love classics and love the new retakes and I think Kate Baran is the leader when it comes to redoing the classics and giving a fresh voice to stories we will not soon get tired of. Before I started this series I really had unddeserving opinions of those who messed with the classics but as I said that was before I started reading these books and I must say my dear Henry is my favorite so far but trying to pick a favorite between the books in this theories it’s like trying to pick out the shiniest diamond… It can be done but it would be so hard to do. I love this part I love the narrator I just love everything about it and cannot wait to see what the author comes up with next. She really is bringing a fresh steak to books that didn’t even seem like they needed spitting up. A total five star lesson. Did I mention how much I absolutely loved this book! I received it from NetGalley and the publisher but I am waiting does the review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy of this eARC audiobook for review.

I absolutely loved this retelling. I will do my best to explain without spoilers! It was an interesting spin on Jekyll & Hyde. I hadn't heard of the Remixed Classics collection until I found this audiobook on NetGalley. I tried, not knowing how I would feel about the outcome and whether these retellings would be my cup of tea, as I'm not a fan of the classics. I was so pleasantly surprised. The story was engaging and romantic. While there wasn't much action, there was mystery and suspense. Obviously, certain parts were predictable (because, HELLO, retelling!), but it remained engaging throughout. I liked the development of the characters, and the explanation of the society and how hierarchies worked was well written. Even the reactions of the parents of the main characters were explained well, and the differences in thought processes were acknowledged.

The narrator was well chosen. His voice was beautiful, easy to understand, and he emphasized appropriately. He changed his tone and volume where needed, and really seemed to understand what emotions were needed throughout. I would absolutely buy an audiobook with this narrator again.

When this story was being told I felt as though I was standing in the middle watching it play out in front of me. This retelling with a gay love story is fantastic. You can’t help but root for the characters to be together and my heart broke for them knowing that in this time period it was not approved.

My Dear Henry is a retelling of the story of Jekyll and Hyde in the classics remixed series. I was really looking forward to this story and I had a great time. This audiobook was really great, the narrator has a great voice that I think works really well for this story so I would definitely recommend the audiobook for this story. We follow Gabriel as a young black man trying to navigate a very racist society while also trying to follow the career path his father wants for him. Along the way, he meets a boy named Henry and they fall in love. But society does not want to see two boys in love and they are pulled apart. But the next time Gabriel runs into Henry, something is different about his friend, he doesn't seem like himself. It is fun to watch Gabriel try to piece together the mystery although the reader will likely already know what is happening before the main character just by knowing the bare basics of the story of Jekyll and Hyde. The topics of racism and homophobia are handled really well and I loved those parts of the story because it does not shy away from the horrible treatment that people in minority groups regularly face and how dangerous it makes life.

I enjoy this series, and this book is a welcome addition. The added layer of Gabriel being a young Black man added so much texture to this classic. The narration was well-done and the compact length is perfect. This is my first book by Brandon and I’ll be reading more.

I am disappointed I did not realize this was LGBTQ rep I would have never asked for it I am so sorry

4.5 stars
Heartfelt and heartbreaking love story and an interesting take on the classic Jekyll and Hyde concept. I do feel like the end wraps up a little quickly/abruptly, but I still enjoyed the worldbuilding and characters. And felt enough emotional attachment to them to cry with their pain.

This book was not a queer joy story, but I think books like this, that are sci-fi/fantasy historical fiction books are important. While queer joy is great, it is important to remember the very real homophobia, and in this book's case racism, that has been present in history and still is today. I've read a few books that choose to ignore history's homophobia, transphobia, or racism but I do appreciate the real and painful emotions that come from facing and portraying these topics.