Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Book Name: Prom and Prejudice

Author/s: Elizabeth Eulberg
Language English
Source: Bought
Publisher, year: 2011, Point

Page total:231
Date Read: January 3-4 2011
Genre/s: YA, Contemporary Fiction
Synopsis/Description: After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.

Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?

Will Lizzie’s pride and Will’s prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? Whatever the result, Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club, has concocted a very funny, completely stylish delight for any season — prom or otherwise.
First line of Book: It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single girl of high standing at Longbourn Academy must be in want of a prom date.

Review:I got this book the other day (it's a freaking new version of P&P, how could I not get it!?) and I read it and I LOVED it. Most of classic retellings suck, especially if you like the classic, but this is definitely not the case.

P&P's story was very well incorporated in this new modern setting. Apart from some word choices (affections? prospects?), it was all remarkably well written, and all the characters were well rounded and believable. I honestly found myself saying (in a very high voice- some people might call it a squee, something I never do), every time a new character appeared ,something like this:Look, there is a LONGBOURN academy and a PEMBERLEY Academy, how cute is that! or this OMG it's Lizzie, mom, it's Lizzie, she just appeared, and Jane too!!! or even something like this Oh look it's Bingley and Darcy's with him, ohmygoodness I LOVE Darcy!!!

It's not pretty, but it's just so that you know how good this book is. And yes, it IS that good.

Lizzie was a likable girl, and I think if she were real I'd love her to be my friend. She's so honest and sweet and selfless! Oh and smart and talented too!! And man, she's got spunk! Jane was a great person too and she's very kind and gentle and good-hearted (reminds you of another Jane?).
Charles was really cute, very nice and good too.
And Darcy, must I really explain Will Darcy to you? Hot, kind, sweet, generous Darcy... Ah, I'll shut up.
I also loved his sister, Georgiana, her not-so-subtle attempts to put D+L together were so sweet, and I liked that she was slightly different from the other Georgie.

As I said before, this is basically a modern retelling of P&P, but this is actually a good one. Not to fluffy, not to old fashioned and with the perfect amount of drama. All in all, this is similar enough to the original P&P for Austen fans to like it, but it's also different enough for it to stand out on its own. I know the year has just begun, but I know it'll be hard for any contemporary book to surpass this one. This is a definite read and reread. Enjoy.
Rating: 5/5
Quotes:
"Caroline got up from the couch. 'Is it time for dinner, or are we going to have to listen to more pounding? I already have a headache from the drive.'
Darcy laughed. 'I guess Bartók's not for everybody.'
'You knew that was Bartók?' I was surprised.
He shrugged, 'I pay attention in music class.'
Please,' Charles began to say, 'It's more like-'
Darcy shot charles a look, which made it clear he didn't want him to continue."