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Prom & Prejudice
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single girl of high standing at Longbourn Academy must be in want of a prom date.
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?
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?
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 4, 2011
About the author
Elizabeth Eulberg
27 books3,115 followersThe short and sweet version:
Elizabeth Eulberg was born and raised in Wisconsin before heading off to college at Syracuse University and making a career in the New York City book biz. Now a full-time writer, she is the international bestselling author of over a dozen novels, including The Lonely Hearts Club, Prom & Prejudice, Take a Bow, and Better Off Friends, along with the middle-grade series The Great Shelby Holmes and Scared Silly. She now lives in London where she spends her free time aimlessly wandering around historic streets and eating all the scones. ALL OF THEM.
To check out the long version, head over to my webpage: http://www.elizabetheulberg.com/bio/
Also, I'm not checking e-mails on my Goodreads, see my website for information on contacting me! http://www.elizabetheulberg.com/faq/
Happy reading!
Elizabeth Eulberg was born and raised in Wisconsin before heading off to college at Syracuse University and making a career in the New York City book biz. Now a full-time writer, she is the international bestselling author of over a dozen novels, including The Lonely Hearts Club, Prom & Prejudice, Take a Bow, and Better Off Friends, along with the middle-grade series The Great Shelby Holmes and Scared Silly. She now lives in London where she spends her free time aimlessly wandering around historic streets and eating all the scones. ALL OF THEM.
To check out the long version, head over to my webpage: http://www.elizabetheulberg.com/bio/
Also, I'm not checking e-mails on my Goodreads, see my website for information on contacting me! http://www.elizabetheulberg.com/faq/
Happy reading!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,087 reviews
March 26, 2011
So I'm going to write my own version of a Jane Austen book. It's going to be called JANE AUSTEN: ZOMBIE TERMINATOR.
It's going to be about how Jane Austen rises from her grave and hunts down all the people who write terrible, terrible sequels and retellings of her book. She's then going to go all 'Carrie' on them and kick their ass. The End.
Karen wrote something in her review of Ash that I think would be very applicable to Prom and Prejudice as well. She says,
"Fairy tales are generally symbolic stories which mask universal human desires too emotional or frightening to deal with head-on."
I also said something similar, but in a different context, in my review of The Grand Sophie...
"Jane Austen's purpose in writing her novels was not merely to tell a story. In fact, the story was merely a vehicle to examine critically the mores and customs of the society of her times. In an era where women academicians and philosophers were all but unknown, Austen used the only avenue open to her to espouse her brand of social commentary - the novel."
So you see, when you are retelling a Jane Austen novel, or any piece of literature, it is not enough to simply use the name of the characters. The essence of the literature is in its legacy, and that can only be found in the subtleties and sub-contexts of the novel.
Obviously, I'm not saying that every retelling of a classic must impart the same message as the original; in fact, what's the fun in that?! The idea is to use that old bastion as a foundation to build a new structure, one that interfaces intelligently with the world you live in.
So if you want to tell a modern-day story about consumerism-obsessed teens, the economic divide and the superficiality of rich brats, Pride and Prejudice would be the perfect vehicle. Like Clueless, that ridiculously adorable retelling of Emma, so fluffy on the surface, but filled with subliminal messages.
Unfortunately, the author of Prom and Prejudice seems to have absorbed nothing from Pride and Prejudice except the surface story it imparts. SO you have Elizabeth Bennett, a scholarship student in a rich-girl school obsessed with prom. The only people who are nice to her in the whole entire school are her roommate Jane Netherfield and the only other scholarship girl, Charlotte Lucas. Jane has a crush on Charles Bingley, a student at the neighbouring boy's prep school, Pemberly Academy, who has recently returned from a semester in England with his best friend Darcy.
Of course Darcy is mean about Lizzie, she overhears him, hates him, falls for Wickham, etc etc, you know the drill. No, really, you do. Because this "retelling" does not deviate from the original one little bit. Except for changing the setting from England to Connecticut, making the characters teenage rich-brats and making the few minor changes required to situate the novel on the 21st century, Prom and Prejudice does not attempt to change in any manner the story of Pride and Prejudice.
Now here's the deal. You can't claim to "retell" a story and then literally retell it. I mean, what's the point? I already know, and love, the original story. What is YOUR contribution to the retelling, Ms. Eulberg? Am I supposed to be satisfied that Elizabeth works in a coffee shop now instead of being an idle gentlewoman? Or that instead of being forced to marry Lydia, Wickham is subject to a restraining order? Those are cosmetic changes; it's like stealing someone else's doll and putting your clothes on it and claiming that it's YOUR doll.
I discovered that Elizabeth Eulberg has written a fairly successful YA novel before Prom and Prejudice, so I can't help wondering, why is this attempt so amateurish? None of the characters in this novel have any real character. They are just puppets mouthing the words of the original cast of Pride and Prejudice. The language also sounds stiff and old-fashioned, as though the author is caught in a time warp between the 1813 and 2011, never fully in either era.
For example, Lizzie is at a student party hosted by Charles Bingley, and Will Darcy walks up to her and asks her to dance. Now I've been to my share of parties when I was a teenager, and most of the time my invitations were along the lines of "Wanna dance?" or, if the guy was a little more polite, "Would you like to dance?" You know what I've never heard come out from a teenage boy's mouth? "Would you care to join me for a dance?" Seriously, like he's fifty or something.
And later, when Colin's asking Lizzie to the prom...
"There are certain rites of passage that I think are a very important part of becoming an adult." He looked at me expectedly. I was so tired, all I could do was nod.
"Prom is one of those rites."
My stomach dropped. "It is a momentous occasion, especially for a Longbourn girl like yourself, and I believe that we'd make a great match to attend. Obviously, we have the dancing part down." He let out a small laugh. "And I know with your circumstances you may have some difficulty with the dress, but I would be more than willing to pay for your accoutrements if that would make you more comfortable."
I ask you, have you EVER met a teenage boy after 1950 who spoke like that?! Also, did you see? She mixed up 'expectantly' and 'expectedly'!!! *shakes head sorrowfully at the editor* That is only one of very many, many painful grammatical and typographical errors in the book. This book deserves place of honour in my "jeez-they-ll-publish-anything" shelf.
I could whine a lot more about the incredible hideousness of this massacre of my favourite Regency novel, but I'll spare you. To sum it up, Prom and Prejudice suffers from a severe lack of creativity, terrible characterizations, pedestrian writing, truly bad editing and nauseating superficiality. My recommendation? Avoid it like the plague.
It's going to be about how Jane Austen rises from her grave and hunts down all the people who write terrible, terrible sequels and retellings of her book. She's then going to go all 'Carrie' on them and kick their ass. The End.
Karen wrote something in her review of Ash that I think would be very applicable to Prom and Prejudice as well. She says,
"Fairy tales are generally symbolic stories which mask universal human desires too emotional or frightening to deal with head-on."
I also said something similar, but in a different context, in my review of The Grand Sophie...
"Jane Austen's purpose in writing her novels was not merely to tell a story. In fact, the story was merely a vehicle to examine critically the mores and customs of the society of her times. In an era where women academicians and philosophers were all but unknown, Austen used the only avenue open to her to espouse her brand of social commentary - the novel."
So you see, when you are retelling a Jane Austen novel, or any piece of literature, it is not enough to simply use the name of the characters. The essence of the literature is in its legacy, and that can only be found in the subtleties and sub-contexts of the novel.
Obviously, I'm not saying that every retelling of a classic must impart the same message as the original; in fact, what's the fun in that?! The idea is to use that old bastion as a foundation to build a new structure, one that interfaces intelligently with the world you live in.
So if you want to tell a modern-day story about consumerism-obsessed teens, the economic divide and the superficiality of rich brats, Pride and Prejudice would be the perfect vehicle. Like Clueless, that ridiculously adorable retelling of Emma, so fluffy on the surface, but filled with subliminal messages.
Unfortunately, the author of Prom and Prejudice seems to have absorbed nothing from Pride and Prejudice except the surface story it imparts. SO you have Elizabeth Bennett, a scholarship student in a rich-girl school obsessed with prom. The only people who are nice to her in the whole entire school are her roommate Jane Netherfield and the only other scholarship girl, Charlotte Lucas. Jane has a crush on Charles Bingley, a student at the neighbouring boy's prep school, Pemberly Academy, who has recently returned from a semester in England with his best friend Darcy.
Of course Darcy is mean about Lizzie, she overhears him, hates him, falls for Wickham, etc etc, you know the drill. No, really, you do. Because this "retelling" does not deviate from the original one little bit. Except for changing the setting from England to Connecticut, making the characters teenage rich-brats and making the few minor changes required to situate the novel on the 21st century, Prom and Prejudice does not attempt to change in any manner the story of Pride and Prejudice.
Now here's the deal. You can't claim to "retell" a story and then literally retell it. I mean, what's the point? I already know, and love, the original story. What is YOUR contribution to the retelling, Ms. Eulberg? Am I supposed to be satisfied that Elizabeth works in a coffee shop now instead of being an idle gentlewoman? Or that instead of being forced to marry Lydia, Wickham is subject to a restraining order? Those are cosmetic changes; it's like stealing someone else's doll and putting your clothes on it and claiming that it's YOUR doll.
I discovered that Elizabeth Eulberg has written a fairly successful YA novel before Prom and Prejudice, so I can't help wondering, why is this attempt so amateurish? None of the characters in this novel have any real character. They are just puppets mouthing the words of the original cast of Pride and Prejudice. The language also sounds stiff and old-fashioned, as though the author is caught in a time warp between the 1813 and 2011, never fully in either era.
For example, Lizzie is at a student party hosted by Charles Bingley, and Will Darcy walks up to her and asks her to dance. Now I've been to my share of parties when I was a teenager, and most of the time my invitations were along the lines of "Wanna dance?" or, if the guy was a little more polite, "Would you like to dance?" You know what I've never heard come out from a teenage boy's mouth? "Would you care to join me for a dance?" Seriously, like he's fifty or something.
And later, when Colin's asking Lizzie to the prom...
"There are certain rites of passage that I think are a very important part of becoming an adult." He looked at me expectedly. I was so tired, all I could do was nod.
"Prom is one of those rites."
My stomach dropped. "It is a momentous occasion, especially for a Longbourn girl like yourself, and I believe that we'd make a great match to attend. Obviously, we have the dancing part down." He let out a small laugh. "And I know with your circumstances you may have some difficulty with the dress, but I would be more than willing to pay for your accoutrements if that would make you more comfortable."
I ask you, have you EVER met a teenage boy after 1950 who spoke like that?! Also, did you see? She mixed up 'expectantly' and 'expectedly'!!! *shakes head sorrowfully at the editor* That is only one of very many, many painful grammatical and typographical errors in the book. This book deserves place of honour in my "jeez-they-ll-publish-anything" shelf.
I could whine a lot more about the incredible hideousness of this massacre of my favourite Regency novel, but I'll spare you. To sum it up, Prom and Prejudice suffers from a severe lack of creativity, terrible characterizations, pedestrian writing, truly bad editing and nauseating superficiality. My recommendation? Avoid it like the plague.
June 14, 2022
i’m working on a video where i talk about books i read as a kid and i read this book as a preteen and hated it so much that adult me had to come back and rate it 2 stars.
March 5, 2012
Absolutely adorable!!! Any one that knows me knows that my all-time favorite book is Pride and Prejudice, so when I saw that Prom and Prejudice offered to retell that story through teenagers, I plucked that book from the bookshelf quicker than Caroline Bingley could snatch a couture dress from the designer's hand.
Lizzie Bennet is one of two scholarship kids going to an all-girl school, and unfortunately on the wrong end of permanent hazing by her less than thrilled rich classmates. So it's not surprising that she has no interest in any of the guys attending the nearby school for prestigious young men - particularly the snobby Will Darcy. However, she does enjoy the company of his friend Charles Bingley and loves that her friendly roommate Jane has drawn his attention. At least Jane will be able to attend Prom with a decent guy.
Or so Lizzie thought. It doesn't take long for Charles' sister Caroline to ruin Jane's hopes for a prom date. While trying to help mend Jane's broken heart, Lizzie also has to fight the unwanted attention from Colin and the sudden stalking Will seems to be doing at the coffee shop she works at. Luckily her best friend, and fellow scholarship holder, Charlotte can steal young Colin's eyes, but that still leaves Jane to deal with one William Darcy, who she learns after several silent walks home together, doesn't seem to be too bad after all.
Prom and Prejudice was adorable. Sure, completely predictable, but no one really cares when you're reading a retelling of one of the best love stories ever. I flew through this in less than a day cause it was so light and easy to read. If you'd like a quick read that'll leave you smiling, Prom and Prejudice is for you!
Lizzie Bennet is one of two scholarship kids going to an all-girl school, and unfortunately on the wrong end of permanent hazing by her less than thrilled rich classmates. So it's not surprising that she has no interest in any of the guys attending the nearby school for prestigious young men - particularly the snobby Will Darcy. However, she does enjoy the company of his friend Charles Bingley and loves that her friendly roommate Jane has drawn his attention. At least Jane will be able to attend Prom with a decent guy.
Or so Lizzie thought. It doesn't take long for Charles' sister Caroline to ruin Jane's hopes for a prom date. While trying to help mend Jane's broken heart, Lizzie also has to fight the unwanted attention from Colin and the sudden stalking Will seems to be doing at the coffee shop she works at. Luckily her best friend, and fellow scholarship holder, Charlotte can steal young Colin's eyes, but that still leaves Jane to deal with one William Darcy, who she learns after several silent walks home together, doesn't seem to be too bad after all.
Prom and Prejudice was adorable. Sure, completely predictable, but no one really cares when you're reading a retelling of one of the best love stories ever. I flew through this in less than a day cause it was so light and easy to read. If you'd like a quick read that'll leave you smiling, Prom and Prejudice is for you!
March 10, 2016
Agh. SO CUTE.
I love P&P retellings. Just love them. And this one did not disappoint me. It was cute, funny, relatable with great girl-friendship and romance which will make your heart melt. It's definitely a light and adorable read to cure your book hangover with. If you're interested in a bit darker P&P retelling I whole-heartedly recommend First & Then (I gave it 5 stars,yaay!). But this one is really great and I loved reading about Longbourn Academy and Lizzie's adventures.
PS. If you guys have any P&P/Persuasion retellings to recommend me,do it!
I love P&P retellings. Just love them. And this one did not disappoint me. It was cute, funny, relatable with great girl-friendship and romance which will make your heart melt. It's definitely a light and adorable read to cure your book hangover with. If you're interested in a bit darker P&P retelling I whole-heartedly recommend First & Then (I gave it 5 stars,yaay!). But this one is really great and I loved reading about Longbourn Academy and Lizzie's adventures.
PS. If you guys have any P&P/Persuasion retellings to recommend me,do it!
April 25, 2019
Awwwwww... este libro es tan hermoso.
Es una historia de amor tan linda y tierna.
Me enamore de Darcy, es perfecto.
Puedo casarme con este libro, por favor?
Es una historia de amor tan linda y tierna.
Me enamore de Darcy, es perfecto.
Puedo casarme con este libro, por favor?
November 17, 2015
This book is amazingly thought out. As a fan of Pride and Prejudice who has watched and read many of its adaptations, I loved this one and I would absolutely recommend it to other fans.
I loved how the plot is changed to work in today's world. The whole prom issue is very similar to marriage in the era P&P was written, so everything else seemed to work perfectly. I could see so many similarities in the story that I was basically marvelling the whole time and it was awesome. The characters are pitch-perfect and although their concerns and relations can be different in this adaptation than in the original book, their impact on the story is the same and I couldn't imagine a better adaptation.
The only reason why I couldn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to was that, after watching and reading The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, I felt like reading this was a betrayal and I couldn't help but compare the two of them. Otherwise, I'm sure I would only have thought good things about it.
I think every P&P lover who also likes YA has to read this book. It's great!
I loved how the plot is changed to work in today's world. The whole prom issue is very similar to marriage in the era P&P was written, so everything else seemed to work perfectly. I could see so many similarities in the story that I was basically marvelling the whole time and it was awesome. The characters are pitch-perfect and although their concerns and relations can be different in this adaptation than in the original book, their impact on the story is the same and I couldn't imagine a better adaptation.
The only reason why I couldn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to was that, after watching and reading The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, I felt like reading this was a betrayal and I couldn't help but compare the two of them. Otherwise, I'm sure I would only have thought good things about it.
I think every P&P lover who also likes YA has to read this book. It's great!
November 21, 2015
This is pretty much a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, it has nearly the exact same plot. The names are the same for the main characters and they have the same personalities. There are notable differences though. It is set in modern day, in an elite bordering school, they are younger, and Lizzie doesn't have sisters. Jane is her friend instead of her sister.
The biggest problem I had with this was that some things where hard for me to swallow. I mean why would you throw milk at someone you don't even know because they are poorer than you? I honestly don't think that would happen. First, I think people usually don't hate you on sight. Second, if they do girls are not so obvious about it. Girls are more secret about it, they use words as their weapons—usually. Lizzie is middle class, which follows better with P&P but she acts like she is poor (or working class). Working class kids don't get piano lessons since the age of four. Granted, she mentions how hard her parents had to work. The other thing I sometimes couldn’t buy was the dialogue. For the most part it was fine but every once in a while words like 'agreeable qualities' and 'foolish' are used. People I know use words like 'nice' and 'stupid.' I kept thinking people don't talk like that. Now I know that it was to play into the Austen kind of feel but it just didn't fit for me.
Now for the good stuff, Lizzie is strong and talented though the bullying does dispirit her. I like it that Lizzie and Will Darcy are into music, it actually plays a significant part later on in the book. Lizzie’s friend Jane is a nice person and so is Bingley and they are not seen as stupid though they don't notice everything that is going on. It's just more that they are distracted. The friendship that Jane and Lizzie had was pretty good. Also, I always looked forward to seeing Darcy. While reading certain scenes with Lizzie and Darcy and even Wick I had to smile. It was fun to see the characters in Austen's novel in this different setting. Eulberg really kept all the things I liked about Pride and Prejudice and added her own stuff, such as Lizzi's piano playing. The ending was good and sweet which is what I was hoping for.
Though I prefer other Austen adaptations I had fun reading Prom and Prejudice. For a teenage version of Pride and Prejudice it wasn't half bad.
The biggest problem I had with this was that some things where hard for me to swallow. I mean why would you throw milk at someone you don't even know because they are poorer than you? I honestly don't think that would happen. First, I think people usually don't hate you on sight. Second, if they do girls are not so obvious about it. Girls are more secret about it, they use words as their weapons—usually. Lizzie is middle class, which follows better with P&P but she acts like she is poor (or working class). Working class kids don't get piano lessons since the age of four. Granted, she mentions how hard her parents had to work. The other thing I sometimes couldn’t buy was the dialogue. For the most part it was fine but every once in a while words like 'agreeable qualities' and 'foolish' are used. People I know use words like 'nice' and 'stupid.' I kept thinking people don't talk like that. Now I know that it was to play into the Austen kind of feel but it just didn't fit for me.
Now for the good stuff, Lizzie is strong and talented though the bullying does dispirit her. I like it that Lizzie and Will Darcy are into music, it actually plays a significant part later on in the book. Lizzie’s friend Jane is a nice person and so is Bingley and they are not seen as stupid though they don't notice everything that is going on. It's just more that they are distracted. The friendship that Jane and Lizzie had was pretty good. Also, I always looked forward to seeing Darcy. While reading certain scenes with Lizzie and Darcy and even Wick I had to smile. It was fun to see the characters in Austen's novel in this different setting. Eulberg really kept all the things I liked about Pride and Prejudice and added her own stuff, such as Lizzi's piano playing. The ending was good and sweet which is what I was hoping for.
Though I prefer other Austen adaptations I had fun reading Prom and Prejudice. For a teenage version of Pride and Prejudice it wasn't half bad.
April 23, 2018
Okay I totally just re-read this book last night in two hours. I forgot how much I love this book. It was a super clean and sweet romance and a bonus it was a re-telling of Pride and Prejudice, if you couldn't tell from the cover. Guys, you really need to read this book, it is so good and from what I've heard, it's almost the exact story of Pride and Prejudice just modern. I honestly have never read Pride and Prejudice......*hides* but now I really want to.
Guys, just please read this, it's amazing and clean so go and read it!!
Guys, just please read this, it's amazing and clean so go and read it!!
May 24, 2018
This was a cute, fun retelling of Jane Austen's classic.
Would be a great introduction for a younger reader to the world of Miss Austen as it obviously has a very modern and youthful edge.
Or, ya know, just a fun, quick read for a huge Austen fan like myself.
Would be a great introduction for a younger reader to the world of Miss Austen as it obviously has a very modern and youthful edge.
Or, ya know, just a fun, quick read for a huge Austen fan like myself.
August 20, 2015
There is something about the way Elizabeth Eulberg writes that speaks directly to me! I loved The Lonely Hearts Club and I absolutely LOVE Prom and Prejudice!! First of all, it is a modern take on Pride and Prejudice, one of my favorites. Second, Lizzie, is a concert pianist who plays Rachmaninoff! Perhaps some of you don't know who Rachmaninoff was (watch the movie Shine, you will understand what the Rach 3 is after that). To me is is one of the best piano composers ever. His works are extremely difficult to play. I loved getting into Lizzie's mind as she tackles a difficult piece.
Of course, there is the element of love. The love/hate relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy is so cute!
Of course, there is the element of love. The love/hate relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy is so cute!
May 28, 2011
I REALLY enjoyed this modern day Pride and Prejudice story. The author did such a great job of transposing both the characters--true to their original characterization--and the story events to a New York high school setting. It was a fast-paced, enjoyable, engrossing, believable story! Highly recommend, even for teens, as it was very clean and moral, where the bad guys reap the consequences of their actions.
March 5, 2013
Everyone knows something about “Pride and Prejudice”, even if it’s only fragments of a plot or character they’ve gleamed from a TV show or internet review or Googling pictures of a dripping wet Colin Firth. The iconic story of social standings, misunderstandings and the oft-imitated Lizzie and Mr Darcy has had an indelible impact on literature at large, particularly YA and romance (two genres which are heavily entwined). The chances are that you have seen or read at least one version of the story, be it through the diary of Bridget Jones or the undead twists of Seth Graheme-Smith. Elizabeth Eulberg, former publicist to one Stephenie Meyer, brings her own twist to the table, through the scope of a privileged boarding school, where connections are key and the end of year prom is the highlight of the social calendar. So far, so typical for the tale. However, where Eulberg’s book fails in the same way countless Austen re-imaginings before it have failed.
High schools, on the surface, seem like an ideal setting for a modern day Austen re-telling. Many of the social mores and expectations present in the original tale translate surprisingly well to the heightened teenage stakes so commonly found in teen comedies and dramas. “Clueless” stands as arguably the most effective adaptation of “Emma” because it understands how to remain honest to the source material while still leaving enough wriggle room to allow for necessary deviations. “Prom and Prejudice” does none of that. It takes the shallowest reading of the source material imaginable and joins the dots to form a coherent and recognisable adaptation of the story, but with none of the wit, charm or social commentary of the original. Eulberg is so desperate to be as honest to the plotting of the original work that she ends up regurgitating each plot point and leaves behind something that’s not particularly enjoyable (although it’s a very quick, mindless read) and incredibly dull. While a re-telling of something as iconic as “Pride and Prejudice” requires some faithfulness to the material, with a basic understanding of what Austen was trying to discuss, simply recounting it with a few minor contemporary changes is utterly pointless.
There’s no spark to this tale at all. Lizzie is a scholarship student at a prestigious school, where she is bullied mercilessly for not being as privileged as her classmates, while Darcy is the wealthy boy from the nearby boys’ school who she takes an immediate dislike to. The stakes just aren’t there for this story – prom invites aren’t exactly marriage proposals, and the author totally failed to make me feel the importance of the social workings of this world. Just being told that prom is important is not enough. It didn’t help that all the snooty rich bullies Lizzie went to school with were as fully developed as the villains from the Tintin comics. None of the teenagers in this story talk like teenagers: They talk like lazy Austen rip-offs read by twenty something adults. The dialogue feels so completely at odds with how the rest of the book is written. The style jumps from colloquial teenagers to 19th century formality as found in the summaries of Spark Notes. Given that the novel is set in America, yet everyone talks like Regency England, I can’t help but think Eulberg was forced to rush this book out by an impatient editor.
Overall, “Prom and Prejudice” is a fluffy and quick read that I finished in about 3 hours, including tea breaks, but as an Austen adaptation, it is decidedly underwhelming, the shallowest take on the source material imaginable. There are glimmers of potential within the story – tackling the saturation of consumerism amongst the teenage generation, the American class system – but they’re ignored in favour of showing how this book is so totally like Austen but with a modern twist, and in the end it feels patronising and irritating. If you want an Austen re-telling that actually manages to balance fluff and satire in a modern setting, take “Clueless” every single time.
High schools, on the surface, seem like an ideal setting for a modern day Austen re-telling. Many of the social mores and expectations present in the original tale translate surprisingly well to the heightened teenage stakes so commonly found in teen comedies and dramas. “Clueless” stands as arguably the most effective adaptation of “Emma” because it understands how to remain honest to the source material while still leaving enough wriggle room to allow for necessary deviations. “Prom and Prejudice” does none of that. It takes the shallowest reading of the source material imaginable and joins the dots to form a coherent and recognisable adaptation of the story, but with none of the wit, charm or social commentary of the original. Eulberg is so desperate to be as honest to the plotting of the original work that she ends up regurgitating each plot point and leaves behind something that’s not particularly enjoyable (although it’s a very quick, mindless read) and incredibly dull. While a re-telling of something as iconic as “Pride and Prejudice” requires some faithfulness to the material, with a basic understanding of what Austen was trying to discuss, simply recounting it with a few minor contemporary changes is utterly pointless.
There’s no spark to this tale at all. Lizzie is a scholarship student at a prestigious school, where she is bullied mercilessly for not being as privileged as her classmates, while Darcy is the wealthy boy from the nearby boys’ school who she takes an immediate dislike to. The stakes just aren’t there for this story – prom invites aren’t exactly marriage proposals, and the author totally failed to make me feel the importance of the social workings of this world. Just being told that prom is important is not enough. It didn’t help that all the snooty rich bullies Lizzie went to school with were as fully developed as the villains from the Tintin comics. None of the teenagers in this story talk like teenagers: They talk like lazy Austen rip-offs read by twenty something adults. The dialogue feels so completely at odds with how the rest of the book is written. The style jumps from colloquial teenagers to 19th century formality as found in the summaries of Spark Notes. Given that the novel is set in America, yet everyone talks like Regency England, I can’t help but think Eulberg was forced to rush this book out by an impatient editor.
Overall, “Prom and Prejudice” is a fluffy and quick read that I finished in about 3 hours, including tea breaks, but as an Austen adaptation, it is decidedly underwhelming, the shallowest take on the source material imaginable. There are glimmers of potential within the story – tackling the saturation of consumerism amongst the teenage generation, the American class system – but they’re ignored in favour of showing how this book is so totally like Austen but with a modern twist, and in the end it feels patronising and irritating. If you want an Austen re-telling that actually manages to balance fluff and satire in a modern setting, take “Clueless” every single time.
August 9, 2013
This book is a very confused Jane Austen adaptation, so confused that I'd question whether the author actually understood the book. If you're going to do an adaptation where you name all the characters with the same name from the book and plagiarize whole passages/speeches by just translating them into simpler English, then at least don't mangle the main characters or the whole point of it!
For instance:
Lizzie-a depressive shrew who hates all the rich kids around her except for her friend Jane.
Darcy-an amazingly handsome, rich, generous, nice, and thoughtful guy! Everyone likes him!
The whole point with Austen's Lizzie was that she didn't HATE everyone, not even all rich people, just Darcy! He was her one blind spot, and Lizzie's problem with Darcy had a great deal to do with him injuring her pride with a stray comment about her looks and his general attitude toward those who had substantially less than he did. That led to her prejudice towards him. And everyone else thought he was a putz, too. This also makes the reader prejudiced too right from the start (toward Lizzie and against Darcy).
Also, Lizzie was a "lively" girl. Fun to be around, intelligent, caring, people liked being in her company. And that's why Darcy was into her (after he got over her being poor), even though he kept mucking it up all the time due to his own pride about her background and what it would say about him if they were together [and finally started letting go off all of his prejudices about it].
Frankly, they both grow up a LOT in the course of the story. The story is two sides of pride and how they lead to prejudice (at least at its most simplified surface reading). And it shows the reader how they fall victim to it too in the course of their changing view of Darcy.
In this adaptation, the author pretty much removes Darcy's character arc completely. So...there's over half the story gone. I mean, his tiny little arc is sort of there...for about two pages. Then he turns into a Gary Stu character. The entire burden then falls onto Lizzie, and it loses most of its power and it becomes really one dimensional. It mostly becomes a story of trust. Darcy having problems trusting a scholarship student because of what the last one did to his family (but getting over it really quickly), and Lizzie, having to learn how to trust a rich student. Pride, prejudice both become secondary parts of the story.
That being said, I can get over turning Wickham into a freeloading, thieving, rapist (errr...not exactly the same thing, but...okay)...but turning Colin/Mr. Collins into a boy who is just long-winded? No, people didn't hate Mr. Collins for being verbose, people hated the guy because he was an arrogant, self-important, flatterer who was either being disingenuous or lecturing you every time he opened his mouth). He's Wickham's foil in many regards. Colin served absolutely no purpose in this adaptation after he's just made socially awkward.
Ugh...no, just no.
For instance:
Lizzie-a depressive shrew who hates all the rich kids around her except for her friend Jane.
Darcy-an amazingly handsome, rich, generous, nice, and thoughtful guy! Everyone likes him!
The whole point with Austen's Lizzie was that she didn't HATE everyone, not even all rich people, just Darcy! He was her one blind spot, and Lizzie's problem with Darcy had a great deal to do with him injuring her pride with a stray comment about her looks and his general attitude toward those who had substantially less than he did. That led to her prejudice towards him. And everyone else thought he was a putz, too. This also makes the reader prejudiced too right from the start (toward Lizzie and against Darcy).
Also, Lizzie was a "lively" girl. Fun to be around, intelligent, caring, people liked being in her company. And that's why Darcy was into her (after he got over her being poor), even though he kept mucking it up all the time due to his own pride about her background and what it would say about him if they were together [and finally started letting go off all of his prejudices about it].
Frankly, they both grow up a LOT in the course of the story. The story is two sides of pride and how they lead to prejudice (at least at its most simplified surface reading). And it shows the reader how they fall victim to it too in the course of their changing view of Darcy.
In this adaptation, the author pretty much removes Darcy's character arc completely. So...there's over half the story gone. I mean, his tiny little arc is sort of there...for about two pages. Then he turns into a Gary Stu character. The entire burden then falls onto Lizzie, and it loses most of its power and it becomes really one dimensional. It mostly becomes a story of trust. Darcy having problems trusting a scholarship student because of what the last one did to his family (but getting over it really quickly), and Lizzie, having to learn how to trust a rich student. Pride, prejudice both become secondary parts of the story.
That being said, I can get over turning Wickham into a freeloading, thieving, rapist (errr...not exactly the same thing, but...okay)...but turning Colin/Mr. Collins into a boy who is just long-winded? No, people didn't hate Mr. Collins for being verbose, people hated the guy because he was an arrogant, self-important, flatterer who was either being disingenuous or lecturing you every time he opened his mouth). He's Wickham's foil in many regards. Colin served absolutely no purpose in this adaptation after he's just made socially awkward.
Ugh...no, just no.
March 22, 2013
This was a cute idea! Take the characters from P&P, and put them in an elite boarding school setting.
It mostly worked, too.
It was a decent YA take on Jane Austin's classic, but don't go into it expecting everything to be the same as the original. For starter's, Jane and Lizzie are BFF's not sisters. Lydia is Jane's younger sister, and the remaining Bennet girls get axed from the story altogether.
Which was fine with me, 'cause they added the least to the overall plot...
Also notably missing is the mamma drama from Mrs. Bennet. She and Mr. Bennet are just normal parents in this version.
sigh
Like I mentioned, this is a shortened version, so not every little twist and turn is the same. Which is not a bad thing! Just...different.
And mostly really cute.
My only real problem with the story was the strange way the kids spoke to each other. It was almost like the author was trying to keep the spirit of the original language alive. It's a nice idea, but the characters didn't sound like teenagers. Or even adults from this century, for that matter.
So.
Go into it expecting some changes and a bit of odd wording here and there. If you do that, there's a good chance you'll have fun reading this.
It mostly worked, too.
It was a decent YA take on Jane Austin's classic, but don't go into it expecting everything to be the same as the original. For starter's, Jane and Lizzie are BFF's not sisters. Lydia is Jane's younger sister, and the remaining Bennet girls get axed from the story altogether.
Which was fine with me, 'cause they added the least to the overall plot...
Also notably missing is the mamma drama from Mrs. Bennet. She and Mr. Bennet are just normal parents in this version.
sigh
Like I mentioned, this is a shortened version, so not every little twist and turn is the same. Which is not a bad thing! Just...different.
And mostly really cute.
My only real problem with the story was the strange way the kids spoke to each other. It was almost like the author was trying to keep the spirit of the original language alive. It's a nice idea, but the characters didn't sound like teenagers. Or even adults from this century, for that matter.
So.
Go into it expecting some changes and a bit of odd wording here and there. If you do that, there's a good chance you'll have fun reading this.
July 25, 2022
An honest, if a bit naive, cute YA book.
December 27, 2010
I approach any re-telling of Pride and Prejudice with a lot of caution. Why? Because it's one of my Go-To-Books. You know those books; they are the ones that you read over and over again for comfort, predictability and to re-capture that moment of "that did NOT just happen"?
But what Elizabeth Eulberg did with Pride and Prejudice makes me want to shout things like "perfect" and "brilliant" and "go, run, buy it now". In Prom & Prejudice, the protagonist, Lizzie, is a girl in a very elite boarding school and she's there as a Scholarship Student based on her incredible musical ability. And here's where Elizabeth's style of writing really takes off. She illustrates the prejudice Lizzie faces with such quick, touching and cringe-worthy moments that you feel like you want to reach out and help Lizzie in any way you can. As a reader, I understood Lizzie's stubborn pride and her feelings of not fitting in and just wanting to get through it all for the sake of her talent.
The plot sticks closely to the original's even maintaining some of the familiar quotes. And yes, all the major characters are there but there are delightful twists that showcase the modern feel of the book.
Now, the romance. The reason I re-read Pride and Prejudice is for the romance. Sure the character studies are interesting but oh, the perfectly paced romance is what I really want to experience. Once again, Elizabeth gives the reader that push and pull between Lizzie and Darcy. Those moments of misunderstanding. Those moments of "that did NOT just happen". Like here from page 88 when Darcy asks Lizzie to dance with him:
Did you sigh along with me or shake your head knowing what Lizzie felt? I had to give you a taste of Lizzie's voice because I understood her from page one and she drew me in with her logic and stubbornness.
As a busy mom of three, I have very little time to myself and I can honestly say that I finished Prom & Prejudice in a day. I just couldn't put it down. So go to your favorite bookstore and if you're in a mood for a well written, romantic read be sure to pick it up. I loved Elizabeth's style so much that I turned around and downloaded her first book, Lonely Hearts Club , to my ereader. And now, I can sit back and read what is surely another well written story.
But what Elizabeth Eulberg did with Pride and Prejudice makes me want to shout things like "perfect" and "brilliant" and "go, run, buy it now". In Prom & Prejudice, the protagonist, Lizzie, is a girl in a very elite boarding school and she's there as a Scholarship Student based on her incredible musical ability. And here's where Elizabeth's style of writing really takes off. She illustrates the prejudice Lizzie faces with such quick, touching and cringe-worthy moments that you feel like you want to reach out and help Lizzie in any way you can. As a reader, I understood Lizzie's stubborn pride and her feelings of not fitting in and just wanting to get through it all for the sake of her talent.
The plot sticks closely to the original's even maintaining some of the familiar quotes. And yes, all the major characters are there but there are delightful twists that showcase the modern feel of the book.
Now, the romance. The reason I re-read Pride and Prejudice is for the romance. Sure the character studies are interesting but oh, the perfectly paced romance is what I really want to experience. Once again, Elizabeth gives the reader that push and pull between Lizzie and Darcy. Those moments of misunderstanding. Those moments of "that did NOT just happen". Like here from page 88 when Darcy asks Lizzie to dance with him:
I was in a daze on the dance floor. It was like having an out-of-body experience. I found myself going through the motions, but also looking around trying to figure out where the ambush was coming from. Darcy slipped his arms around me, with much more ease than Colin had, and before I knew it, we were in something approximating an embrace. Darcy was several inches taller than me, and he leaned his head down so our eyes locked.
I was face-to-face with the enemy.
Did you sigh along with me or shake your head knowing what Lizzie felt? I had to give you a taste of Lizzie's voice because I understood her from page one and she drew me in with her logic and stubbornness.
As a busy mom of three, I have very little time to myself and I can honestly say that I finished Prom & Prejudice in a day. I just couldn't put it down. So go to your favorite bookstore and if you're in a mood for a well written, romantic read be sure to pick it up. I loved Elizabeth's style so much that I turned around and downloaded her first book, Lonely Hearts Club , to my ereader. And now, I can sit back and read what is surely another well written story.
February 13, 2011
I have read a lot of retellings of Pride and Prejudice (one of my absolute favorite books). Some are okay; some are downright dreadful. Somewhere, Jane Austen's gotta be rolling in her grave at the sacrilege some people have committed regarding her works.
Now, let me say this: Prom and Prejudice is my new favorite retelling of the beloved classic. Elizabeth Eulberg perfectly balances the fresh and modern with the classic and original to create a surprisingly delightful tale. Predictability is often a problem with retelling well-known works, but Eulberg manages to throw in surprises and twists that smash all predictability, while staying true to the essence and feel of the original. I've got to say, I am impressed.
To demonstrate how much I enjoyed this book: I read the whole thing in one evening and turned around and read it again the next day. At 227 pages, it's a quick read, which is so refreshing after reading all of these bloated young adult books in badly need of an editor (Halo, anyone?) or books where it feels like the author is tossing in words at random to get to 350 pages. Prom and Prejudice is tight and concise in a good way with near perfect pacing, giving it that unputdownable quality I'm always craving.
Elizabeth Eulberg writes engaging characters and manages to brilliantly modernize their faults. I found myself even enjoying the parts where Eulberg veers slightly from the source material. (Dare I say it? She even made me like Collins!) Although Mrs. Bennet dishes up some hilarious lines in both the book and the movie, I'm always mortified and embarrassed on Lizzie's behalf at her mother's behavior. I'm thankful Eulberg dumped all of Mrs. Bennet's bad qualities on Lydia (whom I've always despised) and gave Lizzie a nice, normal mother instead.
How fun is it to read a modern, teenage version of Darcy? I loved it. The essence of Lizzie and Darcy and their relationship ooze from this book, and Eulberg captures the romance tension of the original in a way that I couldn't put this book down. Her explanations of how pride and prejudices are keeping these beloved literary characters apart are accessible and modernized. (My husband needs to read these explanations--I made him finally watch the BBC movie with me, and he hated it. He didn't get the whole "pride and prejudice" standing in the way, insisting Lizzie only started to like Darcy once she saw his house. I will not tolerate anyone calling Lizzie Bennet a gold digger.)
And Prom and Prejudice's ending? I didn't see that coming. Just another example of how Eulberg scatters surprises throughout to make a fresh, delightful tale that hopefully will lead readers to take on the original.
Now, let me say this: Prom and Prejudice is my new favorite retelling of the beloved classic. Elizabeth Eulberg perfectly balances the fresh and modern with the classic and original to create a surprisingly delightful tale. Predictability is often a problem with retelling well-known works, but Eulberg manages to throw in surprises and twists that smash all predictability, while staying true to the essence and feel of the original. I've got to say, I am impressed.
To demonstrate how much I enjoyed this book: I read the whole thing in one evening and turned around and read it again the next day. At 227 pages, it's a quick read, which is so refreshing after reading all of these bloated young adult books in badly need of an editor (Halo, anyone?) or books where it feels like the author is tossing in words at random to get to 350 pages. Prom and Prejudice is tight and concise in a good way with near perfect pacing, giving it that unputdownable quality I'm always craving.
Elizabeth Eulberg writes engaging characters and manages to brilliantly modernize their faults. I found myself even enjoying the parts where Eulberg veers slightly from the source material. (Dare I say it? She even made me like Collins!) Although Mrs. Bennet dishes up some hilarious lines in both the book and the movie, I'm always mortified and embarrassed on Lizzie's behalf at her mother's behavior. I'm thankful Eulberg dumped all of Mrs. Bennet's bad qualities on Lydia (whom I've always despised) and gave Lizzie a nice, normal mother instead.
How fun is it to read a modern, teenage version of Darcy? I loved it. The essence of Lizzie and Darcy and their relationship ooze from this book, and Eulberg captures the romance tension of the original in a way that I couldn't put this book down. Her explanations of how pride and prejudices are keeping these beloved literary characters apart are accessible and modernized. (My husband needs to read these explanations--I made him finally watch the BBC movie with me, and he hated it. He didn't get the whole "pride and prejudice" standing in the way, insisting Lizzie only started to like Darcy once she saw his house. I will not tolerate anyone calling Lizzie Bennet a gold digger.)
And Prom and Prejudice's ending? I didn't see that coming. Just another example of how Eulberg scatters surprises throughout to make a fresh, delightful tale that hopefully will lead readers to take on the original.
May 23, 2017
Prom & Prejudice is exactly what it sounds like :) Pride and Prejudice meets high school and prom dates. As far as retellings go, this book was pretty much a page-by-page parallel. No surprises, no twists, no alternations - just a change of setting.
Reading wish-fulfillment fiction intended for an audience you don't belong to is like being the only sober person on a very drunken party - weird and not fun. There was no truth, no life in this book - just catering to the dreams of highschool girls. So, ten years ago this would have been an enjoyable read, maybe? But not now. (Note that I still enjoy books about teenagers - or any other category of people - as long as they feel REAL and honest)
So of course the main character is an intelligent, hard-working, talented, poor girl. She has an angelic friend, who in turn has an angelic boyfriend. Everyone else is just petty, jealous, bitchy, self-centered, snobbish, lazy and rich. Also, they have no willpower, dignity or brains to speak of. The book is written in first person, so we know for a fact that our heroine is a noble soul, untroubled by any emotions she wouldn't be proud of. Then she finds a great guy. End of story! Were Austen's characters this flat too? Because the book is pretty damned close to the original, so now I'm scared to reread Pride and Prejudice for fear of disappointment. I've read it a looooong time ago.
The language was somewhat awkward. The characters are supposed to be modern teenagers, but they talked in these long and stuffy sentences. It made me feel like I was reading fanfiction rather than a mature reworking of a classic novel.
Now I doubt if there is a point in reading retellings of any kind. Retellings of myths, ancient and biblical stories, maybe?
I'm not saying it was that bad - Prom & Prejudice was very short and kinda cute, just clearly not for me. I should have known better than to pick it up.
Reading wish-fulfillment fiction intended for an audience you don't belong to is like being the only sober person on a very drunken party - weird and not fun. There was no truth, no life in this book - just catering to the dreams of highschool girls. So, ten years ago this would have been an enjoyable read, maybe? But not now. (Note that I still enjoy books about teenagers - or any other category of people - as long as they feel REAL and honest)
So of course the main character is an intelligent, hard-working, talented, poor girl. She has an angelic friend, who in turn has an angelic boyfriend. Everyone else is just petty, jealous, bitchy, self-centered, snobbish, lazy and rich. Also, they have no willpower, dignity or brains to speak of. The book is written in first person, so we know for a fact that our heroine is a noble soul, untroubled by any emotions she wouldn't be proud of. Then she finds a great guy. End of story! Were Austen's characters this flat too? Because the book is pretty damned close to the original, so now I'm scared to reread Pride and Prejudice for fear of disappointment. I've read it a looooong time ago.
The language was somewhat awkward. The characters are supposed to be modern teenagers, but they talked in these long and stuffy sentences. It made me feel like I was reading fanfiction rather than a mature reworking of a classic novel.
Now I doubt if there is a point in reading retellings of any kind. Retellings of myths, ancient and biblical stories, maybe?
I'm not saying it was that bad - Prom & Prejudice was very short and kinda cute, just clearly not for me. I should have known better than to pick it up.
December 15, 2015
Not too much originality but still cute. Full Review to come...
Read
January 27, 2023awww, this was a cute retelling :)
May 7, 2011
Unlike the majority of girls who attend Longbourn Academy, an elite and expensive all-girl prep school, Elizabeth Bennet is not wealthy, not high society, and not obsessed with prom. As a scholarship student, Elizabeth is a social pariah. Each day she has to face taunts, pranks, insults, and seclusion. But instead of dwelling on her lack of friends and acceptance, Elizabeth spends her time maintaining a satisfactory grade point average, working at Java Junction, and practicing the piano. As you can see, Elizabeth has much more to worry about than which designer dress she will wear to prom.
In this modern and youthful interpretation of Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Eulberg takes some themes and characters from Jane Austen's novel and transplants them into the world of today's high school students. Some of my favorite teenage reincarnations include: Colin Williams (Mr. Collins) as the socially oblivious bore who talks like he is from another century, Caroline Bingley and Cat de Bourgh as the catty and vile snobs we all hate, and George Wickham as the bad boy who has been kicked out of prep school.
To continue reading, go to: http://janeaustenreviews.blogspot.com...
In this modern and youthful interpretation of Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Eulberg takes some themes and characters from Jane Austen's novel and transplants them into the world of today's high school students. Some of my favorite teenage reincarnations include: Colin Williams (Mr. Collins) as the socially oblivious bore who talks like he is from another century, Caroline Bingley and Cat de Bourgh as the catty and vile snobs we all hate, and George Wickham as the bad boy who has been kicked out of prep school.
To continue reading, go to: http://janeaustenreviews.blogspot.com...
April 12, 2012
So excited that the release date got moved up! This wasn't supposed to be out until January.
It was strange. Normally, when I read Pride and Prejudice I am siding with Elizabeth the whole way. In this case, Elizabeth Eulberg gave us Darcy's perspective so well that I was mad at Elizabeth instead. Will Darcy was completely swoon worthy!
That being said, Prom and Prejudice was a light happy read with Pride and Prejudice as its skeleton. You'll recognize most of the characters from Pride and Prejudice with different roles. Jane is Elizabeth's kind to a fault roomate. Lydia is Jane's loud, embarassing sister. Mary and Kitty were mentioned as violinists in the orchestra that Elizabeth played with. Catherine de Bough is the resident mean girl, Cat. I think I had the most fun seeing what changes Eulberg would make, and of course, watching Darcy work his magic.
I'd recommend this for fans of Pride and Prejudice, as well as fans of the "boarding school" books that are popping up all of YA literature. Despite my love for P&P, this book did not come alive for me as well as Lonely Hearts Club did. But if you haven't read Lonely Hearts Club, definately read that!
It was strange. Normally, when I read Pride and Prejudice I am siding with Elizabeth the whole way. In this case, Elizabeth Eulberg gave us Darcy's perspective so well that I was mad at Elizabeth instead. Will Darcy was completely swoon worthy!
That being said, Prom and Prejudice was a light happy read with Pride and Prejudice as its skeleton. You'll recognize most of the characters from Pride and Prejudice with different roles. Jane is Elizabeth's kind to a fault roomate. Lydia is Jane's loud, embarassing sister. Mary and Kitty were mentioned as violinists in the orchestra that Elizabeth played with. Catherine de Bough is the resident mean girl, Cat. I think I had the most fun seeing what changes Eulberg would make, and of course, watching Darcy work his magic.
I'd recommend this for fans of Pride and Prejudice, as well as fans of the "boarding school" books that are popping up all of YA literature. Despite my love for P&P, this book did not come alive for me as well as Lonely Hearts Club did. But if you haven't read Lonely Hearts Club, definately read that!
July 24, 2022
Though I felt that the story was rushed and that there was a lot lacking in terms of details, I still very much enjoyed it. As a self-proclaimed Janeite, it was refreshing to see one of my favorite novels, Pride and Prejudice, given a modern twist. However, having read the novel a number of times, I knew what what missing and I saw myself scrutinizing more than not.
As I said, it felt rushed but considered that it's a teen novel (and I'm a little out of the target demographic) I can understand why it was. The denouement had me riveted and, I'll admit, I couldn't help smiling and "AWWW"-ing through key moments.
Recommended for older teenagers or for those who want a quick, easy read.
As I said, it felt rushed but considered that it's a teen novel (and I'm a little out of the target demographic) I can understand why it was. The denouement had me riveted and, I'll admit, I couldn't help smiling and "AWWW"-ing through key moments.
Recommended for older teenagers or for those who want a quick, easy read.
September 5, 2018
***Re-read August/Sept 2018 -This was just as cute as I remembered it***
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Super cute YA Pride and Prejudice re-telling. I really liked the main characters and all the "big moments" from Pride and Prejudice that I expect to see in a re-telling were represented. The only thing I didn't really like was the reason behind Elizabeth being bullied at school. It was so shallow and not very realistic. If you like YA and Jane Austen re-tellings I think you will definitely enjoy this one.
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Super cute YA Pride and Prejudice re-telling. I really liked the main characters and all the "big moments" from Pride and Prejudice that I expect to see in a re-telling were represented. The only thing I didn't really like was the reason behind Elizabeth being bullied at school. It was so shallow and not very realistic. If you like YA and Jane Austen re-tellings I think you will definitely enjoy this one.
October 8, 2016
This book was adorable.
Right now, I can't get enough of Pride & Prejudice modern retellings.
There were certain things that I wish were explored a bit more, but the plot was all about the basics of Lizzie's life and that made this a quick, fun read.
And there was plenty Darcy, which is always a plus!
If you are a fan of YA contemporaries or love modern Pride & Prejudice retellings then I recommend you give this cute book a try!
Right now, I can't get enough of Pride & Prejudice modern retellings.
There were certain things that I wish were explored a bit more, but the plot was all about the basics of Lizzie's life and that made this a quick, fun read.
And there was plenty Darcy, which is always a plus!
If you are a fan of YA contemporaries or love modern Pride & Prejudice retellings then I recommend you give this cute book a try!
August 4, 2019
An author’s debut book could be really good. So expectations are set. Then that author’s sophomore book comes out and you being to read it. Now that was the case with me and Prom & Prejudice. I loved Elizabeth Eulberg’s The Lonely Hearts Club and it set high expectations for her second book. When I heard about Prom & Prejudice, I got really excited. First of all, I love, love Pride and Prejudice. And I love Darcy. And Elizabeth is a great author. So, I was expecting a lot from this book. Luckily, it delivered!
Prom & Prejudice was a cute, quick, and fun read. Best of all? It followed Pride and Prejudice a lot! I loved how the main characters had the same names as Jane Austen’s characters. Elizabeth Bennett, or Lizzie, was such a feisty, independent, and strong girl in this novel. Sure she had moments that made her crazy, or angry, or something else, but she’s a teenager! I loved Jane and Charlotte too! Jane was just the same sweetheart from Austen’s book but she was Lizzie’s best friend instead. Lydia was just as I had remembered her!
Darcy and Charles were my two favorite guys in this book. Actually, I even liked Collins and how his character was just like I had expected him to be. Charles Bingley was a total sweetheart. I loved him! He was sweet, loving, nice, and yes, an idiot. Who hasn’t fallen in love with William Darcy from Austen’s book? I loved the Will Darcy of this book. I also liked how from Pride and Prejudice, Lizzie and Darcy don’t start off on the best terms. Their slowly evolving relationship from enemies to friends to more was a nice touch. It helped develop both Lizzie’s and Darcy’s characters in this book!
The plot flowed well. The fact that prom was the main theme of this novel was also a great idea. Eulberg was able to stay true to the original story but also add in her own thoughts and ideas. It worked really well and I enjoyed reading this book a lot! All in all, Prom & Prejudice was a great read. I finished it in one sitting. I found myself smiling and laughing with the quirky comments and dialogue.
Read this book! I'm sure you're going to enjoy reading every bit of it. And when it ends? You're going to want more!
Prom & Prejudice was a cute, quick, and fun read. Best of all? It followed Pride and Prejudice a lot! I loved how the main characters had the same names as Jane Austen’s characters. Elizabeth Bennett, or Lizzie, was such a feisty, independent, and strong girl in this novel. Sure she had moments that made her crazy, or angry, or something else, but she’s a teenager! I loved Jane and Charlotte too! Jane was just the same sweetheart from Austen’s book but she was Lizzie’s best friend instead. Lydia was just as I had remembered her!
Darcy and Charles were my two favorite guys in this book. Actually, I even liked Collins and how his character was just like I had expected him to be. Charles Bingley was a total sweetheart. I loved him! He was sweet, loving, nice, and yes, an idiot. Who hasn’t fallen in love with William Darcy from Austen’s book? I loved the Will Darcy of this book. I also liked how from Pride and Prejudice, Lizzie and Darcy don’t start off on the best terms. Their slowly evolving relationship from enemies to friends to more was a nice touch. It helped develop both Lizzie’s and Darcy’s characters in this book!
The plot flowed well. The fact that prom was the main theme of this novel was also a great idea. Eulberg was able to stay true to the original story but also add in her own thoughts and ideas. It worked really well and I enjoyed reading this book a lot! All in all, Prom & Prejudice was a great read. I finished it in one sitting. I found myself smiling and laughing with the quirky comments and dialogue.
Read this book! I'm sure you're going to enjoy reading every bit of it. And when it ends? You're going to want more!
February 26, 2011
I'm a HUGE Jane Austen fan. Pride & Prejudice is my favorite so I was excited to read this modern day retelling by Elizabeth Eulberg. A few pages in a burst into laughter as I realized all the characters in the book & places in the book were named after those in the original book. Lizzie attends Longbourn Academy, Darcy attends Pemberley Academy - their places of residency in the original Pride & Prejudice. Nearly the whole cast of characters was present from Lizzie, Jane & Lydia to Darcy, Charles, Caroline, Georgiana, Wickham, Charlotte and Mr. Collins. I noticed Mary & Kitty were left out but they were given a "cameo" appearance near the end. Having come to love all these characters in the original story it was fun to see them in this modern retelling.
Really cute and super clean, Prom & Prejudice is sure to delight fans of Jane Austen who enjoy young adult literature. I'm not sure I would have loved this as much as I did if I hadn't read Pride & Prejudice and seen the movies multiple times. I got a kick out of Eulberg's characters and the twists she added to modernize the story. All the elements I loved from the original version were present in this story.
I must admit Darcy in this retelling lacks much of the appeal the original Mr. Darcy holds, perhaps because he is still a teenager he just falls short when compared to the original Darcy. That said this was still a fun, humorous read I enjoyed.
Content: Clean
Source: ARC Tour
Really cute and super clean, Prom & Prejudice is sure to delight fans of Jane Austen who enjoy young adult literature. I'm not sure I would have loved this as much as I did if I hadn't read Pride & Prejudice and seen the movies multiple times. I got a kick out of Eulberg's characters and the twists she added to modernize the story. All the elements I loved from the original version were present in this story.
I must admit Darcy in this retelling lacks much of the appeal the original Mr. Darcy holds, perhaps because he is still a teenager he just falls short when compared to the original Darcy. That said this was still a fun, humorous read I enjoyed.
Content: Clean
Source: ARC Tour
September 8, 2014
4 CUTE STARS!!
I had a great time reading this modern interpretation slash ret-telling of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (one of my all time fave classic novel and the best love story of all time). I'm a super duper big fan of Pride and Prejudice! It was a decent Young Adult contemporary take on Jane Austin's classic!
A few pages in a burst into unstoppable laughter! The name of the characters and the setting! i enjoyed this! It was cute, fluffy, adorable and super funny! Cant keep my smile off my face while reading Prom and Prejudice. Even though i already know what will happen (duh?) completely predictable but its really interesting how will this story turns out.
It feels like reading again the epic profound love story of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in an alternate universe! Anyway, I flew through this in less than a day and i recommend this to everyone especially those who like a fun, quick, read. This book reminded me how much i love Pride and Prejudice.
Bewitched me, body, soul and my funny bone! LOL!!
And i love, i love this book
I had a great time reading this modern interpretation slash ret-telling of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (one of my all time fave classic novel and the best love story of all time). I'm a super duper big fan of Pride and Prejudice! It was a decent Young Adult contemporary take on Jane Austin's classic!
A few pages in a burst into unstoppable laughter! The name of the characters and the setting! i enjoyed this! It was cute, fluffy, adorable and super funny! Cant keep my smile off my face while reading Prom and Prejudice. Even though i already know what will happen (duh?) completely predictable but its really interesting how will this story turns out.
It feels like reading again the epic profound love story of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in an alternate universe! Anyway, I flew through this in less than a day and i recommend this to everyone especially those who like a fun, quick, read. This book reminded me how much i love Pride and Prejudice.
April 27, 2021
This was a cute and short read. If you go into this book expecting the world, you'll be disappointed. But if you're just wanting something light and cute to pass the time, you'll enjoy this one.
This book follows the original Pride and Prejudice storyline so most of the plot is familiar. I liked that Eulberg added her own flair to things with the whole prom theme. We get to see Lizzie and Darcy in a contemporary setting and it's a lot of fun. Each scene was short and sweet and usually contains some banter. While the banter wasn't revolutionary, it was still interesting.
I wish there could have been a little more depth to Darcy and Lizzie. They fell kinda flat for me for the most part which was sad, but not wholly unsurprising. I think if we could have heard more of Lizzie's thoughts in the scenes, that might have added to her character and helped me, as the reader, get to know her better.
Overall, this was cute and sweet and entertaining. This wouldn't be the first book I recommend to others, but I wouldn't discourage it either.
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This book follows the original Pride and Prejudice storyline so most of the plot is familiar. I liked that Eulberg added her own flair to things with the whole prom theme. We get to see Lizzie and Darcy in a contemporary setting and it's a lot of fun. Each scene was short and sweet and usually contains some banter. While the banter wasn't revolutionary, it was still interesting.
I wish there could have been a little more depth to Darcy and Lizzie. They fell kinda flat for me for the most part which was sad, but not wholly unsurprising. I think if we could have heard more of Lizzie's thoughts in the scenes, that might have added to her character and helped me, as the reader, get to know her better.
Overall, this was cute and sweet and entertaining. This wouldn't be the first book I recommend to others, but I wouldn't discourage it either.
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