Review: Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Before I write anything else, I feel the need to mention that I have not, in fact, read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I'm vaguely familiar with the book since its a classic, but I dived in head on into this book with a vague familiarity of Jane Austen's famous work.

Needless to say, even with my ignorance, I enjoyed reading Prom and Prejudice. You do not need to be well-versed with Austen to enjoy this fluffy and light hearted novel.

Title: Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
Pages: 231
Release Date: January 1st 2011
Published by: Point
Source: Won
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

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.

Prom and Prejudice might be a re-telling, but for someone like me who knows very little about the book it was based on, I enjoyed reading it a lot. It came off as something separate from Pride and Prejudice for me, and I have said this countless of times before, I love authors who can write a novel based on something else and make it completely their own.

Darcy must be one of the most popular male leads that Austen has created. The Darcy in this book is lovable too! Will is gorgeous if not a bit brooding and didn't know the right things to say to Lizzie most of the time, but even with his withdrawn personality I'm pretty sure readers would love him. He's very sweet too. No wonder people who've read Pride and Prejudice swoon over Darcy!

Lizzie is a simple yet a strong character. She reminds me a bit of the female protagonist in Nodame Cantabile with her passion for playing the piano. I felt sympathy for her quite a few times but the torture she receives from school didn't stop her from doing what she sought out to do in school, and for that I admire her. On the other hand, I think Lizzie should learn to stop judging people from the moment she meets them because that's where the entire conflict in the story revolved. Her own prejudice.

I love how Elizabeth was able to incorporate the prom into this book. Making it one of the central themes of the book made it easier for me to grasp the story further, and it definitely helped modernized the re-telling.

The other characters were also a delight to read. Jane and Charles are both adorable! Though Lydia irritates me, Jane more than made up for her sister's behavior. Jane and Lizzie's friendship is very admirable as well.

The only thing that prevented me from giving this a full five star rating was the romance. I really wish it could have progressed further, because I was really looking forward to knowing how Lizzie and Will's relationship will turn out to be.

I had a huge grin on my face when I finished reading this book. I was pulled into the story right from the first page. I loved how it was easy to get immersed into it and I enjoyed reading it a lot. Sweet and cute, Prom and Prejudice is an excellent way to introduce readers to the book it was based on. I tell you, you won't be able to put down this book once you start reading it!

My rating

Content (plot, story flow, character):


Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:

Gorgeous! I absolutely love that blue dress!