{Review} Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

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.

Title: Prom and Prejudice 

Author: Elizabeth Eulberg

Publication: 1st January 2011

Publisher: Point

231 pages

My review

Okay, I have to admit it, my first reaction was: Elizabeth Bennet and Will Darcy, reaaalllyy? o_0 I love Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen so, it's true, I was a bit afraid to be disappointed. But after all, why not, since it's a modern retelling of this novel and nearly all the characters and places are named after the original book. I overcome my (unnecessary) prejudices and I start reading it and, finally, I totally loved it. Prom and Prejudice is a cute and entertaining story, which stays really close to the original.

As it's easy and very funny I think it's a great way to introduce young readers to the traditional story by Jane Austen. When I was younger I loved reading but I was really reluctant to read classic books, as Pride and Prejudice for instance. I thought they were all boring, I know, it was kind of stupid but I was young and a bit silly. My point is: if I had read Prom and Prejudice and had known this kind of plots was waiting for me in Pride and Prejudice I would definitively have read it sooner.

Okay, perhaps it's high time I stopped babbling and started my review :D Prom and Prejudice was a cute, funny and entertaining read. It was really what I needed. Some people may find it a bit shallow but for me it was refreshing, a great way to escape reality and it put a smile on my lips. After I closed it, I was delighted, pleased and relaxed, and it was exactly what I was looking for.

The story line is compelling and the writing is really smooth. Everything flows naturally and it was really easy for me to dive in the story. The plot is fast-paced and I read it in only a few hours. I loved everything about this book: the atmosphere, the characters, the way Elizabeth Eulberg deals with the original story and retells it. It's true that it is sometimes a bit predictable, but I didn't care because suspense and mysteries are not really the point to these kinds of books. As I was expecting for an utterly cute and funny romance, it has met my expectations and even surpassed it.

The character are enthralling, even if they are a bit less charismatic than in the traditional novel. I loved Lizzie because she is brave and she does not let the girls' harassment afflict her. She's also kind, generous and warm-hearted even if she can be a lot a bit stubborn too. In the middle of the book I wanted her to open her eyes and shake her a little, but fortunately this feeling quickly faded. Will is quite charming, even if he seems gruff at the beginning. The secondary characters are also well described and important to the story. My favorite one is perhaps Georgiana, even if we don't see her a lot, she's so adorable.

To sum up, I totally loved it. It was an awesome read and if you are looking for a novel that will relax you, entertain you and make you smile, Prom and Prejudice is definitively the one you need. It would also be a great book to bring on holidays. It's a cute romance and I loved how the author modernizes and deals with Jane Austen's novel. I hadn't read Elizabeth Eulberg before but I will definitively check out her other book: The Lonely Hearts Club.