After reading my first Elizabeth Eulberg book, Better Off Friends, I just knew I had to read another one! Prom & Prejudice was a must, because if anyone knows me at all, they know I’m a huge Jane Austen fan, and good ole P&P is a timeless favorite. It may be solely because I could EASILY see myself with Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy (*swoon*)… but make him a modern-day high school student who, in my head, is incredibly cute and well-spoken and ohmigosh, YES. How could I not have picked this book up?!
Title: Prom & Prejudice
Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Publisher: Point
Publication Date: January 4, 2011
Source: used bookstore (2nd & Charles)
Synopsis: 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?
I flew through it in a day, it was so cute. It was only about 230 pages – not nearly as long as Pride & Prejudice! 🙂 And even though I knew how it would end, of course, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book at all. I highly recommend you be at least a little familiar with the characters of Pride & Prejudice before reading this book; it made it even funnier! And seeing the characters in a modern spin was just hilarious.
Immediately, I loved Miss Lizzie Bennet, and the other cast of classic characters. You’ve got Jane, Lydia, Colin (or rather, Mr. Collins), Mr. Bingley, his incorrigible sister, Caroline, the AWFUL George Wickham… and of course, Mr. Fitzwilliam (or in this case, Will) Darcy. They were all true to their original personalities in Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, and I felt like Elizabeth Eulberg took just enough creative license to make the story more modern.
I was a little disappointed that Mrs. and Mr. Bennet didn’t really make an appearance in the book; I have to admit that Jane Austen’s Mrs. Bennet is probably one of my favorite characters in Pride & Prejudice! But the main plot and characters were still there. Jane Austen’s book really can be modernized and still be much to the same story, because it’s simply so timeless. It was a little different, because Jane and Lydia Netherfield weren’t actually Lizzie’s sisters in Prom & Prejudice (I know right?? Whaaat?!), and Lizzie was actually an only child. But her relationship with Jane and Lydia was much like sisters, so it didn’t make that big of a difference. Jane and Lizzie were roommates at the prestigious Longbourn Academy, which worked well so that they still shared a room and spent a lot of time together.
Meanwhile, there’s the icky Wickham, who goes by “Wick” in this book. His character is easily made modern; he’s just as sly and smooth-talking as in the 1800’s-version of P&P. Lizzie handles him well, I think… I got a good laugh at the way she dealt with him at the end!
And then there’s Darcy…
Darcy was just as swoon-worthy in Prom & Prejudice… albeit prejudiced, at first. (But we can forgive him for his one fault, right? 😉 ) The way it ended was just perfect, because Elizabeth Eulberg did put her own spin on it, and it was adorable!
I have no intention of asking you to prom. – Will Darcy, Prom & Prejudice
So this book gets three and a half stars! I enjoyed it so much. It wasn’t my favorite book in the world (sorry, but PRIDE & Prejudice will always come first!), but the book was absolutely darling. Elizabeth Eulberg is such a great contemporary romance writer. SO FLUFFY! 😀
it is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single book blogger in possession of a great book review must be want of comments
… 🙂
have you read pride & prejudice? or prom & prejudice? or both??! are you a jane austen and elizabeth eulberg fan, like myself? can’t wait to hear!
Thank you so much for reviewing this book! I picked it up at the library a while ago but didn’t check it out… now I’ll have to reserve it as soon as possible! Quick question – it was on the YA shelf, how much YA-level content is there?
No problem! Hm. Let me think… I believe there were mentions of some of the fellow students at the school drinking, but Lizzie and Will never do it themselves. Also, at the end, there’s a scene where a certain someone tries to take advantage of a girl – but that’s also in Pride & Prejudice, so it’s a main plot in the story, and nothing detailed. Overall, I’d say it’s a clean book, though I do understand from experience that it’s all about where you’re standing from. Hope I helped. 🙂
I want to read this!! I read half of P&P and watch the Pride and Prejudice movie. I’ll have to read P&P fully first though~ Awesome review as always Emily! 🙂
Same! It is so cute, you really should read it. 😀
I LOVE Pride and Prejudice!
EEK me too!! 😀
Prom and prejudice I am going to have to read that!
Yes you will!! I’ll let you borrow it. 😉
I am a die-hard Pride and Prejudice fan- I ADORE the original classic and absolutely LOVE the 2005 movie with Keira Knightly! Elizabeth Eulberg did an awesome job of modernizing Austen’s original classic in Prom and Prejudice. It’s a really cute, short read. I’d recommend Prom and Prejudice to anybody, especially those who love Pride and Prejudice!