Review: Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Title: Prom and Prejudice
Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Published: January 2011
Source: The Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
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.
 
It should be noted that I read this book less than a week after finished Pride and Prejudice...for the third time. So, yes I was very familiar with the storyline and the characters going into this book. I'm still trying to decide if that's a good thing or not. On one hand, I got all of the references the Pride and Prejudice, but on the other it was really predictable.
 
Eulberg did a great job with keeping the characters in character. Jane was sweet and unassuming, Lizzie was a bit more cynical and smart, Bingley was his usual charming self, and Darcy was, of course, misunderstood. The ways they were modernized and made younger were great. Making Lizzie and Jane best friends instead of sisters worked really well, as did making Lydia Jane's little sister, not Lizzie's.
 
I also loved the way that prom was such a big deal. I'm not talking the usual high school half excited/half whatever, I'm talking a huge deal. It was especially fun since prom is on the forefront of my mind right now. That was the main difference that I found between Pride and Prejudice and this book. As a whole I would say that the book was very predictable, but not in the annoying way. Eulberg found many ways to make it fresh and new for the reader, and I enjoyed the subtle differences.
 
Basically I enjoyed this book immensely. It's great for a fast, light read. I would not recommend it if you're a Pride and Prejudice purist or if you despise predictable. Otherwise, read and enjoy!
 
Characters: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 8/10
Writing: 8/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 43/50 B