Epic fail

Alright, so ... I'm just not going to mention what classic novel this book emulates, because I think realizing that just ruined it for me, and I don't want to do that to anybody. Although, I don't really need to mention it for it to be pretty obvious, so you'll definitely figure it out if you've read the- okay, forget it, it's Pride and Prejudice.

So yeah, a modernized retelling of Pride and Prejudice in a high school setting. Have you ever watched a movie or a read a book, and then wished you could erase your memory and see/read it again without preconceived notions? That's how I felt with this book. I liked it! But I would have liked it more, I think, if it were an original story and not a retelling.

It's funny because, I got it for my kindle a few weeks ago, promptly forgot about it, and then ran across it yesterday. “Sweet!” my inner self happily exclaimed. “A book to read!” And I had forgotten the premise of it by that point. It took me a couple chapters to remember, “Oh yeah, this is the Pride and Prejudice book.” And once I remembered that, all I could see were the parallels. “Oh, __ is supposed to be Wickham” and “Oh that's why Elise's mom and sister are so effin' annoying,” etc. And I couldn't help but feel like the whole book was spoiled for me from that point. I knew, basically, what would happen. I knew that certain characters would turn out to be douchebags, and certain characters would end up together, and other characters would prove their awesomeness, etc.

I guess it was a little fun to see how the different plotlines would be modernized. It just wasn't the same. Sad for me. I think anybody who's not as weird as me, or who hasn't read Pride and Prejudice (or seen one the million of adaptations of it) would enjoy the book just fine. It was good! Well-written and fun and appropriately swoonworthy. I promise!

P.S. Also, it seemed in parts like the author was trying REALLY hard NOT to say “proud” or “prejudiced” too much. She would use tons of other synonyms, but rarely (if ever - I don't remember) either of those words.

P.P.S. Also also, Elise's personality was occasionally weird to me, in the sense that her inside personality didn't always match her outside personality. When it's not dialogue - when it's just her, thinking - she comes off shy & a little antisocial. Like at the beginning, I thought she would be completely awkward every time she spoke. But then she randomly started word-vomiting hilariousness at the lunch table. It was interesting. I feel like most actual people are the other way around - wayyy more awesome and quirky and witty inside their heads than they are when they actually start talking.