Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik Book Review

Title:  Epic Fail

Author: Claire LaZebnik

Publisher: Harper Collins

Rating: ♥♥♥♥ (you should read it) 

(Summary from goodreads)

At Coral Tree Prep in Los Angeles, who your parents are can make or break you. Cast in point:

- As the son of Hollywood royalty, Derek Edwards is pretty much prince of the school - not that he deigns to acknowledge many of his loyal subjects.

- As the daughter of the new principal, Elise Benton isn't exactly on everyone's must-sit-next-to-at-lunch list.

When Elise's beautiful sister catches the eye of the prince's best friend, Elise gets to spend a lot of time with Derek, making her the envy of every girl on campus. Except she refuses to fall for any of his rare smiles and instead warms up to his enemy, the surprisingly charming social outcast Webster Grant. But in this hilarious tale of fitting in and flirting, not all snubs are undeserved, not all celebrity brats are bratty, and pride and prejudice can get in the way of true love for only so long.

Warning to all Jane Austen Fans (well to everyone really) this book is based upon Pride and Prejudice!!!

I’m a big Austen fan, Pride and Prejudice is one of my most re-read and loved books, so before reading this I was skeptical. Honestly can you re-write one of the most loved romance books and modernize it, whilst not angering all Janeites (Jane Austen fans)?

Well I guess you can. Though it is a lot harder with the whole expected storyline.

The story is based at Coral Tree Prep, a school or as Claire LaZebnik put it ‘basically a country club masquerading as a school’ where Louboutins are just casual daywear.

Elise Benton (the modern Elizabeth Bennet) is the new girl who’s just moved there and for her casual daywear means jeans and sneakers. Of course this makes Elise stand out. On top of that she’s the principal’s daughter. A principal who’s trying to introduce new and unwanted school rules. So why should she be accepted into high school society? Well her sister Juliana (Jane) has caught the eye of Chase Baldwin (Bingley)much to his sister Chelsea’s distress, so she’s automatically ‘in’. I liked Elise’s character even though at the start she did not seem as strong as Lizzy, by the end of the book you could see similarities in the characters. The differences did help me see Elise as her own character and not just a flat, photocopy of Lizzy.

Derek Edwards (Mr. Darcy eeekk!)is the son of Hollywood royalty, so he’s the unofficial ‘Coral Tree Prince’. He’s used to people staring at him (especially hot girls) and when he see’s Elise he expects her to be just like all the other attention seekers out there. Someone who loves him only for his status. I could empathise with Derek which I quite liked. I could understand why he was so hesitant to make new friend, or admit that he liked Elise.

As a modern version of Pride and Prejudice this book was pretty good, but at the end of the day that’s all I’ll remember it as ‘the high school Pride and Prejudice’ not as ‘Epic Fail’. The author’s writing style made me want to continue the book even though I knew nothing unexpected was going to happen.

Keep reading,