Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: August 2nd, 2011
Will Elise’s love life be an epic win or an epic fail? At Coral Tree Prep in Los Angeles, who your parents are can make or break you. Case 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.
(Courtesy of Goodreads)
Initially, I was drawn to this book because of its name; Epic Fail? Come on. Who wouldn't be? Then I saw the cover and read the synopsis, and I had to give it a shot. I thought it was REALLY cute. I've recently read several heavier books, and this was just what I needed to perk me up. It's a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, and I really think author Claire LaZebnik nails it. She captured the characters, plot points, and timing perfectly,while modernizing it in a really delightful way (did I just say "delightful"?). Of course, being a retelling, there aren't a lot of surprises (unless, of course, you've never read Pride and Prejudice), but I didn't love it any less for that. Some reviewers complained about its predictability, but if you're reading a self-proclaimed "modern retelling", how can you expect surprises? Sometimes I'm just looking for fun, and this was perfect. It was funny, witty, and smart. I felt like Claire LaZebnick had a really great understanding of teens; their ups, downs, worries, and daily dramas. It was reminiscent of Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (which I loved!), so if you liked it, I'm sure you'll like this. Epic Fail? I think not. More like EPIC WIN!
My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Grade Level Recommendation: Squeaky clean. Of course there's romance, but it's of the sweet variety. Perfectly appropriate for grades 5+ (Ages 10 and up). In fact, my 5th grade daughter is reading it right now and loves it!
**Don't forget to sign up to win a signed copy of Across the Universe by Beth Revis HERE. Giveaway end September 20th, 2011**
