Enthusiasm

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

From the book jacket description, I had expected that ENTHUSIASM would follow the general plot of Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice. However, Pride and Prejudice is merely the starting point for this charming book.

At the start of their sophomore year, best friends Ashleigh and Julie are obsessed with Jane Austens world. That is, Julie had always loved Austen, and Ashleigh, who was famous for her constantly changing wild obsessions, decided that it would be her latest craze. However, Ashleigh takes Austen to another level, wearing Victorian clothing, speaking like the characters in the books, and setting off on a quest to find the ever enigmatic True Love.

Like all of Ashleighs crazy plans, this latest quest involves the friends crashing a formal dance at the all-boys boarding school, Forefield Academy. There, they are rescued from the clutches of a rule-loving teacher by C. Grandison Parr and Ned. Ashleigh believes that the two young men are, in fact, their True Lovesthe Darcy-like Parr for Ashleigh and Ned, the Bingley of the story, for Julie.

Julie feels the same way...just not exactly as Ashleigh had imagined. Julie finds herself falling in love with Parr, but she keeps her feelings to herself, not wanting to be disloyal to Ashleigh. Keeping silent turns out to be harder than she thought as the four friends participate in a school musical together and Julie must see Parr every day. Will Julie ever find her True Love without losing her best friend?

In the style of most teen romances, Julie and Parrs circling may have readers frustrated at the characters obliviousness and awkward situations. ENTHUSIASM is a nice read, but Parr doesnt have anything on the real Mr. Darcy, of course.