Enthusiasm

Julie's best friend Ashleigh, is an Entusiast. She gets really into something and it consumes not only her life, but any life in her proximity too. Julie, being the good friend that she is, tries to talk her out of some of the crazier schemes, but mostly to no avail. Everything is just as it should be though, until Ashleigh locks on to Julie's obsession—Pride and Prejudice. Now Ashleigh has it in her mind to find them true love...by crashing a party at an all boys school. Julie now has to try to stop her friend from not only embarrassing herself, but her too. It might not be all bad though, maybe they can find true love...or at least some cute boys.

Right of the bat, one thing that bugged me was them using crisp all the time. What does that mean?! I have never heard it in my life. There's already a word that means cool...it's COOL! Anyways now that I'm done with that rant, this book was actually pretty fun. It was a bit on the short side, which sometimes works but I felt this one could have used a few more chapters. It ends just as it's getting really good. It takes place mostly in the fall/winter time period, so it's a good read for the current season.

The handsome stranger seemed both handsome and charming. He was super swoon-worthy and I would totally date him if I found him in real life. Some of the things he does are just TOO amazingly charming. His friend sounds nice, but sort of dorky. He's like a dorky miscreant though, because he's always trying to get into trouble. Not on purpose necessarily, but he does things that would get him into trouble and make it easy to get caught. Ashleigh was pretty intense. I would feel exhausted all the time if I was friends with her. She seems lovely and smart and nice and loyal, but she has way too much energy for her own good. This is probably why she gets so obsessed with things.

There weren't too many reference to Pride and Prejudice that I noticed, but I haven't read it recently. If you've been watching The Lizzie Bennet Diaries you'll catch on to the references they do make. This was a fun little read about boys and enthusiasm. If you're looking for something fairly light and quick, I'd definitely recommend you try this one.

First Line:
"There is little more likely to exasperate a person of sense than finding herself tied by affection and habit to an Enthusiast."

Favorite Line:
"Asleep in my bed, awake in my bed, in that limbo between waking and sleeping that's known as tenth-grade European history, I dreamed about it."

Reader reviewed by Mairi

Julie usually thinks of her friend Ashleigh as an Enthusiast. At fifteen, Ashleigh seems much younger than her years, not because of any mental disability but because the wide eyed innocence with which she looks at the world, an innocence Julia lost long ago- the only things she still loves with a passion are the novels of Jane Austen. However, those very novels are Ashleigh's latest obsession.

The advertisements for this book (which, unless I am much mistaken, even appeared briefly on this site) prominently featured a Stephenie Meyer quote, which set me off this book like you wouldn't believe, though I did think the plot sounded interesting. It was a nice looking book, as well, so I eventually broke down and read it. I loved, it, as you could probably tell from the rating- great characters, great story, everything required to make a good book- but what I thought was really interesting was the way I could never figure out exactly what the author was getting at.

A final word on Enthusiasm: it's chick lit- chick lit with an emphasis on lit, yes, but I still think that guys who would read and enjoy it are few and far between.

Reader reviewed by Jannah

This book is so easy to relate to, many girls have to go through what Julie went through in this book:
Not being able to love Grandison Parr. Her best friend is also in love with him and Julie didnt admit it so she has to keep her love for him a secret.

I loved the ending to this book because it is like a fairy tale but has its flaws like her secret to Ashliegh and how Seth Young is in love with Julie, I loved all the parts with him and Parr with Seth they are pretty funny becasue of what Julie is thinking during it and, well, Parr who wouldn't love him?

Reader reviewed by Jen

Title: Enthusiasm

Author: Polly Shulman

Summary: Julie has a best friend named Ashleigh. Ashleigh is an enthusiast; every once in a while she gets a new obsession and throws herself fully into it, dragging Julie along with her. But when Julie's passion Pride and Prejudice is Ashleigh's latest craze, Ashleigh emulates everything about the 19th century (speech, dress) and worst of all a quest for her "Mr. Darcy". So Ashleigh's attempt to find him leads them to the local boys school meaning love, but who for?

Thoughts: Who doesn't have a friend like this. I found Ashleigh a charming and cute character, but she could bridge to annoying every once in a while. I also at times felt like this book was more about Ashleigh than Julie and at other points she felt absent. Julie is a good character but she is a bit clueless and doesn't seem to be sure of herself. I liked the hero in this book also. As for the plot, even though we have a touch more insight than Julie, there are some things I think that she should have picked up on. The plot' is super-good and gets quick, exciting, and a bit suspenseful at the end. I did find the pacing plodded at the midway point. There was also a kissing scene which I felt was really awkward. Overall it was cute, sassy and I like the offbeat incorporation and references to Pride and Prejudice. CarolynMackler fans, this is right up your alley. 

Cover: The cover is gorgeous, it has a nice colour scheme, a good title treatment and a nice image. I'm kinda miffed that Ashleigh is our cover girl and not Julie.

Rating: 3 stars 

PS: For Canadians this is a Chapters/Indigo bargain book, its $2 for the hardcover!

Reader reviewed by Trublu93

Ashleigh Marie Rossi is the best friend anyone could ask for. Shes adventurous, loyal and one of a kind. Thats why her and Julia *Julie* Lefkowitz, the storys protagonist, are such best friends, opposites attract. Julia is quiet and more conservative. She sticks with Ashleigh through every adventure she undergoes. From camping out the whole day waiting for free concert tickets for a band thats about to be yesterdays story, to crashing an all boys prep school dance, Ashleighs latest adventure.

Upon reading Pride and Prejudice, Ashleigh gets the idea that she and Julie need a Mr. Darcy and a Mr. Bingley, in respective order, in their lives. And what better way to get these two handsome partners than by crashing the Forefield Academy dance. As the girls wait the day of the dance, they spend their time planning. Trying to find the right dress and learn all the dances to fit the Pride and Prejudice era. When they finally arrive at the dance, they have some trouble getting in. But who is to save them none other then their Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley to be. Is it luck or just faith playing its part?

The tables turn when spontaneously, both friends fall for the same guy, Garrison Parr. Who just so happens to be Julies mystery boy and Ashleighs Mr. Darcy. So who is to get the guy? Julie had always kept her mystery boy a secret from Ashleigh so, when Ashleigh openly announces that Parr is her Mr. Darcy while Ned is to be Julies Bingley, Julie is shocked and confused. She thinks it unfair that she is to be stuck with Ned but then again she doesnt know how to tell Ashleigh about mystery guy when already Ashleigh is so found of Parr.

Enthusiasm wasnt what I expected it to be, it totally took me by surprise. From how I understood the book to be, I thought it would be set back in the Jane Austen era but it was set in todays time, which made it all the more better. When I read that this was Shulmans first novel, it took me by surprise. It was a very promising novel, and written like someone who knows what shes doing. Ill definitely be looking into her upcoming works, and you should too.

Reader reviewed by Sara

"Julie's best friend, Ashleigh, is an enthusiast. Julie never knows what new obsession will catch Ashleigh's fancy, but she does know she's likely to be drawn into the madness. Ashleigh's latest craze is Julie's own passion, Pride and Prejudice. But Ashleigh can't just appreciate it as a good read. She insists on emulating the novel's nineteenth century heroines, in speech, dress, and most important of all - their quest for true love. So Julie finds herself with Ashleigh dressed in vintage frocks, sneaking into a dance at the all boys prep school, where they discover some likely candidates. Maybe this obsession of Ashleigh's will lead to love - but for whom? What follows is equal parts romance adn comedy as a series of misinterpreted messages and super-awkward incidents, not to meniton some rather mystifying poetry tacked to a tree and even a valient foray onto the stage, makes Julie wonder whether she's cut out for enthusiasm - or true love - at all."

I figured that Enthusiasm would be a quick, easy read...and it was, but it was also a very good, romantic, funny read that made me love Pride and Prejudice even more than previously. Julie is a better than exceptional lead character and Ashleigh makes a great love/hate character. The main romantic leads are hilarious and very cute as well... READ THIS BOOK, I mean, if you want.

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.

Reader reviewed by Jocelyn

There are plenty of reasons for readers of young adult books to be enthusiastic about Polly Shulman's new novel, Enthusiasm! It is full of fascinating characters, funny situations, and even romance. The book is told from the point of view of Julie, who is best friends with always enthusiastic Ashleigh. Ashleigh doesn't just have interests; for her, they're always full-blown obsessions. She's been through phases where she has loved a band called the Wet Blankets, Harriet The Spy, ballet, King Arthur, and a lot more. When Julie lent her friend Pride and Predjudice, by Jane Austen, the newest fad began.

For Ashleigh, the Enthusiast, it could never be just a great book. She's got to speak like someone from hundreds of years ago, learn ballroom dancing, wear long skirts, and find True Love. As usual, Julie's got to try and talk some sense into her friend. Sure, they'll still end up publicly humiliated (as usual), but maybe it can be to a lesser degree. Perhaps she can convince Ashleigh to at least put on some jeans!

No matter what Julie does, however, she still can't convince Ashleigh to give up the idea of finding True Love--dressing and acting like the heroine from a Jane Austen novel. Ashleigh is convinced they'll be able to find True Love when crashing a dance at the local boys' prep school, Forefield Academy. The rest of the story has confusion, romance, comedy, humiliation, and a lot more that will have readers hooked up until the very last page!

It's a story that teens will be able to relate to, even if their best friends aren't nearly so enthusiastic as Ashleigh. Everyone's been embarrassed by a friend, but you've still got to stick by them, right? And then of course there's the fact that Ashleigh has set her sights on the guy Julie's crushing on. A sticky situation that lots of girls can relate to! Told in Julie's engaging, witty voice, this entertaining story has every element of a great YA novel that is sure to be popular for a long time to come. I know I'm not alone in hoping for another novel by Polly Shulman that's as unique and interesting as this one!