Name: Enthusiasm
ISBN: 9780399243899

Polly Shulman

Julie and Ashleigh, high school sophomores and Jane Austen fans, seem to fall for the same Mr. Darcy-like boy and struggle to hide their true feelings from one another while rehearsing for a school musical.

Enthusiasm

Pepper

It's my new YA favourite. I don't care that it is not great literature...at least both its heroines like great literature? 

From an interview of the author:
"Those unfamiliar with Pride and Prejudice need not shy away from Enthusiasm. It incorporates many other books - Sense and Sensibility by Austen, A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare, Dancing by Dodworth - but wholly original characters who will sweep readers off their feet."

I suspected as much! And it is true this book is more than just reusing the plot and characters. It is like my Georgette Heyer of YA: no drugs, sex crazed teenagers or anything vulgar - simply a wonderful story that makes you want to eat lots of chocolates and cuddle in your pillow. 

And the boys in the book write poetry! Really good sonnets at that! In fact it was so subtle I didn't even notice the little clues hidden in there much like our dense heroine. And the book had its share of surprises - you know how YA books have to feature a first kiss? It's like a ritual or something. Well Polly Shulman was QUITE aware of this fact and managed to throw me off at least with Julie's first one. And in fact she just takes that whole device and does something wonderful with it.

Additionally I enjoyed the play within the story device she used as well. It was entirely fun having Ashleigh attempting to speak in Jane Austen-ish language. And the girls actually managed to teach themselves the Quadrille and Cotillion and the Virginia Reel or alternatively the Sir Roger de Coverly! God, I wish I had the courage to do that - I've always wanted to.

Enthusiasm

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