Name: Valeria Rodriguez's review of Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
Item: Epic Fail
Rating: 3
Author: Valeria Rodriguez

Claire LaZebnik

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.

Epic Fail

Valeria Rodriguez

Claire Scovell LaZebnik

In this modern take on "Pride and Prejudice," Elise Benton, who has just moved to California, is a junior at an exclusive prep school where, in spite of her initial bad impression, she finds herself attracted to the moody and handsome son of Hollywood's most famous celebrity couple.

Epic fail

Isadora Cal

I'm pretty sure Jane Austen is truly offended by this. Also, shouldn't a work based on Pride and Prejudice have at least a smart and witty protagonist? 
The whole book is so predictable it mentally hurts (and it's not because I've read P&P a few times. It's the kind of predictable you can guess their next lines). The characters are so vain it tires you. There are only clichés -- no, really, I don't think you can find anything else.
Is it fun? A little bit. Enough to make you finish it. But even the fun parts are... shallow.
Let's just say I deeply disliked it.

And it amuses me how people can complain about the flaws in the characters: that's how you know am author didn't do the job well. Everyone has flaws! It's what makes the characters real. But to just point out their flaws and make them bitchy (sometimes for protagonists and all of the time for adults, specially parents) is extremely superficial. Where's the complexity of a human being? I feel as if these authors think that teens are so dumb they need it as simple and superfluous as possible. Even when telling a light story, even if the focus is meant to be only on romance, it doesn't mean everything else - like quality - has to be put aside.

2025 reread: i will always love a pride and prejudice ya retelling even years later

Cute and romantic, but it's pretty predictable. You see it all the time.

Nicki

Cute book! Ending was a little lacking but nice modern take on Pride and Prejudice

Sofie

I noticed it the second I started reading. I'm not finished yet, and oh, I intend to, but Elise Benton. If that's not a dead giveaway, I don't know what is.

I was pondering over these coincidental similarities when it hit me that they may not be coincidental at all. Derek/Darcy? Elise/Elizabeth? Chase/Charles? Juliana/Jane? I'll go on to mention that Mary is not included in this rendition of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, but the similarities are undeniable.

I'm a little surprised actually that the summary of the book says nowhere - directly, only an inference that people who have actually read Pride and Prejudice would understand - that this is a modern take of a classic novel. To be honest, I'd have thought it would attract more attention to it. I imagine it might even be more popular than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which, to be honest, sounds a bit silly to me.

Anyway, I'm enjoying it thus far. I'll see just how far the similarities will go.

Amy Grieve

As far as this book goes I can't compare it Pride and Prejudice because I have never read it. So, excuse my total lack of know how on the subject.

This was on those books that I just picked up with no expectations at all. It was the title that drew me in. I have one friend in particular who loves to say 'EPIC FAIl' at the most inappropriate times. 

This book blew me away. If I did have expectations, they were sure to be blown away. I loved the setting of sunny L.A, with the totally amazing characters, and the vibe. I could see something real in every character. Even though I didn't like them all, I have met real people like them. 

As far as characters go, here is what I thought of them...

Elise Benton - She was foolish at times, but she always ended up admitting her wrongs. She is one of my favourite female characters of all time. 

Chase - Chase seemed like the perfect guy: he really cared for his girlfriend, backed up his friends and all in all was just a nice person. 

Julianna Benton - Being the oldest of the Benton sisters, I think that she handled herself well. She was never really bitchy like most sisters I know. She is kind of a role model for all big sisters. 

Derek Edwards - Derek had the broody stereotype down to a tee. He was secluded and doesn't trust anyone, yet they all worshipped him. I loved him and Elise together at the end. They really do make a good couple. 

I would add this as a MUST READ to anyone's list. Too good not to read.

Pamela Alvarado

I loved it! I could totally relate with the protagonist's description of being the new girl in school. I highly recommend this one for lovers of Jane Austen and Elizabeth Eulberg (Hint Hint!)

Valeria Rodriguez &
Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik

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Valeria Rodriguez &Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik

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Valeria Rodriguez &
Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik