PUDGE & PREJUDICE

Jane Austen meets 1980s Texas when a smart sophomore falls for a football star.

In September 1984, Elyse Nebbitt moves with her family from Phoenix, Arizona, to Northenfield, Texas, where the members of Elyse’s large and unusual family—devoutly Christian dad, meddling mom, and five daughters—stick out like sore thumbs. Elyse, who is both plump and loves to read, isn’t exactly in the running for homecoming queen. When Elyse’s beautiful and kind older sister, Jayne, meets handsome jock Charlie Bingley, it’s love at first sight, even if Charlie’s best friend, quarterback Billy Fitz, isn’t as sold on the new relationship as the rest of Northenfield High School. Though Elyse is initially skeptical of the school’s emphasis on couples, she soon connects with Gage Wickam, who’s recently moved back to town and has some not-so-positive history with Billy. As Billy rises in football stardom, Elyse’s wild younger sister Lydia develops a crush on Gage, and Charlie is unexpectedly sent away, to Jayne’s utter heartbreak, Elyse must decide if love fits as well as her Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. While it does not add anything substantially new to the body of Pride and Prejudice retellings, Pittman’s writing is sharp and witty, with fun, if sometimes inaccurate, ’80s references. Though the main character and everyone except her mother are comfortable with Elyse's size, the topic of body positivity—unusual in this genre—could have used deeper coverage. All characters are presumed White.

A well-written romantic comedy.