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Enthusiasm

3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 · rating details · 2,302 ratings · 497 reviews

?There is little more likely to exasperate a person of sense than finding herself tied by affection and habit to an Enthusiast.? Julie knows from bitter experience: her best friend, Ashleigh, is an Enthusiast. Ashleigh?s current fancy is also Julie?s own passion, Pride and Prejudice, and the heroine?s quest for True Love. And so Julie finds herself swept along with Ashleig...more

Paperback, 198 pages

Published September 6th 2007 by Speak (first published February 16th 2006)

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Mar 26, 2009 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ha! This proves I like light, fluffy books. Although rather predictable this book was thoroughly enjoyable. Right on the cover was a recommendation of praise from Stephanie Myers which made me roll my eyes, and consider not reading the book. I'm glad I did though, I loved the two friends, Ashleigh's loyalty was refreshing. Though her "Enthusiasm" didn't seem so very Enthusiastic after the first 50 pages or so. Not when compared to the crazy things she's done in the past. The love interest of bot...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Jessi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: janeites-unite, rereads

I love Jane Austen. I have read all of her completed novels at least twice. I've read quite a few JA para-lit novels, and this is by far the best of the bunch. It includes allusions to not only P&P, but Emma, Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility, and even a little Mansfield Park, too. Although she borrows from Austen's characters, Shulman does a great job of making them (and the story) fresh and unique. There was never a doubt in my mind as to the ending (it is, after all, a romance, and a YA o...more

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Oct 05, 2008 Halli rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: q1-2008, favorites

Text to Self

This book is definately for the light of heart, teenage girl. Which is exactly what I happen to be. I found a lot of connections between this book and my self. I am a lot like the main character Julia. We both have an extreme love of the Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice, we both love, even though we might not show it all the time, our very best friend more than anything, and would do almost anything for them, and we both hold on dearly to the dream that we will one day find our...more

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Jan 12, 2010 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Hannah by: Hanneybean!!

Shelves: ya, 2010-reads

Enthusiasm is a fluffy, comfy book filled with references to Jane Austen and some of her works, most notably Pride & Prejudice.

A YA book, it was recommended to me by my teen daughter, so of course I had to read it. A quick, fun read, with a cast of cute and quirky (though unrealistic at times) characters, Enthusiasm is definitely marketed to capitalize on the teen fascination with boys, crushes, first kisses and clueless parents.

Very sweet and light fare, although as a mom I do take issue wi...more

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Aug 24, 2011 Anne Osterlund rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Julie and Ashley have been best friends forever. Through Ashley’s King Arthur phase, her Wet Blankets phase, and now . . . Jane Austen. Which involves “no showing of the lower limbs,” learning the quadrille, and crashing the fall dance at the local all-boys school, in search of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley.

Julie is an excellent best friend. She’s prepared to suffer the social criticism, the missteps, and even the total embarrassment of getting turned away from the dance.

But just how well will that...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: realistic-fiction

This book is so sugary sweet you could say maybe it almost too sweet. But as it is it's just what I needed. I was in the greatest mood while I was reading it and after I finished. This is probably the reason why I don't read as much deep sad books. You know how you sometimes keep the feel of the book while you're reading it for a while? If I'm having a hard time then there is no way I'm going to read a sad book. I have to be in the right state of mind.

Julie has a friend name Ashleigh, who is an...more

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Nov 23, 2007 Molly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, good-audio-books, on-audio

Do you adore Jane Austin? Are you searching for your very own Mr. Darcy? Do you have absolutely no idea what I am talking about? Ok, well Julia Lefkowitz and her next-door neighbor/life long best friend Ashleigh Rossi do: Julia is a huge fan of Austin, especially Pride & Prejudice, and Ashleigh, well she is what you might call an Enthusiast. At least, that is what Julie calls her. You see Ashleigh has a tendency to become deeply, passionately obsessed with something, committing her whole lif...more

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Jun 06, 2011 Felicia added it · review of another edition

This book had potential to be one of the cutest novels I’d ever read, despite the slightly serious-looking cover (I know there’s hot pink, but still). The story caught my eye because well, who doesn’t have a flighty, overly-enthusiastic friend who loves picking up new hobbies? Throw in a hot guy, a rule-breaking plan with lots of mischief, a kick-ass title, and you should have the formula for a nice fluffy story.

Unfortunately, the story was not as captivating as I’d hoped. Maybe its just me, but...more

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Apr 01, 2009 Lauren rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Super cheesy but super cute. I was in the mood for something just like it and i laughed out loud so much throughout the whole book. Julia's friend Ashleigh is so comfortable in her own skin you wish you were just like her but some of her ideas are so embarrassing. Some of the problem in the book seem so unrealistic and cheesy but the sad part is that they are totally true and are a huge deal in a teenaged girl's life . All in all theres no way after you have finished the book that you can help b...more

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Feb 11, 2008 Ruth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Ages 12 and up

Recommended to Ruth by: Stephenie Meyer

Shelves: fiction

This is a cute, young adult romance. I would have just given it three stars, but there were a couple well written, very romantic scenes that pushed it to four stars for me. I love it when authors are able to convey emotional intensity without being smutty.

The story is very cute. I loved the pride and prejudice references. There are quite a few Jane Austen characters here. Important themes include friendship, loyalty, family roles, first love, misunderstandings, and self-image. It's a short read...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Alyson Farmer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Alyson by: Shannon Johns

Shelves: young-adult

I guess I need to pay better attention to what my goodread friends are reading because I see I'm not the first to have read this book. :)

I planned on having a nice quiet weekend at home not too long ago (yeah right!) and was loaded up with a few books from the Centennial Junior High librarian. The quiet weekend never happened (mostly because I suddenly remembered that I need to read the 7 Habits book for book club and had to start on it right away) but I eventually made it to this book.

This is a...more

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Apr 04, 2013 Debbie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, romance

When I picked this book up from the library, I was expecting a modernized "Pride and Prejudice." It's not. They just talk about Austen a lot. There was no prideful or prejudiced hero or heroine. Parr may be rich, but he's polite, thoughtful, and not even his parents appeared to have any social-class pride. The heroine, Julie, is described as "agreeable," but she's actually extremely passive. An agreeable person says, "Yes, that sounds like fun!" when something is suggested. Julie didn't actually...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Rosalyn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'll admit--I picked up this book at the library because it had a cover blurb from Stephenie Meyer, and I was curious about the premise. It more than met my expectations; it was a darling story. For years, Julie's been dragged along by her best friend Ashleigh's wild enthusiasms. She's more or less used to it by now. But, just before their sophomore year begins, Julie's dismayed to find that Ashleigh has glommed onto what has always been Julie's private enthusiasm: a love for all things Jane Aus...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Nathalie S rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was an enjoyable Jane Austen inspired teen book. Julie Lefkowitz is a die hard Jane Austen fan. Her ditzy free spirit friend Ashleigh hops from crazy fad to crazier fad, which is pretty okay with Julie until Ashleigh zeroes in on Pride and Prejudice. Ashleigh decides that they should go in search of her Mr. Darcy and Julie in search of her Mr. Bingley. This irritates Julie who would much prefer to go for Mr. Darcy, for after all she is the true lifetime Jane Austen fan. But Ashleigh is of c...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Alice rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: jane-austen-around

Honnêtement, j'aurai presque pu mettre cinq coeurs à ce livre. Ce n'est sûrement pas de la grande littérature, mais si on prend son genre en considération et qu'on ne lui en demande pas plus, il est parfait. Je l'ai pris un soir, fatiguée, dans l'idée de lire le premier chapitre afin d'aiguiser ma curiosité, mais impossible de le lâcher avant de l'avoir terminé, soit au milieu de la nuit. L'écriture est légère, l'histoire intéressante et plutôt que de la trouver mièvre ou niaise, elle m'a rendu...more Honnêtement, j'aurai presque pu mettre cinq coeurs à ce livre. Ce n'est sûrement pas de la grande littérature, mais si on prend son genre en considération et qu'on ne lui en demande pas plus, il est parfait. Je l'ai pris un soir, fatiguée, dans l'idée de lire le premier chapitre afin d'aiguiser ma curiosité, mais impossible de le lâcher avant de l'avoir terminé, soit au milieu de la nuit. L'écriture est légère, l'histoire intéressante et plutôt que de la trouver mièvre ou niaise, elle m'a rendu nostalgique de mes premières histoires d'amour.

Pourquoi donc ne lui ai-je pas attribuer ces cinq Y alors me demanderez-vous? Et bien parce que je suis très en colère contre celui ou celle qui a choisit le titre et qui abuse de notre confiance en nous racolant avec le nom de Jane en couverture. Ce livre n'a à vrai dire que peu de rapport avec elle, je ne peux donc pas lui mettre une meilleure note dans cet espace exclusivement consacré à notre cher Jane, et c'est d'ailleurs sûrement pour ça que son auteur lui avait donné comme titre original "Enthousiasm". Je suis fatiguée de l'utilisation faite du nom de Jane Austen pour nous séduire et s'ils pensent tellement faire vendre en utilisant son nom alors pourquoi ne jamais traduire tous les très bons sequels et prequels existants?? Je ne sais pas si c'est l'éditeur, Albin Michel, que l'on doit blâmer pour cela, éditeur dont j'apprécie habituellement grandement le rayon jeunesse et qui est par ailleurs l'un des rares à enfin éditer en français des livres pour Janeite.

Et comme l'auteur n'y est pour rien, du moins je l'espère, et que la lecture fut des plus agréables - disons le, je me suis régalée comme une ado! - je vous livre tout de même le petit résumé de l'éditeur:

"Julie, quinze ans, est habituée aux lubies de sa meilleure amie Ashleigh, même si, à cause d’elle, elle se retrouve parfois dans des situations improbables. Après le roi Arthur, la stratégie militaire ou le ballet, la dernière passion en date de cette éternelle enthousiaste : Jane Austen ! Ashleigh veut à tout prix trouver le M. Darcy d’aujourd’hui en participant au bal d’une prestigieuse école de garçons. Et voici les deux inséparables vêtues de crinolines, en chasse pour dénicher le parfait héros austenien… mais attention à ne pas choisir le même (heureux) candidat !"
(less)

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Nov 20, 2011 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

This was an adorable book! I don’t normally go for the “chick-lit” kind of books, but this was really just fun and cute. Also, it was $1 at Books-A-Million…so it was hard to pass up. However, in my opinion the Stephenie Meyer recommendation doesn’t do much to sell the book.

So, Julie and Ashleigh have this amazing friendship. Not only have they lived next-door to each other for their whole lives, but there is a tree that connects both of their bedroom windows. They can constantly go back and fort...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: good-uns, ya

It's been around five years since I first ran across ENTHUSIASM by Polly Shulman. And, honestly, when I think about it, I'm fairly certain I got this recommendation from Stephenie Meyer's website way back in the day. I believe she had it on her list of recommended reads and I picked it up based on that and the fact that it had a Jane Austen angle. It seems like there are so many of those these days, but at the time I hadn't read many. I'm very glad I did pick it up, as this is a perfectly deligh...more It's been around five years since I first ran across ENTHUSIASM by Polly Shulman. And, honestly, when I think about it, I'm fairly certain I got this recommendation from Stephenie Meyer's website way back in the day. I believe she had it on her list of recommended reads and I picked it up based on that and the fact that it had a Jane Austen angle. It seems like there are so many of those these days, but at the time I hadn't read many. I'm very glad I did pick it up, as this is a perfectly delightful, perfectly quick read that entertains and leaves a grin on your face. I still don't see it around very much, but I'm happy to see Ms. Shulman has a new book that came out last year. Definitely need to go check that one out since I read this one in a single sitting. As far as the covers go, what do you think? I'm always interested to see where they go when they change it between hardback and paperback releases. I think it's interesting the slight shift they took on the paperback, lightening the background and adding the Austen figures to highlight that aspect of the story. Probably a good idea, but I do find myself sort of preferring the bright, simple colorblock of the hardback.

This sweet, smart little novel follows 15-year-old Julia Lefkowitz who loves Jane Austen. Enter her best friend Ashleigh the Enthusiast.

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

Ashleigh moves from one obsession to another like they're going out of style. But she always, always devotes her whole self, heart and soul, to whatever the obsession of the day is. And most recently, rather unexpectedly, Ashleigh has decided to follow her less enthusiastic friend Julie's lead and adopt Austen as her latest obsession. Specifically Pride and Prejudice. In short order, she's talking like Elizabeth Bennet, dressing like Elizabeth Bennet, and dragging poor Julia off to crash an all boys school cotillion in search of a Darcy and a Bingley apiece. Suitable young men are found (naturally), the charming Ned and Parr, but which one is which and just who is actually in love with who?

Delightful and quirky, full of sly Austen references, and even a play within a play, ENTHUSIASM is easy to fall for. In fact, I stayed up late in the closet reading this one after a particularly long and trying day. This was back when I lived in a room with a walk-in closet. Don't you love those for reading in late at night, or is that just me? I remember I had one as well when I was around 14 years old and, let me tell you, I spent many a night cozied up in that space, surrounded by hemlines, shoes, and a good book. In this case, I really liked these two girls. The reserved one and the vivacious one, together they are the real deal when it comes to being friends. So much so that when misunderstandings arise, they stick it out, even if it means (as it does here) one of them swallowing a rather hefty helping of disappointment for much of the book. But I loved their friendship and I loved the swoony romance that develops between Julie and one of the young lads (not telling which one). Complete with first kisses, climbing in and out of windows, and sonnets pinned to trees. Be still my heart. Genuine and sweet, ENTHUSIASM has stayed on my shelf over the years, for whenever I need a little modern-day Austen in my life. (less)

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May 17, 2011 Maia B. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Austen fans or YA fans or anyone wanting a light read with lots of humor

Shelves: beach-reads, jane-austen

This is the kind of light, romantic novel that's perfect for the beach, the waiting room, or really anywhere else. It doesn't suck you in so that you can't put it down, but the characters are likable and the plot moves at a quick pace, with lots of twists and turns and LOTS of humor before the end.

Plus it's a great homage to Jane Austen from the teenage point of view - nothing can ever live up to Austen, but this book seems to realize it and there are enough inside jokes to keep Austen lovers ha...more

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Jan 23, 2011 Corinne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

When your best friend is prone to obsession, you learn to get used to embarrassment and for Julia, Ashleigh is that best friend. Her current obsession? Jane Austen and all the Regency Period trappings that go along with her - the long dresses, the dancing and the hope for love. Whilst being dragged about by Ashleigh, Julia stumbles into acquaintance with a mysterious and handsome stranger who may or may not be her own beloved Mr. Darcy.

Oh, this is swoon-worthy young adult fare at its finest. The...more

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Jan 22, 2011 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this 2 years ago, back when I was a freshman in high school, and I was struck by how much I could relate to the protagonist, Julie. It was so refreshingly real--the thoughts and emotions she was going through were so much like mine. While I saw myself in both Julie and Ashleigh, her best friend, I found that I could relate to Julie more. You can't even imagine how much of a godsend this book was to me--it came at just the right time--and that's what made this book so special. Okay, so may...more

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Jan 21, 2011 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bookclub, juvenile-youth

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 08, 2011 Jenna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

A fun, fluffy book inspired by Jane Austen, it actually put me frequently in mind of Northanger Abbey and Sense and Sensibility rather than its implicit inspiration, Pride and Prejudice (I theorize this was with intent by the author). It even centers around a high-school theatrical production so a bit of Mansfield Park is going on as well, and the main character's best friend could easily be a distant descendant of Louisa from Persuasion.

I read this via audio-book (and recommend the unabridged a...more

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Sep 29, 2010 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shulman's first book plays with the ideas of love referencing Jane Austen and Shakespeare. For this book (which is more of a 3.5 stars) I would say it's playful and sometimes makes you rethink certain events as to who is flirting with who. I believe it can be appreciated by many groups (but is definitely best for middle and high schoolers). I had my gut instincts on who was falling for who, and had to rethink it a few times. A fun book with great characters, who make you think of your own friend...more

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Sep 18, 2010 Sarah W rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, pride-and-prejudice-redux

Julie's accustomed to being swept up in her best friend Ashleigh's crazes. Candy making, reptiles, juggling and King Arthur have all had their time. Now, however, Ashleigh's latest craze is moving into Julie's territory--that of Jane Austen. Having finally read Pride and Prejudice, Julie's favorite book, Ashleigh is determined to reenact the book. She changes how she speaks and how she dresses, but that is not enough. No, Ashleigh must find her Mr. Darcy and Julie must find her Mr. Bingley. Juli...more Julie's accustomed to being swept up in her best friend Ashleigh's crazes. Candy making, reptiles, juggling and King Arthur have all had their time. Now, however, Ashleigh's latest craze is moving into Julie's territory--that of Jane Austen. Having finally read Pride and Prejudice, Julie's favorite book, Ashleigh is determined to reenact the book. She changes how she speaks and how she dresses, but that is not enough. No, Ashleigh must find her Mr. Darcy and Julie must find her Mr. Bingley. Julia is horrified. Sophomore year is about to begin and there's no way Ashleigh is going to escape humiliation. That's before Ashleigh comes up with a plan to crash a ball at Forefield Academy, an all boy's school.

While visiting her father and stepmother, Julie confides her worries about the whole Austen infatuation to her friend Samantha. Sam pushes Julie to make a compromise to go to the dance only if Ashleigh forgoes the strange clothes at school. They solve the problem of clothes by going through the acquisitions for the artsy shop Julie's mom runs. Ashleigh insists on dance practices, and to Julie's surprise her mom teaches them. Transportation gets provided by Sam's college brother Zach. Now there's just the problem of not having tickets and a staff member who refuses to let them in.

The girls are rescued by the chivalric action of one C. Grandison Parr and his roommate Ned. They claim the girls are there with them, foiling the staff member. The dance at Forefield is nothing like the dances of public school or what is found at clubs, at least not at the start. Everything begins with a quadrille and other old fashioned dances. Most of the students and their escorts hover, but Ashleigh, Julie, Parr and Ned take the floor.

After a wonderful evening only slightly marred by a forward Forefield student and some embarrassment, Julie heads home with Ashleigh. Julie's convinced Parr might like her at least a little, but the next morning's events reveal that Ashleigh is smitten with Parr and thinks he likes her. Ashleigh is also convinced Ned and Julie are a couple.

Julie struggles with keeping her crush secret from her best friend, who lives a tree branch away from her. Then her dad and stepmother start pressuring her to pick up more extracurriculars and improve her grades for college. Her mom is struggling to make enough money to sustain them even with the alimony. Her friends cajole her into trying out for a play at Forefield as they need outside students for the girls' parts. A mysterious poem shows up at Julie and Ashleigh's tree.

Enthusiasm is a novel with enjoyable, quirky characters who love music, writing and literature. Julie's battle with being the overwhelmed friend and over-assessed stepdaughter is well played. Ashleigh's enthusiasm is exhausting and contagious while Ned is the supportive, mischievous friend everyone should want. The sometimes unknowable Parr is adorable. The Austen references are enjoyable. The misunderstandings, rumors and conclusion echo Austen's plots in a way that made me smile. (less)

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Jun 26, 2010 Karin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, chick-lit, young-adult-fiction, jane-austen-list, predictable, borrowed-from-the-library

Julie’s best friend Ashleigh’s new obsession is Jane Austen and, to be perfectly honest, Julie’s not thrilled about it. First of all, it was Julie who loved Jane Austen first. And if that weren’t enough, Ashleigh is insisting that they speak, act, and live like they’re back in Austen’s day. The first order of business is for them to meet some appropriate young men. Since there are no appropriate young men at their public high school, Ashleigh suggests that they crash the formal dance at the loca...more Julie’s best friend Ashleigh’s new obsession is Jane Austen and, to be perfectly honest, Julie’s not thrilled about it. First of all, it was Julie who loved Jane Austen first. And if that weren’t enough, Ashleigh is insisting that they speak, act, and live like they’re back in Austen’s day. The first order of business is for them to meet some appropriate young men. Since there are no appropriate young men at their public high school, Ashleigh suggests that they crash the formal dance at the local private (boys only) school. They meet a couple of charmers, Parr and Ned, who rescue them at the door when the dance chaperones refuse to let them in. Both Julie and Ashleigh fall for the same guy – Parr – and Julie decides to keep her feelings to herself so as not to hurt Ashleigh. They continue to see the boys during the school year when they become involved with the boys’ school play, and there continues to be confusion about who has feelings for whom. Some mysterious person starts leaving notes and poetry on the tree between Julie and Ashleigh’s houses, but neither girl is sure of the writer or the intended recipient. Meanwhile, Seth – fellow literary magazine editor/contributor and classmate of Julie’s – has made it known that he’s interested in her. Life would be so much easier if Julie could just like him back! Julie and company have an amazing year and eventually figure out what (and who!) they want.

Enthusiasm starts off like it’s some kind of science fiction novel where you have companions that are “enthusiasts” who get overly excited about everything. Imagine constant cheerleading companions that throw themselves into whatever you’re doing. So, I’m thinking, oh my goodness, they’re enthusiast robots or machines and they’re given to people who are maybe depressed, repressed, quiet – to get them to be more outgoing! But, as the story goes on it becomes obvious that it’s not science fiction after all – it’s realistic fiction and the enthusiast, one Ashleigh, is a perfectly normal human teenage girl, except for the fact that she really goes all out for whatever thing strikes her fancy. That was actually somewhat disappointing.

This is one of those nice, secure kinds of stories, where you know the girls are going to get the guys (and vice versa) and everyone is going to be happy at the end. It’s nice that neither Julie nor Ashleigh are the type to fight over a guy, although, they’re both annoying for different reasons – Julie, because she won’t speak her mind and she backs down way too quickly and easily, and Ashleigh, because she won’t listen (or possibly believe) what other people tell her. Austen lovers may appreciate the references to her stories.(less)

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Jan 04, 2010 Laurel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: austen-inspired, austenesque, contemporary-fiction, humor, young-adult-novel

I had a blast reading Polly Shulman’s novel Enthusiasm, her homage to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice! It had been released in 2006 and was on my ‘to read’ list for quite some time until I felt the need for something summerish and light to read. Since it is classified as a young adult novel for grades 7-10, I was prepared to be underwhelmed by a less than sparkling plot and characterizations. My assumptions were so wrong! Totally!

It is quite amazing to think that this is Shulman’s first novel...more I had a blast reading Polly Shulman’s novel Enthusiasm, her homage to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice! It had been released in 2006 and was on my ‘to read’ list for quite some time until I felt the need for something summerish and light to read. Since it is classified as a young adult novel for grades 7-10, I was prepared to be underwhelmed by a less than sparkling plot and characterizations. My assumptions were so wrong! Totally!

It is quite amazing to think that this is Shulman’s first novel! If you check out her picture on her web site she looks barley old enough to be ‘out’ in society!. Educated at Yale Univeristy as a mathematician, she obviously possesses both left and right brain skills! This writer is pea green with envy and is in total awe of this level of talent in one so young. Like Jane Austen, Shulman is all about language, social observation and characterization. It is easy to see why Austen is one of her favorite authors and how she inspired her writing.

The book’s auspicious opening quote, “There is little more likely to exasperate a person of sense than finding herself tied by affection and habit to an Enthusiast” sets the tone of Austen-esque language throughout the novel that is respectful but not mimicy to Austen’s prose. The narrative is told from the perspective of fifteen-year old Julie, whose best friend since grade school is Ashleigh, an ‘enthusiast’. From Harriet the Spy to candy-making to military strategy, Julie never knows what or when the next craze will over-take her friend, but she is certain to be pulled into it. Now, her latest inspiration is also Julie’s passion, Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. However, Ashleigh’s new possession of Regency manners and decorum mortify her conservative friend. Not only do they include speaking in Austenese, but wearing Regency attire to school, learning to country dance like her idols Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, and ultimately, the ardent pursuit of her own true love. Ashleigh’s latest hair-brain scheme is to find their Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley by crashing a boy’s prep school dance!

Knowing Austen’s world through her novels and movie adaptations was helpful, but not a prerequisite to enjoying this delightful novel. By following Julie’s 21st-century hardships, anxieties, mix-ups, and social blunderings we see that they are interchangeable with any 19th-century Regency Miss’ life; — for what young lady of any era does not wish, hope, and dream that a young gentleman will notice her, and return her affections?

Laurel Ann, Austenprose(less)

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Apr 20, 2009 Steph Su rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

From the book jacket description, I had expected that ENTHUSIASM would follow the general plot of Jane Austen’s 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 Austen’s 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 ta...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Brittany rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

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...more 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."

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Jul 22, 2011 Heidi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, chick-lit, fiction, ya-12-19, spin-off, fluff

That was a lot of fun. Just the brain fluff I needed during Summer Reading--especially in audio format. I had a few beefs. Mostly that Julie felt and sounded a whole lot younger than 15/16 to me. I know I was pretty clueless about a LOT of things at that age. But Julie's kept persisting! It was so obvious to me the entire time who was Julie's admirer. And, well, a whole lot more. But maybe that was supposed to be obvious...I don't know. Still, I liked being in her head as she was going on in lif...more

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Feb 02, 2011 Sana (Breathing Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviews

You know you're in trouble when you and your best friend. Only problem is you keep this fact away from your friend.
Julie is in quite a dilemma when she finds out that her best friend since forever considers Grandison Parr, the super-cute boy, to be her Mr. Darcy. Doesn't everyone want to find their Mr.Darcy at some point in their lives? The problem is that Julie had always had her eyes set on him but due to loyalty she suppresses the ever obvious feelings and let her friend take the lead. But th...more

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Jane Austen Sequels: Enthusiasm, by Polly Shulman	1	6	Oct 07, 2012 05:58pm

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About Polly Shulman

Polly Shulman has edited and written articles about books, infinity, edible jellyfish, planets, circuses, and many other subjects for the New York Times, Science, Salon, and many other publications. She is an alumna of Yale, where she majored in math. She puts cayenne pepper in her chocolate cookies and reads forgotten books with frontispieces. In high school she worked as a page at the New York P...more

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Quotes from Enthusiasm

“Just let me wait a little while longer,
Under your window in the quite snow.
Let me stand here and shiver, I’ll be stronger
If I can see your light before I go.
All through the weeks I’ve tried to keep my balance.
Leaves fell, then rain, then shadows, I fell too.
Easy restraint is not among my talents,
Fall turned to Winter and I came to you.
Kissed by the snow I contemplate your face.
Oh, do not hide it in your pillow yet!
Warm rooms would never lure me from this place,
If only I could see your silhouette.
Turn on your light, my sun, my summer love.
Zero degrees down here, July above.” — 69 people liked it

“And what could my father possibly want with another child, when he hardly bothered to talk to the one he already had?” — 9 people liked it

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