by Ibi Zoboi
Read: April 28 - 30, 2018
Published: September 18, 2018 by Balzer + Bray
Source: Edelweiss (TY Harper Teen)
Category: YA, Contemporary, Retellings, Pride and Prejudice, Brooklyn
Find: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound
Book Description: Zuri Benitez has pride. Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly gentrifying neighborhood from becoming unrecognizable.
When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons, even as her older sister, Janae, starts to fall for the charming Ainsley. She especially can’t stand the judgmental and arrogant Darius. Yet as Zuri and Darius are forced to find common ground, their initial dislike shifts into an unexpected understanding.
But with four wild sisters pulling her in different directions, cute boy Warren vying for her attention, and college applications hovering on the horizon, Zuri fights to find her place in Bushwick’s changing landscape, or lose it all.
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I loved this book so much. PRIDE is everything I love about retellings - a unique tale that builds on the original in a way that makes sense for this story. It doesn’t just put in the plot points of Pride and Prejudice as if checking off a list. Thank goodness for that. Zuri’s heart and soul are her family - parents and 4 sisters - and her home and neighborhood in Bushwick Brooklyn. Everything makes sense until a rich family moves across the street and things begin to change.
A quick list of things I loved about this story:
- This book feels present in its setting. I experienced Zuri’s neighborhood with my 5 senses. And I felt her fear of everything changing along with her.
- I love Zuri’s fierce love and protection of her family.
- Zuri’s poetry made this story so much of a richer experience
- The banter between Zuri and Darius is just so good. I loved all of their interactions. And I could understand Zuri’s complicated feelings about this rich boy and the seemingly other world he lives in.
- Speaking of, the romance had me swooning and rooting for these two. LOVE that part of this story.
Do not miss this book!
Love Triangle Factor: Low - if you know Pride & Prejudice, you'll understand this part.
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone