It’s not often that I have as much fun with a novel as I did with A.K. Pittman’s Pudge & Prejudice. Are you ready to know why? I’ll give you two hints:
It combines THIS energy with THIS:
Are you intrigued yet? Keep reading 😉
PUDGE & PREJUDICE
by A.K. Pittman
Categories: YA / Clean & Wholesome Romance / ’80s
Publisher: Wander (a division of Tyndale House)
Date of Publication: January 12, 2021
Number of Pages: 352 pages
Scroll down for the giveaway!
A Mixtape of Big ‘80s Style, High School Angst, and a Classic Jane Austen Tale.
It’s 1984 and after moving to Northenfield, Texas, with her family, Elyse Nebbit faces the challenge of finding her place in a new school, one dominated by social status and Friday night football. When Elyse’s effortlessly beautiful older sister Jayne starts dating golden boy Charlie Bingley, Elyse finds herself curious about Charlie’s popular and brooding best friend, Billy Fitz. Elyse’s body insecurities eventually complicate her relationship with Billy, leaving Jayne and Elyse’s exceedingly blunt friend, Lottie, to step in and help Elyse accept herself for who she is, pant size and all.
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PRAISE FOR PUDGE AND PREJUDICE
Written with wit and considerable insight into the highs and lows of first love, this coming-of-age twist on the Jane Austen classic had me laughing out loud, singing ‘80s lyrics in my head, and cheering on the brilliant, yet self-deprecating heroine. Pudge & Prejudice is a joy to read from beginning to end!
—Lorie Langdon author of Olivia Twist and the Disney Villains series
Allison Pittman will have readers laughing (and singing) on every page of this delightfully tenderhearted novel for all ages…[She] crafts a particularly savvy character who learns that beauty really is soul-deep….
—Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of Perennials
I can’t remember the last time I loved a book as much as I love this one. It’s an instant classic I will return to time after time.
—Bethany Turner, Award-Winning Author of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck
5 of 5 Stars
Imagine a world where the works of Jane Austen and John Hughes spontaneously collided. If you’re a fan of the 80s and the exquisite banter between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, I beg you look no further than A.K. Pittman’s Pudge & Prejudice.
I knew I wanted to read this book the moment I saw the nostalgic cover art and telling title. I’m a big fan of well-done (even cheeky) retellings of classics, and Pittman mysteriously managed to fill in all the blank spaces in my list of favorites. Not only do we get the 80s in all its pop and soda glory, as told by someone who lived the high school experience of that time. Not only do we get a punk-rock loving, high school quarterback version of Billy Fitz (ahem, Darcy). We are also led by the beautifully witty, perfectly flawed Elyse Nebbit.
Elyse for me embodied a fabulous blend of Elizabeth Bennet and Some Kind of Wonderful’s Watts. She’s a bit ahead of her time, certainly ahead of her generation, and tends to think she’s smarter than everyone else. But hold up, get ready to meet handsome and broody Billy, who’s ready to challenge all her well-established prejudices with his fumbling candor.
Sparks literally fly when these two interact, and Pittman does an excellent job balancing the source material with a budding teen romance. As established, this is told through Elyse’s narrative, giving the reader a fun, entirely biased peek through her eyes as she struggles to find confidence in herself, and pride in her zany family.
A few things that make this retelling stand out? Elyse is plus-size, and well-aware she does not conform to the beauty standards of her peers. Her struggle to rise above others’ expectations, and her journey to accept and love herself as she is, takes Pudge & Prejudice several shades deeper than your average high school romance. Charlie (Bingley) and sister Jayne’s characters were drawn so well, they truly breathed sweet life in contrast of Elyse and Billy’s bitterness.
Music also plays a constant role, cuing the reader to pop in that cassette in their walkman and listen along. And finally, possibly my favorite surprising aspect of this novel, was how Pittman gave Lydia actual character. Yep, you heard me. I did not hate Lydia the way I have in just about all her other incarnations. But I won’t tell you why. You’ll have to read the book to find out for yourself.
A fantastically written heroine, excellent slow-burn (did I mention the banter?), and the small-town 80s setting give Pudge & Prejudice a permanent place on my list of favorites. This isn’t just an excellent young adult wholesome romance novel, it’s a lovely adaptation of one of the best stories of our time. By keeping the story fresh enough but still close enough to the source material, A.K. Pittman has gifted us with a retelling of Pride & Prejudice you won’t want to miss.
**I was provided with a copy of Pudge & Prejudice by the publisher and this is my voluntary and honest review.**
MEET A.K. PITTMAN
Allison Pittman is an award-winning author of thirteen novels, including the Christy-nominated Sister Wife series and the critically acclaimed The Seamstress. An enthusiast for all of the writing world, Allison holds active leadership in her local American Christian Fiction Writers chapter, and she heads up a thriving critique group in the San Antonio area.
When not writing, Allison teaches middle school English, working as a conduit to introduce her students to new, fresh literature. You can follow her around on Instagram or Twitter and keep up with her writing news on her Allison Pittman Author Facebook page. Here you’ll learn what’s going on with new books, next books, and day-to-day life with Allison and her husband, Mikey. You’ll also get a peek at Snax, the world’s worst dog.
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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
THREE WINNERS!
Each winner receives a SIGNED COPY of the book,
a hair scrunchie, and a $25 Visa Gift Card
Giveaway ends Midnight, CST, 2/13/2021
(US ONLY)
A RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
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Jennifer Silverwood 
Your reviews are always fun to read, but this one is a perfect complement (and compliment!) to the book. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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Aw thanks Kristine! Haha I might have had too much fun putting this post together. But I really loved this book. I got a head start on it soon after I got my print copy, and just devoured the whole thing in one night. Definitely a pleasant surprise 😀 I hope you get the chance to read it too!
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