Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Pride

by Ibi Zoboi

In a timely update of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi skillfully balances cultural identity, class, and gentrification against the heady magic of first love in her vibrant reimagining of this beloved classic. A smart, funny, gorgeous retelling starring all characters of color. 

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.

"Zoboi skillfully depicts the vicissitudes of teenage relationships, and Zuri’s outsize pride and poetic sensibility make her a sympathetic teenager in a contemporary story about race, gentrification, and young love." (Publishers Weekly, "An Anti-Racist Children's and YA Reading List")

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

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Let me preface this review by saying that I adore retellings. I'll read almost any that I come across, especially if it follows a favorite story of mine. Such as Pride and Prejudice. Enter: Pride by Ibi Zoboi. Pride is a modern remix of Pride and Prejudice that provides many unique takes on such a classic tale.

Zuri Benitez lives with her family in Brooklyn. She is proud of this and of her Afro-Latino heritage. Yet there's little Zuri can do to stop the neighborhood from growing and changing. For example, larger and larger houses keep popping up all over, including across the street.

Moving into this refurbished mansion are the Darcys – richer than most people could ever dream of. And dream the Benitez sisters do, well, some of them. One dreams of their money, the other dreams of love. While Zuri is left feeling unimpressed by the lot of them. At first.

“Because the thing about sharp corners is, the right turns can bring you back home.”

Oh my god. I love this retelling of Pride and Prejudice. To be fair, I don't think I've ever come across one that I didn't love, but Pride takes the cake. It is so well written that it blew my mind. I loved all of the decisions that went into this book.

Taking the core of the story and modernizing it was a smart move. Changing the location and so many other elements was even smarter. Everything about this retelling felt carefully thought out – and I adore that. The real effort went into making the story unique while still respecting that foundation. That's a difficult balance to manage, I imagine.

I always adore Zuri (Elizabeth) and her wit, alongside her insight and many other characteristics. She was a fun protagonist, one I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know in this new setting. Likewise, I cherished the time spent with her sisters (okay, some less than others) and everyone else in this world.

Long story short, Pride very much lived up to my expectations, as I highly enjoyed taking some time to finally sit down and read it.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 3 May, 2022: Finished reading
  • 3 May, 2022: Reviewed