Semi-Charmed Life

In Nora Zelevansky's hilarious debut, Semi-Charmed Life, an Upper West Side naif, Beatrice Bernstein, gets swept up in the seemingly magical life of socialite Veruca Pfeffernoose, while ghost writing her blog. Veruca's glitteringly opulent world soon seduces Beatrice away from her own insular, arty family with a promise of fancy parties, travel outside Manhattan (for once) and one desperately cute guy. But when her new glitzy lifestyle starts to take on dark undertones, Beatrice has to decide who she is — once and for all. With her own magical touch, Zelevansky deftly explores the world of rarified Manhattan in this sparkling modern fairy tale of first love, finding one's voice and growing up.

"In her semicharming debut, freelance journalist Zelevansky navigates the brackish confluence of quirky Upper West Sider Beatrice Bernstein and Veruca Pfeffernoose, her 'famous-for-nothing socialite' dorm room neighbor. Hired by Veruca to ghostwrite her blog detailing Veruca's collegiate goings-on, The Pfeffernoose Chronicles, Beatrice is soon trading stained sweaters for designer duds as she shadows her new subject, whose wiles are potent enough to win over a celebrated artist immediately after barfing on his shoes. Slowly but surely, Beatrice (dubbed Beany Baby by her new posse of Veruca's friends, whom she calls the Axis of Evil behind their backs) begins to forget her family and friends as she jets to Miami and London on a moment's notice. But as Bea quickly learns, appearances can be deceiving, and she's not the only one passing for something she's not. Zelevansky infuses the superficiality of Veruca's world with an insider's knowledge of the socialites and sycophants she's chronicling, which lends credibility to the story. Despite a bizarre and jarring introduction of magical elements that fail to jive with the Blackberry — and — black truffles materialism of the book, this is an amusing first effort. Agent: Anne Bohner, Pen & Ink Literary. (July)" Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

"An amazing new voice, a romantic and magical romp through the hip, glitzy and overheated and over-hyped worlds of fashion, art and music....Deft, funny, inspired. Molly Jong-Fast, Author of The Social Climbers Handbook

"Prepare to be fully-charmed! Nora Zelevansky has delivered a deliciously hilarious novel that you will devour in one sitting and then beg for more!" Jessica Brody, bestselling author of 52 Reasons to Hate My Father

"Semi-Charmed Life is a deliciously dizzying comedic mystery, filled with as many twists and turns as the maps that Beatrice, the main character, collects. Nora Zelevansky captures Beatrice's over-the-top adventures through Manhattan celebutante society with a freshness and authenticity that makes every page a pleasure. Nora's writing is unselfconsciously stylish, giddy with references to art and pop-culture, and wholly entertaining." Aury Wallington, author of the New York Times bestselling novel Saving Charlie and former Sex and The City writer

Nora Zelevansky's writing has appeared in ELLE, SELF, InStyle, Town & Country, Style.com, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Salon.com, Vanity Fair online and Travel + Leisure, among others. A born-and-bred Manhattanite, she now lives with her husband in Brooklyn, New York.