Semi-Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky – Review

Posted 18 July, 2012 by Danny in Blog, Danny, Danny's Book Review / 20 Comments

Semi-Charmed Life

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary with a touch magic 🙂
Published July 3rd 2012 by St. Martin’s Press
Copy received from publisher
Get your own: amazon | Book Depository
format: paperback | eBook
Rating:
Semi-Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky , Synopsis from goodreads: In Nora Zelevansky’s hilarious debut, Semi-Charmed Life, an Upper West Side naïf, 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.
The synopsis and the cover is what drew me into this story. Clearly, the cover is beautiful! Mostly, I read YA – but the protagonist in Semi-Charmed Life is just in College, so I would consider this fall into the New-Adult genre, a genre a truly adore!

Hilarious with a Fantastic and Unique Writing

When I’m reflecting this book, one facet sticks out most: the unique writing!! It was incredibly fun, hilarious at some points and clearly unique. The whole writing seemed effortless, easy and fun!  Nora Zelevansky manages to draw you into her story with her unique style that is truly captivating! Her description of what’s going on Bea’s  mind plastered a smile on my face, trying to imagine what I was reading right now!
“She imagined how much easier the conversation might be with a PowerPoint presentation to illustrate her thoughts:” This graph indicated how bummel I am that we’re not speaking. The pie chart’s sizable orange section demonstrates the overwhelming percentage of people who currently think I’m a moron. (..)” pg. 295 eARC of Semi-Charmed Life

Finding your way in the world is not easy

Bea is in college , yet she’s still trying to find her way around in the world without her parents. She wants finally be her own person and cut the cord. However, Bea has to realize that even though you are in college doesn’t mean it’s easy, especially not if you have such a loving family that wants to protect you and also, if you are born into a family where everyone is a great artist. Where does Bea fits into this world?
Bea is cute, adorable, funny and naive at some points. So when she’s getting the opportunity to jump into the shadow of a celebrity world – she jumps right in and asks questions later.

Odd and different!

I admit I had a few problems getting a sense for this book… See, I expected a “normal” contemporary story about a girl finding her way in life. Spiked with a few celebrity elements and I was sure this was going to be a fun book! However, there was something magical and odd about the story. And I do not mean odd in a bad way! It was different! Yet, this took me a while to comprehend and grasps and it irritated me a few times. Once I as accustomed to these oddities I enjoyed the story much more!
Therefore the first part was moving very slowly and it took me some time to get into the story – but then it picked up pace and then I realized that I was eagerly turning pages and pages!

Sweet Romance

Romance lovers like me out there? Being me, I hoped for a little deeper development of the romance. But, it was not part of the main storyline so I do understand that it was not a major focus. However, there was romance and it was sweet and slowly progressing. I just wished that Ben would have been flashed out more. He played a rather minor role and I would have loved to see more of him because I think he was such a great character and I missed getting to know him better!

Bewitched Rating

Bottom Line

Semi-Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky is a clever and witty debut – even downright hilarious at some point. Nora Zelevansky has a unique, fantastic writing that definitely stands out and shines! Despite a slower start and an initial adjustment phase this book was full  of wonder and magic. I happily recommend this one to all readers who enjoy something different among the coming-of-age novels!

   

Additional Info

This is Nora Zelevansky Debut novel and she clearly shines! She does not only write about blogging in her novel, she’s also a passionate blogger herself! Check out her Blog! Besides, I LOVE her website! So sooo pretty 🙂

Much Love,

 

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20 Responses to “Semi-Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky – Review”

  1. Brilliant review, Danny! I don’t think I have even considered this book before but it sounds like something I will have to pick up one day. Bea sounds like a fun character! 🙂
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    Danny 7/18/2012

    Bea is a fun character, but she’s also very real and genuine! The highlight of the book was the writing :))
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  2. Yay I just got this one last week and I’m glad it sounds like what I expected. I love humor in books (which is what made me accept this one for review) and I’m super intrigued by how you describe it’s original oddness but not odd! haha. Great review, Danny Bambi! (I used to call my friend this!) >.<

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    Danny 7/18/2012

    hehe! I was thinking hard to describe the book best. Because it was strange and odd – but it was also fun and hilarious!!!

    And Danny Bambi sounds cute – and you can call me anything you want *hugs* 🙂
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  3. I just can’t get over how beautiful this cover is! It’s all pastel watercolours and gorgeousnesss which I think will appeal to all artistic girls like me when it hits the shelf! And I loooooove books that are strange in a good way, because who wants to read the same cookie cutter contemporary over and over again? Certainly not me! 😉 I want to pick up this awesomely odd and slightly magical one!

    Beautiful review, Danny! Gotta love New Adult, right? <3
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    Danny 7/18/2012

    The cover is so beautiful and it is absolutely perfect for this book! Bea and her parents are artist and the whole art scene plays a big role in the book!!! This is a book which one should just own just because it#s so beautiful!

    Knowing your taste, I truly think you might really like this unique story!!!
    Danny recently posted..Semi-Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky – ReviewMy Profile

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  4. I’m so curious about the New Adult genre. I first heard of it from you, but I’m still not sure which books fall into this category. It is only for characters that are in college?

    Hmm… yeah, the odd part sounds odd. I would have expected a straight up contemporary too. And thought the romance is light, I think it would be okay with me since that’s not the novels main focus.
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    Danny 7/19/2012

    I actually do not know how to label them correctly. But for me NEW ADULT is a book featuring protagonists in College, and over 20 under 25. I think in this age you are perfectly wlll considered New Adult, but not yet completely adult. Also, they can very well also deal with discovering who you are and first real love etc.

    I like it – it goes well with my age:)))
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  5. Ooh, odd and magical are a good combination. I like that this book surprised you and it was both different and better than you expected–love when that happens!
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    Danny 7/19/2012

    Yes it was so great in the end! I’m a little sad it took me so long to really understand the novel and go into the novel , hence the rating.
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  6. I’ve seen this around a little recently and have been a bit curious. And then I saw she’s going to be doing a signing here and I contemplated going. Unfortunately it’s at a bad time so I don’t think I’ll make it. But your review really has me wishing I could cause she sounds like someone I would love to meet! I’ll have to see if I can somehow manage to go… (unless it already happened cause now I can’t remember when it is exactly.)
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    Danny 7/19/2012

    Oh no!!! I think she’s an awesome person! She must be super funny! Authors who write such amazing witty stories must be funny themselves! I hope you can go!

    This is really worth reading:)
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  7. The beautiful cover drew me in but now that you say it’s also different with beautiful writing? I really want to read this one. It sounds like one I would enjoy, especially the ‘odd’ elements. This looks like a really fun book.
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    Danny 7/19/2012

    The cover is so so beautiful and it’s actually also fitting very well for this book! It’s such a fun book- and in the end, once I was accustomed to the oddness I was hooked. But, it took me some time to get into the story!
    Hope you’ll enjoy this:)
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  8. With all the magics and magicals thrown in there I was thinking this was paranormal, but your rating says otherwise. I seem to be reading a lot of contemps lately. I love funny, I might give this one a try, I adore coming of age and I’m beginning to like the new adult genre too, though I don’t quite have a grasp on what exactly the definition of it is.
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