The High Moments: 'Addictive, hilarious, bold' Emma Jane Unsworth, author of Adults

by Sara-Ella Ozbek

Don't miss Nothing I Wouldn't Do, the compelling, original and hilarious new novel from Sara-Ella Ozbek.

'Addictive, hilarious, bold' Emma Jane Unsworth, author of Adults

‘If you were a fan of Lena Dunham’s Girls then Sara-Ella Ozbek’s latest could be your new best friend’ heat
 
'A beautiful, messed-up mash-up of The Devil Wears Prada and Fleabag’ Sarra Manning author of The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp

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Scarlett is far from perfect.
 
She changes herself to please others.
She makes mistakes – over and over again.
She repeatedly goes back to people that have hurt her.
 
Scarlett has a tricky relationship with her mother and is desperate for people to like her.
 
She moves to London without a plan, but when she manages to land a job at a modelling agency she thinks that her life is finally on track.
 
Scarlett soon discovers that the fashion industry is far from what she had imagined and her life begins to spiral out of control. But at least people know who she is. She is starting to become someone.
 
And surely it’s better to be someone – even if it’s someone you hate?

With a vein of dark humour at its core, The High Moments offers an astute, often stark, look at the fashion industry and the challenges you can face as a woman in your twenties. Fans of Emma Jane Unsworth's Animals and shows like Girls will love this.

Why readers love The High Moments . . .

‘I loved this sharp, beautifully written debut about finding out what really makes you happy. A fast-paced lesson in being careful what you wish for’ Daily Mail

'Very funny' Bella

'This crisp, funny debut novel offers a stark look at the modelling industry and the awkward situations frequently faced by twenty-something women . . . While there are moments of darkness, it'll also leave you feeling *seen*' Cosmopolitan 

​‘'One of the most seductive and accomplished debuts I have ever read . . . I was obsessed with the insight into the murky world of modelling, and the way Sara-Ella explores the feelings of "other" that can consume so much of our twenties' Laura Jane Williams author of The Love Square

'Ozbek’s hugely entertaining debut is an enjoyable takedown of the fashion industry which also asks what does it take to be truly seen?' iNews

'Brilliantly highlights the insecurities of being a young woman and not feeling like you've “become” anything yet’ Emma Gannon

'Set in the seedy underbelly of the high octane world of fashion, modelling and Instagram influencers, Scarlett is the perfect heroine for our times. Essential reading for anyone relieved to be done with their twenties and a cautionary tale for those who are still living them!' Sarra Manning 
 
'An exhilarating, edgy, roller coaster of a story from start to finish. The High Moments is a fascinating window into the bright lights - and underbelly - of the fashion industry'  Helly Acton

• ISBN10: 1471187977
• ISBN13: 9781471187971
• Publish Date: 17 September 2020 (first published 28 May 2020)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Simon & Schuster Ltd
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[pamela]

I noped my way out of this book at about 35%. I just couldn't anymore. The blurb compares The High Moments with much better books like The Devil Wears Prada, which means it's already setting itself up for some very disappointing readers. Being a millennial isn't' easy, so there's a lot that I think readers can relate to in Scarlett's character. Still, the big issue for me here is that it also relies far too heavily on tired and incorrect Millennial cliches - like expecting life to just fall into place, entitlement, and being vacuous and selfish.

Scarlett is a disgustingly unlikeable character, and her decisions simply didn't resonate with me. There are also far too many convenient and unbelievable things that fall into place at the beginning of the novel to get Scarlett into her London life that the whole premise just ended up feeling way too far fetched.

There was just not enough development, or reality within The High Life to keep me interested and reading. There are enough toxic people in real life, so there was just no way I was going to force myself to read a story about one of those very people's dreams coming true.