Southern Charm: A Novel [Hardcover]

Tinsley Mortimer (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 1, 2012

A modern Manhattan fairy tale with the sparkle of a champagne cocktail, Tinsley Mortimer’s debut novel provides a delicious peek into her world of society, fashion, and big-city fame.

SOUTHERN GIRL Minty Davenport has always dreamed of skyscrapers, yellow cabs, and a life like Eloise’s in New York City. So upon graduation from college, she bids adieu to Charleston and makes a beeline for the Big Apple. Almost instantly, she finds herself at an event being photographed for Women’s Wear Daily, and her career as a New York society “It Girl” is launched. As Minty navigates the ironclad customs of New York society, a blossoming love life, and a job working for a ruthless and powerful publicist, she finds that the rules a southern belle lives by—being nice to everyone, accentuating her femininity, and minding her manners—don’t necessarily guarantee success in Manhattan. She may indeed be accumulating new friends and opportunities along with boldfaced mentions and a very eligible bachelor boyfriend, but someone is plotting her very public downfall. When Minty gets to the top of the social ladder, she must decide if the glamorous life she thought she wanted is really everything she hoped it would be.

Tinsley Mortimer’s insider observations about New York’s elite are deliciously witty, and the heart of her book is that of an irresistibly lovable young woman who is on the brink of finding her dream.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A pink Ladurée macaron of a novel.” (The New York Times)

“Readers will delight in watching Minty sweetly take on the Big Apple.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Tinsley Mortimer's first book, Southern Charm, is just that: CHARMING! It’s like a mint julep—sweet, sassy and with a kick, all set against the glittering backdrop of the New York social scene—a modern day fashion fairy tale!” (Carson Kressley)

“Southern Charm will remind you of who you were before you became a jaded New Yorker.” (Kelly Rutherford)

“A delicious journey. . . . It was exactly the escape I was looking for. In the vein of Plum Syke's Bergdorf Blondes, Southern Charm gives a pinhole into a world most will only dream of or read about in Page Six.” (Examiner.com)

About the Author

Tinsley Mortimer grew up in Richmond, Virginia and is a graduate of the Lawrenceville School and Columbia University. Known for her self-proclaimed “girly girl” style, Tinsley has since been featured on the pages of Vogue, WWD, Harper’s Bazaar, and Marie Claire magazine, to name a few. She is frequently featured in celebrity publications, such as Us Weekly, OK!, Life & Style, and In Touch. Tinsley has also served as a “Beauty Ambassador” for Christian Dior and helped to create a lip gloss called Tinsley Pink for the brand. She designs a line of handbags for the Japanese company Samantha Thavasa and is currently working on her own ready-to-wear line available only in Japan. She has starred in the reality television show High Society, and has appeared on Dr. Phil, America’s Next Top Model, Extra, Access Hollywood, E!, E True Hollywood Story “Society Girls,”  Bravo’s The Fashion Show, Gossip Girl, Germany’s RTL, LXTV, Good Day New York, Good Day LA, and CW11 Morning News.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; First Edition edition (May 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451627475
• ISBN-13: 978-1451627473
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #580,052 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect beach book! May 17, 2012

By Jessica Ziparo

Format:Hardcover

This was a great, fast read. It will be perfect for the beach this summer. Southern Charm is not my typical genre of book, but it was recommended to me by a friend and I devoured it in a day and a half. You will root for Minty from the very first page and be sad to leave her when the book ends.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant surprise! November 15, 2012

By Kharabella

Format:Hardcover

I purchased the book second hand, and was quickly VERY ingrossed, and read it within a few days. It is more a story of Minty Davenport's adventures and strength than a love story -- she really spends only a paragraph giving the history of each of the romantic relationships here, which isn't enough to allow the reader to root for either contender. But you can root for her. I am a southern girl, though not an affluent one by any means. (My ancesters would have cleaned her house, not visited as guests.) But the values and charm of southern girls are not class specific, so I found myself smiling a lot, for example when Minty Davenport simply smiled when she didn't know what else to do or say to someone!

The surprise, for me, was that the story, though short and fluffy, was cohesive. The story held together, and didn't have a fairy tale ending. I know nothing about Tinsley Mortimer -- I had never heard of her or her show, but clearly, when she set her mind to writing a novel, she stayed at it until she had a clear plot and story, and I really respect that!

I agree with the other reviewers -- a great weekend/vacation read!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A 5 Star Summer Read!! July 21, 2012

By Laura Street

Format:Hardcover

I am truly a sucker for a cute book! And this book was no exception to that rule. I'm not sure whether it was because the main character in this book is from Charleston, SC or because the cover was amazing, or perhaps it's because it was written by Tinsley Mortimer, but it was such a great read!

There is a whole sloppy mix of reviews on this book, some bad and some good, but mine is a good one. Promise! I feel as though someone looking for a good, sweet, short summer read would really love this book.

Minty Davenport, main character of Southern Charm and daughter of Scarlet Davenport, is from Charleston, SC. She grew up on a true Southern plantation and like any other southern belle was a debutante. After graduating from a well known university, her long time boyfriend Ryerson breaks her heart and Minty finds herself following her dreams of becoming a fashion designer right up to New York City.

Minty's obsession of the City began as a child when her mother took her on a surprise trip to Manhattan. Minty, like any other eight year old girl, was on the hunt to find Eloise, her favorite fictional character who lived at The Plaza, right where Minty and her mother were staying on their trip.

After being in NYC for only a short amount of time Minty finds herself being photographed and on the pages of Women's Wear Daily. Not long after landing a job for a ruthless PR vixen does Minty find herself face to face with long time ex-lover Tripp.

The relationship isn't easy, especially when Minty becomes an "It Girl" in New York society. Her photos begin frequenting Page Six and it's not much after that that the rumors begin swirling about Minty and her newly rekindled love with Tripp. Minty finds herself fleeing for Charleston when things come to a drastic point in her relationship only to be confronted with what her heart had longed for in the past, before NYC. Minty must make the decision of whether or not a once in a lifetime career opportunity is worth returning for, or whether this southern girl really does belong in the south.

Although many people are giving poor reviews because of the author's socialite status, I think the book was well written and makes for a great read while on vacation or at the beach. The book supposedly is based on the author's life, which makes me like it even more. It's a fun ride and promises to keep you entertained all the way through the last chapter.