WiththeverveandbiteofOttessaMoshfeghandthebarbedcharmofNancyMitford,thisstunningdebutaboutayounging矇nueinthebigcityis“asrefreshingasginfizz...awildcareeningjoyridethroughahotsultrysummerinNewYork“(RachelSyme,TheNewYorker).IsaEpley,alloftwenty-oneyearsold,isalreadywiseenoughtounderstandthatthepurposeoflifeisthepursuitofpleasure.ShearrivesinNewYorkwithhernewlyblondbestfriendlookingforadventure.Theyhavelittlemoney,butthat’shardlygoingtostopthem.Byday,thegirlssellclothesonamarketstall,pinchingpenniesfortheirBed-Stuysubletandbodegalunches.Bynight,theyweavebetweenBrooklyn,theUpperEastSide,andtheHamptonsamongarotatingcastofcelebrities,artists,Internetentrepreneurs,stuffyintellectuals,andbad-manneredgrifters.Resourcesrunevertighterandthestrainteststheirfriendshipastheytrytoconvertsocialcapitalintosomethingmorelastingthanprecariousgigsasaupairs,nightclubhostesses,paidaudiencemembers,andaspiringfootfetishmodels.Throughitall,Isa’sbold,beguilingvoicecapturestheprecisethrillofcultivatingalifeofglamourandintrigueasshejugglespayingherdueswithskippingoutonthebill.HappyHourisanovelaboutgettingbyandhavingfuninasystemthatwantsyoutodoneither.
