"Choice of Elle Ukraine"
"BBC Book of the Year Finalist—the breakout hit everyone's talking about"
"Not Approved For EXes" by Halyna Tarasenko
Genre: Rom-Com / Upmarket Chick-Lit
Original Language: Ukrainian
Year of Publication: 2024
Page count: 434
Format: A5 (145mm × 205mm)
Rights Available: World (English, Spanish, German, etc.)
Shortlisted for the BBC Ukraine Book of the Year 2024 and the first Ukrainian chick lit ever to crack the Top 3 national bestseller list, “Not approved for EXes” is a sparkling autofiction debut that blends sharp irony with heartfelt emotion.
The story opens in a sleepy provincial town, back when no one had heard of “decommunisation,” Crimea was not yet occupied, and young Halia believed she had married the man of her dreams. One unexpected encounter shatters that illusion—and nothing, from love to geopolitics, will ever be the same again.
Stuffed with movie references, nostalgic callbacks to Ukraine in its early 2010s, and a full spectrum of feelings, Halyna’s unfiltered confessional invites readers to escape reality for an afternoon and remember that second chances matter.
Why It Sells
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Commercial Powerhouse: A proven national bestseller and award finalist with massive appeal for the "Millennial" demographic.
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The "Fleabag" Factor: A raw, witty, and unapologetic female voice that blends dark humor with deep vulnerability.
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Adaptation Ready: The episodic, character-driven structure is perfect for a limited series or a streaming feature.
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Fleabag (TV series, autofiction with dark humor)