Review: Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
Thank you Random House for my copy of Romantic Comedy! All thoughts are my own.
I have read a lot of Curtis Sittenfeld’s books and I’ve always been a fan of the complexity with which she presents human emotions. I was really excited to read this one since it’s set at a fictional version of SNL, which has always been my dream job. Overall, I did enjoy this book. It’s more on the fiction side of things than Romance, which we know if my preferred genre. But I really liked the pacing of the first half that took place at the fiction 30 Rock.
I really liked this book, but I didn’t love it. I think it will be a really fun book for the Summer but it does have a heavier undertone than I was anticipating! It’s not really a romantic comedy…it’s more like let’s be romantic about comedy? Maybe.
Cover art belongs to the artist and publisher, Random House.
Synopsis:
“Sally Milz is a sketch writer for The Night Owls, a late-night live comedy show that airs every Saturday. With a couple of heartbreaks under her belt, she’s long abandoned the search for love, settling instead for the occasional hook-up, career success, and a close relationship with her stepfather to round out a satisfying life.
But when Sally’s friend and fellow writer Danny Horst begins dating Annabel, a glamorous actress who guest-hosted the show, he joins the not-so-exclusive group of talented but average-looking and even dorky men at the show—and in society at large—who’ve gotten romantically involved with incredibly beautiful and accomplished women. Sally channels her annoyance into a sketch called the Danny Horst Rule, poking fun at this phenomenon while underscoring how unlikely it is that the reverse would ever happen for a woman.
Enter Noah Brewster, a pop music sensation with a reputation for dating models, who signed on as both host and musical guest for this week’s show. Dazzled by his charms, Sally hits it off with Noah instantly, and as they collaborate on one sketch after another, she begins to wonder if there might actually be sparks flying. But this isn’t a romantic comedy—it’s real life. And in real life, someone like him would never date someone like her . . . right?” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The First Half at TNO—This is purely biased as someone who has always wanted to work for Saturday Night Live. I loved the breakdown of the times things happen, the humor from the writers. I could totally tell Sittenfeld did research from the memoirs of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, etc.
The Emphasis Placed on Communication—I elaborate below, but there were some aspects of Sally that felt repetitive and annoying to me, but I felt Noah really got her and that there was so much importance placed on communicating.
The Premise—Maybe it’s because I can relate, but I love the trope of “funny girl meets heartthrob” and he falls in love with her humor.
What Didn’t Work:
A Little Surface Level—I just wanted a little bit more. I don’t know if “surface level” is the right term, but the writing didn’t get under my skin and into my bones the way I expected it to.
Found Myself Annoyed with the MC—Sally’s insecurities were relatable, but as a reader, I found myself getting a little annoyed. I felt like there was little progress made instead of them evolving.
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Content Warnings:
Covid-19 Pandemic, Covid Illness, Sick Parent, Grief,