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Summary and Reviews of Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Romantic Comedy

A Novel

by Curtis Sittenfeld
  • Critics' Consensus (6):
  • Readers' Rating (5):
  • First Published:
  • Apr 4, 2023, 320 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Mar 2024, 352 pages
  • Rate this book

About This Book

Book Summary

A comedy writer thinks she's sworn off love, until a dreamy pop star flips the script on all her assumptions—a hilarious, observant, and deeply tender novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Eligible, Rodham, and Prep.

New York Times bestseller • Reese's Book Club Pick • A comedy writer thinks she's sworn off love, until a dreamy pop star flips the script on all her assumptions—a "smart, sophisticated, and fun" (Oprah Daily) novel from the author of Eligible, Rodham, and Prep.

A Best Book of the Year: The Washington Post, NPR, USA Today, BuzzFeed, PopSugar, Harper's Bazaar, Real Simple, She Reads, New York Post

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?

With her keen observations and trademark ability to bring complex women to life on the page, Curtis Sittenfeld explores the neurosis-inducing and heart-fluttering wonder of love, while slyly dissecting the social rituals of romance and gender relations in the modern age.

Chapter 1

April 2018

Weekly Schedule for The Night Owls

Monday 1 p.m. pitch meeting with guest host

Tuesday 5 p.m. start of all-night writing session

Wednesday 12 p.m. deadline for submitted sketches

Wednesday 3 p.m. table read of submitted sketches

Wednesday 9 p.m. preliminary show lineup posted internally

Wednesday night–Saturday morning rehearsals; scripts revised; sets built; special effects designed; hair, makeup, and costumes chosen and created; pre-tapes shot

Saturday 1 p.m. run-through of show

Saturday 8 p.m. dress rehearsal before a live audience

Saturday 11:30 p.m. live show before a new audience

Sunday 1:30 a.m. first after-party

Monday, 1:10 p.m.

For the meeting that marked the official start of that week's show, I planned to pitch two sketches. But I had three ideas—you could write and submit more but pitch only two—so I'd play by ear which ones I ...

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
Dear Reader,

There's a writing axiom similar to that famous line about being the change you wish to see in the world: Write the book you want to read.

This time around, I wanted to write a novel that was, above all, fun. The last few years have been rough ones in big and small ways for just about all of us. That's why I longed to escape to a fizzy, delicious, romance-filled parallel universe—one that I could exist in while I was writing and share with you after I finished.

My husband, kids, and I really embraced watching Saturday Night Live during the pandemic, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who's noticed the real-life pattern of talented but somewhat ordinary (dare I say mortal?) male writers ...
Please be aware that this discussion may contain spoilers!

See what our members are saying about this book in our Community Forum.

What are you reading this week? (11/07/2024)
Kim, I absolutely love Hollinghurst's novel The Line of Beauty ! Highly recommend if you haven't read it. It's probably one of my favorite novels I've ever read. I'll have to check out his other novels, I haven't read any of them! The other day I picked up a novel I've read before, Stay Up with H...
-Chloe_Pfeiffer


Here are some of the comments posted about Romantic Comedy in our legacy forum.
You can see the full discussion here.


Danny tells Sally that the Danny Horst Rule matters only if it matters to Sally and Noah themselves. Did you agree? How does this realization help Sally?
JHSiess, I’m so glad you brought this up! There was more focus on Sally’s friendships with women on the show. But truly, Danny was just as important in her life. When I was younger, I had many friends of the ... - acstrine

Discuss the different romantic relationships in the book, from Sally and Noah to Annabel and Danny to Viv and Dr. Theo. How would you describe each couple?
It took time for Sally and Noah to get together which was, of course, the point of the book and one aspect of the story that made it a typical romance. We knew they would be together. It was just a matter of how long it would take. Annabel and Danny ... - JHSiess

How do you believe Sally is able to avoid buying into the culture she's helped create around celebrities?
Sally is part of the entertainment industry but not in front of the cameras. She understands the "rules" and customs that govern the industry but she does not have the same concerns as performers/entertainers who are highly visible to ... - JHSiess

How do you feel about authors using social media, email, texts in place of traditional dialogue between characters? Is this an effective strategy or just a trend?
When authors first began doing so, I was a bit put off by it solely because I wasn't used to it. But now, it is so commonplace that I find it realistic and effect. After all, it reflects the way we all communicate now. My own kids have been ... - JHSiess

How does the political and cultural discussion inserted in the middle of the novel affect the overall narrative? Do you think it was necessary to the story?
I distinctly remember watching not only the very first episode of SNL, but every episode during that ground-breaking first season. It has ALWAYS been built around politics and culture. (Am I the only one old enough to remember Chevy Chase ... - JHSiess

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Reviews

Media Reviews

The Guardian
Zingy ... electrically compelling, with steady warmth as well as drama ... [Romantic Comedy's] command of structure, pace and dialogue is faultless... . affable, intelligently crafted tale of work and love.

The New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice)
A love letter to the prototypical rom-com ... Sittenfeld's work exists in the dissection and comprehension of female desire: what we want, what we absolutely don't and, maybe paramount, what we're even allowed to have... . A fizzy ride.

Booklist(starred review)
Sittenfeld's meta-romance is an utterly perfect version of itself, a self-aware and pandemic-informed love story that's no less romantic for being either... . Fans will flock to this pure-fun, feminist romp.

Kirkus Reviews
Romance artfully and entertainingly deconstructed.

Oprah Daily
If you're in need of [a] smart, sophisticated, and fun diversion right now (and who isn't), this is your book. Like her literary foremother Jane Austen, Sittenfeld brings together exquisitely sharp dialogue that fizzes, excruciating sexual tension, and incisive social observation.

The Washington Post
From the heart to the funny bone ... What makes all this particularly delightful is that the woman narrating Romantic Comedy is hyper-aware of the conventions of romantic comedy, and she knows full well that real life is no fairy tale. But could it be this time?

Author Blurb Elle
[Sittenfeld] has a keen eye for relationships, particularly romantic ones, which is what makes her upcoming book, Romantic Comedy, so enticing... . [The novel] takes a shot of SNL and makes sparks fly.

Reader Reviews

Cathryn Conroy

This Is the Best Love Story! Bonus Points: It's Witty, Intelligent, and Funny, Too
Oh, this is the best love story! Bonus points: It's witty, intelligent, and funny, too. Written by Curtis Sittenfeld, this is a rom-com novel with a clever plot: It's 2018. Sally Milz is a longtime writer for "The Night Owls," a not-so-subtle ...   Read More
Karen

Very well written
I really enjoyed this book. At first I wasn’t sure if I would be too old to enjoy it. I will be 74 tomorrow! But I think this book will be a fun read for a wide range of ages. I even liked the texting section though some of the acronyms flew right by...   Read More
Elizabeth

Funny Girl
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how at show that is based on SNL comes together. I found the characters believable and lovable. I was rooting for Noah and Sally! The novel is current and refreshing. There are some laugh out loud moments and ...   Read More
ErinJ

Seeds of love planted in the Before Times bloom during lockdown
I loved the behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of TNO (The Night Owls--i.e. the thinly veiled SNL), and it was completely believable to me that Sally would be confident in her professional abilities as a comedy writer, yet insecure in her ...   Read More

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