Romantic Comedy (Reese's Book Club)

A Novel

By: Curtis Sittenfeld

Narrated by: Kristen Sieh

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.

“Full of dazzling banter and sizzling chemistry.”—People

“If you ever wanted a backstage pass to Saturday Night Live, this is the book for you.”—Zibby Owens, Good Morning America

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.

Critic reviews

“[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.”—Elle

“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.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)

“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?”—The Washington Post

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

“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.”—Oprah Daily

“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.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Romance artfully and entertainingly deconstructed.”—Kirkus Reviews

A really good time

This book was a lot of fun to read without being cringe at all for a non-romance reader.

A perfectly crafted pastry

So many romances are, like many sweet treats, tasty but forgettable. This one is like something from a pastry chef at a Michelin starred restaurant. Delicious- absolutely- but also clearly the product of an artist. A confection that is beautiful and complex and that will linger in your thoughts long after.

Cute

Cute romance, but I expect more from Curtis Sittenfeld. I liked the main characters, though Noah seemed too perfect, but thought the others were thin. I was distracted by how closely Sally’s show was modeled on Saturday Night Live. I guess I wanted more of an idea behind the plot? Will make a sweet movie, and it feels like that is what it was written to be.

Was it supposed to be funny?

For a book about a comedy writer at a sketch show, I thought it would be funny. It was not. Sally lacked any humor. I liked Noah’s character, though. He was kind, compassionate, and reminded me of my husband-the type of person who isn’t so deluded as to think I’m perfect but who is never annoyed at my imperfections. It was refreshing to read a story with a character who didn’t expect perfection, and didn’t expect his love interest to already have her own internal battles worked out. Instead, he gave her the opportunity to work out her own stuff while he waited patiently WITH her.

Love, love, love this book!!!

As a long-time fanof Curtis Sittenfeld, I was excited to dive into this book. I was thrilled to discover a real and very funny story that was so well written it often times had me thinking Curtis Sittenfeld could be Sally. I found myself frequently cheering for the characters out loud. This is such a fun read - I recommend this as highly as I can.