Reviews

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

chlosbookishworld's review against another edition

1.0

This was a DNF for me. It was difficult to get into I found the FMC to be rather unlikeable. This book essentially feels like a SNL rip off it’s the same concept. The FMC is moaning about how less attractive men can bag better looking women (think KimK & Pete - they met on SNL) and how it’s never the other way around. The FMC puts herself in the unattractive category yet we don’t get a description of her appearance. I also wasn’t overly interested in the political agenda a few pages in, I prefer my romcoms to be more whitty and uplifting.

wizybith13's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

zoekatetrezise's review against another edition

3.0

There are three chapters in this SNL AU.

Chapter 1 was entertaining enough for me to read it in a sitting, and ponder Sittenfeld’s obvious (and justified) allegiance to Pete Davidson (aka Danny, the character clearly inspired by him).

Chapter 2 was told entirely through emails as the characters live through COVID in 2020, and I don’t know whether or not I’ll ever feel separated enough from the pandemic to not cringe at its inclusion in media.

Chapter 3 was unnecessarily tense, as it often is when with a grade A self-sabotager as a protagonist.

Overall, a fun enough read!

mels_reading_log's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is not your typical romantic comedy and I really enjoyed that. The book is centered around Sally who is a writer at a SNL like show and Noah who is a famous musician and the host and musical guest on that week’s episode.  Sally is focused on this phenomenon that happens especially men that she works with. They, normal guys looks wise continue to hook up/ marry super beautiful and successful women, but that is definitely not something that could happen the other way. Exceptionally handsome men don’t go for regular women, or do they? One big Trigger Warning is that about half the book takes place during the pandemic, so if you aren’t ready to read about that, this would be one to wait on.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, and Grief

Minor: Eating disorder

katiebug3's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

if sally milz has a million haters, then i am one of them. if she has ten haters, then i am one of them. if she has only one hater then that is me. if sally milz has no haters, then that means i am no longer on earth.

imtryanyall's review against another edition

funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Oh okay I was the perfect audience for this SNL and Harry Styles (but not) coded book. Couldn’t put it down.  I loved the older characters, I loved the inside look into the show the character worked on, I loved the feel good but not obnoxious ending. Target audience - reached.

four_out_of_five's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I thought the communication between characters was done well for the most part!

yananed's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

gillianw's review against another edition

4.0

I think this might be the first book of 2024 that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. Partly because I went into it with no preconceived notions, and partly because I enjoyed the inside baseball of a SNL type tv show where the two MCs meet. But I also enjoyed the characters, the older MCs and the dialogue that made me laugh out loud several times. I felt happy reading this book and given that most of my 2024 reads have been less than successful, I’m just grateful to finally have a winner.

lisakerd's review against another edition

3.0

Romantic Comedy is split into three parts: Sally and Noah meeting at SNL (...ahem excuse me, TNO) in 2018, emailing back and forth the summer of 2020, and then hanging out in person a few weeks later. There wasn't so much a story as it was Sittenfeld regurgitating information she researched about working at SNL (which, don't get me wrong, is interesting–but I was hoping for more story).

Some of the jokes the writers brainstorm in the first third of the book are hilarious, but the comedy really stops there. As others have already stated, I felt Romantic Comedy was not an appropriate title. And although the premise was interesting, the execution felt wonky to me. Not terrible, but not great.