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A review by documentno_is
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
If I’d rated this book in the first half it would have been a much lower rating, but this one really took a while to find its footing.
Aside from the rather insufferable characters, the first half of the novel felt like a dollar store rom com rip off of 30 rock minus the complexity and minus the humor ( and I don’t find Tina fey to be that funny either although I imagine the author holds her in high regard after reading this book.)
So I was rather surprised when the second half of the novel turned into this earnest and clumsytwo middle aged people falling into an awkward but passionate love amplified by the situation of Covid.
The celebrity angle neither fully added or detracted from the story, except to have me to go through greater length of finding the male lead not a scumbag (private jet and he’s mad at her for being insecure ?? What??)
Either way the enjoyment of the second half couldn’t quite get me over the draining nature of watching unlikable characters compile a sketch show in what felt like real time ( I mean I REALLY feel the author could have given us a lot less… process) and trying to convince us the female lead is SO smart and SO witty besides resorting to middle grade poop humor- and don’t take me for some pearl clutcher it just want funny and relied too heavily on its immaturity.
On the redemption arc I found the treatment of Covid to be pertinent but not cloying and I disagreed with the characters choices to expose themselves in certain times in the same ways I did in my real life relationships. It accurately replicated the loneliness, uncertainty, and absolute removal of the wealthy classes’ lives from normal society. Even if that wasn’t exactly its intention.
Aside from the rather insufferable characters, the first half of the novel felt like a dollar store rom com rip off of 30 rock minus the complexity and minus the humor ( and I don’t find Tina fey to be that funny either although I imagine the author holds her in high regard after reading this book.)
So I was rather surprised when the second half of the novel turned into this earnest and clumsy
The celebrity angle neither fully added or detracted from the story, except to have me to go through greater length of finding the male lead not a scumbag (private jet and he’s mad at her for being insecure ?? What??)
Either way the enjoyment of the second half couldn’t quite get me over the draining nature of watching unlikable characters compile a sketch show in what felt like real time ( I mean I REALLY feel the author could have given us a lot less… process) and trying to convince us the female lead is SO smart and SO witty besides resorting to middle grade poop humor- and don’t take me for some pearl clutcher it just want funny and relied too heavily on its immaturity.
On the redemption arc I found the treatment of Covid to be pertinent but not cloying and I disagreed with the characters choices to expose themselves in certain times in the same ways I did in my real life relationships. It accurately replicated the loneliness, uncertainty, and absolute removal of the wealthy classes’ lives from normal society. Even if that wasn’t exactly its intention.