A review by philantrop
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

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

3.0

Curtis Sittenfeld’s “Romantic Comedy” failed to deliver what I’d hoped, taking far too long to engage, and bombarding the reader with tedious background details about television production. The novel’s focus on the behind-the-scenes mechanics of a sketch show often felt like unnecessary padding, leaving the narrative sluggish at times.

»The sets would be built at a warehouse in Brooklyn then transported back to 66, ideally on Friday, to be painted.«

Exciting, right? That’s the kind of procedural minutiae that dominates much of the early parts of the novel. While some readers might appreciate this level of intricate detail, I personally found it detracted from both the pacing and the emotional depth I was looking for. When Sittenfeld could have been focusing on the actual romantic and comedic elements, she instead seemed determined to dive into the trivial goings-on of a writers' room.

»The writers’ room, Elliot seemed to consider the Danny Horst Rule rewrites finished then, because he said, “Sally, can you make those changes and email«

I found this a frustrating aspect. With so much filler, the characters almost got lost in their own plot. Sally, the protagonist, doesn’t seem very compelling for much of the book. She waffles between sudden feelings of insecurity—strangely more akin to someone in their early twenties than a seasoned professional in their mid-thirties. Perhaps that’s part of her appeal for some, but I found this immaturity slightly irksome.

»Noah grinning, Noah using my name, Noah’s ability to be warm and normal, while my insides churned—it was all somewhat devastating.«

Despite all this, the latter half of “Romantic Comedy” picks up significantly. Once we leave behind all the procedural fluff, there’s a decent story at the core that’s worth exploring. A solid—but not spectacular—showing from Sittenfeld.

Three stars out of five.