Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld: Book Review

Romantic Comedy is a highly entertaining book about a writer for a Saturday night TV comedy show and the pop star who performs as the weekly guest on the show.

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to my local library for purchasing this audiobook. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

From The Publisher:

A comedy writer thinks she’s sworn off love, until a dreamily handsome pop star flips the script on all her assumptions. Romantic Comedy is a hilarious, observant and deeply tender novel from New York Times–bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld.

Sally Milz is a sketch writer for The Night Owls, the late-night live comedy show that airs each 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 actor 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 whether 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, 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.

My Thoughts:

If you’re looking for a fun read with a lot of banter look no further. I enjoyed the Saturday Night Live-like setting of the book and the parallels drawn to the actual show. The characters are well-developed, had interesting backstories and felt believable.

Sally is a veteran writer on a late-night comedy show that airs Saturday night. She’s had a history of heartbreak and steers clear of developing a new romantic relationship. But she feels electricity when she begins working with the show’s weekly host and musical guest Noah Brewster.

Noah has a history of dating models but never one he’s wanted to settle down with. But there is something about Sally that he’s attracted to. Something that he can’t forget two years later in the throws of a global pandemic.

The banter that transpires when Noah reaches out to Sally is funny and endearing. The relationship develops from text to videoconferencing to Sally driving across the country to visit Noah. But she’s extremely anxious about starting another relationship that might end up in heartbreak.

I chose the audiobook version of Romantic Comedy which was narrated by Kristen Sieh. I appreciated the tone of her voice and the delivery of the banter between these two characters. I highly recommend this format of the book to those that enjoy audiobooks.

Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:

In A New York Minute by Kate Spencer

Mr Perfect on Paper by Jean Meltzer

The Plus One by Mazey Eddings