Author: Curtis Sittenfeld
Genre: Romantic Comedy / Contemporary Fiction / Career-Savvy Romance
Ideal For: Fans of witty banter, workplace whimsy, smart rom-coms with emotional depth and a dash of millennial realism
Why I Picked It Up
Respected for her razor-sharp dialogue and keen social observations (Prep, Rodham, Eligible), Curtis Sittenfeld’s latest, Romantic Comedy, caught my eye—and Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club nod proved it wasn’t just me. A series writer for a live sketch show in New York falls for a pop-sensation guest host during the 2020 pandemic—what could feel more timely? I was ready for workplace insight, witty banter, and a rom-com reboot—and Sittenfeld delivered.
Plot Summary (Spoiler‑Free)
Sally Milz, a thirty-something scriptwriter on The Night Owls (think SNL), is tired of being overlooked. She watches her male peers date stunning guest stars while she cranks out late-night sketches, drinking through the 2 a.m. rewrite cycle. That all changes when Noah Brewster steps in as host—handsome, attentive, and brilliant during sketch rewrites. Their chemistry crackles on screen, and a shared email thread during lockdown reveals depth behind his pop-star persona. As they navigate fame, insecurity, and COVID isolation, both discover that love isn’t a punchline—it’s a conversation worth having.
Why It Works
1. Electric Workplace Energy
Sittenfeld’s insider take on live sketch comedy is a joy. The breathless pace—pitch sessions, rehearsals, after-parties—feels real and exhilarating. As The Guardian notes, “her command of structure, pace and dialogue is faultless”. We laugh with Sally’s colleagues, wince at midnight rewrites, and cheer whenever her sketches land. It’s workplace fiction with spark.
2. Banter with Heart
Sally and Noah’s chemistry is built on mutual respect, sharp wit, and heartfelt exchanges. Reviews praise the “delicious, observant and deeply tender” quality of their connection. Whether they’re plotting jokes or sharing vulnerabilities, their banter feels authentic—flirty yet grounded.
3. A Reinvention of Rom‑Com Structure
By splitting the novel into three parts—studio days, pandemic emails, reunion—Sittenfeld mirrors modern relationship rhythms. The email section is a highlight: intimate, funny, and raw. It’s a clever device that deepens their bond without resorting to clichés.
4. Relatable Emotional Depth
This isn’t fluff. Sally’s struggle with self-confidence, body image, and career pressure echoes in pages. Her revelation at work—“writing to impress men”—charts her self-growth arc. Noah’s past alcoholism adds complexity without overshadowing the romance.
5. Lean Social Commentary
Sittenfeld tackles fame, gender inequality, and pandemic isolation with subtlety. Sally’s sketch—mocking attractive women dating average men—sparked a cultural conversation in the novel and in ours. It balances humour with thoughtfulness. These observations don’t overpower the story; they elevate it.
Where It Stumbles
1. Meandering Opening Act
The first section is packed with backstage detail that some readers found excessive. While this world-building delivers texture, pacing occasionally drags before the romance gains momentum. The prose is pedestrian in spots.
2. Predictable Romantic Structure
Sittenfeld plays to the rom‑com blueprint: meet-cute, emotional clash, rekindling through isolation, reunion. Its tidiness may feel slight—but I don’t mind a happy-without-overkill finale.
3. Occasional Preachiness
Some dialogue dips into social commentary that feels a touch heavy-handed.
You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy…
- Beach Read by Emily Henry – for workplace romance with humour and heart
- People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry – for emails, confessions, and intimacy built over time
- High Fidelity by Nick Hornby – for self-deprecating insight into a messy romantic life
- Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld – for smart, modern spins on classic stories
Final Thoughts: Charming, Clever, and Heartfelt
Romantic Comedy isn’t a revolution of the genre—but it doesn’t need to be. Sittenfeld brings us a love story that feels lived-in: slightly awkward, hugely emotional, and informed by real-world pressures. With sparkling dialogue, clever structure, and warm humour, it delivers the feel-good satisfaction while asking the right questions about identity, ambition, and intimacy in a digital age.
It’s a four-star win: polished, inspiring, occasionally meandering—but always deeply human. If you crave romance with brains, heart, and a side of satire, this is your next read.
