REVIEW: Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

 

I have enjoyed all of Sittenfeld's works and this is her most recent so I picked it up at my library. Of course, it has helped her that it has been included in Reese's Book Club.

We meet the main character, Sally Milz, in 2018 pre pandemic NYC where she is a seemingly confident sketch comedy writer for The Night Owls, which is definitely based upon SNL. That particular week, the guest host is also the music person - a singer named Noah who is supposedly really hot. In their first meaningful interaction, he has asked her to assist him in rewriting/editing his sketch and during that interaction, Sally is impressed by his thoughtfulness and kindness, leading to a crush on him.  There is definite chemistry between them, that later on is dampened during a post show interaction between the two.  It is only two years later during the lockdown of the pandemic that they reconnect via email and begin to sort through their interactions.

I generally like Sittenfeld's writing - she's smart and funny without being condescending or appearing to have a chip on her shoulder and this novel didn't disappoint or stray for that. It was compulsively readable and a fast move. I did, however, expect more to go wrong - so yes, my biggest complaint is that there wasn't enough catastrophe and the novel was way too tidy. Though Noah is a recovering alcoholic and Sally has an insecurity streak as wide as the Mississippi, these flaws are seemingly smoothly overlooked or dealt with in a way that did not ring true with me. Having said that, definitely enjoyable and worth the read.