Curtis Sittenfeld is so good at character development that she got my attention throughout this lighthearted novel. I listened to the audio version, and the story focused on Sally, a comedy writer who could capture the characters’ feelings in her comedy sketches more quickly than her own. Some sketches she wrote for a fictional weekly TV show, TNO, The Night Owls, much like Saturday Night Live, were Emmy award winners. Her insight into the human condition was spot on. Still, she relied too much on her professional skills, humor and quick witticism in her own life to maintain successful romantic relationships.
Sally meets Noah Brewster, a pop icon rock star, when he is the guest host and musical star on TNO. There is instant chemistry as they work together during a week in 2018. Sally blows her chances for a relationship with Noah by self-sabotage. Although she is well-schooled in gender equality and other modern precepts of relationships, she doesn’t believe that a plain girl like herself could be attractive to a celebrity like Noah. She continually doubts his sincerity in wanting to connect with her.
Two years later, Sally and Noah became pen pals during the pandemic. There are still many missteps on Sally’s part as she imagines she is the writer of her own character. Noah seems too good to be true. The written messages to each other serve to develop their characters and backstories. As the title suggests, a delightful romantic comedy ensues.
