'Romantic Comedy' offers an introduction to the analysis of one of the most popular but generally overlooked film genres. The book provides an overview of Hollywood's romantic comedy conventions, examining the iconography, narrative patterns and ideology which inform such films.

Topics include films starring: Myrna Loy and William Powell, Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, Doris Day and Rock Hudson.

The secret life of romantic comedy offers a new approach to one of the most popular and resilient genres in the history of Hollywood. Steering away from the rigidity and ideological determinism of traditional accounts of the genre, this book advocates a more flexible theory, which allows the student to explore the presence of the genre in unexpected places, extending the concept to encompass films that are not usually considered romantic comedies. Combining theory with detailed analyses of a selection of films, including To Be or Not to Be (1942), Rear Window (1954), Kiss Me Stupid (1964), Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) and Before Sunset (2004), the book aims to provide a practical framework for the exploration of a key area of contemporary experience – intimate matters – through one of its most powerful filmic representations: the genre of romantic comedy. Original and entertaining, The secret life of romantic comedy is perfect for students and academics of film and film genre.

From the slapstick shenanigans of Hepburn and Grant in Bringing Up Baby to the sexy repartee of Shakespeare in Love, romantic comedies have delighted filmgoers -- and challenged screenwriters -- since Hollywood's Golden Age. Whether you're a first time screenwriter, or an intermediate marooned in the rewriting process, this thoroughly charming and insightful guide to the basics of crafting a winning script will take you step by step from "cute meet" all the way to "joyous defeat." You'll learn the screenwriting secrets behind some of the funniest scenes ever written; how to create characters and dialogue that set the sparks flying; why some bedroom scenes sizzle and others fall flat; and much more. Writing the Romantic Comedy features case studies drawn from beloved romantic comedies such as When Harry Met Sally, Annie Hall, Tootsie, and The Lady Eve, as well as field-tested writing exercises guaranteed to short-circuit potential mistakes and ensure inspiration.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK • A comedy writer thinks she’s sworn off love, until a dreamy pop star flips the script on all her assumptions—a “smart, sophisticated, and fun” (Oprah Daily) novel from the author of Eligible, Rodham, and Prep. “Full of dazzling banter and sizzling chemistry.”—People “If you ever wanted a backstage pass to Saturday Night Live, this is the book for you.”—Zibby Owens, Good Morning America A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, NPR, USA Today, BuzzFeed, PopSugar, Harper’s Bazaar, Real Simple, She Reads, New York Post Sally Milz is a sketch writer for The Night Owls, a late-night live comedy show that airs every 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 actress 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 if 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, Curtis 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.

Updated Edition! Originally published by Harlequin Duets. Amanda Baldwin isn't keen on eavesdroppers. Especially when the eavesdropper hears her fiancé call off their long-awaited wedding--after the invitations have already been sent! Never mind that the eavesdropper, the irrepressible Zach Castelli, wants to help Amanda get over her heartache by showing her life on the wild side. Or that Zach is a bonafide hunk. He's her polar opposite, a beach bum who can't commit to anything and calls marriage the state of "unhappily ever after." As her few weeks around Zach count down to an inevitable end, though, the question isn't whether Amanda will be able to forget her fiancé. It's whether she'll ever forget Zach.

Luz De Los Santos thought her job was easy. Being the Sex and Relationship Director of Modern Magazine, no one knew the art of dating and hookups like she did. When the commitment-phobe Afro-Dominicana gets singled out by her editor to write a challenging column for the coveted, annual Valentine’s issue, Luz is forced to confront her issues about relationships with her newly pitched project. The Love Bet. Is it possible to fall in love by the third screw? Maybe. But she’s not holding her breath once she recruits her blast from the past, Evan Cattaneo to help test her theory. Evan regrets the way things ended between him and Luz. The girl who charmed him all those years ago was now grown and sexy and has him more than ready to aid Luz in her little experiment. Only his plans won’t stop at just f*cking her. Nope, he plans to make her fall in love again. It’s only a matter of time before loving between the sheets turns into stealing kisses in the streets. When emotions get wild and feelings grow deep, will the insecurities of Luz’s past come back to haunt them?

Lenora Patterson should have kept her lips zipped. Because she didn't, the listeners of a popular morning radio show believe the most maddening man Lenora has ever met is the love of her life. So does Nikos Calloway, the maddening man himself. And all the guests at a destination wedding where Lenora finds herself as Nikos’s plus one. In a snowy backdrop with the magic of the holiday season all around, how can Lenora convince Nikos—and herself, as well—that it’s all a big mistake?

With Christmas only three days away, Carol Claus agrees to her father’s request that she leave the North Pole on a mission to help save Christmas. Joining single father Ben Hanson and his children for the holidays seems an easy enough task until Santa informs her that Ben is the man behind the disturbing new book ‘Beyond Bah Humbug: Why Lying to Your Children about Santa Claus is a Bad Idea’. Posing as Miss Kane, the children’s new nanny, Carol pulls out all the stops to show Ben how fun Christmas can be, all the while struggling to understand how one man could hate the holidays so much. How could she, Santa’s only daughter, be so attracted to a man who refuses to believe her father exists?

One tough cop looking for love… Ally Bloom attends her college reunion on a mission—a second chance with her first love. Turns out he’s single and…not interested. Their love is doomed! But when Ethan Case, the sexy cop friend of a friend, finds her crying in her spiked punch, he invites her for coffee with his date. Knowing he’s taken and she doesn’t need to impress him, Ally blurts the entire sucky men saga that is her love life. But wait! There he is at her Happy Endings Book Club meeting. And pulling her over for speeding. And in her classroom to talk to the kids about safety. Is the man just messing with her, or is this the beginning of something real? For more humorous contemporary romance, check out all of Kylie's books! Happy Endings Book Club Series Hidden Hollywood (Book 1) Inviting Trouble (Book 2) So Revealing (Book 3) Formal Arrangement (Book 4) Bad Boy Done Wrong (Book 5) Mess With Me (Book 6) Resisting Fate (Book 7) Chance of Romance (Book 8) Wicked Flirt (Book 9) An Inconvenient Plan (Book 10) A Happy Endings Wedding (Book 11) The Rourkes Series Royal Catch (Book 1) Royal Hottie (Book 2) Royal Darling (Book 3) Royal Charmer (Book 4) Royal Player (Book 5) Royal Shark (Book 6) Rogue Prince (Book 7) Rogue Gentleman (Book 8) Rogue Rascal (Book 9) Rogue Angel (Book 10) Rogue Devil (Book 11) Rogue Beast (Book 12) Clover Park Series The Opposite of Wild (Book 1) Daisy Does It All (Book 2) Bad Taste in Men (Book 3) Kissing Santa (Book 4) Restless Harmony (Book 5) Not My Romeo (Book 6) Rev Me Up (Book 7) An Ambitious Engagement (Book 8) Clutch Player (Book 9) A Tempting Friendship (Book 10) Clover Park Bride: Nico and Lily’s Wedding A Valentine’s Day Gift (Book 11) Maggie Meets Her Match (Book 12) Clover Park STUDS Series Almost Over It (Book 1) Almost Married (Book 2) Almost Fate (Book 3) Almost in Love (Book 4) Almost Romance (Book 5) Almost Hitched (Book 6) Keywords: contemporary romance, romantic comedy, chick lit, funny romance, humorous romance, humorous fiction, women's fiction, small town romance, series romance, series, family sagas, romance series, romance, romantic, family life, dating, happy endings book club, happy endings, book club, clover park, happy endings book club series, humor, romance book club, marriage, love, family life, friendship, Kylie Gilmore, USA Today bestselling author, sagas, romantic comedy series, friends to lovers romance, steamy romance, romance series, romance books, smart romance, hot romance, kylie gilmore romance, beach read, romcom, long romance series, quirky romance