4.5/5

From Hollywood with Love by Scott Meslow is an exploration into the popularity of the romantic comedy (rom-com) genre of movies covering a span of over thirty years starting from the late 1980s through the 1990s to the present day. The author addresses the immense popularity of this genre in the 80s and 90s, followed by a period that saw a decline in interest and the favorable response to romantic comedies in the present day. Not only does the author talks about celebrated studio releases (such as When Harry Met Sally, Love Actually or the more recent Crazy Rich Asians) that are representative of the genre but also takes a look at how contemporary web streaming services have contributed to the revived interest in romantic comedies in today's day and age (citing the example of the To All The Boys I Loved Before series of movies released on Netflix).

It should be noted that the author has made a careful selection of movies based on certain criteria (timeline, critical and commercial success, influence and legacy) and by no means is this an exhaustive list. The book is informative, entertaining and exceptionally well structured with sixteen chapters each devoted to different movies in the genre and the actors whose careers have benefitted from their contribution to this genre. From the choice of source material and development of the stories to production issues and casting decisions, the author gives us a behind-the-scenes look into the making of some of the popular romantic comedies that are loved by fans across the globe. The author breaks down the most memorable dialogues and iconic scenes from these movies and talks about the writers, directors and actors involved in the creative process.

My personal favorites were the chapters on When Harry Met Sally, Waiting to Exhale and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. After each of the chapters (barring the last one), there are essays on actors who have played significant roles in in this genre. It is commendable that the author has not limited the essays to lead actors or actresses but has included those in significant supporting roles as well such as Judy Greer and Mindy Kaling. The author also shares sharp factual and analytical insight (exclusive of any reference to tabloid gossip) into public perception and media and audience reaction, towards not only the movies cited in the narrative but romantic comedies in general, over time and the factors that contributed to the dimmed popularity and renewed interest towards the same.

I alternated between reading the book and listening to the audio narration. Jeremy Arthur ‘s narration is engaging, upbeat and conversational and makes for an enjoyable listening experience. From Hollywood with Love by Scott Meslow is a fascinating read and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys romantic comedies and is interested in an in-depth look into the creative process behind some of the most loved romantic comedies of our time. This book will make you want to rewatch some of your old favorites and/or add a few new names to your to-watch list! ( )

From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall (And Rise Again) of the Romantic Comedy by Scott Meslow is a 2022 Dey Street Books publication.

This is another fun non-fiction book I stumbled across which is centered around a specific sub-genre or topic. Recently, I’ve found myself drawn more and more to these types of books because they are nostalgic and fun, easy and light, but also informative and thought-provoking.

This format of this book is really nice, and of course it starts off with the mother of all romantic comedies- ‘When Happy Met Sally’. Each section is brief, giving a history of the movie, the casting, the behind-the-scenes discussions and the audience’s response to the film.

There are few brief essays inserted in between the chapters too, and some nice sketches inbetween chapters.

It is funny to me how so many people tend to dismiss these movies, but they are some of the most beloved, highest-grossing movies ever. These movies made stars out of many of the actors who had roles in these films. Anytime anyone brings up one of these movies, we always laugh and start sharing our favorite lines or parts in the movie. What this says to me is that these movies make us feel good- and that these movies are far more memorable than anyone wants to admit.

I thought one of the more interesting segments was the one about ‘Pretty Woman’. I honestly didn’t like this one as much as everyone else- but the history behind it is very interesting, working off a rather grim screenplay. The metamorphosis is incredible.

The other movie that had an amazing story behind it was ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’. Everyone loves an underdog- so I loved that this independent film had its own happy ending… and then some. It’s also one of my favorite Rom- Coms. I love this movie- and okay… John Corbett is really easy on the eyes. 💗💓

Are your favorites featured in the book? I’m sure they are- but because this is not a tome or an exhaustive research project- there might be a few movies that you thought should be included but didn’t make the cut. But I’ll go out on a limb here and say I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the movies the author highlighted in this book. It’s a great mix of different styles of comedy and romance, with likely and unlikely success stories- and the impact these movies had on the careers of many of our favorite actors and on Hollywood, as well.

The Rom-Com is still one of the most popular genres, even if the onslaught of Hallmark movies, Lifetime movies, Hulu, Netflix etc. have maybe oversaturated the market- the main draw is still there- the bottom line never changing- these movies make us feel good-

And that’s something that never goes out of style…

With the surge in rom-com books out right now- those who find themselves enjoying those novels might also enjoy looking back on some of the best movies in this category- and, like me, consider some of the newer films in this genre-and maybe a few television movies and shows, too.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable book, and I had a lot of fun with it. Of course, now, I want to go back and watch these movies all over again!

History fans, pop culture enthusiasts, film lovers, and fans of this genre will love this one!!

4 stars ( )

This was an often-fun and occasionally thought-provoking trip down rom-com memory lane. Read my full review here. ( )

A look at romantic comedy movies from the 1990's to today. Each chapter deals with a specific movie with references to similar movies and how it came to be from writing to producing to directing, to acting. Each chapter highlighted a specific actor or actress who was in the movie.

I enjoyed this book. I have seen some of the movies but not all (shocking, I know.) I enjoy rom-coms. I have to admit my mind kept shouting "Hallmark movies" when thinking about rom-com movies. The focus here is theatrical releases. Mr. Meslow does get into Netflix and Hulu in the last chapter with a mention of Hallmark and Lifetime (although only for Christmas movies. Both companies do rom-coms year round.) I found it interesting how long it takes to bring a movie into fruition. I did not realize it could be up to a decade to get everything in place. I was also not aware of how often writers are replaced. I liked that he went into all movies from those geared toward teens, young adults over 20, adults, and over 50 year-olds. He speaks of how movie goers have aged and so have the characters in the rom-coms they want to watch. He did a good job showing how the genre has changed--been popular, less popular, and again on the rise.

He did not cover everything. There was no mentions of the historical rom-coms that are currently being done. I also wish he would have done a more comprehensive look at rom-coms. The ones done during the 1930-1970's were also good. I love the old movies and rom-coms with Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, James Garner, Doris Day, Rock Hudson, Barbra Streisand, and more. So, Mr. Meslow, if you're looking for another book, look into the "Golden Age of Hollywood." ( )

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (William Morrow) for promotional purposes.

I absolutely love romantic comedy movies. It is one of my favorite movie genres so I was pretty excited to read this. This book was everything I hoped for and more.

This book explores the history of romantic comedies, starting with When Harry Met Sally and ending with To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. Each chapter is dedicated to a different movie, with an essay in between exploring different rom-com actors.

The selection of movies and actors were a good mix. I liked that it discussed non-white rom-coms (Waiting To Exhale) and rom-coms about older women (Something’s Gotta Give).

I was also happy that the book dove into how problematic Hollywood can be. In discussing the Oscars So White controversy, the author writes, “this long standing bias reflected the type of loves stories the Academy deemed worthy of serious consideration…It raises a question Hollywood still hasn’t seriously reckoned with: Do critics and voters like the best stories, or the ones that out comfortingly reflects their own lives?” (pgs. 77-78). I found that question deeply intriguing and it brings up a very important point on the biases prevalent in the film industry. It’s a question that spans across all movie genres and not just romantic comedies.

The author’s writing style was so accessible and easy to read. Sometimes nonfiction can be dry, but this book was like reading a magazine article.

The book was also incredibly well researched. Every chapter is filled with so much information on the history and background of the movie, as well as fun trivia. The author includes a Notes section at the end with the citations to all his research.

Lastly, The illustrations at the beginning of each chapter were adorable and a very cute touch.

Overall, I loved this look into the world of Hollywood romantic comedies. If you are a fan of the movie genre, you have to read this book! ( )