From Hollywood with Love audiobook

If this isn’t the book version of comfort food for me, I don’t know what is. A discussion of rom-com movies from the ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s??? Yaaaaassss!Author Scott Meslow takes readers from Harry Met Sally all the way through recent adaptations of novels like Crazy Rich Asians and To All the Boys I Loved Before. Sample topics covered:- the genius of Nora Ephron- how Hugh Grant became a reluctant floppy-haired suitor- Judy Greer vs Kathryn Hahn as the best friend- Julia Roberts’s insecurities with and frostiness to Cameron Diaz in My Best Friend’s Wedding- and so on and so forthThis would have been a full five-star read for me had my personal favorite, Notting Hill, been included. Gotta deduct half a star for its omission, but otherwise From Hollywood with Love wooed me and wooed me good. 4.5 starsBlog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Dey Street Books, and Scott Meslow for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 2.1!**If you can finish the following without hesitation:Must Love ____When Harry Met ____andIf you can't help but stop channel surfing when Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, or Colin Firth is on the screen... this is the PERFECT book to get you into a swoon-y state of mind! From Hollywood with Love is a thoroughly researched and fascinating look behind the curtain of some of Hollywood's biggest successes in the rom-com genre. It also explores HOW the genre evolved, where it's been, how it flopped (temporarily) and the rise of the new generation of rom-com, on both the small screen and silver screen. Meslow explores the tropes, good, bad, and ugly, and doesn't shy from topics like the limited representation we've seen up until recent years, the mercurial nature of some of your favorite actors, actresses, directors, and writers (and the will of steel of others!), and how quickly Hollywood can turn on a dime when execs smell a success (or a failure) to be. The book covers quite a bit of ground, from the eighties until today, but never dwells on any one film for TOO long.The funniest thing I discovered while reading this one is that as big a rom-com fan as I am? SO many movies discussed in this book I haven't even seen! Heard of them, absolutely. All were chosen carefully, and had some impact on the zeitgeist. What this also led me to realize is I have a LOT of 'homework' to do after reading this book to get caught up...AND I am just enough of a movie nerd to thoroughly enjoy this book regardless! One minor point: mention is made of Love, Simon and that the director wanted the film to have a happy ending etc....but NO mention is made that Love, Simon is an adaptation of Becky Albertalli's Simon and the Homo Sapiens Agenda...where the ending has already been spelled out. (This probably bugged me since I'm an Albertalli fan and loved the source material). However, if this is the only quibble I had with this book, I'd say Meslow thoroughly wooed me!So settle in with some popcorn and a box of candy, or perhaps a pint of Häagen-Dazs, crank up Red Rain, and take a journey down rom-com lane...after all, you just KNOW you'll get a happy ending! 😉4 stars

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!! What is your favorite Rom-Com movie?? I'd love to know. It's hard to beat When Harry Met Sally- but other than, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, I also love Notting Hill and While you Were Sleeping... And Bridget Jones's Diary. 4 stars

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!

I am a huge fan of romcoms, both in book and movie form, so I knew that From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of the Romantic Comedy by Scott Meslow was going to be a must-read for me. Each chapter focused on a different movie with various details about each movie and other random facts about everything from casting to where the idea for the movie came from. After every movie chapter, there is also an essay that focuses on a different actor or actress from the movie in the prior chapter. Although I am sure some movie/pop culture lovers will already know many of the things mentioned in this book, I did not, and I feel like I learned a lot about the movies and the people the essays discussed. It is clear that Meslow did a ton of research to put this book together, and I loved all the details as well as the nostalgia it gave me. There were a handful of movies that I haven't watched, but I still really enjoyed learning more about them and I could see myself doing a reread of this after I do watch them.I was a little surprised that the audiobook isn't narrated by Meslow, but instead by Jeremy Arthur. Whatever the reason for that, I still loved it and Arthur has an amazing voice that I thoroughly enjoyed listening to. I got so lost in this book which is really rare when it comes to nonfiction since most of the time, I'm reading memoirs of celebs I'm familiar with but don't know much about. I wouldn't say I am able to lose myself in their stories but when it comes to losing myself in details about romcoms apparently, I am all in! The only thing that I will say about this one, is I'm not entirely sure it lives up to the promise of actually discussing why romcoms rise and fall in popularity. Overall, I would say it was more about these classic romcoms themselves and the people who helped them come to be. From Hollywood with Love may not have been completely what it promised it would be, but that didn't have any effect on me loving it. This is a book I will be keeping on my shelf, and if you are a romcom lover and want to know about how these movies were made, I would still suggest grabbing a copy of it. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Romantic comedies were extremely popular in the late 1980s to early 2000s. This nonfiction book takes us on a behind the scenes look at many of those beloved movies and also discusses the careers of A-List actors who catapulted to fame with their work in the genre. While romcoms might have fallen out of favor with audiences, and more so studios, recently they have been making a comeback on streaming channels.I'll admit, I'm very particular when it comes to watching a romantic comedy. I won't watch just anything, but I do have a handful of favorites. However, this book was an interesting read despite the fact I'm not a romcom super fan. I enjoyed hearing what went into the production of each movie such as casting and script decisions. The movies featured in the book are pretty much all of the box office mega hits and regardless of whether I had seen each one, it was still a fun read.Thank you to William Morrow and Dey Street Books for providing me with a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.

Such great detail and little known facts. Straight forward and honest. Smart and made me want to have a rom com movie 🍿 night.

This was a fun look at the romantic comedy genre! It covers 15 different movies in depth and has smaller essays in between the chapters focused on different actors and topics related to rom coms. The book starts in the late 80s with When Harry Met Sally… and goes up through 2018 with To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. As the title of the book suggests, Scott Meslow tracks the rise, fall, and rise again of rom coms on streaming services. The book is almost completely focused on big Hollywood, major studio rom coms. He does discuss how the majority of Hollywood rom coms are very straight and white. Waiting to Exhale, Crazy Rich Asians, and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before do get deep dives, but I think it would’ve been cool if he used some of the interstitials between the chapters to highlight diverse rom coms that existed outside of the Hollywood sphere. I think this is a great read for anyone who really loves romantic comedies. It’s interesting to hear behind the scenes stories about how the different movies were made. There’s a lot of information about early versions of the scripts, who was originally cast to play certain parts, and how romantic comedies have changed over the years.

first a formal apology to the author bc when I first saw this book I was like “omg the perfect book! wait…. written by a man 🤨” but this was great and anyone who is a romcom scholar is a friend of mine. anyways love love loved this! i have long loved the romcom, one could say I’m a bit of a romcommunist even, and this book was a great journey from the goat (when harry met sally) to the present day hits (to all the boys I’ve loved before). I thought the book was organized brilliantly, going through the phases of the modern romcom era with a well curated list of focus movies, supporting mentions, and essays on relevant tropes/actors in between the main chapters. I learned a lot of interesting behind the scenes facts about how these movies came together and it made me want to rewatch old favourites and finally get around to some hits I never got to for whatever reason. it was awesome to get to ruminate on the lifecycle of this beloved genre and it’s highs and lows. I have to say I don’t have a lot of confidence in the ability of romcoms to return to being box office staples, but I guess as long as streaming services promise to keep them alive I’ll survive. was interesting to think about the role of television and particularly the sitcom couple as a factor in the downturn of romcoms in the 00s/10s. but also it was nice to be assured that the “death of the romcom” was largely overblown. I hope everyone who ever makes a romcom ever again reads this book!! long live the romcom!!!!

TITLE: From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of the Romantic ComedyAUTHOR: Scott MeslowPUB DATE: 02.01.2022 Now AvailableAn in-depth celebration of the romantic comedy’s modern golden era and its role in our culture, tracking the genre from its heyday in the ’80s and the ’90s, its unfortunate decline in the 2000s, and its explosive reemergence in the age of streaming, featuring exclusive interviews with the directors, writers, and stars of the iconic films that defined the genre.REVIEW: I am a huge fan of the romantic comedy genre which made this book a must read for me. Meslow’s impeccable research in bringing in the inside scoop, back stories, and exclusive interviews made this book such an insightful read for me on the landmark movies of the era like Pretty Woman, When Harry Met Sally, and so much more from the golden era of the romantic comedy—spanning from the late ’80s to the mid-’00s. Great book and resource! Highly recommend.

From Hollywood with Love by Scott Meslow takes a brief look into many of the Rom-Com movies we all know and love. Included are some of the most memorable and iconic films about romance. Grabbing bits from interviews with the authors, producers, and actors you get a glimpse into each of these movies. Not a lot of time is spent on one particular film, but we get a large smattering of all the good stuff. It’s a cute and informative read. It reads very academically and I was reminded of a dissertation or senior capstone, especially with the conclusion and cited materials at the end. Not a bad thing though, there’s nothing like an informed reader! All in all, a great read. A perfect Valentine's Day gift for the Rom-Com lover in your life.~Tanja*Thank you to Dey Street Books/William Morrow for sharing this title with me Follow me on Instagram✿Twitter✿Facebook✿Pinterest✿TikTok

I hadn’t watched a lot of the movies this book talked about. So before I read each chapter, I watched the movie it focused on, which was super fun. It made learning about the behind-the-scenes tidbits and the actors in each movie even more interesting. My favorite chapters were My Big Fat Greek Wedding (which I had seen before) and Four Weddings & A Funeral (which I hadn’t seen).

Phenomenal Read!!! You will, though, want to watch Every. Single. Movie. that are mentioned during and after your reading. You've been warned.

I. Love. This. Book! I. Wish. I. Wrote. This. Book! From Hollywood with Love is both a cheerful and thoughtful examination of contemporary rom-coms. Author Scott Meslow contends – and I sincerely agree – that the genre has been grossly misunderstood and underappreciated since its inception. This heart-felt manifesto is long overdue.Meslow’s genuine interest in rom-coms is apparent from the get-go. Each chapter is baked with love, making From Hollywood with Love a joy to read. It is also chock full of fun facts about celebrities and exciting behind-the-scenes looks. I could not get enough!With that said, it is more than just a fun read. Movies – including (and perhaps especially) romantic comedies – help us make sense of the world and our place in it. Meslow considers this genre with the thoughtful consideration it deserves. I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by his incorporation of a racial and gender equity lens. In short: From Hollywood with Love is a must-read for any and every pop culture fan. Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I know so many of you are rom com book fans but what about rom com movies? Before I was a romance reader I was a romance movie watcher and this history of the rom com movie was so much fun. It goes back and highlights some of the most beloved movies of the past forty plus years and you get behind the scenes info into the making of the movies and more. It was super nostalgic and just overall a delight, there were lots of great details about some of my favorite movies that I had never heard before that made me want to rewatch asap. If you’ve been a fan of these movies from the eighties all the way up to today this was fun and left me in a good mood.