This was a cute depiction of the rom coms of the 80s through today. It was well researched with interesting tidbits about all aspects of the movies. As I was reading it I did go back and re-watch some of these gems. The only complaint I have about the book (which is not a big thing), sometimes the final blurb was about an actor that my brain had a hard time connecting with the preceding chapter. It wasn’t bad, they were still very interesting. They just didn’t always flow.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was wonderful to revisit my favorite rom-coms, but there were also so many tidbits and behind the scenes info that I wasn’t aware of. I read Premiere and Entertainment Weekly pretty regularly and thought I knew a lot of movie making inside scoop but this taught me a lot. I also appreciated the larger cultural case the author made and how he contextualized a lot of the stories.

It was a book I hadn’t realize I craved but I absolutely did!

This book is like a written version of Netflix’s Movies That Made Us, but specifically about modern-era Rom-Coms (the 1980s to present) with anecdotes from writers, directors, and actors. It also offers a deeper look into the meaning and intention of the films, as well accounting of the influence each has had in the zeitgeist. Between each chapter is a short essay on the actors who made an impact on the genre in one way or another.

(It’s worth noting that Pretty Woman was featured both in the book and in an episode of Movies That Made Us, and there were a few anecdotes in the book that weren’t included in the show.)

It is well written and funny, and I appreciated the author’s insights as to the relevance of each movie. The only thing that didn’t quite fit for me was the “Untitled Royal Wedding” chapter. There is a callout in the chapter featuring Love, Simon, which I felt would have been better as a fully developed chapter on its own, since the movies featured are ones that marked a turning point in the genre. The chapter’s content is interesting and necessary to round out the progression of modern rom-com, which I thought might have been better placed as part of the closing chapter to the book. However, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book and is simply my opinion. I found From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of the Romantic Comedy to be a fun read that will appeal to movie fans in general, as well as fans of the genre.

I loved this book that focused on the many romantic comedies produced by Hollywood over the past thirty years or so. It's written in a very chatty, engaging style,. The author also makes note of the issue of representation of people of color in romantic comedies, as well as the development of movies from idea to production to reception. A fascinating read, and it's exponentially grown my 'to watch / rewatch' movie list!

Really fun rundown of Rom coms from When Harry Met Sally on. Meslow doesn't just show the genesis and the evolution (and possible resurgence?) of the genre, he throws in some great behind the scenes stories on the making of some classic movies. Wish this would have come out in time for the Holidays, because this would make a great gift for the Romance Lover in your life!

Whether you remember the romcom heydayof the late 80s/90s or have discovered them through streaming, you will LOVE (pun intended) this affectionate, revealing, but not uncritical look at the stars, writers, directors, and movies of the most popular romcom movies (from When Harry Met Sally to All the Boys I've Loved Before). It's fun, nostalgic, and revealing.

Librarians/booksellers: Your romcom fans will be obsessed! A definite purchase.

Many thanks to Dey Street Books and NetGally for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Author Meslow says it best in the opening of From Hollywood with Love - Romantic Comedies are hopeful, encourage authenticity, goals/dreams, and sees the world for what it can be.
It takes a look at how the genre got started (RIP Nora Ephron) how it continued, and how it's going.
This book is a fun escape, with interesting info on Romantic Comedies, stories behind the stories. You don't have to be fan of rom-coms to enjoy this book! Great for gift giving - but make sure to buy yourself a copy too!

I'm very stressed out that I'm the first goodreads review for this. No pressure, right?

THIS WAS DELIGHTFUL. Full disclosure: while I love movies and reading about movies, the rom com is not fully my thing. In fact, out of all the major film subjects of this book, I think I've only seen about half of them. Maybe less than half? But when I read any pop culture history/manifesto, I can detect passion and Meslow definitely has it. From Hollywood With Love was an absolute blast to read, with fun bits of trivia and things I truly didn't know.

He does a wonderful job not only pulling off what he says he'll do (chronicle the rise and fall and rise again of rom coms) but he's chosen a diverse set of movies to do the job, from the classic When Harry Met Sally to Crazy Rich Asians to ultra-modern movies for teens on Netflix. I also enjoyed the side bits about specific actors and their rom com journeys (or lack thereof).

Nitpick: I'm curious of the sources he used. At least once, he directly references an interview he had with an actor but did he do it for this book? I also know a good amount of info must have come from memoirs and other interviews with the artists involved. Because I'm an English major nerd, I think a source page would be nice.