Member Reviews
Thank you, Netgalley, for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.
I now have a list of movies to watch while hibernating this winter. I'm glad that the movies are from different eras, featuring women in film. It's pretty cool to see.
Romcoms are great. Here, I said it. Some of them are cliché, some of them are easily digestable, but the genre offers so much more. And this book, definitely highlights all. the good that it has to offer. From Nora Ephrone's fantastic plots and pulp classics like Heathens and Clueless to arthouse favourites like Amelié and Frances Ha. There is something for everyone.
The structure of the book is very straightforward. On the left side, you have an overarching title that sums up the theme of the film, then a short text that puts focus on all the necessary facts to make you want watch it, and then you will find some simliar recommendations. Each film is paired with a lovely and colorful illustration. Also, all films are sorted chronologically, so if you want to walk down the timeline of romcoms, you can do that as well.
I personally knew most of the films mentioned, and still, it was a delight to read through all the texts and go down memory lane.
What I enjoyed even more were those little boxes with "if you like this, you will like that" recommendations.
What a small and neat addition, and yet it's really fantastic and helpful! Imagine you want to watch a movie that has the same vibes as Moonstruck (1987)? Well, go to page 47. 😉
The only thing that would have been nice is a more international approach to romcoms. There is Amelié, of course, but it is mostly completely just a selection of anglophone movies. What about spanish romcoms, the french ones, and don't get me started on what East Asia has to offer.
Also, don't sleep on animation! However, this is just a minor point I wanted to point out – it is still a fantastic book and definitely an addition to every cinephile's library.
If you are ever in need for a birthday present for a film buff, you can go ahead and simply gift them this book. If you like movies or want to learn more about romcoms, get this book. To be honest, the moment I can grab it in physical form I will buy it for myself.
A big and heartfelt thank you to NetGalley, White Lion Publishing and Corrina Antrobus for giving me an eArc in exchange for an honest review!
All thoughts and murmurs expressed in this review my own.
What an absolute gem of a book! I Love Romcoms and I am a Feminist is destined to be treasured by many feminist households. I am also a feminist who loves rom-coms and, to be honest, it has caused quite a bit of inner turmoil to navigate the two. This book is a permissive salve to my soul! It celebrates romantic comedies and feminism in equal measure!
It is a multipurpose tool meant to entertained, educate and more than anything, provide an amazing resource on 100 years of wonderful rom-coms! My partner and I have decided to watch all the films in order if we can find them. Fun!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
disclaimer ⇢ purely giving this a 5 star only bc i don’t rate books like this in general but you have to for the purpose of posting.
I wouldn't usually say that romcoms are my go-to, but some of the movies in this book are actually my favorites. Honestly, I can't even remember the last time I had the patience to sit through an entire movie.
This book is a collection of romcom summaries viewed through a feminist perspective, featuring 100 movies in chronological order. Each movie comes with three additional recommendations, making it an incredibly comprehensive list. It starts with the earliest classics, many of which I was unfamiliar with, only knew by name or cast, or had watched and loved. The newer selections include many lesser-known films that highlight minorities and diverse cultures, which were mostly new to me as well.
What I loved most was the organization: engaging illustrations, quick plot summaries, and insightful lessons we can learn from each movie. The range from the '20s to the present day was impressive, and the inclusion of diverse picks was a great touch. The vibrant and colorful art style also added to the appeal.
Thank you, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion, for providing me with an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is great fun and perfect for suckers like me who enjoy rom coms!
I loved how it was set out with engaging illustrations, a quick summary of the plot and then a bit about the lessons we can learn from them.
I also liked that alongside the usuals there were some more diverse picks which included people of colour and different sexualities
This would make a great gift
This was a great look at romcoms dating all the way back to the 20’s. A lot of these movies I’d never even heard of and I loved the way Antrobus gave a little synopsis through a feminist lens. I’ve added a chunk of these movies to my watch list and I can’t wait to get started on them.
This is a cute coffee table book, it’s easy to get through, interesting and the illustrations are adorable. I definitely recommend.
Thank you NetGalley and White Lion Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"I Love Romcoms and I Am a Feminist: A Manifesto in 100 Romcoms" by Corrina Antrobus is a refreshing and insightful celebration of romantic comedies through a feminist lens. Antrobus’s passion for the genre shines through every page, offering a unique perspective that blends humor, critique, and genuine love for romcoms. The book brilliantly navigates the intersection of entertainment and feminist ideals, showing how these beloved films can both reflect and challenge societal norms.
Antrobus’s selection of 100 romcoms is diverse and thoughtfully curated, each entry accompanied by sharp analysis and personal anecdotes that make the reader see these films in a new light. Her writing is engaging and accessible, making complex feminist concepts relatable and fun.
"I Love Romcoms and I Am a Feminist" is not just a guide to romcoms but a manifesto that encourages readers to enjoy and critique media with a critical eye. It’s an empowering read that reaffirms the importance of representation and the power of popular culture. For anyone who loves romcoms and values feminist perspectives, this book is an absolute must-read. Corrina Antrobus has crafted a work that is both delightful and thought-provoking, making it a standout in contemporary film criticism.
I loved this wonderfully illustrated book all about rom coms.
I love deep diving into movies, and the impact they had on society at the time. Usually films have a greater and wider reach than books, so it was great to read about books that were progressive and ahead of their time.
This was a short but engaging guide and I'm excited to dive back into some of these films with fresh eyes!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book to review.
Corrina Antrobus’ "I Love Romcoms and I am a Feminist: A Manifesto in 100 Romcoms" is a refreshing and insightful exploration of the romantic comedy genre through a feminist lens. Antrobus, a passionate cinephile and feminist, crafts a compelling narrative that both celebrates and critiques romcoms, weaving her love for the genre with a critical eye on its impact on societal norms and gender roles.
From the outset, it’s clear that Antrobus’ relationship with romcoms is complex and deeply personal. She acknowledges the joy and comfort these films bring while also challenging the often problematic tropes and stereotypes they perpetuate. This duality forms the heart of her manifesto, as she navigates the tension between loving a genre and holding it accountable.
Antrobus’ selection of 100 romcoms serves as the backbone of the book, each film acting as a chapter that delves into broader cultural and feminist discussions. She covers classics like "When Harry Met Sally" and "Pretty Woman," as well as modern favorites such as "Crazy Rich Asians" and "The Big Sick." Through these films, Antrobus examines themes of consent, representation, and the evolution of the "happily ever after."
What stands out in this manifesto is Antrobus’ ability to blend film critique with personal anecdotes and broader social commentary. Her writing is both engaging and thought-provoking, making complex feminist theories accessible to a wide audience. She deftly balances her love for the genre with a critical perspective, offering nuanced insights that encourage readers to reconsider the romcoms they’ve grown up with.
Antrobus’ feminist critique is particularly compelling when she addresses issues of diversity and representation. She highlights the progress made in recent years with films like "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" and "Love, Simon," but also points out the persistent lack of diversity and the need for more inclusive storytelling. Her call for more complex, multifaceted female characters and diverse love stories is a rallying cry for the future of the genre.
"I Love Romcoms and I am a Feminist" is more than just a book about movies; it's a manifesto for change. Antrobus’ passion for romcoms is infectious, and her feminist perspective offers a fresh and necessary take on a beloved genre. She invites readers to enjoy these films while also questioning and challenging the norms they reinforce.
In conclusion, Corrina Antrobus’ manifesto is a must-read for anyone who loves romantic comedies but also believes in the importance of feminist critique. "I Love Romcoms and I am a Feminist" is an enlightening and entertaining journey through the world of romcoms, offering both celebration and critique in equal measure. Antrobus has crafted a work that is as entertaining as it is enlightening, making it a valuable addition to any film lover's collection.
I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and White Lion Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
This was a super fun read and pretty much exactly what I wanted from a book with this title. This is a light exploration of 100 romcoms through the lens of 'feminist lessons learned'. I loved the mix of famous romcoms and lesser-known films. It meant I have a few new movies to check out, which is always great. The amount written about each film was about perfect. It's a good book to casually flick through, and it's the kind of thing I love to read on Christmas day inbetween all the bustle. If you're a fan of romcoms, this is definitely worth a read!
This was just completely average. I didn't really see the purpose of this novel. It fails at explaining anything at all.
I also love romcoms and am a feminist and unsurprisingly I loved this books. Great short descriptions of why each film was including, a very diverse list - some well known favourites and others that I will now be looking for on my favourite streaming services. Excellent read
Thank you, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion, for providing me with an advanced copy of *I Love Romcoms and I Am a Feminist* by Corrina Antrobus in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book! As a feminist and romcom enthusiast, I found the diverse film selections and thoughtful analysis truly refreshing. The author's insights into each film, along with the suggestions for similar movies in specific genres, were spot-on. It's a fantastic read for anyone who loves exploring film through a feminist lens and is a must-have for any film buff. This book is perfect to read and watch along with, making it a wonderful gift for anyone who enjoys romcoms. I’ll be giving a copy of this as gifts for years to come!
This book perfectly sums up the reason why I love romcoms so much, featuring short but eloquent synopses of films from the 1920's to present day. I really appreciated how the book also features commentary on intersectionality and the importance of intersectional feminism in the modern day, both discussing how romcoms have been partly central in the progression of widening acceptability but also highlighting the deficiencies of some films and the progress that still needs to be made.
One quote that particularly stood out to me was: "It's demeaning to think how the only genre that routinely centres the lives of women suffers from being dismissed as derogative fluff...".
Thank you to White Lion Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book!
This was a fun book! Like the title suggests, the book is a collection of essays on romcoms viewed through a feminist lens. There are 100 movies covered chronologically, but each movie comes with three other recommendations so this is easily one of the most comprehensive list of romcoms you can find. It starts with the earliest romcoms, so it has many classics that I either hadn't heard of or didn't know much about besides the title or the cast. For the newer era, it covers many little-known picks representing minorities and diverse cultures, many of which were also new to me. The writings did include spoilers for some movies, since specific moments had to be discussed to talk about why a movie was feminist, but I wish there was some spoiler warning for some because I like going into some movies blind. The art style also wasn't for me, but it is vibrant and colorful and I'm sure wouldn't be a concern for many readers. This book is also a great gift for anyone who loves romcoms.
Thank you to NetGalley, Corinna Antrobus, and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for providing me with a free digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I wouldn't have said that romcoms are my favorite, but some of the movies in this book are my favorites, for exactly the reasons described. Watching movies with these kinds of values makes me feel more powerful and less alone in the world.
Some of my favorite movies are in here, like Harold and Maude, Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and Heathers. I love how there's a short synopsis and then other movies you can watch for the same vibe. The pictures are great too, colorful and more symbolic than completely descriptive.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this
I'm a feminist AND I love romcoms so really this book was made for me! It was absolutely delightful to read, I had no idea Corrina was the creator of the Bechdel Test until I started reading so that was exciting! This is the kind of book you want to own, it's fun and informative, looks beautiful and is the perfect coffee table book! This book really helped validate my feelings on romcoms and how they aren't just cheesy films that uphold the patriarchy, you can want love or a family and be a feminist but on the flipside they teach us how to find comfort within ourselves or our friendships, as well as our passions! There were so many movies that I knew and loved but also so many I had never even heard of and am definitely adding to my watchlist!
This creative look at romcoms in film through a feminist lens is intriguing and well worth the read. Focuses on 100 iconic romantic comedies, from Harry Met Sally to Clueless. As a film and romcom buff, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
As a feminist and a romcom lover, I was immediately drawn to this! This book talks about the so-called chick-flicks since the first decades of cinema, provides context and illustrations. Every page spread is one movie and 2-3 bonus recommendations to it.
I have created a Letterboxd list with all the films mentioned by Corinna Antrobus because I am very interested in many of them, some I haven't heard of, as the author has covered all of the 20th century, plus the list is diverse with some unknown gems and movies from a couple other countries than US. Here is the list https://letterboxd.com/irravalanche/list/i-love-romcoms-and-i-am-a-feminist/page/1/ For example, I want to rewatch Notting Hill and watch Clueless and once I do, I want to circle back to Corinna's texts about them so I saved some quotes and excerpts for myself.
The art is amazing, the cover is beautiful, this book has so much pop-culture and social history in it, giving voice to movie heroines.
Some of the movies aren't what you'd consider a 'feminist' romcom, like Pretty Woman, but the author makes arguments why she included this or that movie in the book.
However, I think a couple were missing from the list, for example, I would add "Elvira, Mistress of the Dark' because for me it's a very feminist and funny movie and it has a bit of a romantic line too.
Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for access to this book in exchange of an unbiased review!
Great book for any pop-culture or romance fan!
I’m a lover of rom-coms and watched a plethora of them throughout the 1990s-2010s. Regarding the list in this book, I’ve watched a little over half.
This book has fun and colorful illustrations that will make it the perfect coffee table book. I plan on purchasing a physical copy to display in my home. Not only does it mention 100 movies in the rom-com genre, but the book also provides recommendations for similar movies in each category.
It also makes you realize that rom-coms aren’t just fluff and makes you think about your favorite movies of this genre in a different way. These films had a great impact on females and society whether we knew it directly at that time or not.
Rom-coms aren’t just about living happily ever after, as people assume they are. The book explores movies with themes such as, “putting a spin on the crazy girlfriend trope” and “sang in the face of slut shaming” and “critiques backwards attitudes to sexuality” and many more
Thank you to White Lion Publishing for providing this book for review via NetGalley