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

The entire time I read I Love RomComs & I am a Feminist by Corrina Antrobus I was convinced this was a joke itself. When I finished, I reread the introduction and realized just how much I misunderstood the content of this book from the start.

It seems silly to me to review the work of a professional critic. I’m a blogger that only read this book. I have not put in the hours Corrina put into watching these romcom movies, writing and now publishing this book on said movies. I hate to put a rating on it. I don’t wish to persuade anyone to think one way or the other. This is worth being read by anyone who loves romcoms and desires to understand their influence.

I find myself contemplating the contents of this book and my own thoughts challenged. I admire the dedication that went into compiling these 100 essays on each of the 100 romcoms. That takes heart. And it shows in this book.

I HATE this for picking apart the bits and pieces of romcoms. I kept thinking “no, you missed the point.”

It might have been me that missed the point, until I understood (I think?).

Romcoms have existed for years and each reflects societal views on “femininity” in that time period. We walk through the history of romcoms and their influence on feminism from Corrina’s critical point of view.

The book is witty, reflective and brutually honest. This isn’t meant to give the “feel good” feeling romcoms often give us with their happy endings. Although, I guess it did for some? Maybe I still missed the point. Or rather, we are meant to contemplate the statement(s) these films make and consider the way they apply to society today. To experience hope for a future of more inclusive entertainment.

It takes a romcom lover through a brutual journey to get there. Maybe just this one.

I admire the writing, the structure, the dedication. I hate some of the knocks on classic romcom movies. That might just be me.

More important, I commend the perspective that romcoms need to continue evolving “with a more roomy heart.”

Thank you NetGalley and White Lion Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review will post on my blog, dandelionlit.wordpress.com, August 27 at 12am for Release Day.

I really enjoyed reading this book as it felt like taking a journey back in time. It was so interesting to see how cinema has evolved over the years, especially in terms of women gaining more visibility and being able to share their stories and important issues with the audience. It's great to see women from all over the world feeling represented on screen.

The primary list features 100 movies, accompanied by stunning illustrations - some of which were quite amusing. While reading, I started a private list on letterboxd to keep track of the ones I've seen. Out of 281 titles, I've watched 83. I've set a goal for myself to catch up on the ones I missed. Some were familiar to me, while others were completely new. I can't wait to watch them all!

I believe the author did a great job bringing a wide range of films with important themes. I’m giving it 4 stars because some of my personal favorites were missing, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

Thanks to White Lion Publishing for the ARC!

This is such a great primer to feminist theory and film criticism through the lens of romantic comedies! From an educator perspective, the short essays can serve as powerful model texts for students to practice rhetoric and critique. I could also see this as a good starting place or reference text for teachers who are putting together a film class. With one page for each analysis, the writer doesn't have a lot of space to go deep into their feminist analysis of each film, but she is able to present the big ideas in such a way that the reader can run with it when they watch the film. I love that the end of each entry also includes related films to explore as well. This book has given me SO many movies to add to my watch list, or to rewatch now that I've learned more!

tragically, despite the excellent book design, i disagreed with many of the takes in this book. as a romcom aficionado myself, i guess i'm just very particular with my romcom commentary

▪️B O O K R E V I E W▪️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 - "I Love Romcoms and I am a Feminist" by @c_bus (with illustrations by @vulgadrawings)

"𝘛𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘤𝘰𝘮 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢. 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴?"



I love romcoms.

So this was a super quick read of romcoms through the ages - starting in the early black and white movie days!

It talks a lot about how different romcoms did different things throughout history for women and feminists.

It also includes some super amazing illustrations for each of the movies and other movies similar to the one being talked about!

This was definitely a super fun read - thank you so much to @whitelionpublishing and @netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for this review!

I LOVE ROMCOMS AND I AM A FEMINIST comes out on 8/27/2024! 😍
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I learnt two main things from this book. 1. That although I have seen a lot of films there are still more to discover, and 2. I stopped watching films about the time I had a child. So much for feminism! I like the way the book is written. It made me think about some of the films in ways I hadn’t before. I will be using this list to make sure I see the rest mentioned in the book.

Fantastic read, I love this so much, it was both a great trip down memory lane of films I habe loved and in some cases now ned to watch, but also made me think and also look at these films in a different way, one I found myself nodding along to and agreeing so much. A really refreshing and insightful look into romcoms and how they do and did help the feminist movement, as well as being able to say proudly I love romcoms and iam a feminist