BOOK REVIEW #21: I'll HAVE WHAT SHE'S HAVING: HOW NORA EPHRON'S THREE ICONIC FILMS SAVED THE ROMANTIC COMEDY

It’s easy to confuse Nora Ephron with Nancy Meyers, both being contemporary, accomplished female writers and directors in Hollywood. While Meyers famously grant Mel Gibson the power to listen to women’s thoughts in What Women Want, Ephron will forever be remembered for the famous orgasm scene in When Harry Met Sally.

From entertainment journalist Erin Carlson comes I’ll Have What She’s Having: How Nora Ephron’s Three Iconic Films Saved the Romantic Comedy, a largely entertaining read on journalist turned filmmaker Nora Ephron’s journey on creating three very iconic romantic comedies, coincidentally all starring once American sweetheart, Meg Ryan.

Interviewing and quoting from stars liked Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal, Bill Pullman, Greg Kinnear to director Rob Reiner and lots of other production assistants who have worked with the late Ephron, Carlson has assembled a fun, quirky look at the various difficulties Ephron faced in her directing career. Do you know that the last scene of Sleepless in Seattle was actually shot on a soundstage instead on the real Empire State Building? Marvel Studios’ head honcho, Kevin Feige was in fact once a production assistance who taught Meg Ryan how to use an email before filming starts on You Got Mail.

Besides plenty of behind-the-scenes gossip, Carlson even devote an entire chapter on Ephron’s childhood, her two failed marriages and also why she adored the Big Apple even though she grew up in California. I’ll Have What She’s Having: How Nora Ephron’s Three Iconic Films Saved the Romantic Comedy is a book tailored for those who grew up on Ephron’s brand of romantic comedies. Though Ephron sadly passed away in 2012 (way before she could give her witty thoughts in this book), her contributions and movies will continue to live in the hearts of many.

Book Rating:

Review by Linus Tee

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