About I’ll Have What She’s Having: How Nora Ephron’s Three Iconic Films Saved the Romantic Comedy
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Hachette Books (August 29, 2017)
A backstage look at the making of Nora Ephron’s revered trilogy–When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, and Sleepless in Seattle–which brought romantic comedies back to the fore, and an intimate portrait of the beloved writer/director who inspired a generation of Hollywood women, from Mindy Kaling to Lena Dunham.
In I’ll Have What She’s Having entertainment journalist Erin Carlson tells the story of the real Nora Ephron and how she reinvented the romcom through her trio of instant classics. With a cast of famous faces including Reiner, Hanks, Ryan, and Crystal, Carlson takes readers on a rollicking, revelatory trip to Ephron’s New York City, where reality took a backseat to romance and Ephron–who always knew what she wanted and how she wanted it–ruled the set with an attention to detail that made her actors feel safe but sometimes exasperated crew members.
Along the way, Carlson examines how Ephron explored in the cinema answers to the questions that plagued her own romantic life and how she regained faith in love after one broken engagement and two failed marriages. Carlson also explores countless other questions Ephron’s fans have wondered about: What sparked Reiner to snap out of his bachelor blues during the making of When Harry Met Sally? Why was Ryan, a gifted comedian trapped in the body of a fairytale princess, not the first choice for the role? After she and Hanks each separately balked at playing Mail’s Kathleen Kelly and Sleepless‘ Sam Baldwin, what changed their minds? And perhaps most importantly: What was Dave Chappelle doing … in a turtleneck? An intimate portrait of a one of America’s most iconic filmmakers and a look behind the scenes of her crowning achievements, I’ll Have What She’s Having is a vivid account of the days and nights when Ephron, along with assorted cynical collaborators, learned to show her heart on the screen.
“[Erin Carlson] offers a breezy, detailed rehearsal of three successful romantic comedies from the 1980s and ’90s…. A large bag of buttery popcorn that goes down oh so pleasantly.”—Kirkus Reviews
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About Erin Carlson
Erin Carlson has covered the entertainment industry for The Hollywood Reporter and AP. Her work has appeared in Glamour, Fortune, and the LA Times. She compiled and wrote an oral history of You’ve Got Mail for Vanity Fair. She holds a masters in magazine journalism from Northwestern, and has been profiled in the New York Times.
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Erin Carlson’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS
Monday, August 21st: Ms. Nose in a Book
Thursday, August 24th: Kritter’s Ramblings
Friday, August 25th: Reading is My SuperPower
Monday, August 28th: Patricia’s Wisdom
Tuesday, August 29th: Kahakai Kitchen and Instagram
Wednesday, August 30th: A Chick Who Reads
Thursday, August 31st: From the TBR Pile
Friday, September 1st: A Splendid Messy Life blog and Instagram
Friday, September 1st: 5 Minutes for Books
Tuesday, September 5th: Becky on Books
Wednesday, September 6th: I Brought A Book
Thursday, September 7th: Reviews from the Heart
Monday, September 11th: Joyfully Retired
Tuesday, September 12th: Jathan & Heather
Wednesday, September 13th: Books a la Mode– author guest post