I love romcoms. I am a feminist. And I adored this book!

This is one of those books that I will absolutely be purchasing my own physical copy of when it gets released. Not only is the cover stunning (which makes it a PERFECT coffee table book), but I loved the content so much.

As a self identified hopeless romantic who also doesn’t want to blindly support a genre that I fear often prioritizes a woman’s role as “solely a wife”, this book gave me so much perspective on what romcoms can mean for women underneath the facade of the “happily ever after”. These movies have taught us how to find comfort in ourselves, our friendships, and our passions - not JUST our romantic pursuits. There is nothing wrong with being a feminist and also loving romcoms, and this book made me feel validated in my ability to do both.

My god, this is the perfect gift for anyone who loves romcoms. I loved the classifications and the nostalgia of some of the romcoms that I haven’t seen in so long! I loved this!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved the way this book was laid out. It was hilarious and insightful and the illustrations really added to each of the movies.

Rom-coms are one of my favorite movie genres. Some of my most re-watched movies are rom-coms. This book has 100 short essays about the contributions of 100 rom-coms and how they show the female experience and feminism in different ways. Some of my favorites are included: While You Were Sleeping, 10 Things I Hate About You, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, When Harry Met Sally, The Holiday, Sleepless in Seattle, and Brown Sugar. There are quite a few newer movies I had never heard of. It also lists other rom-coms that have similar themes to the ones discussed in essay form. It made me want to explore this list a bit more and see the movies I haven’t seen before.

If you love romantic comedies and identify as a feminist, "I Love Romcoms and I Am a Feminist: A Manifesto in 100 Romcoms" by Corrina Antrobus, with illustrations by Vulga Drawings, is the perfect book for you. Historically, romantic comedies have often been criticized for their lack of feminist themes, but Antrobus sets out to change that perception. As a huge fan of the genre myself, titles like "10 Things I Hate About You," "Head Over Heels," and "She's All That" are my go-tos, so I was thrilled to discover a book that aligns my love for romcoms with my feminist values.

This book serves as a fearlessly feminist guide to romantic comedies through the ages, revealing the hidden feminist messages in your favorite movies. It's a refreshing reminder that you can indeed love romcoms and be a feminist! Corrina Antrobus, a film journalist and founder of the Bechdel Test Fest, explores how romcoms reflect modern feminism. These underrated, groundbreaking movies have spotlighted or shifted narratives on topics from body positivity to abortion, faking orgasms to workplace equality.

Corrina Antrobus highlights the best feminist moments, both big and small, in some of the most iconic romcoms of all time. For instance, "When Harry Met Sally" broke taboos around faking orgasms, while "10 Things I Hate About You" embraced female rebellion. "Mamma Mia!" sang defiantly in the face of slut-shaming, "My Best Friend's Wedding" showed it's okay to be irrational, "Clueless" proved that women can be fashionable, feminine, and feminist, and "Bridesmaids" brought female-powered comedy to the forefront of Hollywood.

In total, Corrina Antrobus discusses 100 films, each one examined with a keen eye for feminist themes. This beautifully illustrated guide is a must-have for any feminist romcom fan. Each page includes recommendations for similar films, making it the perfect companion for movie nights. "I Love Romcoms and I Am a Feminist" will arm you with an expert understanding of how these feel-good movies have taught a generation of women and girls about love, humor, and their identity. Whether you're a die-hard romcom lover or a feminist looking to explore the genre, this book is an essential addition to your collection.

Review: I Love Romcoms And I Am A Feminist by Corrina Antrobus

I’ve been on a real romance kick recently, in films, tv and audiobooks, going back to some old favourites that really make me smile. I love love, and though I read plenty of worthy literary tomes, sometimes the only thing that will do is an hour or so of mild emotional threat which culminates in that crucial, comfort-giving, happy ending.

My mental rolodex of these is pretty limited though, because so many don’t stand up to the test of time - ie they feature 2-dimensional women merely as a pretty foil to the real star, The Rugged Rich Man.

So I can’t tell you how delighted I was to see this book pop up on NetGalley. I recognised the illustration style immediately from years of following Lily O’Farrell (@vulgadrawings), then was drawn in by the premise.

I Love Romcoms And I Am A Feminist takes a ride through the last several decades of films that shifted perspectives, broke taboos, and started conversations while centring women in all our complex messy wonder. Each page summarises a romcom, explains the key themes, and talks about the impact that the film had. It’s all beautifully enhanced by Lily’s brilliant illustrations - sometimes with wee easter egg nods to the films.

Antrobus is a film journalist and the founder of The Bechdel Test Fest - so she really knows her onions, and I found the information she provides about the context in which the films were made and originally viewed really helpful in understanding why some of the films were featured, even when modern audiences may sniff at certain characters or portrayals.

Each page concludes with recommendations for three other films with a similar vibe, and I had to start a new Note on my phone as I discovered more and more that sounded right up my street. I was really chuffed to see one of my own personal favourites featured - Bend It Like Beckham, which introduced me to women’s football culture in a way that still features in my life today. Jess 4eva.

From When Harry Met Sally, via Ten Things I Hate About You, to Muriel’s Wedding, and dozens of others less well known, if you have ever enjoyed a romcom you’ll find something in here that’s for you. This would also be a great gift for your movie-loving bestie, relative, or teacher - or even your partner, to help build a list of date-night films you’ll actually enjoy watching together.

Thank you to White Lion Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I love the cover and title for this book. The description fits perfectly. Great romcoms included spanning from the start of cinema to present day.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of "I love Romcoms and I am a Feminist." All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of "I Love Romcoms and I am a Feminist" by Corrina Antrobus. All opinions are my own.

Awesome title and cover. Some great movies covered throughout this book. Definitely recommend!

I really enjoyed this book. Being a rom com lover has always been a tad embarrassing, but not anymore!!! I hated to admit I wasn't the cool, edgy pansexual chick I thought I was, but instead a nerdy queer rom com lover!! I loved the illustrations at the beginning of the chapters as well.
I also ended up taking notes of all the movies that I now want to see! I loved this book!

I Love Romcoms and I am a Feminist by Corrina Antrobus would make a good present for a friend as it is a fun and interesting book to dip into.

“Rom coms will always be an outlet for joy.”

This witty, comprehensive guide to the history of rom-coms is a delightful read. Encompassing more than just the cliché romantic comedy, this primer pays tribute to the diversity of the genre and broadens the reader’s perspective on which films can actually be included. Spanning from 1921 to 2023 and written in a digestible, engaging way, I was entertained while also learning something new (my favorite type of book!). The fun illustrations and text features of the book also add to the enjoyment of reading.

The book is written through a strong social justice lens and shows the depth of this film genre by addressing themes of bias, representation, intersectionality, and many of the -isms in society.
This is a book I highly recommend. I am excited for this to come out in print - it is definitely a book that can be referenced time and time again. And for this reader, my former “guilty pleasure” genre now feels strong, empowered, and unabashedly cool.

Note: Consider perusing titles and first paragraph summary before watching the movie, if you do not want spoilers.

4.5 rating rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I am a rom-com girlie at heart, I spent most of my teens watching these movies and as an adult I’ve found myself falling back in love with them. I really enjoyed how this book was laid out, it was easy to understand, the drawings were cute and it was inclusive and highlighted rom coms that weren’t strictly about heterosexual white relationships. I can see this making a brilliant gift for someone who loves their movies or for a young feminist trying to find and understand themselves in the grand scheme of life. A joyous read!

Okay, where do I start?
Quarto has done it again.
I requested to review this book partly due to my profession.
This is a lovely book designed, organised and written in a fabulous way.
If you are someone who has little interest in romcoms and approach the genre criticism/theories with a pinch of salt, you might still like this book as much as I did because
*The book is divided into encyclopedic-style short essays/entries on feminist themes, feminist achievements about 100 films
*Harold and Maude is in there. Barbie, hello. She’s there. It Happened One Night is there.
*Most of the films included are larger than mushy romance films. They are high quality stories.
*The length and details are ideal.
*The argument is fresh, timely, humorous and wonderful.
*This makes a nice reference book.
*The writing style makes sense. It is a good fit.
*The writer recommends more films for each entry.
*The artwork is lovely, Think a more witty version of The White Lies however, I do not wish to reduce someone’s work by mentioning a resemblance. It is more of a minor connection that I have made because of my appreciation for the artists working with TWL. The artwork here is unique, and hey, feminist.

Absolutely love this title: “I love romcoms and I am a feminist.”

Huge fan of film and romcoms so this is perfect. A couple romcoms I haven’t seen so I will definitely be using this as a guide to go and watch those few. Great essays on some beloved films.

I love romcoms and I really want to go through the ones in this book and watch them all! It covers from 1921 to 2023 and has a blurb of each movie including what it did for women and how it showed the diversity of woman. As with most things that are female centric, romcoms receive a lot of mockery but I truly love them and I love this book for showing the depth to them that most people probably miss. I personally didn't love the illustrations but that's just my own taste overall I loved this

Such a fun table/bookshelf book with its use of colour and drawings. But it's also made me look at films I've know and loved through a different view point. It's made me revisit films I missed when I was younger and maybe went over my head and also introduced me to new films I hadn't yet seen. Such a fun book and would make a lovely gift for a friend.

A super fun book about romantic comedies and the feminist messages contained within. 100 romcoms are featured with cartoon illustrations from each movie. The descriptions are fun and give additional recommendations. There is a nice variety going back to the early days of cinema. There is a heavier focus on newer comedies, 90s to present day. Many of the movies I hadn't heard of, but my interest is piqued! It not only focuses on romantic relationships, but also friendships and learning to love oneself. This would make a great gift for a feminist and romcom lover!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

A delightful book with illustrations for each film synopsis, I Love Romcoms and I am a Feminist hits it out of the ballpark with its scope of films and the respectfulness towards each and every one of them. From classics such as It Happened One Night and ending up at 2023's Barbie, all avenues are explored.

The only thing I dislike slightly--which is a personal preference--is that the funky illustrations aren't really to my taste, but I can totally appreciate the effort it took to make one for each film used, so I appreciate that.

As someone who loves romcoms this will be the perfect book! I could never not love romcoms and I think they are making a comeback in a big way! Perfect gift for someone who equally loves them as much! Anyone But You was a great start for the new generation

This book is truly a love letter to my favorite movie genre: the romcom aka romantic comedy. It spans the history of the genre from 1921-2023 and has a blurb about many of the best movies that the genre has to offer. I also enjoyed the illustrations in the book. It is a must to lovers of the romcom.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.