This was a really interesting insight into one of my favourite comfort movies! It made me nostalgic for my uni days studying film, as well as for my younger years when I first watched the film (and regularly watched the TV show on a Saturday morning!)
Perfect for film lovers who want to delve a bit deeper!

I don't rate nonfiction.

Clueless is one of my favourite films. The fluffy, brightly coloured feel just epitomises everything I loved about the 90s. And this short read is written from someone who equally has a deep love of Cher, Dionne and co. Veronica Litt does a great job at summing up not only what's so great about the film, but also critiques it's so obvious flaws. I particularly really liked the section of colour blindness, the concept of the Black 'best friend's and the discussion on class. Pretty much everyone knows Clueless is a retelling of Jane Austen's Emma, so yes class plays an important role, but it's the subtlety of Clueless that makes it more nuanced and yet also insidious in its themes. I do think sometimes this critique verged on overkill at times though, as though the author really needed to hammer home that Clueless isn't this brain-dead film. Clueless at it's heart, to me, is a frothy comedy that relies on quick writing and warm characters that feel genuine. Beyond that I don't think there's that much depth to it, however this did make me think about more overarching themes I may have otherwise overlooked.

Really insightful, well written and compact read. Certainly one of the better of this series I've read from ECW press.

A smart, insightful look into the film that shaped a ceneration. Perfect for fans of the film! Urgh! As if!

Litt’s analysis is sharp yet playful, blending nostalgia with insightful commentary on gender, class, and identity in films like Clueless and 10 Things I Hate About You. While some sections may feel a bit academic making the fun genre of rom-coms feel more like a textbook than a celebration of the movies whose influence is felt till today. It leaned too hard on nostalgia and critiquing, risking alienating not only the readers who were fans of the movies, but maybe also the new readers? It sort of, for me, robbed the fun that made these movies so iconic in the first place. A great pop culture book should invite new fans in whilst offering something fresh for longtime fans of the genre.

It's been 30 years and we are still, thank god, talking about this movie.

While the book As If! by Chaney focused on the making of the movie and featured first-hand stories from the cast and crew, Ugh! As If! by Litt takes a more culturally nuanced, mildly academic stance. This is told through the lens of the present day, since over time we really like to re-evaluate elements pop culture and their staying power.

I appreciate the ability to love something, especially for nostalgia reasons, while also analyzing and being critical of the content. Clueless does not tell a perfect, inoffensive story, but it has its sweet moments. Actually, it has a lot of sweet moments. And is generally iconic AF.

I loved this. I always appreciate being reminded that Paul Rudd auditioned for Murray because he thought he was white. Bless.

Thanks to the publisher and NG!

I love non-fiction reads about cult TV and movies, so when I saw UGH! AS IF! I knew I absolutely had to read it, and wow, did it deliver! Clueless is one of those films that is transcending generations, from its Jane Austen roots to the newer gens today. Litt does a wonderful job of blending both positive and negative criticism of the film together. Highly recommend for fans of anything pop culture.

I didn't feel this provided any new information, and therefore did not finish it. I hope it gets a nicer cover!

If you loved Clueless and are a fan of pop culture and media studies, read this. I enjoyed it very much. Litt's writing is excellent and I liked how she drew her points all together. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I read this book in one sitting, it was that good! The behind the scenes info and the commentary on how it should be viewed was amazing.

Okay so the only other book I’ve read in this series was Extra Salty: Jennifer’s Body by Frederick Blichert and I wasn’t wowed by it. I didn’t feel any passion about the subject material (which is rude because it’s JENNIFER’S BODY, one of the best movies of all time) and the book just felt like reading an extra long Wikipedia article if I’m honest. However I chalked this up to the fact that I’m a Jennifer’s Body super fan and I learned nothing from Extra Salty at all.

I tell you all of that to tell you this: I had a completely different experience with this book. I felt the passion dripping off the page, the excitement! It felt like the author was holding my hands and enthusiastically filling me in on this movie I just have to watch. I will admit though that I am not a Clueless super fan and learned a lot of new information.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Clueless is one of my favorite movies so when I saw Veronica Litt was releasing a book about it I knew I needed to read it. This book explores different themes within the movie. While some of these themes I easily noticed in the years of watching the movie, I did not notice all of them. The book is well written and connects the themes to today.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I thought it was super cool when I saw this book looking back at the 1990s phenomenon that was the movie Clueless. Veronica Litt’s Ugh! As if! was a fun read bringing forward many things that I haven’t considered.

Thank you Netgalley and ECW Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

It’s been years (decades?) since I’ve seen the movie, but I still remember everything.

I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time that I saw Clueless. I remember seeing it as a young teenager and loving it, because it was so funny. I haven’t seen it in forever, so my adult brain hasn’t had to process any of the themes of the movie.

Still, as Litt broke down the scenes from the movie, everything came back to me like I just watched it.

Unlearning the fact that just because a show/movie was made for boys didn’t make it inherently better than someone made for girls at a young age changed my life for the better.

One of the things addressed is how movies like Clueless weren’t taken seriously by many in the media, because it was seen as a movie for women and girls.

Being taught as a young kid that movies, sports, shows, games, toys, etc. for girls don’t matter as much as those made for boys is a regular part of life. If you unlearn that as soon as possible, there’s so much more out there for you to enjoy

The examination of the inability of Clueless to say everything and nothing about social issues changed my perspective on most teen movies/shows from the 1990s.

Everyone always thinks the teen movies from when they were a teen were the best teen movies. I’m no different; however, this book really opened my eyes to how Clueless, among others, worked really hard and went out of the way to say everything and nothing about nearly every social issue.

It’s a shame and, looking back, so many classic 1990s teen films suffer a similar fate.

As a Clueless superfan, I always question certain elements of the movie and how they’ve aged over time. So, when I got an ARC of *Ugh! As If!* from NetGalley and ECW Press, I was excited to dive in.

The book brings up some really interesting arguments about femininity, innocence, bias, and inequity, digging deeper into the glossy, feel-good surface of the 1995 classic. Veronica Litt does a great job unpacking Cher Horowitz’s journey from clueless it-girl to community-minded activist, framing it as a hopeful narrative about personal growth and social responsibility.

If you’re a fellow Clueless superfan looking to explore its themes in depth, this one is worth checking out.

Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for the ARC!

Just finished Ugh As If! by Veronica Litt, and it’s a must-read for Clueless fans. It was also my first "e-read"!

The book dives deep into the film’s themes, balancing critique and praise while unpacking topics like the devaluing of "fluff" and media labeled as non-serious, as well as how Clueless views relationships.

Litt argues, “Clueless argues that idealism is more useful than cynicism, that hope is more powerful than despair, and that community is more valuable than isolation.” That standout line stayed with me the entire time I was reading.

I also loved how Litt explored the "EW" factor of how our society hasn’t changed much—touching on issues of class, elitism, racism, and more, with a lot of reference to the creator of Clueless.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the early copy!

Considering that Clueless is clearly one of the author's favorite films, there's such a great balance here of passion and critique. It's a refreshing analysis on a film and genre in general that gets dismissed due to its category alone, so the discussions about that aspect specifically well done. There's an effective juxtaposition of release date societal context vs the present day and how those different decades impact the film's resonance. My favorite section is the thoughtful approach to how race and queerness are represented and yet underserved with minimal depth within the film. Litt has an approachable voice, so the intertwining of her personal experiences with analysis is really such a joy to read.

I enjoyed this as a movie nonfiction book, it had that feel that I was looking for from a book about Clueless. I was engaged with what was happening and how it worked as a way to examine the film. Veronica Litt has a strong writing style and hope to read more.

As a huge fan of Clueless (and the first movie I saw in theaters), when this came up I HAD to grab it! It was such a quick, interesting read that deep dives into pop culture, Austen’s influence and how Clueless has been a beacon for the comedy department in later years. This movie slaps and so does this book. I cannot WAIT to buy this for my sister who has a June birthday!

This is the book you never knew you needed to read. I am Gen X and Clueless is one of my favorite all-time movies. It’s right up there with all the Brat Pack and John Hughes movies that I never get tired of watching. The author has done some serious homework and provided a deep dive into not only Clueless but other movies that qualify to be in the same genre. A must read.

As a long time reader of the Pop Classics series I was so excited to learn about the newest installment which would be focusing ALL ABOUT CLUELESS. The announcement actually got me to watch the film for the first time ever which only further fueled my excitement for the book! Litt is a very talented writer, spinning personal anecdotes in with the heavy academia all with a kind hand. Whether you've never seen the film or watched it a million times, or just know of Cher's misadventures through pop culture this book will provide a grounded insight for all. Pivoting from a delicate adoration to necessary scrutiny Litt disassembles the nostalgia and legacy that follows the film while exploring both the large and small scale cultural impact of Amy Heckerling's film.
This was a lot of fun and while it was Litt's first book I hope it will not be her last.

"To truly learn from this movie, we need to consider its most effective elements as well as its pitfalls."
Just like the movie it's critiquing, this book by Veronica Litt is a joy to read. Every chapter tackles something connected to the film's many themes, whether it's analyzing the devaluing of stereotypically girly media, or exploring how the movie views romance and relationships. Every chapter balances criticism & praise for the 1995 film, and still shows the readers the many layers of what the audience is really watching.
I think my favorite part was the whole second chapter, where I really loved the analysis of ditzy/innocent characters as those who point out the obvious truths (that other characters don't).