Meryl Wilsner

The literary equivalent of chewing on cardboard for a few hours. Will it do you any lasting harm? No. Is it what anyone could call an enjoyable experience? Also no.

The title is woefully ironic because Something to Talk About is dull, with bland characters whose relationship lacks chemistry and drive, a listless plot, and prose that lacks any spark. We're told repeatedly that Jo and Emma are attracted to one another, but really don't get to see why very much, and character motivations are show more frequently confusing in ways that just don't seem plausible. Meryl Wilsner tries to tackle issues of racism, homophobia, and workplace sexual harassment but simply isn't a strong enough writer to do these serious issues justice. Wilsner isn't even capable of writing that staple of the romance novel, the miscommunication conflict, with any degree of competence or energy. (Jo and Emma spend a week or more barely talking to one another because... Emma found out that Jo hadn't mentioned that her kid nephew played on the same baseball team as Emma's niece and nephew and so Jo knew Emma's sister. This is, apparently, an enormous betrayal.)

Something to Talk About isn't offensively bad (though I have some qualms about how Wilsner frames Jo's relationship with her Chinese-American family), but it really is dull. Queer ladies deserve better. show less

I've read this trope before so its nothing new. But this one hit me like a ton of bricks, that I'm now too old for this trope to be even mildly interesting to me and to be honest I really think we need to move away from the childhood crushes that one character obsesses over and just *Waits* for the other to suddenly realize they're gay and in love with them. Its a terrible narrative to continue pushing, esp with the younger gays, we need to normalize, letting go of the possibility and moving show more on a lot sooner than these characters do and not just pinning and waiting around staying stagnant and not creating their own personal growth. It gives the "Im a nice guy why wont she date me instead of him" kind of vibes, even if this novel really went that specific direction. I appreciate the talk about going to therapy and the time the two spent apart figuring out what they wanted to do with themselves and their futures... but I personally find it to be to little, too late. Its not a bad book, its just REALLY not for me.

Also with as juvenile high school as this trope is.... I really wasn't expecting the spice to be this level and would have appreciated a little bit of a warning.

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Side note: the Narration was wonderful show less

Jo Jones is a former child star turned script writer. She's about to make her move from television to movies writing a new script for a beloved action character (think James Bond). There are many who doubt Jo's capability to do the script justice. To avoid being inundated with with questions, Jo invites her assistant Emma to accompany her to the SAG Awards. Emma's job is to act as a buffer - at least that's what Jo tells Emma (and everyone else) but could it really be more?

Emma has been Jo's show more assistant for about a year and Jo has never asked Emma to accompany her to an awards show. Of course she's going to go despite being completely out of her comfort zone. She'll always be there for Jo.

The next day, the tabloids are running with the rumor that Emma and Jo are dating. While Emma admits to having a crush on her boss her feelings don't run that deep and she would never dream of crossing that line, and knows Jo would never either. But now that it's out there both Jo and Emma start considering "what if".

I think that, besides providing a sweet romance, Something to Talk About really digs into the workplace romance trope, in the era of MeToo, with expert precision. Meryl Wilsner really spends time ruminating on the power dynamic between Jo and Emma and while it's clear to readers that their feelings aren't coming from a place of one party putting pressure on another party, or pushing feelings that aren't there for threat of job loss, it also acknowledges that these are very real considerations to take when you have feelings for someone who is your boss (or vice versa when you may be a boss and have feelings for a subordinate). I think it's something that has been lacking from other workplace romances I've read in the past and even more recently. Characters looking at the potential repercussions of their actions from all sides.

There's a lot of tension of "will they or won't they" because, really, it's a slippery slope to contemplate even with Jo and Emma both being consenting adults. I think that Meryl Wilsner handles everything really well, and you're really rooting for Jo and Emma to figure out a way to make things work, but you're also preparing for the fact that they just may not.

I will say that it took me a bit to get into the characters. But I think once you get into the story more, Jo and Emma's personalities are, at times, products of the industry in which they find themselves. Jo has learned to be a bit closed off or "cold" with people. Being a child actor has ingrained within her that oftentimes the fame and celebrity will have people presenting a fake visage. Jo closes herself off as a means of protection. Emma is seemingly very open with everyone. Since she is the point of contact for people who want to get on Jo's appointment list, it's understandable that she be friendly and welcoming. Over the course of the book, you see this waiver about her character as she deals with the paparazzi and the press. The best moments are the moments they have just for each other. When their walls come down, maybe just a little, to reveal their true selves. Since the story is so full of lines and trying not to cross them, there are quite a few times where things are left unsaid between Jo and Emma. Things that could have been done to avoid conflicts from escalating, but as I said it's all about navigating the slippery slope of feelings.

I really enjoyed this debut. I loved Meryl Wilsner's writing and I cannot wait to see what comes next. If you're looking for a slow burn romance that deals with the workplace dynamic in a genuine way, look no further than Something to Talk About.
*ARC provided in exchange for honest review show less

This is about as cute as the cover, but also a lot deeper than I’d expected from it. It’s definitely for fans of awkward queer women, leads with strong chemistry, domestic moments, and/or denial as a trope, but it’s also for people who want a romance that deals seriously with both the good and bad of Hollywood and modern media. It’s smart and fun without being either serious or pure entertainment. Also there are baked goods.

I’ve read a lot of queer books that are pushy, show more in-your-face, or very aware that their queerness is a major selling point. It was a nice change to read one that’s much quieter. Yes, Jo’s a lesbian and Emma’s bi, and yes, they live in the modern world and have to deal with the closet and biphobia and all that, but they’re just people. Living their lives. Doing sweet things for each other. Not being able to get the words out. It has much the same tone as the straight contemporary romances I’ve read the last few years, which I really dug, and the same approach to issues and the characters’ wider lives. No “job as set dressing” here!

I liked both main characters about equally. They’re both highly competent but struggling with insecurities, both firmly set on not jeopardizing their boss/employee relationship, both capable of absolute disaster moments and misreading situations. On top of that, they’re interesting, complicated people I’d probably like being friends with, and their quirks and hobbies aren’t just there, they’re part of the story. (The supporting characters are great too—everyone from friends and family to bit-part PAs and PR managers. Also queerness isn’t the only diversity.)

The story itself runs the gamut from light, fun, cute moments to heart-wrenching to frustrated anticipation to the serious tackling of issues without being hard-hitting about them. It’s smart and entertaining and Wilsner’s done a good job not falling into romance clichés, rushed writing, or stereotypes, while still hitting enough tropes to make a reader go “aww” and want to keep reading. (That can’t just have been me.) It’s not perfectly even, some things could’ve used a bit more set-up or attention, but it’s a strong debut and I’m definitely looking forward to what Wilsner puts out next.

All in all, I have hopes of this being a Queer Book of the Summer or at the very least, launching “lesbian contemporary romance” into the spotlight much the way Red, White, and Royal Blue did for gay romance last year. (Let me hope, okay?) It’s not playing just to queer readers, so that’ll help. And even if that falls through, it’s a good novel for vacation reading or to remind yourself that the world isn’t as bad as all that after all.
7.8/10

Contains: the “dating the boss” trope, dirtbag Hollywood types (who, yes, go there), those Chinese parents show less