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Nora Ephron at the Movies: A Visual Celebration of the Writer and Director Behind When Harry Met Sally, You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, and More
The first monograph on writer, journalist, and director Nora Ephron, the visionary behind When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and You’ve Got Mail
Nora Ephron at the Movies offers an unfiltered look at Ephron as a champion of the rom-com and as a feminist Hollywood trailblazer. It explores her life and work by pairing detailed criticism with exclusive interviews with Ephron’s key collaborators, including Andie MacDowell and Jenn Kaytin Robinson, to add color and nuance to her life and legacy.
With her singular voice, Nora Ephron flourished as a dominant force in the entertainment industry, focusing on the idiosyncrasies of romance that were universally relatable.
The women in her stories paralleled reality—the veil was lifted, the glossy sheen removed.
Her protagonists share an unwavering sense of humor about life’s mishaps, and they never take themselves too seriously—like Julie trying to master the art of cooking lobsters in Julie & Julia, Sally’s theatrical fake orgasm in Katz’s deli in When Harry Met Sally, or Rachel perfecting a key lime pie only to throw it in her cheating husband’s face in Heartburn.
Through her keenly self-aware humor and semi-autobiographical stories, Ephron left behind a groundbreaking legacy as a beloved journalist, essayist, screenwriter, author, producer, director, and feminist who delivered stories of resilience embedded in sharp wit and upper-crust landscapes. Through that lens, she became emblematic of rom-coms, shifting and redefining conversations around the complexities of relationships and the women who have them.
Nora Ephron at the Movies offers an unfiltered look at Ephron as a champion of the rom-com and as a feminist Hollywood trailblazer. It explores her life and work by pairing detailed criticism with exclusive interviews with Ephron’s key collaborators, including Andie MacDowell and Jenn Kaytin Robinson, to add color and nuance to her life and legacy.
With her singular voice, Nora Ephron flourished as a dominant force in the entertainment industry, focusing on the idiosyncrasies of romance that were universally relatable.
The women in her stories paralleled reality—the veil was lifted, the glossy sheen removed.
Her protagonists share an unwavering sense of humor about life’s mishaps, and they never take themselves too seriously—like Julie trying to master the art of cooking lobsters in Julie & Julia, Sally’s theatrical fake orgasm in Katz’s deli in When Harry Met Sally, or Rachel perfecting a key lime pie only to throw it in her cheating husband’s face in Heartburn.
Through her keenly self-aware humor and semi-autobiographical stories, Ephron left behind a groundbreaking legacy as a beloved journalist, essayist, screenwriter, author, producer, director, and feminist who delivered stories of resilience embedded in sharp wit and upper-crust landscapes. Through that lens, she became emblematic of rom-coms, shifting and redefining conversations around the complexities of relationships and the women who have them.
439 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2024
43 people are currently reading
674 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
November 3, 2024
Reads like AI wrote it using wikipedia.
November 27, 2024
Reads like an extended Wikipedia page. I counted at least three major plot errors in reference to YGM and SiS. Read the other Ephron book, “I’ll Have What She’s Having”. Much better.
November 30, 2024
Okay as a book, this was pretty much perfect. Exactly the right amount of detail, incredible balance of opinion and fact, fair and balanced while also admitting fandom, and placed Nora Ephron in context. Each time I got to a new chapter, it felt like the perfect next piece. I left this with a list 100 things long of movies books and tv to consume. Wrapping up with the interviews was so fun, loved the anecdotes. NE is far from perfect (impressive to build worlds that are so deeply white, etc etc), but when I grow up, I wanna be more like the best parts of her. I know I watched when harry met sally three days ago, but I wanna watch it again already.
June 13, 2025
I love movies that Nora Ephron wrote and directed, so this book is a real treat. It gives each of her movies several pages, with lots of inside stories. In addition, the book also covers her books, essays, plays, fashion, and food (these last two are very important in her movies). If you're an Ephron fan, check out this book -- lots of photos, stories, and interviews.
January 10, 2025
I loved the photographs in this coffee table book tribute to a woman who has had a profound impact on me and many other women of my generation. But, there is too much tiny text to read in a book so large and unwieldy, not all of which is very interesting or compelling.
February 22, 2025
Loved learning more about this beloved writer and director. Many iconic movies are from this amazing woman. Enjoyed the inside tidbits about her career and the making of these movies. The impact her movies had on modern rom-coms was immeasurable. Enjoyed the photos.
Another library win!
Another library win!
April 10, 2025
Too Shallow
A pleasant but empty look at Nora Ephron’s films, books and plays. A bit too shallow and cute for my taste. I love Nora Ephron but this book wasn’t targeted towards me, more like adoring fans.
A pleasant but empty look at Nora Ephron’s films, books and plays. A bit too shallow and cute for my taste. I love Nora Ephron but this book wasn’t targeted towards me, more like adoring fans.
January 20, 2025
This is a fantastic book-really miss Nora and her wonderful talents.
March 5, 2025
Lovely book which tells the stories about the making of each of Nora Ephron's movies.
November 18, 2024
This beautiful insightful book is a must-read for Nora Ephron, rom-com fans, and ‘90s pop culture obsessives alike. The author brings a fresh research-backed perspective to Ephron’s work and takes a magnifying glass to undiscovered elements of the film icon’s legacy. The perfect addition to any cinephile’s coffee table or gift for the nostalgic in your life.
January 9, 2025
A lot of this was summary of Ephron’s movies-but I haven’t seen all of the them, and it did make me want to go check out her movies and essays. The most interesting part to me was interviews with people who knew Nora.
November 5, 2024
A must have for fans of Nora Ephron, film, and NYC! ♥️
January 1, 2025
Pros: Great photos. A couple of interviews at the end that gave me tidbits I never knew.
Cons: The chapters are literally movie plots and the reviews the movies got after. If you cared enough about Nora Ephron’s movies and/or writing and had seen or read her work, there is no point to read this book otherwise. Even the unique interviews were summaries of many things already known or published.
Cons: The chapters are literally movie plots and the reviews the movies got after. If you cared enough about Nora Ephron’s movies and/or writing and had seen or read her work, there is no point to read this book otherwise. Even the unique interviews were summaries of many things already known or published.
November 13, 2024
This was a much needed fun and lighthearted read after some heavy reading. Nora Ephron defined romantic comedies for a long time. It was so fun to hear more about some of her hits, and some of my personal favorites. When Harry Met Sally is one of my favorites, and there was a lot about that movie in the book.
While the movie content was certainly the most interesting, it was also fun to learn more about Nora and her other work. This is a fun, easy read.
While the movie content was certainly the most interesting, it was also fun to learn more about Nora and her other work. This is a fun, easy read.
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December 29, 2024There is little question that Nora Ephron was one of the most respected women not only in Hollywood, but everywhere. She had fans all around the world, not only for her contribution to movies, but to all facets of society. Of course it is in the movie world where her star shone the brightest, and she was responsible for so many classic moments on the silver screen.
One of the most noted and acknowledged aspects of her career, was she was referred to often as the queen of the rom-com. That of course refers to romantic comedy, and it is possible that genre may not have become so prevalent today, especially on the Hallmark channel, if not for the vision and determination of Nora Ephron to bring romance to the screen in a most dignified and often humorous manner.
It was thanks to movies When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, and Sleepless in Seattle, that romantic comedy was taken to new heights, bringing along an audience of millions with them. The movies were acclaimed as ground-breaking and most memorable. What set these movies apart was the human aspect of them, making all the characters especially Meg Ryan who was in all three of them, relatable to the audience. The male co-stars of the films were Tom Hanks and Billy Crystal, and they too were everyday guys who were looking for love, but in all the right places, giving viewers laughs and moments of introspection.
Many recall the classic line in When Harry Met Sally, “I’ll have what she’s having,” the scene in the restaurant with Ryan and Crystal, where talk was about faked orgasms. It is still quoted often today.
This book is most complete in that it delves into the career of Ephron, with every movie she was part of, where she was either writer, director, or producer. She was part of many films today considered classics. Silkwood, This Is My Life, My Blue Heaven, Heartburn, Julie & Julia, Michael, and Lucky Numbers, were among the films that she was part of. Not every movie was a classic. Some considered the movie remaking of the television classic Bewitched, to have been a failure, but one cannot always be perfect in choices.
Still, the book looks into the life and times of Ephron, including her marriage to Watergate author Carl Bernstein. Their marriage ended when he had an affair while she was pregnant. NORA EPHRON AT THE MOVIES also studies her plays, the books she wrote, how her movies inspired fashion, and the fact she had a deep love affair with food. There are also interviews with actors, producers, costume designers, directors, and others she worked with.
Although she died in 2012 at age 71, Ephron would be most proud of the completeness and glowing tribute the book offers this true legend. It is a must-have for those who have seen and loved the movies she was part of.
One of the most noted and acknowledged aspects of her career, was she was referred to often as the queen of the rom-com. That of course refers to romantic comedy, and it is possible that genre may not have become so prevalent today, especially on the Hallmark channel, if not for the vision and determination of Nora Ephron to bring romance to the screen in a most dignified and often humorous manner.
It was thanks to movies When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, and Sleepless in Seattle, that romantic comedy was taken to new heights, bringing along an audience of millions with them. The movies were acclaimed as ground-breaking and most memorable. What set these movies apart was the human aspect of them, making all the characters especially Meg Ryan who was in all three of them, relatable to the audience. The male co-stars of the films were Tom Hanks and Billy Crystal, and they too were everyday guys who were looking for love, but in all the right places, giving viewers laughs and moments of introspection.
Many recall the classic line in When Harry Met Sally, “I’ll have what she’s having,” the scene in the restaurant with Ryan and Crystal, where talk was about faked orgasms. It is still quoted often today.
This book is most complete in that it delves into the career of Ephron, with every movie she was part of, where she was either writer, director, or producer. She was part of many films today considered classics. Silkwood, This Is My Life, My Blue Heaven, Heartburn, Julie & Julia, Michael, and Lucky Numbers, were among the films that she was part of. Not every movie was a classic. Some considered the movie remaking of the television classic Bewitched, to have been a failure, but one cannot always be perfect in choices.
Still, the book looks into the life and times of Ephron, including her marriage to Watergate author Carl Bernstein. Their marriage ended when he had an affair while she was pregnant. NORA EPHRON AT THE MOVIES also studies her plays, the books she wrote, how her movies inspired fashion, and the fact she had a deep love affair with food. There are also interviews with actors, producers, costume designers, directors, and others she worked with.
Although she died in 2012 at age 71, Ephron would be most proud of the completeness and glowing tribute the book offers this true legend. It is a must-have for those who have seen and loved the movies she was part of.
December 22, 2025
I was delighted at receiving this generous gift from Mary Alice for Christmas 2024. It’s beautiful and Nora is one of my personal heroes.
Mary Alice also gifted one to herself and one to our friend Angie, and we all set out to read the book over 2025 and complete Angie’s challenge to watch every NE movie this year.
I did, with the exception of Silkwood, because it isn’t streaming anywhere—but I saw it back in the 80s, so I am a Nora completist now. There were some real stinkers in there. One of my sadder realizations is that Nora wasn’t as much of a feminist as I wanted her to be. Of course, that’s easy for me to say, as every woman of my generation stands on the shoulders of her generation. But in Bewitched, in Lucky Numbers and even in her essays, you can see her fierce independence, her conviction that women are equals, and then a tolerance for male ridiculousness or a willingness to play by their rules.
Still, this is the woman who wrote Heartburn and refused to be a victim!
Mary Alice was disappointed that most of the images are movie stills, but in truth, the prose is even worse.
I saw someone say this reads like something AI wrote and it really does. The intro by another author is the best part. The acknowledgements —which I normally read first to determine if I can enjoy the author’s writing—could’ve warned me well.
Some of the errors in plot summaries are super obvious—I don’t know how this person got the gig. But I still love the book and loved spending a year talking Nora with my two good friends!
Mary Alice also gifted one to herself and one to our friend Angie, and we all set out to read the book over 2025 and complete Angie’s challenge to watch every NE movie this year.
I did, with the exception of Silkwood, because it isn’t streaming anywhere—but I saw it back in the 80s, so I am a Nora completist now. There were some real stinkers in there. One of my sadder realizations is that Nora wasn’t as much of a feminist as I wanted her to be. Of course, that’s easy for me to say, as every woman of my generation stands on the shoulders of her generation. But in Bewitched, in Lucky Numbers and even in her essays, you can see her fierce independence, her conviction that women are equals, and then a tolerance for male ridiculousness or a willingness to play by their rules.
Still, this is the woman who wrote Heartburn and refused to be a victim!
Mary Alice was disappointed that most of the images are movie stills, but in truth, the prose is even worse.
I saw someone say this reads like something AI wrote and it really does. The intro by another author is the best part. The acknowledgements —which I normally read first to determine if I can enjoy the author’s writing—could’ve warned me well.
Some of the errors in plot summaries are super obvious—I don’t know how this person got the gig. But I still love the book and loved spending a year talking Nora with my two good friends!
February 14, 2025
If you’re a Nora fan, none of the information in this book is new. It summarizes her movies and most iconic essays, adding no outside analysis in connection with Ephron’s life. The interviews were a nice touch, but they were ultimately short and didn’t get into anything too deep. In fact, many of the interview questions just reiterated things that had already been said.
If you’re not a Nora fan, then this effectively spoils all of the plots of her movies and her novel, “Heartburn.”
If you want something nice to put on your coffee table, this could work. Otherwise, skip it. I can’t believe the book description has the nerve to call this a monograph when there is virtually no outside research or analysis.
If you’re not a Nora fan, then this effectively spoils all of the plots of her movies and her novel, “Heartburn.”
If you want something nice to put on your coffee table, this could work. Otherwise, skip it. I can’t believe the book description has the nerve to call this a monograph when there is virtually no outside research or analysis.
August 5, 2025
If you are a Nora Ephron fan (and who isn't?), you'll love this book! It covers all of her films, as well as her books and plays. (I didn't know that Tom Hanks's Broadway debut was in her play, Lucky Guy.) I learned a great deal about Nora and her ongoing impact on many women authors and film-makers of today. The best part of the book, imho, are the interviews with co-workers who talk about what it was like to work with Nora. It broadens our understanding of her as a person, as well as a writer-director. (One small nit to pick: The book is teeming with the overuse of the word teeming, even in one instance when the author meant "teaming.") Ms. Kaplan's Afterword is a truly charming love-letter to one of the truly influential women of our time.
January 9, 2025
Nora Ephron's work in movies has been a guiding force in how I wanted to write my own stories for so long and is so embedded in my head that sometimes I forget I'm aping her when I'm aping her. This book is a love letter to all of her work not only in film but in literature and journalism, something I haven't been privy to until this point (though ill be sure to read them all now). I thought the book was great, diving into works I hadn't discovered yet (Silkwood, This is My Life). There are a few factual typos but other than that this is a beautiful love letter to Nora's body of work from a passionate fan.
January 13, 2025
I really enjoyed this book and appreciated the author's reviews of Nora Ephron's work beyond the three great rom-coms When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and You've Got Mail, although for me those are her most enduring and revisited works. I am reminded by this book of how much I would like to reread Ephron's books of essays, and also how much I liked her movie This is My Life. What a huge talent she was in so many areas of writing and life--I miss Nora Ephron, not because I knew her as a person, which I didn't, but because it was always worthwhile to discover something she wrote or worked on. A great talent.
January 28, 2025
Somewhere between a two and a three for me, but ultimately a disappointment! I saw a review on here that said, in effect, that this reads like AI wrote it and in large part that’s TRUE. There was just nothing insightful for 90% of this (and, curiously, although it is called Nora Ephron *at the Movies* it also talks about everything else she’s done, from essays to plays).
The pictures were good in this, however, as were the interviews with actors, production designers, and others from her movies, in the final 10%.
The pictures were good in this, however, as were the interviews with actors, production designers, and others from her movies, in the final 10%.
October 5, 2025
Was a nice book to read to get more insight into Nora Ephron’s life but felt like a real downer after her rom-com movies. Noting how it was miss after miss or loss after loss at the box office until Julie & Julia.
This book is a perfect example of a downward slope as things were great as you read then it declines fast.
Also, during the movie section of the book, a lot of the explanation of her movies was just a regurgitation of movie critic’s reviews which I didn’t like.
This book is a perfect example of a downward slope as things were great as you read then it declines fast.
Also, during the movie section of the book, a lot of the explanation of her movies was just a regurgitation of movie critic’s reviews which I didn’t like.
June 10, 2025
I'm a big fan of Nora Ephron, so I don't mind that this is pretty much a coffee table book that goes through her career with various photographs and writing. I just wasn't very captivated by in general - it's pretty vanilla in tone with not a lot of details or insights outside of career biographies that could also be found online.
November 11, 2024
Short Paean to Nora
Basically a book about Nora Ephron, by a huge fan of her, largely by telling stories of other big fans (with interviews tacked on at the end), meant for people who are also big fans.
Basically a book about Nora Ephron, by a huge fan of her, largely by telling stories of other big fans (with interviews tacked on at the end), meant for people who are also big fans.
April 1, 2025
I think I listened to a coffee table book, or a felt like it was. It was a highlight reel of Nora's work with no real insight into anything in particular, but I still enjoyed it enough. Nora's filmography includes many personal favorites.
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July 26, 2025The visuals for this book are so beautiful and amazing!!! 💕 Some reviews say this reads as a Wikipedia entry, but I don't necessarily think so. This book allows readers to learn more about Ephron and her films, gaining a deeper understanding of her as a director and creative.
November 4, 2025
Mostly an anthology of all the wonderful movies Norah Ephron wrote and directed. It made me want to watch my favorites over again and see some of the ones I missed. The photographs were amazing. So many celebrated actors were part of her movie collection.
November 20, 2024
Audiobook
December 3, 2024
warm and cozies. this was good, but not great!
loved all of the stories about some of my favorite movies.
🎧🎧🎧
loved all of the stories about some of my favorite movies.
🎧🎧🎧
December 29, 2024
I enjoyed this summary and compilation of Ephron’s movies and books. However, I was disappointed in too many editing errors.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews