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The American No: Stories
Not yet published
Expected 20 Jan 26'A supremely gifted writer' The Times
Seven stories of love and loss, drama and glamour, hope and rejection, from a writer at the height of his powers.
In Rupert Everett's first, glorious collection of stories, he takes us on an exhilarating journey with a cast of extraordinary characters. A blackly humorous story of a chaotic and emotional funeral in Paris. Oscar Wilde's last night in Paris, vividly evocative, unflinching and elegiac. A middle-aged Russian countess who confronts sex and age in a Cotswold teashop. The ferociously unforgiving life of an L.A. talent agency and the unexpected twist that launches a completely different kind of career. The deathbed confession of a woman who left home for 1850s India, never to return. A story of emigration, love and grief. And a beautifully evocative and touching portrayal of Proust's creative life and his childhood.
A brilliantly witty, funny and tender collection of stories that draws on the wealth of film and TV ideas Rupert Everett has created over the course of his career, The American No will delight and surprise his many fans.
Seven stories of love and loss, drama and glamour, hope and rejection, from a writer at the height of his powers.
In Rupert Everett's first, glorious collection of stories, he takes us on an exhilarating journey with a cast of extraordinary characters. A blackly humorous story of a chaotic and emotional funeral in Paris. Oscar Wilde's last night in Paris, vividly evocative, unflinching and elegiac. A middle-aged Russian countess who confronts sex and age in a Cotswold teashop. The ferociously unforgiving life of an L.A. talent agency and the unexpected twist that launches a completely different kind of career. The deathbed confession of a woman who left home for 1850s India, never to return. A story of emigration, love and grief. And a beautifully evocative and touching portrayal of Proust's creative life and his childhood.
A brilliantly witty, funny and tender collection of stories that draws on the wealth of film and TV ideas Rupert Everett has created over the course of his career, The American No will delight and surprise his many fans.
- GenresShort StoriesFiction
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2024
59 people are currently reading
3423 people want to read
About the author
Rupert Everett
16 books86 followersRupert James Hector Everett is a two-time Golden Globe-nominated English film actor, author and former singer.
He first came into public attention in the early 1980s when he was cast in Julian Mitchell's play and subsequent film Another Country for playing an openly homosexual student at an English public school, set in the 1930s. Since then he has appeared in many other films with mostly major roles, including My Best Friend's Wedding, The Next Best Thing and the Shrek sequels.
He first came into public attention in the early 1980s when he was cast in Julian Mitchell's play and subsequent film Another Country for playing an openly homosexual student at an English public school, set in the 1930s. Since then he has appeared in many other films with mostly major roles, including My Best Friend's Wedding, The Next Best Thing and the Shrek sequels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
November 4, 2024
Rather disingenuous to refer to these as 'short stories' - they're not. Everett has instead finally found a way to make money from his many failed movie pitches. These are them. One is even still in script form, and another is a cheat. He actually filmed the Oscar Wilde one, AND wrote a book about the process! He also can't resist yet another dig at the film he made with Madonna, that was such a flop it rather ended his barely started glittering Hollywood career...
September 27, 2024
A collection of not-so-short stories by Rupert Everett which showcases his imagination and ability to translate this into good quality writing. I have not read anything he’s written before and really enjoyed most of these, the one that I have to admit not to reading properly, but skimming, was the last: The end of time which is more of a script for a play based on Swann’s Way by Proust, I believe.
I felt that a couple: Cuddles and Associates and Ten Pound Pom could be extended into standalone novels. I enjoyed the characterisation, settings and stories (although I did feel that the ending of Ten Pound Pom was a little bit of a copout!)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
I felt that a couple: Cuddles and Associates and Ten Pound Pom could be extended into standalone novels. I enjoyed the characterisation, settings and stories (although I did feel that the ending of Ten Pound Pom was a little bit of a copout!)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
September 5, 2025
Sounds better on paper than what it actually is.
October 29, 2024
Uneven.. some of the stories are 4 or 5 stars.. some are 2 or 3..
A gifted & stylish writer who would benefit from having a stronger editor.
A gifted & stylish writer who would benefit from having a stronger editor.
March 17, 2025
The title of Rupert Everett’s story collection, “The American No,” derives from a practice employed by American movie studios, as the author describes in his one-page introduction to the collection. After listening to a would-be producer deliver their pitch, the studio heads will say something like: “Let’s do this. I’m psyched. We love you here at Bottomy Bay Productions.” Then they pat the producer on the back while exiting the studio… and the producer never hears from them again. That’s the American no. It’s an apt anecdote and an appropriate title for the collection, which reads like a series of Everett’s failed film pitches that deservedly produced American no’s from various studios.
Rupert Everett has been a familiar face and name for movie fans since his breakthrough role as Julia Roberts’ confidante in the smash 1997 comedy, “My Best Friend’s Wedding.” He has also written several novels and memoirs. However, although Everett has maintained a steady presence on stage and on the big and small screen for over 40 years, his appearances behind the camera, as writer or director, have been few and far between. That’s not for lack of trying, since Everett has been pitching various projects for years. His frustration seems to manifest itself in the “stories” in “The American No.” These works read more like screen treatments that received American no’s from studios than short stories. Two of them are near-novella length, and one is an actual screenplay. In his tales, Everett drops celebrity names of actors and directors, like Madonna and John Schlesinger. I had difficulty determining if some stories were intended as fiction or memoir-style recollections of failed efforts on Everett’s part. Regardless, most of the stories were overlong, self-indulgent, filled with jokes that didn’t work, silly, and in need of severe editing.
The best stories in “The American No” are the shortest. One bears the unfortunate title “A Short Film. ‘Sort Me Out Before We Go-Go.’” In a brief introduction, Everett explains the story originated as an idea he gave to a film school student for a ten-minute short. Not surprisingly, considering the general theme of this collection, the student rejected Everett’s idea. The actual story involves a possibly romantic encounter between a 40-something self-described Russian countess and a 20-something man. The pair sit at adjacent tables while enjoying an afternoon tea in a British tea room. It’s a five-minute read that would be an excellent short story if Everett had jettisoned the pointless introductory paragraph.
“The Wrong Box” involves a pitch that Everett delivered to director John Schlesinger, while the director was reading another one of Everett’s scripts that involved a funeral in Los Angeles. Sensing that he wasn’t getting anywhere with the written script in Schlesinger’s hands, Everett instead segued to a story about another funeral of an acquaintance he attended in Paris years earlier. Because they were on LSD at the time, Everett and his entourage somehow wound up at the funeral of a dead Vietnamese child instead. The story makes little sense and includes a good bit of back-and-forth dialogue between Everett and Schlesinger, but it is somewhat funny. (Again, I don’t know how autobiographical any of this material is.)
That’s the good news in “The American No.” One good story, one sort-of-funny story, and one sharp introduction totaling about 20 pages in a 320-page book. Several of the other stories have introductions in which Everett describes how he came to write them. Most of them have scattered instances of Everett’s wit. The stories all, to some extent, involve unsuccessful project pitches. Readers will easily see how none of them ever received an American yes from the studios.
One story, “The Morning After and the Night Before,” is a tale of the last days of Oscar Wilde. Everett has been associated with Wilde his entire career, having played the author on multiple occasions and having starred in several films based on Wilde’s works. According to Everett, the actor eventually wrote, directed, and starred in a movie entitled “The Happy Prince.” That film originated in Everett’s story, “The Morning After and the Night Before.” Everett’s movie was a flop, enlivened by his performance as Wilde. “The Morning After” didn’t have the benefit of the actor’s stage presence and was a confusing mess, especially for those unfamiliar with Wilde’s life story.
The last two “stories” in “The American No” (and I use that term very advisedly here) are the worst. They also take up half the book. “Ten-Pound Pom” is the only story that reads as pure fiction and not as something involved in a failed Everett film project. It’s the story of a young man named Tom whose family squandered its wealth and land holdings over half a century. After World War II, Tom takes his meager inheritance and buys a third-class ticket on a third-rate ocean liner going to Australia. (Australia was trying to recruit new immigrants from other parts of the Commonwealth then.) This voyage took place when ocean liners were a frequent mode of intercontinental transportation instead of merely a means of spending a vacation. The most interesting detail in the story was the description of Tom’s third-class cabin (four bunks on each side of the cabin, accommodating eight male passengers). Tom’s trip took six weeks; the story felt like it took six weeks to read. It’s dull, listless, and depressing, so much so that I hoped the ship would run into a storm or an iceberg to make the story more interesting.
At least “Ten Pound Pom” fits into the traditional story format. The last entry in Everett’s collection, “The End of Time,” is primarily a rejected script Everett wrote for a possible television broadcast. “The End of Time” refers to Marcel Proust’s massive seven-volume novel, “In Search of Lost Time.” Everett’s script is an adaptation of the novel’s first volume. After describing how he came to write the script, Everett presents it in screenplay format. It comprises 90 scenes of set direction and dialogue. The penultimate scene reads, in its entirety: “89. Passage Night. Jupien has been listening at the door. Now he bursts in.” Ninety scenes like that will tax the patience of most readers. I won’t get into a description of the literary merits (or the monotony level) of “In Search of Lost Time.” However, anyone who is at all familiar with the work will realize that a television version of it is doomed to fail. Everett’s screenplay quickly garners an American no. He also adds some bitter commentary in his introduction to the screenplay, bemoaning that he’s never had the opportunity to adapt Graham Greene’s “Travels with My Aunt.” (Everett conveniently ignores the excellent 1972 movie adaptation of Greene’s novel that earned Maggie Smith an Oscar nomination for playing the aunt.)
Everett’s final introduction to “The End of Time” encapsulates “The American No.” It’s not so much a collection of stories as a collection of grievances Everett has accumulated for his failed projects. It’s hard for readers to know where Everett’s real-life pitches end and the fictional stories begin. It’s much easier for readers to see why most of these projects failed as studio pitches or fictional stories. The book has only one story, “Sort Me Out,” that I thoroughly enjoyed, and even that one was marred by a needless introduction. Most of the rest were overlong, silly, unfunny, and poorly edited, with an overlying blanket of authorial frustration. My guess is that Everett wrote this book to fare better with a literary audience the second time around than he did with studio executives initially. However, it deserves a very vocal “no” from readers.
NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.
Rupert Everett has been a familiar face and name for movie fans since his breakthrough role as Julia Roberts’ confidante in the smash 1997 comedy, “My Best Friend’s Wedding.” He has also written several novels and memoirs. However, although Everett has maintained a steady presence on stage and on the big and small screen for over 40 years, his appearances behind the camera, as writer or director, have been few and far between. That’s not for lack of trying, since Everett has been pitching various projects for years. His frustration seems to manifest itself in the “stories” in “The American No.” These works read more like screen treatments that received American no’s from studios than short stories. Two of them are near-novella length, and one is an actual screenplay. In his tales, Everett drops celebrity names of actors and directors, like Madonna and John Schlesinger. I had difficulty determining if some stories were intended as fiction or memoir-style recollections of failed efforts on Everett’s part. Regardless, most of the stories were overlong, self-indulgent, filled with jokes that didn’t work, silly, and in need of severe editing.
The best stories in “The American No” are the shortest. One bears the unfortunate title “A Short Film. ‘Sort Me Out Before We Go-Go.’” In a brief introduction, Everett explains the story originated as an idea he gave to a film school student for a ten-minute short. Not surprisingly, considering the general theme of this collection, the student rejected Everett’s idea. The actual story involves a possibly romantic encounter between a 40-something self-described Russian countess and a 20-something man. The pair sit at adjacent tables while enjoying an afternoon tea in a British tea room. It’s a five-minute read that would be an excellent short story if Everett had jettisoned the pointless introductory paragraph.
“The Wrong Box” involves a pitch that Everett delivered to director John Schlesinger, while the director was reading another one of Everett’s scripts that involved a funeral in Los Angeles. Sensing that he wasn’t getting anywhere with the written script in Schlesinger’s hands, Everett instead segued to a story about another funeral of an acquaintance he attended in Paris years earlier. Because they were on LSD at the time, Everett and his entourage somehow wound up at the funeral of a dead Vietnamese child instead. The story makes little sense and includes a good bit of back-and-forth dialogue between Everett and Schlesinger, but it is somewhat funny. (Again, I don’t know how autobiographical any of this material is.)
That’s the good news in “The American No.” One good story, one sort-of-funny story, and one sharp introduction totaling about 20 pages in a 320-page book. Several of the other stories have introductions in which Everett describes how he came to write them. Most of them have scattered instances of Everett’s wit. The stories all, to some extent, involve unsuccessful project pitches. Readers will easily see how none of them ever received an American yes from the studios.
One story, “The Morning After and the Night Before,” is a tale of the last days of Oscar Wilde. Everett has been associated with Wilde his entire career, having played the author on multiple occasions and having starred in several films based on Wilde’s works. According to Everett, the actor eventually wrote, directed, and starred in a movie entitled “The Happy Prince.” That film originated in Everett’s story, “The Morning After and the Night Before.” Everett’s movie was a flop, enlivened by his performance as Wilde. “The Morning After” didn’t have the benefit of the actor’s stage presence and was a confusing mess, especially for those unfamiliar with Wilde’s life story.
The last two “stories” in “The American No” (and I use that term very advisedly here) are the worst. They also take up half the book. “Ten-Pound Pom” is the only story that reads as pure fiction and not as something involved in a failed Everett film project. It’s the story of a young man named Tom whose family squandered its wealth and land holdings over half a century. After World War II, Tom takes his meager inheritance and buys a third-class ticket on a third-rate ocean liner going to Australia. (Australia was trying to recruit new immigrants from other parts of the Commonwealth then.) This voyage took place when ocean liners were a frequent mode of intercontinental transportation instead of merely a means of spending a vacation. The most interesting detail in the story was the description of Tom’s third-class cabin (four bunks on each side of the cabin, accommodating eight male passengers). Tom’s trip took six weeks; the story felt like it took six weeks to read. It’s dull, listless, and depressing, so much so that I hoped the ship would run into a storm or an iceberg to make the story more interesting.
At least “Ten Pound Pom” fits into the traditional story format. The last entry in Everett’s collection, “The End of Time,” is primarily a rejected script Everett wrote for a possible television broadcast. “The End of Time” refers to Marcel Proust’s massive seven-volume novel, “In Search of Lost Time.” Everett’s script is an adaptation of the novel’s first volume. After describing how he came to write the script, Everett presents it in screenplay format. It comprises 90 scenes of set direction and dialogue. The penultimate scene reads, in its entirety: “89. Passage Night. Jupien has been listening at the door. Now he bursts in.” Ninety scenes like that will tax the patience of most readers. I won’t get into a description of the literary merits (or the monotony level) of “In Search of Lost Time.” However, anyone who is at all familiar with the work will realize that a television version of it is doomed to fail. Everett’s screenplay quickly garners an American no. He also adds some bitter commentary in his introduction to the screenplay, bemoaning that he’s never had the opportunity to adapt Graham Greene’s “Travels with My Aunt.” (Everett conveniently ignores the excellent 1972 movie adaptation of Greene’s novel that earned Maggie Smith an Oscar nomination for playing the aunt.)
Everett’s final introduction to “The End of Time” encapsulates “The American No.” It’s not so much a collection of stories as a collection of grievances Everett has accumulated for his failed projects. It’s hard for readers to know where Everett’s real-life pitches end and the fictional stories begin. It’s much easier for readers to see why most of these projects failed as studio pitches or fictional stories. The book has only one story, “Sort Me Out,” that I thoroughly enjoyed, and even that one was marred by a needless introduction. Most of the rest were overlong, silly, unfunny, and poorly edited, with an overlying blanket of authorial frustration. My guess is that Everett wrote this book to fare better with a literary audience the second time around than he did with studio executives initially. However, it deserves a very vocal “no” from readers.
NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.
May 24, 2025
You know, I've always been a bit wary of short story collections. They can be hit or miss, right? But when I heard about "The American No" by Rupert Everett, I couldn't resist. I mean, it's Rupert Everett! And let me tell you, it was quite the rollercoaster.
Some stories in this collection had me in stitches. I enjoyed the first five stories. Everett's wit shines through, but I'll be honest, not all of them landed for me. A few did not captivate me.
I listened to the audiobook. Everett narrating his own work? Pure gold. His voice adds this extra layer of charm and sarcasm that just elevates the whole experience. Even the stories I wasn't too keen on were made better by his delivery.
Overall, "The American No" is a mixed bag, like a box of chocolates - you might not love every piece, but the ones you do are absolutely divine.
Thank you, Atria Books and Simon Audio, for my free books.
Some stories in this collection had me in stitches. I enjoyed the first five stories. Everett's wit shines through, but I'll be honest, not all of them landed for me. A few did not captivate me.
I listened to the audiobook. Everett narrating his own work? Pure gold. His voice adds this extra layer of charm and sarcasm that just elevates the whole experience. Even the stories I wasn't too keen on were made better by his delivery.
Overall, "The American No" is a mixed bag, like a box of chocolates - you might not love every piece, but the ones you do are absolutely divine.
Thank you, Atria Books and Simon Audio, for my free books.
January 29, 2025
I received a copy of this book for free in a Goodreads giveaway.
This is called a collection of short stories, but some of these are quite long. Like many short story collections, they vary in quality, but the variety of settings and time periods and tones is quite impressive. But to be honest, I could have done without the last half of this book, which are the longest two stories.
The actor Rupert Everett writes this as a collection of stories with a sort of autobiographical frame narrative, where he runs into a producer and then has an idea to write a bunch of pitches he's made as this collection of stories. I enjoyed the shorter ones, including a humorous one that's the shortest one in the book where a man and a woman meet at a restaurant but the roles are reversed from the typical situation that is described. There's also a longer story that's about 60 pages long about a fictional surrogacy agency with an unusual beginning, which I think could've been cut down a bit but was still an entertaining read.
And then I eventually came to the last two stories, which were far too long for me. "Ten-Pound Pom" runs about 80 pages, and perhaps because I felt like I needed to finish it one sitting, it felt like it dragged on for too long. It felt like it could have reached a similar emotional resolution without spending quite as much time in the setup. The very last story, "The End of Time," includes the author's unproduced script of an adaptation of Swann's Way. Having never read any part of In Search of Lost Time, I was completely lost and could not appreciate the adaptation. I'm sure this would be much more interesting to someone familiar with the source material, but for me, it was just the script of a fairly boring period piece without having the interesting prose of a short story.
I definitely enjoyed the first half a lot more than the second, and had the book not ended with these two overly long and less interesting "short stories," I would have been left with a much better impression. But I did find several of the stories in the first half quite enjoyable.
This is called a collection of short stories, but some of these are quite long. Like many short story collections, they vary in quality, but the variety of settings and time periods and tones is quite impressive. But to be honest, I could have done without the last half of this book, which are the longest two stories.
The actor Rupert Everett writes this as a collection of stories with a sort of autobiographical frame narrative, where he runs into a producer and then has an idea to write a bunch of pitches he's made as this collection of stories. I enjoyed the shorter ones, including a humorous one that's the shortest one in the book where a man and a woman meet at a restaurant but the roles are reversed from the typical situation that is described. There's also a longer story that's about 60 pages long about a fictional surrogacy agency with an unusual beginning, which I think could've been cut down a bit but was still an entertaining read.
And then I eventually came to the last two stories, which were far too long for me. "Ten-Pound Pom" runs about 80 pages, and perhaps because I felt like I needed to finish it one sitting, it felt like it dragged on for too long. It felt like it could have reached a similar emotional resolution without spending quite as much time in the setup. The very last story, "The End of Time," includes the author's unproduced script of an adaptation of Swann's Way. Having never read any part of In Search of Lost Time, I was completely lost and could not appreciate the adaptation. I'm sure this would be much more interesting to someone familiar with the source material, but for me, it was just the script of a fairly boring period piece without having the interesting prose of a short story.
I definitely enjoyed the first half a lot more than the second, and had the book not ended with these two overly long and less interesting "short stories," I would have been left with a much better impression. But I did find several of the stories in the first half quite enjoyable.
September 13, 2025
The title is what attracted me to this book. The American No is a not a collection of stories. This book is a collection of pieces of writing which reflect what people could do when they are rejected, dejected repressed or desire a new path in life. in a particular situation.
My favorite piece of writing is "Sort Me Out Before We Go- Go". This is a narrative about how a tactless young man tries to flirt with an older woman. I like how the older woman teaches the younger man how to be more subtle in his speech. He is ultimately successful in his flirtations and successfully pairs off with the older woman. My other favorite writing piece is "Cuddles and Associates". This piece writing is about the capricious life of a fictional actor named Matt Dean and the lengths his acting agent will go to for him to be successful. "Cuddles and Associates" is very unpredictable but an entertaining piece of writing. Ten-Pound Pom is a narrative about a former Irish army officer who embarks on an ocean liner journey for England to Australia to forge a new path in his life. I like the themes of adventure and romance in "Ten-Pound Poms. I enjoyed The American No.
My favorite piece of writing is "Sort Me Out Before We Go- Go". This is a narrative about how a tactless young man tries to flirt with an older woman. I like how the older woman teaches the younger man how to be more subtle in his speech. He is ultimately successful in his flirtations and successfully pairs off with the older woman. My other favorite writing piece is "Cuddles and Associates". This piece writing is about the capricious life of a fictional actor named Matt Dean and the lengths his acting agent will go to for him to be successful. "Cuddles and Associates" is very unpredictable but an entertaining piece of writing. Ten-Pound Pom is a narrative about a former Irish army officer who embarks on an ocean liner journey for England to Australia to forge a new path in his life. I like the themes of adventure and romance in "Ten-Pound Poms. I enjoyed The American No.
October 2, 2024
I am not the biggest fan of short stories but I am a bit of a fan of the author! And anyway, these aren't really all what you'd class as short stories... Indeed, I think that there are several that can be expanded into novellas at least, maybe even novels, or screenplays.
I won't go into much detail apart from to say that each story is well plotted and said plot executed with aplomb, starring well created characters, some of whom are larger than life. The writing is sublime and full of humour, almost lyrical at times, it definitely flows well from the page.
There are eight stories in total and, of course, I have my favourites but I would be hard pressed to find a bad one amongst them. I especially loved the definition of the American No in the introduction...
I also think that this is one of the books that I will be revisiting on Audible, once out. I do think there is more to be found within these stories in that medium.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
I won't go into much detail apart from to say that each story is well plotted and said plot executed with aplomb, starring well created characters, some of whom are larger than life. The writing is sublime and full of humour, almost lyrical at times, it definitely flows well from the page.
There are eight stories in total and, of course, I have my favourites but I would be hard pressed to find a bad one amongst them. I especially loved the definition of the American No in the introduction...
I also think that this is one of the books that I will be revisiting on Audible, once out. I do think there is more to be found within these stories in that medium.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
February 8, 2025
The American No: Stories by Rupert Everett is a collection of eight short stories. At the beginning of the book, Everett defines what he means by the American No. You go into a pitch meeting and you are basically presenting your ideas for a show/movie/series, etc. In general, these ideas are met with encouragement and enthusiasm. We love this idea the studio says as they casually sling their arm across your shoulder and can't wait to work with you. Then you never hear from them again. That story or explanation is the most interesting thing about The American No. I do believe someone needs to define short for Mr. Everett, and the stories were just uninteresting to me. Also, it felt as if they were written to be vignettes for a film idea and just submitted as short stories. So, here I am, metaphorically putting my arm across your shoulders saying, I can't wait to work with you.
Thank you to #netgalley and Atria Books for my e-arc. I give this book 2.5 stars.
Thank you to #netgalley and Atria Books for my e-arc. I give this book 2.5 stars.
October 3, 2024
With an endearing mixture of mild horror, flippant campery and down-to-earth everyday gayness, these not-so-short stories show off the author’s ability to coin a telling phrase, to capture nuances of speech and to write with clarity and precision.
Unfortunately I read them at an awkward time for me:having just read the latest Hollinghurst and having faced the death of my life partner, my mood was not right, and so, to do them justice, I need to read them again with the attention they doubtless deserve.
They are very recommendable and give a tantalising insight into a Rupert Everett less waspish, more subtle and more insightful than I had envisioned.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Abacus for the digital review copy
Unfortunately I read them at an awkward time for me:having just read the latest Hollinghurst and having faced the death of my life partner, my mood was not right, and so, to do them justice, I need to read them again with the attention they doubtless deserve.
They are very recommendable and give a tantalising insight into a Rupert Everett less waspish, more subtle and more insightful than I had envisioned.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Abacus for the digital review copy
February 25, 2025
I did enjoy the book. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it was not this. I had trouble orienting to the messy, often tragic, lives of the people in some of the stories. While reading, there were many times I couldn’t be sure if I should be laughing, crying, horrified, or if I hadn’t grasped the intention of what happened and it had gone over my head. Some totally crushed my heart and left me feeling very heavy. So, I don’t suggest this book for those wishing to enjoy a “light read.” Keep in mind the stories are all very different, so you are bound to rate at least one with high marks. I recommend this book for more advanced readers, or those who already have an interest in the author and his previous works.
December 4, 2024
Read in prepub courtesy of publisher via Edelweiss. Due out Feb 2025.
You might think that this would be just another indulgent exercise by an actor who thinks he can write. You would be wrong. While there are some self-indulgent moments, they are so interesting and Everett is such a great storyteller you forgive him immediately. Everett is an expert raconteur. Whether he is telling a quintessentially Hollywood story, pulling at the heartstrings with a tale of a doomed romance aboard a ship headed for Australia, or writing a script for a failed adaptation of Proust's In Search of Lost Time, you are drawn in. This was a delight.
You might think that this would be just another indulgent exercise by an actor who thinks he can write. You would be wrong. While there are some self-indulgent moments, they are so interesting and Everett is such a great storyteller you forgive him immediately. Everett is an expert raconteur. Whether he is telling a quintessentially Hollywood story, pulling at the heartstrings with a tale of a doomed romance aboard a ship headed for Australia, or writing a script for a failed adaptation of Proust's In Search of Lost Time, you are drawn in. This was a delight.
February 12, 2025
In The American No by Rupert Everett, the short stories were a mixed bag. Some of the stories were not so short. Mr. Everett can turn a phrase. The novel consists of eight stories and sheds light on some that haven’t had their chance to shine just yet. In “The Wrong Box”, dropping acid/LSD before a funeral is more interesting than showing up late to a funeral. In “Sebastian Melmoth. The Morning After and The Night Before “ I learned about purple moments. Another favorite of mine was “Ten-Pound Pom”. ARC was provided by Atria Books via NetGalley. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 10, 2025
Rupert Everett might have been a good actor in his day; an iconic character in thespian and queer social sets throughout Europe, the UK and the US; and sometimes a good writer but the screenplay adaptation at the end of this collection of short stories was truly terrible. Perhaps the voluminous works of Marcel Proust are too high brow for mere mortals, but this adaptation does nothing to engender a greater understanding.
March 31, 2025
Probably 3.5 rather than 3.0 and on another day this could have been a 4.0. Some of the stories appealed, some didn't. Well crafted but tp[ocs weren't always of interest, like why a career based on exploiting personal attractiveness was initially hard to adopt and then adopted without a second thought. Not enough character development for my tastes.
July 3, 2025
Rupert Everett has always been a terrific writer, and he's only getting better. For me, the standouts in this volume were "The Last Rites" and "Ten-Pound Pom", but all eight stories had something to offer.
These were based on his ideas for films and tv series that never got made. I can only hope he'll do the same and bless us with his "gay James Bond film" idea in novel form...
These were based on his ideas for films and tv series that never got made. I can only hope he'll do the same and bless us with his "gay James Bond film" idea in novel form...
December 2, 2025
I usually avoid short-stories, but think Everett is always worth a read for his wit and keen eye for detail. A mixed bag here including a film script / treatment. Perhaps the highlight for me was the reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s last days, remembering the awful treatment meted out in prison, and the follow sad time as exile in France.
September 30, 2024
I was curious as I wanted to know how a Mr Everett wrote and I was glad it was a good reading experience.
More novella than short stories they're well plotted and interesting
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
More novella than short stories they're well plotted and interesting
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
October 11, 2024
I am a big fan of Rupert Everett, and I enjoyed reading this book. I will guiltily admit that I could hear the narration in my head in his voice. I found the book to be well written, and I did enjoy it very much. I am hoping he will do more in the future. Thank you Net Galley ARC
November 23, 2024
Unfinished: I really liked “Vanished Years” - the man can certainly write. But, after only 3 of these “short stories” I realised I had been here before; he is simply rehashing his disappointments in a different format…
December 8, 2024
It’s hard to rate 8 short stories as 1 because obviously some are going to be better than others. The plots were well thought out and most of the characters were interesting and funny. Overall I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did. (Cuddles and associates was my favorite)
May 23, 2025
This was more miss than hit for me, but there are still some little gems amongst the short ( and not so short!) stories that kept me reading as I do enjoy his writing style and his outlook on life, his humour and his adventures on the wild side!!
September 16, 2024
Mr Everett is perhaps better known for his acting and theatrical work. But, by Jove, he can write well. Indeed, he is a significant literary talent. He has a fine eye for character and of place. His turn of phrase can be quite delightful and there is much evidence of a rich sense of humour, particularly through amusing anecdotes. This volume is a collection of stories and film or theatrical plots. They are of varying length but all very readable. Bravo, Mr. Everett.
I received a review copy through the auspices of NetGalley and the publishers, Little, Brown Book Group. Many thanks to them and others involved in the book’s production and marketing. This is my independent review.
I received a review copy through the auspices of NetGalley and the publishers, Little, Brown Book Group. Many thanks to them and others involved in the book’s production and marketing. This is my independent review.
October 15, 2024
Short stories are always a bit of a mixed bag, and this certainly had a few weaker ones. Overall though a solid collection.
October 27, 2024
I have a different edition hardback from England but there is no choice for that.
Mixed bag. No where near as good as his novels.
Mixed bag. No where near as good as his novels.
March 5, 2025
The book was due back at the library so I returned it unfinished. Rupert Everett clears out his bottom drawer. He writes with style, flair and humour but the content was rather ho-hum.
March 23, 2025
I've been a fan of Everett as an actor for a long time. I didn't know he also wrote. This collection of short stories was an utter delight.
April 5, 2025
I love Everett's humorous storytelling style, but I found the scripts and excerpts in this novel less compelling than his personal stories and anecdotes.
June 13, 2025
entertaining enough selection of short stories.
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