Teenage Romance: Or How to Die of Embarrassment

by Delia Ephron

Provides an entertaining and sympathetic look at the painful pleasures of adolescent rites of passage, accompanied by the delightful drawings of Edward Koren

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction

109 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Bestselling author and screenwriter Delia Ephron's most recent novel is Siracusa. Her other novels include The Lion Is In and Hanging Up. She has written humor books for all ages, including How to Eat Like a Child and Do I Have to Say Hello?; and nonfiction, most recently Sister Mother Husband Dog (etc.). Her films include You’ve Got Mail, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Hanging Up (based on her novel), and Michael. Her journalism has appeared in The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Vogue, and Vanity Fair. Her hit play Love, Loss, and What I Wore (co-written with Nora Ephron) ran for more than two years off-Broadway and has been performed all over the world. She lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Brian Hodges · Rating 4 out of 5]

We had this in my house growing up and I can distinctly remember reading it as a kid thinking I was looking into some kind of forbidden future for my life as a teenager. Me and my sister would crack up over the little essays and fake first-person narratives even though we only kind of understood what she was talking about. When we were moving all of our crap out of our parents old house I made sure to grab it and keep it for old times. At some point I should pick it up to read again. I know from memory that a lot of the vocabulary is a bit dated (making out is still referred to as "necking") but it'll be curious to see if the themes and awkwardness of being a teenager still translate.

[Davida · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't care if teens now use text messages to communicate or that facebook has replaced hallway whispers, the themes of this book remain true: teenage years are awkward, parents just don't "get it," you simply aren't as pretty as your friends (or so you feel) and your crush will never know you exist. Hilarious and wonderful -- relatable on so many levels and at various stages of life -- wholeheartedly recommend it!

[Elizabeth]

Hmm, it's illustrated by that guy who does cartoons for The New Yorker. Um, you know, all his characters look sort of shaggy. Yeah, that guy. Anyway. I liked this a lot. Especially the date from both POVs -- a frightening read for a sentimental teenage girl.

[Sarah Rigg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm guessing this was my first exposure to Delia Ephron. Funny, and relatable, maybe even for today's teenagers.

[Julie]

read repeatedly back in the day.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost as good as the original, "How To Eat Like A Child."

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved loved loved this book! Hysterical.