A Look at Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey, a Rom Com Novel

I don’t want to analyze this rom com at all. Instead I want to talk about how it ignited all of my nostalgic feels for Nora Ephron, Tom Hanks, and Meg Ryan. I grew up in the 90s consuming Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail. Tom Hanks was what the world taught me to look for in a man, and it made dating very problematic.

For how could there ever be another Tom Hanks?

You can keep your Channing Tatums and Prince Williams. For me, it was always Tom Hanks and always will be.

For that very reason, this book was splendid.

But let’s not forget Ms. Ryan.

Fall still reminds me of a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils, and I will never peel an apple without thinking of her.

A Classic Rom Com

This book brought back all of those nostalgic feels and had me reaching for my copies of Sleepless and Mail. And, of course, I once more threatened to cut off my hair to have Ryan’s amazing short do in Mail, but never have I pulled that look off no matter how many times I tried it. This book dared me to do it again, because this time I must get it right!

This book follows the story of Annie, a wanna-be rom com writer, living in Columbus, OH, who suddenly finds herself on the set of a movie falling in love with the movie’s star, Drew Danforth.

While Annie was wonderful at reviving the old 90s rom com feels, it was her sidekick Chloe who stole the show. I love a story with a good sidekick. Just like Cosmo in Singin’ in the Rain, Chloe added the charisma to a story that could have floundered in the author’s retelling of classic romantic comedies.

Chloe is the best friend who works at the requisite coffee shop that Friends made a requirement for all future comedies. Chloe is decisive, energetic, vibrant, and forceful. She is the bringer of change when Annie doesn’t want to do it.

I would have liked to have seen more from Drew’s perspective but as this was a first person narrative, that wasn’t possible.

But again, for the all 90s rom com love, this book is worth reading.

(And I will definitely be waiting for Chloe’s story, which is next up for the author!)

Kerry Winfrey, an Ohio-based author, is not new to writing but Tom Hanks has definitely pushed her into a new sphere.

Have you read Waiting for Tom Hanks?

Tell us what you thought in the comments below, but remember – no spoilers please!