Chinese American showrunner Jo and her female assistant Emma give the world something to talk about when they accidentally fuel a rumor that the two are romantically entangled, untrue gossip that begins to take a toll on their lives. Yet sparks between the two do fly, as they develop complicated feelings for one another that they struggle to deny.
Wilsner's story of Hollywood in the age of social media influencers and tabloids feels authentic ... Something to Talk About centers on the ideas of mutual respect and friendship, and Wilsner explores those ideas with care and consideration, especially welcome in a novel that features an office romance during the #MeToo era. And their focus on the importance of privacy in a setting where media bullying is an acceptable consequence of fame serves as a believable plot engine that delivers plenty of motivation and drama ... there are times when Wilsner introduces so many topics, you might feel a little whiplash—but they do strive to make sure readers don't lose track of the central love story for too long. Jo and Emma are richly drawn, and each also has an equally compelling best friend in their corner ... a slow-burn of a romance that eventually reaches a fiery simmer.
... a slow-burn romance that alternates between the viewpoints of both women as they navigate their unspoken feelings and pine after one another. A series of personal and professional related twists and turns further complicates their already complicated relationship, including a lecherous film director, a high octane work environment, and a leaker inside Jo’s company who is sharing information about their 'maybe' relationship to the press. The novel, although containing some frustrating clichés, is ultimately successful, as a succession of travails leaves audiences wondering when an alleged romance will become a real one.
Seeing two LGBTQ leads not struggling with their identities—one so fully supported by her family that at Hanukkah dinner her parents practically beg to be introduced to her girlfriend—felt great and refreshing. (Still, I'd wished we had gotten to see more of their queer identities outside the relationship. There are no other queer celebrities or friends in the book, for example.) ... We need more lighthearted, wholesome queer stories, and Something To Talk About certainly helps fill the gap. No two queer love stories mirror each other, but Emma and Jo’s is a sweet one worth talking about.
