Nora Ephron Popular Books

Nora Ephron Biography & Facts

Nora Ephron ( EF-rən; May 19, 1941 – June 26, 2012) was an American journalist, writer, and filmmaker. She is best known for writing and directing romantic comedy films and received numerous accolades including a British Academy Film Award as well as nominations for three Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award and three Writers Guild of America Awards.Ephron started her career writing the screenplays for Silkwood (1983), Heartburn (1986), and When Harry Met Sally... (1989), the last of which earned the BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay, and was ranked by the Writers Guild of America as the 40th greatest screenplay of all-time. She made her directorial film debut with comedy-drama This Is My Life (1992) followed by the romantic comedies Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Michael (1996), You've Got Mail (1998), Bewitched (2005), and the biographical film Julie & Julia (2009). Ephron's first produced play, Imaginary Friends (2002), was honored as one of the ten best plays of the 2002–03 New York theatre season. She also co-authored the Drama Desk Award–winning theatrical production Love, Loss, and What I Wore. In 2013, Ephron received a posthumous Tony Award nomination for Best Play for Lucky Guy. She also wrote columns for Esquire, Cosmpolitan, and The New Yorker. Early life and education Ephron was born in New York City on May 19, 1941, to a Jewish family. She was the eldest of four daughters, and grew up in Beverly Hills, California. Her parents, Phoebe (née Wolkind) and Henry Ephron, were both East Coast-born playwrights and screenwriters. Her parents named her Nora after the protagonist in the play A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen. Nora's younger sisters, Delia and Amy, are also writers. Her sister Hallie Ephron is a journalist, book reviewer, and novelist who writes crime fiction. Ephron's parents based the ingenue character in the play and film version of Take Her, She's Mine on the 22-year-old Nora and her letters from college; Sandra Dee played the character based on Nora in the film version, with James Stewart portraying her father. Both her parents became alcoholics during their declining years.As a high school student, Ephron dreamed of going to New York City to become another Dorothy Parker, an American poet, writer, satirist, and critic. Ephron has cited her high school journalism teacher, Charles Simms, as the inspiration for her pursuit of a career in journalism. She graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1958, and from Wellesley College in Massachusetts in 1962 with a degree in political science. Career Early work After graduating from Wellesley, Ephron worked briefly as an intern in the White House of President John F. Kennedy. She also applied to be a writer at Newsweek. After she was told they did not hire women writers, she accepted a position as a mail girl.After eventually quitting Newsweek because she was not allowed to write, Ephron participated in a class action lawsuit against the magazine for sexual discrimination, described in the book The Good Girls Revolt: How the Women of Newsweek Sued Their Bosses and Changed the Workplace by Lynn Povich, and both the lawsuit and Ephron's role were fictionalized in a 2016 Amazon series by the similar main title Good Girls Revolt.After a satire in Monocle she wrote lampooning the New York Post caught the editor's eye, Ephron accepted a job at the Post, where she worked as a reporter for five years. In 1966, she broke the news in the Post that Bob Dylan had married Sara Lownds in a private ceremony. After becoming a successful writer, she wrote a column on women's issues for Esquire. In this position, Ephron made a name for herself by writing "A Few Words About Breasts", a humorous essay about body image that "established her as the enfant terrible of the New Journalism". While at Esquire, she took on subjects as wide-ranging as Dorothy Schiff, her former boss and owner of the Post; Betty Friedan, whom she chastised for pursuing a feud with Gloria Steinem; and her alma mater Wellesley, which she said had turned out "a generation of docile and unadventurous women". A 1968 send-up of Women's Wear Daily that she wrote for Cosmopolitan resulted in threats of a lawsuit from WWD.Ephron rewrote a script for All the President's Men in the mid-1970s, along with her then husband, investigative journalist Carl Bernstein. While the script was not used, it was seen by someone who offered Ephron her first screenwriting job, for a television movie, which began her screenwriting career. 1980s In 1983, Ephron co-scripted the film Silkwood with Alice Arlen. The film, directed by Mike Nichols, starred Meryl Streep as Karen Silkwood, a whistleblower at the Kerr McGee Cimarron nuclear facility who dies under suspicious circumstances. Ephron and Arlen were nominated for the Best Original Screenplay Oscar in 1984 for Silkwood.Ephron's novel Heartburn was published in 1983. The novel is a semi-autobiographical account of her marriage with Carl Bernstein. The film adaptation was released in 1986, directed by Mike Nichols starring Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson. Ephron adapted her own novel into the screenplay for the film. In the film, Ephron's fictionalized portrayal of herself, played by Streep, is a pregnant food writer when she learns about her husband's affair. In 1986, Ephron wrote the script for the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally.... Released in 1989, the film was directed by Rob Reiner, and starred Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. The film depicted the decade-long relationship between Harry (Crystal) and Sally (Ryan) as they navigate their own romantic relationships. Ephron claimed that she wrote this screenplay with Reiner in mind as the character of Harry, and herself as the character of Sally. The film has become iconic in the romantic comedy genre, most notably for the scene in which Sally pretends to have an orgasm in the middle of Katz's Deli during lunch. Ephron said she wrote the part of Sally simulating an orgasm into the script per Ryan's suggestions. Additionally, the comment "I'll have what she's having" said by a deli patron (played by Rob Reiner's real-life mother Estelle Reiner) watching the scene unfold nearby, was an idea from Billy Crystal. Ephron's script was nominated for the 1990 Oscar in Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. 1990s Ephron's directorial debut was the film This Is My Life (1992). Ephron and her sister Delia Ephron wrote the script based on Meg Wolitzer's novel This is Your Life. The film is about a woman who decides to pursue a career in stand-up comedy after inheriting a substantial sum of money from a relative. In a conversation released by Criterion Channel between Lena Dunham, and Ephron, she stated "That movie I made completely for Woody Allen." She later stated in the conversation that he saw it and liked it.In 1993, Ephron directed and wrote the script for the romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle. The film stars Tom Hanks as Sam Baldwi.... Discover the Nora Ephron popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Nora Ephron books.

Best Seller Nora Ephron Books of 2024

  • Talk Bookish to Me synopsis, comments

    Talk Bookish to Me

    Kate Bromley

    A USA Today Best Book of 2021!"Bromley does a deft job at keeping the twists and turns of this reunion realistic and utterly romantic.” USA TodayInspiration can come from the most ...

  • I Miss You When I Blink synopsis, comments

    I Miss You When I Blink

    Mary Laura Philpott

    NATIONAL BESTSELLERA charmingly relatable and wise memoirinessays by acclaimed writer and bookseller Mary Laura Philpott, “the modern day reincarnation of…Nora Ephron, Erma Bombeck...

  • Lisa and Co synopsis, comments

    Lisa and Co

    Jilly Cooper OBE

    Fall in love with Jilly Cooper, one of Britain's most popular authors, in this wonderful collection of upbeat and hilarious short stories. Fans of Jojo Moyes, Marian Keyes, Dolly A...

  • Comeback Careers synopsis, comments

    Comeback Careers

    Mika Brzezinski & Ginny Brzezinski

    STRONG, WISER, BETTERAn Essential Guide for Reentering, Reinventing, or Rebooting Your Career at Any Age So many women hit their 40s or 50s and realize: it's time for a career cha...

  • The Spring Sister synopsis, comments

    The Spring Sister

    Muna Shehadi

    'The author's writing style is similar to that of Santa Montefiore whom I love, so this book really pulled me in' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader reviewWhat happens when you discover that your gl...

  • Hate Mail synopsis, comments

    Hate Mail

    Donna Marchetti

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The best romantic comedy I've read since The Hating Game’Naomi and Luca have been penpals since fifthgrade. Well, more like bitter rivals caught in an epic battle of insults...

  • She Made Me Laugh synopsis, comments

    She Made Me Laugh

    Richard M. Cohen

    “A very personal remembrance of Nora Ephron’s life and loves, and her ups and downs” (USA TODAY) by her longtime and dear friend Richard Cohen in a hilarious, blunt, raucous, and p...

  • The Unspeakable synopsis, comments

    The Unspeakable

    Meghan Daum

    "Daum is her generation's Joan Didion." NylonNearly fifteen years after her debut collection, My Misspent Youth, captured the ambitions and anxieties of a generation, Meghan Daum r...

  • When Harry Met Sally. . . synopsis, comments

    When Harry Met Sally. . .

    Nora Ephron

    The complete screenplay of Rob Reiner's enormously funny and moving film, When Harry Met Sallya romantic comedy about the difficult, frustrating, awful, funny search for happiness ...

  • Mike Nichols synopsis, comments

    Mike Nichols

    Mark Harris

    One of The Hollywood Reporter’s 100 Greatest Film Books of All Time A National Book Critics Circle finalist One of People's top 10 books of 2021 An instant New York Times b...

  • The Dare and the Doctor synopsis, comments

    The Dare and the Doctor

    Kate Noble

    With writing that is “nothing less than brilliant” (Booklist) comes the third in the witty, sexy Winner Takes All series from Kate Noble!Dr. Rhys Gray and Miss Margaret Babcock are...

  • London, With Love synopsis, comments

    London, With Love

    Sarra Manning

    'A VERY special book. GORGEOUS, real believable and BEAUTIFUL' Marian Keyes London. Nine million people. Two hundred and seventy tube stations. Every day, thousands of chance enco...

  • Waiting for Tom Hanks synopsis, comments

    Waiting for Tom Hanks

    Kerry Winfrey

    A romcomobsessed romantic waiting for her perfect leading man learns that life doesn’t always go according to a script in this delightfully charming and funny novel.Annie Cassidy d...

  • The Plant-Based Diet Revolution synopsis, comments

    The Plant-Based Diet Revolution

    Alan Desmond & Bob Andrew

    'This book is fantastic. We love the recipes and secretly wish that we'd written them ourselves!' Stephen and David Flynn, The Happy Pear'Get ready, because this book is going to c...

  • I Remember Nothing synopsis, comments

    I Remember Nothing

    Nora Ephron

    NATIONAL BESTSELLER Here is the beloved, bestselling author of I Feel Bad About My Neck at her funniest, wisest, and best, taking a hilarious look at the past and bemoaning the vi...

  • A Love Story for Bewildered Girls synopsis, comments

    A Love Story for Bewildered Girls

    Emma Morgan

    'An utterly gorgeous novel. It will forever hold my heart in its pages' Pandora Sykes, cohost of The HighLow podcastGrace loves a woman. Annie loves a man. Violet isn't quite sure....

  • The Good Girls Revolt synopsis, comments

    The Good Girls Revolt

    Lynn Povich

    It was the 1960s a time of economic boom and social strife. Young women poured into the workplace, but the "Help Wanted" ads were segregated by gender and the "Mad Men" office cul...

  • Bella synopsis, comments

    Bella

    Jilly Cooper OBE

    Fall in love with Jilly Cooper, one of Britain's most popular authors, in this upbeat and hilarious romcom. Fans of Jojo Moyes, Marian Keyes, Dolly Alderton and Jane Fallon will lo...

  • The 50 Funniest American Writers synopsis, comments

    The 50 Funniest American Writers

    Andy Borowitz

    New York Times BestsellerThe creator of The New Yorker’s long running satirical column, and “one of the funniest people in America,” pays tribute to comedic geniuses both past and ...

  • Imogen synopsis, comments

    Imogen

    Jilly Cooper OBE

    Fall in love with Jilly Cooper, one of Britain's most popular authors, in this delightfully lighthearted pageturner of a romcom. Fans of Jojo Moyes, Marian Keyes, Dolly Alderton an...

  • The Anti-Cool Girl synopsis, comments

    The Anti-Cool Girl

    Rosie Waterland

    Brutal, brave, hilarious a fullfrontal memoir about surviving the very worst that life can throw at you.Rosie Waterland has never been cool. Growing up in housing commission, Rosi...

  • Siracusa synopsis, comments

    Siracusa

    Delia Ephron

    An electrifying New York Times bestselling novel about marriage and deceit that follows two couples on vacation in Siracusa, a town on the coast of Sicily, where the secrets they h...

  • I Feel Bad About My Neck synopsis, comments

    I Feel Bad About My Neck

    Nora Ephron

    #1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER  A candid, hilarious look at women of a certain age and dealing with the tribulations of maintenance, menopause, empty nests, and life itself.“Wickedly ...

  • Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted synopsis, comments

    Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted

    Jennifer Keishin Armstrong

    "Jennifer Keishin Armstrong's deft weave of social history and sharp entertainment reporting explains how [The Mary Tyler Moore Show] made the world safe for Lena Dunham" (Peter Bi...

  • The New York Times Book Review synopsis, comments

    The New York Times Book Review

    The New York Times, Tina Jordan & Noor Qasim

    A “delightful” (Vanity Fair) collection from the longestrunning, most influential book review in America, featuring its best, funniest, strangest, and most memorable coverage over ...

  • Waiting For Doggo synopsis, comments

    Waiting For Doggo

    Mark Mills

    It takes one scruffy dog to show a man how to fall in love...Noone ever called Dan a pushover. But then noone ever called him fasttrack either. He likes driving slowly, playing Sud...

  • Crazy Salad and Scribble Scribble synopsis, comments

    Crazy Salad and Scribble Scribble

    Nora Ephron

    From the bestselling author of I Feel Bad About My Neck: two classic collections of uproarious essays tackling everything from feminism to the media, from politics to beauty produc...

  • The Winter Sister synopsis, comments

    The Winter Sister

    Muna Shehadi

    'The story telling in this book is right up there with Nora Roberts, who is an expert at drawing you into a story' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review'To say I loved reading this book would be...

  • This Love Story Will Self-Destruct synopsis, comments

    This Love Story Will Self-Destruct

    Leslie Cohen

    This is the classic tale of boy meets girl: Girl…goes home with someone else.Meet Eve. She’s a dreamer, a feeler, a careening well of sensitivities who can’t quite keep her feet on...

  • Sister Mother Husband Dog synopsis, comments

    Sister Mother Husband Dog

    Delia Ephron

    Bestselling author Delia Ephron shares a deeply personal collection of stories and essays, anchored by a loving remembrance of her sister Nora. In Sister Mother Husband Dog, D...

  • Prudence synopsis, comments

    Prudence

    Jilly Cooper OBE

    Fall in love with Jilly Cooper, one of Britain's most popular authors, in this fabulously frothy romcom. Fans of Jojo Moyes, Marian Keyes, Dolly Alderton and Jane Fallon will love ...

  • Nora Ephron synopsis, comments

    Nora Ephron

    Kristin Marguerite Doidge

    Nora Ephron was one of the most popular, accomplished, and beloved writers in American journalism and film.Nora Ephron: A Biography is the first comprehensive portrait of the Manha...

  • How to Heal a Broken Heart synopsis, comments

    How to Heal a Broken Heart

    Rosie Green

    'The poster girl for divorce.' The Times'If you've ever had your heart broken (and who hasn't) Rosie Green's How to Heal a Broken Heart is your best friend. Honest, comforting and ...

  • Wallflower at the Orgy synopsis, comments

    Wallflower at the Orgy

    Nora Ephron

    A bitingly funny, provocative, and revealing look at our foibles, passions, and pasttimesfrom one of the most creative minds of our time.“Nora Ephron can write about anything bette...

  • The Summer Sister synopsis, comments

    The Summer Sister

    Muna Shehadi

    'A wonderful read with evocative descriptions and enough family secrets to create a gripping journey of discovery' Woman'One of those books that makes you cancel everything so you ...

  • Bomb Shelter synopsis, comments

    Bomb Shelter

    Mary Laura Philpott

    A New York Times Editors’ Choice One of NPR’s Best Books of the Year“A beautifully wrought ode to life…a precious gift to the world.” The Washington PostFrom the bestselling author...

  • There Are No Grown-ups synopsis, comments

    There Are No Grown-ups

    Pamela Druckerman

    The bestselling author of BRINGING UP BÉBÉ investigates life in her forties, and wonders whether her mind will ever catch up with her face.When Pamela Druckerman turns 40, waiters ...

  • Wiseguy synopsis, comments

    Wiseguy

    Nicholas Pileggi

    Nicholas Pileggi’s vivid, unvarnished, journalistic chronicle of the life of Henry Hillthe workingclass Brooklyn kid who knew from age twelve that “to be a wiseguy was to own the w...

  • Heartburn synopsis, comments

    Heartburn

    Nora Ephron

    A 40th anniversary reissue of the national bestselling author's hilarious first novel that memorably mixed food, heartbreak, and revenge into a comic masterpiecenow with a new fore...

  • What Comes Next and How to Like It synopsis, comments

    What Comes Next and How to Like It

    Abigail Thomas

    The New York Times bestseller from the beloved author of A Three Dog Lifean exhilarating, superbly written memoir on friendship, family, creativity, tragedy, and the richness of li...

  • None of This Would Have Happened If Prince Were Alive synopsis, comments

    None of This Would Have Happened If Prince Were Alive

    Carolyn Prusa

    Perfect for fans of Maria Semple and Jennifer Weiner, this “laughoutloud gem” (Beck DoreyStein, New York Times bestselling) of a debut novel follows Ramona through the fortyeight h...

  • If Harry Met Sally Again synopsis, comments

    If Harry Met Sally Again

    Annie Robertson

    The perfect feelgood romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally for the 21st centuryCan you write your own happy ending...?When Nina discovers her boyfriend in bed with another woman, s...

  • Perfect Tunes synopsis, comments

    Perfect Tunes

    Emily Gould

    “An intoxicating blend of music, love, and family from one of the essential writers of the internet generation” (Stephanie Danler).Have you ever wondered what your mother was like ...

  • The Most of Nora Ephron synopsis, comments

    The Most of Nora Ephron

    Nora Ephron

    A whopping big celebration of the work of the late, great Nora Ephron, America’s funniestand most acutewriter, famous for her brilliant takes on life as we’ve been living it these ...

  • Harriet synopsis, comments

    Harriet

    Jilly Cooper OBE

    The lighthearted, hilarious and gorgeous novel centring on the trials of the bashful but beautiful Harriet. Find out why Jilly Cooper is one of Britain most beloved authors...'No o...

  • Imaginary Friends synopsis, comments

    Imaginary Friends

    Nora Ephron

    The bestselling author of I Feel Bad About My Neck brilliantly and hilariously resuscitates Lillian Hellman and Mary McCarthytwo biggerthanlife feuding writersto give them a postmo...