It Happened One Fight

Entertainment Weekly writer Lenker debuts with a delightful love letter to the screwball comedy that doubles as an exploration of Hollywood’s golden age. Lone wolf Joan Davis (an homage to both Joan Crawford and Bette Davis) has clawed her way to stardom from Dust Bowl Oklahoma, rising above both early career bumps that earned her the label of “box-office poison” and the ire of gossip columnists. Now her engagement to British heartthrob Monty Smyth should cement her status as “Queen of Hollywood.” However, thanks to a prank gone wrong from her he-man frequent costar Dash Howard (inspired by Clark Gable), Joan discovers that she’s already married—to Dash. The studio moves their final picture together to Reno, where they’ll be eligible for a speedy divorce, but when their explosive on-screen chemistry becomes an off-screen romance, Davis and Dash wonder if they should stay married after all. The setting is tremendously fun and well realized, and though Dash’s petulant on-set behavior can be off-putting (and he never sufficiently atones), enemies-to-lovers fans will enjoy their dynamic. Unfortunately, a climactic revelation doesn’t quite get its due and is brushed over on the way to a happy ending. Still, there’s plenty to enjoy here—especially for film buffs. Agent: Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary. (July)