Happy publication day to debut author, Dana Bate! Her book The Girls’ Guide to Love and Supper Clubs is a story about finding yourself, fulfilling your dreams, and falling in love along the way. Inspired by her new book, Dana shared her top romantic comedy picks:

Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding

No rom-com list would be complete without Helen Fielding’s hilarious take on the trials and tribulations of a 30-something “singleton” living in London. I was about half Bridget’s age when I read it, but what made the book so great was that women of all ages could relate to Bridget – her insecurities, her foibles. What woman can’t identify with quotes like, “How is it possible to put on 4 pounds in the middle of the night? Could flesh have somehow solidified becoming denser and heavier? Repulsive, horrifying notion.” Perfect.

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

Some time after reading Bridget Jones’s Diary, I went through a phase where I read only serious works of literature, mostly because I was in school and that’s what we read. Nothing wrong with that, of course (Crime and Punishment is still one of my favorite books), but after reading challenging book after challenging book – most of which were legitimately interesting and worthwhile – I managed to forget reading could be just for fun. Then one summer I picked up Sophie Kinsella’s Can You Keep a Secret? and gobbled up the whole thing in a matter of days. Kinsella reminded me that reading – and writing, for that matter – didn’t need to be serious all the time. Sometimes you just want to read a funny, light-hearted story – or write one.

Everything Changes by Jonathan Tropper

What I love about Jonathan Tropper’s books is that he mixes laugh-out-loud moments with deeply moving ones. Two scenes in this book – one involving a confrontation at a country club and another involving Viagra – still make me laugh when I think about them. But the story also deals, in flashback, with the death of the protagonist’s best friend. All of Tropper’s books weave together family, friendship, and love, something I’ve tried to do in my writing as well.

Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane

Speaking of laughing out loud, Caprice Crane made me do just that in her hilarious debut. She had me at “bumping uglies.” Even though I pretty much knew Heaven and Brady’s fate from the start, I still rooted for them the whole way. Crane makes writing romantic comedies look effortless.

About a Boy by Nick Hornby and Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

Okay, so I’m breaking the rules here and choosing six rom-coms instead of five. What can I say? I’m a rebel! But I love these two stories, and both inspired me to write my book. In the case of About a Boy, I love Nick Hornby’s writing, period. His voice is so distinctive – hilarious and honest and so very, very him. I knew I wanted to write with a voice that was similarly mine. I also wanted to back my character into a corner in the same way Hornby backed Will into a corner with the whole lie about having a 12-year-old son. With Good in Bed, Jennifer Weiner created a refreshing female character I could relate to – a woman with guts and integrity who also had flaws and insecurities. Cannie Shapiro was a breath of fresh air!

Pinterest PS – The cover of The Girls’ Guide to Love and Supper Clubs inspired this dessert-themed Pinterest board!