Omg the whole “okay but what have those girls actually done, besides apparently be pretty and friends with each other?” thing kills me and is in SO much media. Books, so many movies, you name it.
It especially bugs me because I see people have this thought process in real life! Like, even here on Reddit all the time, someone will post online and characterize people as “mean girls”… and then they can’t name anything mean they’ve actually done. Except be feminine and friends. You’re just supposed to hear that take “oh okay OP, I take your word for it, they’re clearly evil” and it’s like— look, since when does the hottest girl in the room have immediately put everyone at ease or she’s a bad person? She’s just living her life.
It’s like media with this trope made a whole generation not know how to process the feeling of jealously. I get it. They’re intimidating. Maybe you’re a little envious. But that’s an inside feeling. They didn’t do anything wrong just by existing and not being obsessed with you personally. No I’m not going to join a lynch mob just because you characterized them like a teen movie or bad book and we’ve been told that means they’re “bad” somehow.
Exactly! Her books were very much character studies and comedies of manners. Almost 1800s Seinfeld at moments. “He said he likes women who read, Jerry!” “What’s the problem?! You love to read, Elaine!” “I know but not for a man, Jerry! It’s so… pompous. I shut it down.” “You shut it down? You read and you shut it down?” “I shut it down, Jerry! It was irritating!”
In between the romance and the beautiful prose, the situations and people involved are so full everyday awkwardness and irritation and humor. It’s like when a friend tells you how a date or a party went versus when an acquaintance does. All the little social friction is included.