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Love Again #3
The Friends I've Never Met: The Screenplay
What happens when you meet the people from inside your phone?
"An inspiring story. Innovative and witty." WILDSOUND Screenplay Festival
"I loved it. Sensitive, insightful and funny! Let me know when we get to do the reading!" Actress Forbes Riley
"Honest, truthful, funny and smart, with an accessible story line and characters the audience will relate to." Actor Mark Feuerstein
"Heartwarming, romantic and funny. I definitely recommend reading it. I hope it's made into a movie some day." Goodreads Reviewer
Struggling writer Jessica Page wants more out of her life in the Jersey City suburbs. She wants to be more. She wants someone to notice her. Not as the overtired, worn-out mommy she sees in the mirror every day, but as the sexy, exciting, woman she knows she can be. She and her husband Brian barely have a private moment anymore with three children vying for their attention. When Brian refuses to take Jessica on as a client with his literary agency, it's the last straw. Feeling bored and alone, she logs onto Facebook and joins a celebrity's discussion board, Jack Venture's Hollywood Talk. There, she meets some witty, outgoing people, including People Magazine's most recent Sexiest Man Alive, actor and producer Jack Venture. Jessica and her older sister Jenny make unlikely friendships with board members Alexis, a young, aspiring actress living in Manhattan, and Frank, a middle-aged business man whose wife has been hospitalized for six months. Their ride together -one of friendship, laughter, and self-discovery-ends in some unique twists. It's a journey that reminds us real life isn't like the movies. If we're brave enough to take a leap of faith, we can get movie moments...every now and then.
This is a screenplay, and you can read it like a light novel. It's about balancing marriage, motherhood and career-- but since it's also about making friends on the Internet, and love and family, men will "get it" in many ways. The perfect beach / bedtime read, and a date movie for all seasons.
"An inspiring story. Innovative and witty." WILDSOUND Screenplay Festival
"I loved it. Sensitive, insightful and funny! Let me know when we get to do the reading!" Actress Forbes Riley
"Honest, truthful, funny and smart, with an accessible story line and characters the audience will relate to." Actor Mark Feuerstein
"Heartwarming, romantic and funny. I definitely recommend reading it. I hope it's made into a movie some day." Goodreads Reviewer
Struggling writer Jessica Page wants more out of her life in the Jersey City suburbs. She wants to be more. She wants someone to notice her. Not as the overtired, worn-out mommy she sees in the mirror every day, but as the sexy, exciting, woman she knows she can be. She and her husband Brian barely have a private moment anymore with three children vying for their attention. When Brian refuses to take Jessica on as a client with his literary agency, it's the last straw. Feeling bored and alone, she logs onto Facebook and joins a celebrity's discussion board, Jack Venture's Hollywood Talk. There, she meets some witty, outgoing people, including People Magazine's most recent Sexiest Man Alive, actor and producer Jack Venture. Jessica and her older sister Jenny make unlikely friendships with board members Alexis, a young, aspiring actress living in Manhattan, and Frank, a middle-aged business man whose wife has been hospitalized for six months. Their ride together -one of friendship, laughter, and self-discovery-ends in some unique twists. It's a journey that reminds us real life isn't like the movies. If we're brave enough to take a leap of faith, we can get movie moments...every now and then.
This is a screenplay, and you can read it like a light novel. It's about balancing marriage, motherhood and career-- but since it's also about making friends on the Internet, and love and family, men will "get it" in many ways. The perfect beach / bedtime read, and a date movie for all seasons.
177 pages, Paperback
First published November 16, 2019
About the author
Heather Grace Stewart
36 books270 followersI fell in love with storytelling in a rickety childhood treehouse, surrounded by Archie comics and fueled by Jujubes. Since then, the ride has included running drama-class lines with a young Matthew Perry (yes, that Matthew Perry) and auditioning for a musical alongside Alanis Morissette. Spoiler: she got the part. I got the pen.
I’ve since written 24 books—romcoms, time‑travel romances, screenplays, and poetry for people who “don’t think they like poetry” (their words, not mine). More than 400,000 readers have escaped into my worlds of swoony romance, cozy spice, laugh‑out‑loud banter, and the occasional touch of magic.
My mission is simple: to make you laugh, feel, and fall a little in love—whether with my characters, their found families, or the Highlanders who keep stealing the show.
When I’m not writing, you can find me inline skating, cooking and dancing with oven mitts, or attempting to convince one of my cats to take over my marketing. I’m on Instagram, Threads, Substack and Facebook if you want to say hi. Just don’t ask me to audition for anything. I’ve learned my lesson.
I’ve since written 24 books—romcoms, time‑travel romances, screenplays, and poetry for people who “don’t think they like poetry” (their words, not mine). More than 400,000 readers have escaped into my worlds of swoony romance, cozy spice, laugh‑out‑loud banter, and the occasional touch of magic.
My mission is simple: to make you laugh, feel, and fall a little in love—whether with my characters, their found families, or the Highlanders who keep stealing the show.
When I’m not writing, you can find me inline skating, cooking and dancing with oven mitts, or attempting to convince one of my cats to take over my marketing. I’m on Instagram, Threads, Substack and Facebook if you want to say hi. Just don’t ask me to audition for anything. I’ve learned my lesson.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 23, 2013
What a delightful gem - I'm so glad I discovered this screenplay! The story is full of highly relatable characters, laugh-out-loud humor, touching emotional scenes, and even a fun plot twist I didn't see coming.
The main character, Jessica, is a mom of three and a writer, just like I am; how could I not relate to that? An author's life can indeed be lonely, so Jessica goes online to find support/companionship/advice/etc. Even though she hasn't met her online friends in person, oftentimes they provide better moral support and camaraderie than the people she does see in person. When one of her online friends faces a personal tragedy, the group arranges a face-to-face meeting for the first time. The touching descriptions that follow are so heartfelt and superbly done. It's also wonderful to witness Jessica coming out of her shell and truly expressing herself.
Overall, The Friends I've Never Met really resonated with me. It was an easy and entertaining read, and if you've never read a screenplay the way you would a novel, I highly recommend you start with this one - you'll be glad you did!
The main character, Jessica, is a mom of three and a writer, just like I am; how could I not relate to that? An author's life can indeed be lonely, so Jessica goes online to find support/companionship/advice/etc. Even though she hasn't met her online friends in person, oftentimes they provide better moral support and camaraderie than the people she does see in person. When one of her online friends faces a personal tragedy, the group arranges a face-to-face meeting for the first time. The touching descriptions that follow are so heartfelt and superbly done. It's also wonderful to witness Jessica coming out of her shell and truly expressing herself.
Overall, The Friends I've Never Met really resonated with me. It was an easy and entertaining read, and if you've never read a screenplay the way you would a novel, I highly recommend you start with this one - you'll be glad you did!
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August 21, 2021Written as a screenplay, this story had me laughing out loud, wiping away tears, and nodding in agreement all the way through.
It revolves around two sisters and three complete strangers living in and around New York City. They all join the online chat group of a famous actor who often takes part in the discussions himself — or so it seems.
Before long, this disparate group of varying ages, backgrounds, and life stages, have bonded, opened up about their lives and struggles to each other, and offer support, sympathy and friendship in return. They even decide to meet up in Manhattan for a night out together.
The characters are real, with no airbrushing to make them more attractive, and their situations those of everyday people. They come alive on the pages with their emotions, humor and thoughts, and you can’t help cheer them on as they try to navigate the challenges life throws at them, and celebrate their successes.
As it’s a screenplay, all extraneous descriptions have been left out, which immerses you even more in the story. Somehow, it makes the exteriors, interiors and characters even more vivid . As you read, you can see it all like looking through a window. You live it with them, hear the sounds and smell the air.
This is heartfelt, emotional, funny and sad in equal measures, but the thing that struck me the most — and what makes this such a fantastic read — is how easily I recognized myself in the story, and I’m absolutely certain many other readers will do as well.
Finding new friends online is no longer seen as weird or creepy, and as the author shows in the story, they can sometimes be the salvation your life needs.
The story mirrors so many things in my own life, I couldn’t help think someone has been spying on me somehow. I’m only kidding — mostly — but I’m sure many others will think the same.
The story is a micro cosmos of what happens online every day all over the world, and the author has done a fantastic job condensing it into this entertaining and emotional tale.
It’s a great book, and I would encourage anyone who’s ever met a new friend online to read it. And all those who haven’t.
You won’t be disappointed.
It revolves around two sisters and three complete strangers living in and around New York City. They all join the online chat group of a famous actor who often takes part in the discussions himself — or so it seems.
Before long, this disparate group of varying ages, backgrounds, and life stages, have bonded, opened up about their lives and struggles to each other, and offer support, sympathy and friendship in return. They even decide to meet up in Manhattan for a night out together.
The characters are real, with no airbrushing to make them more attractive, and their situations those of everyday people. They come alive on the pages with their emotions, humor and thoughts, and you can’t help cheer them on as they try to navigate the challenges life throws at them, and celebrate their successes.
As it’s a screenplay, all extraneous descriptions have been left out, which immerses you even more in the story. Somehow, it makes the exteriors, interiors and characters even more vivid . As you read, you can see it all like looking through a window. You live it with them, hear the sounds and smell the air.
This is heartfelt, emotional, funny and sad in equal measures, but the thing that struck me the most — and what makes this such a fantastic read — is how easily I recognized myself in the story, and I’m absolutely certain many other readers will do as well.
Finding new friends online is no longer seen as weird or creepy, and as the author shows in the story, they can sometimes be the salvation your life needs.
The story mirrors so many things in my own life, I couldn’t help think someone has been spying on me somehow. I’m only kidding — mostly — but I’m sure many others will think the same.
The story is a micro cosmos of what happens online every day all over the world, and the author has done a fantastic job condensing it into this entertaining and emotional tale.
It’s a great book, and I would encourage anyone who’s ever met a new friend online to read it. And all those who haven’t.
You won’t be disappointed.
June 14, 2018
I think this is the first screen play I have read. It took a bit of adjustment at the beginning to understand how it was laid out, but I caught on pretty fast.
The plot is something I can relate to having had pen pals growing up. I never met them*, yet had a close link to them as my friends. In the modern world, pen pals are now internet friends. You know them, even though you never met them in person. I get it totally!
The plot is mainly about the friends that Jessica meets online in a website for an actor. They chat in groups off the main page and become very close friends. Her husband doesn't understand and is into his own world. She tries to get him involved and he makes fun of her.
They have 3 children and she is a stay at home mom trying to also write a book and get it published. I won't go more into the story, since I will reveal too much that you should find out for yourself.
This screen play is imaginative, heartwarming, romantic and funny. I definitely recommend reading it. I hope it is made into a movie some day.
* After writing to one of my pen pals for over 30 years, we finally met in 2005, and then again in 2015. When we met, it was just like we had always "seen" each other in person. Nothing odd at all about seeing each other in person, as I am sure internet friends would all understand.
The plot is something I can relate to having had pen pals growing up. I never met them*, yet had a close link to them as my friends. In the modern world, pen pals are now internet friends. You know them, even though you never met them in person. I get it totally!
The plot is mainly about the friends that Jessica meets online in a website for an actor. They chat in groups off the main page and become very close friends. Her husband doesn't understand and is into his own world. She tries to get him involved and he makes fun of her.
They have 3 children and she is a stay at home mom trying to also write a book and get it published. I won't go more into the story, since I will reveal too much that you should find out for yourself.
This screen play is imaginative, heartwarming, romantic and funny. I definitely recommend reading it. I hope it is made into a movie some day.
* After writing to one of my pen pals for over 30 years, we finally met in 2005, and then again in 2015. When we met, it was just like we had always "seen" each other in person. Nothing odd at all about seeing each other in person, as I am sure internet friends would all understand.
April 30, 2021
I loved it!
I've been in a Heather Grace Stewart reading kick lately, and I have to say, The Friends I've Never Met has been my favorite so far. It's a screenplay format so I kind of hesitated to jump in. But there was no need to shy away. I loved the progression of the relationships. Stewart's work usually has depth and relatability, but this one really resonated with me. So good. I laughed. I cried. And I cheered for triumphs.
I've been in a Heather Grace Stewart reading kick lately, and I have to say, The Friends I've Never Met has been my favorite so far. It's a screenplay format so I kind of hesitated to jump in. But there was no need to shy away. I loved the progression of the relationships. Stewart's work usually has depth and relatability, but this one really resonated with me. So good. I laughed. I cried. And I cheered for triumphs.
August 28, 2018
A gem of a script. Quickly put a smile on my face. Humor are one of the things I look for when reading a story ( in any kind of story format - novel, movie, screenplay) and Mrs Stewart's work is filled with joyfull and witty moments. I recommend reading this. It will pit a smile on your face. 🤗
February 8, 2023
Screen plays
Not my way to read, but the story is cute. I like the Jessica and Brian and Jack triangle, but I prefer to use my imagination for settings and such.
Not my way to read, but the story is cute. I like the Jessica and Brian and Jack triangle, but I prefer to use my imagination for settings and such.
February 9, 2024
The Friends I've Never Met
Meeting people through your phone.
Love this, love this author.
Meeting people through your phone.
Love this, love this author.
April 4, 2021
What a letdown
I really enjoyed her other two books, The Ticket and Good Nights. This is in an odd format - is it a screenplay? I gave up after 20% rather depressing. Had to give it one star to do a review. That's it. Back to Library books.
I really enjoyed her other two books, The Ticket and Good Nights. This is in an odd format - is it a screenplay? I gave up after 20% rather depressing. Had to give it one star to do a review. That's it. Back to Library books.
February 10, 2023
Terrible didn't even finish
Written like a script hard to fo!low love this author just not this book going to read heartwarming book 4 now
Written like a script hard to fo!low love this author just not this book going to read heartwarming book 4 now
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews