You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried

A deep dive into the Brat Pack, John Hughes, and the timeless movies they made together—“a must-have for fans of ’80s teen flicks” (Associated Press)

“As readable as it is informative, Susannah Gora’s book sets these influential films into a cultural and cinematic context—and provides compelling behind-the-scenes stories about the people who made them.”—Leonard Maltin

From Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and St. Elmo’s Fire to Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Say Anything, the films of the Brat Pack have influenced an entire generation who still want to believe life always turns out like an eighties movie.
 
You Couldn’t Ignore Me If You Tried takes us back to that golden age of youth cinema, telling for the first time the complete story behind how these films were made. Through original and revealing interviews with scores of key players like Molly Ringwald, Matthew Broderick, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall, Andrew McCarthy, Rob Lowe, John Cusack, Cameron Crowe, and Ally Sheedy, author Susannah Gora has crafted a sweeping tribute to a body of films that stirred an entire generation and a gripping account of the people who brought these films to life.“A must-have for fans of ’80s teen flicks . . . what makes it so readable is the juicy, behind-the-scenes stuff.”—Associated Press

“Gora interviews all the major actors and players anew, and knits together a narrative that, in the end, gives fans a clear, sound understanding of what commercial and cultural forces produced these films—Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Say Anything and more—and why they still mean a great deal to so many.”—Chicago Sun-Times

“As entertaining as it is seamlessly reported and written . . . a poignant homage to Hughes and his films.”—Elle

“I’ve become addicted to Susannah Gora’s . . . masterful documentation of Hughes and the Brat Pack films.”—Steve Spears, St. Petersburg TimesSusannah Gora is a film journalist who has written for Variety and Elle and was an editor at Premiere magazine. She appears regularly on networks like VH1, NBC, and E! to discuss entertainment news and pop culture.