Meg Donohue's "All the Summer Girls"

Meg Donohue is the bestselling author of All the Summer Girls and How to Eat a Cupcake, which was translated into Dutch, German, Italian, and Polish. She has an MFA from Columbia University and a BA from Dartmouth College. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she now lives San Francisco with her husband, two young daughters, and Cole, her endearing Taiwanese rescue pup.

Here Donohue shares some ideas for casting an adaptation of All the Summer Girls:

I actually discuss (dream)casting the All the Summer Girls movie in a Q&A with my editor that appears in the back of the book. In it, I write about how difficult it is for me to pick actresses to fill my protagonists’ flip-flops. Still, it’s fun to try:

I’d like to see Kate, a straight-laced lawyer with a secret, played by Anna Kendrick. I think she’s a wonderful actress and could embody Kate’s mix of serious and sweet.

I’d pick Jessica Szohr for Vanessa, a beautiful New York art-dealer-turned-stay-at-home-mom. I thought Jessica was soulful (and gorgeous) on Gossip Girl, so I think she could handle the crossroads where Vanessa finds herself in the book.

For Dani, an aspiring writer with quite a few skeletons in her closet, I’d pick Kirsten Dunst. Dani is smart and funny but also hardened and lost. Kirsten Dunst has an appealing edge and could do her justice.

Check out my Pinterest board for images of these actresses and other scenes from All the Summer Girls.

Learn more about the book and author at Meg Donohue's website and blog.

The Page 69 Test: All the Summer Girls.

Writers Read: Meg Donohue.

--Marshal Zeringue