Writing
Ugh! As If!
My first book is a work of cultural criticism on the classic teen film Clueless (1995). Order a copy at your local independent book store or direct from the publisher, ECW.
From the publisher:
A sweet and sly exploration of the Jane Austen–inspired teen movie and its evergreen imperative to be kind, do better, and find the activist within.
We are totally butt-crazy in love with Clueless. Since the movie’s premiere in 1995, pop culture has mined Amy Heckerling’s high school comedy for inspiration, from Iggy Azalea and Charli XCX’s “Fancy” music video to Cher’s iconic yellow plaid suit appearing at every Halloween party.
In Ugh! As If!, Veronica Litt argues that this seemingly fluffy teen romp is the quintessential thinking woman’s movie, one in which the audience is asked to seriously consider the beauty and power of naïveté. Cher Horowitz’s gradual pivot from oblivious it girl to burgeoning activist is a powerful reminder that even the most unlikely people can change for the better and contribute to their communities. In this bright, shiny film, pursuing a more just society isn’t just possible — it’s enjoyable. This fun, feminine, feel-good movie is a counter-narrative to nihilism, a refusal to give into cynicism, hopelessness, and passivity. Almost without viewers noticing, Clueless teaches Cher, and us, how to become better. Like the film it examines, Ugh! As If! nudges even the most jaded viewer into feeling hopeful about the future.
Praise for Ugh! As If!
“Ugh! As If! makes a powerful argument for why we should keep inviting Amy Heckerling’s film into our lives, and it reminds us of comedy’s awesome power to connect us.” — Deidre Lynch, author of Loving Literature: A Cultural History
“Litt gives Clueless the intellectual importance it deserves, adding it to the canon of timeless women-led pictures.” — Marlowe Granados, author of Happy Hour _ “Veronica Litt, using _Clueless as her campy, colourful vessel, encourages us to love the art that moves us, to interrogate our notions of complacency and ignorance and, most importantly, to tell us not to give up the fight, whether it be on a global scale or confined to the halls of high school chaos.” — Mount Holyoke News
“Litt’s lively, original Ugh! As If! uses the brilliant teen movie Clueless as a lens to examine the broader cultural landscape with playfulness and depth.” — Emily Nussbaum, author of Cue the Sun!
“Just like Clueless, Ugh! As If! is an unabashed celebration of all things girly, bubbly, and bright. If you’ve been feeling jaded about the state of the world, this sweet, smart, and funny book is exactly what you need.” — Hannah McGregor, author of Clever Girl and A Sentimental Education
Press for Ugh! As If!
News
“Clueless is 30–As If! Here’s Why It’s Still a Totally Important Movie.”. The Kit. June 12, 2025.
“Clueless is 30–as if!–but what this totally important movie did for girly art is forever.” The Toronto Star. June 4, 2025.
“Iconic Movie Inspires Cape Breton Writer to take “Girly Art” Seriously in New Book.” CTV News. May 31, 2025.
Podcasts
[“Clueless.”] (https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/clueless-138/id1201927184?i=1000714447300). History of the 90s. June 25, 2025.
“SKYLIT: Veronica Litt, UGH! AS IF! CLUELESS.” Skylight Books Podcast. June 12, 2025.
“Veronica Litt on Clueless, the Enduring Appeal of Paul Rudd, and the Power of Girly Media.” On the Shelf with Honoura Quinn. June 1, 2025.
“Terminator 3: Terminator? I Barely Know’er!” The Juiciest Bits. May 31, 2025.
“Veronica Litt on the Cultural, and Lasting, Impact of Clueless.” Adult Education with Jeff St. Pierre. May 30, 2025.
Radio
Information Morning Halifax. CBC Radio 90.5 FM. June 5, 2025.
Dialogue. The Coast Radio 89.7 FM. May 18, 2025.
Reviews
“Ugh As If!”: New book tackles the ‘female gaze’ and Clueless.” Mount Holyoke News. February 10, 2025.
Television
“Veronica Litt discusses Ugh! As If! Clueless.” CTV News Atlantic. May 29, 2025.
Articles and Essays
Sometimes I write short essays. Here are links to a few on music videos set in the eighteenth century, letterpress printing, muumuus, villains, Tristram Shandy, and real-time stories.
Image Credit: “Old Maids at a Cat’s Funeral.” Courtesy of the Lewis Walpole Library Digital Assets Collection.