Editing You've Got Mail (section)

==Plot==
On Manhattan's [[Upper West Side]], Kathleen Kelly runs The Shop Around the Corner, an independent children's bookstore she inherited from her mother. Her romantic partner is Frank Navasky, a left-leaning columnist for ''[[The New York Observer]]''.{{efn|Frank Navasky was named after Nora Ephron's "friend [[Victor Navasky]], [at the time the] publisher and editorial director of ''[[The Nation]]''".<ref name=NYTimes1998>{{cite news |title=She's a Director With an Edge: She's a Writer |first=Dinitia |last=Smith|author-link=Dinitia Smith|date=December 13, 1998|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/13/movies/film-she-s-a-director-with-an-edge-she-s-a-writer.html}}</ref>}} While Frank is devoted to his typewriter, Kathleen prefers her laptop and using her [[AOL]] email account, under the [[User (computing)|screen name]] "Shopgirl", to exchange messages with "NY152", whom she first met in a chatroom. They agreed not to share specifics about their personal lives.

"NY152" is Joe Fox's screen name.{{efn|Joe Fox was named "after a book editor and former boyfriend [of Nora Ephron] who died in 1995."<ref name=NYTimes1998 />}} Joe's family runs Fox Books, a major bookstore chain, and he is dating Patricia Eden, an abrasive publisher. Joe is overseeing the opening of a new storefront, just a few blocks from The Shop Around the Corner. Kathleen's three shop assistants—George, Birdie, and Christina—worry the new Fox Books will hurt business, but Kathleen dismisses their concerns.

While on an outing with his 11-year-old aunt Annabel and 4-year-old half-brother Matthew, Joe takes them to Kathleen's store for a storytime event. Joe and Kathleen meet, but when she expresses disdain for the new Fox Books store, he withholds his last name. Later that week, Kathleen learns Joe's true identity when they meet again at a book publishing party. She accuses him of deception and spying, while he belittles her store, earning each other's hostility.

"Shopgirl" emails "NY152" asking for business advice; he urges she fight back. Frank pens a column supporting The Shop Around the Corner that draws widespread attention, leading to talk show appearances, news coverage, and picketing outside Fox Books. Joe is aggravated by the negative publicity, but his father says it will blow over once they open.

"Shopgirl" and "NY152" arrange to meet at a café. Joe arrives with Kevin, his Fox Books store manager. Kevin peeks through the window and informs Joe that his pen pal is actually his professional nemesis. Joe initially walks away, then joins Kathleen at the table without revealing his online identity. They clash again, and Kathleen insults him, causing Joe to leave. Kathleen believes "NY152" never showed up. Later that night, "Shopgirl" emails "NY152" to say she finally stood up to an unpleasant person but now feels terrible about it. "NY152" apologizes for not being there and assures Kathleen that anything she said to the other person was likely deserved and probably provoked.

Despite efforts to save The Shop Around the Corner, business steadily declines, while the new Fox Books thrives. Kathleen closes the store and decides she will write children's books. Later, she and Frank amicably end their relationship. Joe breaks up with Patricia and realizes his feelings for Kathleen. He slowly builds a face-to-face relationship with her, without revealing his online identity.

Eventually, "NY152" arranges another meeting with "Shopgirl". Right before the meetup, Joe sees Kathleen and confesses his feelings, imploring her to forgive his past animosity. Kathleen becomes emotional, hinting she feels the same but cannot forego her feelings for "NY152". Upon arriving at the meeting place, Kathleen, hearing a voice calling for Brinkley, "NY152's" dog, realizes it is Joe Fox. She says she hoped it would be him, and they kiss.