I really enjoyed this book. The writing style was excellent and the characters were all fantastic and well developed. I would read more from this author!

Title: Funny You Should Ask
Author: Elissa Sussman
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5

Then. Twentysomething writer Chani Horowitz is stuck. While her former MFA classmates are nabbing book deals, she's in the trenches writing puff pieces. Then she's hired to write a profile of movie star Gabe Parker. The Gabe Parker--her forever celebrity crush, the object of her fantasies, the background photo on her phone--who's also just been cast as the new James Bond. It's terrifying and thrilling all at once . . . yet if she can keep her cool and nail the piece, it could be a huge win. Gabe will get good press, and her career will skyrocket. But what comes next proves to be life-changing in ways Chani never saw coming, as the interview turns into a whirlwind weekend that has the tabloids buzzing.

Now. Ten years later, after a brutal divorce and a heavy dose of therapy, Chani is back in Los Angeles, laser-focused on one thing: her work. But she's still spent the better part of the last decade getting asked about her deeply personal Gabe Parker profile at every turn. No matter what new essay collection or viral editorial she's promoting, it always comes back to Gabe. So when his PR team requests that they reunite for a second interview, she wants to say no. She wants to pretend that she's forgotten about the time they spent together, years ago. But the truth is that those seventy-two hours are still crystal clear, etched in her memory. And so . . . she says yes.

Chani knows that facing Gabe again also means facing feelings she's tried so hard to push away. Alternating between their first meeting and their reunion a decade later, this deliciously irresistible novel will have you hanging on until the last word.

This was an entertaining read, despite the…sheer unbelievability of the premise. Chani was an open-mouth-insert-both-feet person, so I was alternately horrified and amused at her shenanigans. This was a light and fluffy read, so nothing requiring too much thinking, but it was a fun way to spend a couple of hours.

Elissa Sussman lives in Los Angeles. Funny You Should Ask is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Random House/Ballantine in exchange for an honest review.)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s a very slow burn romance, the main characters, Chani and Gabe, have had feelings for each other for 10 years. Chani is a journalist and Gabe is a bona fide movie star.

Chani has always had a thing for Gabe, so when they have their first interview she’s a little starstruck. He’s rumored to be the next James Bond, and Chani ends up going to a premiere with him that ends up wi a party at Gabe’s house. She has a little too much to drink and ends up crashed in the dog bed. After the interview is published, all anyone asks is if she and Gabe spent the night together.

10 years later they’re both divorced and still attracted to each other, and Gabe wants Chani to interview him again. She’s reluctant because the first interview helped make her career, all due to “did they or didn’t they”? Can she get a better interview this time? What about their overwhelming chemistry?

I really liked reading this fun romance and recommend it. 4 stars.
After I’d read this book, I found some discussion about the similarities between the book and a GQ article about Chris Evans. I read that and the similarities exist, I don’t know if the authors know one another or not. The article didn’t change my opinion of the book.

Blurb:
“Then. Twentysomething writer Chani Horowitz is stuck. While her former MFA classmates are nabbing book deals, she's in the trenches writing puff pieces. Then she's hired to write a profile of movie star Gabe Parker. The Gabe Parker--her forever celebrity crush, the object of her fantasies, the background photo on her phone--who's also just been cast as the new James Bond. It's terrifying and thrilling all at once . . . yet if she can keep her cool and nail the piece, it could be a huge win. Gabe will get good press, and her career will skyrocket. But what comes next proves to be life-changing in ways Chani never saw coming, as the interview turns into a whirlwind weekend that has the tabloids buzzing.

Now. Ten years later, after a brutal divorce and a heavy dose of therapy, Chani is back in Los Angeles, laser-focused on one thing: her work. But she's still spent the better part of the last decade getting asked about her deeply personal Gabe Parker profile at every turn. No matter what new essay collection or viral editorial she's promoting, it always comes back to Gabe. So when his PR team requests that they reunite for a second interview, she wants to say no. She wants to pretend that she's forgotten about the time they spent together, years ago. But the truth is that those seventy-two hours are still crystal clear, etched in her memory. And so . . . she says yes.

Chani knows that facing Gabe again also means facing feelings she's tried so hard to push away. Alternating between their first meeting and their reunion a decade later, this deliciously irresistible novel will have you hanging on until the last word.”

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I’ve been very into romance lately and this didn’t disappoint. I love books about writers so that was a fun bonus as well. Laughed out loud many times! Will be recommending to my romcom loving friends.

The organization of the novel through me off several times as I kept forgetting where I was every time I picked up the book and I think it would be better enjoyed all in one or two go's rather than reading it over an extended period of time - I read it over a week in hour chunks. However about at about 60-70% I couldn't put the book down and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to a reread on a day I can do nothing but lose myself in Chani and Gabe's story and the final third of this book pushed the book from 3 stars to 4 for me.

I went into this thinking I would really love it, but sadly I did not. I had difficulty getting through this, and perhaps that is due to the time skipping it does between chapters (but I do believe it is a cool concept though). I couldn't connect with the characters or their romance, which came off insta-lovey to me.

Overall I gave it a 2/5 and a 1/5 on the spice scale.

Thank you Random House Publishing - Ballantine and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

I like the whole celebrity/non-celebrity trope so that part was fun! I thought there were a lot more layers to Gabe and I wish we would have gotten more from him. I wonder if this book would have worked better as dual POV? Some of Chani’s musings would have had to change, but I think getting to know how Gabe was feeling, might have made their connection easier to believe?

I have a difficult time with second chance romance – particularly when the first time is very brief (in the case of FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK, 3 days). Not only was the original “time” short, but the separation was long – 10 years. In a circumstance like that, I find it very difficult to get on board with the idea that these two people have fallen truly in love with each other (not just in lust) and have been pining away all these years. During the 3 days these characters spent together, there was a lot of drinking and partying and not a whole lot of actually getting to know one another. Therefore, hitching my wagon to the idea that these two fell in love one weekend 10 years ago and are still in love, was impossible for me.

Perhaps if they had had deeper, longer, more honest conversations with one another in the past, then I could have gotten on board? But it all seemed more like lust and infatuation than actual love. They spent such little time together I didn’t get their pull to one another or chemistry.

This kind of makes it sound like I didn’t like the book, but it’s not that I didn’t like it, I guess I just didn’t love it. I think was confused by their supposed connection more than anything.

I loved this book. It’s a story about your ‘what if’s’ from when you were younger. Not many people get to go back and explore what could have been, but after Chani gets divorced and is asked to interview celebrity Gabe Parker 10 years after she first interviewed him, she gets that chance.
This book was so fun. I loved how it flipped back and forth between past and present time and I loved watching their story unfold. This is going to be a great summer beach read!

Thank you #netgalley and #randomhouse #penguinrandomhouse for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely adored this book. Funny You Should Ask centers around Chani, a twenty-something writer who is tasked to interview and profile mega heartthrob Gabe Parker. This turns into a crazy weekend where no one knows what really happened. Now, Chani is ten years older and has to reunite with Gabe for a second interview, seeing him for the first time since that weekend.

I was HOOKED right from the beginning. I loved going back and forth between the past and present, trying to understand what happened between the two.

This is definitely going to be one of my top books of 2022. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a uniquely written book in that it wasn't your typical romance novel. It tells the story pretty seamlessly going between 10 years ago & today. It links them in a fun & interesting way. Chani was hired 10 years ago to write a piece on the next James Bond, Gabe Parker. He isn't a popular pick among fans. She is supposed to write a story that will show how he is the right choice. They meet for lunch but she ends up spending the whole weekend with him. There's speculation that something more happened between them & it launches Chani's career. 10 years later, she's hired again to interview him. I recommend reading this book to find out what exactly happened 10 years ago & what is happening in today's time. It's worth it!
Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Chani is given an opportunity that will make or break her new career as a journalist. She’s tasked with interviewing movie star Gabe Parker, who was recently cast as the new James Bond. The majority of people don’t seem too happy about this casting, and it’s up to Chani to paint Gabe in a good light to sway the opinions of the masses. One interview cascades into attending a movie premiere with Gabe which then turns into going to his house for a party, all within one weekend! Chani’s article accomplishes the original goal, but also springs her into stardom as she publishes her entire weekend experience.

Ten years have passed when Gabe’s team reaches out requesting a second interview. Chani agrees despite her reluctance. Finally, the two will get a chance to unearth everything that happened during that fateful weekend.

I am absolutely obsessed with the famous / non-famous romance trope and this did it pretty well. I was pretty confused by a lot of Gabe’s character motivation, but it was all made clear in the end. However, it felt like insta-love to me initially and I really don’t enjoy reading that trope (we later learn it wasn’t, but not until the last couple chapters).

I’m rating this a 3.5 but rounded up. This book was very entertaining and had me squealing at some moments, but I will confess that most of the time it’s very introspective regarding Chani’s life. I wanted to see more moments between her and Gabe, but it’s not like they really kept in touch much throughout the 10 years.

Ollie is the best side character ever. He was probably my favorite character in this entire book.

Overall, this was a pretty standard romance for me. Didn’t blow my mind, but also didn’t make me want to stop reading at any point. I recommend it based on Ollie alone.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was such a fun book to read! I loved the characters that Elissa Sussman created! Chani was a great main character, and Gabe was a heart throb movie star that Chani had a crush on. She is a writer with dreams of being a novelist but right now she is stuck writing fluff pieces. Then she gets hired to write an article about Gabe because he has been cast as the new James Bond. She is extremely nervous to do this but she knows if she is successful it could really boost her career.
The interview turns into something she never imagined. She ends up spending this whirlwind weekend with him including attending a premiere and after party, getting almost black out drunk and passing out on his bed. All very unprofessional. The biggest question on everyone's mind is did they hook up? Chani's lips are sealed. She refuses to tell. Fast forward 10 years, Gabe's PR team wants Chani to do a second interview. She wants to say no, but something keeps pulling her towards him.
This book was laugh out loud funny, full of great one-liners, Hollywood intrigue, and living the dream that many of us probably had of meeting a celebrity crush. It is also not a typical romantic comedy, there are more complicated issues with each of the characters. It also has a good amount of steam. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for romance fans!

I didn’t finish this book because while I really wanted to like it, I found it frustrating that she, a journalist, was crossing so many of the ethical boundaries of the profession. I myself am an editor at a magazine and studied journalism so I found it hard to read and out of touch with the realities of the industry.

I really, really liked this book - it was smart, tender, funny, sweet, and I flew through it. But even at 350 pages, things never felt quite fleshed out. I could have used another hundred pages in this book, in part because I really liked Gabe and Chana, but also because things just felt... not all the way there. I wasn't sufficiently convinced of their connection in the parts ten years ago, Gabe at some point references how his family loves her when the evidence seems to point to the contrary, and honestly I think it would have benefitted from being dual-POV.

But it was fun to read. Gabe's friend Ollie is a fucking delight, and I think the book takes a really kind, insightful look at what it means to be an alcoholic, and then an alcoholic in recovery. I'd definitely pick up future work from this author.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for providing me with an eARC in exchange from my honest review! It was so good, I had to go out and buy it as soon as it was released.

I loooved this book. The concept was so interesting and fun. A journalist interviews a Hollywood heartthrob set to be the next James Bond. The interview turns into something Chani Horowitz never would've planned as a journalist - she has a spontaneous weekend and ends up getting closer than expected with movie star Gabe Parker. Ten years later, Gabe Parker's PR team requests Chani for a second interview. And she wants to find out what that weekend a decade ago meant to him. So she says yes.

This book has so many tropes wrapped into one: celebrity + normal person, second-chance romance, dual timelines. It's got it all. I also loved the casual Jewish representation. I found myself relating a lot to Chani as a character, which made me love the book even more. And I absolutely swooned over Gabe Parker.

I felt that there was a lot of buildup, which I know was the point, but I would've loved to see more of their life together. I don't say this about many books, but I would've read 100 more pages of their relationship.

Overall, I adored this book. Definitely judge this book by the cover, because it's just as fun as it seems.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the digital arc of this book!

I am such a sucker for the celebrity dating and second chance romance tropes y’all, and this book didn’t disappoint!

This was a fun take on the second chance romance. Chani Horowitz got a once in a lifetime to interview her celebrity crush Gabe Parker, who is set to be the next James Bond. What was supposed to be just an interview turns into the interview going viral and a crazy weekend between the two. Ten years later, they are reunited as Chani prepares for a second interview with Gabe, but she doesn’t know if she’s ready to face him. Funny You Should Ask tells Chani and Gabe’s stories in a dual timeline with articles, blog posts, and interviews sprinkled in throughout the story, which I LOVED. This is a slow burn though, and when I say slow burn I mean SLOWWW. But there’s plenty of angst, plenty of drama, and I desperately wanted to know what happened between Chani and Gabe. I loved Chani as a character - she is someone that I would want as a friend IRL!

I really loved this book, and if second chance romance is your jam, then you will love it too!! 💖💖

***BOOK REVIEW***
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Funny You Should Ask
Author: Elissa Sussman

I enjoyed Funny You Should Ask. I liked seeing the growth that Chani and Gabe did in between their meetings. And now finding themselves led them back to each other.

At the end I wanted a little more than Gabe’s article. I would definitely recommend this book

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for of an honest review

Cute book but I find I did not connect with the characters as much as I wanted to. I wanted to love this book more as I have started to enjoy this trope more! The romance was cute, and I did enjoy watching our heroine take back her joy and happiness! I was rooting for them the whole book!! Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for providing this ARC!

A guilty pleasure read. I was wildly invested in the protagonist and devoured this book in two days. This rom com of a book follows Chani, a journalist, and Gabe, a handsome up-and-coming actor who spend three memorable days together in LA for an interview, and then find themselves in a similar interview ten years later. It’s a sweet and cheesy story with just the right amount of anticipation and humor. If that’s your thing, I highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's a whole lot of book, but somehow manages to feel like it's missing a good chunk. I came away from reading it not understanding how Gabe and Chani ended up together. Do these two even know each other? It's romance...I guess.