Oh how I adored reading this book! It was funny, it was deeply real, and it was full of characters who were messy and complicated and so endearing. Chani was such a solid protagonist, and I loved the way the book encapsulated her very complicated feelings on her career and the article that made her famous, speaking to industry sexism and the moral chaos of celebrity interviews, but also to the question of what her life would be like without Gabe Parker, even though she only actually knew him for a few days. I loved the way the book was laid out, switching between past and present while also being interspersed with Chani's writings, as well as other reviews and tabloid articles. It painted such a good picture of Chani and Gabe and the world around them. And let me just say, I loved Chani and Gabe together, and I loved the tension of having a massive time gap between their interactions while also having both their lives fundamentally changed by their first meeting. There's far more tension of waiting for something to happen than there is steam in this book, but I found that it made every interaction between the two of them even more high stakes as they figure out where they're headed together. (Which I found to be excellent!!) I also want to give this book some bonus points for having a Jewish main character, with a Hebrew name that the love interest takes the time to actually pronounce correctly, and who actually mentions her Jewish identity (and not just once, in passing as so many books do).
Overall, I found it hard to put down and I truly loved reading it. I highly recommend!

3.5*

TJR fans, this one is for you!

<i> Funny You Should Ask </i> follows Gabe Parker and Chani Horowitz in this dual timeline celebrity-journalist second chance romance. Sussman's debut adult novel hits the mark with this funny, unique, and moving romance. We follow Chani Horowitz, a post-grad struggling journalist who gets the assignment of her dreams, an interview with the new James Bond, Gabe Parker. Sussman carefully unfolds this story in two timelines, the past during their first interview and their present, 10 years later when they reconnect for the interview that went viral. I enjoyed the not-so-mysterious mystery of what happened during the first interview and seeing how Gabe and Chani would deal with the aftermath. The highlight of the novel was the tone/narration. It very much reads like a celebrity gossip piece, but in the best possible way. It reminds me of <i> Daisy Jones and the Six </i>, so fans of made-up celebrity historical romances would really enjoy this one! I also think people who grew up reading self-insert fanfiction would like this too because it felt like such at times. I mean, an average journalist interviewing her celebrity crush who falls in love with her? Come on.

I have always been hesitant about second chance romances because they tend to always be down to timing and this is no exception. This makes sense because how could an average joe and a celebrity truly work out? We never find out as most of the novel is about if they will get together. Sussman also adds a dash of infidelity which I could have done without. Granted, there is no physical cheating, emotional cheating is just as bad, if not worse. Luckily, it didn't get as cringey as I thought it would and Sussman's background characters add much-needed breaks in the repetition of will-they-wont-they.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Every once in a while a book is so original and compelling that putting it down is difficult. Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman is one of those books. From the first, the reader is drawn to struggling writer Chani Horowitz who is given the chance of a lifetime when she is hired to interview movie star, Gabe Parker. What starts as a simple interview becomes a weekend that changes both of their lives. Filled with beautifully flawed and complex characters, each page draws the reader deeper into the story and leaves them with a vested interest in the outcome. Told in a mix of past and present the author has crafted a memorable and highly readable novel worth reading more than once. An excellent edition to anyone's library.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It's set in present day and 10 years ago. Writer Chani got her big break when an interview she did with Gabe an up & coming actor goes viral. I enjoyed the style of sprinkling in articles and journal posts throughout the story. I feel like reading this book was similar to a warm hug and a cozy beverage by a fire. The story flowed nicely and had me rooting for Chani & Gabe. A great read

The leads in this romance border on slightly too wacky and/or stalker-y for my taste. I did still enjoy it, mostly because I read a celebrity profile that I feel like the story either is or could be based on. It's a fun celebrity-normal person trope, but complicated by the fact that based on her articles as interjected throughout the book, I don't really buy the heroine as a great writer and the hero is definitely walking the is it creepy, is it a grand gesture line with some of his actions in the latter half.

Loved this book! Elissa Sussman nails everything about this romance, and truly has you hooked, not only on the love story but on the emotions of what it would be like to have been in an interview like that. She encapsulates falling in love at first site, but makes the 10 year wait so much sweeter and the pay off is so deserved.

3.5, rounded up for the algorithm.

Funny You Should Ask is a cute rom-com with compelling characters, told in chapters that alternate between 'then' and 'now'. I really liked the grounded take on the 'normal person and celebrity fall in love' trope, as it's not overly Hallmark-y. It feels perfectly believable that these two might be drawn to one another, and that the fallout after their whirlwind few days would result in them sort of existing in the periphery of each other's lives. Unlike many similar stories, there weren't many moments that were eye-rollingly over the top, or where the characters behaved completely irrationally because that was the only way to get them to the next plot point or argument.
My biggest hang ups with this book were that 1) the delineation between the timelines and stories was difficult to track, even with the separation in pages. I think the parallels between then and now were perhaps too similar, so I found myself getting confused and having to search for context clues to tell me what was happening, when; and 2) the author feels too present in her protagonist. Maybe I'm wrong, but Chani feels like a stand in for the author to such a specific extreme that I kept feeling like I was reading a high school student's fantasy. Not a huge problem, but something that kept taking me out of the moment.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a lighthearted, feel good romance that isn't overly cheesy.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It's set in present day and 10 years ago. Writer Chani got her big break when an interview she did with Gabe an up & coming actor goes viral. I enjoyed the style of sprinkling in articles and journal posts throughout the story. I feel like reading this book was similar to a warm hug and a cozy beverage by a fire. The story flowed nicely and had me rooting for Chani & Gabe. A great read!

<b>I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley.</b>

Funny You Should Ask features the unusual pairing of an A-list celebrity and a Hollywood writer who ends up falling head over heels for the actor she’s assigned to interview. The book is a unique example of the Second Chance Romance trope because it switches between their infamous article together ten years ago and the present time throughout the novel. Between the Then and Now chapters are intermittent gossip clippings to bring the story together from an outside perspective. These literary railroad couplings weren’t the most graceful and the writing caliber didn’t match Chani’s chapters. I’m sure this was done on purpose to mimic a Hollywood muckraker dishing on the scene, but it felt very clunky. I’ve seen this done better in other mixed media literature with more finesse in between chapters. I can see the author’s intention and applaud her creativity, but the metaphorical link and pin had this train with a few obstacles on its track.

My main beef with Funny You Should Ask was our dear couple in this love story. They weren’t easy to root for and I wasn’t invested in their endgame. They spent the majority of their courtship in relationships with other people and infidelity doesn’t belong in my definition of romance novel. What bothered me more than their complicated chemistry was the way Chani was written. Our heroine was a writer and that always winds its way back to the person creating these scenarios: the author. Everyone in the book told Chani what a talented writer she was and mentioned all the accolades she received for her pieces, but it was never shown in those newspaper clippings peppered in between chapters. It came across as one big ego stroke and it felt like Chani was an obvious vehicle for the author. There were some very specific opinions that felt out of place like Angels in America, The Philadelphia Story, and New York as a whole that Sussman felt she needed to express. They weren’t truly necessary to the plot and Chani operated as a mouthpiece for the author’s niche preferences. I personally don’t care for protagonists who write because it feels like the author is hiding off the page in Groucho Marx glasses where I’d rather just read about a career in baking, firefighting, or even zookeeping.

Despite my disdain for our couple, there was a lovely selection of tertiary characters on the sidelines. My favorite was Ollie, another handsome movie star and Gabe’s best friend. He was hilarious, charming, and I felt more chemistry towards him instead of with our love interest. Our hero’s family was just as supportive and their love for him was very apparent. Gabe was a very sweet hero with homegrown roots but he got lost in the dazzle of Hollywood as he became more famous. These secondary characters were a welcome respite from my disinterest in the couple. I’d be a lucky gal if any of these fictional characters had my back just like they did for Gabe.

I was sent this book unsolicited and I don’t believe I would have picked this up of my own accord. Second Chance Romance isn’t one of my buzzwords and the Hollywood background had the shallowness of a puddle. I liked the mixed media elements, but felt they were too sloppily done despite that specific intention. Gabe and Chani aren’t the most traditional couple, but I do love a happy ending. Funny You Should Ask guarantees that some questions are worth asking even if you’re afraid of the answer.

3.5 stars rounded down to 3

Well, for starters, I love this cover! It’s part of the reason I requested it on NetGalley. I was also very excited about the premise of the book: Hollywood celeb and journalist romance? Count me in. I love books that are based in and around Hollywood.

The story in general wasn’t groundbreaking, but it was enjoyable. And it was a very quick read. I do think I could have done without the reviews and random stories in between chapters because that coupled with the past/present timelines made it a bit confusing. Plus, it didn’t add much to the plot.

However, it was a sweet romance. I really enjoyed movie star, Gabe (he plays James Bond in this book!) especially in the present day chapters. There was clear chemistry between him and journalist, Chani, and I think the author wrote it very well.

All in all, it was a cute story. A little more cheesy than what I prefer, but if you’re an avid romance reader I think you’ll enjoy this one!

Pleasantly surprised by this book! I took the title literally and was expecting it to be LOL funny, so I was a bit disappointed when it wasn’t (but that is totally my fault for assuming). The story itself was really good and I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. It follows journalist, Chani, and ‘movie star’ Gabe and their first interview weekend 10 years prior and where are they are now. It was one of those books where you can relate to feelings and how people acted and reacted when they are in their 20’s. I was actually thinking ‘yep, I did that’ at certain points throughout the book (not with a movie star though). I am excited to read more books by this author in the near future! Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’d like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell, and Elissa Sussman for granting my wish of an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! This book follows Chani Horowitz as she interviews Gabe Parker 10 years after their original meeting.

I’m honestly not sure how I feel about this book. It was a mix between The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and a classic romcom and I enjoyed aspects of it a lot. I really loved the formatting and how it was told through articles as well as the original prose. These interludes were my favorite part of the story.

However, despite these good things about the novel, I never really felt the chemistry between the two main characters. I loved their backstory, but the scenes in the future seemed rushed and somewhat insta-lovey (despite their previous connection). Getting to learn more about the celebrities and different projects they were working on was super fun though and I loved Ollie as a side character.

The pacing was also a bit off for me, but this could just be a personal issue as many people thought it was fast-paced! I think I was just more interested in the past and preferred those chapters.

It’s clear that this book took a lot of inspiration from Evelyn Hugo, but a lot of it worked. Chani was a relatable main character and it was nice seeing the famous love interest fall for a “normal girl” - even though she is a successful writer. I am rating it three stars though because it was not without it’s issues. I recommend it to fans of romcoms who want something focused more on Hollywood and second-chance romances!

FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK completely blew me away. I went into it with very little information other than it was a romance between a celebrity and the journalist tasked with writing an article on him AND they eventually met up again ten years later after some pretty hefty life events. And while the celebrity/civilian romance is a well-loved trope, the way Elissa Sussman approached it was so addicting that I could barely put the book down. Interspersed with blog posts, articles, and reviews, the reader is able to see what actually happened behind the scenes with Gabe and Chani both in the past, when they spent a single weekend together, and the present.

I loved the second chance aspect of the book and how the past and present storylines seemed so parallel. Sussman also touches on the inferiority so many of us experience and the sometimes self-destructive ways we cope with those feelings. My only complaint is that I wish I was given more time with the characters!

I loved this book. First of all it features a normal woman who falls for a guy who is out of her league. I loved the use of articles and blogs to learn more about the character the same way her love interest does. Chani was such a funny and interesting character to follow throughout the story I didn’t want it to end. I also thought the two time lines was a creative touch that was implemented well and kept me curious about how things go down between the two characters. I would definitely recommend as a great read and I will be picking up this book when it is released.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

Over a whirlwind weekend of events and too much alcohol, Chani Horowitz has the chance to interview her screen heartthrob Gabe Parker. The article launched her career but left her with too many questions. Ten years later she has the opportunity to get answers plus much more.
Very interesting and captivating novel to be thoroughly enjoyed.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really wanted to like this book. While the approach to storytelling was unique - I didn't feel a lot of chemistry between the leads. I skimmed to finish, and thought the 'interludes' didn't add much.

This book was given to me as an ARC by NetGalley. Opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel! When I first received the email inviting me to read Funny You Should Ask, I was hesitant. The cover didn’t draw me in. But I am so glad I tried it! It gave me a lot of Seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes (the celebrity being interviewed, and going back and forth between two time lines) and since I loved that one, I truly loved this one as well. If Gabe Parker was real, I probably would have had a picture of him on my wall growing up. I enjoyed the build up of Gabe and Chiani’s relationship. Did they hook up 10 years ago? What really went down at that interview? And I loved the ending. Was it instalove and probably incredibly unrealistic? Maybe. But sometimes romance novels aren’t meant to be real life.

Chani and Gabe occupy different spaces of LA - she being an up and coming journalist and he a Hollywood heartthrob - until she is selected to interview him. While the interview does not go as planned, their separate careers skyrocket. 10 years later they reunite to recreate the interview. You can probably see where this is going, but forgive any predictability because it is a fun read with a good dousing of humor and entertainment.

Thank you to Ballantine/Random House for an advance reader’s copy. Funny You Should Ask hits U.S. shelves on April 12, 2022.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that if a book has a hot celebrity falling in love with a normie I WILL be all over it, and Funny You Should Ask was no exception. I was skeptical going into this book as the story spans over 10 years and bounces between the characters' initial meeting and a reunion 10 years later, but the author did an incredible job of pulling the story together and it didn't feel out of place like plots like this sometimes do. The banter in Funny You Should Ask was playful, the characters well-developed, and the look into the world of celebrities the taste of drama we all crave. All in all I loved reading Gabe and Chani's story, it felt like I was right there with them living out my lifelong dream of also marrying a rich, hot, and famous man. Elissa Sussman's future releases will definitely be at the top of my to-read list going forward!

I sat down and didn’t stand up until I finished this book - it was THAT good. 🚨🚨🚨

He’s one of hollywoods most handsome and she’s an up and coming reporter looking for her big break. After weekend long interview the go their separate ways… only to be reunited 10 years later.

This breezy romance was so addicting and utterly impossible to put down! Elissa wrote the book in both their past and present sprinkled with articles written by/or about them. This unique writing style really made me feel like I knew the characters. I could see their lives unfold… this book was an absolute masterpiece.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for a honest review!