I cannot decide if I enjoyed Funny Story as much or more than Happy Place. I loved this book! I truly hated for it to end and have had many great conversations about it in the teachers lounge. While it was a little predictable, it was so very enjoyable.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced preview!

QUICK TAKE: If you like Emily Henry books, you’ll like her latest, FUNNY STORY, an “opposites attract” romcom about two jilted exes who pretend they’re dating in order to get revenge on the partners who wronged them. It’s basically a fictionalized version of the Shania Twain cheating scandal, and it’s a lot of fun. Henry infuses the story with heart and humor, and while her writing can be a little over-descriptive (if i have to read about the male romantic interest smelling like ginger one more time…), I think this is up there with BOOK LOVERS as one of my favorites by the author. I listened to this one on audio and thought Julia Whelan did a nice job, especially voicing the MC’s father and stepmom, Starfire (spin-off, please!).

Emily Henry gets better with each book she writes! Funny Story is no different - I literally read this book in one 24 hour period because I could not put it down. When Daphne's fiance tells her he has fallen for his childhood best friend, Petra, (at his bachelor party), her world comes crashing down. Peter not only dumps her, but forces her to move out of their home, leaving her alone in a small Michigan town in which she knows only Peter's friends. With no other options, Daphne moves in with Petra's jilted boyfriend, Miles. Completely opposite, the roommates don't have much in common other than their broken hearts. But one drunken night, after receiving the invitation to Peter and Petra's wedding, Daphne RSVPs to the wedding with a plus one, and convinces Miles to pretend to be her boyfriend to get back at their exes. As the two spend more time together and pretend to be smitten, a real connection develops. Miles helps Daphne grow, showing her around town, taking her on adventures, and introducing her to locals. No longer does Daphne feel like an outsider, and begins to doubt her decision to move back home at the end of the summer. Henry's writing, character development, and plot twists keep this a page turner (and why I got very little sleep that night!). As always, Henry's characters are a pleasure to get to know and her writing style is fun, relatable, and totally addicting.

Emily Henry's best work yet! I seem to find her books hit or miss, and as much as I hated Happy Place I loved Funny Story. The characters from Funny Story had trauma but were so much more mature. And the communication? *chef's kiss*

Once again Emily Henry does not disappoint! I have not read a single book by this author I have not absolutely adored, and I'm so happy to say this one was not any different! I loved the characters, the romance and her writing was just as good as before. This one might've made it to my top 3 Emily Henry books and i'll definitely be recommending!

“Let go of the people who don’t hold onto you.”

I finished this beauty the week it came out and have been sitting on my review for a long time…simply because I don’t have the words to express how much I loved it.

When two wonderful humans, Daphne and Miles, are wronged by their significant others who choose to leave them for one another, Daphne and Miles are both left scrambling. Daphne moves in with Miles but they keep to themselves for the most part. They’re roommates who have both been wronged by the same people. They’re roommates who are both hurting. They’re roommates who don’t like others to see them suffer.

At least…until that changes. At first, I had no idea what to think of Miles. He isn’t painted in the right light by every other character, until he gets the chance to show us his true self. This just goes to show how wrong people can be about a person until they’re given the chance to show who they are for themselves.

This book handles grief in an absolutely raw and beautiful way—which is something that’s not easy to capture in a genuine capacity. Grief, loss, betrayal…but then also growth, re-finding oneself, and a love of life mark each and every page of Funny Story.

I wasn’t sure I was going to love Daphne and Miles together, mostly because of just how different they seemed to be in the beginning. But opposites definitely can attract, and these two are a match made in an Emily Henry world.

I think what I love most about Emily’s stories is how real they are. Don’t get me wrong, they’re fictional and far-fetched at times, but the experiences her characters go through, the feelings they experience… they’re all real and have happened to many others. Who hasn’t felt betrayal, loss, and love at some point in their lives? Who hasn’t felt the desire for more? The need to chase your own dreams? The want to start over? Emily manages to capture all of this and more and give us a glimpse of just how wonderfully it could all turn out.

“I’m a cynic. And a cynic is a romantic who’s too scared to hope.”

Tropes:
- Opposites attract
- Ex-fiance’s new girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend
- Roommates to more
- Forced proximity
- Found family

First line: Some people are natural storytellers.

Summary: Daphne believes she has the perfect life. She is engaged to a wonderful man, has the job of her dreams (a children’s librarian) and lives in the beautiful town of Waning Bay, Wisconsin. But it all comes crashing down when her fiancé, Peter, realizes that he is in love with his best friend, Petra. In a spur of the moment decision, Daphne accepts the offer to move in with Petra’s ex, Miles.

While most days are spent avoiding each other, one night they form a bond over their shared heartache leading Daphne to accidentally insinuate to Peter that her and Miles are now a couple. As the two spend more time together and just happen to post photos of the two of them, Daphne starts to wonder if her friendship with Miles may become more than either of them expected. Maybe their fake relationship has become more real than pretend?

My Thoughts: I absolutely adored this book! It is definitely my favorite of Emily Henry’s rom-com books so far. She writes interesting characters (ones that all seem to be a part of the book world), who are witty and people that are easy to cheer for.

I loved the relationship between Daphne and Miles. The unlikely pairing who perfectly complement each other. She is the tight laced librarian and he is the free spirit bartender. We have all seen this movie or read this book. It is predictable but fun! But Henry adds backstories to each that make their relationships with everyone around them more complicated. And then there is the wonderful cast of supporting characters who add wisecracks as well as insight into the main characters. I wanted to live in this book.

If you are looking for a book to take on vacation, read by the pool or add to your Summer Reading Program TBR, then I would highly recommend this! However, I would also recommend any other books as well. They all pair well with the summer vibes that are nearly here.

My review for Funny Story is available at Washington Square News, New York University's student-run newspaper.

This was my first Emily Henry read and I can definitely see why she is so popular. Overall I really enjoyed the book but I did think that some of the overlapping plot lines got to be a bit much. I enjoyed the premise of the crossed relationships and trying to make lemonade out of life's lemons. The love interests were fun together and some of the initial awkwardness made sense with the plot instead of feeling cringy that I sometimes find in other books.

Funny Story may just be my favorite Emily Henry book yet.
I admit I still haven't read a couple, but I really, really loved book lovers and this topped that for me. Something about "I threw some almonds at them and they drove away" only 4% in had me like actually guffawing, and I knew I was in for a great time with the rest of the book.
I loved the building of their friendship, the fake dating, the real dating, the way people surprise you, everything about this was a hit for me!

i cannot explain how much i adored this book, i know emily henry can do no wrong but it still surprised me how much i liked it, just after finishing it i immediately wanted to reread it! the characters, the romance, the quotes, it made me fall in love again.

Thank you to @berkelypub and @librofm for the #gifted copy.

I listened to this one on audio and the narration was on point!

I don't often read romances, but this book gave me all the feels. I laughed and I cried. I felt sorry for Daphne in so many ways. We have all been there right? Perfect guy. Perfect relationship. Until its not! Daddy issues. Ugh. Daphne manages to turn it all around somehow. Worth the read especially if you are a heavy thriller reader like me.

“All those moments throughout the days, weeks, months that don't get marked on calendars with hand-drawn stars or little stickers.
Those are the moments that make a life.
Not grand gestures, but mundane details that, over time, accumulate until you have a home, instead of a house.
The things that matter.
The things I can't stop longing for.” | 🏡

Emily Henry has done it again, with her new release of contemporary romance novel “Funny Story”. This one was a bit of a slower start for me. I think the dynamic between the fake dating trope of main character Daphne’s (stay with me here) ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex just felt a bit rushed. But once it hit Chapter 12 (🌶️), I was on board.

After a breakup, Daphne realizes that a lot of what she knows/thinks of herself, is actually based on her ex-partner and the roots they put down around his interests and life. Now, she tries to find herself and build relationships around “…a complete kind of safety. Like being in a womb. Like lying on a quilt in the yard of our old house, the one we shared with Dad, on a summer day, legs tickling as a roly-poly climbed over the back of my calf. Like being tucked back in the library stacks with no one around and a good selection.”

Emily Henry’s newest book, “Funny Story”, will be released on April 23, 2024 and I was lucky enough to receive an ARC (thank you Penguin! 🎁). Emily Henry is not a new name to this page (and likely your social feeds!). If you haven’t picked up one of her titles before, my suggestion is to fall in love with her writing in “Happy Place” first.

I enjoyed this book. Daphne’s story was well developed. I loved the library/winery/Michigan setting. Ashleigh and Julia were great supporting characters. Funny Story is definitely one of my top Emily Henry books.

Emily Henry's books can be hit or miss for me. I absolutely *loved* PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION but disliked many things about BEACH READ and HAPPY PLACE. Still, I can't seem to stop auto-buying her books because there's something I love about her writing/prose—it never fails, there are always a handful of lines that jump off the page as being utterly perfect—and I'm always hoping to find another masterpiece like PWMoV.

The brokenhearted roommates-to-lovers aspect of FUNNY STORY was really great. I felt the main characters' chemistry in my gut, which is a testament to Henry's strong writing. Yet, everything outside of the romance felt uneven. For example, I never really got Miles. His backstory felt like an afterthought, and while he was an extremely likable character, I never felt like I really knew or understood him.

(Editorial note: I think this story would've worked way better if it had been written in dual POV.)

I also think the title is misleading. This isn't as humorous as some of Henry's other stories, although there are some funny/witty lines. But overall, it's not a funny story. If you're looking for a rom-com, this won't fit the bill.

That said, I enjoyed a lot about the book. The surrounding cast of characters was fun, and the romance pacing was great. I just have high expectations for Emily Henry books, I guess—I want the storytelling to be as perfect as the writing.

RATING: B+ (4½ stars)

Emily Henry is my favorite author so there is no way for me to review this without bias. I think all I can say is I NEVER thought Beach Read would fall from my #1 Henry ranking...and my #1 is now Funny Story. Hilarious, heart warming, swoon-worthy. Checks all of the boxes and then some.

Thank you to @berkleyromance, @librofm, and @prhaudio for the review copies!

I was not prepared for how heavy the parental trauma was going to be in this one - definitely reach out or look up the content warnings if that’s an area of sensitivity.

As much as I tend towards fluffy romances than ones like this that make me feel my feelings, I absolutely adored Funny Story. Emily Henry is a master at balancing humor, romance, and deep feelings to create a story that sticks with you for a long time after reading it. In fact, I loved it so much that it took me weeks before I could read another contemporary romance book, because nothing held up to this masterpiece.

In the very beginning, I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this one, because the premise includes my least favorite trope of “ooops I’m actually in love with my best friend” and our introduction to Miles gave me the ick. But I was quickly drawn into the story, and absolutely loved both Daphne and Miles.

🎧 Julia Whelan is simply a master storyteller. It is always a treat to listen to her work and completely lose yourself in the story.

Another winner from Emily Henry! Miles was the best book boyfriend and him and Daphne had my heart. I loved the premise of them being forced to live together because their exes, who were childhood friends, decided they were in love and broke Miles and Daphne's hearts. This had a lot of funny laugh out loud moments as well as the sweet and emotional ones that Emily Henry is know for.

4.5⭐️!

emily henry literally does not disappoint!! this book had me HOOKED from the start!! literally was the most perfect release to happen right around taylor swifts ttpd!! like, how did they plan that??

anyway, i absolutely adores miles & daphne! they were so fun!! i do have to say, out of all of emily’s books, i feel like this is a book that so many people can relate to. i mean other than the fact of living with your ex’s ex. this book felt like it was written about two average joes. don’t get me wrong, i looooooved them!! but it just felt like such a relatable story about two normal people who found each other & fell in love.

i highly recommend reading this book still!! so so good!!

DNF @ 65%. I was so incredibly bored, sadly. My friend filled me in on the ending. It was just a miss for me, but not every book is for every reader, and that’s okay! Thank you so much for letting me ready early. 🩵