This was such a great and fun read. I did not expect the plot as I thought this would be just a fun mindless beach read that left you feeling good. Instead it took you on a journey and made sure you had a good time the entire way while leaving you afterwards with a fun feeling. Loved it!

No surprise here, just another 5 star read from the queen of romcoms, Emily Henry. At first I thought these two were just trauma bonding, and yes it was a bit of that, but honestly Miles really is the better match for her. If you don’t feel like you can just be you or that you don’t belong— honey he is not the one for you. And that’s what it was like with Peter. Meanwhile with Miles, she was having a whole different experience. It could be because they were friends first, since their former significant others were now together (yikes) and therefore obviously didn’t rush into anything romantic. But Miles is honestly just such a sweet guy, it’s impossible not to love him. He allowed her to explore more of herself without the constant anxiety of her insecurity of not being enough. I absolutely adored them. It wasn’t just one sided either; Miles had his own insecurities, and once Daphne realized them, she did her part.
One of the things I love about Emily Henry’s books are how quotable they are. I’ll definitely have to get a physical copy of this, because there were so many quotes and moments I wanted to tab. I highly recommend this one if you’re look to laugh, cry, and just have an overall great time with a romcom.

Thank you Berkley for the eARC!

Wow, what a great book 🥹 an easy 5 stars for me.

This was my first Emily Henry book and I am now in love with her writing style and the characters that she creates.

I love Miles so much and how caring and sweet he is with everyone around him, but especially with Daphne. He KNOWS her and SEES her. And she makes him feel deserving of love 😭

I related to Daphne so much throughout this book; the way she felt like a second choice to so many people in her life hit me hard but her growth throughout this story was amazing and the ending was perfect!

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:

“Life, I’d learned, is a revolving door. Most things that come into it only stay awhile.”

“He loves me. Present tense. And I love him. He knows me, and I see him.”

“You make love so easy, Daphne. You make me think I already deserve it, exactly how I am.”

“You aren’t what I pictured. You’re so, so much better than what my cynical little brain could’ve ever come up with.”

i have now read three emily henry books, and while she is undoubtedly a talented writer, what i find most fascinating is the loyalty of her readers; going to your nearest bookstore on release day for a book that is probably no less than $30 — that’s dedication. and you know what, i think i finally get it.

i didn’t have particularly high expectations for funny story, but in all transparency, this just might be my favorite book of hers, hovering right above beach read (which i thoroughly enjoyed) and book lovers (of which i have no recollection but still think highly). funny story is far from perfect, but it does a lot of things well, and that’s quite a feat considering it’s less than 400 pages (proof that less is more!) and, according to the reviews i’ve seen, her most “romantic” romance novel yet.

still — i think funny story, like her other books, straddles the line between lighthearted romcom and introspective women’s fiction. the banter in this one is some of the best she’s written — it’s reread worthy, the kind that makes you laugh out loud. the characters themselves are wonderfully written; it’s obvious that emily henry adores them. she crafted miles and daphne with so much care and thought, adding dimension to the characters through their experiences and focusing on how said experiences changed and ultimately shaped them into the miles and daphne we read about in this book. its rare for me to like one mc in a romance book, let alone both, but daphne felt so relatable — her thoughts mimicked my very own at times. and miles i had a soft spot for because how could you not? he’s this is me trying personified. and the romance? god, the romance. i’m a harsh rater, even more so when it comes to contemporary romance. but in every! one! of! her! books! emily henry prioritizes the emotional connection between the two main characters. and the way she develops their relationship and has them slowly open up to each other? it gets me. every. time. i live for their vulnerable moments, for their conversations about their pasts, about what haunts them, as much as i live for their banter.

despite this being first and foremost a romance, it is also a story about rediscovering yourself, relearning who you are and what you like and what you want out of life. it’s a reminder to live for yourself, to spend your days with the people you love, to love them without restraint or inhibition. the ending is beautifully uplifting, the last sentence tying back to the very first, the tone hopeful and reassuring. it’s what i think i needed right now as someone who’s entering her twenties and is so intimidated by the unknown, who’s tempted to run away from the unpredictability of it all. and i’m sure it’s a book i’ll come back to when, in five years, my life will probably make even less sense than it does now.

I loved it. This book is exactly what I needed. Just read it. Daphne + Miles have my whole heart 🩵

I’m in repeat awe of EMILY HENRY’s incredible writing and storytelling talent and FUNNY STORY hooked me from the start. And it didn’t take long for me to be legit, doubled-over, laughing on the side of the road 👉🏻 I was out for a walk while listening to the audiobook for some context. I never knew Jordan almonds could bring me to tears. The. Best.

Fake dating. Charming small town vibes. Heartbreak. A Michigan summer. Two ex’s that are too close for comfort. Found family. And actual family. And a story about what happens when the life you had all planned out goes totally off course.

When Daphne’s fiancé Peter breaks up with her to be with his childhood “I swear we’re just friends” bestie, Petra, she’s devastated. When Peter gives her a week to find a new place to live, she’s stunned. Daphne left her job, her friends and her mom to move to Peter’s lakeside hometown and now she’s lost everything.

The last place Daphne expected to turn for help was to Miles — aka Petra’s ex. But if anyone understands what she’s going through it’s Miles. They are the unlikeliest of roommates, but somewhere in that heartbreak a friendship starts to grow. And when they hatch a plan to make their exes jealous by pretending to date, things really get interesting. But it’s all just for show, right?

This story really struck a chord with me with the prospect of having life not go the way you expected and finding a way to keep moving forward. Miles and Daphne’s friendship is everything. No one knows how to banter like EMILY HENRY. There’s so much emotion woven into this story and so much warmth and tremendous humor. And kick that bedroom door open for some delicious scenes ❤️

I enjoy Emily Henry's books and I also enjoyed this one about a woman who gets dumped by her fiance and moves in with the boyfriend of the woman he left her for. Basically, 2 people leave their partners to get together and the remaining partners become roomies. It's an interesting set up and I've definitely wondered in the past if this happens in real life! It's got a lot of heart which I think is true of Emily Henry's books and the characters are multi-dimensional and very relatable. I just didn't buy into the chemistry or else I would have probably liked it more and it felt really long at times. Perhaps because the set up didn't leave a lot of room for anticipation? It was a fine romance read but nothing that blew me out of the water. The audiobook narration by Julia Whelan was fantastic, as usual! Highly recommend on audio!

Another gem of a book by Emily Henry. I loved the story of Mile and Daphne. Seeing them go from where they started to where the ended was truly a journey of personal growth for each of them. I love that 2 people that were complete opposites on paper where exactly what the other needed. They also had that superb friends to more energy/chemistry and I was 100% there for it. I also was a fan of the side characters. Not Peter and Petra, but the good people. All in all a great read for my 4th book of 2024. Get this on you TBR.

I loved Funny Story SO much! Em Hen can do no wrong. This book is perfect for summer reading- it will make you want to have an outdoor dinner party with friends and become a librarian. SO GOOD!

I haven't even finished it yet and I know it's already a 5-star book. The banter between the characters and the initial tension is just right!

Emily Henry did it again. She always writes books with such interesting characters and realistic dialog.

Audio Review: Julia Whelan is an amazing narrator and always does Emily Henry's books justice. This is no exception. The audio version is excellent, capturing characters, emotions and tone so well!

Review (Possible spoilers- read with caution!)
I'm taking deep breaths in attempts to curb my gushing. First, I live in Traverse City, MI and this book takes place in a fictionalized town in my region. The author is obviously familiar with the area. I actually attended a book signing at one of our local indies in 2018 when she wrote A Million Junes (excellent YA book) before she started writing romance. The knowledge of the area came through with details in Miles and Daphne's activities, the scenic descriptions, and even the grocery stores (she listed our three main grocery stores!). It was a delight to see my home through a different perspective. It makes me want to go exploring out my back door!

And Miles and Daphne. They might be my new favorite couple. I loved how nuanced their characters are- Emily Henry is magical with character development. I also loved the slow burn of their relationship. . And I especially loved their growth and hope and ability to trust and take a risk.

The side characters were equally awesome. I really am looking forward to a re-read. I always feel hopeful and grounded after reading one her books. And have a satisfied smile on my face.

Thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy with me. All opinions are my own.

It has been a bit since I've read an Emily Henry book and this one I was really excited for! I really liked the premise/set up for this book. Our characters felt drawn quite different emotionally (in my opinion) to Henry's usual suspects. We also got a bit more in the spice department this book and that was a pleasant surprise, but I am not sure how I felt about it at times, which is weird to say because I am not one to turn down a good sex scene. I honestly do think that this may be one of her weaker novels- while I have yet to read Happy Place, this one just felt different to me than her first three by way of there was not as much charm in the dialogue for me, and while I really liked Miles, he fell a little bit short on charisma that I felt like I was expecting based on his characterization. I think that theres so many layers to both Daphne and Miles that I would need to read this a few more times to be able to pick apart all of my thoughts thoroughly, but upon first read I am entertained and I enjoyed enough. My feelings are definitely very mixed on this book. I feel at the end that the romance was good and there was some classic trappings of an Emily Henry book, and is worth the read for sure, but I feel like if I read this again, my opinions may change some.

Thank you @prhaudio for the free audiobook!!

This book just added a new item on my bucket list: sleepover at a library. How are we going to make that happen, besties? 😂

So our female lead Daphne had always been part of a “we” - meaning she’s always in a relationship and makes her life revolve around said relationship that when her fiance ended things with her - she literally was almost left with nothing. No friends, far away from her family, no home.

And that’s how she ended being roommates with Miles - the ex of Daphne’s fiance’s current fiance. Talk about messy 😂

Finally!!! Emily Henry wrote a fake dating book!

I’ve read all of her books and this one is going to be another favorite (it didn’t beat Book Lovers as my number 1 EmHen though 😅) I love the found family subtrope, the witty dialogues, and I love that this digs deeper emotions other than romantic love.

I love reading all about the side characters too!! This is the spiciest EmHen so far, I’m not super bothered by it because the plot for this book is 👌I loved reading about the slow burn progress from friends to lovers too!! I think I didn’t enjoy it as much because I got so excited with the fake dating trope and I felt like it wasn’t utilized enough. It’s still a solid romance book though!

I have the physical copy of this book but I mostly listened to it on audio because @justjuliawhelan is just honestly amazing!!!

💭 What’s your last read for April?? Also, do we know of any May BOTM spoilers?!

#romancebooks #bookstagram #bookreviews #romancebookstagram #emilyhenry #funnystory #fakedating

I loved this so much. I love how relatable the characters felt and how realistic the story feels. I loved and savored every moment of it. The book cover design also makes me so happy.

Funny Story was my most anticipated read for 2024 and it did not disappoint. I loved this book SO much! No one tells a love story quite like Emily Henry does, and in my opinion, this was her most romantic book yet.

This love story had an unusual start with Daphne having to move in with Miles after her fiancé Peter abruptly ended their relationship for his childhood friend Petra, who was also Miles’ girlfriend. But their journey from roommates to friends to lovers was so beautiful and well-written.

I love how every book by Emily Henry has not only a compelling love story that readers can’t help but root for, but also characters with so much depth and relatability to them. Daphne and Miles were such relatable main characters and I deeply connected with their struggles. This book overall made me feel so seen and understood.

While Happy Place is still my #1 favourite book by Emily Henry, Funny Story is such a close second. I can’t wait to read what she writes next!

Funny Story by Emily Henry is a book I highly recommend. I am now an official fake dating trope fan. Add in the small town Midwest (Michigan) vibes, fun side characters, great banter, roommates to lovers (my husband and I's real life trope), and the introvert/we-girl finding herself I just loved it so much. Maybe it's just that I could relate so much to Daphne, or maybe it's just that the writing was so incredible (both true), but regardless, it is a true winner of a read. I'm declaring it my new Emily Henry favorite.

4.5 stars rounded up

I've once again reached the end of a new EmHen book and I', all the feelings at the feelings. I adored Daphne and Miles and their story so much. These two characters just felt so incredibly real, and human to me. It's there in their backstories, in their actions - there's just something so fully formed about Emily Henry characters, and because of that, I connect with them so well. I feel like I'm in the book with them, watching as they discover themselves.
I'm SUCH a big fan of the fake dating trope, and more especially when the two characters are trying to get back at their exes and realize that they love each other instead. Yeah, that's my catnip. So watching Daphne and Miles navigate this little charade they had going for Peter and Petra, while simultaneously building on a friendship - *chef's kiss*. Their chemistry, their banter (which in a Emily Henry books is also just TOP TIER, how does the woman do it??), all of it was making me swoon so hard.
And on top of that, Daphne's journey really involved more than just a romantic relationship, and I loved seeing her platonic friendships bloom. She is a character that truly needs genuine friendship, for just herself and the subplot with her and Ashleigh just made my heart melt just as much as the one with Miles. Again. it just made Daphne feel like a very well rounded character, that her life existed outside of being a "we" in a couple. There were just so many elements of this book that I enjoyed so much and it was hard to put the book down to sleep last night.

This was classic Emily Henry--a smart and enjoyable read that went down easy. The characters spoke to each other like they were in a therapy session, but I appreciate the emotional intelligence in the male lead. The miscommunication was a little frustrating, but I'm not a huge contemporary romance lover.

AHHHHHHHHHHH! Dear god. Whoever told me this was less devastating than Happy Place, you were only semi right. I’m pretty sure I just sobbed through the last quarter of this book. This was so beautifully written, I can’t even begin to put it into words.

I adored Daphne and Miles. Literally everything about both of them. Especially the things that made them seem so relatable. The chemistry between them was 🔥🔥🔥.

I will say that I wanted Peter to get hit by a bus every time he showed up in the book. Same with her dad. Both of them were absolutely insufferable jerks.

Spicy level on this wasn’t too bad. There were spicy parts but they weren’t graphic at all. Plus, they were over almost as fast as they started.

I’m really hoping the next one is about Ashleigh though. I loved her character and I want her to get a happy ending. She was so amazing.

This is only the second book I’ve read by Emily Henry but somehow, they keep getting better. I definitely recommend this book to anyone that’s a fan of romcom. It’s definitely going to be in my top 5 for the year.

Emily Henry is back!! After the disappointment that was Happy Place, I was a little nervous for this one, but I was very happily surprised! I would rank Funny Story behind Book Lovers as my top two favorites.

Daphne and Peter were headed to the alter when he suddenly calls off their wedding and announces his love for his best friend, Petra. Daphne has had to listen for years about how they are just good friends and as the wedding gets closer, Petra finally confesses her feelings and Peter agrees. Daphne is forced to move out quickly and finds a man empty room in Miles’ apartment. Miles is known as the man that Petra dumped for Peter.

The two mope together for a while and then decide enough is enough. They are getting their lives on track with work and making new friends. Daphne moved to Waning Bay for Peter and has few friends of her own. Miles and Daphne grow closer as they become friends and eventually confidantes for each other’s family issues. This one was one their main bonding points- they both have difficult relationships with their parents.

One of my favorite parts of the story is Daphne’s job. She has her dream job of children’s librarian. She’s passionate about her job and it was refreshing to see. She explains how she fell in love with the library as a kid when her father let her down and the library was a place she could always count on. I loved how all her new friends came through for her when it’s time for her big work event. This book is a love letter to the library.

Miles and Daphne have an almost instant love, which was a little fast for me, but they were already living together and they both needed a friend at the same time. I enjoyed their banter and their movie nights.