I received a gifted audiobook FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing and PRH Audio and for the opportunity to read and review!

FUNNY STORY follows Daphne, a woman who thought she had her life on the right track. When her fiancé Peter dumps her for his old friend Petra, she finds herself still living in his hometown without friends to call her own and without knowing what is next in her own story. Her job as a children's librarian fills her heart, but not her bank account, leaving her wondering how to make ends meet.

Daphne's first solution is to suggest becoming roommates with Miles, the man that Petra dumped to be with Peter. Miles is the everyone's best friend type while Daphne is the polar opposite. Still, they begin to strike up a friendship, one that of course has the potential to be more.

I think this is my new favorite Emily Henry! I loved the librarian main character and the library love that this book delivered. The blurb for the book calls Miles and Daphne opposites, but I think it is more that Miles is comfortable in his home and his surroundings while Daphne hasn't really had the chance to be fully herself in this environment having made a home and friendships only in the context of being with Peter. I loved the self discovery that Daphne embarked in and the way that the romance part of the book was only a part of the big picture.

This book has a lot of great discussions about friendship and family, and the need to set boundaries in your life to keep things in balance. I loved that we got to see the evolution of friendships and romance and found family all really balanced together! The story brought in humor and also heart tugging emotion as well!

This was a fantastic read and the audiobook with Julia Whelan narrating was of course fantastic! I binge read the whole thing in a single day!

Emily Henry is the romance writer of our generation!!

Nobody pieces together these stories the way she does. And while I know you all love her and probably don’t need me to tell you to read this book 😂 I’m going to say it anyway ! Read this one friends!

Funny Story may just be one of my favorite reads of the year so far. Emily flawlessly writes about love loss and navigating the complexity of adult life in general, and for her books I’ll forever be grateful ❤️

I LOVED IT. Dare I say that it may be my favorite Emily Henry? Do you have a favorite?

It was the story of a man and a woman thrown together as roommates after their significant others broke up with them to be together. Opposites attract, close proximity, all of that. But with that perfect Emily Henry timing and banter. And a sock to the gut with heavy emotions that had me crying. I truly laughed and cried in the same paragraph. What lovable characters. What a heartwarming romcom. All the stars. All of them. My heart is full.

Emily Henry does it again. Her romances are engaging and suck you into the story and the characters. Funny Story will be another great addition to her collection.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the electronic advanced copy.

First Impressions: Whiney Babies

Okay, hear me out. In Funny Story, the main character (Daphne) and her mom played a game called Whiney Babies when Daphne was a kid. The goal is to go back and forth with complaints getting more and more petty until the person with the most ridiculous, inane complaint wins.

So! It’s not like this cover is bad; it’s exactly in line with the previous artwork for Emily Henry’s books. But like, would it kill the publisher to change it up a little? Yes, the illustration is super accurate, down to Miles’ Crocs (bless), but this is same old same old. I don’t know what would be better, I’m just complaining that it could be better. And that’s how you win Whiney Babies.

(I do hear all of you freaking out about how, if they change the design, you have to order all new editions, but y’all, we’re already there.)

What’s Your Type?

Fake Dating
Small Town Romance
Librarians
Bearded Bartenders
Dating Profile:

Having spent her adolescence constantly moving around with her mom, Daphne couldn’t believe her good fortune when she (literally) ran into Peter, a successful golden boy who held the promise of a happy life filled with contentment and their future children. They eventually got engaged, and she followed him to Waning Bay, a charming town on Lake Michigan, where the next chapter of their lives together could begin. Unfortunately, that next chapter drastically switched up the narrative, and now Peter is engaged to his best friend, Petra, and Daphne has moved in with Petra’s ex, Miles. Yeah, it’s NOT GREAT.

Daphne begins planning her exit from Waning Bay, but she feels a duty to stick around until after the Read-A-Thon, a huge event for kids and teens that she’s planning at the library where she works. Determined to just push through her grief, Daphne isn’t prepared for two glossy envelopes in the mail inviting her and Miles to Peter and Petra’s wedding. OBVIOUSLY these roomies have no choice but to RSVP yes, together, and pretend to be a couple in the weeks leading up to the nuptials (a decision made after a drunken night at a bar called Meatlocker, of course). But as Miles shows Daphne the best nooks and crannies of Waning Bay, she begins to question her decision to leave, not to mention her feelings for Miles, and what her vision of future happiness truly looks like.

Meet Cute: Make It a Double, Bartender

I never met an Emily Henry heroine I didn’t like, and Daphne is no exception! First of all, she’s a librarian. Immediate fan. She’s also got a killer sense of humor wrapped in a socially awkward package (again, fan!), and she’s well aware that she does not have her shit figured out. While her relationship with her mom is close and sweet and BFF vibes, her self-esteem is still haunted by her fair-weather father, who waltzed in and out of her life as a kid and continues to do so even though she’s a grownass woman. Daphne allowed herself to become completely absorbed in being a “we” with Peter, and now she has to figure out her own self, and though it’s a messy process, I was happy to be along for the ride.

Miles! Miles is an angel with whiskey breath. Miles has a beard and messy hair and works as a bartender at a winery. Miles grieves the loss of Petra by playing Bridget Jones’ Diary at top volume and crying his eyes out. After he and Daphne post their first pic as a “couple” on Instagram, Miles asks, “Are we evil or just immature?” He starts to read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe at Daphne’s behest and texts her things like “i want to live w the beavers” and “wat is turkish delight” and “edmund needs 2 chill.” I MEAN ADORABLE. Apologies for including a whole freaking paragraph from the book but I can’t explain Miles’ je ne sais quoi better than Emily Henry (the passage starts with Daphne speaking):

“Nah, cool, laid-back girls never face consequences for their spontaneity. It’s how they’re able to keep being cool and laid-back. They’re genetically predisposed to health. They’re not allergic to poison ivy or shellfish, and they never get migraines, even if they only sleep for three hours in a cold tent, and they never burn in the sun.”

“Huh,” he says.

“What?” I ask, right as I spot Julia in line at the food truck, waving us over.

“I just realized I’m a cool, laid-back girl,” Miles says.

Yes, Miles. Yes, you are. And that means, as much as y’all try to fight it, you’re the perfect match for Daphne, who is neither cool nor laidback. But more on that below!

The Lean: Like That Sweet Burn of Booze

Daphne and Miles are both crushed by their break-ups, and Emily Henry is incredibly skillful in the way that she lights a fire between them while never watering down their grief. Sure, it doesn’t take Daphne long to notice that Miles is a hot AF magnet who effortlessly charms every single person in the room, but she also needs him as a friend, and as much as I was thinking JUST GET TOGETHER ALREADY, I understood both characters’ reluctance to act on their desires, because they truly become each others’ #1 confidantes and supporters.

Dirty Talk: Shirley Temple

There weren’t actually a ton of sexy times in this book? I’m okay with it, because Daphne and Miles’ refusal to take things to Boning Levels makes for some simmering tension. I particularly loved this line about Miles:

“…casting one last glance over his shoulder, a hazy look that makes me feel like a Christmas present he’s one sleep away from unwrapping.”

But also, seriously, IS IT MORNING YET?!!!

Ms. Perky’s Prize for Purplest Prose:

I lean back into my palms, breath quickening as he brushes my underwear aside, presses his mouth to me, murmurs my name in a low gravel that makes everything in me pull taut. I work my hips against him, his hands skating around to guide my movement until I feel like I can’t breathe, can’t see, like my heart might crack through my ribs if I can’t have more of him.

We Need to Talk: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Per usual, Emily Henry has staged her smokin’ romance in a world I desperately want to live in. Waning Bay is eccentric and darling and a little bit country, with a bar called BARn (with goats!), secret beaches, farmstands out the wazoo, and poker nights with sassy old people. It’s also the home to Ashleigh, a fellow librarian who becomes Daphne’s best gal pal. Ashleigh freaking rules. She named her son Mulder after The X-Files, y’all. At one point, she straight up says, “I’m the fun, take-charge one.” And when she meets Miles:

“Charmed,” she says, suddenly a Gilded Age heiress.

I only pray that someday, Emily Henry will consider doing a spin-off because I need more Ashleigh in my life!!!

Was It Good For You: Pleased As (Spiked) Punch

Just like the best nights at your neighborhood bar, Funny Story is a freaking great time. The chemistry between the two leads will leave you with an extremely pleasant buzz, and it’s crackling with characters you wouldn’t mind shutting the place down with. It may not be Emily Henry’s hottest book, but I would argue it’s her funniest, and she still packs that emotional punch that makes all of her stories linger in your heart long after the frisson of the romance subsides.

"Funny Story" by Emily Henry had me hooked from the start with its quirky premise and endearing characters. Initially heartbroken, Daphne finds herself in a hilariously awkward living situation with Miles, her ex-fiancé's ex-fiancé. Despite the odd circumstances, their budding friendship brings unexpected joy and growth. As Daphne navigates her newfound independence and discovers the charms of Michigan, Miles proves to be a supportive and genuine companion. Despite her initial reluctance, Daphne's journey towards self-discovery and genuine connections is both relatable and heartwarming. Henry's witty writing and delightful characters kept me entertained throughout. I found myself rooting for Daphne and Miles as they navigated life's twists and turns together.

Overall, "Funny Story" is a delightful blend of humor, heart, and growth that left me smiling long after I turned the last page.

Very grateful to the publisher for my copy, opinions are my own.

Roommates to lovers
Fake dating
Opposites attract
Cinnamon roll hero
Childhood neglect/trauma

When Daphne's fiance, Peter, dumps her for his childhood friend, Daphne, now homeless, moves in with Miles, the ex-boyfriend of the woman Peter dumped Daphne for. And when Daphne and Miles recieve an invitation to their exes', Peter and Petra's, wedding, they decide to RSVP as a couple and pretend they are dating.

Funny Story was one of my most anticipated spring reads. I liked both Daphne and Miles and enjoyed their angsty romance. Both Miles and Daphne have childhood trauma they need to overcome to have a healthy relationship. There is a bit of miscommunication and a third-act break-up, which I didn't love, but overall, I enjoyed Funny Story. This book is not my favorite book by Emily Henry. This honor is reserved for Beach Read, but Funny Story is still an enjoyable rom-com/contemporary romance.

Funny Story is officially my favorite Emily Henry book. Miles and Daphne (is this a nod to Frasier? Yes I know it's Niles and Daphne but the idea struck me and I haven't been able to get it out of my head) were really cute together and I think they made each other better people. I didn't much care for Daphne at the beginning of the story but as she started to open up to the people around her and her community, I began to understand her more and started to see past that wall she so carefully built, just like the characters of the story.

This book has fake dating, strangers to roommates to friends to lovers and quirky small town environment in addition to some really wonderful side characters I'd love to see get books of their own. A very happy pub day to Emily Henry as her newest book enters the world!

Many thanks to @berkleyromance and @letstalkbookspromo for the ARC.

I am officially an EmHen stan! a fan! an enthusiast, if you will! this is without a doubt my favorite emily henry book and I will actually never shut up about how perfect this book is 😌

the writing in itself was absolutely jaw-droopingly beautiful! the way she can just suck you into this world with these characters is unmatched and I have never wanted to live in Michigan as bad as I did when I finished the book.

daphne is me. i am daphne. daphne the definition of people pleaser and just getting sucked into other people’s orbit and not knowing where exactly she fits and I just wanted to give her the biggest hug throughout the entire book. and miles?!?! HE’S SO BABYGIRL!! he just wanted to feel like loving him wasn’t an imposition and i’m so deeply in love with him. the buildup of their friendship was absolute perfection, and I just love the fact that they lived together and went through the motions of their break ups while getting to know each other. the tension between them was IMMACULATE and I was giggling and swooning the entire time.

my favorite part of this book (aside from the romance) was the real & raw portrayals of platonic and familial relationships and how important it is to nurture those relationships and I think it goes without saying ashleigh was the standout character. she was hilarious and everything that came out of her mouth had me cackling.

this book has my whole heart and I will forever be a comfort read for me! and it must be said please beware of the ‘reading funny story’ to ‘horrendous reading slump’ pipeline!

Emily Henry has done it again folks. Are we surprised?

Daphne & Miles felt so real to me, it was scary. These two are without a doubt EH's most 'realistic' or 'flawed' characters and I LOVED it. Sometimes EH characters feel so unattainable (don't get me wrong I still love them) but Daphne and Miles could realistically be someone in my every day life. At their core they are good people who were wronged by their exes.

I laughed with these two, I definitely cried with these two, I just absolutely ADORE them. these two deserve the world. let me not fail to mention the tension between these two either. I literally wanted to interject myself in the book and smash their faces together.

Witnessing Daphne's growth made proud. like genuinely so proud. I really, REALLY, resonated with how Daphne shut people out in as a way to avoid disappointment, and my god, was it just so REAL. (I know I've said real so many times here, but please believe me. this book is REAL!)

I am extremely grateful for this advanced copy. Thank you so much Berkley!

I NEED 12 TO 14 BUSINESS DAYS TO PROCESS MY EMOTIONS UNTIL I CAN STAND TO THINK ABOUT THESE TWO WITH FEELING VIOLENTLY ILL. Emily Henry’s brain is a beautiful gift to the world. Every book she writes she writes just for me I swear. Once again, she just blew me away with Miles and Daphne

Emily Henry has knocked it out of the park yet again with her latest novel, Funny Story. It’s the perfect blend of heartache, humor, and healing, and I devoured it in a couple of sittings.

When we meet Daphne, she has just been dumped by her fiance Peter, who has decided, at his bachelor party of all places, that he would rather be with his childhood best friend, Petra. Since the house they were living in is in Peter’s name, this leaves Daphne homeless until Petra’s ex, Miles, invites her to move in with him now that he finds himself dumped and living alone.

I fell so hard for both Daphne and Miles. On the surface, they seem to have nothing in common – Daphne is a children’s librarian who has basically let Peter dictate most of her life’s choices, while Miles comes across as a stoner who spends most of his time either high or tending bar. As the two of them start to bond, however, Daphne quickly realizes there’s more to Miles than meets the eye and he realizes the same about her. Even though they initially started hanging out as a way to mourn their breakups and then shift to fake dating to make their exes jealous, they eventually start to do things together simply because they enjoy each other’s company.

I loved the chemistry and the easy banter between Daphne and Miles. Their evolution from roommates to lovers is fun, flirty, and just an all around good time. The star of the show for me though is actually the more emotional journey that each character takes on their path to healing. I thought Henry just did such a beautiful job seamlessly weaving in those more emotional moments with all of the fun ones.

Funny Story is Emily Henry at her best, so be sure to pick up a copy.

Emily Henry writes people in the most beautiful way. She has the ability to pull you into a sweet and funny romance while also allowing you to find little pieces of yourself in the characters and their journeys. While I didn’t personally connect to this one as much as I have her others, I still really enjoyed it and found the romance to be so sweeet. They both found someone who truly sees and appreciates them, and isn’t that what we all want!!!!

..𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴..

Perhaps my favorite Emily Henry thus far. I think she’s writing towards being the Nora Ephron of our generation and each new book perfects kinks from the last. Her characters are loving here, so full, so soap opera melodrama real.

Though it tinges on pseudo-therapy a bit, it’s enjoyable! Immediately Lifetime movie-esque. Darling.

For Emily Henry fans and definitely a great intro to her work ✨💛

Thank you to @netgalley @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


Maybe it’s me, or maybe it’s @emilyhenrywrites. But I can’t help but fall in love with her books. Funny Story is no exception. I can’t help but cheer for her main characters, and the side characters are a chef’s kiss. Julia and Ashley can be my wingwomen any night!


Daphne has become a cameleon in life with the exception of her career and is left to discover who she really is when her fiance calls off their engagement. I truly loved the development of the relationship between Daphne and Miles, but the female friendships and found family that grew out of this book stole my heart.


I read and listened to this book. I couldn’t pass up a book narrated by @justjuliawhelan <3 She just has a way of bringing life to characters and stories that just melt my heart.


5 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #berkleypub #audible #netgalley #goodreads #ltbreaderteam #funnystory #emilyhenry #juliawhelan

Funny Story ❤️‍🩹
By: Emily Henry
Story: ✨✨✨ 3.9/5

Thank ypu @berkleypub and @netgalley for an e-arc of Funny Story by Emily Henry!

In the words of the infamous Jay-Z:

“Boy meets girl, girl perfect woman…”

Well, at least that’s how it was supposed to be for Daphne. In just a few weeks, she was set to marry the man of her dreams.

That is until one night her fiancé, Peter, comes home to announce that he is leaving her. And for who? One of his friends from childhood, Petra. And I might add, that Petra is leaving her currently relationship with her boyfriend, Miles.

Now lost and heartbroken, Daphne only has one person she can turn to after following Peter across the country. She asks Miles to be roommates.

Miles and Daphne couldn’t be more different. So, what happens when they start to spend more time with each other while also mending the other’s heart? Find out in A Funny Story by Emily Henry.

*THIS TEA WILL BE DONE BREWING 4.23.24

⚠️ I do not own the rights to the imagery or audio used.

nick miller- i mean miles nowak the man that you are!

absolutely love emily henry’s dedication to making her love interest more and more like nick miller the more she writes. i loved daphne as a character and i really feel like i relate to her a bit. i love that emily henry focuses on romances that of characters that are 30 since most romances the characters will be early or mid 20s. emily henry never fails to write a good and engaging romance, can’t wait to see her next one.

I absolutely love when books are set in my home state, and Emily Henry does it best. Between mentions of local grocery stores and what seems to be the Old Mission Peninsula, it's easy to picture Waning Bay and Cherry Hill (the winery). Both FUNNY STORY and BEACH READ truly encapsulate what it means to live along Lake Michigan.

As much as I loved Miles and Daphne, the female friendship dynamics and Daphne's journey to figure herself out were what made this book truly special for me. Ashleigh was not only hilarious, but she also helped Daphne realize who she was without someone else in her life. Daphne was an extremely relatable character to me, and while some may say that she doesn't give off "main character energy" vibes, her strength came from her vulnerability. She shares these moments, such as thinking she may have said the wrong thing or experiencing grief that many of us have had at the loss of a friendship at the end of a relationship. While minor, I didn't care for the third act conflict between Miles and Daphne (I'll add a spoiler below), but overall, I felt that they complemented one another well.

FUNNY STORY has a place among my favorite Emily Henry books, but I'm not sure that anything can top BOOK LOVERS and BEACH READ for me. It was fun ranking her books with the #BerkleyBuddyReads group. Thank you, Berkley, for the early copy in exchange for honest review!

*SPOILER*
I know that he experienced quite a bit of trauma as a child that affected his perception of relationships, but I'm hard-pressed to believe that Miles simply "took Petra's car" and went to Mackinac Island to talk to Daphne's father. His timing couldn't have been worse. He HAD to have known that it wouldn't be perceiving in a positive light due to his lack of communication. It was disappointing behavior, and frankly, didn't really make sense.

Emily Henry doesn't miss! Her fifth stunning, hilarious, beautiful, wonderful [insert every positive adjective you can think of here] book that captures all the bumps in the road that lead to a "funny story" one day. Henry is so adept at creating characters and worlds that feel so human and real, and I always feel transported to whatever location the book takes me. I was so excited that Daphne was a librarian, which made this book that much more relatable. Funny Story has so much heart and wit, and it's another knockout from one of my favorite authors. I will be recommending this to literally anyone who will listen and I can't wait to see what she cooks up next!

Another delightful Emily Henry. Yet again here for the Midwestern representation!

Daphne and Miles are roommates who have stumbled into each others' lives under the worst of circumstances: Daphne's fiance decided he was in love with his best female friend, Miles's girlfriend, and they ran off together. Daphne had recently uprooted her life to follow her fiance to Michigan, where his family lives, and she now literally has nothing except her job as a children's librarian. Miles, whom Daphne has always known as a slacker, wants to convince her that there is a lot that could be good for her in Michigan, so he convinces her to let him show her around. Daphne realizes that Miles has an innate ability to make friends and that she wants to see what else life could hold.

What to say about this book. I love Miles and his laid back but layered ways. Daphne was super relatable, especially with the children's librarian stuff, of course. Secondary characters were so fun, especially Ashleigh. I could picture everyone in a sleepy little town like Suttons Bay, and it made me want to go back. Emily Henry books are just so freaking readable, and I didn't want it to end! Loved loved loved!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my thoughts.