Absolutely loved this book. It was heartwarming, funny, so sweet, had the best banter, and I fell so hard for Miles and Daphne. I don't know how she does it, but Emily Henry really doesn't miss - perfectly blending the romance, the comedy, and the deeper topics that always have me feeling all my feelings.

The whole concept of this book and how Daphne and Miles found themselves as roommates was perfect and we got some really fun tropes out of it but it all feels so perfectly effortless. I really enjoyed each of their personal journeys though their respective heartbreaks and how they grew from strangers, to friends, to more. This will absolutely one of my favorite books of the year.

Funny Story by Emily Henry is a novel with a great concept, but I thought it was severely lacking in the execution. I truly enjoyed the beginning of this book, but at around the mid-way point it really lost me. This book relied heavily on tropes to move the plot along, while also introducing so many new elements to the plot as we were reading. I felt like EmHen was trying to do so much, but doing so just made it fall flat. The introduction of Mile's sister and Daphne's dad had potential. I really love the idea of exploring difficult family dynamics, but they felt more like comedic relief rather than an earnest exploration and it didn't really do anything for the story IMO. Anyway, I think this is my least fave EmHen so far and I have read them all.

Read if you like:
- roommates to lovers
- fake dating
- subplots with messy family members.

This is my first Emily Henry -- and yes --I fell for the hype. The meet-cute and romance are the same formula as many others in this genre.

What begins with possibly the worst day of Daphne’s life slowly evolves with her spinning into her own personal depths of hell, only to be new roommates with ex-finance's (Peter) new girlfriend's (Petra), ex-boyfriend (Miles) (yes, that takes a minute to sort out).

Miles is attractive and smells good. He gets her. Anymore tropes we could throw in there?

The last chapter in the book was one too many. I like how the previous chapter ended and allowed the reader to dream up possibilities, but no, the author had to go one step too far.

Not a keep-on-my-shelf book.

My second Emily Henry story made me cry.

Henry is quickly becoming an author I can count on to pull on my heartstrings, and not always in the romance department. More in the humanity area as she crafts characters that continuously break my heart. Daphne and Miles in her latest release are no exception.

Both Daphne and Miles are victims of being dumped and in the worst possible way. Daphne was days away from the altar when her fiancé announced he was leaving her for his best friend from childhood, Petra. Petra’s ex, Miles, offers Daphne a place to stay, at least for the time being, since they both lost out in a big way. Though Daphne has big plans to get out of Waning Bay, Michigan, and back to some sort of semblance of the life she was building before her fiancé broke her heart.

Too bad a broken heart often leads to bad choices as awkward Daphne finds herself lying that Miles is her new boyfriend and a plus-one to their ex’s impending nuptials. She knows she should call it off, but Miles doesn’t mind Daphne’s ruse. As they launch into a plan to make-believe for social media, Daphne discovers that Miles is nothing like she thought and, in turn, starts wondering if maybe he’s more than just a distraction…

Slow burn alert. Daphne and Miles are adorable. Though I still hate that Henry only gives us the story from Daphne’s point of view. At times Daphne herself is a bit bleak. She’s got a messed-up childhood, no friends, a life in shambles, and watching her rebuild from the ground up tore at my heartstrings a bit. Though that’s where Henry hooked me in. Daphne’s voice is crystal clear, and you can’t help but root for her. Add in an ensemble of memorable characters, and it’s easy to see how Daphne could fall for miles and the town of Waning Bay.

Overall, if you like reads you can get lost in. This is one not-too-miss. For readers who enjoy Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game or Penny Reid’s quirky characters. I’ll be reading more, Henry, in the future, that’s for sure.

~ Landra

This book is a love letter for little girls with absentee/flakey dads. Henry's writing coupled with the not-so-funny circumstance would make any inner little girl have the language of what it feels like not to hope but desperately want to connect; whether that connection is platonic or romantic. I also think her MMC is equally struggling to be loved but may not have the language but show it in little ways. Daphne and Mile's slow progression to fall in love was funny, relatable, and most of all comforting. When they finally got together it was so satisfying. Even though the 3rd act breakup was thoughtful and made sense. I think this might be one of Henry's best adult books and YES this is romance.

I don't consider myself a contemporary romance girlie, but I might have to read all of Emily Henry's books after this! the storyline was so simple, yet Emily Henry was someone able to make the story still feel fresh, engaging, and emotionally impactful. this book kind of felt like a mix of literary fiction and contemporary romance given the writing style and how well the characters were developed, and I thought the pacing was great too. Will be recommending to others for sure!

“I want to undress you. And taste you. I want to hear you come again, and feel it too.”

This is my third book by Emily Henry, and it may very well be my top fave of hers so far! Funny Story by Emily Henry is a light, funny, highly entertaining, and tender romcom that had me grinning throughout and pterodactyl screeching at all the swoony moments! EmHen fans will be happy book lovers with this one!

– forced proximity
– opposites attract
– strangers to friends to lovers
– she’s grumpy-ish x he’s sunshine
– fake relationship
– our ex’s are dating

“You’re worth it, Daphne.”

Also, Emily Henry really said, “Let’s up the spice in this one.”

I am so rarely speechless - but here I am.

This book is about me. This book is a nearly identical match for my life. And good lord - did it hit me in the gut.

Emily, respectfully, I’m gonna have to request that you stop spying on me.

I loved every line of this book - even the ones that hurt me. Watching Daphne learn to build her own life after what she saw for her future was ripped out from under her (!!!!!) I was rooting for her. I’ve BEEN her. And so I know just how sweet the other side of that time of change and growth is. Going through that journey with her was such a lovely reminder of my own.

Okay enough of me being sappy.

Things I loved about this book: everything.

Total cry count = 6.

Not at all shocked that EmHen’s spiciest book turns out to be my favorite.

All the stars.

I am now on a quest to get everyone to read this book. Fake dating? Roommates? Friends to Lovers? The chemistry?? Sign me up and sign up everyone else while you’re at it!

Daphne is one of the most relatable characters Emily has ever written. Daphne’s struggle to make friends in adulthood and her feelings of inadequacy are things I think a lot of us are dealing with. I admire Daphne for how kind she remained and how open she became in the aftermath of her breakup. Putting yourself out there after something traumatic, like being left by your fiancé for their best friend right before your wedding, is one of the hardest things on the planet. And finding love after something like that? Seems impossible. Not so impossible when you’ve got someone like Miles as a roommate, I suppose.

Miles is such a wonderful person that people just can’t help but love. He shows appreciation for everything and everyone in life and it’s all genuine. I love how he inspires people to be better and how he treated Daphne with such care when he too was falling apart. He’s definitely one of my top tier book boys now.

That being said, I loved this story, I loved the characters, Emily Henry never EVER disappoints, and I think Funny Story has officially taken the spot as my #2 favorite EmHen book…After Beach Read, of course!

Thank you to Berkley for sending me an arc, you truly don’t know how much I appreciate it

Daphne thought she and Peter had the rest of their lives perfectly planned—that is until he realized he was in love with his childhood best friend, Petra, leaving her heartbroken and with an unexpected roommate in Petra's ex, Miles Nowak. As they navigate their shared heartbreak they begin to form a genuine friendship with one another that eventually leads to more.

I think this is Emily Henry’s funniest and maybe even her most romantic book yet! The banter was top-notch like always, like it truly had me giggling and kicking my feet. The way that Daphne and Miles’ friendship and eventual relationship developed felt so natural and honest to them. They constantly showed up for one another in the ways that the other person needed. And I just loved seeing Daphne build her own life in this town.

I have to go back and reread all of Emily Henry’s books, but I really do think this is my new favorite, after Beach Read, of course.

Thank you to Berkley for this e-arc.

cw: infidelity, abandonment, mentions of previous parental neglect/emotional abuse

I am an Emily Henry super fan. While I haven't loved all of her books, I find her writing style to be extremely bingeable, easy to read, with great dialogue, witty banter, and just a lot of fun. When I read her books, I have a huge smile on my face and that is just such enjoyable reading.

This is far more romance heavy than Happy Place and Book Lovers were. This still doesn't beat People We Meet for me, but I don't think anything would top that for me!! I do think the "fake dating" aspect was a bit of a miss and felt like there were some missed opportunities to really play up that trope before the wedding. But, I loved how Daphne and Miles' friendship develops and seeing Daphne grow to love Michigan on her own after experiencing some of Miles' most favorite spots. Miles is also quite charming and endearing in the best kind of boy next door sort of way. I also loved seeing Daphne's developing friendships with others in the library and the act of making a home for yourself in a place you never called home.



Recommend if you enjoy:
Witty banter
Close proximity
Fake dating
Found friendships
Opposites attract
The state of Michigan!
Libraries and read-a-tons

Quick and Dirty
-contemporary romance
-forced proximity and fake dating tropes
-small-town setting
-librarian MC
-🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 spice, open door scenes

Swipe for the full synopsis!

What Worked
All hail the Queen, Emily Henry! She has done it yet again. Seriously, I will read ANYTHING this woman writes. And while this book didn’t crack open my heart like Beach Read did, it still had me in my feels, which is exactly what I expect from Henry. Her way with words is unparalleled. She writes with such warmth and wit that it’s easy to fall head over heels for her characters, and Daphne and Miles are no exception. I rooted for them from the start, hoping and praying that Daphne would see the light! Henry takes us on a journey that sometimes feels familiar, but honestly, I didn’t care. I could have spent the rest of my days in Waning Bay, Michigan, waiting for these two characters to realize they were destined to be together. And I don’t read romance! Who is this person? I don’t even recognize myself. That, my friends, is the power of Emily Henry. Don’t believe me? Pick this book up and see for yourself! Oh, and by the way, pick up the audiobook for the full effect. Narrated by the talented Julia Whelan, the audio takes it to another level, bringing these characters to life in a way the page cannot do.

What Didn’t Work
Again, it felt formulaic or familiar at times, but who cares? Emily Henry wrote it. Focus on her jokes that always land. Or her ability to create simmering tension. Or her way of showing you the mirror of life, reflecting your own truths back in your face via fictional characters. Just read the book! You won't regret it.

This book beauty is out in the world tomorrow and I have to say it. This is my favorite Emily Henry yet. It’s no secret I adore @emilyhenrywrites books and this didn’t disappoint. I listened to this a few weeks ago while I was driving back and forth to Iowa and it made my drive, dare I say it, enjoyable. There’s just something about her books that sucks me in immediately, makes you feel all the feelings and simply don’t want it to be over, which is exactly what I want when I’m reading a book!
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Daphne and the love of her life Peter love telling people about the day they met. She upended her life, followed him to Michigan, got engaged and then promptly broken up with when Peter decides he’s in love with his childhood best friend. She needs to move out and needs a roommate quickly. Her new roommate is the only one who truly understands what she’s feeling because he is also feeling the same way. Miles’ girlfriend is Peter’s childhood best friend.
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I simply adored Miles and Daphne and this had an amazing cast of side characters. Henry creates a world that I am invested in from start to finish! Check this one out tomorrow! If you get the chance to listen to this one on audio do it! The Queen @justjuliawhelan narrates and its perfection. Get ready to see this book everywhere this summer!
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Huge thank you to @berkleypub @librofm and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

I adored this book. It will be one of my top books of 2024 without question. This is an easy 10/10 recommend for rom com lovers.

First, let's talk about the book at face value. Here's what I loved:
- It's actually FUNNY. Emily Henry doesn't just write funny books, she's an absolutely hysterical person. She's beyond witty and I giggle, cackle, and literally LOL while reading her books. She writes funny characters and funny moments brilliantly. The small moments in life when you have the uncontrollable belly laughs? She captures those on the page and I can never get enough. She's also the queen of call back jokes which is an ART. *chef's kiss*
- I loved both MCs. Sometimes you like a FMC more and kinda secretly hate she ended up with the MMC and sometimes you get an MMC that is a bit too good for the whiney FMC. Daphne and Miles are the PERFECT (most imperfect) match. They are the best compliment to each other and I really enjoyed their dynamic on page. Both of their challenges (and the ultimate third act break up) were REAL and required them to talk through and work through their past. They both had a bit of self exploration which I LOVE in main characters.
- The extra characters. This book is a whole ENSEMBLE and each character had charm and purpose in the story.

Now, let's talk about the likely-too-niche-for-a-review-but-here-we-go-anyways-part-of-why-I-loved-this book:
This book is an ANTHEM for millennial women hitting reset. Perhaps it's a confirmation bias given my ~*cUrReNt SiTuAtIoN*~, but I know so many women who are entering a new chapter in their 30s that they never expected. For some it was the pandemic and the realization that life is too short and for others its simply the result of making big decisions at a young age and life unfolding differently than planned. Regardless of the reason, there are so many women who are starting over (myself included!) and navigating the weird, weird, WEIRD world of being on our own unexpectedly in our 30s.

This book articulated this journey PERFECTLY.

Daphne is 33 and when her engagement ends, she find herself lost in a city she moved to for a man she loved. She's forced to make friends and learn her place in this town without the support of the person she moved there to be with. She finds herself alone (and lonely) and unsure of who she is without her other half.

I'm a HUGE believer (... this might actually be the definition of a cynic) that two people shouldn't complete one another. Honestly, I throw up in my mouth a little bit every time someone calls their partner their better half or says, 'they complete me.' EWGROSS. I think we're our best selves when we're our whole selves, and it takes a lot of f-ing work to identify who that is and maintain that version of yourself in a partnership. So many of us lose our identities as our lives meld with someone else's. It's like the other person fills up these tiny cracks and little holes in our being until you just become one inseparable unit... until you are unexpectedly separated. When that happens and you lose that 'other half', are you happy with the half you're left with? Does half feel like enough?

Daphne's journey to figure out how to turn her half into a whole was soul-soothing to me. She had her moments, but this wasn't a story about Daphne getting left - it was truly a story of her finding her place and deciding ON HER OWN DAMN TERMS what her next chapter would entail. Luckily for us as readers, she let Miles into it. But he doesn't define her.

This book is a love story, but more so it's a love letter to all of us millennial women taking an unexpected detour. And it's a reminder that it's going to be a beautiful journey.

This book had it all. Fake dating, forced proximity, and great characters. Miles was a charming book boyfriend, and one can really feel for Daphne’s story. There were moments in the book where we’re dealing with Daphnes’ feelings that made me hurt and feel seen. The side characters were great too, I loved seeing Daphne’s friendship grow with her coworker, and Miles’ sister join the party. This was definitely Emily Henry’s best romance yet.

I’m always a little sad when I start an Emily Henry book because I know that it will soon be over. And the more books I read by her, the stronger this feeling gets because she is just such a consistently good writer. Do I have favorite plots in her books? Sure. But from the very first book I read (YA The Love That Split the World), I’ve been completely rapt by the way Henry writes longing.

Everyone knows what Funny Story is about. Daphne was engaged to Peter until he left her for his best friend Petra who was in a live-in relationship with Miles. So Daphne, who now needs a new place to live, knows exactly where to look for a roommate.

I loved this book so much. I’ve already relistened to parts and poured over the way Henry masterfully weaves in descriptions of everything from emotions to places to people. The banter is exactly what we’ve all come to expect from the author—which is to say amazing, and Miles is the kind of dreamy book boyfriend only Henry can write. Outside of the romance arc in this story, the theme of needing to find yourself and stand on your own two feet is so lovely and well done and the side characters are so much fun. Both main characters also get great arcs around family and how they impact you as an adult that I think will resonate with most, if not all, readers.

Needless to say, the audiobook for this one is amazing. Julia Whelan and Emily Henry go together like Michigan cherries and chocolate in a milkshake. I loved the experience of listening to this book so much that I slowed it down (for me) so I could make it last longer. I wanted to hear every nuance of Julia Whelan performing this beautiful story.

3.25 ⭐️ A rom-com with depth but it didn't sparkle like other Emily Henry novels


In the best of times, it's inadvisable to start lusting after your roommate, and we are nowhere near the best of times.


WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ Michigan setting
✨ small town romance
✨ Daphne is a librarian who's been dumped by her fiance for Mile's ex
✨ Miles is a bartender who's girlfriend dumps him for Daphne's ex
✨ living with your ex fiance's new fiance's ex
✨ roommates to best friends to lovers
✨ opposites attract
✨ forced proximity
✨ fake dating (sort of)
✨ 2/5 🌶️
✨ open door romance but not graphic
✨ found family
✨ female friendships
✨ character growth
✨ slight OW and OM drama
✨ third act breakup
✨ HEA
✨ single pov
✨ tw: breakups, trauma from absent father, trauma from emotionally abusive parents, mental health


My Thoughts:

Okay, objectively it is a good story. The writing is classic Emily Henry - descriptive, witty, and charming. The story is a perfect combo of romance and character growth. I loved the female friendship. And I enjoyed the small town vibes and general atmosphere.

However . . . (let's get down to business)

I’ve never not read an Emily Henry book straight through, but I found myself putting this down and I didn't pick it back up again for two weeks. That was only because I got an ARC and wanted to finish it so I could write a review before the publication date. The fact I was able to put it down in the first place isn’t a great sign. Again, it wasn't because it was a bad story, but it didn't captivate me in a way other Emily Henry books have done in the past so I wasn't that eager to finish.

Was Funny Story really all that funny? No. And that, my friends, was a bummer. But, then again, Beach Reads is a bit misleading in the fact it takes place on a lake beach. People We Meet on Vacation is actually about two friends who vacation together and less about the people they meet. Happy Place was actually about people being incredibly unhappy. And Book Lovers . . . okay that was the only one that made sense since the MCs worked in the publishing industry. I would say I actually chuckled once and grinned maybe six other times while reading. That's it. So yeah, I'm a little disappointed it wasn’t that funny. But also, I'm not taking any points off my rating for it.

I do like the MCs: Daphne and Miles. They’re lovable and sweet. However, I really just don’t feel connected to them. Usually with Emily Henry MCs I find a lot to relate to, but I didn't find that here. Sure, their trauma and growth throughout the story made sense. Parts of it even had my heart breaking and hurting for them. At the same time, if you put a gun to my head and told me to give you definitive characteristics or special/unique character traits about them, I couldn't do it. In all honesty, they felt like a mashup of a lot of EH's other MCs, who I loved, so that’s probably why these MCs are lovable as well. But Daphne and Miles blurred with the others too much and made me sort of just feel meh 🤷‍♀️. I will say, I was invested in them by the end, but now that I’ll never think about them again.

The romance and character growth drive the story completely. There is no real plot. And I felt like Emily Henry gave the characters an array of emotional issues ranging from childhood trauma to relationship problems in order to add plot, which overly complicated things in a seemingly simple story.

I knew this story wasn't going to be a top read when the other woman (OW) and other man (OM) drama became apparent. I should have seen it coming considering their exes are together and they end up dating. While this drama didn't play a HUGE part in the story, it was enough to irritate me. They ran into their exes more than a few times and would discuss their exes with one another a lot - and once they started catching feelings there was jealousy. I just really do not enjoy reading type of drama because of the unnecessary tension it creates.

Daphne's father is an awful human being and does not deserve a second chance (considering he's had a million). Emily Henry loves complicated relationships. Specifically with parents. I definitely think it's an interesting dynamic to explore. However, I will never agree with the fact that Daphne lets her deadbeat dad continue to have a place in her life.

Using the chortle to describe Daphne's real laugh. When I hear the word chortle, I think like a snorting laugh, but apparently it's a breathy, gleeful laugh. I don't care what kind of laugh it is, but it's an ugly word and is used as a descriptor too many times.

The third act conflict/breakup felt contrived. I'm not someone who minds the miscommunication trope if there was nothing that could be done to prevent it. But that wasn't the case here. Miles and Daphne have phones and could easily have called or texted one another with updates. But Miles doesn't and his reason isn't good enough. Yes, it is explained (and it even makes sense), but it was a weak excuse.


***SPOILER AHEAD***


PS: The fact that Miles went and helped Petra move makes me sick to my stomach. In no universe did he do the right thing by going to help his ex girlfriend move out of her ex fiance's home who she dumped him more. Absolutely not. When someone treats you the way Petra treated Miles, you block them and never speak to them again. But no. Mile says multiple times that he still cares about her *barf* 🤢 which truly made me lose respect for him.


Overall, this book was well crafted but certain things about it prevented me from truly loving it. However, I know there will be people who love this story and that is totally valid! Like I said, it is a well written, classic Emily Henry novel. I think if you deeply relate to the character and their “issues” this story will hit you HARD. I do recommend reading it, especially if you’re an Emily Henry fan. It was a decent read, just not going to be my personal favorite.

Tender, funny, SO horny, and soooo good!! 4.25⭐️

After not loving Happy Place, I was skeptical I would like this but I was so wrong!! Funny Story at its core is a sweet romance between two people who seem like opposites but actually come to realize they’re not too different. Daphne was such a great heroine!! I loved everything about her! The side characters were so fun and the sitting and plot felt different and refreshing from anything I’ve read.

The romance between Daphne and Miles was the forefront of this book (different from other EH books). The way they had to fake date but also try not to fall for each other? Obsessed. I loved the dynamics between them and how chill they were?? I loved that it was pretty low drama and every character (besides their ex’s) were super likeable.

There’s not an Emily Henry book I’ve read and haven’t cried at, so while I did tear up a few times, it wasn’t as gut wrenching as the previous EH books LOL.

Thanks x a million to Berkley for the ARC!!

Okay despite all the chortling in this book, this is another hit from Emily Henry for me. I love the premise and these characters, and as always this was full of the heart and emotion you expect from an Emily Henry read. It hasn’t dethroned Beach Read as my favorite from her, but it has given Book Lovers some competition for the #2 spot. I was a bit worried after disliking Happy Place but this was a welcome joy to read! Thank you to Berkley for the e-ARC! 4.5/5 stars

The release of the newest Emily Henry book is here! I loved 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, this book really had it all for me - quick witted dialogue, anticipatory tension, and special character relationships! ⠀ ⠀
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Thank you @berkleypub, @berkleyromance, @berittalksbooks, and @netgalley for the ebook version and @librofm for the fantastic audio version. @justjuliawhelan hits a home-run again! ⠀
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Here's a bit of the synopsis: ⠀
Daphne loves to share the “funny story" about how she met her fiancé, Peter. That is until he cancels their engagement the day after his bachelor party. That hurts well enough, but when she finds out he is moving in with Petra, his childhood best friend she ends up moving in with Petra's, new ex-boyfriend, Miles.⠀

What I loved most: ⠀
🌊 The characters! Miles easy going and vulnerable personality was a win for me! ⠀
🌊 The fictional setting of Waning Bay, Michigan. ⠀⠀
🌊Lake Michigan references - IYKYK
🌊 How often they mentioned Petoskey, Michigan. Which is one of my favorite places on this earth. ⠀
🌊 Daphne is a children’s librarian so all the heartwarming library references were special!
🌊A read-a-thon! Sign us up! ⠀
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QOTD: Since Daphne and Peter's story of how they met is so prominent in 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, I'd love to hear how you and your significant other met? We might the night before the Ohio State vs. Michigan game which is a pretty big rivalry here. He said, "Go Bucks!" and he made me and my girlfriends laugh alot that night! 🥰