Rating – 4.5 stars rounded off to 5

Finally found my favorite #EmilyHenry rom-com!

Thanks NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!

Synopsis –

Daphne is looking at a major upheaval in her life, thanks to this very ‘funny story’. She was all set to start a new life in the idyllic seaside town of Waning Bay, Michigan with her fiancé, Peter, until he fell in love with his childhood bestie Petra. Now Daphne has to crash with the only person who can truly commiserate with her situation – Miles, who is Petra’s ex. While they each wallow and recover from their heart-breaks, the roommates have no choice but to avoid each other, until one day when they have a better plan.

Review –

Goodness, what a brilliantly imagined premise – so original. Of course only #EmilyHenry, can come up with such ideas on which to base rom-coms on. Daphne’s narrative instantly got me invested in this ‘funny story’. It was obvious right from the start, the way Daphne’s life was going to play out moving forward, but exactly ‘how’ is where lies the soul and crux of this love story.

Oh how I loved Miles! I seriously couldn’t fathom how Petra could’ve dumped him. Handsome, kind, caring and with a great sense of humor, he was just amazing! I enjoyed the little outings that Miles and Daphne go on, in this gorgeous sea side town of Michigan – each bringing them closer, as they support each other through their shared grief and similar life circumstances.

Henry’s trademark banter and dialogues were cute, thoughtful and infused with jocularity. Miles and Daphne’s chemistry was sizzling hot, thanks to the slow burn build up and tension. We also have some wonderful supporting characters and I was glad Petra had someone in her corner when she needed the most.

The ending filled my heart with joy and that epilogue was utter perfection!

Highly recommend to rom-com lovers! Run, don’t walk!

And there you have it, folks. My favorite Emily Henry book.

First of all, the premise of this book is simply wonderful. Two roommates, living together because their exes dumped them for each other, hatching a fake dating scheme to get back at them, is pure gold. Give me the mess and give me the antics because I’m here for it. Combine that with Miles trying to convince Daphne to not leave town by taking her on weekly adventures, and you’ve got a romance book that is a delight from start to finish.

There’s so much that I loved that we need to unpack, but first let’s get into my favorite part of this book…

Miles. Freaking. Nowak.

He had me giggling, blushing, kicking my feet from start to finish, but also I was so here for his emotional journey. I was so fascinated by his character, and I loved being able to uncover his layers along with Daphne. Not to mention as a romantic lead he is downright SWOON-WORTHY. Say hello to your new favorite book boyfriend because he. is. EVERYTHING.

The relationship between Daphne and Miles unfolded so naturally. Fake dating has quickly become one of my favorite tropes this year, and this is just another book that executes it perfectly. And the way the “act” immediately felt so natural?? Pleaseee I was eating it up! At the same time, I love the way Emily Henry turned the trope on its head by having Miles and Daphne tell their friends about their scheme, and the fact that their friends are SO down for the shenanigans.

Speaking of the supporting characters, they were wonderful. I love the exploration of the struggle that is making friends when you’re an adult (because hello relatable), and I was living for the community that Daphne made for herself. The story was embedded with such hope that it’s never too late to find your people, and frankly I love that.

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you to read this book because, hello, it’s Emily Henry. But dangit I’m gonna tell you anyway! It’s such a beautiful story from start to finish, whether we’re talking about the romance, the emotional journey for both leads, or the found family dynamic that they find writhin their community. It also captures the magic of my favorite books of hers, which is why I HIGHLY recommend picking this up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ 5/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5

Honestly, this book is in my top 5 for the year! This story was perfection - no notes!

After not enjoying Happy Place, I was hesitant to go into Funny Story. But, I knew right from the start that this would be good. I mean roommates who start fake dating to make their exes jealous, ✨👌! Roommates who slowly start to see that their exes never really SAW them, but they do? PERFECTION. In this story, opposites truly do attract! 💕

🍷 The found family in this book was everything to me! I loved Daphen’s little library crew and their poker nights. Miles’s market stall friends and their love for him and his scraggly beard just warmed my heart. Emily Henry knows how to do small town characters!

🍇 This book broke my heart in so many ways. I couldn’t believe the audacity of Peter, Daphne’s ex. THAT MAN. And her father? A piece of work. I cannot express how proud of her I was when she finally told them how she felt. GO GIRL! 👏👏

🍾 But this story also made my heart sing! I mean, the tension between Miles and Daphne was TO DIE FOR! These two complete opposites found themselves with each other. They were able to open up to one another more than they ever did with their exes and I love how it showed. I loved how Miles made it his mission to make Daphne fall in love with Waning Bay and I did too! The ebb and flow of their friendship into a relationship made this book for me and I couldn’t get enough.

I truly loved this book so much and I can’t wait to read it again. This is going to be one of those that I will think about for a long time!

Thank you to Berkley Romance (@berkleyromance) for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hi! Hey! Hello! This is my new favorite Emily Henry book. It’s the perfect balance of wit and humor and emotion and heat, and I adore it. I’m getting a physical copy so I can hug it (and so it will look pretty on my shelves).

This is a roommates, friends-to-lovers, fake-dating, opposites-attract, small-town romance that’s sprinkled with that Emily Henry magic. It will hit you in the feels. It will make you smile. It will make you swoon.

I love both Miles and Daphne and am so happy they end up with each other.

Here’s a list of assorted thoughts I had while reading it:
- I wish I could be the Story Time lady (like legit would love that job).
- Emily Henry’s books make me want to go to Michigan on vacation. (Is the state tourism board paying her? jk…)
- [redacted] and [redacted] are the worst.
- Eeeeeee! (No context bc spoilers)
- Seriously, their chemistry is 🔥🔥🔥.
- More accidental (not-really accidental) touches, please and thank you
- I am here for the flaring pupils and cupping of the jaw moments.
- SWOON
- I DON’T WANT THE HURT
- Oh my gosh, Miles is such a sweetheart. I want to give him a hug.
- I feel like I may have a book hangover.

I received an advance copy of the book from Berkley and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

Funny Story by Emily Henry is everything that a romance novel should be. It feels like summer, and it feels like hope, and it sparkles through every page. It's so easy to love all of Henry's characters and to appreciate her clever means of storytelling, but Miles and Daphne feel different. They're lighter, even amid the crosses they carry. The book could not have had a better title: Funny Story is hilarious. It's sharp. It's witty. It's hopeful.

FULL REVIEW: https://marvelousgeeksmedia.com/2024/04/23/funny-story-by-emily-henry-review/

Thank you to Berkley publishers for the advance reader copy -- all opinions are my own.

Daphne’s fiancé, Peter, comes home from his bachelor party and tells her he is actually in love with his childhood best friend, Petra, and she needs to move out in a week. The only place she can go is to Petra’s ex boyfriend, Miles, apartment. They bond over a shared heartbreak and a need to get back at their ex’s a little by pretending to date each other. They form a friendship but it’s too messy to actually fall in love with your ex’s new fiancés ex, right?!

“The same universe that dispassionately takes things away can bring you things you weren’t imaginative enough to dream up.”

I adore Emily Henry and I love her writing and the banter in her books. I actually think this one is my new favorite book of hers. I loved seeing Daphne find herself outside of Peter and start to make Waning Bay Michigan feel like home. Miles! I freaking love Miles and he is adorable. It was so much fun to watch their relationship develop. There were some great side characters and Ashleigh deserves her own story:) In typical Emily Henry fashion it is deeper than just a romcom and they deal with some trauma from their childhood’s and with their families. Anyway, a library, poker nights, wineries and fake dating make this one so fun to read with just a few tears. Pick this one up!

By far my favorite Henry book (I also loved the others - minus Beach Read). This one is so heartwarming, hilarious, fun to read, binge worthy, and there are Nick and Jess vibes. Definitely worth the read and it’s a contender for one of my favorite reads this year. Already looking forward to a re-read. Also, there were so many Taylor Swift song references - I was obsessed.

Read if you like:
▪️fake dating
▪️opposites attract
▪️family drama
▪️love after heartbreak

I read this in Grenada this past February and ADORED IT. I haven’t been a huge fan of her past two books (or I guess I just didn’t love them like her first two), but this one brought me back. I love a fake-dating revenge plot, and Emily Henry put the perfect spin on it to make it feel deeper. The male lead was giving me Heath Ledger vibes from 10 Things I Hate About You. Couple that with a beach setting and a librarian lead character, and you have a perfect beach read. Pick this up for summer!

Thanks for the free book @BerkleyPub in exchange for an honest review!

When Daphne’s fiance Peter leaves her for his best friend Petra, Daphne moves in with Petra’s ex, Miles. When the two receive invitations to Peter and Petra’s wedding, a drunken night leads Daphne and Miles to RSVP yes. The next day, Peter calls telling Daphne she really doesn’t need to come and in a panic, she accidentally blurts out that she and Miles are dating. To save face, the two agree to a fake relationship to get back at their exes, but of course between living together and fake dating, lines get blurred and feelings begin to develop.

Emily Henry can do no wrong in my opinion. But in all seriousness, I love the stories she weaves, filled with humor and heart. As with all of her books, when reading this I found myself going through the whole spectrum of emotions - from giggling to myself to tearing up and everything in between, I felt it all while reading this. Of all her books, Funny Story takes the cake for best meet-cute. I was dying over Miles and Daphne RSVPing to their exes’ wedding and dying even more when Peter called them out resulting in their fake relationship. Despite the wild start, the way their relationship slowly grew was amazing. The way they supported each other was so much better than their previous relationships and I was so glad they could each finally be themselves. Aside from the romance, there was so much growth in this story. Both Miles and Daphne were recovering from broken hearts and finding themselves and who they are outside of their relationships. I particularly loved Daphne’s growth and how she went from being a “we girl” to finally determining who she was on her own. The side characters in this story were also amazing and I am here to say Ashleigh deserved her own book and her own HEA. In case you can’t tell, I adored this book, Emily Henry did it again with another 5 star read.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

This was outside of my usual reading area, but I could not have been more thrilled with the read! It was such effortless fun to read i tore through it in one sitting.

Funny Story by Emily Henry is a delightful romance about a librarian who moves cross-country with her fiancé, only to be dumped when he declares his love for his best friend Petra. Travel to beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan as Daphne finds herself stranded and sharing a two-bedroom apartment with Miles. Did I mention he’s Petra’s ex?

A children’s librarian, stranded in a small-town and living with her ex-fiancé’s new girlfriend’s ex. Yes, please. I loved the premise and was absolutely delighted by the tale that unfolds.

Miles and Daphne are adorable and I loved watching their relationship grow from two wounded strangers navigating a painful breakup to finding something more. Henry did a wonderful job of introducing us to not only Miles and Daphne, but to the charming people and places of Waning Bay.

While this is a contemporary romance, the author delivered friendships, character growth, dysfunctional families, trust issues, and more. I love when a story pulls me and the outside world slips away. That is exactly what happened as I read Funny Story. I laughed, swooned, got mad and cheered this couple on as they fumbled, swooned and found their slice of happy.

Funny Story is the perfect cute romance story with all the feels. You’ll want to toss it in your beach bag!

This story held me in its grip from page one. Emily Henry can really nail a realistic, slice-of-life story and suck you in so you’re invested in EVERYONE on the page. Daphne and Miles feel very opposites attract. Miles is seemingly too good for this world, to the point that Daphne by comparison felt flat and somewhat uninteresting. I’m not sure if that was Henry’s intention, but as Daphne learns to adapt to her new circumstances, she comes to life and shines.

Book Lovers has been my favorite EH book since I listened to the audio and had narrator goddess Julia Whelan talk small towns and publishing in my ear, but I think Funny Story knocks Book Lovers out of first place. This book had me laughing out loud one minute (thank you, Ashleigh) and then teary-eyed the next. I couldn’t put it down.

Also, now I am desperate to visit a vineyard on a peninsula near Lake Michigan.

Happy Pub Day to “Funny Story”. I’ll be getting the audio as soon as I can for a re-read. Thank you @berkleypub @letstalkbookspromo for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

happy release day to daphne & miles ♥️

funny story starts off with daphne and miles realizing they have the worst thing in common. their partners are breaking up with them and running off into the sunset together, leaving miles in need of a roommate and daphne a place to live. naturally, she moves in with him. forced proximity, roommates-to-lovers, with a dash of fake dating—this book is sweet, funny, and surprisingly super romantic (and horny).

I do feel like the character development took a backseat here. it is emily’s most romance-heavy novel to date, and while I love a romantic focus, I do wish we had a bit more of the inner change and development as the story continued. throw in the other woman sort-of drama towards the end, which it really kept it from being a 5 star for me.

miles really made the book for me. he’s sweet, caring, and all around nearly perfect. daphne had some family troubles and reading about her attempt to navigate that was hard at times.

my favorite thing about this was the classic emhen banter. I was laughing out loud and kicking my feet the whole time.

thank you sm emily berkley romance and netgalley for an arc!

tw
third act other woman drama

Have you ever met a reader that didn't adore Emily Henry?

No?

Me, either.

There is a reason for that.

Emily Henry IS the romcom queen. Not only does she tell a tale like no other, she has the ability to drag you in and consume your every thought.

How many of you want to fall in love like the characters in her book? I know, as a married woman, I have had many book boyfriends that have starred front and center in a Henry book. Petra and Peter are not going to be your most loved characters, they will give you the total ick, but in a weird way, you'll enjoy it. That's the thing about Emily Henry, she makes you feel it all. Including the complex family dynamic plaguing Daphne;s life. By the way, I absolutely adored everything about Daphne. Myles, oh Myles, what you would almost consider a hometown hero, not a mean bone in his body and adored by all.

This book will have you in tears, and then laughing out loud.

This was so much more than just a story to pick up. It will stay with you long after you conclude.

As im sure you're aware, Im a huge fan of Emily Henry, but this book needs so much more than "simple praise" , it needs to be shouted from the rooftops. An easy 5 star read.

Big thank you to Emily Henry, Berkley Pub and Netgalley for allowing me to read this gem early, in exchange for an honest review. This book is out today so run on over to your favorite bookstore before it's too late!!!

Check out this teaser :

A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry.

Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.

Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?

But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex…right?

Funny Story may be my favorite of the Emily Henry Books I’ve read. (I haven’t read Happy Place). I loved Daphne and Miles’ story. For one, it had my favorite romance plot: fake dating. It also had forced proximity once Miles and Daphne decide to be roommates after Peter and Petra (Miles and Daphne’s ex’s) decide they’d rather be with one another instead of our main character pair. I honestly think their break ups did them a favor because it allowed them to take an open and honest approach up front with their friendship, although they never knew what they were in for. The two planned their fake relationship and owned it. From fake pics, fake social media posts, to fake appearances, they were committed!

I loved their journey. While entertaining to say the least, I laughed, I swooned, and I 💯 loved every minute. Now, I cannot go without saying that I also loved the narration! I mean, we have an all time favorite Julia Whelan of course. She kills any and everything she narrates! If she’s narrating it’s a must to grab the audiobook! So, first I’ll say this one is a must read, and second, the audiobook is a must listen!

Now, I need to read Happy Place to see where the 5 books stand for me.

Emily Henry books give me so much comfort. She’s an author I love reading and Funny Story is up there with ‘Beach Read’ and ‘PWMOV’ as one of my top favorites of hers.

This story starts out a bit messy as Daphne’s wedding has been called off last minute after her ex decides he’s in love with his female best friend. She moved to a new state for him and ends up moving in with that female best friend’s ex boyfriend when he offers her his spare room. His name is Miles.

Has Emily Henry created a better character than Miles Nowak? I think not. Funny Story was a book I savored. I read it slowly because I didn’t want it to end. I found Miles and Daphne so endearing. I loved watching their friendship grow into more and their banter was top tier. Did I mention again how much I completely adored Miles? He was the absolute best.
“You make the people you care about feel like…” He pauses. “Like you want all of them. Not just the good parts. And that’s terrifying to someone who’s spent a lifetime avoiding those other pieces of themselves.”

I adored the romance in this book, but I also loved the setting. The way Miles showed her around his town and made her fall in love with it made me fall in love with it, too. The other cast of characters and friendships were great as well. This is a must read romance and I hope everyone else loves it as much as I did!

If you’re familiar with Emily Henry’s writing, you know she has a knack for creating memorable friendships, charming side characters, and crafting emotionally-rich first kisses that leave you eagerly anticipating more. And if you're not familiar, then “Funny Story” offers the perfect opportunity to discover the magic of Emily’s storytelling.

Set in a small Michigan town, the story follows Daphne, a librarian who finds herself starting anew after her fiancé abruptly ends their engagement. With no place to live now, she moves in with her fiancé's ex's former flame, Miles.

Later, feeling the weight of the moment, Daphne blurts out to her ex that she and Miles are blissfully dating. Despite the shared laughter from their exes as a response, Daph and Miles are all smiles in front of them and of course on social media. Their exchange of the most swoon-worthy glances, hugs, and kisses, made me grin foolishly with delightful tingles dancing down my fingers.

It was gratifying to witness Daphne’s gradual realization of how her previous life revolved entirely around her ex, encompassing his friends, social circles, and every aspect of his existence. Through her journey, she learns to forge genuine connections, embrace friendship, and assert herself, particularly in navigating her strained relationship with her father. Miles enters her life at a pivotal moment, emerging as a steadfast source of support and optimism, broadening Daphne’s perspective of the town she now could call home.

I highly recommend “Funny Story” and any book that Emily Henry has ever written.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

Another banger from Emily Henry. This time featuring the most golden retriever of book boyfriends and the most buttoned up children's librarian.

Right off the bat, I loved Miles. His somewhat manic energy was effusive and engaging, whereas Daphne was harder to relate to. She does grow on you as the book goes on. You learn to love all of her idiosyncracies and how they're the perfect compliment to Miles' frenetic energy.

Plot was good, if a bit predictable. Henry shines again as a banter queen - this books has that in spades. Her characters live for the gentle roasting they both give and receive in her books, so I'm glad to see that trend continue.

Overall, an excellent book.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC.

I had to take a few days and gather my thoughts after reading this book. This was my 2nd Emily Henry book and I really loved it. From the very first chapter I was completely enthralled in her characters and storytelling. Being told solely from the FMC Daphne’s perspective made me feel like I was her and her struggles were so relatable to me.

The insecurities she felt, and the difficulty she had feeling like she “fit in”, her buttoned up persona that desired to be more spontaneous but found it hard the make that leap, her relationship troubles with her family and her “almost” in laws, and of course her love of libraries and books.

The ache she felt for a place to belong and to feel wanted and chosen was so beautifully written and made it even more special to watch her “found family” come together.

Ok mushy deep feelings aside… this book was so funny. The snarky internal monologue she had about the terrible situation she found herself in by no fault of her own was so perfect.

And then there’s Miles… oh my goodness. This guy is her polar opposite and exactly what she didn’t know she needed. He SEES her in a way that no man ever has and the chemistry between them is so undeniable that it never felt like a rebound and you couldn’t help but cheer them on! He’s the eternal optimist to her pessimistic self and the guy that can make a friend anytime anywhere without even trying while she is the girl that watches with awe from the sidelines.

The setting was perfect for a spring or summer read with the adorable small town full of sweet side characters. Scenes at the beach, library, wine bar, and farm stand. Delicious food and wine…It made the story so cozy.

This book was one that I did not want to put down. I laughed. I cried. I was smiling at the very last line which wrapped the whole book up so perfectly and brought everything full circle.

I highlighted so much of this book… here are a few favorites:

“For someone with the innate social charm of a mounted fish (me), watching Miles befriend this stranger felt like seeing Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel: impressive, but also dizzying. Like any second, he might fall off his ladder and splatter on the marble below.”

“I remember loving a story. Feeling like I was living it. Being, even as a child, bowled over by how something imaginary could become real, could wring every emotion from me or make me homesick for places I’d never been.”

“Things were allowed to be complicated. They were allowed to be messy. We were allowed to disagree and argue and even hurt each other, on occasion, and it didn’t mean it was time to let the revolving door of life carry us away from each other. Sometimes things are hard. They just are.”

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

CW:
F words, multiple open door scenes, recreational drug use

Another winner book from Emily Henry! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I think this may be my new favorite of hers! Opposites attract is my second favorite trope and Daphne and Miles nailed it to the core! I fell in love with both of them —- their deadpan humor and funny banters made me smile so much it made my jaw hurt! I also liked that Daphne’s job is a children’s librarian. I would have loved to attend that readathon of hers! As for the side characters, Ashleigh takes the crown! She’s the perfect friend/sidekick and I hope she gets to have her own story in the future. Like the author’s previous novels, the story will tug on your heartstrings. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book of Emily Henry’s that I didn’t get emotionally affected!!! She never fails to elicit ugly cry from me lol! Funny Story is indeed funny, but also heartwarming, will definitely give you a nice fuzzy feeling during and after reading it! Thanks so much @berkleypub for the chance to read the eARC. I love love love it so much and absolutely recommend everyone to read it asap!