Emily Henry is an absolute auto-buy author for me. Her books have an incredible way of making me feel multiple emotions simultaneously. They fill my heart (and often fill my eyes with tears) and they definitely make me smile, if not all out laugh.

Daphne loves that her fiancé Peter loves telling the story of how they met and fell in love. She moved to his hometown of Waning Bay, Michigan, and loves the idea of becoming a part of his family. More than that, she loves her job as a children’s librarian.

The last thing she expects is that the night of his bachelor party, Peter breaks their engagement, telling Daphne that he and Petra, his childhood best friend, have fallen in love and want to be together. Oh, and Daphne has to move out of their house so that he and Petra can live there.

So now, Daphne is reeling from grief and anger, and she lives in an apartment with Miles, Petra’s ex, who also isn’t handling the end of his relationship too well either. The two peacefully coexist in their state of depression and anger, despite Miles’ penchant for sad love songs and an occasional joint.

One day, Daphne tells Peter that she and Miles are now together. To prove it, they start chronicling their “relationship” with photos on social media. Casual, friendly, generous Miles is everything Peter was not, so it’s not too long before Daphne finds herself wishing her pretend relationship was real. But both she and Miles have walls around their hearts, and it’ll take more than a fake relationship—and intense sexual chemistry—if they ever have a chance together.

Henry’s books always have lots of great banter, and this is no exception. I also really loved all of the supporting characters and Waning Bay was a terrific small town.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the advance copy; the book publishes 4/23.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author for this eARC to read and review!

Did I like this book? Of course, it’s written by Emily Henry? Duh.

Did I love it as much as Beach Read, People We Meet On Vacation and Book Lovers? Probably not.

I just didn’t connect with the characters in this one as much as Emily’s other protagonists. Also, I am absolutely addicted to the way Emily can write banter, I mean, it’s so clever & fun and my most favorite part of her books … but I felt that usual zing was missing this time. But guys, that’s just me! Maybe I was just having a bad day or something! LOL!

So please don’t get me wrong, I still had a GREAT time with the book and would definitely recommend it! Overall it’s a really fun and entertaining take on the forced proximity, fake dating, opposites attract tropes we all love! And even tho it was a little off for me, it’s still an absolute perfect choice for your vacay and summer tbr’s and I hope you LOVE it!

Thank you for the free audiobook PRHAudio and thank you NetGalley and Berkley Pub for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Daphne's fiance Peter decides to leave her for his best friend Petra after his bachelor party. He and Petra head off on a trip to give Daphne time to move out, because Petra is moving in. Daphne really has no where to go and Miles, Petra's ex, offers to let her move in.

Daphne and Miles were quirky and fun. Their relationship at first was interesting. Then they decide to fake date to annoy their exes, and they begin to really get to know - and like - each other. I loved watching this unfold. When feelings start getting real, they both freak a bit and have to deal with past traumas in their live. And decide if they can actually have a real relationship.

I loved Daphne's coworkers and Miles' sister as well. They added so much to the story! And Julia Whelan is queen of the narrators!

I love a fake dating storyline. I adored both Daphne and Miles and was rooting for them to be able to work through things and be together. And Peter and Petra could take a hike! Disliked both.

After devouring all of Emily Henry’s books and enthusiastically discussing them with practically everyone I meet for the next three weeks, you'd think I'd be able to articulate why I love them. You'd expect me to be able to explain why they feel so intense, real, sweet, and just lovely. I think I'm getting closer to quantifying it.

Recently, I listened to a podcast from the NYT on Taylor Swift and why the author/cohost of the column/episode believes she's so popular. They mentioned Taylor’s specificity, which engages her fans on a level that other musicians tend to shy away from. Others keep things general, a love song is simply a love song. Taylor, however, takes you on a journey to a specific day when she was left out of an invite to the mall, trusting listeners to connect with their own experiences of being excluded. She understands that we all have such moments. Perhaps not at the mall, but the feeling is universal.

I think Emily Henry operates similarly. Through her characters, she makes you feel everything deeply. She allows you to see their weaknesses, trauma, and strengths. You'll laugh, cry, and love yourself and your loved ones a little more after reading her books. She trusts in the power of specificity, knowing that these experiences resonate universally. She believes we can see love in all its imperfect perfection.

So, read her books if you adore Taylor or any of Emily’s other works. Read if you're captivated by Shania Twain’s tale of rediscovering love. Read if you're a librarian. Read if you love someone in the service industry. Read if you need your faith in humanity restored and little healing for your own soul.

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley through the publisher, thank you to them. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Short synopsis: When Daphne’s fiancé breaks up with her for his best friend Petra. Alone with no friends, no family, and nowhere to live… Daphne moves in with Petra’s ex Miles.

My thoughts: Emily Henry has done it again! I am just so drawn to her writing, characters and their growth, and the banter! Oh the banter Henry delivers is always top notch. I definitely laugh out loud multiple times reading her books (stuck wedding dress as an example).

Miles was so charming, friendly, and adventurous. Daphne was ambitious, accepting, and quick witted. I loved that she was a librarian, and her dream of a night long read-a-thon for the library kids had me dreaming our library did similar activities.

While this had some moments that felt somewhat unnecessary…. I feel like those moments only helped make the characters more multi dimensional and life-like. The parental issues seemed so real, I could feel for each of them as the grappled with their different feelings from past circumstances.

I read part of this on audio, and Julia Whalen did such an amazing job bringing these characters to life!

Read if you love:
- Forced proximity
- Roommates to lovers
- Witty Banter
- Librarians and Read-a-thons
- Adventures
- Personal growth

this was sooo much better than her last release. i feel like emily henry is back. not perfect for me because i feel like things were rushed at the end, but otherwise, i had an amazing time reading this story. i literally laughed out loud at parts. if you're a librarian, no matter what kind, i think you will too. and maybe that means im biased because a lot of what i loved about this was how emily henry just seemed to know what librarians go through on a daily basis, and why we do the job. but it really hit perfectly and i loved seeing the representation. the romance of course was amazing as always and this time, the side characters didnt take over as they have in her past novels.

Ok Emily Henry! I am so happy I gave her another shot! I have read all of her books and was on the unpopular opinion side of her last read. But the premise of this book was so interesting, I couldn’t pass it up! I was so happy when Berkley approved me, I had to read it right away. I found myself blushing while reading this one in public! It has some quite steamy parts. When Daphne and Miles become unlikely roommates after their significant others leave them for each other, they bond over their heartache. And when Daphne lies to make their exes jealous and says her and Miles are dating, sparks begin to fly. I couldn’t get enough of their story. Miles is one of my favorite book boyfriends!! He was the sweetest, most thoughtful and selfless man. I really loved how this book came together and ended! Can’t wait to read more from Henry!

I will forever read anything Emily Henry. I love the banter and complex characters only she can create. And Funny Story is no exception.

Synopsis:
Daphne is blindsided when her fiancé comes home from his bachelor party and informs her that he’s leaving her for his best friend. Oh. And he’s kicking her out of his place. So that’s how Daphne ends up living with her ex-fiancés new girlfriend ex-boyfriend - AKA Miles. Oh. And she lies and tells her ex-fiancé that they’re dating. Not confusing at all.

My Thoughts:
It was Emily Henry. I adored it.

Julia Whelan was the narrator on this one. And her male narration is in my top two favorite male voice narrators. Including you know actually males. 😂 She’s perfect and the greatest narrator for a reason.

What You’ll Find in This Book:
🍷 Opposites Attract
🍷 Forced Proximity
🍷 Fake Dating
🍷 Banter for days
🍷 Found Family

Emily Henry has fast become an immediate, auto read for me! I love her spin on contemporary romance. The characters are so relatable and alive I feel instantly connected to their story. Funny Story was indeed aptly titled.

Funny Story by Emily Henry is not just a funny story - it's a tale many of us can relate to. It's about how Daphne and Miles, two seemingly different people, find their way into each other's lives. This sad, funny, and completely relatable journey includes elements like fake dating, opposites attracting, and small-town life. There's so much to love about this story, but what I loved the most was how much I could see myself in it.

I loved the setting, both the bookish aspect and the watery beauty of the lakeside town. The library and the beach are two spots that make me happy. The story made Waning Bay, Michigan, so appealing and invested me not only in the story but also in the setting. The small-town charm, the close-knit community, and the picturesque lakeside views all contributed to the story's appeal. I found it funny that though I hated growing up in a small town, a story set in a small town warms my heart.

The romance in Funny Story is a breath of fresh air in the genre. It doesn't rush, but unfolds gradually, just like a real relationship. The dynamic between Miles and Daphne is a perfect blend of challenge and growth, creating a unique and compelling love story that I couldn't help but be invested in.

Lastly, I was deeply moved by the authentic portrayal of the challenges of making friends as an adult. It was a theme that was not only well-developed and represented, but also completely warmed my heart, endearing me to many of the side characters.

Funny Story is more than just a funny story. It's poignant, relatable, heartwarming, and the perfect read for a spring day.

Perfection. Hands down my favorite Emily Henry yet (and I promise I haven't said that about every one!). There's just something about the combination of everything in this book that really made it a hit for me. I've liked, even loved, every Em Hen book, but this is the first one I've given five stars.

Daphne and Miles are both so relatably flawed. Em Hen knocked the millennial librarian out of the park and there were so many times I felt called out and I was like wow I would literally say that. Miles is one of my favorite love interests. The tattoos, the working at a winery. I just love it all.

I think part of what made this book feel different to me is that it's the least connected our MCs have ever been. It was so fun to watch them fall for each other.

Daphne always loved the story of how she and her fiancée Peter met…right up until it became how her fiancée left her the week before their wedding for his childhood best friend, Petra. Now she is left in a town that’s not her own, with no friends or family and living with the only person who understands her sorrows, Petras ex, Miles. They are basically thrown together in this tiny apartment knowing nothing about each other until one night they devise a plan to which leads to a long summer of adventures and rediscovery.

I can’t really put into words how much I loved this. I loved the witty banter, the characters were so funny! The main characters, the side characters, every single one of them, were so well written. The book left my heart in a cheesy ooey gooey mess and I didn’t want it to end. Ugh 10/10! 😍

I loved this one!!! I loved the unexpected beginning with these two moving in together after their significant others found love with each other. We got to know both characters so well & I enjoyed the literally piece with the library and readathons

While it wasn’t my favorite Emily Henry book, it definitely drew me in like her precious books with the amazing writing and banter of the characters. I enjoyed all the way through!

Rating: 4.25⭐️

Just gave my kindle a hug after finishing this one! As a huge Em Henry fan, I shrieked when I gained access to her latest -- FUNNY STORY, which publishes April 23! This 384 page novel will give you all the feels. Funny Story reminded me a lot of Beach Read.

Definitely will be recommending this to those that love:
- baking
- wineries
- small towns (Michigan specifically!)
- female friendships
- lighter spice
- forced proximity, strangers to best friends to lovers

If you are a fan of Book Lovers and Beach Read, you will happily love Funny Story.

The premise of this is so fun and I loved Daphne and Miles so much. They were such opposites of each other personality wise but for some insane reason, their dynamic really worked. The banter, as always with Emily Henry books, was just delicious and had me laughing out loud.

I really appreciated the backstories for both of these characters as they helped explain why Miles and Daphne are the way that they are and made the 3rd act breakup believable for me. I loved the character growth that both of them went on but especially Daphne. The overarching theme of this book showed that people can change and we're not beholden to previous wants and desires and I think that's a super important message to tell. I think any fan of EH's works will really appreciate this book and find it to be a good addition to her catalog.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for this arc, all thoughts are my own.

I don't even know how to fully express my love for this book. Each of Emily Henry's new releases is my new favorite, but this time it's true with Funny Story. As someone who also loves to talk and tell stories, this is right up my alley. I was already intrigued with the concept of how Daphne and Miles would meet and it was executed brilliantly. AH, there were just so many things to love. From the library support to the pop culture references to the wide range of tropes and details, I was hooked from the start. This had a little small-town romance vibe, roommates to friends to lovers, found family, and a bit of he fell first. All the references Emily threw in here felt deliberate, and I thought they fit well into the story. I also get Nick Miller energy from Miles and I am here for all of that. Besides the lightness of it all—and I was laughing out loud at several points—there was also a bit of heaviness here due to a neglectful parent and not feeling worthy or good enough for love. That being said, the emotional aspect was so well done. I cried at several points in the book—feeling like I not only related to the fictional characters but the beautiful words Henry wrote as well. It's easy to say this is definitely one of my favorite books of the year if not a new favorite in general. I hope Em Hen never changes because stories like this are exactly what I love to read. It was an incredible book that I know will be living in my head for a long time. Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for providing me with an e-ARC to read and review!

Loved this one!! I loved the set up. I loved that Daphne was a librarian and we got to see what is involved with her job. And, I loved the chemistry between her and Miles!

Thank you to#Netgalley for the ARC

This book was a good read I enjoyed the plot and romance a lot. This book follows the fmc Daphne who's fiance has just left her for another woman. She finds herself rooming with Miles who was the ex-boyfriend of the woman that Daphne's fiancee ran away with. Everything is so messy and Daphne finds herself roommates with Miles who works in a winery and smokes a lot of weed. They both get a wedding invitation from their exes invited them both to the wedding which leads them to fake dating to get back at them. As they spend more time together they get closer and have so much sexual tension. They both have emotional, family, and personal baggage they are working through which impacts their relationships, friendships, and even romance when they eventually hook up.

I enjoyed the chemistry and sexual tension between the characters, it was well-written and believable. I also really liked the character's journey outside the romance and their struggles and weaknesses. I will say that it took a while for me to get into the book but once I did I quite liked it. If you like women's fiction and contemporary romance then you'll like this one. Thank you Berkley for this arc for an honest review.

Absolutely loved Daphne and Miles as individuals and I even enjoyed them as a couple but something about this story fell flat for me. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the whole way through! However, I think I was waiting for more of a packed punch like I got with Beach Read, Book Lovers, and HAPPY PLACE! There were still multiple quotes that I want tattooed on the back of my eyelids and I think this is such a fun and interesting take on the childhood friends to lovers — more of a “what would happen to exes of the childhood friends to lovers”.

I absolutely adored this book! Smart and emotional and insightful. It had it all! I read it cover to cover in a day and what a beautiful day that was.