Emily Henry NEVER DISAPPOINTS. Writing another heartfelt home-run, this romance was such a fun and easy read. I totally related to the FMC librarian Daphne and her friends to lovers story with Miles is the stuff dreams are made of. I love reading how they slowly fell for each other, and the positivity they had in their relationship really stands out. Unlike their previous failed relationships, their romance has a good foundation: friendship and trust despite previous heartbreak and betrayal. A deserving FIVE STARS.

So funny story… I liked the book. I don’t know what Emily puts in her writing, but I ate this up. The chemistry between characters was top notch and the banter made for such an entertaining read. In true Emily Henry fashion, she weaved in moments that tug at your heart seamlessly, and writes a beautiful romance that is unlike the usual romance book that you consume. I can’t wait for more from Emily!

She does it again folks! I love Emily Henry as everyone knows and I was holding pretty strongly to my Poppy and Alex being my favourite couple in the Emily Henry universe. ALAS Daphne and Miles have won that title by a landslide. I really really enjoyed the dynamics between the characters, the found family vibes and the small Michigan town, which is basically a southern Ontario beach town. Also, a slow burn for the ages where the bond between them was so strong before the finally came together. I've also noticed that the side characters are getting stronger, and I want to know more. Kudos to Emily Henry I can't wait for the next one!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

'Funny Story' is Emily Henry's most formulaic romcom, so there were some things I loved and some things I could do without. First, I absolutely adored Miles!! With Miles and Daphne, Emily Henry, once again,n creates characters you can feel through the pages. Their problems are relatable (sometimes too much), and the reader falls in love with them in spite of their flaws.

This book could have done without the fake dating scenario. It added conflict with time that could've been spent on Daphne's feelings of inadequacy and the problems with her dad. I felt there was still room to explore this area, and it would have added more depth to her and Miles' relationship.

At the climax, Miles says, "And I feel lucky every time you look at me. Not because I think I've managed to earn you, but because it feels like you don't need me to. Like you just...like me [...] Like you love me. That's how I feel about you." This quote, I feel, encompasses their relationship. It's quiet and simple, and I felt like it...just happened! I would've loved to see this in the rest of the novel.

Emily Henry is the queen of romcoms and I will read absolutely everything she writes. While this isn't her best yet, in my opinion (that spot is firmly held by Happy Place), this delightful opposites attract and forced proximity romance is sure to charm any reader.

I didn't expect Funny Story to shoot straight to the top of my rankings for Emily Henry's adult contemporary romances! This book hit many of my sweet spots when it comes to this specific genre, but the three main things I loved about it include:

* Daphne & Miles - I adored both these characters. They charmed me right from the get go, and I liked the way that they felt like people I could know and befriend in real life (if only our paths crossed).
* the romcom vibes - There's a solid combination of funny, sweet, swoony and heartfelt moments sprinkled through the novel from start to end. It definitely called to mind some of my personal favorite romcom films, and in the best way.
* the romance - It was all too easy to fall in love with these two as a pair as I read about them falling for each other. I was rooting for them pretty hard from the start and was deeply invested in the two of them being a couple.

This is easily one of the books I've enjoyed the most this year! I can highly recommend checking it out whether you're a seasoned Emily Henry fan or new to her work.

This is the best Emily Henry book I've read since Beach Read! Which isn't to say I didn't enjoy the other ones but this is definitely in the top tier for my favorites by her. And Miles is my new EH MMC. This was a really beautiful and funny story and will likely be put in the re-read rotation.

This book offers a fun yet chaotic take on friends-to-lovers romance, with a quirky twist involving exes. Daphne, the practical and guarded children's librarian, teams up with scruffy and broken-hearted Miles, her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex, for a summer of fake dating and healing. While the setup was promising, the drawn-out buildup left me wanting more urgency between the characters. Still, their dynamic had its sweet moments, and fans of miscommunication and "will they, won't they" tension will likely enjoy the ride.

Though the story was sometimes confusing, the humor and charm of the main characters kept it entertaining. Daphne and Miles’ unlikely bond, fueled by revenge and a series of staged summer moments, felt reminiscent of the playful tension in "Miraculous Ladybug." It wasn’t groundbreaking, but it was a cute, light read—perfect for a quick romance fix

Emily Henry never misses. This story is just as thoughtful, funny, sweet, and well written as the rest of her titles. Funny Story has two characters filled with heartbreak and in need of healing, and yet manages to be a funny story. The main characters are earnest and authentic, while being entertaining and intriguing. A top read, as always.

Funny story was such a great book! I loved each character and just how unique the story was. Definitely would recommend!

This is truly the best Emily Henry since book Lovers. Maybe I’m biased since it features a Librarian, but this story has so much truth and heart. Highly reccomend.

What's the point of a contemporary romance if by the end of it i am not even convinced that the male protagonist loves the main female character more than his —beautiful, accomplished, heartbreaker, full of life- ex?
To say that i'm disappointed is an euphemism so i wont even put an effort to coordinate two sentences to pull a well structured review. this book deserved more romance. some dialogues could've used some chopping. it was frustrating how some side characters had a soupçon more spotlight than the male main character. the female main character deserved better. Ugh.

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.

This leads Daphne to a new chapter in her life: 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). She proposes to be roommates with the only person who could understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

Miles is scruffy and chaotic, with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heartbreak love ballads. He 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?

Tropes
- Opposites Attract
- Forced Proximity
- Second Chances
- Small Town Setting
- Fake Relationship

Emily Henry delivers another delightful romance with "Funny Story," filled with her signature wit and charm. Daphne and Miles are wonderfully drawn characters whose chemistry leaps off the page. Their journey from strangers to friends to something more is both heartwarming and entertaining.

The setting of Waning Bay, with its picturesque lakeside scenery and close-knit community, provides a perfect backdrop for the story. Henry's writing captures the small-town vibe beautifully, making readers feel as though they are part of the community.

The plot is a perfect blend of humour, romance, and emotional depth. The fake relationship trope is executed with a fresh twist, and the interactions between Daphne and Miles are both funny and poignant. Their individual growth, as well as the development of their relationship, is well-paced and satisfying.

Henry's exploration of themes such as moving on from past relationships, finding oneself, and the importance of friendship adds layers to the narrative, making it more than just a simple romance.

It is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance. Emily Henry has crafted a delightful, feel-good novel that will leave readers smiling long after they turn the last page. The combination of endearing characters, witty dialogue, and a charming setting makes this book a standout in the genre. If you enjoyed Henry's previous works or are a fan of heartfelt, humorous romances, this book is sure to become a favourite.

This was a fun book, and I really appreciated the opportunity to read it! I will recommend this book.

If you haven't read a Emily Henry book it's time to get on board; three of her novels are already in the process of being adapted for the big screen, and Jennifer Lopez is producing a TV series based on a fourth.

Emily's fifth fiction book Funny Story follows Daphne and Miles, a pair of total opposites -- Daphne is a buttoned-up librarian with no social life and Miles is a chaotic musician -- who end up living together when their fiances decide they're really in love with each other, and soon a plan forms, to make their exes jealous by pretending to be enjoying a summer romance together.

Yeah, there's no way that is going to go wrong... A joyous laugh-out-loud novel about finding the right person in the wrong places, Funny Story is the perfect holiday read.

Review: FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry https://bit.ly/3WBgYHs
Publication Date: 4/ 23/ 2024
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rate 4 Stars

I enjoyed this contemporary romance. I honestly expected it to be all light and fluffy but was pleased to see how both Daphne and Miles’ past baggage molded them. Nothing earth shattering, but how their early lives shaped their behavior and expectations in a realistic manner. It explained so much about their personalities and added a nice depth to them. I loved how the author quickly and clearly invested me into their world, smiling at their banter and flirting as they tried to just be friends. The people around them rounded out their characters in a delightful way as well. The author’s writing style is such that I will now add her to my TBR list. She provided a fun escape.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

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Kindle https://amzn.to/4dBUc9k

Big time Emily Henry fan, but this is the first one to make me genuinely cry. I don't know if I love it or feel betrayed by it, but it's easily one of the best books I've read this year. Literally how does she keep getting better and better???

Daphne and Miles were definitely a favorite of mine. I loved the banter, I loved how they helped each other heal. I love how complicated the start of their relationship was and how they navigated hurt together.

I love how they both grew individually and how that growth propelled them in their lives. I loved the chemistry between them. And the side characters were also some of my favorite as well.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the e-ARC. All opinions are honest and my own.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

TW: infidelity, mommy AND daddy issues, drug usage (weed), alcohol usage (not in excess), divorce

I read Funny Story back in December 2023 and really enjoyed my read, however I clearly did not write my review at the time and sorely wish I did. My apologies if this isn’t the most robust review, because while I remember how I felt and key plot points I do not have as strong of a grasp over all the little details. I can’t say for certain, as it’s been a while since I’ve read the other two, but I think this rank second for me, in Emily Henry’s woman’s fic/romance books.

1. Beach Read
2. Funny Story
3. Book Lovers
4. People We Meet on Vacation
5. Happy Place (default, as I have not read this one yet)

One thing I can say about FUNNY STORY is that from the onset this book is messy. Daphne, our heroine, is a librarian (we love) and she’s engaged to Peter. Peter may seem “impressive on paper” but you can clearly tell that he is in fact, a loser. Case in point, he cheats and ends his engagement with Daphne after his bachelorette, in which he hooks up with his girl best friend. Oh Peter, you dirty, dirty dog. Now, Peter’s childhood best friend, I can’t remember her name so let’s call her ‘That Girl’, was dating Miles’, so clearly Peter and That Girl do not give a single thought to the people they are hurting. Daphne was living with Peter in his house, so she quickly has to find a new place to live and well…Miles has a room available *flails hands*. Now these two are very different, but a lot of people harp on the fact that Miles smokes weed, sure, but he’s not rotting in his room all day smoking, he has a job, has passions, and seems like a pretty neat guy to me.

In typical Emily Henry fashion she will probably upturn some emotional baggage you’ve been suppressing. In this one it wasn’t enough for her to explore mommy issues or daddy issues, no, she had to hit us with a double whammy. Like, dang Ms. Henry, can I breathe? It was also a lot of fun for me to see how she explored Daphne’s characterization as a relationship woman. You know, the kind of woman who unknowingly makes her relationship her personality. I think this was a refreshing call-out, because I’m sure some of us know someone like that, regardless of gender. It also shows the dangers of being this way, because Daphne had to grapple with who she was, now that she was no longer Peter’s fiancée.

This book explores the messiness of people, their lives, their jobs, their family, their friends, their relationships and how they influence our actions and choices. For example Daphne and Peter decide to fake date (my fave!) after receiving some news. Is fake dating your ex’s current fiancée and your current roommate the healthiest way to cope? Absolutely not, but our characters do it anyway, because what could possibly go wrong with that arrangement. I really enjoyed the complexities of this story, of Daphne, of her relationship with Miles. Because yes, the romance was there which we love, but it wasn’t overbearing, and we really got to spend time and explore Daphne as an individual, which back to my earlier callout is kind of the point. If you’ve enjoyed Emily Henry’s previous works I’m curious to know where this novel falls for you in the ranking.

P.S. I’m a notorious hater of Emily Henry’s endings, and I was bracing myself for this one. I was pleasantly surprised to not dislike it, like it actually worked for me, so kudos for that.

I've realized that when it comes to Emily Henry's books, I'll drop everything I'm doing and read them as fast as I possibly can. I don't savour them, I devour them. Beach Read is my all-time favourite Emily Henry book and nothing has been able to top it yet. I was disappointed with Happy Place, and then I read Funny Story, which left me feeling slightly disappointed as well. But I enjoyed it! Here's what I particularly loved about it:
- The introduction of Daphne and Miles' story surprised me! Very cute and unexpected (no I did not read the description beforehand)
- The side characters (friend Ashleigh and Miles' sister Julia) were great. 
- Miles was very hot in my head. 
- Daphne's mother was a badass boss bitch.
-It was a fairly digestible and easy read overall, as are all of EH's novels, so that is a plus.

What I disliked:
-It felt too similar to her other books! To the point where when I think about it, it becomes jumbled in my memory, combining with others with nearly identical structures. I know she has a formula, but it felt a little repetitive at times.
-I need more sexy moments, Emily. I'm not saying you have to make it smut, but please, Emily, give me a little more than that!
-As a side note, I saw a review that said “the colleen hooverification of Emily Henry” and I choked on my water (I kind of agree with this)

Overall, I enjoyed the book. In terms of star rating, I'd give it 3.5 out of 5. Of course, I recommend reading it because it is a new Emily Henry novel, and they are always enjoyable to read! Unfortunately, this one was not my favourite. Get your hands on this one April 23! Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for providing my ARC!