the bitch is back!!!! - Elton John and I after reading this book. EH at her best. I haven't felt this grand since I read Beach Read many moons ago. also, miles novak PLZ call me!

I start each Emily Henry book feeling both super excited (because I've loved her last several books so much) and super nervous (because what if I don't like this one?), and I can usually tell pretty quickly which of these emotions are going to win out. I loved this one within the first three chapters and just kept loving it from there. If you liked any of Henry's previous novels, I think you'll like this, too. It reminded me the most of Happy Place, not necessarily in terms of plot, but because it handles the balance between humor and grief in an equally deft way. I laughed out loud several times (which is unusual for me), but I also felt really deeply for the two main characters here. Daphne and Miles, our two main characters, are both dealing with the fresh grief of romantic relationships that ended unexpectedly (with partners who left them for each other), and are also both dealing with deeper, longer-term grief from dysfunctional family relationships. I liked that Henry played with the fake dating trope here (and that there were several acknowledgements of that as well as references to other romance authors and tropes), and I really just liked being along for the ride as these two main characters found their way through heartbreak. I also loved that we had a librarian main character in Daphne, and that her experiences in the library - including her somewhat awkward attempt to befriend a co-worker - felt really realistic.

Books like this are the reason I read.

As readers, we’re always searching for the next book that completely blows you away. That book that completely knocks your socks off. That book that seems to know you even better than you know yourself. That was this book for me.

I deeply related to Daphne’s character in so many ways. And Miles—y’all he IS the book boyfriend blueprint!!!

This book was the perfect combo of all of Emily’s past books. It was filled with her classic Em-Hen style quotes and quips. I can’t wait to annotate the crap out of it once I get my hands on a physical copy!

This book further solidified Em Hen as my all time favorite author…like by a landslide. I can’t believe I am actually saying this but, I think this book has officially taken the top spot as my favorite book by Emily (which is wild, I mean just look at my profile photo!!) I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this one and obsess with me all over again!

A beyond perfect love story with fake dating, strangers to lovers and witty banter. I found myself laughing out loud throughout this entire book. I fell in love with these characters especially the two main characters Miles and Daphne. Where Daphne is very proper and put together, Miles is the exact opposite, being adventurous and spontaneous.
I think my favorite part of this book, other than the amazing love story, is how much growth both Daphne and Miles had. They didn’t just grow exponentially alone, but also together. Their relationship is what dreams are made of.
I absolutely adored this story!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Daphne has her sights set on leaving Michigan after her fiancé, Peter, dumps her for his childhood best friend, Petra. The only thing keeping her in town is an upcoming readathon at the library she works at and her new roommate Miles — a handsome, super friendly guy who also happens to be the Petra’s ex.

I absolutely LOVED Henry’s first two books but wasn’t as obsessed with her last two, so wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one! Overall, I enjoyed this story and seeing how both Daphne and Miles’ characters developed and came into their own as the story progressed. I appreciated how they both navigated complicated family dynamics and really enjoyed all of the adventures they went on throughout the summer! I liked this one overall, but my fav Emily Henry will always be #BeachRead 🥰💖

I adored this fun, witty, emotional, romantic story and it left me with a bit of a book hangover. I just wanted to stay in it for a little while longer because Daphne and Miles gave me all the feels. I listened to the audiobook and Julia Whelan nailed the narration once again. Her vocalization works so well for Emily Henry's books and adds an extra layer of charm to the perfection of Emily's writing style. I will never tire of the snarky fast-paced dialogue and the way she adds tension to the simmering chemistry between the main characters. She also gives them a healing kindness and gentleness towards each other and the combination creates a lovely way to escape and relax for a few hours.

A fake dating romance with a librarian female main character?? How could I not love this?! This was such a love letter to librarians and book lovers and as a soon to be librarian, I absolutely devoured it.

This was tender and funny, the EmHen way. Daphne moved to a new state to be with her fiancé, started a new life that centered around him and their future, and then he dumps her and runs off with his female best friend. With nowhere to go and no backup plan (because why would she have one? She was engaged!) she moves in with the ex of the woman who stole her fiancé out of desperation.

Daphne has always had a life full of disappointment and lacking stability, so she’s just trying to get back on her two feet and recover from this heartbreak. Miles (her new roommate) is also trying to recover from his heartbreak, so they find solace in each other.

This is going well until Daphne has an unpleasant phone call with her ex fiancé and blurts out that she’s now dating Miles. From that moment on what we get is a hilarious, swoony & endearing fake dating roommates story.

What this author does better than most others I’ve read is that the story is not just the fake-dating. It’s not full of tropes for the sake of appealing to the masses. She just crafts the most beautiful, intimate, and emotionally charged stories that are also entertaining and charming without trying to cram too much in.

She writes perfectly paced love stories, introduces us to so many incredible characters, and creates scenes so vivid and enchanting, you can’t help but be drawn in. While this book reminded me of Beach Read, I appreciate that each of her works, though they exude the same wonderful essence, never feels repetitive.

Thank you so much NetGalley & Berkley/Berkley Romance for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

because emily henry has been one of the marquee romance authors the last few years and I have thoroughly obsessed over her books in the past, my expectations were admittedly sky high for funny story. it's a curse of her greatness that while I enjoyed this read, I was also underwhelmed. having said that, I don't want the fact that funny story is a good book to be lost. I rated it highly and firmly believe it will amass a loyal following similar to all of emily's other releases. daphne and miles are characters that many will identify with, understanding the fear and doubt that comes with having to rebuild after being hurt by those closest to them.

for me, miles kind of stole the show. any grey's anatomy fans will understand when I say that he embodied the sentiment of arizona's "a good man in a storm". though the weather was rough and their path was unclear, miles provided a stable presence for daphne. despite being a bit of a lost himself, he was the sweet and gentle soul she needed, someone who could meet her in the same darkness. miles and daphne understood each other's pain and worked through it without expectation or judgment.

additionally, there was a great emphasis on the joy and fulfillment that female friendships can provide. once daphne realized that she'd allowed that part of her life to grow stagnant, she learned the real value of that sort of companionship. it was wonderful to see her put in the effort and reach out a hand to ashleigh, someone who needed her just as much.

and while the writing overall felt more simplistic than I anticipated, no one can deny that emily henry knows how to conclude a story. the final 15% of this book packed an emotional punch as daphne's development was on full display. an epic love confession, belief in her next steps and a wholesome final chapter provided a lovely ending.

thanks to berkley and emily henry for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A whole freaking sky full of stars

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

So Funny story…I read my very first EH’s ARC ever and big thanks to Berkley for making that happen.

No body can bring magic into mundane like this author.Every time I read Em H I can’t help but marvel at the way she comes with these beautiful stories with complex human emotions.I am always captivated by not only by her main characters but every secondary character of hers along with the amount of story she packs through them. It is sometimes free therapy and at other times indulging , it feels like she is talking directly to me as most of her quotes truly speak to me on so many levels as if they are curated just for me

These characters Daphne, Miles and the absolute tenderness that’s in between them , their shared chaos along with Emily’s writing thats equal parts witty and equal parts dripping in sarcasm with splash of humor is a whole big package that warmed my insides like a darn radiator. I am always amazed by how her romance works in her books as if it’s the utmost natural thing to happen between her characters. The feeling you get when one of your most anticipated read is more than what you’ve hoped for is just unbeatable, this will be another comfort read Emily Henry’s fan will keep going for when the world gets too big to handle for them

The only hard time I had with it is when I tried to choose a favorite quote to include in my review. In word Funny story is a joy ride that I really was reluctant to get off after it ended

Daphne is blindsided when her fiancée left her right before their wedding for another woman. When that woman's ex, Miles, offers Daphne a room at his place while she gets on her feet after the breakup, she doesn't have any choice but to move in with him. Daphne and Miles commiserate with one another over their breakups and eventually they slip into an easy friendship. It would be too crazy to fall in love with your ex fiancée’s ex, right?

This book snuck up on me. I thought the first half was charming and entertaining and I was really digging it. The second half hit me in such a different way. The character development and story development went to a whole other level in that second half. I was wrecked by the third act break up and I loved every second of it. I love a good cry when I read books that hit me hard!

Daphne's journey in this book was absorbing. I didn't get her at first, but then as I learned more about her, everything made sense. Her heartbreak from her failed relationships was visceral and I felt really bad for her. She had given her life to someone who nonchalantly kicked her to the curb. Daphne had to find who she wanted to be without a partner because it wasn't healthy to be codependent with someone else. It took this world-rocking breakup for her to see that.

Miles was the best book boyfriend. He was the nice, laid back guy, who went out of his way to do thoughtful things but acted like it wasn't a big deal. His character was more complex than meets the eye and he was too hard on himself. If only he could believe that he was worthy of Daphne's love and that he was enough.

The supporting characters in this book were animated and essential to their story. Ashleigh was my favorite - I wish she could get her own book.

I loved this book and I know you will, too!

Steam level: 🔥🔥¾
⚠️: infidelity (not between the main characters), toxic parent

I always love Emily Henry’s books. And this one was no different.

This was such a fun story. I loved miles and Daphne both together and separately. I loved that she worked at the library and he was just a local know everyone lol and worked at the winery. Like who doesn’t love wine and books!

I loved their relationship and their self discovery. This was just so light hearted but like with emotions tho! The sense of humor with its whit and sarcasm cuts through the emotions too and makes me laugh.

This book is the definition of finding love when you’re not looking for it. I felt it was so relatable in their heartbreak and their family issues. To them discovering themselves and slowly discovering each other…

One thing I really love that she is able to do is write the usual tropes but with some a flair that it isn’t devoutly noticeable. Like there’s fake dating. Close proximity and a love triangle but it’s not slapping you in the face. It just flows!

This book just delivered.

Okay, the most important thing is that I liked this more than Happy Place. However, this was a pretty mid-book from an author with Emily Henry's skill level. Her writing was simplified, which isn't bad, but it was a jump-scare from Henry, who always manages to pack a strong and elevated emotional punch with her prose. SUPER HAPPY! that she didn't rely on grief to drive any of her character's actions in this novel but then I'm left wondering "Can she only pack an emotional punch when she is writing about loss" which again isn't a bad thing but I would love for her to keep exploring how to make her characters backstories more diverse in terms of upbringing, economic background, etc as she continues to push out more romances.
I did enjoy Miles and Daphne as characters and am happy that they ended up together but they didn't feel like soulmates. If anything their love felt more out of convenience rather than "written in the stars". I was waiting for their "invisible string" moment which never came. I think not breaking Peter and Petra up would've helped with this feeling. But since they broke up and we learn that Peter and Petra were just assholes for the sake of being assholes I was left wondering why Daphne and especially Miles were with them in the first place. If that was always the plan then I wish we got more of their relationship origins with Peter and Petra. These were people they thought they would marry!!! There had to be something else there.
I also loved Ashleigh in this book! She was such a fun character and added much light to the story. I wish Henry would state her character's race earlier on in the novel. I don't know why it took us until 80% to know that Ashleigh was Persian. There was also Ashleigh and Daphne's boss who I am ASSUMING is Black based on the fact that Henry stated he looked like Morgan Freeman and he was wearing a Howard sweatshirt at one point. Would've loved a simple "he's Black, loves to xyz, etc." I shouldn't have to assume race while reading a book it should always be clear!
Even though I called this book mid at the beginning of this review I still really enjoyed it! It just didn't feel memorable in any way compared to previous works. But as always I'm excited to see whatever it is she does next!

Emily Henry never disappoints. This was such a cute story. I am getting several copies for my library and I know they will circulate well. Such a good book and fun beach read.

Read this if you like:
•forced proximity
•found family
•complicated family relationships
•opposites attract

I will always read an Emily Henry book and even more if Julia Whalen is the audiobook narrator, since she brings books to life like no other. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the librarian aspect. I loved the forced proximity. I thought the complicated parental relationships were so real.

Thank you PRH for the ALC

4.5 stars

Synopsis: When Daphne finds out that her fiancé Peter is actually in love with his childhood best friend, Petra, her whole world crumbles. She's forced to begin a new story that is comprised of being stranded in Waning Bay, Michigan, without her family or friends. The silver lining? Her dream job as a children's librarian. Left with no other choice, she decides to become roommates with the only other person who could possibly know how she feels: Miles (Petra's ex). Misery loves company, and the enemy of my enemy is my friend, right? So begins an interesting journey of forced proximity, fake dating, and opposites attract, all while trying to heal from a broken heart.

Thoughts: Julia Whelan + Emily Henry is just the most perfect pairing. I opted to listen to this one (thank you PRH audio), and Julia just does an excellent job bringing Henry's stories to life. I thought that this was a super cute story, and I particularly enjoyed how Henry wrote about Daphne's and Miles' personal grapplings with their breakups. She has been incorporating more emotional components in her stories, and I adore these rich backstories. While Happy Place remains my all time favorite of Henry's, I know that readers will love Funny Story!

Emily Henry strikes again! I'm telling you, there is truly nothing better than an Emily Henry novel read by Julia Whelan. I loved this one, shocking no one. Daphne was a female main character I really related to as she tries to figure out her life after everything gets turned upside down. Her relationship with her mother was touching and her profession as a librarian was basically my dream. Miles was, as expected, a great love interest for Daphne. I loved the opposites attract trope here as their relationship progresses from friendship to more after their significant others leave them for each other. Witty, funny, touching, vulnerable, heart warming - all the good words for Emily Henry's newest. This will def be a favorite for me!

Honestly, I don’t think Emily Henry could publish a book and me not be interested enough to want to read it asap. There is something about her writing, and her characters that just hit different than any other books I’ve read, and this book is no exception. If you’ve liked her other books, I truly think you will love this one. It honestly felt like a mix of all of them in one!
Daphne and Miles met and probably one of the most unconventional ways to people can meet, and because of certain circumstances they were kind of thrown into life together. Watching them kind of learn each other’s quirks, personalities and habits was honestly really fun.
I truly think Mile Nowak is one of the best book boyfriends Emily Henry has written yet! He’s caring, charming, selfless, easy-going, adventurous- Honestly, he just seemed like, outside of the relationship aspect, a wonderful and loving friend, which is exactly what Daphne needed at the time. He’s also insanely hot, which I mean cherry on top. Miles also has like a bit of this bad boy persona going for him, especially in the beginning, but he definitely proves that wrong once you get to know him with his sense of humor, good heart, and just natural kindness. I absolutely adored his relationship with his sister and how natural and real that felt.
Daphne is used to experiencing life in a different way than Miles. She is much more reserved, quiet, a button up, children’s librarian. So, when she becomes roommates with a carefree, adventurous guys who’s always working odd jobs she realizes maybe her life isn’t as much her own as she thought…
So without spoiling anything, the situation of becoming roommates with your ex-fiancée's new fiancée's ex-boyfriend isn’t exactly the easiest situation to navigate. Both Daphne and Miles I feel like handled the situation in a very genuine, reasonable and smart way. Even when they actually dentally find themselves in a fake dating situation, they’re honest with their thoughts throughout that’s the main reason why I love these characters so much they’re conscious of their own flaws and weaknesses. They’re not really whining over what was. they help each other trauma and for unique, beautiful, accidental friendship. I love how their guards were slowly lowered, and they started exploring themselves more. they acted so much and were careful with each other‘s feelings. It was just so wholesome and refreshing to read about.
Overall, it comes as no surprise that I loved this one. While it may not take the spot as my favorite Emily Henry book, it is still a five star without question, and I will always recommend any of her books!!

*Thank you Berkley Romance and team for an e-ARC of this book an exchange for an honest review. All opinions above are 100% my own!*

Emily Henry never disappoints. Her writing is tender, funny, wise, and everything I love in a romance. This story is another beauty!

Thank you Berkley for my free ARC of Funny Story by Emily Henry — available Apr 23!

Read this if you:
✨ love our romcom queen, EmHen
💜 have ever lost yourself inside a relationship (become a "we" girl/guy)
🥂 wish you had a roommate who cooked and brought you chai

Daphne's dream man just came home after his bachelor party and told her he's in love with his best friend Petra — the girl he told her was like a sister to him. Devastated and stuck in a town that HE wanted to move to, Daphne is counting down the days until she can leave at the end of summer. But her new roommate, who just happens to be Petra's ex, is convinced that Daphne will fall in love with the town if he shows her all its secret spots. And really, who can blame the two of them if they take a few cozy photos during their adventures to mislead their cheating exes into thinking they're together? They deserve a little jealousy. But wait — Daphne isn't actually falling for her ex-fiancé's new fiancée's ex, is she?

Ummm I loved this one. I have to say, it starts a little slowly compared to my favorite EmHens (Book Lovers and Beach Read), but it started to pick up the pace after the first quarter or so. It's not quite as laugh-out-loud funny as those two either, but man I loved Daphne's journey through this story. I think most of us have probably fallen victim to the "we girl" experience in a relationship, so everything that happens in here is ultra-relatable!

One of my favorite aspects of this book was actually Daphne's new friendship with Ashleigh, who is a riot. And to be real, Miles' tour-guiding made ME want to move to Waning Bay. Very cute read with some seriously emotional "stuff" in here!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Emily Henry novels are twofers -- a two-for-one of romance and solidly rewritten self-actualization relationship fiction. Sure, the characters quickly fall in love and get down to business, but they are also explore deep issues within themselves that the reader will likely see mirrored in their own lives or in those of someone they know.

It was refreshing to see working class main characters -- Daphne is a children's librarian and Miles is a purchaser and bartender a winery and restaurant who also works odd jobs in the off-season. When Miles's fiancé runs away with Daphne's, they each find both themselves in need of a roommate and a friend.

In a moment of brokenhearted solidarity, they agree to post pictures together on Daphne's Instagram to suggest to their exes that they are now a couple. It doesn't feel quite right to refer to this as fake-dating romance, though -- their romance begins quietly and slowly as roommates cooking meals together, visiting each other at work, and spending time as friends.

My only complaint is that the conflict towards the end of the book would have been easily corrected if they had communicated better, which seems out of character for each.

Still a recommended read, and Emily Henry is always one to pre-order.