This book felt like watching an episode of New Girl so naturally, I was obsessed!

Emily Henry, I just adore you and your writing. She has a way of writing that makes you feel seen. Being roommates with your ex-fiancée’s new fiancée’s ex-boyfriend is not only a mouthful to say, and is a crazy story (or should I say a funny story) but I was hooked right away! The story may be complicated and messy but Emily always finds a way to tie everything together in the end. Funny Story is comical, a little spicy, heartwarming, and just a fun time. This one is a bit more lighthearted than her other books, but still includes heavier topics that will pull at your heart. You’ll find yourself laughing and then crying a couple of pages later. Although Beach Read is still #1 in my heart, Funny Story is close behind.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the character development. I loved watching the relationship between Daphne and Miles grow. Their characters are so relatable, it’s a bit scary. Their personalities were what made me fall in love with them. They give off Nick Miller and Jessica Day vibes, it is just so darn cute, the perfect balance, and I was addicted! They didn’t obsess over their exes, but instead helped each other grow through their traumas. The banter and tension between them was perfect!! I loved how they were aware of their own flaws, yet, still owned up to their mistakes. It was beautiful to watch their unique friendship form and to see them lower their walls for each other.

Daphne was written for the Archer girlies. She fears that everyone close to her, everyone that she has loved, will eventually leave her because she is not good enough. She’s an overthinker and is afraid to open up her heart again, but she is also kind. Her inner thoughts were my favorite; it felt like Emily Henry was taking a look inside my brain. I loved watching her grow throughout the story. Can you see right through me? Daphne, girl, we see you.🏹

Miles, Miles, Miles dare I say he might be the best Emily Henry boyfriend yet?😭😫 He doesn’t give off golden retriever energy, he is more like an adorable chocolate lab. Although Miles has not had an easy journey and has his own complicated family problems, he has a calming presence and radiates warmth. He is caring, thoughtful, charming, selfless and goes out of his way to make Daphne feel secure. I loved that his adventurous side helped Daphne step out of her comfort zone. Miles shows up for her when no one else does. It’s the little things he remembers and his actions that makes it impossible not to fall in love with him!

Read if you like: forced proximity, roommates, friends to lovers. complicated family dynamics, messy drama with exes, fake dating, small towns, opposites attract, sitcoms, and funny stories.

Side note: I don’t know how they were able to fit everyone in that small apartment!

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for this ARC, I adore you as much as I adored this story. 🫶🏻

A Not So Funny Story with a HEA

Funny Story is a rom-com/drama about a socially awkward librarian named Daphne, whose fiance Peter leaves her for his best friend Petra. She moves in with Miles, the ex-boyfriend of Petra. Soon after, she and her roommate pretend to date to rub it in their relationship in their exes' faces. But when their feelings become real, Daphne and Miles must come to terms with past demons.

The novel starts with a rom-com flair but quickly shifts to a sad tone. Daphne has a lot on her plate besides being jilted by her fiance. She also has some personal and family issues to contend with. Part of her struggles center on being a socially awkward book nerd (I can relate). She is the sole narrator and is very likable with a relatable voice. Miles is also very likable and also has a lot of baggage. The two have strong chemistry. While the romance between Daphne and Miles plays a significant role, their personal dramas and traumas also take up a good portion of the novel.

The fake romance trope is one of my least favorites. However, the relationship fakery between Miles and Daphne is only a small element of the plot, and they don’t spend much time faking. Through their friendship both characters evolve; Daphne’s character in the latter half of the novel is vastly different from the Daphne we meet in the first chapter.

Henry brings the fictional town of Waning Bay, Michigan, to life. There are beaches, wineries, quirky bars, coffee shops, and my favorite, the library, all made complete with a cast of lovable and eccentric side characters. The depiction of Waning Bay was one of my favorite elements of the novel.

Although Funny Story has some rom-com moments, it leans more towards a dramedy as Henry delves into themes of identity, abandonment, and relationships. I enjoyed this way more than Happy Place--the characters have substance, the plot is engrossing, and the romance is swoony. The ending brings the story full circle.

Thank you to Elisha Katz of Berkley Books for providing a complimentary copy of this book.

Emily Henry never disappoints, and as a midwestern children's librarian, I extra loved this one! A perfect beach read.

Thank you @BerkleyRomance and NetGalley for the eARC! All the romance girlies love an Emily Henry novel and everyone has their favorite love interest. Hands down, mine is Funny Story’s Miles Nowak. Funny Story is hilarious, heartwarming, heart-achingly sad, and the characters are *chef’s kiss*. Daphne and Miles are stunningly crafted and I was enamored with them immediately. Emily Henry’s writing always feels like it’s tailored perfectly to me, I get absorbed into the story and find myself rooting for the characters so quickly. I am obsessed with how perfect the two main characters (Daphne and Miles) are for each other and as relatable and empathetic protagonists. Needless to say, another banger. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the ARC of this book!
Well folks, Emily Henry has done it again! Are we even surprised at this point? It’s hard to rank all her books so far, but this one is definitely close to the top for me.
Funny Story has it all: breakups, forced proximity, fake dating, and an incredible cast of characters to back it all up. I absolutely fell in love with our romantic leads, Daphne & Miles. Their circumstances are so shitty and yet hilarious and highly entertaining. Ex boyfriend and ex FIANCE whose exes left each of them for one another. Confused? So are Daphne and Miles! And now strait laced librarian Daphne has moved into the spare room of stoner bartender Miles’s apartment. What could possibly go wrong?
Miles is absolutely Emily Henry’s best book boyfriend yet. He’s so sweet and silly and charming as all get out. He seemed so fleshed out and real.
Daphne is so sweet and funny and I loved to see her open up and come out of her shell. Since everything is from her perspective, we get to be very close to her and watch her change in real time. A very fun narrator, I enjoyed my time in her head.
The relationship was so sweet, had me kicking my feet and squealing multiple times. I also thought Henry did an incredible job with the fake dating trope. I get so annoyed when characters refuse to communicate or reveal their true feelings or are so caught up in the “but it’s fake!! he actually hates me!!”, but I felt like this was different. We hear more about our romantic leads thoughts and emotions and they openly express them to one another (thank god). There obviously is tension and some miscommunication here and there but it doesn’t ruin the romance or the magic for me.
A gem, through and through. Read this when it comes out asap!!

EM HEN CAN DO NO WRONG! And after reading this I feel absolutely validated in that sentiment. The cozy small town setting, the quippy banter, the romance, just everything. I love love loved this book. It’s for sure going in my top read list for this year and we are only one month in!

What you can expect to find in Funny Story
-fake dating + real feelings
-slow burn 🔥
-small town
-found family

When children's librarian, Daphne finds herself literally without a place to live because her (ex)fiancé, Peter, decided to call of their wedding on the night of his bachelor party because he still had feelings for his childhood best friend Petra. Daphne's not quite sure what to do. She moved her whole life to be where Peter was. In a wild twist of events Daphne finds herself rooming with Miles. Miles, whose ex-fiance is non other than Petra - the same woman that Peter decided to leave Daphne for.

Miles and Daphne are both mourning the loss of their respective relationships. Daphne's not even sure if she wants to stay in Michigan. Seems like everything she has there is because she was a part of a couple. But soon, Miles and Daphne form an unlikely friendship. He's there to show her how great Waning Bay, Michigan can be. And if they accidentally/on purpose post pictures where it looks like they're in a relationship - so what? But when those fake feelings start to feel really real - will both of them be able to move on from their heartache?

I ended up reading like half of Funny Story in one sitting. The writing is so captivating - balancing funny moments with heartbreaking ones is a talent that Emily Henry has in spades. I loved how enigmatic Miles once until he opened up. And the slow burn between Miles and Daphne was soooo good. Fake dating when done right is one of my absolute favorite tropes and it was done so well in Funny Story. You know you love a couple when glances, accidental touches and of course the force proximity gives you butterflies. I loved loved love Miles + Daphne.

BUT, I also love the side characters in Funny Story. Everyone from Daphne's library co-workers to the people around town made this story that much more special. Yes, there was heartache and character growth. Did I cry? Of course I did - this is an Emily Henry book.

Funny Story was more of a rom-com compared to last year's Happy Place. That's another thing I love about EH's books - they're all slightly different. Some are more angsty while others are more like a rom-com! I love that she gives us a little bit something different each time.

Loved Funny Story and can't wait to go back and reread my favorite parts.

Ranking Emily Henry books (they're all 5 stars)

1. People We Meet on Vacation
2. Book Lovers
3. Happy Place
4. Funny Story
5. Beach Read

*subject to change at any moment.

#Netgalleyarc Loved, loved, loved this! Henry always seems to create super relatable characters and these characters did not disappoint. The way she writes makes you feel like you could be the main character or she could be your bestie. I love a good romance that is t super cheesy but brings a smile to your face. A must read!

I am a massive Emily Henry fan, and I devour anything she has ever written. So when I heard about her new book, Funny Story, and I read the summary I was beyond excited. And I was beyond excited to get an ARC from NetGalley.

Funny Story does not disappoint. It is a 5 star read, and I will be thinking about this book long after I finish it (which tends to happen with Emily Henry’s books if I’m honest). I absolutely devoured it from the first page. It is a propulsive read filled with heat, heart, and humor.

One of the reasons I will always read an Emily Henry book is her characters. They are real and flawed, but we love them and root for them and their love. I really resonated with both Daphne (her social anxiety and worried) and Miles (his past trauma). Emily knows how to write characters that are beyond stereotypes but still are familiar and easy for readers to engage with.

The chemistry between Daphne and Miles was so palpable. I am a sucker for a black cat, golden retriever relationship and there were so many moments where I had a stupid big smile on my face. Their banter, the tension, their vulnerability. All of it is top tier. The conflict felt relatable and was not dragged out for dramatic effect.

As a librarian, I absolutely loved how Emily captures the magic of libraries in this book. Some of the quotes I highlighted were not declarations of love (though I highlighted those too) but were about the library. Thank you Emily for capturing how special libraries can be for communities, especially children and teens.

This is an utterly captivating read, and it is now at the top of my fav Emily Henry books. I can’t wait to reread it and immerse myself in the magic of Daphne and Miles once again.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This has been a highly anticipated 2024 release for me and it was wonderful to read Emily Henry's wiring again! I loved the setting of this book and it provides the perfect spring into summertime RomCom vibes. I think this will be a huge hit with readers and overall I enjoyed the book.

The small town east cost setting was so charming! I loved the journey Daphne has of finding herself, themes of friendship, and various funny moment throughout the story.

The romance aspect of this book fell slightly flat for me. I wish there had been more that pulled Miles and Daphne together in the beginning, it felt too "convenient" to me most of the book. The premise of the story and how they come together was very unique, however I felt there could have been more of a pull between the two of them that I didn't find myself believing enough by later points in the story.

While this book may not be my favorite romance story, I felt it was very well- written and I think it will be loved by many this year!

✨ Review ✨ Funny Story by Emily Henry

I literally screamed when I got a copy of this from Berkley -- thanks, friends!

While Beach Read has been my longstanding EH favorite, this moves up to tie for first pace in my EH list (Beach Read + Funny Story, Book Loves, People We Meet, Happy Place is my definitive ranking if you're asking...)

In Funny Story, Daphne moves in with Miles, after both of their fiancees dumped them to get together (and right before Daphne and her fiancee's wedding too!). They weren't particularly friends with each other, but as they mourn their lost relationships, they begin to connect with each other. As Miles shows Daphne around Northern Michigan, she begins to see things that could keep her rooted there even without her crummy ex.

Things I loved:
-Daphne as a children's librarian (swoon!)
-the Northern Michigan vibes (totally nails the Leelanau Peninsula area!!) and the adventures that they go on
-the silliness that crawls through the story
-Miles and Daphne building a connection
-some of my favorite tropes - roommates and fake dating
-BOOKS

Definitely a winner of a book by Emily Henry and leaves me excited for what's next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: f/m contemporary romance
Setting: Waning Bay, MI (a fictional Northern city in the Leelanau Peninsula area)
Reminds me of: Abby Jimenez's Part of Your World
Pub Date: 23 Apr 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ swoony fake dating / roommates romances
⭕️ small town + found family
⭕️ librarian + vineyard bartender
⭕️ lots of laughs in a book that's guaranteed to make you smile

Thanks to Berkley and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

I mean, it’s Emily Henry 😭 which means it was perfect.
I honestly think this was my favorite I’ve read from her yet. She just keeps getting better and better; her characterization was so strong, the banter was BANTERING, and the emotional arcs were just *chefs kiss*. Not to mention the sprinkling of fake dating and roommates/forced proximity!! Loved every second.

one thing about emily she is going to out do herself every single time, i never thought i would love a book as much as i loved book lovers but this one got me. I loved the roommates to fake dating to lovers, i loved the chemistry that they had, and i loved like ABSOLUTELY adored the side characters they truly made the story. Daphne and Miles are GEMS their love story was so realistic and i found it easy to connect with them and root for their relationship, they both had amazing character development, i've always been a softy for found family and emily created an amazing one. I don't want to say too much but just know im absolutely obsessed with this book.
Biggest thanks to netgalley & Berkley for the arc &

Emily Henry has done it again. FUNNY STORY has everything we know and love from Emily Henry: relatable FMC, laugh out loud moments, and just the right amount of spice. I was surprised how much I loved the MMC: on paper, you don’t really know how it could ever work, but I found him to be so endearing. I loved how the FMC stayed true to herself no matter what she faced. While not my favorite book of Emily’s, this was still an easy five star for me and I can’t wait to see what readers think of it come April.

FUNNY STORY felt softer than EmHen’s recent books. It’s a return to BEACH READ form; a small, lakeside Michigan town; a shared living space; scheduled adventures during which we watch our main characters fall in love.

Also similar to BEACH READ, I choose to believe that Emily Henry is once again trolling us with this title, because IMO, FUNNY STORY is the least funny of her five romcoms. It’s not a bad thing - the dialogue still absolutely sings. But there’s less banter than books like PWMOV & BOOK LOVERS and even HAPPY PLACE (although it I had to pinpoint it, I would say this book is 70% beach read and 30% happy place).

All in all, the book felt gentler; the humor, the emotion, the love. I really enjoyed it, and am looking forward to a Julia-Whelan-audiobook-reread and also to see what Emily Henry does next. Do we think she’s the romcom queen forever?? Or will she diverge into a different genre? I’m so curious! (And will pick up whatever the book is regardless.)

✨This was a fun contemporary romance complete with witty banter, serious and emotional relational elements as well as an adorable cast of characters – some you love, some not so much – but all well-written.

✨There were a couple of elements I didn’t care for that I won’t share for fear of spoiling, but in the end, this was an entertaining read that gave depth to the romance.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Open door romance
✨Forced proximity
✨Opposites attract
✨Friends to lovers
✨Librarian main character/bookish references
✨All the swoony romance

I want to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an egalley of this title to review and give my honest opinion. All the opinions expressed here are my own.
Daphne's life was all laid out: fiance, nice home, good job. Until the day it blows up and her fiance, Petere, runs off with his childhood best friend, Petra. Stranded in a town she knows nothing about, she ends up moving in with her ex-fiance's new fiance's ex. When forced into close proximity with MIles, she learns more about who she is, what she wants, and who she might want to spend time with. And she forms new friendships with those around her while realizing it's ok to have her wants come above others.
The plot puts Daphne stranded across the country from where she lived, after her fiance decides he's suddenly leaving her, after they've already bought a house and started to make a life together. What a complicated situation! She's forced to find shelter in a place she knows nothing about. She's forced to make decisions about if she's stay or go back to her old life where she lived near her mom, the only family she has. Not only is she forced into living with her ex-fiance's new fiance's ex but they each receive an invitation for the wedding between their exes! Together they decide a fake relationship will show their exes up. To complicate the situation more, Daphne has given herself a timeline to decide what she wants to do, the Summer until her read-a-thon she's organized happens. Then she believes it will be time to go back to where she grew up. But along the way, Miles suggests he gives her a tour of her new home town so she can learn about it and see if that might make her want to build a life there. She doesn't plan on being attracted to him, or falling for him.
I've really enjoyed all of Emily Henry's titles so it's no surprise this one fit that bill. This is probably my new favorite by her! Two great tropes: forced proximity, opposites attract, and friends to lovers!
Let's talk characters. I like Daphne enough. She's not my favorite Henry FMC. She was a bit whiny at times and a lot self-sabotaging. This kind of character drives me a little batty because I just want to slap them upside the head. At the same time, the whole point was her growth from this introverted girl who did what others wanted and accepted how she was treated to someone who could turn out her voice for herself. By the end, I was ok with her, and happy for her. Miles, on the other hand, is definitely my favorite Henry MMC. He's charming, funny, sexy, scruffy, kind, selfless (to a flaw), and kind. I really enjoyed how he was so easy with himself and how he gave of himself to others. Often times I wish he was more worried about himself and his happiness. But I think that was the point of his character arc: to watch him realize he doesn't have to be the caretaker of others and is allowed to feel and find the things that make him happy. And the side characters that were introduced really made me happy: Julia (Miles' sister), Ashleigh, Harvey and the poker crew, and all the others introduced along the way. They surround Daphne and help her start to understand herself and her needs.
I think my favorite thing about the relationship between Miles and Daphne is the honestly between the two. While there was some misunderstanding here and there, for the most part they let each other know what was happening. I was happy to see this as it made for less stress for me while reading. Was there a conflict, of course there was, Par for the course with a romance, but it was easily solved and didn't make the story unintentionally tense.
As for pacing, it was an easy read I really didn't want to put down. I love how Henry is able to weave each chapter with the next so you are left with wanting to know what will happen next.
This has become my new favorite Henry book (it pushed Book Lovers right out of the way). I'm so happy I had a chance to read this and I'm truly looking forward to whatever romantic antics Henry comes up with next!

This is my favorite of hers so far. I devoured it in a single day. The characters were easy to connect with and support through their growth. Also, librarian. Duh. The pacing of the story was good and had just enough spice build. The setting was described beautifully. It made me want to be there.
But really, Emily Henry is amazing! This is a must read for contemporary romance fans.

Absolute perfection, as usual. Emily Henry has such a way with creating this most realistic characters and beautiful relationships (romantic, familial, and platonic.) This book is sweet, heart-warming, utterly romantic, and laugh-out-loud funny! My cheeks actually hurt from smiling for the entirely of this book.

Emily Henry does it again! Daphne finds out that her soon to be husband cheated and are finding a new life apart. Daphne struggles finding new love, but her neighbor Miles invites her to stay in his apartment since she had no where else to go. An invitation arrives in the mail that both Daphne and Miles can’t pass up and things start to get interesting from there! Super fun forced proximity and such a smooth read.