I love an Emily Henry book, and this one was definitely lovable. However, it is probably my least favorite one so far. As a huge fan of Book Lovers and People We Meet on Vacation, I am a sucker for a story that centers around complicated people falling in love. Emily Henry is an incredible storyteller because of how she fleshes out her characters as if they are real people, making them complicated and dare I say, unlikeable, at times. She creates a story that is so entrenched in reality that you feel as if it's occurring in the next town over, or in the case of Beach Read, in the nearest beach town over.

For me, Funny Story missed the mark. It was missing many of the characteristics of an Emily Henry book that I loved, the blurred line between reality and fiction, the close relationships with family and friends, and the tension, THE TENSION! I know there's been lots of conversations about trope-y books, and this too felt like a book with a great premise: two people dumped on the same day because their ex-fiancees got together, forced to move in together because they had no where else to go. This sounded like a great book to me, but the execution simply wasn't there. I also was not a fan of Miles at all. I felt like it was hard to understand what drew the characters to each other outside of the fact that they were both just broken up with, they were in forced proximity, and they both had complicated family relationships. Also, the miscommunication in this book drove me mad. The characters are constantly in their own head about everything, from their feelings about each other to their relationships with family and friends. I truly believe if I met Daphne or Miles in real life, I would not like either of them very much.

Emily Henry is an auto-buy, auto-read, auto-love author of mine. Reading this books made me, as usual, smile, giggle, cry. I loved every minute of it. Emily always brings us right into her characters lives. They're so very well portrayed, I almost know them more than some really people in my life. I always feel so close, so connected to them. She concentrates on their personality, their goal, their fear, and we love them more and more.

Daphne and Miles are living a very strange situation, and slowly bond over it, and even become friends. Seeing them spending time together in this small town vibe, meeting nice people, was just so enchanting.

More specifically, Daphne made two female friends. Her coworker Ashleigh, and Julia, Miles' sister. Her relationship with both these women grows so strongly on the page and it was such a beautiful part of the book. I believe friendships aren't always highlighted enough in books, and I think it's beautiful to see women talking, helping each other through things, becoming friends.

This whole book did not disappoint. It brought me everything I want in an Emily Henry romance novel, and I just can't wait for the next one.

“A second act I fell into, and the home that I chose, as much as it chose me.”

Daphne and Miles are a perfectly unlikely match. When someone asks how they met, Daphne smiles. “It all started with my ex-fiance’s new fiance’s ex-boyfriend… it’s a funny story…”

Daphne’s life is great! She's got the doting guy, a lovely house to decorate and fill and the comfortable life she’s always dreamed of. The future that she’s always hoped for is around the corner and it makes uprooting her entire life to her fiance’s hometown worth it. UNTIL her fiance realizes he’s in love with his childhood best friend the night of his bachelor party and the future Daphne has been building falls block by block. As quickly as she envisioned her perfect Lake Michigan life with Peter, she’s just as abruptly forced to move in with Miles, her ex-fiance’s new fiance’s ex-boyfriend.

Peter and Daphne share the unfortunate circumstance of their love life taking the crappiest turn ever, but otherwise, couldn’t be more different. Daphne is a children’s librarian who’s overly organized and keeps to a strict schedule and Miles works at the local winery (among other odd jobs), and drifts through life unstructured. Daphne starts a countdown that she’s outta here the moment the end-of-summer Readathon is over, but forced proximity and opposites attract bring Daphne and Miles together in the sweetest love story.

If you’re looking for the perfect romcom read, Emily Henry ALWAYS comes through!! FUNNY STORY was the cutest story between the most unlikely pair and I absolutely adored getting to know Daphne and Miles and watching how the right relationship allowed them to blossom into who they were always meant to be. Opposites really do attract and I loved how they brought out the best in each other. Calling it now that this will be the top book of the summer and I already can’t wait to revisit this idyllic Lake Michigan meet-cute again when the sun’s back out and the seasonal depression melts away.

I put FUNNY STORY on hold the second @emilyhenry announced it, so I’m still in a state of shock that I got to read it early!! A huge HUGE huge thanks to @berkelyromance for the opportunity (that just made my entire year).

Daphne and Miles share a truly unique story, and titling the book "Funny Story" was sheer perfection.

Having read most of Emily Henry's books and enjoyed each one, I can easily say that this book has claimed the top spot as my favorite.

At first glance, Daphne and Miles seem an unlikely pair. Daphne, a children's librarian, relocates to be with her now ex-fiancé, Peter, who ends their engagement to be with his childhood best friend, Petra. Enter Miles, a carefree bartender and often-described pothead who was previously involved with Petra.

With no other options, Daphne ends up moving in with Miles, sparking the beginning of their unconventional relationship. It's a situation that requires a moment of reflection: Daphne now resides with Miles, who happens to be the ex-boyfriend of her ex-fiancé's new love, Petra. Let that sink in.

Miles quickly earned a spot among my top five book boyfriends, and Daphne was equally delightful. The narrative takes an unexpected turn with the introduction of a fake dating scenario, a trope that isn't usually my favorite. However, Emily Henry navigates it with remarkable grace and humor, making it a compelling read.

I found myself unable to put the book down, finishing it on New Year's Eve at 4:15 pm—determined to finish the book before heading out to celebrate. As I toasted the new year, the characters lingered in my thoughts, and the story brought a smile to my face.

This book made me feel all the feels! it had it all - drama, comedy, fake dating, & some real raw moments of vulnerability. I laughed, I cried and loved every moment of reading this book.

Daphne and Miles were some of my favorite characters. They were such sympathetic characters for the fact that both their ex’s were such assholes (the amount of times I cursed Peter out in my head was actually crazy). I also loved that they are as petty as I am.

Daphne & Miles’ journey to self discovery and healing was done really well and I really appreciated that in between the romance that there were real and honest conversations that made the romance feel less ~fanciful~.

Anything Emily Henry writes, I will read it! I absolutely loved the characters and the side characters were also well developed and added to the book. Daphne is a librarian who is new to town and was recently dumped. Miles, who works at a local winery was also dumped. They become roommates and actually enjoy hanging out together. I enjoyed seeing their friendship and relationship progress. There’s a lot of heavy topics covered throughout the book which Emily handled in a delicate and respectful manor. I was so invested in the story and in both of the character’s lives. I laughed, I cried, and I swooned while reading the story.

Read if you enjoy:
😎forced proximity
😎fake dating
😎found family
😎witty banter

It's literally impossible for Emily Henry to produce a "bad" book. I consider her the Nick Saban of authors. She doesn't do anything drastically different from other writers, and her books aren't noticeably different from other books of the same genre, but, like Nick Saban, she's just on another level.
Her latest book, Funny Story, might be my least favorite EmHen book, but it was still extraordinary! I was highlighting so many parts and swooning over so many moments.
The only reason I gave this one 4 instead of 5 stars as I have given to every other EmHen book has to do with some things that happened at the ending. The third-act breakup and miscommunication trope doesn't usually annoy me, but it did here. Majorly. Everything else was so good though! I especially loved the library scenes!

Is Funny Story my least favorite Emily Henry book? yes. Do I recommend it and think it's probably one of the best books I'll read this year simply because it's Emily Henry?? YES!

Full review to come closer to pub date.

Thanks for my ARC, Berkley! (partner)

Thank you so much to Berkley for an advance copy of this!

Where do I even begin with this review? As many times before and even with her last book, how am I going to sum up in words how I feel about this book?!

I do not know how Emily Henry continues to write such perfect books. Whenever I think I found my favorite, she continues to prove me wrong. The swoon factor in this book was over the top & gave me all the ooey gooey feelings. This one climbed to the top and it is all because of two words: Miles Nowak.

"Miles's eyes and mine seek each other out, that quirk of his mouth my own personal lightning rod."

Miles Nowak and Daphne Vincent werre absolute perfection.
They were everything I wanted in a couple in a romance book. Their relationship started in a very weird situation and they were practically stranger and we see how their relationship and more importantly their friendship grows throughout the book. Even though they both were experiencing a break up, they both grieved their old relationships in different ways. I did love how Miles jumped in when Daphne decided to declare to her ex that they were dating. And then the ways they had to show off their fake relationship when they would be around their exes.

There were so many moments that I highlighted. I was kicking my feet and internally screaming so much while reading. I felt like Henry really made Miles super swoony compared to past love interests "No, don't be self-conscious. It's so fucking cute." He just was always there for Daphne and really broker her out of her shell. Some of my favorite moments was when Miles was showing Daphne around Waning Bay and why it was such a great place. He just always knew what to do in the right moments. Even when there was a moment where he did something questionable, we learn it was in her best interest.

I feel like I should do a re-read of all her books every year she releases one so I can keep them all fresh to compare (even though they are all 5 star reads). I want to say this was her most romanctic book?? I definitely felt the romance in this compared to her other books. Of course there were other elements that were involved which was very important in the story but the romance edged it out 70-75% of the book. The parents in this book were not the best (with the exception to Daphne's mom living her life in Maryland). I like that they could relate to their parental trauma and how protective Miles was to Daphne and her relationship with her dad. There was an event that the whole book was leading up to and all the secondary characters really came through for Daphne.

I am definitely not giving this book enough credit but if you are an Emily Henry fan, you are absolutely going to devour this and love it! And if you don't, lie to me because I refuse to hear any slander about this book. But if you loved it, let's squeal together!

PS: The most popular word in the book "chortle"

Emily Henry can do no wrong. FUNNTY STORY is equal parts hilarious and endearing. For those who loves the comedic set ups in BOOK LOVERS with the introspective look on heartbreak and falling in love in HAPPY PLACE then FUNNY STORY is for you. All the stars, she has another hit on her hands.

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!