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.

I'm so happy (and surprised) to say that Funny Place has surpassed People We Meet on Vacation and has become my favorite Emily Henry book.

I absolutely devoured this book in just two days, and I loved every moment of it. Daphne & Miles had the best banter and chemistry! And don't even get me started on the character development. I cried my eyes out over these two. Watching Daphne fall in love with life and Miles slowly opening up was simply magical.

I don't want to say too much!!! But I could gush about this book endlessly. I adored the romance (and the forced proximity 😌), the fact that Daphne is a librarian, and the fake dating that had me giggling and kicking my feet.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, and it's officially upgraded to being one of my favorite reads of 2024 🤭. If you haven't already pre-ordered this book, then take this as your sign to do so ASAP .

Five solid stars for Funny Story. Could this be my new favorite Emily Henry book?? I binged this like I was starving. I enjoyed it so much.

I love a good forced proximity trope, specifically roommates, because of the tension that usually comes with it, and this one was delicious. Daphne ends up moving in with her ex fiance’s new fiancee’s ex boyfriend after he breaks up with her. I mean?? So good!

I was also kind of surprised by how funny I found this book? The witty banter was exceptional. Which, in turn, made me fall in love with these characters right away. Root for them.

I loved Miles and Daphne. I loved their journey. I loved the softness, the vulnerability, and the bravery. You do not want to skip this.

Thank you so much for the ARC!

(4.5)
Funny story
Okay, I need Emily Henry to get out of my head. With this book and Happy Place she somehow got to me on such a personal level that it’s almost freaky. More on that later. This book is such a great combo of fun, light hearted banter and good times mixed with emotional, hard hitting, big thoughts and emotions. Which, for me as a reader, is the perfect combo and one of the reasons she’s one of my favorite authors. She had me smiling and giggling so many times and then she had me clutching my heart and staring off into space as I processed parts of my own life. I mean, she’s a dang wizard. This story brought up so many feelings from my own life and especially my childhood that I need some time to process. But it also just made me so happy and giddy. The banter between Miles and Daphne is so freakin top notch, especially in the first half. The character growth was phenomenal for both, but especially for Daphne. I truthfully went in blind so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I knew I would love it. Emily Henry was killed it once again, I will read anything she writes at this point.

Thank you Berkley for the advanced copy.

As a children's librarian myself, I greatly enjoyed the love given to libraries in this book. As for the plot line itself, it is ironic and true to its name funny. The relationship is built up so nicely and becomes truly believable. It is not one of those love at first sight books. In addition to building up a romantic relationship, the book builds a friendship and looks at what it means to be a friend. I appreciated how it examines the effects of distance, romantic partners, and children on a friendship.

EMILY HENERY WROTE THIS FOR ME IM CALLING IT. The most romantic and most funniest book she’s written hands down and anyone who says otherwise is LYING.

THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING TO ME.

Emily Henry does it again--and better than ever. I wasn't sure Happy Place could be topped, but Funny Story is her best work yet! No one is doing it the way she is in any genre, but definitely not in contemporary romance. Her characters are so incredibly fleshed out, layered, and real. I feel like they're my friends by the end of the book. Even the side characters have full personalities and I can understand their reactions to events and interpret them as
"yes, this is exactly how I think Ashleigh/Julia would behave." Truly, Funny Story is a masterclass in character development and relationships of all kinds--parental, friendships, and best of all, romantic.

The parallels and callbacks and use of setting to add depth to the story (Daphne telling her truth on *her* beach and Miles revealing his vulnerability on *his* beach is perfection in storytelling). The development of Daphne and Miles' relationship was genuine. It wasn't just insta-love or some other trope; they had experiences together and dialogue that was organic and real. But, speaking of tropes, fake dating is my jam and it's extremely well done here in Funny Story.

All the stars in the sky out of 5 for this book, no notes, etc. It's perfect. I will admit a minuscule amount of bias since I'm a librarian and the FMC is, too, BUT STILL. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title. I will be recommending to practically everyone I encounter, both in and outside of the library.

NEW EMILY HENRY BOOK YAAAY!!!
This story follows Daphne, a Children’s Librarian (!!!) who is currently engaged and working on transforming the house her fiancé just purchased into a home. Until Peter (said fiancé) comes home from his bachelor party declaring his love for his childhood best friend Petra. Suddenly Daphne finds herself single and homeless, realizing that all her friends were shared with her ex. Daphne moves in with Petra’s ex, Miles, in shared misery at their circumstance. When a wedding invite to Peter and Petra’s upcoming wedding arrives, Miles and Daphne decide to fake a relationship to get under their ex’s skin. But the fake-relationship progresses, the feelings start to take a very real hold!

If you’re still recovering from Happy Place, this is a much lighter tone. I LOVED the setting in the library. As a library worker, the love for the library and community was so accurate it made me smile. *Small Children’s Library Soapbox* I took issue with the fact that she read The Stinky Cheese Man to a bunch of preschoolers for story time though. While that book is GOLD, it’s so long and not at all story time material, especially for that age group. *Soapbox over*

We get to see Daphne, as a grown adult, trying to make new friends! Which is honestly SO HARD so it made that journey all the more rewarding. I appreciated the time Daphne spends starting over and make her own little village to count on.

The fake dating trope is beautiful, and Miles is the perfect guy. It truly speaks to my character that I had a hard time connecting with him. I saw a review that described him as “Nick Miller coded” and I think if I went in with that mentality, I would’ve been more invested in him as a love interest.

As usual, I’m in love with Emily Henry and will continue to worship at her alter.

Review will be posted to Goodreads on 4/16/24

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is book 2 I’ve read by EmHen (happy place was the first) although u liked that one a bit more i enjoyed this story.
So Daphne the FMC is supposed to get married to Peter, and he leaves her for his childhood best friend Petra *not a spoiler i promise*
(which he reassured her meant nothing to him in that way). Daphne moves in with Petra’s Ex Miles (who she left for Peter) And they become roommates. They then get an invited to Petra and Peter’s wedding and in comes the fake dating and all the things.
I feel like my one issue with this book was since both Miles and Daphne are dealing with breakups and broken hearts a dual POV would have helped this story move along faster because it kind of dragged a little bit (or it felt that way). Other than that i really enjoyed this book. This book didn’t have much spice which was fine for me,( I’d say one little pepper 🌶️).
I felt the focus was more on, healing, self discovery for both characters, finding family and friends, and kind of starting over with the romance thrown in.
I obviously haven’t read many other books to compare but I’d definitely recommend this one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars from me.

I ADORED Happy Place and so going into this book I had really high expectations. I'm not sure if it was just the trope itself that let me down (not a fan of roommates) or if it's the fact that Emily Henry relies on the miscommunication trope so much that I just want something different from her... Hoping her next book strays from her usual path!

Thank you to Berkeley and NetGalley for this advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I have loved all of Emily Henry’s romance books that have come out and I was so excited to get to read this one early. It is just as wonderful as the others and I am so happy that Emily is leaning into a great balance of development for the main characters and development of the romance.

Happy Place was very heavy in my opinion in terms of some of the subject matter and Funny Story was a bit lighter but did deal with similar internal conflicts for Daphne that I thought were so well done. Miles also had some wonderful development that made both characters so fleshed out as if they were real people. I also really enjoyed all the time and attention that was put into developing even the smallest of side characters, it made them all feel real.

I love this direction that Emily Henry is going in and I cannot wait to read what she has next.

Thank you SO MUCH NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ABSOLUTELY AMAZING ARC

5000000/5 stars

You guys. The way I DEVOURED this book! So, so, so good, from start to finish. I've only read two other Emily Henry novels (Book Lovers and Happy Place) but this is by far my favourite. Daphne and Miles are just such real and relatable flawed characters, and each secondary character was so well fleshed out, I miss everyone now that it's over.

I love books about books. This being set in a library and her task she's planning has been a delight to read.

The MULTIPLE X-Files references were fantastic. And mentioning my ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE BOOK THE RULES OF MAGIC?!?! Eyyy Emily, are you writing this just for me or what?! 😏

This was so good. Just in love. The end :3