4 STARS!!

Emily Henry you will always be famous!!!

While I’m sure it was evident to others for some time, I’ve never realized how EH tends to write
fiction + romance vs. contemporary romance. Instead of HEAs that leave you wondering if the couple makes it another week without breaking up, let alone the epilogue time jump of 5 years and a baby, Funny Story takes you on a personal journey of healing for both the FMC and MMC. I love how she writes characters that feel so authentically human. Daphne (a loveable neurotic with abandonment issues) and Miles (100% modeled after Nick Miller from New Girl) have strong character development and a chemistry that left me audibly saying, “AW!” multiple times in the final pages.

This was VERY similar feels to Happy Place- beautiful character development from both leads and yearning for friendships as an adult. I think as long as people know that this is more of women’s fiction that features romance, they’ll enjoy this for what it is. Personally, it was the slowest start of an EH read for me and I would’ve DNF’d if not for the chokehold this woman has on me. But I’m so so glad I stuck it out.


(If this is helpful to you my favorite EH books ranked are Book Lovers Happy Place Funny Story Beach Read PWMOV)

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and publishers Berkley Romance / Penguin Random House for the ARC! Funny Story is out April 2024

if I didn't already love Emily Henry this would have done the trick. Her writing is just beautiful. This story had me laughing, crying and just smiling like a lunatic. How do I get myself a Miles? I'm asking for a friend.

Thank you thank you thank you for the early copy! I'm telling everyone

4.9 Stars

Daphne + Miles

Daphne should be on her honeymoon with Peter now.
But things went wrong somewhere.
And now she's stuck in Peter's little hometown by the lake in Michigan. Living in a tiny apartment with Miles. Who is the ex of Peter's new girlfriend Petra.
Daphne and Miles are both grieving what they lost. They're sad and teary most days and nights. But then P+P's wedding invitation comes in the mail. And they're so RSVPing to that thing. And not only that ... why should they sit around at home all sad and mopey? Let's start to live again! Let's start having fun again...

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO DAPHNE + MILES?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT ☺

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Adorable!

Such a sweet book.
It starts all sad and grievy for Daphne and Miles. But then they start to get to know each other and things get better. Daphne starts to like the town and the people. She's not counting down the days until she can leave anymore.
Miles is so much more than what she always thought - or what Peter told her about him.
Daphne's job at the library is her absolute dream job. She starts making friends. She starts having her own life. Not the WE-life she had with Peter, where it was always only about him.

I just loved reading this.
Daphne and Miles are so perfect for each other. Both so broken and sad. And both not really ready for anything new. But at the same time so ready for their very own amazing happily ever after.

It was a really great book. Great cast of people. Great locations. Just a very beautiful story!

I need to see this as a movie one day!

► FUNNY STORY was such a sweet and adorable and funny love story. Run to your nearest book dealer for your own Miles - he'll be sold out in no time!

This is BY FAR Emily Henry’s best book!!

The love story gave me “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift, and I absolutely ate it up. I love how Emily Henry took a common trope, “childhood friends-to-lovers,” and asked herself “What happens to the two exes left behind in the wake of a childhood-friends-to-lovers trope? Yeah, I’m going to write THAT story.” IT WAS SO FRESH.

Emily Henry stands out in the romance genre in a few different ways:

1. While the love stories are always central, the external factors are not glossed over. They affect the romance and the characters’ relationship arc. This creates very clear and defined motivations for each character. Funny Story was especially good at this.

2. Her dialogue!!! Holy crap it’s so well done that I feel like I’m watching a movie scene play out. The dialogue is always realistic and witty as hell. The banter between Daphne and Miles was next level and had me laughing out loud, gasping, and everything in between.

3. The spice is relevant. It’s not thrown in there for shock value, it always moves the plot forward. She was very intentional about this in Funny Story— a book that could’ve easily devolved into trope-y smut.

I am so excited for everyone to read this!!!

Thank you to Berkley publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The best Emily Henry yet. I always forget not to start her books on a work night. Without fail I stay up way too late to finish her books, usually after ugly crying and then happy crying at the end. . This story is just divine. Daphne and Miles are two damaged people who are afraid of inflicting more damage on themselves and each other. Seeing them find the best versions of themselves was the best. Henry’s books are so beautifully written, it makes me happy to just be a reader in a world where her books exist.

From the second I read the description of this book I knew I had to read it. Funny Story sounded like the ultimate fake dating trope and I was here for it.

“he nodded, somberly, and headed for the door, totally empty-handed. Like he had everything he needed and not a lick of it was in this house.”

Emily Henry has slowly but surely been making me love her work.

In my opinion Happy Place has been her best work yet… However this comes close to that.
Happy Place was heavier writing style and plot wise. Almost like grey overcast and you’re waiting for sunshine. Funny Story is its opposite. It felt real, funny, and had witty banter, but not the self deprecating kind that, let’s be honest, we all love so much. The banter was comical and didn’t take itself too seriously. It worked so well in this book, and had me giggling.

Though Happy Place holds a special place in my heart Funny Story definitely has one BIG thing over it…. It’s two main leads. Miles and Daphne are written so well. Though they are figuring themselves out after their breakups, their personalities feel fully developed. Even feeling like you’re being dropped right into everything happening (promise that’s not a spoiler) it felt as if I already knew them. Couldn’t get enough of them together. It’s probably why I consumed the whole book in a handful of hours.

“It makes me feel a teensy, tiny bit better to think she could see a picture of me sitting in your lap and staring adoringly at you and remember that you deserved that all along.”

I won’t go to deep into the plot for obvious reason (doesn’t come out till April and I’m a non spoiler girlie), but I do want to rattle off a few more things:
The pacing of this book was spot on, never felt it dragged on too long. The side characters were in it just enough to give some life, but not to overpower. The way Henry describes scenes, moments, and feelings has 100% developed from her past writing. A lot of the verbiage she went with is beautiful. Chef’s kiss truly.

My only negative is I really wanted something to happen in the book that doesn’t. I was actually DYING to see it play out, and then I never got it. It’s the only thing that kept me from rating this a bit higher.

Oh and one last thing… I saw a few people who have also read this talking about how this is Henry’s spiciest book yet… I feel I need to let everyone know this isn’t a spicy book. Don’t get me wrong there are some spicy scenes, but they’re not SPICY if you get what I mean. You’ll enjoy what you get because it fits this book, but let’s not get it twisted.

Romance done right! All the feelings of love with a hearty helping of the human condition and millennial uncertainty.

infinite stars.
– first, thank you to berkley and netgalley for the arc. i am immensely grateful <3

it should come as no surprise to me, or anyone, that emily henry has, yet again, created a literary masterpiece. that she has, yet again, simultaneously made me laugh til it hurt and cried like i never have before. emily henry's ability to create characters that transcend fiction, that literally feel like she reached inside the deepest, darkest, depths of your mind is both INCREDIBLE and a wee bit terrifying.

daphne and miles are two incredibly raw, genuine, realistic, and comforting characters that expose the beauty of "opposites attract". i relate so heavily to these two characters, in a way that is hard to explain without either bawling my eyes out or spoiling it for you.

daphne is for those who never felt like they were enough to be remembered, to be put first, to be chosen first. for those who so desperately want to stay within their comfort zone, have their futures make sense, and hate surprises because the unknown is too scary. those who believe hope is a fickle thing. for those who feel immensely, who are a tad bit stubborn, kind, and caring. she is so real, she is so raw and vulnerable, and so well-written. her depth, her complexity, and her growth was so incredibly beautiful. i love her to death, she is so special and lovely and amazing to me.

miles is for those who aren't sure how to be comfortable with their emotions because they've never had the chance to be. those who want to be the first in line to help everyone else, even if it means putting yourself to the side. those who want to make people smile, spread kindness and joy and love, while deep down, never knowing if they truly deserve for it to be reciprocated. those who love spontaneity and "living in the now" because the past is scary, the future is far more terrifying, but the now is good. his vulnerability, depth, and overall character were so incredibly well-done. i love him so much, he is so wonderful and beautiful and special to me.

miles and daphne's relationship is SO beautiful. its a bit gut-wrenching in the way that emily henry's romance always is, but it is so damn beautiful. their friendship and their love is so special. the vulnerability, depth, and growth within their relationship was incredible. getting to see them heal and let themselves find comfort, safety, and belonging with each other.... im gonna cry thinking about it. their banter was INCREDIBLE (obviously, its emily henry). the chemistry, the tension, the intimacy was top tier, elite, out of this world. i love these two so much. the way that they match each other in ways that shouldn't make sense but 10000% do, UGH. so perfect. so lovely and amazing and wonderful and i love them.

this is also emily's spiciest book, which was FANTASTIC. miles is absolutely delectable and dreamy and wonderful, daphne is right there with him and i am absolutely so in love with them!!!!!!!!

april cant come fast enough because i cant wait to see the world fall in love with another emily henry novel :)

Few things bring me more joy than a new Em Hen. I loved watching not only the romance, but also the heroine’s sense of self develop throughout this summer treat. I dare you not to fall in love with Miles and Daphne. Good luck. It sounds trite, but this book is literally perfect for book clubs, and is sure to join your shelf of faves— to be kept forever and shared with friends.

so fortunate to have received an arc of this from netgalley! and because i just really needed it, i decided to go ahead and read it super early. i just couldn't help myself. my expectations were high after not loving happy place earlier this year. i really didn't think i could handle it if emily henry let me down 2 books in a row. luckily, that was not the case!

i identified so much with daphne, at times i felt like i was reading my own story. and miles is so nick miller-coded that i was bound to instantly love him (my husband is a little nick miller-coded so it was kinda like reading about our own relationship).

the true test of this book will be if it really sticks with me. if beach read is your favorite eh book, this will undoubtedly work for you. i liked beach read when i read it but i didn't find it incredibly memorable. so hopefully this one won't go the same way for me. i have a feeling this one is here to stay close to the top of my favorites list.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Emily Henry has done it again, and honestly, Funny Story might be her best one yet. It was such a fun book to read and I blew through it. The premise is comically tragic for the main characters but it sets the stage for a great story. Both main characters went on their journeys of self-discovery and Emily Henry has done some of her best character development with Daphne and Miles.

My only two complaints are minor and everyone else may not agree. First, I wish these characters had shown a bit more anger and emotion about the situation they found themselves in. They took the annoyingly placid high road in many situations where most people would at least have a biting comeback. Second, I think I expected some more shenanigans from a book where the main trope is fake dating. Overall, this book was great and I know Henry's readers are going to love this book because I know I did.

Another Emily Henry triumph. I got so caught up in Daphne and Miles' story and couldn't put it down. Also, I would now like to visit Michigan, so I hope their tourism board is grateful for that.

Thank you for this ARC!!

Emily Henry is one of my favorite authors. Every story she writes is gut wrenching but beautiful. Beach read will forever be my favorite from her but this THIS was absolutely spectacular. I am in love with Daphane and Miles. The banter—chemistry flowed so well. I was rooting for both of them.

I related to both characters in different ways. I recommend this book to anyone who loves more realistic approaches to relationships. Although faking dating is one of the tropes there’s not this typical back and forth between them.

I am so excited to buy the hard copy of this.

I will never be disappointed in a Emily Henry book, but this hit the spot! Daphne and Miles are dealing with all the grief and anger that come with a fresh break up... "funny story" they manage to find each other at their lowest, but also bring out the best of each other and heal.

A great love story for those fresh out of break-ups. Readers will find themselves cheering for Daphne as she discovers who she is as an individual AND then as she opens herself up to the possibility of loving again.

FANTASTIC!!

Emily Henry is my queen, never has she or will she miss.

Live laugh loved this in a BIG WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t even say anything else because I spent all night reading Funny Story instead of sleeping and now I need a nap!!

It has been an incredibly difficult year for librarians in Idaho and for much of the country. This book had me crying tears of joy and smiling the whole way through. Emily does an incredible job writing about community, hope, and joy that libraries inherently possess. Girl, were you a librarian in another life?? Loved the message about self love, accountability, and the beautiful misery that is being a millennial. And don’t even get me started on Daphne and Miles. My god, they are so well developed and messy and darling. I feel so connected to them both. Emily, thank you for this. Can we be friends??? Lol. Seriously, thank you for this. One of my top favorites EVER of all time ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🫶🏼

This may be my fav EH book yet. How does she get better with every book?
This may be her ✨h0rni3st✨ book yet btw.

This is for the girlies who are all so deserving of love. Not just romantic love. But love in every form. But for whatever reason, they feel like people never choose them. I related to this so hard. It made me cry because the feelings were so familiar. I don’t think that there’s a single part of this book that I didn’t love.

wow. this book exceeded my expectations (somehow, but this is emily henry). everything about this book called to me and gave me everything I could’ve imagined. I am actually emotional about finishing this book because i truly feel as though it spoke to my soul, which emily henry excels greatly in.

emily henry books feel like therapy. her writing is thought provoking, emotional, extremely relatable, and overall magnificent. even if you haven’t been through the exact same experiences as the main characters, emily henry writes her novels in a way where you can apply the lessons they learn to your own personal experiences. it is the most comforting and satisfying feeling to read her books and just feel seen.

daphne & miles are characters that will stick with me forever, they have an undeniably beautiful story full of so much emotional impact. both characters are full of love and have so much growth as individuals, prior and within this book. the beauty of emily’s characters and romance is how real she makes them. the relationships she writes flow so naturally and they develop incredibly organically, that there is no way of denying that they are real people with real lives, real experiences, real troubles, and real connections. i fall in love with every single character in her novels, because they jump off the page and make a lasting impression.

this book had all of the wonderful emily henry characteristics with the banter, the depth, the tension, the cynical inner monologue, the insecurities, and the underlying themes of accepting & embracing change.

funny story rapidly became my favorite emily henry book yet, with all of its elements combining into a truly perfect book. the lightheartedness mixed with the classic depth that brings you to tears… it was phenomenally done. this will be a book i plan to reread multiple times and rave about for years to come.

things i absolutely loved:
- the love proclamation
- the intimacy between these two
- the friendships
- the characters from all walks of life always finding a way to blend together
- daphne & miles vulnerability and how they open up to each other
- daphne’s depth & how it was portrayed
- everything about miles & his story
- the cozy summer atmosphere & the little things the characters do!

long winded review basically professing my love to Funny Story, daphne & miles, and emily henry❤️

Emily Henry is just so damn satisfying. Extra points (if there were a place for more stars, she would have them) for making the inevitable misunderstanding...understandable. Like, that's actually pretty much how that situation would go AND everyone reacts like a reasonable, functioning human.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review. Another hit from Emily Henry. This was so laugh-out-loud, I really, really enjoyed reading this. It hit me right in the gut as all of EmHen's books always do, and I just love Daphne and want to protect her from the world.