I feel like every time I read a new Emily Henry book I say, “okay this is my new favorite of hers.” I can confidently say THIS one is my new favorite.

Per the usual, I inhaled this book in two sittings (which has been tough for me lately!) Emily Henry is just magical when it comes to dialogue and creating real, complex characters with real, complex backgrounds and feelings (that DON'T feel like the same romantic interests/tropes over and over again, like other romance authors tend to do).

While I did want to keep reading and was interested the entire time, I will say that I didn't get the same warm fuzzies I usually do when it comes to an Emily Henry. While all her books deal with the aforementioned complex backgrounds and feelings, this novel felt a little like it traveled more into that territory (seemed more focused on career, friendships, familial relationships, etc. than romance) The romance almost was sent to the back for a lot of this? Which is fine, but it wasn't really what I was expecting. I still adored it, but I am interested to see if Henry diverges from romance in the future to write more general contemporary/women's fiction. Either way, anything she puts out is a must-read for me!

Much like "Happy Place", this book really pulled on my heartstrings even though it is a very different vibe of a story. I appreciate how Emily Henry can just draw you in and connect you to the characters. I will sell Emily Henry's books to people until the day I die.

RATING: 5/5 STARS

Only Emily Henry could:
-Make me love a MMC whose closet is filled with crocs(!)
-Create the most romantic story about people pining over their exes
-Endear the cold northern state of Michigan to me
-Write a fifth book that becomes my favorite

Being an Emily Henry book, I knew FUNNY STORY was going to be good but it surpassed my expectations. Daphne and Miles are well-dimensioned and realistic characters and I adored their trajectory in this novel. I think the magic of EH novels is that she envelops romance with themes of personal growth and connection with friends and family that feel so intimate and relatable, especially to women in their 20s and 30s. And the banter and wit in this book were just sublime. Absolutely killed it.

I am so grateful that I was able to get an arc of this book because it is hands-down, the best book I’ve read in years. Emily Henry is a master of words and truly the Jane Austen of our century. I love her more than words can describe and this book was a perfect embodiment of everything that a 20 something-year-old girl like myself needs. I felt seen, understood, and most of all accepted. The love story was life changing, the main character were beyond perfect and the story could’ve not been better. Truly, my favorite book of hers of all time. Everyone needs to read this book immediately.

Yet again, Emily Henry comes in with a page-turner filled with well rounded characters that leave you feeling like they are your best friends. I could not put this book down, as I slipped further into the emotional depths of Daphne and Miles. With a plot of exes teaming up after their significant others leave them for each other, Henry comes in with childhood traumas guiding her characters' paths in their newly single status. With sexual tension simmering under a blossoming friendship, this book will have your pages turning fast with a blush on your face.

I highly recommend this book to romance lovers that enjoy tension, friendship, and characters that are relatable and realistic.

I always told myself I was never a romance kind of girl when it came to books -- maybe because I was picking up poorly written ones, or because they all felt too in your face sappy -- but the first time I read romance written by Emily Henry, my entire perspective changed.

She has a way of writing that makes you feel like you're being wrapped up in the pages, lovingly tucked in and kissed sweetly on the head with every word. And that feeling rings true with every single one of her books. They've all made a permanent home in my heart.

Immediately with Funny Story, I found myself deeply invested in Miles and Daphne. Their chemistry was delightful and even as sole individual people, their characters felt warm and fully fleshed which I think is where a lot of other romance books fall flat for me. Too focused on the lovey dovey stuff that their characters feel one dimensional, like they were made to be likable and that was it.

That's something Emily does perfectly. Her characters feel real, like you know these people and want to see them happy and thriving. Funny Story is no exception to the rule. Beautiful, as always. I'm dreaming of the day this gets released and I can hold a physical copy in my hands and read it again and again and again.

Giggling, twirling my hair and kicking my feet the whole way through.

This is Emily Henry’s best book yet. I’ve been a fan since the beginning and have been hungrily consuming everything she’s written. Beach Read has been my consistent favor of her works because I found Gus so likable and dreamy. Miles almost immediately surpassed Gus in my heart. He is so earnest and likable and so completely besotted with Daphne. Miles and Daphne’s first kiss set the tone for their relationship and from then on I was obsessed with both of them. One aspect of their relationship that I found so charming was that Miles constantly wanted to feed Daphne and make sure she was taken care of. I also loved the scene of them smoking weed together - so funny. I thought that both characters had realistic reasons for their issues and misunderstandings even if I’m not the biggest fan of miscommunication as a trope. The ending was so cute and such a wonderful way to finish the story - it was a sweet touch to give Daphne the found family she rightfully deserves. Obsessed with this story and these characters! Cannot wait to recommend this to every romance lover I know!

Emily Henry is back with her trademark romance with depth. Who can understand your breakup pain better than your ex-fiancé’s new fiancé’s ex-boyfriend? Daphne and Miles end up living together when their exes dump them for each other. While forced proximity and fake dating are common rom-com tropes, Emily Henry always brings depth, complexity and strong character growth to her books. Funny Story is no exception. Not only do the main characters have to deal with the fallout from their broken relationships, they also need to unpack their individual insecurities caused by family of origin trauma. But rather than being too serious or heavy, this book has many laugh out loud moments which make it a joy to read. Highly recommend!

Emily Henry does it again <3

I go into every EmHen novel anticipating a waterfall of tears, and this one was no exception. I think it’s a good mix of “Beach Read”-meets-“Book Lovers” with a third act breakup that moved me as much as “Happy Place”.

I love a good opposites attract, but in this case they were more than that—two entirely different people from different walks of life, not quite opposites but who would neither be drawn together in any other circumstance except their own.

The themes of parental abandonment and unhealthy family dynamics, self worth and self love, and being your true self all moved me—my 40 kindle highlights are proof.

As always, I eagerly await the next one <3

Children's librarian Daphne finds herself abruptly and unceremoniously dumped by her fiance after relocating with him to his hometown. Kicked out of their house with no place to go, she moves in with the only other person she knows in town- he ex-fiance's new fiance's ex-boyfriend, a bartender named Miles.

Without her ex, Daphne realizes that very little in her life belongs to her. Her friends, interests, and hobbies were all really her ex's. She has her mom and her dream job but little else. She's stuck in town until the end of summer, and she resolves to use that time to make new friends and find out who she is on her own. Miles offers to take her on weekend adventures to show her all the beautiful places in Michigan her fiance never bothered to take her (and hopefully convince her to stay).

I liked this book a lot. I would almost categorize it as general fiction or women's fiction (shudder), rather than romance. It is really about Daphne's growth as a whole person and spends nearly as much time on her budding female friendships and relationship with her father as the central romance. That said, Miles is as charming and adorable as you would expect from Ms. Henry. Her trademark banter is in full force and the steam is steamin'. I loved all the side characters. As a librarian, I appreciate the anecdotes thrown in about library patrons. Ms. Henry must know some librarians, because even the wilder stories sound exactly like things that have witnessed in a public library, haha.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this eARC!

What a delight! Emily Henry’s setup here is kind of a love square. Daphne and miles end up living together when Daphne’s fiancé and Miles’ girlfriend (who were childhood best friends) run off together. The first half of this was fun and delightful as Daphne and Miles work through their immediate situation and get to know each other. The second half was much more emotional (and so relatable). I particularly liked the exploration of Daphne’s friendships. ALSO, Emily Henry is really convincing me that I need to move to the coast of Lake Michigan - the town here is perfection and truly shines. This book is so lovely, if you’ve liked any of Emily Henry’s past books, give yourself a treat when it releases in April!

I adored this book, as is the usual with Emily Henry! I am a die-hard fan at this point. I love how whip-smart her heroines are. I loved this one in particular, the plot more centered on Daphne's personal growth, and how that connected to her relationship with Miles. It felt like a book about Elsie, not just about her romance, and I love to see that. This book made me genuinely happy and I had a hard time putting it down to do normal chores and work! Absolutely cannot wait to see what Henry comes up with next.

Once again, Emily Henry does the damn thing! She must put drugs in her books because I love them all. This was no exception. Miles and Daphne were top tier. I loved every single part of this book. Their chemistry was electrifying, the banter was GOLD and the whole thing wrapped up like a present.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Emily Henry’s storytelling continues to blow me away. I really liked Daphne and Miles as a couple, and all the layers of the story are weaved together perfectly.

My feelings as I read this aligned closest to the feelings I had reading “Beach Read.” I’m between this one and Happy Place for favorites. What a good problem to have.

PS For special edition lovers… I ordered a fancy signed copy with sprayed edges from Waterstones. ;-)

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

Henry has done it again! Having read the entire backlist by the author, I can say with absolute surety that this book ranks up to the top with some of my favorite books by her. One perfect feel good romance.