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emilywemily6's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
On the spectrum of Emily Henry, this book was closer to Happy Place than Beach Read. I really enjoyed these characters and the natural progression of the relationship from roommates to friends to lovers. Something about the end of the book/third act conflict didn’t work for me, and I think it’s the miscommunication. I also just didn’t feel satisfied at the end that issues had truly been resolved. I feel like the relationship was still fragile when the book ended. However, this book made me laugh, cry, and feel seen in a lot of ways so I still really enjoyed it overall. Peter is the worst and I love how Daphne came to her own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment, and Cursing
Moderate: Infidelity, Alcohol, Drug use, and Grief
cassielaj's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Joy, hilarity, genuine insights about realistic problems, and elements of classic romantic comedy that don’t feel trope-y — this is Emily Henry at her finest. One thing I love in a rom com is a strong supporting cast, and this book totally delivered. The town of Waning Bay and its locals are charming and left me wanting more.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Cursing
garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Emily Henry delivers Emily Henry. Emotional with moments of devastation. Solid romance. Very funny at times.
Also Julia Whelan is the queen of narrators and it was an all around excellent performance.
Also Julia Whelan is the queen of narrators and it was an all around excellent performance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Sexual harassment, Racism, and Misogyny
jkribbit's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.75
Content warning: F bombs and explicit spicy scenes.
Favorite Emily Henry book so far! Book Lovers is a VERY close second.
Favorite Emily Henry book so far! Book Lovers is a VERY close second.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
fanboyriot's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
♡ Fake Dating
♡ Roommates
♡ Unexpected Friends to Lovers
This was honestly such a funny book. The humor was amazing, I laughed so much.
Daphne moves in with Miles after their significant others break up with them to date each other, childhood friends who just had to break off a wedding and crash two lives apart. Though without spoiling things, it works out in both Daphne and Miles favor. So what better way to get back at their trash ex’s than to fake date each other?
Miles and Daphne had such a great dynamic, they were hilarious together, friends before anything else genuinely worked so well. Both of them learning how to trust people again, healing from heartbreak and their past.
While this did have some more serious moments character history and their childhood traumas coming into play with their lives still. I thought the character development with this was done really nicely.
For the most part things are lighthearted and a simply funny enjoyable read.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ (2/5)
Angst Level: 💧(1/5)
POV: First Person
Release Date: 23, April 2024
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Classism, Sexual content, and Gaslighting
Minor: Grief, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Cancer, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Death of parent, Misogyny, Child abuse, and Infidelity
aksmith92's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I had an absolute BLAST.
The Setup: Funny Story by Emily Henry is a heartwarming story that resolves around Daphne and Miles, two people whose lives are upended when their respective partners leave them for each other. Stranded in a beautiful town - but not HER town - of Waning Bay, Michigan, Daphne, a passionate children's librarian, finds herself pretty much homeless and completely heartbroken after her fiancé tells her he is in love with his best friend. Miles offers her a place to stay since he is now without the love of his life (the said best friend just mentioned).
Then, after an awkward conversation with her ex, Peter, Daphne lets it slip that she and Miles are "dating," which is a straight-up lie, something that Daphne rarely does but feels is the most straightforward course of action at the moment. Therefore, a fake relationship ensues, partly to make their exes jealous and partly to support each other through grief.
Daphne and Miles bond unexpectedly as they navigate their pain and anger. Daphne, who has always struggled to trust others due to many fleeing her life in the past, learns to prioritize her own needs and desires. Charming yet troubled by a tumultuous childhood, Miles faces issues head-on with Daphne's support. Together, they rediscover their identities and what they truly want in life.
In her signature style, Emily Henry crafts a narrative of healing, self-discovery, and unexpected love. Yet, Funny Story goes beyond the typical romance, delving into themes of family, career, and friendship. It also paints a vivid picture of a small-town setting, with its charming lake vibes and picturesque descriptions of Waning Bay.
What I loved: I loved this book. Many people I talk to share that they have a favorite Emily Henry book because they related to it, or it was just a great book that made them feel lovely in a moment of their life. My favorite was Beach Read, which may be outside the majority for most folks. However, Funny Story came in with a close second or even a tie. This novel met me in my moment. This book's main character, Daphne, felt real to me - the first female character in an Emily Henry novel where I didn't cringe at moments or become frustrated at her internal monologue. (I love most of Emily Henry's stories and have rated them mostly in 4s, so that statement may seem bad, but I still love her books, so don't fret.) I understood Daphne. Additionally, I loved the romance - Henry built it nicely and made it seem semi-relatable (if I'm being honest, this whole situation is a little extreme - living with your ex's ex.). But it worked. I also absolutely adored Henry integrating many aspects of life - Daphne dealing with a lack of friendships, having a passion for her career as a librarian, and navigating the relationship with her family, and Miles working in more of a gig economy, emphasizing his cheery personality that may not be as cheery as we think, and building his beautiful relationship with the town of Waning Bay. Lastly, some other characters were well fleshed out, especially Julia, Miles's sister, and Ashleigh, Daphne's fellow coworker at the library and a new friend.
Oh, and this novel was plain funny to me at times—I laughed out loud in parts. So, not only was it amusing, but it was also heartwarming, beautiful, and poignant. All-in-all, this worked for me, and I am oh-so-happy about it.
It's pretty spicy and steamy, by the way, definitely more so than some of her other ones. Still, I think it worked!
Anything That Could Be Improved? Listen, an Emily Henry novel may or may not work for you. I did think the whole situation was a little unbelievable. In addition, the main characters were supposed to be in their mid-thirties, which I believe was mostly on point but possibly still felt a little young. And yes, in typical Emily Henry fashion, there was SO much info dumping about Miles and his woodstove smell (and he was just a bit of a ding dong at times). However, all those things didn't bother me this time, and I just had a good time reading this book.
I have zero complaints, and like Beach Read, I can't wait to re-read it eventually. Thank you, Emily Henry, for always drawing me back into the contemporary romance genre.
The Setup: Funny Story by Emily Henry is a heartwarming story that resolves around Daphne and Miles, two people whose lives are upended when their respective partners leave them for each other. Stranded in a beautiful town - but not HER town - of Waning Bay, Michigan, Daphne, a passionate children's librarian, finds herself pretty much homeless and completely heartbroken after her fiancé tells her he is in love with his best friend. Miles offers her a place to stay since he is now without the love of his life (the said best friend just mentioned).
Then, after an awkward conversation with her ex, Peter, Daphne lets it slip that she and Miles are "dating," which is a straight-up lie, something that Daphne rarely does but feels is the most straightforward course of action at the moment. Therefore, a fake relationship ensues, partly to make their exes jealous and partly to support each other through grief.
Daphne and Miles bond unexpectedly as they navigate their pain and anger. Daphne, who has always struggled to trust others due to many fleeing her life in the past, learns to prioritize her own needs and desires. Charming yet troubled by a tumultuous childhood, Miles faces issues head-on with Daphne's support. Together, they rediscover their identities and what they truly want in life.
In her signature style, Emily Henry crafts a narrative of healing, self-discovery, and unexpected love. Yet, Funny Story goes beyond the typical romance, delving into themes of family, career, and friendship. It also paints a vivid picture of a small-town setting, with its charming lake vibes and picturesque descriptions of Waning Bay.
What I loved: I loved this book. Many people I talk to share that they have a favorite Emily Henry book because they related to it, or it was just a great book that made them feel lovely in a moment of their life. My favorite was Beach Read, which may be outside the majority for most folks. However, Funny Story came in with a close second or even a tie. This novel met me in my moment. This book's main character, Daphne, felt real to me - the first female character in an Emily Henry novel where I didn't cringe at moments or become frustrated at her internal monologue. (I love most of Emily Henry's stories and have rated them mostly in 4s, so that statement may seem bad, but I still love her books, so don't fret.) I understood Daphne. Additionally, I loved the romance - Henry built it nicely and made it seem semi-relatable (if I'm being honest, this whole situation is a little extreme - living with your ex's ex.). But it worked. I also absolutely adored Henry integrating many aspects of life - Daphne dealing with a lack of friendships, having a passion for her career as a librarian, and navigating the relationship with her family, and Miles working in more of a gig economy, emphasizing his cheery personality that may not be as cheery as we think, and building his beautiful relationship with the town of Waning Bay. Lastly, some other characters were well fleshed out, especially Julia, Miles's sister, and Ashleigh, Daphne's fellow coworker at the library and a new friend.
Oh, and this novel was plain funny to me at times—I laughed out loud in parts. So, not only was it amusing, but it was also heartwarming, beautiful, and poignant. All-in-all, this worked for me, and I am oh-so-happy about it.
It's pretty spicy and steamy, by the way, definitely more so than some of her other ones. Still, I think it worked!
Anything That Could Be Improved? Listen, an Emily Henry novel may or may not work for you. I did think the whole situation was a little unbelievable. In addition, the main characters were supposed to be in their mid-thirties, which I believe was mostly on point but possibly still felt a little young. And yes, in typical Emily Henry fashion, there was SO much info dumping about Miles and his woodstove smell (and he was just a bit of a ding dong at times). However, all those things didn't bother me this time, and I just had a good time reading this book.
I have zero complaints, and like Beach Read, I can't wait to re-read it eventually. Thank you, Emily Henry, for always drawing me back into the contemporary romance genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Cursing, Drug use, and Alcohol
Moderate: Mental illness, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship
caitlinspeachyreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is my favourite Emily Henry story yet! It is such a relatable, hopeful and inspiring story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cursing
ashrad's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4.75 stars because I finished it, would recommend (not to everyone though based on some spice content), am looking forward to reading Henry’s next book, and it made me laugh. It’s not a book I’m going to be thinking about for a long time though which is what I need for a 5 star.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment and Cursing
luminescify's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I feel like I say this every time an Emily Henry book drops, but I truly mean it when I say this is by far my all time favorite EH book out of all 5 of her adult romances. It had humor, just the right amount of smut, and such a beautiful found family all set in a small town in Michigan.
As always, her banter is unmatched and I always fall in love with her MMCs - Miles is no exception here, but he is the standard. I adored his sister, loved Daphne's new friends she makes at the library and all over town. Fake dating is not normally something I'm into in romance books but I was feeling so angry for both Daphne and Miles that the evil part of my brain loved watching their exes fall apart and even encouraged it.
Dammit now I have to wait for her next one...this always happens. Ugh!
As always, her banter is unmatched and I always fall in love with her MMCs - Miles is no exception here, but he is the standard. I adored his sister, loved Daphne's new friends she makes at the library and all over town. Fake dating is not normally something I'm into in romance books but I was feeling so angry for both Daphne and Miles that the evil part of my brain loved watching their exes fall apart and even encouraged it.
Dammit now I have to wait for her next one...this always happens. Ugh!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Cursing
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, and Infidelity
amateur_bookworm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
My summary:
Daphne Vincent is devastated when her fiancé, Peter, breaks up with her on the morning after his bachelor party—for his longtime *platonic* best friend, Petra. In desperation of needing a place to live, Daphne ends up moving into the apartment of Petra’s ex, Miles. Her and Miles generally stay out of each other’s way for weeks until one night of wallowing leads to a fake dating lie in an attempt to make their exes jealous. As the fake dating ruse leads to friendship, the blur between which feelings are real or fake becomes more confusing.
My thoughts:
I read Funny Story in April and adored it. It is a five star read for me. The audiobook was great but I enjoyed reading it more than I did listening to it.
This is the soonest I’ve listened to an audiobook after reading the book. It’s just how my Libby hold came up. Honestly, I think I should have delayed it longer to really enjoy this as an audiobook. My favorite audiobooks are of books that I have already read and liked, but this was just a little too soon after reading it to really enjoy it for a second time.
Julia Whelan did a great job narrating this book. As a single narrator of a very long book, her performance was overall really good. But, it’s just a very long time to listen to the same narrator, even breaking it up over more than a week. I mentally checked out a bit through the last third of it.
It’s funny to me how reading a book can give you certain vibes that just aren’t there listening to the same book narrated to you. I had the same experience with reading and then listening to Bride by Ali Hazelwood. I am a mood reader and totally rate books mostly off of how they make me feel, and it’s just interesting to me in the difference I find between some books and their audiobooks. I think reading certain sentences or paragraphs can have a much different impact than listening to the same.
I think I will always prefer reading versus listening to audiobooks, and that’s is reflected here in my rating for the book (five stars!) versus the audiobook (4.25? stars). But whether you’ve already read this book or not, this is a great audiobook.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Drug use, Sexual content, and Infidelity
Minor: Abandonment