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emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
At this point in Emily Henry’s career, it is so easy to just expect a 5 star read. Coming off of Happy Place? Of course it is. There’s always the slightest doubt: can anything be as good as Happy Place? The answer is an overwhelming ‘yes’.
Funny Story had me laughing, grinning, crying, cringing, and kicking my feet with giddiness. It is everything I want in a book: two beautiful souls who overcome barriers that nobody deserves to become all-round better versions of themselves, who aren’t afraid to look inward and make changes to become the person they want to be rather than the person they’ve chosen to be in order to fit a mould or hide behind a mask.
Emily’s description of Miles as a Labrador is so perfect. He is sunshine, but with that added layer of clumsiness (not physically) that so accurately reflects that Lab behaviour: all love but sometimes has a bit too much going through their minds to know what to do with it!
Daphne is my kindred spirit. We’ve had a very similar life, so maybe that’s what allows me to relate to her so deeply, but we also find our solace in books and in solitude, except when we found that Safe Person to let go with. I wanted to hug her throughout Funny Story and tell her that everything would be okay, and that made me realise that actually what I wanted was to tell myself exactly that. You don’t need a father or a partner to be whole, to be enough. You need yourself, and when you can love yourself, you can allow those who do deserve a place in your life to share that love with you too.
I’m going to start the audio book tomorrow and I cannot WAIT to see how Julie Whelan brings Funny Story to laugh. What a happy day!
Funny Story had me laughing, grinning, crying, cringing, and kicking my feet with giddiness. It is everything I want in a book: two beautiful souls who overcome barriers that nobody deserves to become all-round better versions of themselves, who aren’t afraid to look inward and make changes to become the person they want to be rather than the person they’ve chosen to be in order to fit a mould or hide behind a mask.
Emily’s description of Miles as a Labrador is so perfect. He is sunshine, but with that added layer of clumsiness (not physically) that so accurately reflects that Lab behaviour: all love but sometimes has a bit too much going through their minds to know what to do with it!
Daphne is my kindred spirit. We’ve had a very similar life, so maybe that’s what allows me to relate to her so deeply, but we also find our solace in books and in solitude, except when we found that Safe Person to let go with. I wanted to hug her throughout Funny Story and tell her that everything would be okay, and that made me realise that actually what I wanted was to tell myself exactly that. You don’t need a father or a partner to be whole, to be enough. You need yourself, and when you can love yourself, you can allow those who do deserve a place in your life to share that love with you too.
I’m going to start the audio book tomorrow and I cannot WAIT to see how Julie Whelan brings Funny Story to laugh. What a happy day!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Minor: Classism
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The book was off to a promising start. I enjoyed the characters and the banter. Then it started to fall a bit flat. I didn't find the second half very convincing, and a lot of it was just sad.
P.S.: The miscommunication trope really has a chokehold on Emily Henry and it's getting old.
P.S.: The miscommunication trope really has a chokehold on Emily Henry and it's getting old.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Compared to other Emily Henry books this one was up there for me. It was written very well and was not your typical roommates to lovers trope. I’d say it was closest to Book Lovers and would recommend readers who enjoyed it to pick up this book as well. Spice level would be 4/10 on my rating, and was mostly tension.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship
funny
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Abandonment
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Complicated
Just as charming as you would expect! Flawless execution. IMO Emily Henry is the best in her league.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship
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
It was good. Was it funny? No.
Henry mastered the faking dating and forced proximity trope well. It felt like something my BFF was telling me. I loved the friendships formed! This one leaned more on the scale of romance than lit, which for me isn't a problem.
Though honestly I think Henry peaked with Book Lovers, Happy Place, and People we Meet on Vacation.
The ending felt a bit disjointed but cohesive enough that I was able to appreciate the journey both Daphne @ Miles went on. The part about choosing a life for yourself that you want to live felt contrived considering how well this point was made with Happy Place.
Henry was really good at making me hate both former partners.
Major spoiler below
How could Petra and Peter blow up their relationships, their families, their lives to be together so last minute after knowing each other all their lives only to break up because Peter wanted children and Petra didn't? Like how could they claim to be best friends and not know that? Then they both crawl back to former partners like it was a small oopsie without a major act of grovelling. What a huge stretch.
I still recommend Emily Henry, I just would place this at the bottom. It good and she executed the tropes well but it wasn't unique or really all that funny.
Henry mastered the faking dating and forced proximity trope well. It felt like something my BFF was telling me. I loved the friendships formed! This one leaned more on the scale of romance than lit, which for me isn't a problem.
Though honestly I think Henry peaked with Book Lovers, Happy Place, and People we Meet on Vacation.
The ending felt a bit disjointed but cohesive enough that I was able to appreciate the journey both Daphne @ Miles went on. The part about choosing a life for yourself that you want to live felt contrived considering how well this point was made with Happy Place.
Henry was really good at making me hate both former partners.
Major spoiler below
I still recommend Emily Henry, I just would place this at the bottom. It good and she executed the tropes well but it wasn't unique or really all that funny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Emily Henry makes you feel like you’re the only one reading her book. Which is a good thing—a great thing!! Let me explain.
When you’re reading one of her books, you almost feel like it’s a secret. Like if one of your best friends writes a book and you’re the first one to read it. Like you have the inside scoop. Like it’s exclusive. Like this story was meant to be read by you. Like its contents are something for you to cherish and feel in your own time, your own way.
Her writing does this magical thing where you feel so present inside her words that you never really leave them. You read other books, move on to other titles, but her stories remain. When all else feels like a dribble, her novels are the ocean. Constant. Resonating. Engaging with you even in your subconscious.
What I loved about Miles and Daphne was that they were so in tune and in sync with one another’s feelings and expectations, even when they thought they weren’t. The right person can make all the difference in the wrong moments.
Miles is easygoing and thoughtful, confident but considerate. Daphne is gentle and shy but also braver than she thinks and tougher than she gives herself credit for. They make a great pair of roommates, friends, cohorts, lovers. They are two halves of one whole that, for much of the book, they seem to acknowledge but don’t let themselves indulge in for fear of messing the good parts up, or not thinking they are what the other needs. They go through situations and feelings together, simultaneously, without realizing it. I like how natural and adult their conversations are, how honest they can be with one another when they need to, and how goofy and flirty they can be when they want to. How easily they fit into each other’s lives, literally and figuratively.
Most mature of her books I think, as far as characters and their actions. Well-rounded novel, nothing feels rushed or drags along. Perfect pacing. I wish I felt a little more connected to the characters’ decisions, but that’s more of a personal thing.
When you’re reading one of her books, you almost feel like it’s a secret. Like if one of your best friends writes a book and you’re the first one to read it. Like you have the inside scoop. Like it’s exclusive. Like this story was meant to be read by you. Like its contents are something for you to cherish and feel in your own time, your own way.
Her writing does this magical thing where you feel so present inside her words that you never really leave them. You read other books, move on to other titles, but her stories remain. When all else feels like a dribble, her novels are the ocean. Constant. Resonating. Engaging with you even in your subconscious.
What I loved about Miles and Daphne was that they were so in tune and in sync with one another’s feelings and expectations, even when they thought they weren’t. The right person can make all the difference in the wrong moments.
Miles is easygoing and thoughtful, confident but considerate. Daphne is gentle and shy but also braver than she thinks and tougher than she gives herself credit for. They make a great pair of roommates, friends, cohorts, lovers. They are two halves of one whole that, for much of the book, they seem to acknowledge but don’t let themselves indulge in for fear of messing the good parts up, or not thinking they are what the other needs. They go through situations and feelings together, simultaneously, without realizing it. I like how natural and adult their conversations are, how honest they can be with one another when they need to, and how goofy and flirty they can be when they want to. How easily they fit into each other’s lives, literally and figuratively.
Most mature of her books I think, as far as characters and their actions. Well-rounded novel, nothing feels rushed or drags along. Perfect pacing. I wish I felt a little more connected to the characters’ decisions, but that’s more of a personal thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief
Minor: Drug use
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Emily Henry did it again!
Funny Story is my new favorite Emily Henry book! I love the characters, I love the romantic chemistry and the friendship chemistry. I love the town, and the vibe, and everything about this book.
Daphne and Miles are so cute, and their story is LITERALLY such a funny story! This is EH’s funniest book yet, and I loved it so much. The set-up of the fake dating is hilarious, and Miles is probably my new favorite book boyfriend.
The family dynamics in the book are great! I love Daphne’s mom, I love Julia, I love all the different types of families we see. I even, somehow, kinda like Starfire (iykyk).
Read this book if you love
💜 fake dating
💜 forced proximity
💜 strong friendships
💜 libraries
💜 being a tourist in your own city
💜 laughing so hard you wake up your cat
I love this book with my whole heart. 5 stars.
Thank you Berkley Romance for giving my an early copy and the opportunity to learn an honest, voluntary review.
Funny Story is my new favorite Emily Henry book! I love the characters, I love the romantic chemistry and the friendship chemistry. I love the town, and the vibe, and everything about this book.
Daphne and Miles are so cute, and their story is LITERALLY such a funny story! This is EH’s funniest book yet, and I loved it so much. The set-up of the fake dating is hilarious, and Miles is probably my new favorite book boyfriend.
The family dynamics in the book are great! I love Daphne’s mom, I love Julia, I love all the different types of families we see. I even, somehow, kinda like Starfire (iykyk).
Read this book if you love
💜 fake dating
💜 forced proximity
💜 strong friendships
💜 libraries
💜 being a tourist in your own city
💜 laughing so hard you wake up your cat
I love this book with my whole heart. 5 stars.
Thank you Berkley Romance for giving my an early copy and the opportunity to learn an honest, voluntary review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship