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challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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:
Complicated
Thank you to Netgalley, Libro.fm, and the publisher for advanced copies of this book and audiobook.
All hail Emily Henry! Another amazing read from one of my favorite authors. She really understands the complexities of relationships. As someone who has complicated feelings about family, I connected so hard to Daphne and her struggles with her parents, partner(s), and friends. Daphne's insecurities surrounding being capable of being loved and her struggle to learn to trust in others was so real and familiar and real. The characters are complex and broken and make mistakes.
It's also another Emily Henry that makes me want to move to a small town in Michigan on the lake and live my best life. Finally, I rarely see a book that features a librarian be so true to life. I often see them as some kind of sappy cliche, when life as a librarian is so much closer to the one portrayed in this book. Yes, there are wonderful parts where you get to connect with others through books, but you also have to clean vomit off the floor and deal with creepy callers and people who get mad at you because you don't know their Gmail password. Emily did her research and, from one librarian, it's very appreciated!
Tropes:
fake dating
opposites attract
friends to lovers
forced proximity
found family
All hail Emily Henry! Another amazing read from one of my favorite authors. She really understands the complexities of relationships. As someone who has complicated feelings about family, I connected so hard to Daphne and her struggles with her parents, partner(s), and friends. Daphne's insecurities surrounding being capable of being loved and her struggle to learn to trust in others was so real and familiar and real. The characters are complex and broken and make mistakes.
It's also another Emily Henry that makes me want to move to a small town in Michigan on the lake and live my best life. Finally, I rarely see a book that features a librarian be so true to life. I often see them as some kind of sappy cliche, when life as a librarian is so much closer to the one portrayed in this book. Yes, there are wonderful parts where you get to connect with others through books, but you also have to clean vomit off the floor and deal with creepy callers and people who get mad at you because you don't know their Gmail password. Emily did her research and, from one librarian, it's very appreciated!
Tropes:
fake dating
opposites attract
friends to lovers
forced proximity
found family
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
All my reviews live at https://deedireads.com/.
I probably don’t even need to tell you this, but Emily Henry has indeed done it again, y’all. I devoured this (via audiobook) in one sitting, and I loved every second.
ICYMI, Funny Story is a fake dating/friends to lovers/forced proximity story about Daphne, whose fiancé Peter slept with his BF, Petra, at his bachelor party. (Yep.) So she moves in with Miles, Petra’s heartbroken ex. The two decide to pretend to date to make their (shitty) exes jealous and stick it to them.
Miles and Daphne’s chemistry is just SO GOOD (as per Emily Henry’s usual). They both also have a lot of trauma baggage to work through, and I loved how they both gave each other so much compassion and respect. ALSO also, I think Miles is my favorite Emily Henry boyfriend yet. On the other hand, I wanted to punch Peter in the face every single time he showed up.
Julia Whelan’s performance was impeccable (as always). She made me tear up multiple times, just like she did in Happy Place. 10/10, highly recommend experiencing Emily Henry through Whelan’s voice acting.
Okay Emily, when’s the next one??
I probably don’t even need to tell you this, but Emily Henry has indeed done it again, y’all. I devoured this (via audiobook) in one sitting, and I loved every second.
ICYMI, Funny Story is a fake dating/friends to lovers/forced proximity story about Daphne, whose fiancé Peter slept with his BF, Petra, at his bachelor party. (Yep.) So she moves in with Miles, Petra’s heartbroken ex. The two decide to pretend to date to make their (shitty) exes jealous and stick it to them.
Miles and Daphne’s chemistry is just SO GOOD (as per Emily Henry’s usual). They both also have a lot of trauma baggage to work through, and I loved how they both gave each other so much compassion and respect. ALSO also, I think Miles is my favorite Emily Henry boyfriend yet. On the other hand, I wanted to punch Peter in the face every single time he showed up.
Julia Whelan’s performance was impeccable (as always). She made me tear up multiple times, just like she did in Happy Place. 10/10, highly recommend experiencing Emily Henry through Whelan’s voice acting.
Okay Emily, when’s the next one??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Abandonment
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The beginning had my blood pressure so elevated (and contemplating murder) and then effortlessly moves into a really rom-com. This read like a love letter to libraries and the incredible staff who help communities everywhere (I fucking love the library) and the awkward growing pains of making friends as an adult. As always I want to know all of these people, visit these places and eat every single food that was mentioned. What can I say, Miss Henry doesn't miss. This is the most ‘Rom-com’ of her books and I needed that.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was my first Emily Henry book and I enjoyed it. Light and predictable, but even I need a break from the darker reads I normally gravitate towards.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abandonment
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Honestly, how do you even begin to review an Emily Henry book aside from *pterodactyl screeching noises* and *unintelligible fluttery hand gestures* to properly convey how much you love it? Just when I thought I couldn't love her romcoms more, she goes and writes Funny Story.
Since 2021, I have not managed to find a single romance novel to top my obsession with People We Meet on Vacation--and I have read several hundred romances. How Emily managed to beat her own book is absolutely beyond me. Funny Story now takes first place in my favorites list.
As I was reading my eARC (thank you, THANK YOU, Berkley) I decided to highlight everything that stood out to me. Three paragraphs into the first chapter and I was already highlighting a quote that had me snorting with laughter. The rest of the book made me feel precisely as giddy as those first few lines and I managed to highlight nearly 40 quotes and added countless notes.
Something that constantly impresses me with Emily's writing style is that while she maintains a classic romcom formula (meaning that the book is equally as funny as it is romantic), she doesn't skimp on depth and emotion. I have cried nearly as many times as I have laughed while reading each of her novels and Funny Story was no different. It dealt with themes like emotionally abusive family members and toxic romantic relationships. But it doesn't just glaze over them or make them feel unimportant. They're an integral part of the story and handled with so much grace.
This book also gave me an element I never knew I needed (?) in an EmHen novel: found family. It may have manifested in an untraditional sense, but it was absolutely part of the narrative and I really loved how it was cultivated and nurtured throughout the story. By the end of the book, I felt as though Ashleigh's friendship with Daphne was just as important as the romantic relationship with Miles.
If you're looking for something feel-good that will make you laugh so hard you nearly pee yourself, cry a little, and just fall in love with love all over again, you need to pick up Funny Story. I had the best time ever reading this book and I can't wait to pick it up whenever I'm craving some extra comfort. All the stars for this fantastic romcom!
Since 2021, I have not managed to find a single romance novel to top my obsession with People We Meet on Vacation--and I have read several hundred romances. How Emily managed to beat her own book is absolutely beyond me. Funny Story now takes first place in my favorites list.
As I was reading my eARC (thank you, THANK YOU, Berkley) I decided to highlight everything that stood out to me. Three paragraphs into the first chapter and I was already highlighting a quote that had me snorting with laughter. The rest of the book made me feel precisely as giddy as those first few lines and I managed to highlight nearly 40 quotes and added countless notes.
Something that constantly impresses me with Emily's writing style is that while she maintains a classic romcom formula (meaning that the book is equally as funny as it is romantic), she doesn't skimp on depth and emotion. I have cried nearly as many times as I have laughed while reading each of her novels and Funny Story was no different. It dealt with themes like emotionally abusive family members and toxic romantic relationships. But it doesn't just glaze over them or make them feel unimportant. They're an integral part of the story and handled with so much grace.
This book also gave me an element I never knew I needed (?) in an EmHen novel: found family. It may have manifested in an untraditional sense, but it was absolutely part of the narrative and I really loved how it was cultivated and nurtured throughout the story. By the end of the book, I felt as though Ashleigh's friendship with Daphne was just as important as the romantic relationship with Miles.
If you're looking for something feel-good that will make you laugh so hard you nearly pee yourself, cry a little, and just fall in love with love all over again, you need to pick up Funny Story. I had the best time ever reading this book and I can't wait to pick it up whenever I'm craving some extra comfort. All the stars for this fantastic romcom!
**Unrelated and semi-unimportant but fun fact time: A truly delightful part of this for me was that the Richmond they reference time and again is Richmond, Virginia... which just happens to be where I was born and raised and lived until 2021. Seeing it mentioned over and over made me really happy. Now, if only I could convince Emily to do more tour stops there...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
Minor: Vomit
emotional
funny
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
Moderate: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol