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emotional
lighthearted
medium-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Abandonment
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Yes
cute and fast book.
This is my second Emily Henry book. Honestly, I despised Happy Place but decided to give Henry the benefit of the doubt and try this one. I like this one much better. I really related to the FMCs personal struggles. However, I didn’t really feel immersed in the characters or story. I still enjoyed the read though! Thinking about trying Book Lovers after this since I’ve heard it’s her best one.
1 🌶️
* please disregard grammatical errors due to voice texting. Thanks.
This is my second Emily Henry book. Honestly, I despised Happy Place but decided to give Henry the benefit of the doubt and try this one. I like this one much better. I really related to the FMCs personal struggles. However, I didn’t really feel immersed in the characters or story. I still enjoyed the read though! Thinking about trying Book Lovers after this since I’ve heard it’s her best one.
1 🌶️
* please disregard grammatical errors due to voice texting. Thanks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
I picked this up on a whim from the Lucky Day Reads* section in the library. Like the other books I've read by Emily Henry I finished in 2 sittings and had I not had to sleep the other night it would have easily been done in one.
Funny Story I feel is more about making friends as an adult, the stickiness of ones 30's, complex relationship with family members and a story about love in all its forms and the raw-ness in finding oneself after what was a terrible relationship with shallow narcissistic people. The book started off like a classic rom com but quickly delved into deeper parts of life without feeling heavy. Emily Henry has a knack for writing the breadth of a person's being that feels light, airy and fun with serious deep soulful scènes in between. This one despite being classified as a romance, and there is a heavy focus on romantic relationships didn't feel like a romance. it felt more like a little "Ode to Close Friends" .... and probably the reality of how hard it can be to make friends as an adult and how we sometimes mess that up.
All in all great fun and good times with plenty of laughter (or in my cake outward chortling). Recommend for readers who enjoy romance, stories about friends and self discovery after heartbreak.
*Lucky Day Read: 7 day loan, no renewal
Funny Story I feel is more about making friends as an adult, the stickiness of ones 30's, complex relationship with family members and a story about love in all its forms and the raw-ness in finding oneself after what was a terrible relationship with shallow narcissistic people. The book started off like a classic rom com but quickly delved into deeper parts of life without feeling heavy. Emily Henry has a knack for writing the breadth of a person's being that feels light, airy and fun with serious deep soulful scènes in between. This one despite being classified as a romance, and there is a heavy focus on romantic relationships didn't feel like a romance. it felt more like a little "Ode to Close Friends" .... and probably the reality of how hard it can be to make friends as an adult and how we sometimes mess that up.
All in all great fun and good times with plenty of laughter (or in my cake outward chortling). Recommend for readers who enjoy romance, stories about friends and self discovery after heartbreak.
*Lucky Day Read: 7 day loan, no renewal
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have never hated a book ex more than I have hated Peter.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Infidelity
MC's fiancé breaks up with her for his best friend; there's no physical infidelity but shades of emotional infidelity.
MC has a difficult relationship with her father. Another character is estranged from his parents as a result of emotional abuse as a child .
emotional
funny
inspiring
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Sexual content
emotional
funny
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
Whenever I think there’s no possible way Emily Henry could write something else I’ve experienced or relate to, I FAFO almost immediately. We begin with Daphne’s perceived rock-bottom with her failed engagement and unbearable shame. All because another person made her feel she was not worthy. It’s so interesting to see how her previous partner gaslit her in most aspects of their relationship, and Daphne was never truly permitted to be her authentic self but rather a more palatable, fictional character she played that more easily fit into Peter’s life. With Miles, we see how he accepted everything about her from the start and how he is the exact opposite of Peter in every way, acting as foils of one another. I found myself easily charmed by Miles just like Daphne and so enjoyed watching her take back her power and accept her place in life with grace, self-love, and joy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beach Read was my first foray into Emily Henry's writing, and it's safe to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this one too. Miles was such a nice character to spend time with. I also found Daphne's friends in this one way more likable.
I've also found a new trope that I now know that I love - Fake Dating. The only issue I have with Funny St0ry's fake dating trope is that the fake dating almost instantly devolved into real-dating-but-we're-pretending-we're-not-real-dating-for-*indistinct*. There was also a seed that was planted where Daphne posts a picture of her and Miles onto her social media, and then it's mentioned a single time after that. More photos are taken, but are never posted or spoken about again. It felt a bit pointless and, I think, really added to how quickly the fake dating turned into real dating issue.
I lost interest a bit at the end where the post-revelatory-sex drama felt a bit convoluted and forced, then resolved super randomly.
I've also found a new trope that I now know that I love - Fake Dating. The only issue I have with Funny St0ry's fake dating trope is that the fake dating almost instantly devolved into real-dating-but-we're-pretending-we're-not-real-dating-for-*indistinct*. There was also a seed that was planted where Daphne posts a picture of her and Miles onto her social media, and then it's mentioned a single time after that. More photos are taken, but are never posted or spoken about again. It felt a bit pointless and, I think, really added to how quickly the fake dating turned into real dating issue.
I lost interest a bit at the end where the post-revelatory-sex drama felt a bit convoluted and forced, then resolved super randomly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse
The male main character's back story has some description of how he and his sibling were emotionally abused by their mother.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 rounded up
I love miles and daphne a lot in all their sunshine cynical brokenness. And ashleigh and julia are amazing characters. Everyone is broken and honestly very real. I often hate when everything is neat and tidy in writing because life isn't that way. So I appreciate authors who write about the untidiness of life and relationships. It's not perfect, but what book is?
I love miles and daphne a lot in all their sunshine cynical brokenness. And ashleigh and julia are amazing characters. Everyone is broken and honestly very real. I often hate when everything is neat and tidy in writing because life isn't that way. So I appreciate authors who write about the untidiness of life and relationships. It's not perfect, but what book is?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is my first Emily Henry and I have to say...I'm a little disappointed ngl
I enjoyed it, it hooked me from the start, and the love interest, Miles, was very swoony and made me giggle and kick my feet, but I dont know, I had to stop in the middle of the third act conflict reconciliation scene and when I picked it back up the next morning I was left feeling dissatisfied
Pros:
I enjoyed it, it hooked me from the start, and the love interest, Miles, was very swoony and made me giggle and kick my feet, but I dont know, I had to stop in the middle of the third act conflict reconciliation scene and when I picked it back up the next morning I was left feeling dissatisfied
Pros:
- Even tho I've seen reviews saying Miles
helping Petra move and leaving Daphne hanging was shitty and meant he really wasn't over Petra (among other things I don't remember very well) , I disagree, I think Miles' actions throughout the book (minus him standing Daphne up ) showed that he cared deeply about Daphne and truly valued her, I really liked his character. - I also really liked Ashleigh and Julia, and Daphne's friendships with both of them, I liked the conflict with Ashleigh too, and how Emily Henry resolved it.
- In general I had a good time reading it
Cons:
- I was weirded out by the way Daphne mentioned her nipples a couple times, nothing wrong with talking abt nipples ofc, it's just the way it was written was really weird ("My nipples are tightening against his chest (...)" and "(...) my nipples choose that instant to stand at attention, like eager little meerkats" are two I highlighted that were weird).
- I would have liked more awkward-roomates phase, I felt the story went from "I'm living with this guy who I don't know" to "My roommate is invested on making me stay in this town and we're besties"; because of that, I also felt that the attraction was somewhat insta-lovey/insta-lusty.
- Re: Daphne, there was a moment where she felt like "Oh I'm not like other girls" (also, the trope of girl that dresses drab and doesnt realize she's pretty but every guy falls in love with her was present, too), and also, she always says oh im so bad with people and at small talk and yet she always talks perfectly fine, with witty banter, and without putting her foot in her mouth.
- For being a fake dating book, they only committed when they were near Peter and Petra, and told SO MANY PEOPLE that it was fake, yet it never bit them in the ass (which I think could have been interesting)
- Oh, and also, even tho there was character development,
for so much of Daphne's self introspection about how after her break-up with Peter she was left alone bc she never bothered to make her own friends and only tried to befriend Peter's friend, she eventually ended up in a really similar situation with Miles (which I get is bc they became friends first, and created their little friend group while being friends, but still): she befriended his sister and people he already knew and was friendly with, and the friend she made at work also became friends with Miles, becoming a singular friend group
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Classism
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, Racism, Vomit, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment
funny
hopeful
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
I don’t remember if I read the synopsis for this one, when I added it to my libby 500 weeks ago, or added it simply as “the new Emily Henry” book, but suffice it to say a few pages in I was gleefully giggling at what was indeed going to be a funny story. Romcom at its finest: witty banter, believable mains with a healthy dose of baggage, the super hot asshole ex, a colorful cast of side characters, picturesque setting. Honestly, the only reason its not five stars for me is because I loved Book Lovers so much, and its hard to match that level of perfection.
Side note: it drives me batty when people don’t do the voices when reading children’s books. Daphne does. The fact that Henry makes it a point to point this out leads me to believe she also finds this abhorrent. Do the voices people.
Side note: it drives me batty when people don’t do the voices when reading children’s books. Daphne does. The fact that Henry makes it a point to point this out leads me to believe she also finds this abhorrent. Do the voices people.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse