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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
I was going through something when I read this that might have affected my feelings towards it. Despite being in a bad place, it did make me laugh out loud which her books always can. But I think it's maybe my least fav Em Hen book?? only because compared to her other books (I've read all but PWMOV) it was more rom-com focused without any other plot going on. There was Daphne befriending her co-worker, but idk something didn't hit quite the same. I just compare everything to Happy Place which is my favorite (a god tier book)...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, Infidelity
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
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: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Abandonment
emotional
hopeful
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
A solid summer read. There's a lot going on here; it's messy and complicated. Which, I guess is pretty human (the author definitely wins a gold star for believable characters... Well, Miles might be TGTBT). But it does feel a bit as though all that's going on keeps the MC and surrounding characters from gaining depth. They're at arms length from the reader; less being in it with them, more observing the goings on. There was just so much to be unpacked in Daphne's head and emotions, likewise Miles - just please put them both in therapy! However, the relationship at the center doesn't come across as a rebound to me; rather more like they help each other find more of themselves.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Abandonment
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
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, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse
Minor: Misogyny, Racism, Sexual harassment
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
I loved journeying to Waning Bay, MI in this one. (Would absolutely like to go for a long weekend vacation now.) I'm always happiest when Emily Henry romances have a literary focus, so the library setting of this one was fun. I was relieved to find that it didn't absolutely run my insides through a meat grinder. (You know who you are, "Happy" Place)
I'll admit, when we first meet Miles, I wasn't in to the idea of him as the love interest. However, as his personality is revealed over the book, I came to really care about him. I loved the friendship component of this book as well, even as it was heart-wrenching to see Daphne so lonely in the absence of friendship.
I really enjoyed the way the novel began and ended with telling the “funny story” of a relationship.
This won't end up at the top of my Em Hen rankings, but as usual, she has a fantastic way with words and painted a setting and a cast of characters I was sad to leave. It was a delightful summer kickoff.
“You aren’t what I pictured,” I say. “You are so, so, so much better than what my cynical little brain could’ve ever come up with."
I'll admit, when we first meet Miles, I wasn't in to the idea of him as the love interest. However, as his personality is revealed over the book, I came to really care about him. I loved the friendship component of this book as well, even as it was heart-wrenching to see Daphne so lonely in the absence of friendship.
I really enjoyed the way the novel began and ended with telling the “funny story” of a relationship.
This won't end up at the top of my Em Hen rankings, but as usual, she has a fantastic way with words and painted a setting and a cast of characters I was sad to leave. It was a delightful summer kickoff.
“You aren’t what I pictured,” I say. “You are so, so, so much better than what my cynical little brain could’ve ever come up with."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Abandonment
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
♡ 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: Emotional abuse, Abandonment
Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Classism
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
“Life’s short enough without us talking ourselves out of hope and trying to dodge every bad feeling. Sometimes you have to push through the discomfort, instead of running.”
➽ Funny Story was indeed hilarious and heartfelt. I love Emily Henry's books but Happy Place was a big miss for me, so I was a bit apprehensive. I needn't have worried as Funny Story was amazing! The story is about Daphne and Miles whose partners left them and started dating each other instead. Distraught, Daphne is basically kicked out of her future home and becomes roommates with Miles instead, the only person who can understand her situation. It's still an awkward situation, especially when Daphne decides to make it seem like they're dating to spite their exes, who are now planning their wedding.
➽ Daphne and Miles really stole my heart. Daphne wants to escape town as she has built her entire life around her ex-fiance Peter and now that he's left her for his childhood best friend Petra, she feels lost. I felt sorry for her, as Daphne doesn't have any friendships, as everyone sided with Peter and since they only had mutual friends, she has no one on her side. She loves being a children's librarian - the only highlight in her life right now - but still searches for new jobs far away from her heartbreak. I loved how the story discussed finding new friends as an adult and building your own connections outside of a partner. Daphne is horrible at small talk (same), but still starts befriending Ashley, one of her coworkers. I loved their dynamic and how Daphne realized she tends to focus on being part of a couple but forgets to leave space for herself.
➽ Miles was also easy to love. He had a tough childhood filled with a manipulative parent, so he copes by always being positive and friendly to everyone. Unlike Daphne, he's good at drawing people into his orbit and actually works to befriend others by showing them kindness. He's a good guy and seeing him receive judgement for his job and background made me so angry. It was also great getting to see Julia, his younger sister who was amazing and definitely deserves her own book! I loved the chemistry between Daphne and Miles, they had such great banter from the start despite being stuck in an awkward situation. They complimented each other nicely and helped each other cope with their insecurities. The fake dating wasn't a big part of the story, but felt natural, especially with Peter and Petra having the audacity to invite them to their wedding. I thought there would be more drama about that, but I didn't mind the direction the plot took.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment