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emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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:
Yes
“I don’t want to just be a part of we,” I say. “I want to be an I.”
Such a fun and heartwarming read! I really enjoyed the combination of the overall romcom vibes and the character depth. Daphne and Miles were great as roommates, friends, and lovers, genuinely bringing out the best in each other at every turn and pushing each other to confront their issues. That’s my favorite type of romance—the kind where the relationship becomes a catalyst for growth. I was also surprised by how well the overlap between the development of their attraction, friendship, and actual romantic feelings worked for me. Normally, I enjoy rather different progressions, but here, their situation and they both in people just made so much sense, I completely bought into it.
I also absolutely adored Miles’s arc. Even though this is a single POV book, his part of the story was so clear, and I felt for him so much. He’s one of those sunshiny characters who are actually hurt and scared inside, and the author masterfully pokes at his wounds while maintaining a sense of hope and healing throughout. It was great to have his younger sister be such a big part of the plot, too, both as means of driving certain points home and because she’s such a great character and the two of them have the best sibling dynamic.
My favorite part was absolutely the way this wasn’t just a love story, but—perhaps even first and foremost—a story of Daphne finding her footing, discovering herself, and separating what she’s been taught to want from what she actually wanted. She stumbled more than a few times a lot of the way, but she ended up in such a good, healthy place and pulled Miles right there after her. I just can’t stop smiling thinking about their ending. Yes, that one chapter near the end got kind of cheesy, but it was a *good* kind of cheesy.
If I have to name any flaws, they’re mostly from the realm of editing (if you’re going to give two characters very similar first and last names as a gimmick, maybe triple-check things to make sure they don’t keep exchanging last names every now and then? 😅) Oh, and while there are plenty of library activities, for a supposed bookworm who loves books so much Daphne doesn’t really spend any time reading (unless it’s for a library activity), not a fan of informed attributes like that. That’s it, that’s literally all I’ve got.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity
Neglect
emotional
funny
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
A written version of a chick-flick/rom-com, this was a much appreciated read over spring break. Although the ending was just what I anticipated, the slow burn kept me turning pages.
-0.5 stars simply because the characters' insecurities drove me insane (but also realizing the insecurities supported the plot 🤷♀️)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Alcohol
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Abandonment
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
'It's about the journey, not the destination' is what I'd say about this story. While the premise is something you could find in many books or fanfics, the story itself and the interaction of characters was a blast!
One thing I really liked about this was that the side characters had rich inner lives. They were opinionated and guarded and real, which makes reading so much fun. It wasn't just about Daphne's relationship with the main character, but her relationship with herself, her friends, and how she views the world.
One thing I really liked about this was that the side characters had rich inner lives. They were opinionated and guarded and real, which makes reading so much fun. It wasn't just about Daphne's relationship with the main character, but her relationship with herself, her friends, and how she views the world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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: Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
Yes
Complex Feelings...
I want to start this review by saying that I really did enjoy this book, and I had a great time experiencing these characters. I thought that the flaws of these characters were well done and that Daph and Miles complemented each other in a lot of ways. For most of the book, I adored every moment and thought that it was flowing really well. I think Miles was a great partner for Daph and that his kindness really allowed her to open up. I loved the majority of this novel. Their weekend adventures were so sweet, and I thought that they brought a lot of tenderness to their relationship. Something I loved about them was that they built such a great foundation through trust and friendship before they started their more romantic connection.
But this book lost me in the last 25-ish percent. I think that while I did really enjoy Miles, he let Daphne down in the worst possible way for her trauma, and that felt pretty terrible. I know it's because of his own personal trauma, but I just couldn't completely move past it.Him ditching Daph without a word to run to Petra was a huge red flag for me. It's great that he's a nice guy and is willing to help someone at the drop of a hat, but that becomes a lot less romantic when he's willing to do that at your expense. Especially when it's his ex-girlfriend, whom he said was the love of his life.
But besides the romance, I thought there were many other things to love about this book, which is what made it so enjoyable for me. Daphne, realizing that she was trying to make herself fit into others' lives and exploring who she was, did so in a really incredible and natural way. The friendships were also a shining star of this book. I freaking loveeeee Ashleigh and what she brought to the book, I'm so glad we got to see her and Daphne grow closer throughout the novel.
Once again, EmHen's third act shoots her books in the foot. It's a shame she keeps doing that lol.
But this book lost me in the last 25-ish percent. I think that while I did really enjoy Miles, he let Daphne down in the worst possible way for her trauma, and that felt pretty terrible. I know it's because of his own personal trauma, but I just couldn't completely move past it.
But besides the romance, I thought there were many other things to love about this book, which is what made it so enjoyable for me. Daphne, realizing that she was trying to make herself fit into others' lives and exploring who she was, did so in a really incredible and natural way. The friendships were also a shining star of this book. I freaking loveeeee Ashleigh and what she brought to the book, I'm so glad we got to see her and Daphne grow closer throughout the novel.
Once again, EmHen's third act shoots her books in the foot. It's a shame she keeps doing that lol.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Abandonment
emotional
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
I found the characters in the story really lovable and kind. But to be honest, I thought the middle part of the book dragged a bit, especially since not much happened between the two main characters or in terms of their relationship. In general, there were a few funny moments that I appreciated, but I was hoping for more humor overall—especially in a rom-com with a title like “Funny Story.” Toward the end, some of the misunderstandings started to feel more frustrating than entertaining. However, I thought the ending was well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Abandonment
Minor: Gaslighting