Take a photo of a barcode or cover
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
This is my new favorite Emily Henry book.
1 POV, some spice, lots of pining. Roommates of circumstance turned extremely poignant "I don't deserve x" meets "I am deathly afraid of y" pairing.
Which can sound bleak but is defined by kind, sweet acts that leave you in love with the characters.
In addition to killer emotional intimacy that will make you identify with one or both main characters, there's also a strong "libraries kick ass" message.
Narrator: Julia Whelan creates or amplifies a few gut punch and heartflutter moments that elevate Henry's text beautifully.
1 POV, some spice, lots of pining. Roommates of circumstance turned extremely poignant "I don't deserve x" meets "I am deathly afraid of y" pairing.
Which can sound bleak but is defined by kind, sweet acts that leave you in love with the characters.
In addition to killer emotional intimacy that will make you identify with one or both main characters, there's also a strong "libraries kick ass" message.
Narrator: Julia Whelan creates or amplifies a few gut punch and heartflutter moments that elevate Henry's text beautifully.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse
The main characters are not the source or actors regarding any tags.
emotional
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
I have rarely related to a character as well as I did with Daphne. I adored her and Miles too. Emily Henry is great at creating complete and delightful characters. She's long been an immediate buy. Is it a "funny" story? I laughed out loud a few times, but it was mostly a sweet story, a love story. It was definitely a great story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Feelings are like weather. They just happen, and then they pass
cynic is a romantic who's too scared to hope
I'm glad I waited so long to read another Emily Henry book after "Beach Read". It's crazy that it's only my second book of her and yet I knew I wouldn't be disappointed with it. It was so comforting that I finished the whole book in a day. It's a heartwarming story of how two people who were dumped by their respective partners find comfort with each other, learning to work on themselves to be better for everyone in their life. Usually in a romance book, I would have this one good date/moment that's more memorable than the rest, but in this, I loved pretty much all of their dates and funnily enough, they didn't even spend a lot of times alone on those dates (my one teeny tiny complaint with the book is that all along I was hoping for that one Ryan Reynolds moment in one of those WANING BAY TOURISM dates, but sadly that wasn't the case)
I loved the friendship between Daphne and Ashleigh and most of all, I loved Julie. I didn't think much when she was introduced as Miles's sister, but she was my favourite of em all. Can't wait for Emily Henry's next book
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity, Abandonment
emotional
funny
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: Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Abandonment
Minor: Emotional abuse
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
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“I’m not sure what parts of me are him and which parts are genuinely my own. And I want to know. I want to know myself, to test my edges and see where I stop and the rest of the world begins.”
Thank you so much to the Viking Books team and to NetGalley for gifting me an eARC of this funny, sexy, and utterly delightful romance by Emily Henry! I had the most joyful time reading this, and it’s one of my new favorite romances 🩷
This book is for anyone that enjoys a good romance with a lot of heart and a bit of spice! And it’s especially for you, if you like:
💫 opposites attract
💫 sunsets and sunrises
💫 forced proximity
💫 good food (so much of it)
💫 small adventures
While this didn’t make me cry like Happy Place did, it made me giggle more than once! I loved it, and I loved Daphne and Miles, in all of their flawed perfection! They both hurt people around them, but they grow, and they become better people, not just for themselves, but for each other and for the people in their lives.
In typical Emily Henry fashion, this book is not only an incredible romance, but so much more! It’s a wonderful portrayal of characters learning to heal, learning to stand up for themselves, and learning to build community. Community is such a central theme of this story, and the large cast of supporting characters made this novel unique in the best way possible 🥰
Although this isn’t my favorite Emily Henry book, Daphne and Miles’ story still holds a place in my heart. I see a lot of myself in Daphne, in her weird, genuine laughter, in her desire to belong with others, in her fear of being abandoned and of not being good enough. It is rare for me to relate deeply to characters, so it felt really special to me!
Thank you so much to the Viking Books team and to NetGalley for gifting me an eARC of this funny, sexy, and utterly delightful romance by Emily Henry! I had the most joyful time reading this, and it’s one of my new favorite romances 🩷
This book is for anyone that enjoys a good romance with a lot of heart and a bit of spice! And it’s especially for you, if you like:
💫 opposites attract
💫 sunsets and sunrises
💫 forced proximity
💫 good food (so much of it)
💫 small adventures
While this didn’t make me cry like Happy Place did, it made me giggle more than once! I loved it, and I loved Daphne and Miles, in all of their flawed perfection! They both hurt people around them, but they grow, and they become better people, not just for themselves, but for each other and for the people in their lives.
In typical Emily Henry fashion, this book is not only an incredible romance, but so much more! It’s a wonderful portrayal of characters learning to heal, learning to stand up for themselves, and learning to build community. Community is such a central theme of this story, and the large cast of supporting characters made this novel unique in the best way possible 🥰
Although this isn’t my favorite Emily Henry book, Daphne and Miles’ story still holds a place in my heart. I see a lot of myself in Daphne, in her weird, genuine laughter, in her desire to belong with others, in her fear of being abandoned and of not being good enough. It is rare for me to relate deeply to characters, so it felt really special to me!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse
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
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
Thank you to PRH Audio for the ALC & to Julia Whelan for being one of the absolute best audiobook narrators around!
Thank you to PRH Audio for the ALC & to Julia Whelan for being one of the absolute best audiobook narrators around!
"There will always be a Petra. Someone more interesting, someone more fun. Someone who needs less or offers more."
Though I was wildly disappointed with Happy Place and deemed it my least favorite Emily Henry book, Funny Story has to be my favorite, and what I would consider her best romance (imho).
Though the romance was indeed swoon-worthy and Miles was a LI made of the book baes we all know and love, what stood out for me was Daphne's personal development journey with feeling like she was never enough for folks to stay, including romantic partners, friends, and her dad. It was a familial trauma that bled into her perceptions of herself, and other relationships, that at her core, she was unlovable and had to prove her worthiness of being cared for, loved, chosen.
I'm fully projecting my own issues onto this review, but as I read the book, I genuinely could not help but feel so entirely seen. Daphne's experience with all kinds of love is that she expects people to never prioritize her, to never put her first, and to never seek her out. Daphne's experience stems mostly from her father, who was always full of promises and sunshine, but simply overpromised and underdelivered, leaving her (a child when this behavior begins) to feel like she must work harder to be loved, to receive the attention that one is "supposed to" receive from your parents. In our society and in my culture, I was taught that no one can love you like your parents do, and that your parents are the first ones to teach you unconditional love.
So, if Daphne's dad continued to pay more attention to his romantic love interests or only spent time with her until he found the "next best thing," how is that child going to grow up and think about love and belonging? How is that person supposed to feel when their fiance leaves them (seemingly so easily) for someone Daphne deems as cooler and prettier? How do you ever subscribe to the idea that there could be more or a love that feels better than this? Daphne lacks confidence that she has ever been good enough to be the first choice, especially as she ruminates over the friends she lost with her broken engagement, who didn't take the time or energy to reach out to her, yet seem loyal to her ex-fiance. She notes how hard she worked and how much energy she put into fostering those friendships, and yet, when the shit hit the fan, they were nowhere to be found.
Daphne has always had to find safe harbor within herself, rather than ever being thrown a life jacket from anyone else. Daphne does have her mom, and I'm not erasing her from the narrative, but Daphne actively grieves the childhood, the father-daughter relationship, and the memories she could have shared with her father.
It's hard to contend with something you've personally become resigned to. Daphne is resigned to her father never changing his habits, but when he continues attempts at any semblance of a father-daughter relationship, it continues to push onto a bruise that simply hasn't healed yet for Daphne. He doesn't recognize the continuous pain it causes her each time he shows up as a "changed man," and Daphne wants to believe it.
I really think this book is what Book Lovers tried to do, and Emily Henry wrote a book for every kid who ever felt like they were either "too much" and yet, still "not enough." *sobs*
Funny Story has so many familiar elements that really work when artfully sewn together by Ms. Henry, and I have no doubt that EH fans will adore this one:
- fake dating
- scorned exes who want to irritate the fuck out of the past partners who wronged them (Peter & Petra -lifelong besties- got together at Peter's bachelor party, causing Peter to break up with Daphne, & Petra to leave a breakup note for Miles - big ouch)
- roommates & close proximity
- FMC is a librarian so she’s basically a hero in bookstagram’s eyes
- FMC with major daddy issues (I don't say this disrespectfully; I say this as someone with deep-seeded daddy AND mommy issues, kthx!)
steam rating: 3.5 out of 5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Abandonment
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