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emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
I had an absolute BLAST.
The Setup: Funny Story by Emily Henry is a heartwarming story that resolves around Daphne and Miles, two people whose lives are upended when their respective partners leave them for each other. Stranded in a beautiful town - but not HER town - of Waning Bay, Michigan, Daphne, a passionate children's librarian, finds herself pretty much homeless and completely heartbroken after her fiancรฉ tells her he is in love with his best friend. Miles offers her a place to stay since he is now without the love of his life (the said best friend just mentioned).
Then, after an awkward conversation with her ex, Peter, Daphne lets it slip that she and Miles are "dating," which is a straight-up lie, something that Daphne rarely does but feels is the most straightforward course of action at the moment. Therefore, a fake relationship ensues, partly to make their exes jealous and partly to support each other through grief.
Daphne and Miles bond unexpectedly as they navigate their pain and anger. Daphne, who has always struggled to trust others due to many fleeing her life in the past, learns to prioritize her own needs and desires. Charming yet troubled by a tumultuous childhood, Miles faces issues head-on with Daphne's support. Together, they rediscover their identities and what they truly want in life.
In her signature style, Emily Henry crafts a narrative of healing, self-discovery, and unexpected love. Yet, Funny Story goes beyond the typical romance, delving into themes of family, career, and friendship. It also paints a vivid picture of a small-town setting, with its charming lake vibes and picturesque descriptions of Waning Bay.
What I loved: I loved this book. Many people I talk to share that they have a favorite Emily Henry book because they related to it, or it was just a great book that made them feel lovely in a moment of their life. My favorite was Beach Read, which may be outside the majority for most folks. However, Funny Story came in with a close second or even a tie. This novel met me in my moment. This book's main character, Daphne, felt real to me - the first female character in an Emily Henry novel where I didn't cringe at moments or become frustrated at her internal monologue. (I love most of Emily Henry's stories and have rated them mostly in 4s, so that statement may seem bad, but I still love her books, so don't fret.) I understood Daphne. Additionally, I loved the romance - Henry built it nicely and made it seem semi-relatable (if I'm being honest, this whole situation is a little extreme - living with your ex's new girlfriend's ex lol). But it worked. I also absolutely adored Henry integrating many aspects of life - Daphne dealing with a lack of friendships, having a passion for her career as a librarian, and navigating the relationship with her family, and Miles working in more of a gig economy, emphasizing his cheery personality that may not be as cheery as we think, and building his beautiful relationship with the town of Waning Bay. Lastly, some other characters were well fleshed out, especially Julia, Miles's sister, and Ashleigh, Daphne's fellow coworker at the library and a new friend.
Oh, and this novel was plain funny to me at timesโI laughed out loud in parts. So, not only was it amusing, but it was also heartwarming, beautiful, and poignant. All-in-all, this worked for me, and I am oh-so-happy about it.
It's pretty spicy and steamy, by the way, definitely more so than some of her other ones. Still, I think it worked!
Anything That Could Be Improved? Listen, an Emily Henry novel may or may not work for you. I did think the whole situation was a little unbelievable. In addition, the main characters were supposed to be in their mid-thirties, which I believe was mostly on point but possibly still felt a little young. And yes, in typical Emily Henry fashion, there was SO much info dumping about Miles and his woodstove smell. Were the main characters still ding dongs at times? Yes. Did I think in typical rom-com book fashion these two characters relied on each other a little bit too much for growth? Again, yes. But, I loved this book so much and can think critically about it while still absolutely adoring it.
I have zero complaints, and like Beach Read, I can't wait to re-read it eventually. Thank you, Emily Henry, for always drawing me back into the contemporary romance genre.
**
Read again in July 2025 and truly did not disappoint. I love Daphne and Miles <3
The Setup: Funny Story by Emily Henry is a heartwarming story that resolves around Daphne and Miles, two people whose lives are upended when their respective partners leave them for each other. Stranded in a beautiful town - but not HER town - of Waning Bay, Michigan, Daphne, a passionate children's librarian, finds herself pretty much homeless and completely heartbroken after her fiancรฉ tells her he is in love with his best friend. Miles offers her a place to stay since he is now without the love of his life (the said best friend just mentioned).
Then, after an awkward conversation with her ex, Peter, Daphne lets it slip that she and Miles are "dating," which is a straight-up lie, something that Daphne rarely does but feels is the most straightforward course of action at the moment. Therefore, a fake relationship ensues, partly to make their exes jealous and partly to support each other through grief.
Daphne and Miles bond unexpectedly as they navigate their pain and anger. Daphne, who has always struggled to trust others due to many fleeing her life in the past, learns to prioritize her own needs and desires. Charming yet troubled by a tumultuous childhood, Miles faces issues head-on with Daphne's support. Together, they rediscover their identities and what they truly want in life.
In her signature style, Emily Henry crafts a narrative of healing, self-discovery, and unexpected love. Yet, Funny Story goes beyond the typical romance, delving into themes of family, career, and friendship. It also paints a vivid picture of a small-town setting, with its charming lake vibes and picturesque descriptions of Waning Bay.
What I loved: I loved this book. Many people I talk to share that they have a favorite Emily Henry book because they related to it, or it was just a great book that made them feel lovely in a moment of their life. My favorite was Beach Read, which may be outside the majority for most folks. However, Funny Story came in with a close second or even a tie. This novel met me in my moment. This book's main character, Daphne, felt real to me - the first female character in an Emily Henry novel where I didn't cringe at moments or become frustrated at her internal monologue. (I love most of Emily Henry's stories and have rated them mostly in 4s, so that statement may seem bad, but I still love her books, so don't fret.) I understood Daphne. Additionally, I loved the romance - Henry built it nicely and made it seem semi-relatable (if I'm being honest, this whole situation is a little extreme - living with your ex's new girlfriend's ex lol). But it worked. I also absolutely adored Henry integrating many aspects of life - Daphne dealing with a lack of friendships, having a passion for her career as a librarian, and navigating the relationship with her family, and Miles working in more of a gig economy, emphasizing his cheery personality that may not be as cheery as we think, and building his beautiful relationship with the town of Waning Bay. Lastly, some other characters were well fleshed out, especially Julia, Miles's sister, and Ashleigh, Daphne's fellow coworker at the library and a new friend.
Oh, and this novel was plain funny to me at timesโI laughed out loud in parts. So, not only was it amusing, but it was also heartwarming, beautiful, and poignant. All-in-all, this worked for me, and I am oh-so-happy about it.
It's pretty spicy and steamy, by the way, definitely more so than some of her other ones. Still, I think it worked!
Anything That Could Be Improved? Listen, an Emily Henry novel may or may not work for you. I did think the whole situation was a little unbelievable. In addition, the main characters were supposed to be in their mid-thirties, which I believe was mostly on point but possibly still felt a little young. And yes, in typical Emily Henry fashion, there was SO much info dumping about Miles and his woodstove smell. Were the main characters still ding dongs at times? Yes. Did I think in typical rom-com book fashion these two characters relied on each other a little bit too much for growth? Again, yes. But, I loved this book so much and can think critically about it while still absolutely adoring it.
I have zero complaints, and like Beach Read, I can't wait to re-read it eventually. Thank you, Emily Henry, for always drawing me back into the contemporary romance genre.
**
Read again in July 2025 and truly did not disappoint. I love Daphne and Miles <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcohol
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship
adventurous
funny
reflective
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:
No
โ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐งโ๐ญ ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ฉโ
tw: toxic relationships, gaslighting, misogyny, bullying, suicidal thoughts, infidelity, abuse (child & emotional), abandonment, drug & alcohol use, mental illness, panic attacks, death of parent, grief
๐ first person
๐ dual pov
๐ romcom
๐ contemporary
๐ forced proximity
๐ friends to best friends to lovers
๐ fake dating
๐ opposites attract
๐ miscommunication (only a little bit)
daphne vincent is a childrenโs librarian & miles nowak is a bartender. theyโre friends, but they quickly become better friends when both of their partners leave them for each other
daphne moves in with miles, since her ex moved his new boo in with him & miles now has an extra room. they begin to hang out. amid becoming best friends, they also begin to develop stronger feelings for each other
โ
this book has all the fโs - forced proximity, friends to best friends to lovers, and fake dating. and although this book has a lot of fโs, it gets an a+ from me! ๐คญ
peter & petra deserved each other. i absolutely hated them
the writing is absolutely beautiful. i love the connection & tension between daphne & miles. their friendship blossomed beautifully. i love all of the friend dates that they went on. and it was immediately palpable when the connection began changing from best friends to lovers
the only thing that kept this from being a 5 star for me was the miscommunication. there were a few instances that couldโve been quickly resolved if they just paused & talked to each other!
the miscommunication between miles & his sister was also something i disliked. she felt like she was bothering him & keeping him from his full potential and he felt like he was letting her down, meanwhile they both were soooo grateful for each other ๐ฅน
this was my first emily henry & i cannot wait to dive into more! i listened to the audiobook for this book & really enjoyed it
peter & petra deserved each other. i absolutely hated them
the writing is absolutely beautiful. i love the connection & tension between daphne & miles. their friendship blossomed beautifully. i love all of the friend dates that they went on. and it was immediately palpable when the connection began changing from best friends to lovers
the only thing that kept this from being a 5 star for me was the miscommunication. there were a few instances that couldโve been quickly resolved if they just paused & talked to each other!
the miscommunication between miles & his sister was also something i disliked. she felt like she was bothering him & keeping him from his full potential and he felt like he was letting her down, meanwhile they both were soooo grateful for each other ๐ฅน
this was my first emily henry & i cannot wait to dive into more! i listened to the audiobook for this book & really enjoyed it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts
emotional
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
Emily Henry did it again.
I absolutely loved the story and its characters.
You might expect a standard romance with fake dating, but Emily gives her stories so much depth and makes it feel real.
Also, she touches more topics, family relationships and how your upbringing shapes you, adult friendship and the struggles of adult life.
Also, some parts are so funny, starfish โฆ
๐ค Jennifer Whelan does a great job narrating the book. I love her Julie a lot!
spoiler from the end of the book
I celebrated it so much when Daphne stood up to her father on the phone at the end of the book ๐ฅ
I absolutely loved the story and its characters.
You might expect a standard romance with fake dating, but Emily gives her stories so much depth and makes it feel real.
Also, she touches more topics, family relationships and how your upbringing shapes you, adult friendship and the struggles of adult life.
Also, some parts are so funny, starfish โฆ
๐ค Jennifer Whelan does a great job narrating the book. I love her Julie a lot!
spoiler from the end of the book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Bullying
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 youโre the only one reading her book. Which is a good thingโa great thing!! Let me explain.
When youโre reading one of her books, you almost feel like itโs a secret. Like if one of your best friends writes a book and youโre the first one to read it. Like you have the inside scoop. Like itโs 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 anotherโs feelings and expectations, even when they thought they werenโt. 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 donโt 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 otherโs 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 charactersโ decisions, but thatโs more of a personal thing.
When youโre reading one of her books, you almost feel like itโs a secret. Like if one of your best friends writes a book and youโre the first one to read it. Like you have the inside scoop. Like itโs 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 anotherโs feelings and expectations, even when they thought they werenโt. 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 donโt 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 otherโs 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 charactersโ decisions, but thatโs 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
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