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adventurous
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
First Emily Henry book I have read and I did not know what to expect going into it as I have heard mixed reviews about People We Meet On Vacation.
Funny Story was fun, beautiful and definitely had me laughing aloud at some points. New word unlocked: chortle. Even the side characters were interesting and likeable. I will say - the characters were a bit annoying a times and I just wished they would just spit it out!! But, we are all human. Less miscommunication though please.
A story about navigating the shit life puts us through and that it’s not about moving on from what happens - it’s about living life despite what happens and not letting it define us.
Funny Story was fun, beautiful and definitely had me laughing aloud at some points. New word unlocked: chortle. Even the side characters were interesting and likeable. I will say - the characters were a bit annoying a times and I just wished they would just spit it out!! But, we are all human. Less miscommunication though please.
A story about navigating the shit life puts us through and that it’s not about moving on from what happens - it’s about living life despite what happens and not letting it define us.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
funny
medium-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
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
This was my first Emily Henry book and I was enjoying it until about the halfway point. Admittedly I had to ignore the ridiculous premise and super short timeline, but I liked Daphne and Miles' banter and the premise of him showing her how to experience summer in small-town Michigan. Based on their character traits, I could easily see how they were a better match together than with their prior partners. The focus on Daphne's job as a children's librarian was incredibly endearing, as well.
Then at a certain point, the book just felt so repetitive, like Henry didn't trust the reader to retain anything that Daphne or Miles had previously shared about their personal hangups. Why make a book 400 pages long if you're going to use that length to make the characters think and speak in circles? She also threw in a third act friendship breakup on top of a romantic one, which added to the redundancy. Finally, we just blew past the Read-A-Thon, which Daphne had been dedicating herself to for the entire book. I'm glad this was a quick read despite its length, because at a certain point I was just powering through and wishing for that initial spark to return.
Then at a certain point, the book just felt so repetitive, like Henry didn't trust the reader to retain anything that Daphne or Miles had previously shared about their personal hangups. Why make a book 400 pages long if you're going to use that length to make the characters think and speak in circles? She also threw in a third act friendship breakup on top of a romantic one, which added to the redundancy. Finally, we just blew past the Read-A-Thon, which Daphne had been dedicating herself to for the entire book. I'm glad this was a quick read despite its length, because at a certain point I was just powering through and wishing for that initial spark to return.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Abandonment
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Abandonment, Alcohol
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5⭐️ As I make my way through all of Emily Henry’s books, Funny Story easily slipped right into my #2 spot (currently Happy Place > Funny Story > PWMOV > Book Lovers). Miles is my favorite MMC of hers, and Daphne is the most relatable FMC for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Abandonment
emotional
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
Funny Story was a good read, but I probably won't revisit. However, in comparison to other romance novels that follow basically this exact template (cartoon cover included...) it was actually really good?? I read this explicitly for a book challenge where one of the books I had to read something off a list that looked really boring, so I figured I would read it quickly and check it off. And while I did do that, with a bar on the floor, it actually went well above it, much to my surprise??? The characters, while not making any lasting impact on me, were genuine and Miles and Daphne's romance was more than just lust-fueled. Their banter was woven into normal conversation and they actually cared about each other as people instead of just freaking it 24/7, which was pretty cool. And both Daphne and Miles (and side characters like Ashleigh and Jules) had real significant growth over the book, with others intentionally remaining stagnant, which was a really nice change from romances just written for a trope with characters filling in the gaps of an authors fantasy. Forgettable, but a fun read while it lasted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
emotional
funny
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:
No
Emily Henry strikes again. Yes, the situation that Daphne and Miles are in is bonkers. But I ain’t mad about it because I thoroughly enjoyed their story. I also loved the layer of new friendships like Daphne and Ashley. Yes it was a side plot but it still felt genuine.
So other than thinking a Popeye tattoo is a red flag but we overlook it this one time because “Miles”… ya, this was solid. All puns intended.
So other than thinking a Popeye tattoo is a red flag but we overlook it this one time because “Miles”… ya, this was solid. All puns intended.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity, Gaslighting
adventurous
funny
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:
No
It was a fun quick read. The author pulls you in quickly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Although "romance" is not my typical go-to genre, this audiobook narrated by Julia Whelan was such an incredible listen! Once I started it, I couldn't stop, and then I listened to it again!
Romance is not even my typical go-to genre and repeat listens are not a common occurrence with me.
I loved everything about this book: a sweet story, endearing characters, relatable moments, around a library setting in a small town. Loved it! Looking forward to reading this author's other books.
Romance is not even my typical go-to genre and repeat listens are not a common occurrence with me.
I loved everything about this book: a sweet story, endearing characters, relatable moments, around a library setting in a small town. Loved it! Looking forward to reading this author's other books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Abandonment