Reviews with content warning for Toxic friendship - Funny Story

Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Funny Story by Emily Henry

27 reviews

gloomybear_jazz's review against another edition

3.75

emotional funny hopeful 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: Complicated

Content Warnings

noellegrace8's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

yvo_about_books's review against another edition

4.5

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Finished reading: September 18th 2024

“Trust people's actions, not their words. Don't love anyone who isn't ready to love you back. Let go of the people who don't hold on to you. Don't wait on anyone who's in no rush to get to you.”

I've been wanting to read Funny Story ever since it was published a couple months ago, and I hoped it would help me end the streak of lower than usual ratings. I always love a contemporary/romance with a bookish angle, and the premise of Emily Henry's newest story sounded promising. And I definitely ended up having a lot of fun reading this book! There is just something about the writing style that is addictive, and it was hard to put down. A good thing for me, considering the fact that I've been struggling with a beginning reading slump... The fact that both Daphne and Miles are extremely easy to warm up to helps of course, and most of the side characters are brilliant as well. Both main characters have been dealt a very rough card in life, and it was interesting to see how circumstances turned them into roommates and watch their connection grow. There are some cliches involved and the story was a bit high on the drama for me, but as a whole I can't deny that it gave the story more dept. The steamy scenes were definitely too much for me, but nothing that can't be skipped over if you are like me not a fan... Funny Story is not exactly lighthearted as it includes a selection of heavier topics, but there is still fun to be had and the banter is excellent. One of my favorites written by her!

Content Warnings

shannahtan's review against another edition

4.25

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

I like Emily Henry’s books because they’re fun, quick reads that make you feel good. This one kind of reminded me of The Wedding Date by Jasmaine Guillory.

Possibly only because they pretend to date and RSVP to their exes’ wedding together.

I loved that Daphne is a librarian for children’s literary books. Miles works at a winery, which is fun too. I appreciate how much this book focused on building community and friendship outside of your partner.

Like how she befriends Ashleigh and later Julia, Miles’ sister. She has no clue who she is after Peter breaks off their engagement for his best friend Petra. I like how she loved how he told their “meet cute” story because she felt like she wasn’t good at telling stories. Then at the end, Miles says “funny story” and lets her tell their meet cute because she loves to tell the story.

Such a subtle detail. Kinda cheesy, and I love it.

Content Warnings

gracescanlon's review against another edition

4.5

emotional funny hopeful sad 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

This one just surpassed Book Lovers as my favorite Emily Henry to date. Funny Story and Book Lovers are my favorite of her books, though I haven’t read Happy Place and don’t plan to do so.

Peter and Petra having essentially the same first name AND last names that began with the same letter definitely made me hate them just a little bit more. Also, Peter was vindictive, short-sighted, and petty, which was worse than Petra’s selfish thoughtlessness.

Daphne and Miles’ relationship progression was a cool glass of water on the hottest day of the year. I loved that they truly became friends and then got involved romantically with each other. Their relationship progression was organic and healthy, even if it was a little quick and originated from a horrible situation. Given that Daphne and Miles are in their early- and mid-thirties respectively, the rapid development of their relationship didn’t bother me as much as it would have if they’d been ten years younger. Also, given that their previous partners left them for each other, it didn’t surprise me that Daphne and Miles got along so well.

I think my favorite thing about Funny Story is something I’ve rarely seen in similar contemporary romances, especially those not written in dual-POV. (An aside: can we stop relying on those in romance? They’re overdone, and this book in particular is a masterclass in accomplishing the same result without flipping back and forth between characters.) Though the book is told exclusively in first person from Daphne’s perspective, we see Miles’ (and also Ashleigh’s) character growth as well. So often in romance I find that one character, usually the non-POV love interest, is essentially flawless, which is boring. Henry doesn’t fall into this pattern in Funny Story, though. Miles says outright to Daphne that he feels dismissed by her insisting he spends time with her because he’s just a genuinely nice person. He expresses to her that his time with her isn’t altruistic; it’s for his own pleasure, because he likes her and spending time with her.

With a unique premise, incredibly lovable cast of characters, excellent character arcs, and MCs who respect one another and communicate, Funny Story is definitely a romance I’d recommend.

Content Warnings

abidavisf's review against another edition

4.75

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

Ugh, Julia Whelan, the narrator you are! Funny Story is already everything I want in a book: sexy, funny, emotional, and so smart. Add Julia Whelan’s narration on top? We’ve got a winner, folks.

The Funny Story audiobook brings Miles’ quick wit to life in a far better way than I can in my head. He is cuter and more heartwrenchingly gentle than I thought possible. I felt more impassioned for Daphne while listening too - she and I have so many similarities in our anxieties, and I felt myself wanting to reach through my phone and hold her constantly.

Funny Story is perfect, and its audiobook only increases that perfection. Love. A must listen.

Content Warnings