Funny Story
Ratings292
Average rating4.2
4.5 ⭐️
it's not good, it's not bad either or maybe I had high expectation being Happy Place as my most favourite book of all time
4.5 “Alexa, play The Prophecy”
Could this be my new favorite Emily Henry book?? I need to reread Book Lovers and Happy Place. Regardless, I absolutely loved it. I cried so much, but also smiled for so long my face hurts.
Some key features: Characters in their 30s. Estranged families. Childhood trauma. Trust issues. Fake dating.
A Cute Weekend Read
Reading and writing slump over. I can finally say I finished a book since my readathon in the beginning of August. I’ve seen Emily Henry’s name all over BookTok and YouTube, and after enjoying most of the ones I’ve touched, I had high hopes for Funny Story. This book did not disappoint. I’ve also had several people recommend The People You Meet on Vacation, so that's definitely on my list for my next bookstore trip. I even restarted Funny Story from the beginning because I wanted to give it a fair shot, and I’m glad I did—I loved it.
Funny Story is a delightful mix of humor, emotion, and authentic character development that showcases Emily Henry's knack for balancing lightheartedness with deeper themes. The characters are vibrant and relatable, with their quirks and flaws making them all the more endearing. The dialogue is sharp and witty, often eliciting genuine laughs, but it’s the underlying emotional currents that truly elevate the story.
The narrative flows smoothly, with just the right amount of tension to keep you hooked without feeling overwhelmed. Henry's ability to portray the complexities of relationships, both romantic and platonic, is on full display here. The humor never feels forced, and it blends seamlessly with the more poignant moments, creating a well-rounded and engaging read.
That said, the pacing occasionally slows down, and there were moments when the plot felt somewhat predictable. However, these minor drawbacks didn’t detract significantly from my overall enjoyment of the book. Emily Henry has a way of making even the most familiar storylines feel fresh and entertaining, and Funny Story is no exception.
In conclusion, Funny Story is a charming and heartfelt read that will leave you smiling. It’s a solid addition to Emily Henry’s growing repertoire and a must-read for fans of contemporary romance. While it may not be groundbreaking, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable book that I’d happily recommend. Four stars.
4/5 - Emily Henry is a polarizing author to the book community, but I've been curious to read one of her books. When this book came up on Libby, I thought I'd see for myself. I was pleasantly surprised as I enjoyed the story. The relationship between the two main characters was adorable. I appreciated how they created a friendship before it blossomed into something more. Their exes were trash and deserved everything that came to them.
A pretty good read. Had a lot of laughs reading it!
It's definitely rom commy which I think is the on going theme with Emily Henry's books. As you read you get the vibe that bits and pieces were pulled from movies or shows you've watch before, so the writing/story feels familiar.
Kind of like Ali Hazelwood... Did I like the book? Yes. Will I read another one of her books? Probably not.
Thank you Berkley pub for the free early copy!
Not my favorite Emily Henry book, but it had the charm, quips, and wit that I've always loved from her books. Her books never fail to entertain with how she writes conversations, so though the plot was a bit predictable, I still highly enjoyed the journey!
Also, Michigan in the summer sounds like a place I need to go!
A sweet romance that shows you can pull magic from a seemingly ordinary life if you find the right people.
This hits all the marks I want out of an Emily Henry book. The romance is charming, the banter is quick and funny, and the side characters surrounding them are equally as lovable. It's easy-to-read while still having emotional depth, and the humor is there to pull the heavier moments into something that comes off as tender and bittersweet. There's love and acceptance amidst very real, very challenging flaws.
The fake dating/forced proximity premise is funny and believable (for the genre) and sets things up nicely for them to get comfortable with each other fast. You get to experience the satisfaction of Daphne telling off her ex, but also having the space with Miles to be vulnerable and uniquely understood.
In addition to the romance, the book explores making and keeping friends, the importance of community, and complex family dynamics in a way that feels real but not too heavy. Watching Daphne and Miles fall in love is great but I would have been equally enthralled by just watching Daphne fall in love with the place she lives and the people who make it home.
I loved Book Lovers and Beach Read, and this goes right up there with them. Typical Emily Henry humor: sarcastic, often deadpan, and full of absolute commitment to a bit. If you liked those, you'll like this. Reminded me a lot of Just for the Summer which I also loved.
Miles and Daphne are both absolute messes who find themselves living together when their significant others drop them for each other...
Overall, this is another Emily Henry emotional humdinger, but this one's not quite as big a whammy for me as some of her others have been. Both Miles and Daphne would do well to see a flotilla of therapists, probably. But their falling for each other is realistically written, and Miles reads like a stone-cold fox. If not a desperately fucked up stone cold fox.
I'm just going to go ahead and assume the two of them meet with some professionals together later.
What a great premise! You end up living with your fiance's best friend's ex-fiancé when they dump both of you to be with each other. Yes, Peter dumped Daphne the night before their wedding to be with his long-time best friend Petra. This left Daphne unhoused when Peter kicked her out and “thoughtfully” arranged for her to move in with Miles, who was Petra's former fiancé. The back stories of all the characters played heavily into this situation devolving into an unbelievable mess that seemed to work to everyone's advantage. The depth in which [a:Emily Henry 13905555 Emily Henry https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1573928938p2/13905555.jpg] built her characters, especially Miles and Daphne, makes this story work flawlessly. In addition, you never feel an “info dump” of that backstory. It evolves almost without the reader knowing until odd relatives begin showing up in Miles and Daphne's already cramped apartment.The dialog of each character is outstanding, conveying the story and making you laugh at the same time. It makes you believe there is someone out there who is quirky enough to work as your best friend, soulmate, or worst enemy.The surprise ending hit me like a ton of bricks that meant I was reading, falling asleep for 20 minutes, then reading more to know the ending. Trust me, the ending is worth whatever amount of sleep you lose to get to it.
Daphney selalu menyukai bagaimana tunangannya, Peter menceritakan bagaimana kisah mereka pertama bertemu, lalu jatuh cinta, dan pindah ke kampung halaman Peter untuk memulai hidup baru mereka. Hingga pesta bujang yang berakhir bersamaan dengan berakhirnya pertunangan mereka, karena Peter mengaku bahwa selama ini jatuh cinta pada sahabat masa kecilnya, Petra.
Dan begitulah cerita Daphney dimulai, terdampar di kota kecil Waning Bay, Michigan, tanpa teman ataupun keluarga, namun memiliki pekerjaan impiannya, pustakawan buku anak, dan mengajukan permintaan menjadi teman serumah kepada satu-satunya orang yang mengerti kondisi sulitnya, mantan Petra, Miles.
Akhirnya mereka teman serumah yang saling menghindari, hingga suatu hari mereka dihadapkan pada derita yang sama, menerima undangan pernikahan Peter & Petra. Berakhir dengan rencana untuk pura-pura berkencan kemudian mengunggah foto mereka di media sosial.
Emily kembali dengan trope fake dating, dan sungguh ini rasanya kembali ke “rasa” Emily di Beach Read. People We Meet On Vacation, Book Lovers dan Happy Place kurang bisa mengulang “rasa” Beach Read” menurutku. Emily membuatku merasakan emosional yang sama ketika aku membaca Beach Read. Aku sangat menyukai judul ini.
Aku merekomendasikan buku ini untuk para penggemar romansa.
Me ha faltado un poco más de contexto de Miles, pero Daphne es tan chula mi niña pobrecita
I felt pretty let down by this one - I find some of Emily Henry's books to be pretty decent for romance novels but this plot felt a bit too boring? Not sure that boring is the right word considering that it involves the girl dating her ex fiancés new girlfriend's ex-boyfriend (basically a couple swap) but I was expecting a bit more of a twist to the plot but the whole thing just kind of plodded along. Also the main characters had some emotional issues which were maybe realistic but also annoying.
... in saying that, I went back and looked through my other Emily Henry reviews and it looks like I only really liked one of her books and the rest were kind of mid, and so maybe this is just par for the course.
Originally posted at www.emgoto.com.
A funny story, literally, was promised but what I actually got was a(nother) luke-warm novel by the [a:Emily Henry 13905555 Emily Henry https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1573928938p2/13905555.jpg] of “[b:Beach Read 52867387 Beach Read Emily Henry https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589881197l/52867387.SX50.jpg 67832247]” or “[b:Book Lovers 58690308 Book Lovers Emily Henry https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1638867089l/58690308.SY75.jpg 92341790]” which were similarly uninspired.After having read “[b:Happy Place 61718053 Happy Place Emily Henry https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1660145160l/61718053.SY75.jpg 97321939]” and “[b:People We Meet on Vacation 54985743 People We Meet on Vacation Emily Henry https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1618913179l/54985743.SX50.jpg 67832306]” before, I approached this one with a sense of anticipation, although perhaps with a slight hint of trepidation, given the mixed experiences I've had with her writing.“[b:Funny Story's 194802722 Funny Story Emily Henry https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1691777485l/194802722.SY75.jpg 196167481]” plot is not without its merits; there are moments of genuine wit and insight that had me smiling in recognition. However, I found the overall experience to be somewhat lacking in substance.The characters are a mixed bag: They're not unlikable, by any means, but they lack the depth and complexity that would make them truly compelling. Their interactions are often predictable, and their motivations often feel muddled and unclear. This is particularly true of the main character (whose name I've already forgotten), whose internal struggles and conflicting emotions are a central focus of the story.The plot itself is engaging enough, although it does suffer from some pacing issues. There are moments when the story drags, and others where it feels rushed and overwhelmed. This inconsistency made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the narrative.Henry's writing style is, as always, pleasant and easy to read. Her prose is clear and concise, and she has a knack for creating vivid, evocative images. However, her writing often feels surface-level, lacking subtlety and nuance.In comparison to Henry's previous works, “Funny Story” falls somewhere in the middle. It's not as strong as “People We Meet on Vacation”, which I found to be a compelling exploration of home, love and friendship, but it's not as disappointing as “Beach Read”, which felt like a missed opportunity. It's a solid, if unremarkable, addition to her oeuvre.In conclusion, “Funny Story” is a decent read, but not more. It's a shame, actually, as there are moments of genuine brilliance in this novel, moments that hint at the potential that Henry has as a writer. It's a perfectly fine way to pass the time, but it's not a book that will linger in your memory long after you've turned the final page.Three out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam
Written by a millennial woman for other millennial women. I would know; references felt targeted. The writing is mildly pretentious a handful of times and the book, with the entire premise of I'm-sad-you're-sad-let's-be-sad-together, isn't really worth adapting into a movie imo.
The female lead is an early to mid (I swear an editor missed an age consistency) 30's children's librarian who dowdily looks the part and seems to never wear makeup. We also get a smattering of adorkableness, I'm-not-like-other-girls, a huge dose of negative self-esteem, along with trust, and daddy issues. What a bundle of joy she is (sarcasm). I don't know how, but somehow, she's still “sexy”.
Her male romantic love interest is again, somehow handsome through his potheaded bearded scruffiness and self-confidence issues which stem from slowly revealed family baggage and drama (not trying to give away too much here). His personality is a massive improvement from hers and at least got me to finish this.
If you're in an airport bookstore and the pickings are slim this should do for a flight. Otherwise, life is short read something else unless you're great at skimming.
3.75ish ate this one UP!definitely my favorite EH couple from the 3 I've read, probably because they were not involved previouslymiles v nick miller coded which gave him points in my book also the premise was so absurd it just made me laugh
my first emily henry read was a success. unfortunately the others don't sound interesting to me, but we'll see.