I adored the narrative overall, as well as the characters and their relationship. Emily Henry writes about her characters in a way that allows you to uncover aspects of yourself that you would not have otherwise known about. She has an incredible talent for evoking some sort of emotional response in readers through her characters. I adored Miles, Daphne, and even the supporting characters. Reading the book was like watching a nice little romantic comedy. However, I have to say that nothing particularly stood out to me about it.

I admit that at first, I was a little apprehensive about the premise since I thought it would be just another one of her other books, which at times it was. That doesn't imply, though, that I didn't enjoy it. Both the plot and the interaction and banter between Daphne and Miles were enjoyable, I found myself smiling alongside them. I'll keep reading her books until I find one that I don't like.

Emily Henry knocks it out of the park again!

Queen Henry delivers again with another fantastic novel that hits the make for all the motions. We have fake dating, friends to lovers, found family and a book loving heroine with a golden retriever MMC.

I think I say this every time, but this might be Emily Henry’s best book yet. The side characters are as equally loveable as the main characters, theres plenty to make you laugh amongst dealing with childhood issues.

I loved every second of it and cannot wait to read Henry’s next.

Huge thank you Penguin Random House/Viking Books for the ARC.

Ahhh, once again, Emily Henry destroys me in the best possible way.

This was such an unexpected plot, and it felt almost claustrophobic at times, but in the best way?! Whilst there were ensemble characters, it did feel like the majority of the book was spent in a Daphne / Miles vacuum that I didn't want to be evicted from.

The slow burn 🔥
The roommates to friends to lovers 👌
The fake dating 👏
The library sub plot 📖

Just delightful.

Absolutely

Gosh this was good and I read it embarrassingly quickly because I couldn’t put it down which has meant a very late night! I loved Miles and Daphne and the setting around Lake Michigan sounded magical. Their individual backgrounds made for interesting untangling and the side story of Peter and Petra was a good one. Delightfully steamy and just an all round enjoyable read!

4,5/5 ⭐

First of all, I would like to thank Emily Henry for giving me the ARC of this book. From the moment she announced it and the synopsis came out, I knew I wanted to read it and that I would like it and I was very excited to receive it.

This book was WONDERFUL. I have not been able to put it down since I started it.

I loved Daphne. She is a girl who is used to being let down by everyone at some point in her life, while doing everything she can for everyone else.
On the other hand, we have Miles, who has had a very hard childhood and who never puts himself first, who convinces himself that everything is fine.

They end up living together when their respective partners (who have been best friends since childhood) break up with them because they have realised that they are in love with each other.
I love that this is the beginning of the book and all the moments they live together from then on.

But what I didn't like was that their relationship went by too quickly. I mean, each of them had been with their previous partner for several years and suddenly in 3 months they are in love with each other. I can't believe it.
Otherwise a wonderful book, like all the others by this author. It is always a pleasure to read Emily's books.

Daphne’s fiancé breaks up with her shortly before their wedding when he realises he’s in love with his best friend, Petra. With nowhere to live, she ends up moving in with Petra’s ex fiancé, Miles.
Daphne realises she’s not the predictable loner she thought and Miles is not flighty
carefree pothead she’s been told about.

Great character development with just the right amount of spice.

When I got this one I was over the Moon. I love all Emily Henry books, especially Beach read. That one has a peace of my heart. Sooo Firts Big, big, thanks to Netgally for this chance to read this one before april.
Lets talk a little avout the book...

Funny Story ist that this is not a funny story. Far from that.
This one for me is a gown up book. Yes, it is a romance, book, but it is also a book about about new place, a new phase in your life. A new job. Book about making friends after a break up. Book about selfgrown.
Yes,yes Miles was so so loveable, but Daphne was a star of this book. She changed. She started putting her first.
I must say that I didn't really get it how Daphne and Miles could be together... She hates to be late, and hates when somebody is late, and Miles is always late. He always forgets aspect of time... But in the end they really made seanse.
It is sooo well written. But what I really did not like is 3rd act break up. For me that act, made me like Miles a lot more less. Because he knows what triggers for Daphne are...

All in all , this is a good book.. four stars for me.

A huge thank you to Penguin Books UK and NetGalley for sending me a copy of Funny Story to read early!

This book was a sheer delight and pleasure to read. I could barely put it down - the plot was engaging, the characters were fun, the dialogue was hysterically funny, and the writing was typical of Emily Henry's books. That is to say, it is remarkable in its ability to both enrapture you with its beautiful prose, as well as have you relaxing into the easy-to-read, realistic cadence. Henry's writing, and particularly her use of dialogue, is second to none in this genre - every single line is brilliantly constructed and expertly executed. She perfectly balances realistic dialogue with humour, heart, and narrative relevance, and it makes her books a pleasure and privilege to read.

Funny Story is set up with a premise of a titular nature - Daphne and Miles are now unlikely roommates after their partners left them... for each other. They are heartbroken, complete opposites, and now cohabitating the same apartment. This is one of those books where the premise and set-up are just delicious, and the follow-through is even better. The plot moves at a perfect pace, and I was easily engaged throughout the whole novel. It is equal parts comical, heartwrenching, and emotional, creating a meaningful, raw story that is also incredibly swoon-worthy and romantic. It's a line that is hard to walk, and Emily Henry hits the nail on the head each and every time.

The characters in this book feel different to all the main characters in Henry's previous books - in this one, we have Daphne, a quiet and reserved librarian with a low-key abandonment complex, and Miles, a happy-go-lucky, relaxed bartender who makes friends wherever he goes. The two of them are not perfect on paper, but Henry explores the idea of what makes a relationship "perfect" and the complexities of finding the person you want to be with, rather than the person you should be. I absolutely adored both Daphne and Miles. They both felt incredibly realistic, with internal conflicts that will resonate with a lot of people. Their struggles and challenges are so intrinsically human, so relatable, and they are handled with such grace throughout the story. As always, Henry presents us with characters who are realistically and relatably flawed and then takes them on a journey with an arc that is realistic, believable, and yet still so romantic.

And while we're discussing romance... the romance between Daphne and Miles was impeccable. It is a challenge to take two people in established relationships and flip that narrative on its head in roughly three hundred pages. And yet, Henry manages to with ease. This book might just be her steamiest - but the tension between these two characters goes beyond just the physical. There is an intense, emotional yearning running through every page between these two characters, and Henry's ability to build and foster that tension is what makes the romance in her books really shine.

This book explores themes of friendship, family, abandonment, heartbreak, and finding out what it means to be home. It places itself as slightly less emotional than Happy Place, but slightly more than Beach Read. It has the sultry, tension-filled romance of People We Meet on Vacation, but it also has the exploration of bigger themes as in Book Lovers. It would be impossible for me to pick a favourite Em Hen book - it'd be like having to choose between one's children. But this one certainly now holds a special place in my heart.

I absolutely cannot wait until this book releases later this year, because I will definitely be buying a physical copy for a reread!

Emily Henry has done it again. This book was simply incredible, my face actually hurts from smiling so much for the past three hours straight. I picked it up and just couldn’t put it down, giggling and crying throughout.
Funny Story is probably one of the best rom-coms I have read in so long. This is the funniest Emily Henry book with characters I honestly connected with so deeply (somehow more than Nora from Book Lovers). The depth and personality that Emily Henry can create in a relatively short book is astounding, it felt like I was in this world with these people and I didn’t want to stop.
I look forward to rereading this the minute my physical copy arrives in April and I am so so grateful to have gotten this ARC from Netgally!

Who needs retail therapy when you could read Emily Henry instead?

Emily Henry is beloved for a reason. And Funny Story reminded me once again why I like her books so much. The characters are so relatable. They aren’t flawless, they make mistakes, they mess up. Seriously, any of the characters could be us. And Emily Henry tells stories about growth and how our messy and annoying shortcomings can and should be loved to the fullest. These stories make me feel loved, and happy and hopefull in general. They’re like therapy for the soul.

It’s a funny story how Daphne and Miles went from roommates to friends to lovers. It all started with their exes becoming a thing, so Daphne and Miles needed to redefine themselves too. And moving from roommates into fake dating isn’t that much of a stretch, or is it? Well, it could be, but for Daphne and Miles it just felt right.

I loved how the premise was so romantic comedy coded, which usually focuses on the romantic relationship to create a story arc and a charming happily ever after - but the fun here was all in seeing how Daphne built her life after it was blown up, revealing that she had lived a little life thus far, being a side character in someone else’s story instead of the leading lady in her own.
Daphne’s true happily ever after was befriending people on her own (and not as part of a couple), her work being one where she makes a difference (she’s a children’s librarian!), her growth in dealing with certain people (her ex, her dad), and all the while falling in love with Miles (who on his own, already set the standard for all the book boyfriends out there, but was definitely fantastic as a supportive character to the lead).

Another gem to add to the already impressive collection of gems by Emily Henry - and trust me, whenever you feel the need to open your wallet and buy yourself some happiness: go visit your local library and read Emily Henry instead.

I LOVE emily henry, but unfortunately I didn’t love this book😔😔however would sell my firstborn for whatever she releases next

Like a true Emily Henry heroine scared of being hurt, I approached this with the fear of potential disappointment that can only come when you've come to trust someone so much (and thus be so scared of them letting you down) that you think if they delivered anything else than what they've got you used you, you may simply perish and vanish into outer space so as not to face the disappointment. However, miss Emily has once again proven to me that I am in good hands and should just come along for the ride.
This was *scruptious*!! It was such a treat, perfect to curl up with to wind down, and dangerous to put down as one tries to be a productive member of society .... (that may not have worked out as well as capitalism would have wanted it to). From the easy banter, to the palpable romantic tension, to the very true to life way these characters came alive off the page and presented themselves as fully formed people. I didn't want to put this down one bit, and always looked forward to picking it back up and stealing moments away with this cast.
Emily Henry you will always be famous!!

I feel like I say this with every Emily Henry book, but this is my favourite one so far! Funny Story has the best humour, my favourite tropes and puts you through the emotional ringer.

The sense of humour in this book is EXCELLENT. It isn't full-fledged banter, but it's subtle jokes and the best kind of blunt humour.

Some of the tropes include:
Forced proximity
Room mates
Opposites attract

Miles is my favourite of Emily Henry's MMCs so far, he's an absolute cinnamon roll of a character - He's genuine and compassionate, and reading how he worked through his family issues definitely made me teary.

Funny Story elicits all kind of emotions, it's a real roller-coaster of a journey. This book shows that even the worst of circumstances can bring about a positive change, even in the most unexpected manner.

I also liked the little countdown at the start of each chapter, and how the wording of this changed as Daphne's mind changed.

I loved this book. Thank you so much to Viking UK for the eARC on Netgalley!

Thank you to Netgalley and Viking UK for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Okay, I love Emily Henry (see literally every book of hers I've reviewed) but I was sceptical about the opposites attract, roommates by necessity because of break-ups would work to be honest. So I went in wary of what was to come for the first time in one of her novels.
But, don't fret, this book still hits the spot. It's funny, romantic and full of yearning. Whether the yearning was for the past, lovers or even real estate, the yearning was ON. Which I can currently deeply relate to, so I had to put my iPad away at times.
Also, this book is to be approached with caution if you're a person with abandonment issues, a flaky parent or someone who feels conflicted about rooting in a place because of their past. I am all those things and I had to sit and breathe for my heart to calm down.
This book is thick with warmth, longing and love in all its forms, which is exactly what January needed for me.
This book came to me on the worst day (so far) of this year and while it was horrible and I don't ever want to relive it, I have to genuinely thank Viking UK and Ellie Hudson for being a little shining light in the dark of January. This book is all the things good that I needed and it lived up so well to my expectations that I can't do anything but sing its praises.

Emily Henry, I love you, I adore you, please call/text/email me what troubles your characters have/are going through because so far it seems you've entered the backdoor of my mind and stockpiled all of mine to put into your novels. I need some (more) lighthearted books from you where I don't deeply relate to the things the main character and/or the love interest is going through. I might actually die from the heart palpitations next time. thank you, keep writing forever xx

I've loved Emily Henry's books since the beginning but this one may be a new favourite. Daphne was an incredible main character to follow and I loved her journey to discovering who she actually is by herself, without just seeing herself through the lens of others. The chemistry between Miles and Daphne was off the charts and I already know I'll reread this book all of the time.

Emily Henry has this unique talent of always creating characters that transcend the typical reading experience. With their mountains of flaws, issues and whatnot, they're everything but perfect, which is what makes them feel so human. In Funny Story, she succeeds in doing this once again.

Miles and Daphne were not far from rock bottom, but the beauty of their story captures the reader as you see them find each other, despite, or because of, their individual despair. You can't help but laugh along with them, and feel the love that comes to exist between them. All in all, it's a very sweet, funny, and incredibly well-written romance novel that does exactly what it sets out to do.

I absolutely adore Emily Henry's PR team; when they promise to brighten up your Monday, they deliver on that commitment without a doubt.

My affection for the book surpasses even my appreciation for the PR team.
I breezed through it and Miles has to be perhaps the best I've encountered in quite some time.
The humor woven into the story was nothing short of outstanding, and the themes explored were strikingly relatable.

The entire plotline hinged on events that were undeniably absurd, yet this only heightened the comedic appeal for me. It delivered the expected levels of angst, coupled with a heartwarming conclusion that is characteristic of any Emily Henry book.
What set this apart, though, were the intriguing insights into the enigma of adult relationships, offering perspectives that resonated with me and added depth to the narrative.

In summary, I wholeheartedly recommend this book for its thought-provoking yet lighthearted reading experience – a solid 5/5.

Special thanks to Ellie for graciously providing me with the chance to delve into and review this book ahead of its release.

Funny Story is Emily Henry’s fifth adult romance novel. It is told in first person from Daphne’s POV. The story is fake dating with roommates/friends to lovers. It gives small town vibes and Daphne is 33 with Miles being 36. Daphne was engaged to Peter until he breaks up with her for his best friend Petra. Daphne ends up alone in Waning Bay, Michigan with no friends but a new roommate called Miles Nowak who is Petra’s ex. Miles is the opposite of Daphne as he is scruffy and spontaneous whereas Daphne is scheduled and practical. Daphne and Miles start to hang out and decide on a plan to make their ex partners jealous by posting romantic pictures of their summer adventures.

This was absolutely amazing and I had such a great time reading this. I read it in one day and the story was so beautiful. It’s actually my favourite Emily Henry novel now. It has the classic Emily Henry charm with a relatable heroine. The characters felt real and the romance was beautiful. Daphne and Miles are perfect for each other and I’m sure this will be a huge hit. The fake dating aspect was quite minor actually and that was perfect, it didn’t feel over the top or silly. There was a moment in this book where I laughed out loud. This author knows how to balance the emotional with humour. I’m so excited to see what Emily Henry does next. There is no doubt that Emily Henry is the best traditionally punished romance author out there.

My Emily Henry Rankings (all were 5 stars):
1. Funny Story.
2. Happy Place.
3. People We Meet on Vacation.
4. Beach Read.
5. Book Lovers.

I love Emily Henry but this was not my fave.
This really didn’t hit the same way that happy place and book lovers did. I wanted more from Miles but it never seemed to deliver beyond a surface level deep. By no means a bad book at all, it was juicy and funny and everything I have come to love about Emily Henry’s writing but this really fell flat. I loved the parallels between telling the story that open and close the book. I think I wanted more drama from the fake relationship and the ‘other couple’ which was not the direction the book was going in, and the last 50 or so pages felt so flat in comparison to the beginning. That said, I will be reading everything she reads as soon as she writes it.

My entire thanks to NetGalley and the pubs for the proof.

firstly THANK YOU to team em hen for putting this in my inbox on the bluest day of the year! the loveliest surprise and i feel incredibly lucky to read this early 🥹

something about this one didn’t connect with me for some reason. don’t get me wrong it is very well done as all ms henry books are, but the plot of this just wasn’t my cup of tea. i do think it might’ve been how different the characters life stage (aka im 22 and they’re in their 30s/40s) is to my own so they didn’t resonate in a way her characters typically do.

daphne is definitely an interesting protagonist and i do really enjoy how well she articulates her feelings. she doesn’t make
decisions for the sake of them - she’s great at rationalising everything which is SO REAL! the last quarter however i did want to bonk her on the head a little bit but she did it all by herself without intervention. her new friendships were one of my favourite parts of the book and definitely something i think a lot of people will connect with - because truly when you leave school HOW do you make friends 💀 so true daph. speaking of which, her relationship with her dad was obviously a huge theme in this one but something about it left a sour taste in my mouth, particularly because i too have a dad that sucks.

anyways. the romance. it was gooooood. very good very nice actually. miles is textbook sunshine who is adored by everyone and can charm the trousers off a donkey. he is really lovely and i think a lot of people will love him. i don’t even think it’s golden retriever energy because as much as he is this excitable puppy, there’s something so cat about him (no relevance i just felt this was important to know). they were great and lovely and very cute together very very big fan of how their relationship unfolded.

defo worth the read though !!!! i don’t think emily henry has it in her to write a bad book so you might as well just read everything she puts out at this point <3