Funny Story

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.