Funny Story
Ratings393
Average rating4.2
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.
It was so funny, so awkward, so beautifully written, it played with my heartstrings.
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 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.
Oh, she's done it AGAIN. Leave it to Emily Henry to deliver an achingly tender romance while also serving you a heart-wrenching look at trauma and how it affects us even years after the fact. I love this book just as much as I've loved the other ones I've read by her. Daphne and Miles had me giggling like a fool with their banter and the found family vibes absolutely DELIVERED!
It was Daphne's relationship with her mom and with herself that really got me though. The themes of how being an adult means learning to be happy on your own and not having your happiness and peace be dependent on other people is such an important message.
The scenes where Daphne sort of heals her inner child with her work at the library honestly almost made me cry.
Another banger as expected Mrs. Henry! Will be eagerly waiting for the next one!
Ms. Henry got me again! This was delightful, and honestly hit a little close to home. I don't always see myself reflected in fictional characters (nor do I really need to in order to enjoy something) but being able to see some of my own experiences with my dad so clearly put into words certainly hit a chord. Might be my second favorite book of hers after Book Lovers tbh.
Admittedly got myself a little behind on reviews, so I can't remember as many talking points as I wanted to... solid though. The characters feel realistic, they have normal, adult conversations, fears, insecurities. It's not perfect, but I found it charming.
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.
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.
I'm sorry... what? This cannot be the same Emily Henry I fell in love with months ago...
I was excited to read this based on the description, and that carried me about halfway through the book. Beyond that, everything really fell apart for me. Instead of letting the initial mischief flourish, there was a distinct point where everything just got...really boring. I'm actually kind of mad about it upon reflection. It's like I was repeatedly baited with some juicy drama and served stale leftovers.
The premise that Emily Henry sets us up with is great: a couple classic romance tropes and beautiful writing as always to set the scene. However, it slowly becomes a never-ending series of the characters getting into out-of-pocket, ultra-therapized monologues about their childhoods & current behaviors/patterns. I was constantly being bombarded with yapping that felt like I was sitting in on a psychoanalyst's summary of someone's last few years of sessions. The conflict was pointless, the tension was weak, the banter was awkward, and even though the ending is meant to be predictable, it was painfully so with hardly a blip between points A & Z. I'm sad and disappointed.
This has surprisingly been very enjoyable. Vying for second place among Emily Henry books I've read.
2.5 - logging it as a 3 cause Emily Henry is a good writer but this type of romance is just not for me. I think some of her books could use a dual pov or just give the love interest more depth in general.
Miles and Daphne are amazing. I love the way they talk through their pasts and issues. I wrote down several quotes from the book because they really touched my heart. Plus the library love was so wonderful. ❤️
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
6 STAR READ!!! INFINITY STARS!! there are no words for the emotions i felt reading this, i will be thinking about this story forever :,)
We love an easy breezy romance novel, and I loved the characters! Emily is so good at writing banter and is witty. Fun to read!
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
It was pretty slow. The story was fine, the characters were pretty good. But the first 75% of the book was hard to get through for me.
The last 25% was good enough I cried. It was beautiful, really. Everything really did come together quite well. But if I hadn't been listening in the car on a long road trip, I would have DNFd this one more than likely.