Title: Funny Story
Author: Emily Henry
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Romance
Pages: 400
My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🖤
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Funny Story
Daphne’s world turns upside down when her fiancé, Peter, breaks up with her because he is in love with his childhood best friend, Petra. Left with no friends or family nearby, Daphne is forced to start over—starting with moving in with Miles, Petra’s ex, because she has nowhere else to go. The only bright spot in her life is her dream job as a children’s librarian, which keeps her grounded amidst the chaos.
Miles, who was dumped by Petra, now finds himself sharing a living space with Peter’s ex-fiancée. Initially, the two avoid each other, keeping their interactions to a minimum. But one fateful night, they come up with a bold plan: they’ll pretend to date each other to drive their exes crazy—and maybe even make them a little jealous in the process.
Review
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read Funny Story for one simple reason: I’ve tried reading Emily Henry’s books before, and so far, I’ve only truly liked one. While she’s incredibly popular within the reading community, I just wasn’t a fan. And that’s okay—not every book or author is going to resonate with everyone. Still, I was hesitant to pick this one up.
To my surprise, this book completely changed my opinion about Emily Henry. I actually liked it—a lot! For starters, I’m just relieved I didn’t waste time on another book that didn’t click with me. This one was funny, cute, and unexpectedly heartwarming. The characters were relatable, and I loved how their worst moments (breaking up with their exes) ultimately became the best thing that ever happened to them.
The characters were a big highlight for me. Miles was such a likable character—he respected Daphne’s boundaries, had a sense of adventure, could cook, and was just effortlessly cool. Daphne’s story also resonated with me. After her breakup, she realizes her entire life had revolved around Peter. She was friends with Peter’s friends, and when the relationship ended, she found herself completely alone because, of course, his friends sided with him. It’s such an important reminder to maintain your own identity and friendships in a relationship. Watching Daphne slowly emerge from her shell and rediscover herself was inspiring. It became clear she wasn’t truly herself with Peter and wasn’t the “main character” of her own life.
The writing style was fantastic, and I adored the chemistry between the main characters. The quick banter (one of my favorite elements in romance novels) and heartfelt moments really brought their relationship to life. Beyond the romance, this is a story about rediscovering who you are, learning what you want, and reclaiming your life. It’s a poignant reminder to live for yourself and spend time with the people who truly matter.
After finishing the book and writing my review here, I checked out the Goodreads reviews, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Most of the top reviews agree that this isn’t Emily Henry’s best book. Ironically, I think it’s her best work yet! Now, I’m genuinely excited to see what she writes next.