Book Review: Funny Story by Emily Henry

 


My book review of Funny Story by Emily Henry.

Emily Henry’s Funny Story offers a delightful blend of humor, heart, and emotional depth. Known for her ability to craft witty, character-driven romances, Henry delivers yet again with a story that feels as much about self-discovery as it is about love.

Title: Funny Story

By: Emily Henry

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 395

Release Date: April 23rd, 2024

Publisher: Berkley

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:

A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common.

Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.

Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?

But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex…right?

 

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Review:

At its core, Funny Story is a testament to Emily Henry's signature sharp and witty dialogue. The banter between the characters is laugh-out-loud funny, balancing moments of lightheartedness with real emotional weight. The protagonist’s voice is relatable, and her humorous observations make for an enjoyable, quick read.

The romance is charming, but what really sets the novel apart is its exploration of deeper themes. Henry navigates friendship, grief, and the awkwardness of personal growth in a way that feels both authentic and nuanced. The characters are flawed but likable, and their emotional journeys are compelling.

One of the standout elements is how Henry handles the complexities of relationships, both romantic and platonic. The friendships in this novel are as important as the romance, giving the story more depth and realism. It’s refreshing to see how these relationships evolve and how the characters support each other through moments of vulnerability.

Though the humor and heart are spot-on, some readers may find the pacing uneven in parts. The story takes its time developing, and while this allows for strong character development, it occasionally feels like the plot stalls. Additionally, while the romance is well-written, it follows a familiar formula, lacking a certain unpredictability that might have elevated the story to a higher level.

There are also moments when the humor, while clever, can feel a bit too self-aware or forced, taking away from the emotional resonance of the more serious scenes. A little more subtlety in these moments might have made the overall tone more balanced.

Funny Story is a charming, witty, and heartwarming read that showcases Emily Henry's strength in writing lovable, multifaceted characters. While it may lean into some familiar romantic tropes, the humor, and emotional depth make it stand out in the contemporary romance genre. For fans of Henry’s previous works, this novel is sure to be a hit, delivering just the right mix of laughter and heartfelt moments.

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