Read Completed 4/23/24 | 3.75 stars
(Rating updated 4/28/24 from 4 stars to 3.75 after reflecting on my read for a few days)

BEACH READ (2020) | 3.5 stars
PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION (2021) | 5 stars
BOOK LOVERS (2022) | 4.5 stars
HAPPY PLACE (2023) | 2.75 stars
FUNNY STORY (2024) | 3.75 stars

My Emily Henry experience has been a roller coaster and I had no idea what to expect from FUNNY STORY. I was nervous to read it after really not liking HAPPY PLACE and was really hoping FUNNY STORY was going to be funny since HAPPY PLACE was not happy. I'm very happy I enjoyed this but it still came with a little side of disappointment. 

I'm not sure what it was but I really didn't like the first 15% of this book. We experience Daphne get dumped in a very rom-com way after her fiancé dumps her for his life-long best friend Petra. Daphne moves in with Petra's ex, Miles. I just didn't like the vibe or flow in the beginning of this book at all and I was terrified we were headed for another HAPPY PLACE. I actually slowed down my audiobook narration to try to connect with the book and absorb it, and thankfully, things started clicking and the vibe sorted itself out. BUT I hate it when I immediately don't connect with a book because it really sets a tone. 

Things really did start to pick up and I loved the genuine connection between Daphne and Miles. They really did have a good chemistry and I appreciated the sort of "fake dating" but not having the main characters at each other's throats, like many fake dating stories tend to be. It also kicked off with the chemistry right away so there was something to root for. 

I'm a fan of Emily Henry's more romcom, funny, and lighter books so while this wasn't the heaviest, it also wasn't the lightest. I loved the bright moments. There was some clever with and Daphne and Miles had some adorable banter that I absolutely loved (and could have used JUST a bit more of). I adored the supporting characters like the new best friend who isn't afraid to speak her mind and brought so much energy to the page and Miles' sister who shows up and brings the carefree spirit when Daphne and Miles are both more careful. Even smaller characters like Daphne's mother and her co-workers brought some more support, warmth, and funny moments for readers really made the book well-rounded. I wish we had more Ashleigh and Julia earlier on because I needed their vibe in the beginning when I wanted a bit more levity. 

I certainly don't mind heavier topics in romance books -- I love Abby Jimenez and she does an amazing job with this, and Emily Henry has done this in all of her books in the past too. But I need to be laughing a lot to balance that seriousness. That's my personal preference as a reader so certain heavier topics will hit differently, and some of this just weighed on me a bit more when I was hoping to be a little bit happier. This was better than HAPPY PLACE, but I still prefer some of EH's lighter books more than this one. I also read this shortly after JUST FOR THE SUMMER by Abby Jimenez which dealt with some similar topics, especially the parent and family things, so I just couldn't help but think back to that book as well. Not FUNNY STORY's fault, but I was just not as connected to more of the personal drama and growth in the book. 

The second half of the book is where it really took off for me! I really clicked with Daphne & Miles as they were falling in love, I loved watching Daphne grow, we had fun friendships, and falling in love with this adorable small town in Michigan. There was so much to like and that's when I really started to get in the swing of things, plus I loved the ending. 

I liked FUNNY STORY but it's probably not one I'll be thinking about for years to come. It was enjoyable, I didn't really have many complaints, but it's definitely not a new favorite.