gracescanlon's reviews
729 reviews

This one just surpassed Book Lovers as my favorite Emily Henry to date. Funny Story and Book Lovers are my favorite of her books, though I haven’t read Happy Place and don’t plan to do so.

Peter and Petra having essentially the same first name AND last names that began with the same letter definitely made me hate them just a little bit more. Also, Peter was vindictive, short-sighted, and petty, which was worse than Petra’s selfish thoughtlessness.

Daphne and Miles’ relationship progression was a cool glass of water on the hottest day of the year. I loved that they truly became friends and then got involved romantically with each other. Their relationship progression was organic and healthy, even if it was a little quick and originated from a horrible situation. Given that Daphne and Miles are in their early- and mid-thirties respectively, the rapid development of their relationship didn’t bother me as much as it would have if they’d been ten years younger. Also, given that their previous partners left them for each other, it didn’t surprise me that Daphne and Miles got along so well.

I think my favorite thing about Funny Story is something I’ve rarely seen in similar contemporary romances, especially those not written in dual-POV. (An aside: can we stop relying on those in romance? They’re overdone, and this book in particular is a masterclass in accomplishing the same result without flipping back and forth between characters.) Though the book is told exclusively in first person from Daphne’s perspective, we see Miles’ (and also Ashleigh’s) character growth as well. So often in romance I find that one character, usually the non-POV love interest, is essentially flawless, which is boring. Henry doesn’t fall into this pattern in Funny Story, though. Miles says outright to Daphne that he feels dismissed by her insisting he spends time with her because he’s just a genuinely nice person. He expresses to her that his time with her isn’t altruistic; it’s for his own pleasure, because he likes her and spending time with her.

With a unique premise, incredibly lovable cast of characters, excellent character arcs, and MCs who respect one another and communicate, Funny Story is definitely a romance I’d recommend.

What a fun story! There was so much I thoroughly enjoyed. From April and Emily really developing a sisterly bond, to Simon’s first time kissing Emily (as himself), to the small-town wholesomeness, Well Met is a charming summer read!
 
The only real issue I had with the story was Emily’s lack of comprehension skills overall.

Like, obviously Chris isn’t going to train you in additional responsibilities and then fire you, Emily, new part-time employee or not! Obviously you’re getting a promotion! 🙄

Emily was a repeat offender with these weird, short-sighted conclusions, but by the end of the book she finally got it right.

Like many romances, Well Met did rely heavily on the miscommunication trope. However, these miscommunications, while relatively frequent, were also quickly cleared up — a much more realistic approach to miscommunication than the usual “letting things grow and grow and grow and then causing an unnecessary and melodramatic third-act breakup.”

I disliked the cover, as it seemed to show Emily’s misinterpretation of the situation with Simon in the first half of the book, rather than the reality. His posture and gestures indicated disgust, which was never actually the case — he’s just intense, reticent, and has his own stuff going on.
 
A perfect, fun beach read I definitely recommend!

This book should've been a smash hit for me, but I cared less and less as I read further into it. The plot moves at a glacial yet jerky pace and the characters are way too far removed to provoke any emotional investment. The part that was all letters got old about five pages in - without anything between them, it was a fifty-page info dump.

I liked the Love Hypothesis; it was cute. Olive was an idiot, but at least she had some likable qualities.

Mallory, however, is wholly unlikeable — self-righteous, stubborn, and short-sighted.

There were multiple plot holes that I couldn’t get past, though I only read 17% of this book.

1. How on earth is dear old dad not paying child support/alimony???? Two of his three kids are still minors!!!!! Hello??? Is he dead???

2. Mallory’s lack of big-picture thinking about her job and the chess fellowship she was offered completely negated any and all believability of her having any actual skill at chess. You’re telling me she can strategize multiple hypothetical moves/outcomes in multiple turns ahead of time, but she can’t see that the year-long, SALARIED fellowship can not only lead to tournament wins with huge payouts, but also make her name and intelligence public, leading to more and better (and higher-paid) jobs in the future??? Come on. There’s literally no way that’s the same character.

Mallory was insufferable. I also didn’t like what seemed to me like the vilification of Easton, who honestly rocked. Mallory’s mom is in a terrible situation — as a woman with a chronic condition/physical disability, I so get it — but something about her absence (physical and emotional) didn’t sit right with me at all. 

I really enjoyed the through-line of August and Rosalind working through their issues and past actions, and the twists did surprise me and logically followed the plot. The original conceit — Rosalind tricked into the governess position for her own son — was fun, and I laughed along with Rosalind at its uncanniness. 
However, this book was rushed. The second half had me breathless, because everything happened and resolved the way dominoes fall - faster and faster. I would’ve preferred if Armstrong had taken her time with the end. It would’ve been delicious, if drawn-out rather than crammed together. Still, Edmund was adorable and August had grown immensely from book one. I don’t know how I feel about Rosalind — I might have to think on it and return to this review when I form an opinion. 

I really enjoyed this!
My favorite things:
1. Deaf representation! 
2.

Warren is a very giving lover, and has the sweetest and also the dirtiest mouth on him. Total hottie!

3.

I was PRAYING the third-act conflict wouldn’t be either a breakup or Connie relapsing. Thank you, Ms. Bonam-Young, for taking a different tack!!!

A few things kept this from a higher score for me:
1. I wanted Chloe to be more verbally expressive to Warren about the nice things she thought about him. Not at his level (but SWOON!), but I felt like Warren deserved a little more verbal affection. 
2. Chloe didn’t pick up on one of the things Warren said soon after moving in and repeated later in a more romantic context:

“I don’t want to be your friend.”

The second time he said it made his original intent obvious. Chloe didn’t make the connection, which was a little disappointing. 
3. Whyyyyyy were we never shown Rachel’s visit to the apartment and evaluation of Chloe’s circumstances???? What a missed opportunity for some higher-stakes tension!
4. It was pretty insta-lovey, which on one hand makes sense (Chloe and Warren share v similar pasts in addition to their present similar situations), but on the other was a bit concerning, given both their traumas. Their repeated statements of wanting “forever” when they’ve known each other five months at most worried me. 
5. Warren does a bit of a 180, personality-wise. The book is in first-person POV (Chloe’s POV), so it’s understandable that she might not have picked up on Warren’s more concealed positive attributes, but Chloe doesn’t comment on either her surprise or reflection with her new understandings of who Warren is. This and my second list point made Chloe seem entirely unobservant, which was frustrating. 

TL;DR — Fast-paced and mildly steamy, but also heartwarming. I loved the recurrent themes of healing and forgiveness, as well as opening up to and being vulnerable with loved ones for deeper bonds. 

I really, really enjoyed this, but there was too much telling in it. That said, if Kiley publishes another book, I'm definitely reading it!