Better than most other contemporary romances I've read lately, but not quite up to Emily Henry's usual standard. ( )

Funny Story is my least favourite Emily Henry novel so far. Yes, it’s good, but it doesn’t match the originality of You and Me on Vacation or the feels of Happy Place. The ‘funny story’ that the novel opens and closes with isn’t a good enough trick to keep this one going. Combined with a pretty boring main character, this novel didn’t really seem to go all that deep for me.

The funny story in question here is about Daphne and Miles. You see, Daphne was engaged to Peter, who then dumped her for his childhood best friend Petra who just happened to be Miles’ girlfriend at the time. Daphne ends up living with Miles as she comes to terms with being in a small town that she didn’t plan on navigating alone. Daphne is a children’s librarian and well, pretty boring. She doesn’t have any friends other than Peter, hobbies or really anything that didn’t involve him except work. As you’d expect, during the novel Daphne learns to make friends and explore the world around her on her terms, rather than to fit in with someone else. She learns to deal with a father that drops in and out of her life when he feels like it and starts to figure out what she wants. Oh yeah, and she falls for Miles.

Miles is a much more interesting character, particularly as Daphne constantly mislabels him. She’s been convinced at times that he’s a pothead, delivery driver and strange individual who likes sad songs. In fact, he’s none of that but someone who has figured most things out after his own bad childhood. Sure, he’s not perfect, but he’s truly caring and interested in others. He’s got the patience to sit back while Daphne jumps to weird conclusions and the kindness to let her do her thing and wait. I wish he had jumped off the page more alongside his sister Julia because I was much more interested in them.

The story just doesn’t seem to have the same depth or subplots as other novels by Henry. It’s pretty much, ‘ha ha how funny the dumped ones live together – oh and they are going to get together amongst some mild family issues’. It feels cliched at times, with the begging ex asking for another chance and the loner finding true friends right in front of her with a bit of effort. There is even the small-town community rallying together at the last minute – it all just feels like a montage from a daytime TV movie. Unlike other novels of hers, it’s bland and forgettable. The conflict is quite low stakes with issues being fixed with a minimum of fuss or outsized reactions that then lead to a big reconciliation scene. I found myself wanting to finish this rather than savouring each moment. I think it’s because we know that Henry can do better- make characters leap from the page, add memorable quirks or create emotional moments. This just didn’t have those highs for me – it doesn’t sparkle. It’s fast food instead of the gourmet treats we’re used to.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com ( )

I really enjoyed this. Very cute story and Emily Henry just has a way of sucking you in and not letting go. This is probably one of my favorites of her, besides Book Lovers. I still think that one is my favorite. Cute story of two ex's that end up living together because their significant others broke up with them to be with each other. And of course, eventually, the relationship blossomed. I listened to the audio and I think I finished it in about 2 days. I wouldn't say that there was anything spectacular. It's the typical formula of boy and girl meet, the relationship blossoms, something goes wrong and they break up, and then everyone is happy in the end. But Ms. Henry has a way of just sucking you into the story and it's a fun ride! ( )

I wasn't expecting to love this as much as I did. It is my favorite Emily Henry book by far. ( )

2024 read. Emily Henry writes books that make me feel good. They have ups and downs, and heartbreak too (both the characters and the stories), but I always come away feeling better than I did before I opened the cover. This was no exception. My only complaint is that I've had to stop drinking wine (med interactions) and the vineyard and wines there made me wistful. ( )