No one is laughing when it comes to Emily Henry’s ability to repeatedly destroy us emotionally with her rom-coms.
After so many successful releases, we have to consider what eity was offered a sacrifice to write a gaggle of romance novels this pure and delightful. Funny Story isn’t just proof Henry is great at writing romance time and time again. She is also excellent at elevating the tropes sacred to this genre without losing sight of why we love them. She writes vibrant, lived-in characters through various shades of humility and loveability.
We all have our favourite Emily Henry novels; maybe Funny Story is yours. However, there’s no denying that this group of intertwining love stories makes for the perfect embrace on a hot summer’s day—regardless of which one you choose to pick up. If it’s Miles and Daphne’s story, you won’t be disappointed.
Funny Story is very good at toeing that line between sophisticated and sweet.
The obnoxiously wacky premise of a woman having to live with the ex-boyfriend of her ex-fiance’s girlfriend is grounded in the experiences of sensible children’s librarian Daphne. Thankfully, her scruffy roommate, Miles, softens the edges of her professional persona where needed. The titular pairing may enter into a fake dating scheme, but they do little to hide their genuine feelings for each other, and that in itself is a refreshingly honest change of pace for the concept.
This novel paints a cozy, warm picture through the lens of Waning Bay, Michigan. The beautiful summer beach setting is one of the book’s most lovely characters and a successful plot tool for bringing these two roommates closer together through quaint road trips and adventurous excursions. The beach-side library, the cramped apartment, and the rustic distillery are as important to this love story as our lead couple.
The book picks up a beat after the events of a familiar, unhinged rom-com ploy. In itself, this is a fascinating choice because we have all been there — rooting for childhood friends to ditch their bad matches for each other before they settle down for good. To see the aftermath of that choice from the two non-soulmates left to pick up the pieces is both tantalizing and a teachable moment for trope readers to soak in.
There has been an uptick in rom-coms that focus on platonic soulmates and the non-romantic love that is just as imperative to a happy-ever-after as a love interest. Funny Story follows this trend by drilling into Daphne the need to build a support system of co-workers and friends separate from her dating life. Her blossoming friendship with Ashleigh helps pull back the layers of Daphne’s growth while exploring how important it is to fight through the pains of adult friendships and build that healthy sense of community for one’s self.
If there’s one element of this book that keeps it from that perfect 5-star read — it’s the pacing.
This book feels like it carries on a few chapters more than needed. When parental drama and miscommunication come into the mix (the most detested of the tropes), it is time to pack it in and let these two unlikely lovers come together. Thankfully, the delightful story manages to claw its way out of the dark hole of angst before it can leave too sour a taste in our mouths.
As the readathon comes to a close, you will have done more than fall for Daphne and Miles’ opposite’s attract, reluctant friends-to-lovers schtick. You will have fallen deeply in love with the characters as individuals, too. Their career aspirations and wholesome desires become the beating heart of the novel’s crackling chemistry. Not to mention, Daphne’s love for her job is backed by some impressively accurate depictions of what it is like to work in a public library.
This is one story I won’t tire of hearing Henry tell again.
—
Want to add this read to your TBR pile? You can find more information and purchase a copy of Funny Story by Emily Henry here!
coolgirlcritiques.com 