Funny Story
Emily Henry
4.5 stars
Format: Kindle
Funny Story, Emily Henry’s latest feature of modern romance, is as pleasing and delicious as chocolate drizzled popcorn. We meet our heroine, Daphne, a bright librarian with a soft spot for the community’s smallest patrons, right at the crest of heartbreak in the Michigan town of Waning Bay. Her fiancé, Peter, is leaving her for none other than his platonic (or so we thought) best friend, Petra. To add insult to injury, Daphne’s only option is to move in with Petra’s (now) ex-boyfriend, Miles. Two heartbroken and unattached millennials living under the same roof? There’s something sexy in the air, and it’s not just Miles’s dizzying woodsy scent.
Funny Story tells the tale of two people, both struggling with familial baggage and stability, finding friendship, community, and love. But this is no after school special. Emily Henry delights the reader with sharp-witted dialogue, colorful settings, and steamy interludes. Daphne and Miles work the will-they, won’t-they play with such precision that the reader can’t resist the tension. The hot make-out sessions, careless hands, and flirty comments compel the reader to flip the page to find out what happens next. Is the payoff worth it? In short, hell yes. True to Emily Henry’s form, the sex scenes are enough to make you blush but not so graphic that you audibly curse, “WTF,” mid-paragraph.
Henry understands that a contemporary woman has agency, goals, and isn’t interested in the stereotypical fairytale prince charming. Prince Charming, after all, is rarely better than a romantic ideal. We see in Funny Story that the “perfect match” comes with sacrifices and conditions, and not until Daphne is thrust into singledom does she find her autonomy. Daphne’s strengths and shortcomings are relatable, all of which make the reader become more engrossed in the story.
The novel falls short in few areas and at times, the reader wants to shake Daphne and tell her to be more aggressive! But, like real life, we don’t always have the perfect reaction to a dig or an awkward encounter. Perhaps that’s how Henry remains one of the best romance writers of this generation – she is grounded in reality but adds a heavy dash of spice. After all, this should be fun.
The story ends with Daphne finding her place in Waning Bay. While the final chapter feels rushed, the reader is left satisfied. One question remains, however; did Peter get what’s coming to him? Karma does seem to finally knock on his door, but not with the force that was deserved. Despite this injustice, Funny Story is a must-add to your bookshelf and will undoubtedly be a favorite this year.
