Funny Story

In Emily Henry’s fifth stand-alone novel, Funny Story, Daphne and Miles’s world is turned upside down when their significant others leave them for each other. With two broken hearts, and a plan to get back at their exes, these two “dump-ees” fake it until they make it in this equally lighthearted and moving story about breakups, friendship, and family dynamics.

Daphne and Miles’s friendly-roomates-to-fake-dating dynamic elicits amusement at every turn, and the main characters are relatable from the first laugh to the last tear dried. Miles is admirably protective of his sister and everyone loves him; Daphne struggles to build her own life away from the one her ex built for her. And even though I knew where the story was going, I still very much enjoyed the ride. 

Daphne’s obsession with adhering to a schedule and Miles’s tendency to float through life are two of many juxtaposing traits each main character possesses, but despite their best efforts, Miles and Daphne discover they have more in common than they realize. Miles has a tenuous relationship with his emotionally-abusive mother, and Daphne has a complicated bond with her conditionally-loving father. These family interactions create meaningful and raw complexity between the main characters throughout the story. 

Emily Henry’s ability to make me laugh one moment and to have me on the verge of tears the next impresses me every single time. She makes me evaluate my own real-world relationships, and her stories always leave me wanting more. Henry’s books are easy and fun to read, but sad to finish. A satisfying narrative all the way to its conclusion, Funny Story is a near-and-dear book that centers around my favorite subject of all time: love. If you are a sucker for traditional romance and witty dialogue, I recommend this book. 

Reference
Henry, Emily. Funny Story. Berkley, 2024.