My Funny Story Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
Funny Story by Emily Henry is a heartfelt, slow-burn romantic comedy starring Daphne, a children’s librarian who moves to the cozy tourist town of Waning Bay, Michigan, for her fiancé—only for him to leave her for his childhood best friend, Petra. Suddenly alone and without a place to live, Daphne’s new reality leads her to become roommates with Miles—Petra’s recent ex. Miles and Daphne couldn’t be more different, but their shared heartbreak is an unshakeable bond. The two navigate awkward silences and mutual recovery, agreeing to a playful plan: sharing staged photos of their adventures together to make their exes jealous. But as the summer unfolds, their fake friendship blurs into something deeper. Surrounded by quirky townsfolk, found-family friendships, and plenty of twisty emotions, Daphne and Miles must decide if they're ready to leave their pasts behind and truly begin again.
Why I Love This Book
I love how Funny Story nails that messy, in-between stage of letting go and starting over. Daphne’s voice is honest and funny, making even her lowest moments feel warm and relatable. What grabs me is the genuine banter—not just between Daphne and Miles, but with the whole quirky cast. Their chemistry has the perfect mix of slow-build sweetness, inside jokes, and gradual attraction. The Midwest small town vibe is cozy and nostalgic, reminding me of classic rom-coms but with more emotional honesty. I also love the way the story explores friendship and finding your place, especially through Daphne’s evolving relationship with co-worker Ashleigh and new friend Julia. The book isn’t afraid of hard feelings—breakup pain, jealousy, and the fear of being alone—all are treated with real care, making the eventual romance feel that much more satisfying.
There are scenes that genuinely made me laugh, and a few that made me tear up. I love how the book can be fun and light while never glossing over real emotional growth. It’s one of those reads that makes me want to root for everyone, mess and all. I finish the last page feeling hopeful and understood.
Who Will Like This Book
If you like your romance with snappy banter, exceptionally real characters, and strong found-family vibes, you’ll want this on your shelf. It’s a perfect fit if you’re looking for small town romance, friends-to-lovers, forced proximity, or roommate plotlines. If you enjoy books that explore heartache, healing, and what it takes to build your own happiness—outside of anyone else’s expectations—this will hit home. If you don’t like fake dating tropes that aren’t fully fleshed out or dislike a lot of side plots, you might find it a little busy.
⚠️ Trigger warning: Contains explicit sexual content, on-page drinking, and family abandonment. There’s emotional intensity but nothing extreme or graphic; the story sits closer to “uplifting” than “heavy.”
Tagged As
contemporary romance, romantic comedy, small town, friends to lovers, roommates, forced proximity, fake dating (light), opposites attract, heartbreak, healing, found family, quirky side characters, library romance, emotional growth, banter, new beginnings, slow burn, dual pov, summer romance, sweet with spice, open-door romance, standalone, indie romance
Steam Level
There’s definitely some open-door steam here—playful, tender, and spicy without being overly explicit or frequent. The romance is a slow build, with the most heat toward the second half, making every tender moment feel earned and satisfying.
