If you are looking for a charming romance about opposites who have something unfortunate in common, check out Funny Story by bestselling author Emily Henry.
Daphne’s meet-cute with Peter began with a funny story that he loves telling. It all started with her hat getting caught in the wind on a blustery day and landing at the feet of a handsome stranger–Peter. Three years later they are engaged and have relocated to his hometown in Michigan where they cohabitate in a house he owns. And why not? Daphne is used to moving and they will be married soon. All is going according to plan until Peter breaks off the engagement because he confesses to be in love with his longtime “platonic” best friend, the gorgeous Petra.
After being unceremoniously dumped, Daphne moves out and ends up living in a small apartment with the brokenhearted Miles, the man whom Petra broke up with to be with Peter. Daphne, a buttoned-up and dedicated librarian, plans to leave Michigan behind after the Read-A-Thon she is planning is over. She isn’t sure where she is heading next, but her reason for being in Michigan was because of Peter. Because of her childhood, Daphne is good at acclimating and moving. However, Daphne thought her future with Peter was going to be one of love, stability and permanence.
“I’m nauseated by the thought that maybe she belongs there, in the home I’d thought was mine, while I belong nowhere.”
While Daphne and Miles are grieving their exes, they not only find friendship in one another, but also begin a little scheme of their own, fake dating. Daphne is an expert when it comes to storytelling. Miles is easygoing and easy on the eyes. Why not stick it to Peter and Petra?
Miles starts to introduce Daphne to other people and parts of the town she’s never before explored. Although Daphne is counting down the days until she can leave, she begins to see the area through a different vantage point, one not only through Miles, but one that she develops on her own. Growth and independence are major themes within Daphne’s story.
The bottom line: Rom-com fans will fall in love with Funny Story. It’s sentimental without being too sappy. Daphne and Miles living together at first feels like a bit of a stretch, but Emily Henry creates such realistic characters that the reader can buy into it. There’s a bit of spice in this book (although it’s far from being a smut novel), which actually feels necessary so the reader can believe that these two broken-hearted opposites have the potential to be more than just friends.
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