It’s a messy, opposites attract, emotionally repressed, girl meets golden boy, with lots of banter, awkward healing and just enough tension to keep your eyes rolling all through the book. if you are patient enough it pays off, promise. I picked this one up, solely because the world of booktok made me feel like if I hadn’t read a “funny story” am I even a reader? A tad dramatic but after several night sweats , you kinda feel judged by the reading world! I read it on holiday, because apparently that’s when all the cool kids read Emily Henry books. I mean I have come this far to prove my allegiance to print and paper , truly why stop now! As a certified Emily Henry virgin, I’ll admit, I was impressed. Funny Story is no literary revolution, but it’s got over 1.1 million Goodreads ratings at the time of writing, so clearly I’m late to the party. I gave it a 3.5 out of 5 wearing a helmet here , because the fans are real … so if you give me a chance let me explain myself 

The Characters

Daphne: The main female character, dumped by her fiancé Peter for his best friend Petra. She’s emotionally repressed, navigating heartbreak and a new life.

Miles: Daphne’s new roommate, Petra’s ex. Laid-back, loud, and affectionate, he’s the golden boy in Hawaiian shirts who annoys Daphne into a messy, romantic friendship.

Peter: Daphne’s ex, a “nice guy” who’s actually a self-absorbed mannequin. His betrayal drives the plot.

Petra: Peter’s new girlfriend, breezy and chaotic. Not evil, just the center of 89% of the tension.

Starfire: My favorite—a tequila-shot-like side character who’s warm, fun, and gloriously irrelevant.

Least favorites: Ashley and Julia, Daphne’s best friend and Miles’s sister, feel like forced, zero-calorie filler characters.

The Overall Vibe; Basically: Emily Henry took two emotionally wrecked exes, made them roommates, sprinkled in secondhand trauma, and said, “Now kiss.”

Writing Style

Daphne’s first-person narration is witty and relatable, while Miles’s dialogue drips with smirky charm. The book starts strong, hooks you fast (I finished it in two days), but drags in parts with exaggerated moments and unnecessary fillers.

Themes

Heartbreak & Reinvention: Daphne rebuilds her identity after losing her fiancé and life plan.

Loneliness & Belonging: She’s an outsider, learning to find home through trauma-bonding with Miles.

Messy Relationships: Everyone’s flawed, loving the wrong people but trying anyway.

Grief with Humor: Daphne’s quiet devastation is hilarious yet raw, like joking at a funeral.

Emotional Honesty: The story contrasts Daphne’s restraint with Miles’s openness, showing repression isn’t strength.

The ending 

Because to understand the story you always need to see the end no 🙂 The ending was false and forced in my opinion! I do feel it should have ended in chapter 32 , but of course we needed a neat tiny bow and the perfect ending to the perfect love story. The book has been unreal from the start because in no normal world would you ever find two ex jilted lovers living together because what are the odds right? Unless it’s a Tyler Perry remake then , I rest my case , but really … what world! There was a need to give Daphne , that one thing she has always longed for, Family,  and I guess she was going to get it, come rain come sun , and that she did , even a drunken uncle that was mentioned last minute. 

To read or not too read …

It’s a rom com that’s pure comedy and more popular among the YA audience. If you have seen a bit of life and are a realist like me, you may not enjoy this book because your eyes will hurt from all the rolling you will do and you will instantly dislike Emily for the rest of your life and we don’t want that. 

If you are looking for a love story (that is funny) then his is the book for you. If you are looking for deep inspiration , and heartfelt moments that are going to change the world, then this is not the book for you. Nothing lingers here. Not any character , not their lives , nothing! 

Will I ever pick another Emily Henry, to be honest not too sure! I think she is talented , and she kept me hooked which is a huge plus! However her style seems the same and I might pick “book lovers” but I truly know how it’s going to end so why bother right? 

Have you read the book? What are your thoughts ? How did you rate it?