I don’t read enough romance to comment on where exactly Emily Henry stands among the genre’s titans. But I’ll tell you this—she is absolutely one of my favourite writers, one of those drop-everything-at-once authors who supersedes everything else in my stack(s) of unread books and whose work takes precedence over almost everything else in my life.
“Funny Story” is her best yet. It’s the story of a librarian (Daphne) whose finance (Peter) dumped her for his gorgeous best friend since childhood (Petra). As a result, Daphne has moved in with Petra’s ex-boyfriend (Miles), making their small apartment a tempest of heartbreak resentment and spite, which spikes when they both receive an invitation to Peter and Petra’s wedding. Apoplectic and determined to show their exes they’ve moved on, Daphne RSVPs—with Miles as her partner, despite heartbreak being their only commonality. Or is it?
Again, I can’t comment on the fake dating trope, and the originality of Henry’s overarching plot. I just haven’t read enough. I suspect “Funny Story” is comprised of lots of borrowed elements. But it’s all made to feel fresh thanks to its breezy tone, Henry’s sharp dialogue, brilliantly rendered and distinct characters, and moments both humorous and heart-wrenching. The will-they-won’t-they tension is brilliantly evocated, and despite having a pretty good idea of where everything was headed, Henry played my emotions like a violin.
Written By Sime 