May 2024 Standalone BOTM - Funny Story, by Emily Henry

[Alaina]

A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common.

Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.

Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?

But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex…right?

**This BOTM thread will be open until June 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

[Felicia]

I just finished this. It was so good. I love Emily Henry and I love a gentle male lead.

[Shannon The Co-Captain]

End of chapter 14 (view spoiler)[ I am absolutely LOVING this slow burn and how they’re really getting to know each other. Miles is perfect. (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon The Co-Captain]

End of chapter 19 (view spoiler)[ Oh my gosh. Miles’ story of his childhood just broke my heart. 😭 (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon The Co-Captain]

End of chapter 23 (view spoiler)[ When Miles’s sister was telling about how flighty Petra is I was thinking she’ll leave Peter and want Miles back (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon The Co-Captain]

End of chapter 30 (view spoiler)[ He better have a dang good excuse for blowing her off (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon The Co-Captain]

End of chapter 32 (view spoiler)[ Well I knew that was coming (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon The Co-Captain]

End of chapter 37 (view spoiler)[ I hope she buys the little bungalow (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon The Co-Captain]

Finished! One of the best books I’ve read this year and definitely the best Emily Henry book I’ve read. I loved it!

[Felicia]

Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "End of chapter 14 [spoilers removed]"

There was a moment I worried that he might be too perfect but then as I kept reading I was like no he's just the greatest.

[Felicia]

Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "End of chapter 19 [spoilers removed]"

That was so heartbreaking. Some people just shouldn't be parents.

[Felicia]

Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "End of chapter 23 [spoilers removed]"

They deserve each other though because they are both such good manipulators. They make everyone think they are great and then continue to pass judgment on others.

[Brittni]

Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "End of chapter 19 [spoilers removed]"

Yes! This was incredibly heartbreaking! I really felt for him and the guilt he was holding onto.

[Brittni]

Felicia wrote: "Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "End of chapter 23 [spoilers removed]"

They deserve each other though because they are both such good manipulators. They make everyone think they are great and then..."

Completely agree. They are both great manipulators and are most certainly passing judgement on everyone else.

[Brittni]

Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "End of chapter 30 [spoilers removed]"

Right?! Oh my goodness. This part got me. I couldn't believe he didn't show up and was thinking the same thing. He better have a darn good excuse!

[Brittni]

This quote got me because it's my life. Kids soccer is honestly hilarious to watch.

“Hell, I’m old enough to have a daughter named Renesmee on one of those U-5 soccer teams where the kids take turns kicking the ball the wrong way, then sitting down midfield to take off their shoes.”

[Brittni]

I loved this game that she played with her mom. It's true that sometimes you just need someone to commiserate with you. Everyone needs a little vent throughout the day and this is a hilarious way to get it all out.

“My mom and I used to play this game we called Whiny Babies. We’d just take turns complaining about smaller and stupider things until we ran out.”

[Brittni]

Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "End of chapter 37 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I was waiting for that to happen but I love how it turned out in the end! I feel like we got the ending that we all expected, them together in a cute fixer-upper, it just wasn't the one that was originally for sale. (hide spoiler)]

[Felicia]

Brittni wrote: "I loved this game that she played with her mom. It's true that sometimes you just need someone to commiserate with you. Everyone needs a little vent throughout the day and this is a hilarious way t..."

I thought this was such a fun idea too lol.

[Jessica]

Chapters 1-9
(view spoiler)[ I'm loving this far, it's got great humor. I was a little wary because Happy Pace wasn't my favorite but this is the Emily Henry I love. This is such a great set up and I really like both Daphne and Miles. Also Ashleigh is great I'm hoping this is the start of a good friendship between them. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Starting this now!

[Jessica]

Chapters 10-19
(view spoiler)[ Omg I love them so much. Poor Miles, his mom is such a piece of work. I've loved having Julia around but I'm so sad to hear all the guilt he has about her. I hope they can sit down and work it out.
At first I was annoyed Miles and Daphne stopped but it was worth it for that conversation. How many more times will they start but not finish, it's a pattern at this point 😂 (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 1-8: (view spoiler)[I quite like these two. They met because of a super-shitty breakup and are slowly growing on one another. Fake dating? Sign me up. Also, her ex did sound like a douche canoe when he called her about the wedding. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Jessica wrote: "Chapters 1-9
[spoilers removed]"

Yes, I'm really enjoying these two!

[Alaina]

Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "End of chapter 14 [spoilers removed]"

He really is!

[Alaina]

Ch 9-16: (view spoiler)[His sister is adorable. I'm still freaking out about their kiss and definitely can't wait for even more to happen between them. I also feel like I'm on edge, waiting for the drama to come up. Their exes have been mentioned saying something to someone already, and I just feel like something is coming. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 17-24: (view spoiler)[I get that she doesn't have a relationship with her dad, which hurts my heart so much, but I mean, he's here now. With his new wife. Maybe they can work towards have a relationship now. I do like how Miles and everyone else were there. I'm also still not over how his mom treated him and his sister. That's a lot of pressure to have on his shoulders. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "End of chapter 19 [spoilers removed]"

😭😭 RIGHT?

[Alaina]

Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "End of chapter 23 [spoilers removed]"

I don't want that to happen one freaking bit! I like her and Miles together and don't want their exes to waltz back into their lives.

[Alaina]

Jessica wrote: "Chapters 10-19..."

I am so happy his sister is here now. They definitely need to work things out, and I think it would be great for her to stay.

[Alaina]

Ch 25-32: (view spoiler)[HE SAID I LOVE YOU AND YOU SAY NO? NO, I DO NOT ACCEPT. Also, Peter is such a piece of shit. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "End of chapter 30 [spoilers removed]"

I was so mad when that happened!

[Alaina]

Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "End of chapter 32 [spoilers removed]"

Same and I'm so sad it did.

[Alaina]

Ch 33-Finish: (view spoiler)[Oh, I am so happy that they are still together and have this new place. I liked them. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "End of chapter 37 [spoilers removed]"

Yes! A new new place.

[Jessica]

Chapters 20-30
(view spoiler)[ I was so happy and now I'm not at all. I can't believe she missed Ashleigh's birthday. It was the perfect storm but fuck. She has a lot of making up to do. And now Miles has disappeared for whatever reason and she's going to end up taking this stupid job even though she doesn't want it. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ God, I loved this. I was pissed when Miles left but I should have had faith, of course he went to see her dad. I love them so much, this is definitely one I'm going to reread. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Today is the LAST day to add comments for BOTM points!