Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Funny Story by Emily Henry Narrator: Julia Whelan
Published by Berkley, Penguin Audio on April 23, 2024
Genres: Life Fiction
Length: 11 hours, 23 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
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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?
Emily Henry’s stories related by Julia Whelan really hit the feelings for me. Funny Story started as not at all funny but heartbreaking. The outcome was ironic, not humorous funny. With only a week to find somewhere to live, Daphne ends up with the ex-fiancé (Miles) of her ex-fiancé’s (Peter) new fiancé (Petra). Uh, yeah.
Daphne had moved from her friends and being near her Mom, to Michigan to Peter’s hometown, family and friends. So now she has no friends of her own as she was focused on what Peter needed and his friends. Miles turns out to be an amazing guy who supports and encourages Daphne as she tries new things, makes new friends and does her own supporting and encouraging of others.
Initially, Daphne plans to go back to the east coast where her Mom is. But Miles gets her to agree to weekly Sunday outings to see what is great about Michigan. Peter never showed her places. Miles is also fun and kind. Daphne and Miles have their being dumped and parent issues in common. Daphne is determined not to get involved with Miles because she is leaving after her Read-a-thon event and because men are not reliable. But Miles is reliable.
Things really come to a head when Daphne’s fickle, tumbleweed father shows up. Daphne realizes she needs to make her own friends like her co-worker, Ashleigh, not people who are someone else’s friends, and have her own interests besides work. I love seeing her growth and the connection she and Miles build. I loved this and was fully invested with my emotions rolling right along with Daphne.
Narration:
Julia Whelan is a favorite narrator because she has a strong ability to infuse emotion into her performance. I felt these terrific characters and their personalities. Her voices for both male and female characters feels comfortable. I was able to listen at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Julia Whelan
Julia Whelan is a screenwriter, life-long actor, and award-winning audiobook narrator. She graduated with a degree in English and Creative Writing from Middlebury College and Oxford University. While in England, her flirtation with tea blossomed into a full-blown love affair, culminating in her eventual certification as a tea master. When not writing her own books, you can find her reading other people’s out loud into a microphone.
About Emily Henry
Emily Henry writes stories about love and family for both teens and adults. She studied creative writing at Hope College and the now-defunct New York Center for Art & Media Studies, and now spends most of her time in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the part of Kentucky just beneath it.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 24-COYER
I’m so excited for this.
It’s really amazing. I love this combo of Emily Henry and Julia Whelan. They bring it.
This sounds SO good! I can’t wait to read it. I really like Emily Henry’s books. 😀
It’s incredibly good! I hope you love it too.
I’m listening to this one right now and loving it!
I really loved it!
I listened to half of Henry’s Happy Place and it just wasn’t quite a winner for me but I do really like the sound of this one. I’ve been wanting to give this author another try and this sounds like one I’d enjoy more.
I’ve enjoyed all her books.