Funny Story

This popular Emily Henry novel, a blend of romance and chick-lit, starts off hilariously and I was hopeful this would be more enjoyable than the other two books I've read of hers.

And it is better. There is only so much I can expect from a book that bills itself as a romance and is exactly that. The best ones have great characters and relationship building that really take us on a journey. This one does some of that - not every romance can be “When Harry Met Sally.”

The side characters, especially the sister and parents, were great. The work friend, not as much.

This is really the story of two people on the rebound and everything is sparkling and new. Most of us have been there and know what the chances of success are. And we also know (or have been) people who glom on to a new relationship and spend tons of time with them to the exclusion of friends and family. To re-experience that with Mikes and Daphne is a bit tedious. But, at the end, there's some redemption from the insta-love arc and I ended up not feeling like I'd just wasted several hours of my life.

Couple of bones to pick:

1. Librarians are wonderful, woefully-underpaid people and cannot afford to go out for as many meals and paid activities as Daphne does.
2. Fine words when used sparingly, chortle (it felt like every fourth page) & thrum were jarringly overused.