Funny Story by Emily Henry

Mismatched roommates find unexpected romance in this witty tale of heartbreak, new beginnings, and social media schemes.

Summary

Funny Story is a 2024 novel by Emily Henry, a bestselling American author of contemporary fiction with an emphasis on romance. Set in the picturesque town of Waning Bay, Michigan, the novel follows the unlikely pairing of the practical, well-organized Daphne, a children's librarian, and the scruffy, chaotic Miles, as they navigate the aftermath of their respective breakups. Exploring themes of friendship, new beginnings, and unexpected love with Henry's signature wit and charm, Funny Story debuted at #1 on both The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and has sold over 800,000 copies in North America to date.

Plot

Daphne's life takes an unexpected turn when her fiancé Peter realizes he's in love with his childhood best friend Petra. Left heartbroken, Daphne finds herself in Waning Bay, Michigan, where she secures a job as a children's librarian. In an ironic twist, she ends up becoming roommates with Miles Nowak, Petra's ex-boyfriend.

Despite their opposing personalities—Daphne being practical and buttoned-up, while Miles is scruffy and chaotic—the unlikely pair begins to form a tentative friendship. As they both struggle to cope with their respective breakups, they devise a plan to post misleading photos of their summer adventures together on social media.

What starts as a scheme to save face and possibly make their exes jealous slowly evolves into something more. Daphne and Miles find themselves spending more time together, their initial awkwardness giving way to genuine companionship. They begin to see each other in a new light, beyond the context of their shared heartbreak.

As the summer progresses, Daphne starts to question whether she might be falling for her ex-fiancé's new fiancée's ex. The story follows Daphne and Miles as they navigate their complicated feelings, shared history, and the possibility of finding love in the most unexpected of places, all while trying to build new lives for themselves.