What to read next
10 books like Funny Story
Daphne's library work, Miles's local ties, their exes, and new friendships make the town and chosen routines part of emotional recovery. The picks below take that appeal in different directions.
Read our review of Funny Story by Emily Henry.
Best matches
Three strong places to start
If you only want three picks, start here.
Best overall
Fastest read
Best alternative
Choose by reading mood
Where to start
For the fastest read
Loathe to Love You
BriskFor the darkest read
Someone You Can Build a Nest In
DarkFor the strongest romance
Love on the Brain
CentralFor the easiest entry
Love by the Book
AccessibleThe full shortlist
Why each book belongs here
See what each pick shares with Funny Story, and where it goes in a different direction.
1
People We Meet on Vacation
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Accessible
Why this matches
- Different because
- People We Meet on Vacation offers longer romantic history, travel, and more sustained friends-to-lovers tension.
2
Great Big Beautiful Life
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Accessible
Why this matches
- Different because
- Great Big Beautiful Life adds biographical mystery and a more ambitious narrative frame.
3
Love on the Brain
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Accessible
Why this matches
- Different because
- Love on the Brain is more archetypal, STEM-focused, and driven by workplace misunderstanding.
4
Love by the Book
- Pace
- Brisk
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Accessible
5
Loathe to Love You
- Pace
- Brisk
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Accessible
6
Keeper of Lost Children
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Moderate
7
Promise Me Sunshine
- Pace
- Measured
- Darkness
- Moderate
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Accessible
8
Check & Mate
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Accessible
9
Pride and Prejudice
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Moderate
10
Someone You Can Build a Nest In
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Dark
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Accessible
Side-by-side
Pace, darkness, romance, and difficulty
| Book | Pace | Darkness | Romance | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funny Story | Balanced | Gentle | Central | Accessible |
| People We Meet on Vacation | Balanced | Gentle | Central | Accessible |
| Great Big Beautiful Life | Balanced | Gentle | Central | Accessible |
| Love on the Brain | Balanced | Gentle | Central | Accessible |
| Love by the Book | Brisk | Gentle | Central | Accessible |
| Loathe to Love You | Brisk | Gentle | Central | Accessible |
| Keeper of Lost Children | Balanced | Gentle | Central | Moderate |
| Promise Me Sunshine | Measured | Moderate | Central | Accessible |
| Check & Mate | Balanced | Gentle | Central | Accessible |
| Pride and Prejudice | Balanced | Gentle | Central | Moderate |
| Someone You Can Build a Nest In | Balanced | Dark | Central | Accessible |
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