Funny Story

 Funny Story by Emily Henry (2024, 400 pages)

I admit I was hesitant to try Emily Henry, but I'm glad I did. This was arbitrarily chosen as my first book of hers because it was the first available on Libby (all her books have long wait lists!).

Daphne needed a place to live after her now ex fiancé left her for his lifelong best friend. I mean, I could have told her not to marry this guy -- they had moved in together way too soon and had been together two years total. But anyway, what better place to move into than Miles, now bear with me: her ex fiancé's new girl's ex boyfriend. Sure, they're in the same situation. He has a spare room and needs help with rent. She needs to cope.

Miles is introduced as just some guy. I didn't even think he was the love interest. But as both Miles and Daphne recover from their breakups, they're invited to their exes wedding. To each other. Yuck. And what better way to get revenge is to pretend to be dating? We all know how that works out. The fake glances become real, longing looks. They fake kiss was too good. The weekly dates are causing some feelings to surface.

Suuuuper cute, a little sexy, and fun to read! Obligatory goofy characters and deep familial lore. Great narration from the audiobook reader.

(Minor spoilers) The ONLY reason this didn't get 5 stars is because of the miscommunication trope at the very end. If y'all had just like. Exchanged a couple sentences this all would have been fine! 

My Roommate is a Vampire

 My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine, 341 pages.

Cassie Greenberg is really struggling to make ends meet living in Chicago with an MA in art. She's on the cusp of eviction (again) when she sees a roommate wanted ad for a ludicrously low price in a suspiciously nice neighborhood. Then she meets her new roommate, one Frederick J. Fitzwilliam, who is both very attractive and astoundingly weird (I'm sure we can all guess why). Turns out Frederick needs a guide for life in the 21st century (he's been asleep awhile), and Cassie really needs the cheap rent. Plus, he's not so bad once you get to know him.

This book was exactly as cute as the cover promised (and that's a really cute cover). It was also hilarious, up there with the funniest romantic comedies I've read. This was a really delightful book to break up some of the darker Halloween-themed books I tend to read in October. There were a few plot hooks that felt like they sort of came out of nowhere and went nowhere, but I wouldn't say that that really detracted from my enjoyment at all.

Mr. Perfect on Paper

Mr. Perfect on Paper by Jean Meltzer (2022) 399 pages

Dara is a matchmaker: she has spent the better part of her 34 years coding matchmaking programs to help Jewish singles who want to marry other Jews. Dara, who is quite wealthy, would love to find and marry a Jewish man herself, but she has spent most of her life dealing with generalized anxiety disorder. She has strategies for handling it during work, but dating is another story.

Meanwhile, Chris is the host of a daytime television program that hasn't been doing so well. He already uprooted his 11-year-old daughter to move her to New York two years ago when his wife died, and he's feeling stressed about the prospect of another move if his show fails.

When Chris (who is not Jewish) and Dara meet, it's for a segment of his television program showcasing her successful matchmaking business. She has brought her grandmother Miriam along, and Miriam steals the show when she produces a sheet of paper on which Dara once wrote the qualities of a man she would like to find. Chris - who finds himself attracted to Dara - pitches the idea of his team finding her dates and filming them. It's a win-win, helping his television program and helping Dara, while also promoting her matchmaking business. Will Chris be able to find the perfect Jewish date for Dara, and will he hate it if he succeeds? Read this and find out!