Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for the ARC - out everywhere 12 April!
10 years after a profile of the actor cast to play the newest James Bond makes her go viral, a journalist is assigned to do a follow-up piece with the same man. Cutting between their first meeting and the one in present-day, the two try to figure out if they can recapture the magic of that original day and avoid the heartbreak that followed.
This book made up for a lot of its initial missteps in the second half, and thank God because otherwise this entire review was just going to be a fume-induced rant. Not perfect by any means, but I get what the author was trying to do here, and it ended up landing on the right side of the very fine line between "second-chance romance," and "why on earth would you ever do this again." This book suffers from obnoxious-MC-syndrome, but the supporting cast is a delight and is featured heavily enough to keep you flipping through.
StephGetsLit has a really great in-depth review on some of the issues we both had with this book (namely the unfortunate way that this book leans into the false stereotype of female journalists sleeping with their sources), and you should definitely give that a read.
Read If:
-- People are constantly mispronouncing your name
-- You like the "Bromance Book Club" series
-- You've ever been on a date where the guy tries to mansplain "literature" to you

I liked this but wish the tension had been a bit more developed/intense! The characters felt very real to me but I wish the relationships had been developed a bit more.

I don’t even know where to start and how to explain how much I enjoyed this book. These characters were so relatable and I loved the back and forth not only between Chani and Gabe but also going from past to present to allow the story to unfold in two timelines with a nice end meetup essentially wrapping it all up.

Chani is a writer that does an exclusive interview with upcoming star Gabe Parker. Everyone was wondering and hesitant about the new actor until Chani’s expose came out and charmed him into Hollywood legend. The story plays out with the articles, blog posts from Chani’s personal blog, the “true” storyline of what happened, and the present storyline of them meeting again ten years after their infamous weekend interview.

This was a fully formed rom-com in my head and I am certain that Hollywood themselves couldn’t even come close to getting it as good as I imagined it already. The characters although at times are a bit immature do age and grow in so many ways as the story progresses. The writing style was very down to earth and felt as though they were actual feelings and conversations being explained. Every girl will fall in love immediately with Gabe and hate him a little at the same time. The suave but rugged, smart but not too book-smart Gabe is every mother’s dream for their son-in-law to be. He goes through some tough times and that leads him down a hard path and a lot of the story is his growth as a person.

This book is one that has opened my eyes to the second-chance romance trope and I’m kind of loving it to be honest. I recommend picking this up for anyone who likes a nice easy read, loves characters growing emotionally throughout the story, YA romance, hallmark fans and the like. I will be looking into more of Elissa Sussman’s books and can’t wait for more of her books in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to give an honest review of this upcoming release.

4.5/5

I love switching up genres and finding a good romance to read between the others. This was a fun witty romance. Here is an example from an early scene. "I didn't think it was possible for so many words to come out of somebody's mouth that quickly, he said. And I auditioned for Gilmore Girls." Chandi is a very down to earth character who meets a celebrity god who is charming as can be. You can't help but root for the both of them. The side kick of Ollie enhances the friendship. Quick easy read.

I decided to put this book aside at 47%.

I really liked the idea for this book and the first few chapters had me intrigued, but then I just got bored. This book is slow moving and feels redundant. Several of the points are mentioned over and over and over. This just isn't for me.

Some books have love stories that are light and fluffy. Some are gut-wrenching and devastating. Funny You Should Ask falls somewhere in between, but in a really great way. The premise is set up to be the perfect instalove, light and fluffy love affair, but has ups-and-downs that span a decade while each one of them have to navigate complications with their professional and personal lives.

It opens with Chani Horowitz reluctantly accepting an assignment to interview a movie star, Gabe Parker, hoping to stage a Hollywood comeback - one that she first interviewed a decade ago, and which launched her writing career. It's clear that from Chani's reaction that they have a complicated past. But before we learn anything, the timeline jumps back to that first interview 10 years ago. Chani meets Gabe at his home for the start of their interview, and she's incredibly nervous because he is her top celebrity crush. She doesn't quite make the best first impression and she's embarrassed, but hopes to salvage it over lunch. But when it continues to go downhill, she continues to try to get a story by accepting his offer to accompany him to a house showing, joining him on the red carpet for a movie premiere the next day, and finally attending his house party the day after that. Along the way, the pair become closer and open themselves to each other, having increasingly intimate moments. But when the moment of truth comes along, neither of them are willing to bare themselves enough to give themselves a chance at something real. But it's made clear in the future timeline that the story is very flattering and successful, but clearly something is still drove them apart. The next decade brings chance encounters full of bad timing, personal and professional crises, and plenty of mutual yearning before they get a chance to try again.

I really, really loved this book. It had so much depth, and the push and pull of Chani and Gabe's relationship was such a rollercoaster ride - you just couldn't help but root for them to make things work. What was most compelling about the book, aside from racing to get that resolution and finally ease the tension, was the juxtaposition between the past and current timelines, and how so much of that single weekend they spent together influenced them for the next decade, as well as how well-paced the details are doled out to the reader. I truly believe this will be one of this year's best reads, and would make the perfect beach read!

This was a cute story and I enjoyed reading the different articles that were published and was rooting for the movie star and writer to actually give it a go; but it was a super slow burn for me. ⁣
⁣
I felt like the then and now sometimes got confusing for me, and I’d read an article that essentially summarized the next couple chapters and didn’t really love that. I also feel like had they properly communicated there essentially wouldn’t be much of a story.⁣
⁣
But with that being said, I LOVED Ollie and wanted to be his friend. I loved that Gabe was a total babe and wanted to be with an average every day writer, that was just an average Jane; I found that endearing, but also felt like Chani seemed to surround herself with people who weren’t the greatest to her, and needed better friends. And Gabe was around people who knew he drank quite a bit and never really stopped him. Other than Ollie, they both could’ve used better friends. ⁣
⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
Thank you for an ARC for my honest review.

I enjoyed this a lot but something kept from putting it over the top for me. Usually I like when books involve other media like newspaper/magazine articles or letters but something about their use in this book wasn't my absolute favorite. I did like Chani and I did like Gabe but the slow burn was almost too slow? I still think this book had a ton of redeeming qualities and I will read more from this author.

Funny You Should Ask comes out next week on April 12, 2022 and you can purchase HERE.

The whole thing reminded me of the time I'd tried to learn how to skateboard in some ill-advised bid to get the attention of a guy I knew in high school. I'd been floating along, when suddenly I leaned too far back and the skateboard had come shooting out from under me. I was airborne for half a second before hitting the ground--tailbone first--hard. The pain had made me cry and the tears had made the boy disappear.

5⭐
A very mild R on the spice scale

Um, wow, I absolutely loved this book. After hearing some initial buzz, I was really thankful to receive an advanced copy of this book and the hype was absolutely true!! I started reading this book and all of a sudden I was half way through and it felt like no time had passed because Elissa Sussman's writing just pulled me in and didn't let me go.

The structure of this book was so unique. It follows Chani as she interviews movie star Gabe Parker in present day as a follow up to the profile she wrote on him ten years ago that went viral. Readers get to see what really happened behind the scenes of writing the article both then and now with alternating sections, which is what sucked me in. I wanted to know what happened between the two in both timelines that I just could not set this book down.

I loved how Elissa Sussman built up the plot of this story and weaved in different flashbacks and asides with the supporting characters in an effortless way that moved the story forward. I found myself rooting for Chani and Gabe but so unsure of how the book would end, given the history between these two. I loved watching them break down their past mistakes and choices in a way that made this book's conclusion so satisfying.

If you're a fan of romance that verges on women fiction or romance that will feel a little bit different, I'd recommend picking up this book when it comes out next week!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

I know I made a post about how I’m not shy about giving out 5-star reviews, but I truly loved this book so much!

Funny You Should Ask is about a journalist, Chani Horowitz, whose first viral celebrity profile is about an impromptu weekend she spent with her childhood crush and Hollywood heartthrob, Gabe Parker. Gabe, an American, has just been cast to star as the next James Bond and fans are staunchly against the studio’s decision, preferring Gabe’s long-time friend and co-star over him. What starts off as an innocent interview at Gabe’s favorite restaurant, quickly evolves into a weekend of premieres and parties with Gabe and his celebrity friends. Chani gets swept up in Gabe’s charm and finds herself trying to separate the actor from the man she is getting to know.

The profile Chani writes following that weekend skyrockets her career and changes the public’s perception of Gabe Parker, making them see that he will be a great James Bond. But what really happened that weekend has followed Chani around since her article was published, causing her to question everything. Did she become the popular choice for celebrity profiles because they think she slept with Parker for good press? Or does her writing truly speak for itself?

Funny You Should Ask jumps back in forth through time, detailing the events of that infamous weekend and ten years later when Chani and Gabe meet once more for another interview but under different circumstances. This novel is about a love that could have been, if only they had met at a different time, and how misunderstandings can lead to years of wasted time. Chani and Gabe’s story made me grin ridiculously at the pages, laugh out loud, and scream ‘Noooo!’ to my fiance’s utter confusion. I truly loved these two and let me just say, Chapter 25 is the coziest one of them all.

Funny You Should Ask was a charming and sweet novel about the world of celebrity culture and the dangers of judging someone based on their public persona. I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down. The story is a second-chance romance about a journalist and an attractive movie star, who end up connecting on a deeper level than either of them expects when she is assigned to write a profile on him ahead of his next big role. However, during their weekend spent together, something happens that causes a rift in their budding friendship/relationship and they lose contact. When they get the chance to reconnect in the future ten years later, there is a lot left to discuss and ultimately decide. I love the way that Elissa Sussman wrote the dynamic between Chani and Gabe. Although he is the celebrity, she is able to hold her own against him and it makes you really root for them and not feel like she is getting sucked into his world for any other reason than love. For fans of second-chance/emotional romance, this book has it all: mutual pining, alternating timelines and plenty of angst. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is just like the title funny! I highly recommend it and it s fun read. I read it all in one day.

This book is divided into Chani's first meeting with Gabe over a weekend and then switches to the next weekend she meets him ten years later. Chani has to write a piece on Gabe for her magazine. The result of the interview changed her career, and people are forever wondering if they had sex or not. When they meet again, the answer is more complicated than just sex.

Chani and Gabe are cute together. They have this great banter between them and longing for more, but Chani's realistic worries about her journalistic morals keep them apart. You constantly want to know why they didn't up together, and the mystery of it all will keep you reading.

My only problem is that we only see them interact after two weekends. Therefore, the conclusion felt a little on the rushed side.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

10 years ago journalist Chani Horowitz gets the opportunity of her fledgling career: the chance to interview Hollywood heartthrob Gabe Parker who has recently and controversially been cast as the first American James Bond. Well, Chani gets the scoop writing an iconic piece that skyrockets her career and turns the tides of public opinion towards Gabe, but hovering above her always in the cloud of speculation of just how well she got to know her celebrity crush during their whirlwind weekend together. A decade later Chani is again asked to write a piece on Gabe; she's divorced, he's sober, and they have history to unpack.

<i>Funny You Should Ask</i> is quite the page turner. Chani and Gabe's story is slowly revealed in pieces jumping around from their first weekend together, sprinkling in excerpts from Chani's article, forward to their present day reunion, and spiced with excerpts from other articles offering perspective and opinion on Gabe's career and personal life and speculation on Chani and Gabe's relationship being more than just professional. This format keeps the pages turning and suspense high so that you *almost* don't mind just how much of a slow burn this story is.

Bonus points awarded for Chani being Jewish and Gabe being a reader who owns a bookstore with his mom and sister AND the parent of a rescue pup - awww!

Funny You Should Ask was exactly what I needed. It’s a romantic story about a journalist who becomes famous due to a profile she wrote about an actor ten years ago. No one knows the whole story… and then the journalist is asked to recreate the famous interview after all that time has passed.
.
The story is written in dual timelines with the viral article along with other writings from the time periods interspersed between chapters.
.
Thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the eARC.
.
This book comes out next week (4/12/22) so get your copy ordered or on hold at the library now. It’s the perfect spring/summer read.

Chani had crushed on movie star Gabe Parker for years and then she gets the chance to interview him- an interview that changes both of their lives. This moves back and forth between their first meeting and ten years later, after they've both been married to other people and ups and downs n their lives. It's a second chance novel in more ways than one- not just for love but also for their careers. Chain's got an MFA and an ex that referred to her writing as ordinary; Gabe had an addition problem and blew his big chance. Luckily, he's also got a super friend in Ollie and a supportive family. This a smart rom-com with a terrific protagonist in Chani, who loves LA among other things. Gabe will remind you that those people up on the screen are real-they have dogs, read books, and have secrets (and give canned interviews). I know it's a bit trope-y and fans of the genre know how will end but I really enjoyed this. Sussman's a good storyteller and she roped me in early and kept me reading. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC,. A fun read with characters you'll root for.

The structure of this book— with the jumps from the past into the future made this a quick read. The characters were believable, and even side characters felt fully fleshed out. Even though the plot was kind of a miss for me, I still couldn’t stop reading it.

This book was genuinely funny and kind of sweet, but I did find it a little unbelievable. I would recommend this to fans of the HBO show Starstruck.

Funny You Should Ask

⚠️POTENTIAL SPOILERS ⚠️

QUICK SYNOPSIS:
Chani (a writer, journalist, author) gets to meet Gabe (a gorgeous actor she’s been fan-girling) to write a article about the controversy around him playing Bond in an upcoming film. They end up spending the weekend together when she is invited to a premier, a club and a house party. Some hot connections are made and Chani realizes there may be more to the weekend than writing an article. But by the end of their time together, through a series of miscommunication and things left unsaid, they disappear from each other’s lives for 10 years. One weekend of history and 10 years and a lot of growth later, they meet again.

THE GOOD:
•I could not stop reading this book and when I was forced to stop, I kept thinking about it.
•I prefer a book with spice. This has a little but I didn’t even care bc the tension between the two was so engulfing.
•I loved the THEN/NOW format with articles and media throughout explaining the story.
•I just had some much deep feelings come to the surface for these two
•The puppy. You dog ppl are going to melt into a puddle when you read how the pup plays a role in the book. 🥺
•How they kept tabs on each other over time

THE CRITICAL:
•There was not much I didn’t like. If I had to pick something, Chani maybe cared a bit too much what ppl thought of her. 🤷‍♀️ But I still get it.
•When I first started reading, I found the authors use of analogies to be a bit much, but as I continued to read I came to enjoy them more. Very relatable.
•Would have enjoyed Gabe’s internal monologue but it didn’t hurt the story.

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🐶 famous/not famous trope
🐶 tension and clever banter
🐶 second chances
🐶 old movies
🐶 adorable pups
🐶 love at first
🐶 distinct character growth

⭐️: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶:🌶🌶

Thanks NetGalley, the publisher Dell, Penguin Random House and the author, Elissa Sussman for sharing this ARC with me.

A journalist and actor meet up 10 years after an interview boosts both their careers. I liked the Then/Now format, peppered with articles and blog posts in between. I felt that the flashbacks in the Now parts of what happened between the Then/Now threw off the flow of the story. I liked the plot, but didn’t really connect with the characters.

Thank you to Random House Publishing-Ballentine and NetGalley for the advanced copy. This book publishes April 12, 2022.

4.5 !! I absolutely LOVED this. I was hooked on the awesome cover, and the inside was just as great! I was rooting for Chani and Gabe from the beginning. Their chemistry was undeniable, and seeing them get back together after 10 years was everything I was hoping for! Will definitely be reading more books from this author after this.