Funny You Should Ask is a decent read. Chani, a writer, and Gave, an actor are reunited after 10 years. Both are divorced with lots of vac choices between them. The story flits e tween then and now, which sometimes it was hard to discern which time period it was in.
The heat between the two main characters was lukewarm at best.

I really really enjoyed this book. The famous/regular person trope is one of my favorites in the romance genre. I read the book so fast because I couldn’t wait to find out how it ended. The characters were heart warming and I was really rooting for them.

I really enjoyed this book! The juxtaposition of the storylines from both 10 years earlier to the present day was super engaging. The blog posts, articles, and reviews sprinkled throughout also were fun and gave dimension and depth to the story. The pages seemed to fly by, and I loved the juiciness of the “did they or didn’t they?” idea that the article Chani had written 10 years earlier was centered around. I felt like I was reading a really well-written exposé about what movie stars are really like behind the scenes.

All in all, this was a compelling read that was reminiscent of The Idea of You. Celebrity romance is one of my favorite tropes, and I hope Elissa Sussman writes more of it!

Elissa Sussman wrote a really captivating novel about a writer who makes her living writing celebrity profiles and the movie star who's profile gave her notoriety. Channi feels so real, especially being in the place in your career when you aren't doing what you thought you would be and you are comparing yourself to everyone around you. With that level of self doubt, Channi interviews Gabe Parker, who is just as good looking in person and even more charming than she imagined. Gabe was a sweetheart of a character, despite his obvious flaws. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Elissa Sussman.

Wowowow I loved this book so much!! I absolutely flew through it in just a few days - I would have read it in one sitting if I didn’t have other things to do.

Funny You Should Ask tells the story of Chani & Gabe over a ten-year period. Chani is a twenty-something journalist who is trying to make a name for herself in the industry. Gabe is the current celebrity heartthrob (Ben Affleck? Tom Hardy? Chris Evans??). The two meet when Chani interviews Gabe for an article & things go awry in the best way.

This book is a lot of fun. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, wanting more. If you love a celeb/normal people trope OR you enjoy getting thisclose and then not climaxing (in a literary sense, of course) - you’ll love this one!

CW/TW - alcoholism and death of a parent.

**I will post a review on goodreads closer to launch date!

Funny you should ask is a somewhat sad romance.

Chani interviewed rising movie-star Gabe when she was 26. The pair spent a whirlwind weekend together and the profile she wrote on him, made both of their careers. Their weekend left a lasting impression on both of them, but their love is unrequited.

Now, 10 years later Chani and Gabe are each famous in their own right. Both are divorced and more grown up. Chani is invited to do a follow up profile on Gabe, and she knows she can’t refuse.

The story is told in alternating timelines - between the past and present. Each chapter is broken up by “articles” on Gabe or by Chani’s blog posts.

I really liked the way the story was told. The alternating timelines and articles made the story move quickly and helped me feel like I knew the characters better.

However, I didn’t love the book. I really wished I could connect to the characters more, but I felt like something was missing. I can’t quite put my finger on what I didn’t like, so I guess I just wasn’t really feeling the book.

I think a lot of people are going to like this one though, but it just wasn’t my favorite.

I don't even know where to begin. I LOVED this book. I read it in less than 24 hours and stayed up until 1am to finish. I loved Chani and Gabe so much. I love a good Hollywood star/normal person trope and this did not disappoint. Elissa Sussman did an amazing job developing these characters and I loved the style in which she did it. The day by day past/present writing style keep me wanting to keep reading. I wanted to find out how their original weekend unfolded, what was truth and what was in the article., and I definitely wanted to find out what was in store for them in the future. Gabe was swoony, but so troubled. I loved his development the most because I wanted him to get control over his demons and realize that he is worthy of success and love. I thought Chani was really well rounded too. She fan girled enough around Gabe (because wouldn't we all?!), but also kept true to herself and wasn't a sell out. I have already recommended this book to all my friends and followers and have pre-ordered a physical copy. Well done, Ms. Sussman!

5/5 stars!!!

This is a completely bingeable book that you will not want to put down. It kept me up late at night reading. There were so many breadcrumbs dropped that I just had to read one more chapter which turned into pretty much the whole book. The alternating storylines were very engaging and well done. I loved seeing the character growth from the past to the present. I always enjoy a celebrity romance and this hit the spot!

😍loved || 💋some steam
🤟fast read, emotional, writers life
📚The Idea of You (but with a HEA)
🎶Collide by Howie Day

I LOVED this book. I devour it. The timelines kept the whole relationship interesting while you know where things are going. Both characters are completely fleshed out and believable with just enough of that almost fantasy feel from a romance.

LOVED this book! So cute and clever. Think this would be an unreal movie adaption. Loved all the deux moi subtle references and truly thought this was my favorite “fun” read of the year so far.

I read this on the recommendation of a friend who let me know it was loosely based on the famous Chris Evans article from 2011. The author is also Jewish, so I obviously had to read it. I’m not a huge rom com fan, but what a treat this book was.

Loved the importance of pronouncing “Chani” to the love interest, and also loved how mature and adult both parties were after their reunion. The dialogue was pretty realistic, with a few exceptions. This is a solid rom com, full of real life issues but still sweet. Highly recommend!

10 years ago, Chani Horowitz interviewed Hollywood actor Gabe Parker, who was then on the cusp of starring as the new James Bond. Chani's interview went viral, in a large part due to the fact that she spent a weekend with Gabe, getting a peek behind the curtain at the life of a Hollywood star. Yet speculation about whether Chani slept with Gabe during that fateful weekend trailed her for the following decade, garnering interest in her writing and career.

Now, Chani has been asked to once again interview Gabe.

My favorite element of the book was the author's storytelling device. I loved getting the dual timeline coupled with timely journalistic pieces about Gabe and his career. Chapter by chapter the truth of what happened during that fateful weekend is revealed. This was so well done.

I liked this book, but I don't think I ever fully connected with the main characters individually or as a romantic pair. If you enjoy the instalove, second chance or famous/non-famous person tropes or Hollywood culture and celebrity life, this book will be for you.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for this early review copy. I will post a review on my Instagram account @theonewhereaimeereads closer to publication day.

This is how you write slow-burn!

The tension, the will they-won't they, the second chance romance with dual timelines. It was done so well.

I've read only 10% of the book and send a message to my reading buddy telling her I pictured Chris Evans as Gabe and what do you know? There is an infamous GQ article written by a female reporter about Chris Evans being chosen as the Marvels' new Captain America!

Gabe is set to become the first American Bond but the fans are not happy with the choice so his team wants a positive profile on him. Chani is selected as the reporter. They get together for an interview then she ends up being his plus one for a premier then there is an afterparty and they went clubbing then next day a house party at Gabe's place. Chani and Gabe spend the whole weekend together. Chani is trying to figure out if he is being so nice and flirtatious towards her because of the profile she'll write on him or could this gorgeous human being be into her?

Chani's career takes off after the interview and years later everyone is still curious about what has really transpired between the two. Ten years after their first interview the two get together for another interview and they have to talk about all the things they left unsaid all those years ago.

This was compulsively readable. It was funny, it was honest, it was well-written. I'd definitely recommend this book to the readers who like Hollywood behind the scenes stories and who likes second change romance stories,

The only thing that bothered me was that her career trajectory and people's insinuations about her relationship with him was repeated way too many times. It became repetitive.

Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman follows the story of Chani, a reporter assigned to profile the new James Bond. After a weekend and a viral article they reunite after 10 years foe a followup piece. I devoured the book in 24 hours. The characters are complying, the story addiciting. The book expertly weaves in and out of then and now. I would love to read a follow-up, it ended too soon.

I’ve been so excited to read Funny You Should Ask and I flew through it so quickly.

I love a second chance romance and a celeb/normal person love story! The premise of this immediately drew me in and it really delivered. It is creative and unique enough, while still being just so fun and filled with references that are just specific enough to create a fully developed world. It does a great job of being happy and fun throughout, while still feeling real and touching on the topics of grief, addiction, divorce, and fame.

The pacing at the end was a bit weird for me and I would have liked to see more of Chani’s article throughout.

I didn't know what to expect going into Funny You Should Ask, but it's one of those books that just knocks you off your feet and drags you along for the ride. I was sucked in from the very moment, and thoroughly enjoyed the storyline as it bounced between Chani and Gabe first meeting and the whirlwind that followed after, and the "present" aka ten years later.

Funny You Should Ask is a sweet romance following magazine writer Chani and her interviewee movie-star Gabe Parker (please do not fault my Boston-loving heart, but I kept picturing Chris Evans!) during their first meeting and then ten-years later at their reportorial reunion. Sussman weaves Chani's career-launching interview, snippets from her blog, and reviews of Gabe's movies into the actual events and seamlessly switches from 'then' to 'now' as the plot moves forward. Irl readers—like Chani's readers—are continually left wondering what exactly happened over the weekend she spent with Gabe to result in such speculation, but the asides were so thoughtfully done that I didn't mind waiting for the answer. My only complaint is that the novel ends on such a hopeful high note—and I desperately wanted even a short epilogue beyond what was provided to spend more time with our love-birds.

I really enjoyed this slow-burn, second-chance romance.
Chani was a unique and quirky character who had strengths and weakness that were relatable. Gabe was your typical movie star but his inner demons and relationship with his family made him a fully developed leading man, which doesn't always happen in romance books.

With the story being split into past and present you got a full picture of the characters. relationship and growth. When Chani and Gabe reunite after 10 years, you understand their history and where they are in their lives currently. This book incorporates difficult topics like death, divorce, and addiction in a way where it adds to the plot but doesn't overwhelm it.

I'm not usually a fan of books that have this slow of a burn. But the tension and banter between Chani and Gabe make the ending worthwhile. Overall a fun and well written romance!

Rating: 5/5
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Women's Fiction
Warnings: alcoholism, divorce
Read if you liked: One True Loves/After I Do
Steam: 2/5 (one on page scene)
Tropes: slow burn, second chance, celebrate romance, jewish rep

Thank you to Random House/Ballantine for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. Funny You Should Ask will be released on April 12th, 2022.

Do you ever read a book and completely surprised by how much you loved it? I went into Funny You Should Ask with no expectations and I can honestly say, it might be one of my favorite books of the year. Some of my favorite writing is by Rebecca Serle and Taylor Jenkins Reid, this book had elements of that kind of writing. It drew me in and kept me wanting to read. Respecting the messiness of human beings and the beauty of their love stories.

Things I loved: The dialogue was amazing and it created such delightful tension/pining. The alternating timelines were really well done and it set up the story perfectly. Chani was such a character I could relate to, confident and blunt while being so incredibly awkward and dorky. Gabe was such an observant old soul, I loved how much he loved his family and was devoted to learning. I also loved how easily he included Chani and didn't let her get pushed to the side on their weekends. The dog, the bookstore, the burgers...that club scene. Ollie was a delightful addition as a side character. The way this conflict came to be was so adult and real for people in their late 3os/early 40s. The blog posts, articles and columns that were included really added to the missing timeline.

Things I didn't care for: The novelist...If you know, you know. I would have LOVED dual POV with this book, but this was Chani's story and I respect the way this was written.

Oh, how I loved this book. This is one of the freshest, funniest, and best rom-coms that I've read in recent years and I cannot wait to tell everyone I know to read it.

I loved the main character, Chani, for her quirkiness and realness. Sometimes authors cross over into being too quirky with their characters, but Chani felt like a relatable and down-to-earth woman. I also really enjoyed the dual timeline in this book. The passage of time created tension that you wanted to know what happened. And I loved the inclusion of excerpts from articles and gossip blogs - I thought that was so fun!

Overall, a really smart, enjoyable read that kept me intrigued and had me rooting for the characters. Sussman balanced the Hollywood novel very well.