Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. It seemed super unrealistic, the slow burn was too slow and I just was not a fan after 40% so I stopped. I think this book could be great for others though and the writing was ok.

FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK
By Elissa Sussman

Two time frames, the then and ten years later, the now.

FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK takes readers to journalist Chani Horowitz and Hollywood heartthrob Gabe Parker’s initial profile interview where they spend a weekend together, to a reunion many years later catching up on their lives and if that weekend meant anything to the two of them. I enjoyed the interspersed articles, to posts from the blog, and how the two time frames told the story of their past encounter. I thought that the writing was well done, especially the beginning where the story hooked me right away. I thought it was a fun and enjoyable light read. Also, learning that Gabe was loosely based on Ben Affleck sounds really fun to me as well.

For a fun read with imperfect characters and a second chance at romance, check this one out.

I did not finish this. I’m sorry. I won’t be able to give a good review. I’m hoping to pick it back up d knot it more next time.

I am OBSESSED!

I’m not a fan of celebrities in real life, but in books?! F*** me right up.

And we’re going to make it a second chance romance?! SAY LESS!

This was a quick read. Told in the present and in the past 10 years ago. It’s the love story of Chani and Gabe, a love that’s been in the making for10 years. It’s a sweet read and the celebrity trope is one of my favorites. The author took an interesting approach on how the story unfolded, from the past and the present told in chunks and through articles. It was different and I liked it. If you are looking for a fun and quick romance then this is it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random Hose Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I am a big fan of the celeb/normal person romance and this one definitely delivered. Love the multiple timelines for this story and reading the actual events vs how they were recapped in blogs/articles etc. My only criticism is that I wasn't quite convinced that these two would be pining for each other for over a decade based on one weekend together, But I was willing to overlook it for the fun of the plot.

I absolutely loved this read! "Funny You Should Ask" is fresh, funny, and smart. The love interests were well written and I found myself cheering for both of them as individuals and together. I have a hard time relating to characters that are 15+ years older than me, but that was not the case at all with this read. I also favor linear stories but the format of this book was easy to digest and didn't cause me any confusion. It was fun, it was light, it handled harder topics in a smart way. I would recommend this read to all my friends regardless of what their preferred genres are.

In case you haven’t read yet, this book was inspired by an interview and story by Edith Zimmerman in GQ with Chris Evans. Chani Horowitz is tasked to interview her celebrity crush and upcoming Bond (Star? Man? Admittedly, I have never watched a Bond movie and I am not about to start now), Gabe Parker. Flashing back and forth from the past to the present, with some articles thrown in here and there, this novel follows Chani and Parker throughout a decade of wins and losses, triumphs and mistakes.

What I Liked: This book was a fun summer read. I love the trope involved, huge sucker for celebrity-regular person romances. I really loved the concept. It was cute and fluffy for the most part and an easy relaxing read, felt like fanfic in a good way. The cover art is quite wonderful too.

What I Did Not Like: The structure was a little all over the place making it a little tough to follow. I think there should have maybe been a disclaimer that it was heavily inspired by an actual interview. I am also not a fan of insta-love because it’s so tough to get right, and while I believed the lust, I don’t think either of these characters truly knew each other, even in the end.

I loved the format of this book and both Chani and Gabe's characters. I didn't know what to expect before reading it and I liked the banter, the "headlines" and what actually happened. Highly recommend this great book. Thank you to to Netgally for the opportunity to read this book, I am just sad I didn't read it sooner!

I adored this book! It was just the book I needed. Quick and fun read! I love books that explore the “right people, wrong time” theme. This was really well done and I devoured it!

Wow hi I loved this book so much! Give me fiction with a romance subplot a la Seven Days in June and pair it with dual timelines and you have me exactly where you want me. I loved the slow burn element, figuring out how the pieces fit together, just a really strong debut. Super impressive. I’m excited for more from Elissa Sussman!

3.75

honestly? in my humble opinion? gabe and chani def didn’t make it past the epilogue. sorry.
however this is super cute and as an avid wattpad consumer i enjoyed this !

This book was such a joy to read, definitely one of my favorite books all year. The characters and the story were so enticing and I enjoyed every minute of this book. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

I devoured this while drinking frosé under an umbrella by a pool. I recommend both the book and the reading environment. This was a fun one, with a hefty amount of yearning/pining (my fave), and didn’t take itself too seriously. If you’re looking to shut off your brain and just go with it for around 300 pages — this will do the trick.

very cute and compelling! I was charmed, the characters felt real and the conflicts made sense (though sometimes felt like yelling “just say how you feel!!!!!!!!!” to them)

Funny You Should Ask
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 (Rounded to 5 ⭐️)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Physical Book
Date Published: 4/12/22
Author: Elissa Sussman
Publisher: Dell
Pages: 352
Goodreads Rating: 3.91

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for providing a digital advanced readers copy of the book for me to read for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: Then. Twentysomething writer Chani Horowitz is stuck. Then she's hired to write a profile of movie star Gabe Parker. The Gabe Parker--her forever celebrity crush, the object of her fantasies, the background photo on her phone--who's also just been cast as the new James Bond. Gabe will get good press, and her career will skyrocket. But what comes next proves to be life-changing in ways Chani never saw coming, as the interview turns into a whirlwind weekend that has the tabloids buzzing. Now. Ten years later, after a brutal divorce and a heavy dose of therapy, Chani is back in Los Angeles, laser-focused on one thing: her work. So when his PR team requests that they reunite for a second interview, she wants to say no. Chani knows that facing Gabe again also means facing feelings she's tried so hard to push away. Alternating between their first meeting and their reunion a decade later, this deliciously irresistible novel will have you hanging on until the last word.

My Thoughts: This story is narrated by Chani, from two timelines, the before article (10 years ago) and the present, with excerpts of various news articles sprinkled in. The characters were well developed, intriguing, had depth, had witty banter, left you with swooning feelings, and I connected with Chani, believing in her the whole time. The author’s writing style was brilliant, complex, creative, and kept me engaged. Who wouldn’t love a celebrity crush? I absolutely adore the celebrity love trope. The book flowed well and the descriptions were so pristine that I felt I was right there with Chanti. The supporting characters were amazing and provided the support that Chanti and Gabe needed to propel forward. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this piece of contemporary romance! The blog entries and articles scattered throughout gave great depth to the character's backstories. I loved the flashbacks, giving us little bits of information at a time of what happened between Gabe and Chani ten years ago. There are things I'd have loved to see more of, but not because Sussman's didn't give us enough. She gave just the right amount to make this story perfect. I simply loved it so much that I selfishly want more of Gabe/Chani, more of his family, more of Ollie.

god i loved this book. i loved chani and gabe's story, the alternating between the then and now, how we get to read chani's famous article, and the the excerpts from various articles that we find at the end of each chapter. once i started reading i couldn't stop, i was hypnotised by the connection between chani and gabe, and my only complaint is that i wished it the book had been a tiny bit longer. i definitely recommend it to fans of second chance romance.

4 stars! I found myself frustrated by Chani's inability to communicate literally ANYTHING to Gabe and would have liked about 100 more pages of them experiencing life together however, at least I FELT something. This book to me was equal parts romance and contemporary fiction, providing me substance and life lessons that really add to the overall arc. I have a feeling this book will really stick with me in the way only my favorites do.

Funny You Should Ask is an entertaining and charming story about a second chance romance for two people that clicked ten years before. It's told in two timelines, ten years prior and present day. When they first meet, Chani is a journalist with the job of interviewing Gabe, an American actor who was just tapped to play James Bond. The article she writes ends up being a sensation, catapulting herself and Gabe into stardom. I loved the connection they had and the ancillary characters, especially Ollie. I flew through the audiobook, which was perfectly narrated by Kristin Sieh. I was intrigued by the depth of the characters and the heavy emotional experiences they both had ten years later. I really enjoyed the lighthearted, sweet story and would recommend it if you're looking for a great beach read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.