Funny You Should Ask

I was sold on reading this book when I saw it compared to The Idea of You, which for those who have been longtime followers you will know is my favorite romance book to date.

The similarity is that this book revolves around Gabe Parker, the latest James Bond and the hottest male celebrity of the moment. In my mind, Gabe Parker= Chris Hemsworth or someone from the Marvel world. Chani is a young journalist who became famous from an article she published about Gabe when he was in his twenties. They shared a memorable weekend together that had a lasting impact on both of their careers.

When Chani is asked to reinterview Gabe a decade later, they are both forced to confront their history and what happened between them ten years ago.

I read this book in one sitting during a feverish daze (lol) and all I wanted was a good romance and the glamorous LA vibes I get while watching Selling Sunset.

It’s certainly not going to usurp the place of The Idea of You in my heart, but if you want an engrossing forbidden love trope, this is that!

This is a book about messy and complicated relationships and I loved every second of it. It's a beautiful exploration of a fraught relationship but I just could not get over the fact that all of this tension and longing was the result of spending one weekend together. I could definitely make an argument that it is reasonable that two people would become obsessed with each other after just three days but it came across as more of a distraction for me. I couldn't stop thinking about how stupid they were for putting so much stock into a person they barely knew outside of their public persona/media presence.

I wish the book had further explored the fact that the main characters had these idealized versions of the other built up in their heads from reading about each other before they met/over the ten years they were apart. A more explicit acknowledgement of this and the implications around parasocial relationships would have added a layer of depth to the novel that would have made it an all-time favorite book. I really think this was a missed opportunity for the author.

That said, and this will sound contradictory to what I say above, I adored this book and Chani and Gabe's relationship. The chemistry between them was palpable from the very beginning and the slow build of sexual tension was exquisite. The discussion around addiction was delicately handled and executed well. Chani's feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome were so relatable and it was one of my favorite aspects of the novel. The prose was subtly funny and clever and the characters felt real and three dimensional. I'm really looking forward to seeing what this author puts out next!

I found this book to be a charming romantic comedy about Gabe a big movie star and the journalist Chani who interviewed him. It follows a ten year span between their first interview and present day. I enjoyed following their love story, however I did think their initial romance could have benefited from a slower build and more detail in how they became attracted to one another. Overall I found this novel very enjoyable!

If ever there were a catfish cover, this would be it. The comic-style cover art of Funny You Should Ask belies the novel's earnest messages on love, life, and career. Like the recently reviewed Birds of California by Katie Cotugno, Funny You Should Ask is a short, beautiful novel that catches the reader off-guard. (And seeing Cotugno thanked in the Acknowledgements section confirmed the tentative comparison I made while reading.)

The story balances on Chani, a brilliantly three-dimensional character struggling with both her own desires and the reality of her situation. Growth—personal and professional—is a central insistence of this novel, and the dual timelines convey the characters' arcs without seeming too heavy-handed. Sussman's "newspaper articles" interspersed throughout the chapters are also microcosmic comments on today's celebrity-obsessed world, emphasizing the stories of both those in front of the microphone and those behind it.

This novel made me gasp, laugh, and most of all, sigh in relief. It's tense, this up-and-down arc between Chani and Gabe, this will-they-won't-they. But what strikes me most about ​Funny You Should Ask is how quickly it converted me to a love-at-first-sight believer (in fiction, at least). Instalove in literature has never been my style—until now. Maybe it's the pining done right, or the undeniable chemistry between the Chani and Gabe, or simply the fact that this is a very, very good novel.

Funny You Should Ask straddles the line between light romance and deep reflection and is certainly suitable enough for both contemporary literature lovers and romance lovers.

​Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Chani is an aspiring writer honing her chops in entertainment reporting. When she interviews an up and coming mega star, Gabe, her career and his really take off. It's now ten years later and Gabe and Chani have both been divorced, Gabe has been in and out of rehab, and their lives have taken very different turns. Chani is asked to interview Gabe once again as a "follow-up" to their initial interview and as a way to re-introduce him as he tries to resurrect his career. The first time she interviewed Gabe it changed her life in unmistakeable ways... she is positive this time could have similar results. But she's desperate for answers so she accepts the job.

I enjoyed this book and the story between Gabe and Chani. It was a very authentic (and sometimes sad) look at the price of fame. The age of old question of being known or being loved - which would you prefer and can you have both?

The excerpts from other "publications" was a bit distracting to me and I had a hard time keeping up with which events were happening in real time and which were recollections. I felt like the additional pieces included in the story distracted from the focus on Gabe and Chani - but I did understand their point.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was fantastic - I loved it and devoured it so quickly! The dual timelines worked really well to tell the story of Chani and Gabe. I was desperate to get answers/see forward progress in the Now timeline but I enjoyed their first meeting/weekend so much that I found both timelines equally compelling. I loved the addition of the articles/blog posts interspersed throughout, although there were times I was a little confused as to whether I was reading an article from Then or Now, so adding dates to those might have helped. I was usually able to figure out what timeline it was from pretty quickly, but then I'd have to go back and start re-reading once I knew the proper context.

Chani and Gabe's story was really moving. I loved both of the characters so much. I really enjoyed how Gabe was always surprising me by being different than what I expected. The "insider" Hollywood stuff was also really fun and interesting to read about!

Really looking forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Elissa Sussman's Funny You Should Ask, is a sweet romantic novel, following writer, Chani, and movie star, Gabe. The novel switches time periods of "then" and "now," and shows how the relationship between these two developed, crashed and rebuilt itself. The book is a perfect escape from reality.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this novel.

4.5 stars

<b><i>I close my eyes as he kisses me.

My entire heart feels like it’s sitting at the base of my throat. Heavy. Tight.

“It’s you,” he says.</i></b>

😍😍😍

Wow! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I absolutely loved the originality, dry wit and the two main characters, Chani and Gabe. They charmed me, made me laugh, sigh, cringe, but most of all, made me root for them so hard. I’m a sucker for second chance romances with years and years of mutual pining in between, and <i>Funny You Should Ask</i> delivered in spades.

The format of this book alternates between two timelines: Then and Now, interspersed with celebrity news reports, movie and book reviews, Chani’s original interview with Gabe ten years ago and her own personal blog posts. The narrative is almost entirely in Chani’s POV but fortunately, I still got a lot of what Gabe was thinking, feeling and his insecurities, even though I wasn’t in his head. Both of them are painfully relatable, despite Gabe’s fame and Chani’s notoriety. I thought it was very clever to show the juxtaposition of Chani’s published article of her incredulously fun weekend with Gabe vs. the real life account of how awkward and tense it actually was between them most of the time. No doubt a commentary on how Hollywood manufactures narratives that aren’t always true to actual events.

This is a slow burn romance but believe me when I say that the burn is 100% present and scorching hot between these two. It starts off very much as instant attraction, but their chemistry is undeniable and unrequited until much, <i>much</i> later. We are talking ten years of yearning on both sides here, no small feat.

Personally I appreciate characters who reconnect after they’ve done a bit of growing up. Their acknowledgment that something could’ve never happened the first time around, is a lesson in restraint—entirely necessary and purposeful. Both Chani and Gabe had to do a lot of emotional heavy lifting (depression, addiction, divorce, inadequate feelings of self-worth) before they could find their HEA with each other.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and am happy to discover a new author whose writing effortlessly sucked me into the world of her characters. The cover design was what first caught my eye—I adore the kitschy illustration style—but the love story is one I’ll be thinking about for a long while.

Highly recommend this book! This was my first book to read by this author and I can't wait to read more! The characters and the story stay with you long after you finish the book. One of the best books I have read in a long time.

Definitely not a typical romance! Chani is an up and coming writer who has been given a huge break to interview a hot, Hollywood actor who has just gotten the role of Bond. What she is not expecting is the intense feelings she starts to feel for Gabe. Is she just star struck or is something really there?

What is different about this book is that it spans 10 years. The reader is left with a mystery as to what happens between the two of them. The novel includes articles that were published which gives you clues to their relationship and what has happened between the two of them. I liked the different format as it kept me guessing as to what happened. It gave a little mystery element that you don't typically see in a romance. I also thought both of the main characters were likable and I cared what happened to them. The cover didn't really seem to fit this novel. It is definitely not a light read but an enjoyable one where you really start to connect with the characters and their relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley and Morgan Hoit at Random House Publishing for this advanced copy.

Finished this book in one day! Loved everything about it! It is funny how life has a plan and when it presents itself somethings you are not ready it is about second chances, destiny and true love! This story is sweet, funny and romantic with a touch of Christmas!

Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Susan is a novel told not just through exposition and dialogue, but also through blog posts and articles and flashbacks. I loved it all and was absolutely rooting for Chani and Gabe the whole time! The author paced this story perfectly and I look forward to reading her next book!!!

This was the PERFECT slow-burn romance with a HEA. Being Jewish myself, I love how the main character Chani was also Jewish. Definitely put an interesting twist on the typical female protagonist. With Chani being a writer, I love how the book was interspersed with journalistic-type interviews. It definitely added some fun to the book. The romance over the years between Chani and the movie star Gabe was amazing! I would highly recommend this book to others and Elissa Sussman is now on my list of favorite romance authors!

Loved this adorable well written book! From the first page to the last, Funny You Should Ask left me with all the warm and fuzzy feelings and left me wanting more. Highly recommend for a super cute light chic lit book!

Thank you to net galley for the arc in exchange of an honest review!

This was a heartwarming story that I thoroughly enjoyed! I really loved these characters and this story! I was immersed from the first page. Definitely a page turner!

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine, Dell and #NetGalley for my honest opinion. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Fun, light Rom Com novel. Perfect for a quick read.

This was a fantastic book. I can’t believe it’s the author’s first adult novel! It captured my attention fully from chapter one. The premise was intriguing - writer Chani Horowitz writing a profile on new Bond actor Gabe Parker. What a fun idea for the reader to immerse themselves in. Who wouldn’t want to be in Chani’s shoes? I enjoyed the format of the book - the back and forth between past and present, coupled with various articles about both main characters. There is the slight suspension in reality when you think about the characters only being in each others’ presence for 6 days in 10 total years. But it was easy to move past that and just believe in soul mates by the conclusion of the book. I hope all readers give author Elissa Sussman a chance with her debut adult novel - you won’t be disappointed!

I very much enjoyed my time with Chani and Gabe. There were some really funny moments, some sad ones too, and a sweet love story that kept me entertained. This book just made me smile and I would recommend it to lovers of romance, but also those who just love an entertaining book that is fun to spend some time in and leaves you feeling better about life.

I'm sorry but THIS BOOK IS...so so so so good. I wasn't expecting it. It felt like a light read. And it was- it was enjoyable, paced well, quick smart writing. But it also was more- about the price of fame, the confusion of career, families, and second chance romance.

I will be singing this book's praises until it comes out. I think this would be a great book for people who don't think they like romance. Romance is so much more than the world says it is, and this books proves it.

This was a cute Rom Com. Just not my cup of tea. Very predictable. Wish I had more to say, it was just a struggle to finish