If you already like friends to lovers romance and particularly longterm friends to lovers, I think you will enjoy this book. Emma Barry captures the emotions of being convinced that the relationship cannot go romantic or the friendship will be ruined type situation, but that's also the type of thing that can frustrate people who don't love the trope. Personally I really appreciated that.

The other key aspect of this book besides the childhood friends to lovers is that our MMC is a mess. He is messy and has no filter and also pulls his life apart for comedy, which makes him good at his job, but also his boundaries are maybe not the best. In contrast, our FMC is extremely well put together. She's so good at her job. She seems to adult well. And she's struggling to decide if it's time to move on. So, I think that if you're not the biggest fan of that sort of dynamic, you may not appreciate this book as much as I did.

My final note specifically about this book is that I really do think Emma Barry has a really great writing style that is extremely engaging and easy to fall into. So I definitely recommend if you're looking for a quick read with some interesting characters!

If you love Scoring Off the Field by Naima Simone, pick up this book. If you loved this book and you haven't read Scoring Off the Field, I'm going to need you to pick that up immediately.

A cute read. I didn’t really click with it though so it was a little bit of a drag unfortunately. I am a sucker for bestfriends to lovers so it was enjoyable!

A cute romance that made me smile. I will have to find more Emma Barry books and read them! Enjoyable and unputdownable.

Look, this was angstier than I was expecting, but Barry absolutely sticks the landing. (Or punchline, if we're going for a comedy analogy.) It's friends-to-lovers, where Sam and Bree grew up together in awful family situations. They're both living in New York now, escaping the demons of their past. Sam is a successful comedian and performer on fake-SNL and Bree works to increase affordable housing in the city. Sam's career is on the rocks after a public outburst and his ex's hit song about all of his very real flaws. Bree's considering a new job that would take her away from NYC, but after a lifetime of loving Sam, she has a hard time imagining a life away from him, even if it's probably what she needs. Sam's a bit of a hot mess, which I don't usually find attractive, but he does experience real growth. Their chemistry is believable and the story is an intriguing read-alike to Romantic Comedy.

Emma Barry’s FUNNY GUY (Montlake, 271 pp., paperback, $16.99), a take on comedic and romantic timing, features a city planner and an improv comedian whose pop-star ex just turned his shortcomings into a hit single.

Sam has a chip on his shoulder and a tendency toward impulsive mistakes; it has made him a star but also kept his childhood scars on full display. His best friend, Bree, is cautious and hesitant, dragging her feet when it comes to telling Sam anything: that she’s in love with him; that she has been offered a spectacular new job in another city.

The problem isn’t reconciling two sets of feelings. No, our couple struggle with finding a shared rhythm, a sense of pace for their relationship that doesn’t feel glacial by Sam’s standards or reckless by Bree’s. It’s a tug of war that would be hard for a less adept writer to pull off, but Barry’s work has always thrived on this kind of interplay. She seems to be feeling her way to a new kind of structure here, one that’s organic and messy but still generates a vital catharsis.

Ok, I really liked this book - something about the voice and the story just clicked for me. It can be really hard to do a friends to lovers trope well, but in this case it seemed very believable and realistic why the two main characters had not gotten together before. I loved the comic/SNL spin, and love a grumpy/kind of broken hero realizing he needs to make some changes and then moving forward with that plan. Definitely excited to see what Emma Barry does next.

Since he was a child the one constant in Sam’s life has been his best friend, Bree. She has always been there for him through all the ups and downs so when the ending of his most recent relationship goes viral it was only natural that he would stay with her until the frenzy ended. He expected that this would be like the other times she has been there for him, but she has some news that will force him to re-evaluate their relationship.

Bree has a successful career, and she has been in love with her best friend since they were teenagers even if he doesn’t know. She has come to accept that he only wants a friendship so the best way to protect her heart is by distancing herself from him and the recent job offer out of town is the way to do that, but his reaction will change everything.

This is a story of two people who with the help of each other overcame their less than idyllic childhoods. They were both scared of destroying the best relationship in their lives as their journey is filled with humor and emotion.

gosh what a fun, sexy, and angsty romance for these two forever friends. HE is such an absolute disaster and mess, and i really loved seeing how Barry worked how these two forever friends finally got their HEA. An epic Howl's Moving Castle inspired tale (he is SUCH a Howl).

I will definitely need to reread this at some point because I want to hear the jokes on audio!

thank you to the publisher for the ARC

Sam and Bree are childhood best friends who have overcome impossible odds to find success in their respective careers. Bree has been in love with Sam for as long as she can remember but her feelings have been unrequited.

This is a pretty classic friends-to-lovers story full of pining. I appreciated that Bree never had the “rose-colored glasses” when it came to Sam. She knew who he was as a person and a lot of the insecurities she carried into their relationship were legitimate. It was clear that they both had some growing to do before they could bring their whole selves to their relationship.

I’m normally not a fan of a 3rd act breakup but in the case of this book, it was both well done and necessary for the growth of our main characters. Honestly, both characters reacted realistically to the situation at hand and their subsequent actions made sense. I also appreciated the mention of Sam going to therapy in the epilogue. Love is wonderful but it isn’t a silver bullet for mental health.

There wasn’t much talk of Sam and Bree’s life before ending up in NYC together. I think that’s the only place where this story misses the mark for me. If there had been some flashbacks or conversation around their past, maybe some build up around when Bree fell in love, it would have added more depth to their characters and their relationship.

Prepare yourself for a laugh-out-loud gem with “Funny Guy“! Join Sam, the self-proclaimed funny guy, and his loyal childhood best friend Bree. Right from the start, Sam’s antics will have you in stitches.


The undeniable chemistry between Sam and Bree is the heart and soul of this delightful story. As they transition from best friends to lovers, their journey is filled with heartwarming moments and some comedic relief. Their friends can see the sparks flying, but will they realize their true feelings before it’s too late?
But it’s not all laughter and jokes for Bree. She has been secretly in love with her best friend Sam since they were young. They both grew up in less-than-stellar homes and scraped their way out into careers they love. Now, Bree is trying to find the courage to move on and concentrate on her dreams even if it means without Sam.

Adding to the comedy gold is the unforgettable pop-singer ex and her chart-topping hit, “Lost Boy.” Sam, the lost boy himself, can’t escape the paparazzi frenzy and scandalous headlines that come with it. This love song turned comedic nightmare has him crashing on Bree’s studio apartment couch, turning their lives into a real-life sitcom with no commercial breaks. I just wish we had some lyrics of “Lost Boy” to get an idea of who and what Sam is like in a romantic relationship.

The pacing of “Funny Guy” is crafted with comedic mishaps and heartwarming romantic tension. You’ll find yourself eagerly turning pages, unable to resist the magnetic pull of the story. This rom-com gem is a perfect blend of laughter, love, and a touch of bad boy charm.


“Funny Guy” is a must-read for anyone in need of a good laugh and a delightful dose of romance. Get ready to fall in love with this cute gem!

This review was a challenge because I felt like I was waiting to like the book more than I did. And the book is fine! It's a lot better than other contemps out right now. I just couldn't see myself rereading it. I liked the character growth a lot, both have their fair share though moreso for Sam. I liked that Bree worked for her own goals and they weren't derailed by the potential relationship and Sam's fame. Barry's writing is solid all around. I wish I could put my finger on what the missing spark is, but not sure yet.

Dear Emma Barry,

I loved Chick Magnet, released earlier this year and was excited to read Funny Guy, although I knew from your social media posts that it is a very different book. Different is fine – but unfortunately Funny Guy didn’t work quite as well for me as I’d hoped.

Sam Leyland is a stand-up comedian who works on a New York-based live TV show ‘Comedy Hour’. He’s funny but gets into trouble a lot and self-identifies as an asshole. It’s obvious that Comedy Hour is based, at least loosely, on Saturday Night Live.

You clearly say in your author’s note at the end that none of the characters are based on real people but it’s difficult not to make connections to actual humans. At least, it was for me. While Sam is described as physically quite different to a certain former SNL performer who has guest hosted recently, I couldn’t help but insert the real person into the storyline and I found it jarring. Part of this is that I personally do not find that person attractive but part of it is that I prefer my fiction to stay fictional. When real life starts to blur into a romance novel it tends not to work as well for me. I have deliberately not said the real-life comedian’s name because if I had not made the connection between him and this book I think I’d have enjoyed it better and I want to give other readers the chance to live in ignorant bliss.

When I could wrench my mind away from picturing the real life man and thought only of Sam I enjoyed the book better.

Funny Guy is a somewhat darker book than Chick Magnet. Even though Sam is a comedian, his comedy is based on his painful childhood. He grew up in abusive household and lived in poverty. His best friend, Bryony (Bree) Edwards grew up in the same trailer park in Ohio. They know everything there is to know about one another. Bree knows the painful secrets that form the basis of Sam’s comedy. She knows that a lot it isn’t actually a joke.

Bree has been in love with Sam for 17 years but she’s never told him. He’s too important to her to risk their friendship and Sam is notoriously bad at relationships. In fact, the book begins with his latest romantic disaster the cause of yet more trouble for him: his ex-girlfriend, Salem, a pop star (I couldn’t help but think of Taylor Swift even though, as far as I know, Tay Tay has never been romantically connected to [redacted]), has written a song about Sam called “Lost Boy”. Sam is humiliated by it and he’s not coping well. The media are all over him and members of the public are loudly speculating about the song and him when he’s nearby (rude!).

Sam has long thought his career success was basically on a knife’s edge. He’s destined to slip and make a bloody mess at some point and ruin everything. He just knows it. But he can’t help but stay on the edge and tempt fate.

Bree wishes Sam would look after himself better, maybe get some therapy, think better of himself. Bree also has realised that she needs to separate herself from Sam in order to have a real life of her own. Sam overshadows every part of her existence – he’s bigger than life and she loves him. While Sam doesn’t intentionally take advantage of Bree, he nonetheless does and Bree lets him. It’s a weirdly co-dependent relationship. It …did not always seem healthy to me.

Bree is an urban planner with a passion for sustainability and functionality for everyone in the community, not just the wealthy, not just home/business -owners. She’s reached the pinnacle of where she can go in New York and has a chance to run her own team within a prestigious firm based in Michigan but she will work all over the US and even in other countries if she takes the job and moves. However, moving would be moving away from Sam, whose role at Comedy Hour would keep him in New York. Bree dreads telling Sam. He will feel betrayed and abandoned and Bree does not want to add to his abandonment issues. But she also knows it’s time for her to do something for herself so that she can move on. She cannot bear to watch Sam fall in love (again) and for her to have no relationship because she’s pining for Sam all the time. Her boss in New York doesn’t hate Sam but urges Bree to take the job and do something for herself. She gives her some good advice when Bree asks her how one knows if they’re doing the right thing.

“You don’t,” she finally said in answer to Bree’s question. “Not at the time. Right and wrong are labels you apply after the fact, and they’re lies half the time anyway. You don’t know what would’ve happened if you’d taken the other path, and you don’t know if you’ve chosen wisely. That Robert Frost guy was a liar.”

Due to the publicity around “Lost Boy”, Sam stays in Bree’s apartment for a while to lie low and in that time, the dynamic between the pair shifts. Bree was already dreading telling Sam about the job in Michigan but when they move from friends to lovers that dread becomes existential. I think we all know where it’s headed.

Perhaps it’s not just my mental association with Mr. Real Life and Sam that was the problem. Sam was somewhat difficult for me to like. Some of his behaviours were self-destructive and he’s a very needy guy. I often thought the pressure he put on Bree was unfair. There were times when I wondered why Bree loved him so much, why she put up with his bullshit. To his credit, Sam sometimes wonders the same thing.

The book ends happily of course. But more importantly perhaps, by the end, Sam is a better person and isn’t as reliant on Bree for his mental equilibrium. At least, not the way he was.

I found Sam a little difficult to connect with. There were times when I could and those were the bits I enjoyed the most – when I couldn’t, the reverse applied. I liked Bree and her friends from work who saw her as so much more than just Sam’s best friend and who wanted her to see herself that way too. I liked the parts about Bree’s job and how she made things better for the people she worked for (and I don’t (just) mean her employer).

Overall, Funny Guy was a bit of a mixed bag for me.

Grade: B-

Regards,
Kaetrin

I think that Emma Barry is quickly becoming one of my new favorite authors! I absolutely loved this book and her last book I read Chick Magnet and I didn't think that Sam and Bree would blow me away the way they did in this book. Sam and Bree were such interesting and fun to read especially when they weren't able to communicate. Both Sam and Bree had so much history together, which made it difficult for them to envision more than friendship and actually being romantic. Reading most of their story was bittersweet, but it was so rewarding when Sam and Bree got together, it actually made me cry because all of their friends could see that they were meant to be together. I'm also so happy that Sam ended up making himself vulnerable on the Comedy Hour to show Bree that he was serious about her and was also acknowledging how he could've been better to various people over his life. I think it was the big move that he needed to make in order to move onto a healthier point in his life with Bree.

I'm so lucky to have gotten a copy from NetGalley and Montlake. Thank you so much for giving me a copy, all opinions are my own.

The heroine has romantic feelings for the hero for a long time and wants to move on with her life at the beginning of this book. The hero is immortalized in an ex's hit song and had hit a point with it when he is introduced in the story. The hero and the heroine had been friends for a long time, and this dynamic will change when life-changing events forced each of them to make decisions that may bring them together...or apart.

This is my first Emma Barry book that I've read. It's a friends-to-lovers story with a strong cast of characters that enriched the book. There were definitive moments that I enjoyed reading, but the story wasn't as grifting as it could be in my eyes. I really liked the heroine and her character, but the hero was frustrating at times that I didn't feel connected to him as much as with the heroine. Therefore, I wasn't committed to their HEA as I could have been since this book has my favorite romance trope of all time. That said, it's still a nice book and I would still want to read more Emma Barry books in the future.


** Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own. **

Funny Guy by Emma Barry focuses on a friends-to-lovers romance featuring a standup comedian on an SNL-type show, but ... he's just not very funny? Even in the depiction of his standup, there aren't really any jokes? I kept picturing Pete Davidson but only when he's depressed. Maybe I've outgrown the troubled, self-destructive type guys, because I kept wanting the women in his life to run away from Sam. He might have a good heart, but he's not emotionally mature enough for a relationship yet. And I couldn't help but draw comparisons to Curtis Sittenfeld's Romantic Comedy, which also depicts an SNL clone (will Lorne Michaels not allow the real show to be mentioned by name?) but is told from the perspective of a female writer who's not a cast member. That book delves into some pandemic realness, but this one, not so much. But, as an Ann Arbor native, I was amused by all the shoutouts as Bree contemplates the next stage in her life. Maybe this one will be someone else's cup of tea more than mine.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

*Received a copy for review.*
I’ve always wondered what it would be like to fall in love with a stand up comic. Is your whole life material? What if you don’t think they’re funny?
Bryony and Sam had terrible parents. They found each other as kids and have weathered all the storms. Mostly created by Sam and his hurricane mouth. He is all gas no brakes and that leaves a lot of messes behind.
It’s a classic friends to lovers and is done well. I loved the thinly veiled SNL show. I even learned some of what urban planning is.

Sam and Bree have been best friends since kindergarten, and she’s been in love with him since they were 14. He’s now a famous comedian on a hit sketch show (think Saturday Night Live) known for aggressive comedy and asshole behavior. But his hard nature is an act to protect the boy beneath. So when his famous pop star ex-fiancee bares Sam’s soul in her latest hit, it’s time for him to hide out with Bree, again.

Funny Guy is a wonderful friends-to-lovers romance. It’s easy to understand Bree’s unrequited love and the heartache of loving your best friend. Bree and Sam have their own issues, and I love that the author doesn’t dismiss them or make things easy. While Bree is very in touch with her own feelings, Sam is very spontaneous and allows his more negative emotions to control his actions. So when he realizes that he has these odd feelings towards Sam, it’s a bit of a shock for him.

While on the surface, it looks like Sam and Bree have a one-sided relationship, it’s evident from both POVs that he loves Bree and will do anything for her. It’s just that his baggage is way more visible than hers. He comes to her after every breakup, yo-yoing in and out of her life; however, it’s not that he leaves her life, it’s just more in your face when he stays with her. The author and Bree make it clear that Sam may be clueless about her feelings, but he’s a good friend. He does what he can with a kind heart.

Bree loves Sam with her whole being, but is happy being his friend because their relationship is so important to her. She doesn’t want to risk telling him her feelings out of fear it will get awkward, or worse, that he’ll question their entire friendship and cheapen what they have. But she also realizes she’s never going to have a full life as long as Sam is such a big part of it. Deciding to move is a huge decision, and I felt the weight in my own being.

In the end, I adored Funny Guy. The author does a wonderful job creating real emotions that I could understand and experience through her characters. I loved watching Sam realize what is true and who he loves, and seeing the pair fall in love.

My Rating: A-

"Funny Guy" by Emma Barry is a friends-to-lovers romantic tale set in the backdrop of New York City, weaving together elements of humor, heartache, and healing. The story revolves around Sam, a comedian known for his self-inflicting humor, and Bree, his childhood best friend who secretly harbors feelings for him.

Their relationship takes an unexpected turn when they are forced to share Bree's small apartment, leading to a charged and evolving dynamic.
The characterization in the book is rich and layered. Sam, with his self-destructive tendencies and humor as a defense mechanism, contrasts nicely with Bree, a sensible designer on the brink of a life-changing decision.

Both characters grapple with unresolved childhood trauma, and this shared past further deepens their connection. The author's portrayal of their careers, individual friend circles, and distinct personalities adds authenticity to their characters and enhances the overall narrative.

The book also does well in addressing contemporary issues. The depiction of the comedy industry aligns with real-world insights. At the same time, the commentary on housing and gentrification in NYC adds relevance to the setting. The discourse on consensual and comfortable intimacy is commendable, although some traditional romance tropes could have been better handled.

However, despite its significant strengths, some readers may find the plot predictable, with the inevitable crisis point and resolution foreseeable. Also, given its contemporary context, the story's setting in a post-COVID world could have been better addressed. Despite these minor drawbacks, "Funny Guy" is a captivating read, exploring love, friendship, and personal growth. It scores a 4 out of 5, with an engaging narrative that keeps the readers hooked and resonates long after reading. Thanks to Montlake and Emma Barry for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sam can't escape the song "Lost Boy" after his ex wrote it about him and his childish ways. Him and his best friend Bree share a small NY apartment. He has no idea she's in love with him and she's decided to move across the country in order to move on.
I liked how Bree and Sam both developed as people. Sam was hard to like as a character at first but changed for the better as the story moves along. I loved that they got there happily ever after ending. Overall it was a great cute read and I enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Funny Guy is a sweet friends-to-lovers romance set against the backdrop of an SNL-esque show and the eternal questions of what it means to actually grow up.

Bree has been in love with her best friend Sam since the two of them were growing up in a small Ohio town. But now, Sam is spiraling (worse than usual) thanks to his pop star ex-fiancee's hit song about him and the general presence of his worst impulses to try to burn everything down around him. Meanwhile, Bree is offered her dream job... far away from New York City. And all this is happening just as Sam realizes that maybe he has feelings for Bree, too.

I loved the premise of this book: two people who have known each other forever finally getting out of their own way and letting themselves be in love. It's just a story that works. And I loved that the transition wasn't smooth. Both Bree and Sam had lots to figure out, and there were plenty of stumbles along the way. But as characters, they both shined, equally lovable and messy in their own ways. Their friends, too, were solid background characters, and honestly, I loved Sam's ex Salem enough that I want to see her get her own HEA.

I think the pacing was occasionally an issue with this book - the first half noodles around a little too much for me - but once things got going, I was hooked, devouring the second half of the book in a day. This isn't a light and fluffy read - both Sam and Bree have lots of trauma in their past and the book doesn't shy away from it - but it is a lovely one.

4.25/5