Bree and Sam grew up together in a small town in Ohio. Both of them had terrible parents in different ways - Sam' father routinely hit his mother and Bree's mother embezzled money meant for Bree to use at university. Both of them escaped to college, but Sam quit to make his way as a comic which he does in a big way by making his way to the top comedy series in the country as a regular cast member. They both end up living in New York City and stay best friends.

The only thing is that Bree has always been in love with Sam and can't make a relationship work with any other guy. Sam has a tendency to self-destruct, but Bree is his anchor. When he goes viral for yelling in a coffee shop about his most recent failed relationship, Sam crashes on her couch in her small apartment. Bree and Sam are both relatable characters with very human flaws. Close proximity at its finest, as Sam starts to think of Bree as more than his best friend and it is a delight to see how he deals with this sudden realization.

This book is one of the most heartfelt, genuine romances I have read in a long, long time. It became an immediate comfort read, because I read it again after I finished it!

I just reviewed Funny Guy by Emma Barry. #FunnyGuy #NetGalley

I was caught off guard by the angst in this story. Really well done. I liked the complex characters and the backstory. There was a bit of a doormat vibe from the heroine that was a bit off putting and the breakup was a bit ridiculous. Overall, I did enjoy.

“Just friends? She and Sam weren’t just anything. They were everything.”

Funny Guy by Emma Barry revolves mostly around Sam. After his pop star ex-fiancée released her new single “lost boy” about Sam, his career is on the line and he needs a place to lie low. He knows he can rely on his childhood best friend. Bree will always be there for Sam - not only did they grow up together, but she’s been in love with him for years. So much so that she’s made plans to move away to escape these feelings. But, this week in her apartment Sam and Bree are starting to feel things change between them…

This story promised a humorous, slow burn, forced proximity, friends to lovers situation, and while it was that, it also… wasn’t. I don’t think this could be classified as a rom-com, because there were comedic elements and there was a romance, but as a whole, it dealt with more emotional, deeper feelings.

I will say that there were many things I enjoyed about Funny Guy. This book WAS funny and did make me laugh. The beginning captivated me and the pacing may not be as fast as I wanted at times, but I never felt the story lagged. Sam’s crankiness and cynicism were hilarious and I loved him as a character immediately. He gets himself in trouble because he just HAS to say certain things which is a trait I always love to read about! He for sure needs therapy, but his tenderness to Bree and his willingness to try with her was great. The way he completely threw himself into making it work between them was so good! Though he had real traumas, he was able to learn from them and call to mind the examples his parents set and do the opposite. Sam IS flawed, but all of that makes him such a lovable, complex character, so when he has to make a grand gesture you just wanna root for him!

It’s already established at the outset of the book that Sam has commitment problems, but Bree’s love life was hung up on Sam. Bree was tiring, and I know she had trust issues from her past, but her doubts that Sam could ever love her were irritating. After her and Sam get together the story becomes too cerebral. She gets exactly what she wants out of this relationship with Sam, words that she’s been waiting YEARS to hear, and instead of communicating (I mean they’re 30 years old and 100% capable of having these REAL conversations) all her fears to him, she lies to him about a VERY important aspect of her life that HEAVILY affects the trajectory of their relationship. While I completely understood that at one point she needed to sever ties with Sam, to hold onto this secret was extremely immature. Bree’s own actions were the catalyst for their downfall. To me, Sam’s “lost-boyness” is not the problem in this story- it’s Bree.

I think if this were written in first person/dual POV this could have been a 4 or 5 star read for me. I enjoyed reading this and it was a quick and entertaining story. This is a humorous book and the writing was really good. I would recommend this book to people who like a slow burn, friends to lovers trope, but may not be looking for a rom-com and who don’t mind the miscommunication trope.

Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book would have been 5 stars for me and I loved the premise of it, if it weren't for the glaring issues I couldn't get past. The hero and heroine have been best friends since they were five and they had terrible home lives and bonded over it. They are co-dependent on each other, which, fine, I accept. The hero is a comedian and a comedy writer for an SNL type show. He uses his childhood trauma for inspiration and for an excuse to get away with everything. He's basically shown as a fragile emotional bomb waiting to explode.
Despite that, I didn't hate him. I love a complex character and damaged characters are my cat nip.
The heroine was kind of a pushover who kept waiting for him to love her back while also saying he never would. Also, the 80% break-up reason was mentioned in every chapter from 25% of the book onwards. She kept thinking she should tell him because she knew he would react badly when he found out. But like, come on. Obviously he's going to react badly if you hide this big thing from him, which is exactly what happened and then the heroine got to say "I knew it".
Despite all that, I loved the book. I was fully ready to give it 5 star because I couldn't put it down and I was invested in the story and the angst and unrequited love. I just couldn't get over the reason for the 80% break-up, it was wholly unnecessary and the fact that, despite knowing he should go to therapy, the hero never does and that makes me doubt the HEA. I don't like doubting the HEA.
I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have read more than one book set at an SNL-type show and this was my favorite version of that. I liked the in-show dynamics more than the romance. It is a sweet, friends to lovers romance but it was a little blah in the romance and honestly just made me feel bad for Bree.

A hilarious story at times that unfortunately missed many marks in the romance part for me to fully click with it.
It reads easy and there are some interesting moments along with lots of emotional stories from his life but somehow it read more like a chick lit or may I say , a fiction memoirs book than a modern romance story that I was expecting.
I know many readers will surely enjoy it but it’s not a memorable one for me


Read Now title

Thank you for the arc, I was really looking forward to this book as I had a feeling it was going to be a great romcom read.
Yes there were elements that were funny and did delve into various issues and emotions. I did enjoy that premise that Sam was a comedian, I don't think i have ever read that before in a book.

The fact that Bree had feelings for him for such a long time but then how their relationship was portrayed, I dont know what it was but I just couldn't click it with them.

I will say you do get a lot of the feels and in a way it felt more like Sam's book. I don't know what it was but there was something about Sam that kept reminding me about Pete Davison?? Was that intentional? Or was it how the show was basically their SNL?

Anyway I will say its more emotional and heartfelt than what I expected and was a simple and quick read.

An interesting premise, I guess I expected this book to be funnier than I thought it ultimately was. Part of it was that Sam’s character was a little woe-is-me and he fully admitted that he used Bree to make himself feel better. He didn’t deserve her. Bree was a sweetheart but her constant disbelief that Sam would ever want her also became a little tiring. I like my characters to know their self worth more. And I think the biggest issue I had is that while the author told the reader how much fun they had together, the details were more about the angst and doubt that went through their minds. I would have loved more details about their fun times together rather than their internal monologues about their troubles. That said, there were bright spots, I wanted them to achieve their HEA and I found the set up quite interesting a fun. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an early copy.

I really love a friends-to-lovers trope so I was excited to pick Funny Guy up. It was a cute and easy read with an intriguing storyline set in the world of standup comedy. Given the direct implication in the title, I also thought the book would be funnier. It was lacking witty dialogue that I’ve come to look for in contemporary romance, and that could be where the connection between the main characters fell flat – I didn’t feel their chemistry. Overall, it was an enjoyable ready but not one that will leave a deep impression.

When I got to the end of the arc for Chick Magnet, there was a teaser for Emma Barry’s next book Funny Guy. After I read it, I barged into Barry’s mentions on Instagram and screamed my excitement.

Sam is a difficult, prickly person – a comedian with his finger on the self destruct button. His best friend, Bree, also lives in New York City and works as an urban planner. She is very good at what she does, but struggles with imposter syndrome. Bree and Sam grew up together, poor with parents who were not well equipped to be parents. Bree has been in love with Sam forever and assumes he loves her as a friend. Sam has been in love with Bree, but doesn’t believe he deserves her. I love mutual pining.

I am absolute trash for difficult characters, but also very judgmental about how they are handled. Barry writes Sam and Bree with such caring for their flawed humanity without coddling Sam’s fragility.

Sam’s ex-fiancé, a pop star, has just dropped a track all about Sam. Sam already uses himself as the punchline in his comedy, but it’s different when someone else is serving up his flaws to world. Everyone is talking about him and he exacerbates the problem by going off on a couple in a coffee shop. This is where I fell in love with Sam in the sneak peak of chapter one:

“Look, I’m not saying, ‘I’m a person. Can’t you see my humanity?’ or anything like that.” Jesus, he’d never be so absurd. “Just, for fuck’s sake, don’t talk about someone when they’re standing sixteen inches from you. Point and whisper from across the room like a good WASP. Or just text your friend. Everyone else was. Hey, you, sir—no, not you; you’re reading the New Yorker so you’ll pretend you don’t know me—that guy.” He pointed to a man of about twenty-five who was staring at his iPhone without blinking and trying to ignore Sam’s rant. “Were you texting someone about me?”

A beat. Then the guy looked up and nodded sheepishly.

“See? And there’s no shame in that.” Sam didn’t blame him at all. “But don’t talk over the song.” Sam pointed at one of the speakers. “It’s a good song. Hell, I love hearing all about how I have daddy issues and that’s why I can’t commit—because I don’t believe anyone can truly love me. It’s great. It’s like therapy I didn’t even have to pay for, and the entire world gets to listen in.”

Sam is an asshole, but, and this is important, doesn’t use being an asshole as an excuse to stagnate. What he needs to learn before he gets a happily ever after is that he does not have to destroy himself and that the way he dances on the edge of self destruction does harm other people, especially Bree. They are two people who are very emotional and very uncomfortable with all that emotion, so watching them come together, fall apart, and come back together is a whole rollercoaster.

Please don’t let anyone sell this to you as a rom-com. It has some very funny moments, but it is a romance about feelings and learning to value yourself, and not actually a comedy. Funny Guy has a wide emotional range, from sparkly fizz to spicy sexy times to emotional devastation.

CW: past intimate partner violence between MC’s parents, past financial abuse by parent, public humiliation (not the kink).

I received this as an advance reader copy from Montlake and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

Sam is a comedian who acts on an SNL-like show and lives in New York. Bryony lives and works in New York, and she's secretly in love with Sam. They've known each other since kindergarten, having grown up together and lived in the same trailer park. They both wanted to escape to bigger and better things, and they each did it in different ways, but always seem to come back together. Sam is on a self destructive path, and Bree seems to be the only one who can keep him in check. Unfortunately, Bree can't take it much longer, this unrequited love, so she starts making an escape plan. A job offer comes in, and it's her dream job, but it's in Michigan. She can't find a way to break the news to Sam, but she can't keep living this life where she's holding herself back from everything on the off chance that he could feel the same way.

I liked this story of two damaged souls who cling together through everything, trying to find a way out the other side. I really felt for Bree; unrequited love is never easy. I can also understand some things from Sam's perspective - the only good thing he ever had growing up was Bree, and he thinks that any other good thing (his job, how much money he has, etc) is bound to end, or go wrong, or explode, and he'll be stuck empty and alone. So he acts out, and his repression of his emotions has kept him from progressing in his life and from dreaming of his future.

Without giving anything away, I think the story ended the way I hoped it would. Did I wish Sam had realized some things way sooner? Yes. But it was worth it when he finally did.

This book is:
Friends-to-lovers
Unrequited Love
Open Door

*I was given a digital ARC from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.

For all my SNL lovers—you need to read this. The MMC is on a comedy sketch show that is loosely based on SNL and I absolutely loved it. The MMC also gave me Pete Davidson vibes so if you’re into that then you’re going to love Sam. 🥰

This is also a friends to lovers story and those are my absolute favorite. I loved how the author was able to take two broken and complicated people and make them fit so perfectly into each other’s lives. Sam and Bree both come from the same hometown, both with screwed up childhoods. I think it’s interesting to see how they both develop their lives after their trauma and how they’re both successful it’s in their own way.

If I’m being honest, I don’t think these two should have ended up together in the end, but I’m glad that they did. During the last few chapters, I felt like the author rushed things and pushed them together. However, I will say a major theme in this book was overcoming odds and these two were able to get together even though there were so many things keeping them a part.

Overall, I loved this story and not just because of the romance, but beacuase of the real issues the author grappled with. Even though these characters are in their thirties, I still consider this a coming of age novel because you get to see how these characters were able to survive their generational trauma. A lot of us have a fear of becoming our parents and the author was able to communicate this pain well. I felt connected to these characters on every level of their journey of learning how to love someone who’s just as broken as you. 🥹❤️

This checked off everything I look for in a book. Was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this book. I will read more from this author. Must read

Funny Guy was a book that I enjoyed reading. It is a childhood friends to lovers romance and for me it is something comforting in that trope and I love how well Sam and Bree know each other. Something that I wouldn’t say I like as much that often comes up in this trope is the secret pining and how that can become the whole character's personality. That was sometimes the case with Bree where she was ready to move to another city just to get away from Sam, but there were also things I liked about Bree, like how good she was at her job and how much she cared about the projects she was working on.

Sam has a tendency to be self-destructive and like the thrill of falling in love. He has a past of relationships that ends quickly and the latest breakup has blown up after his ex wrote a hit song about him and their relationship. The two of them together are a good match but with secrets and pride coming in between them it doesn’t always work out in the way that you think it will. The second-act breakup was pretty easy to see coming and to know what would cause it as it often does.

I love a good friends to lovers romance and “Funny Guy” delivered just that.

Sam and Bree are childhood friends who survived growing up in an Ohio trailer park with crappy parents. Now in their early 30s and successful professionals in New York (He’s a standup and the star of a SNL style show, while she’s an urban planner) they are each other’s emotional support.

When the book begins, Sam flees to Bree’s apartment after his pop singer ex fiancé drops the catchy tune “Lost Boy” that lays bare Sam’s immaturity, particularly when it comes to relationships. Sam and Bree’s chemistry really shines, even in the earliest chapters in the book. It’s clear immediately how much they mean to one another as friends and how much anxiety they both have about telling the other person how they really feel for fear it would damage their friendship.

This was a quick and fun read with engaging main characters. Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc in exchange for an honest review.

For some reason I thought this book was out already? And then it wasn't? Thankfully NG had it as "READ NOW" so I could instantly download it and continue my Emma Barry reading spree!! And I really enjoyed this one.

Possibly enjoyed it more than Chick Magnet? But mainly bc there was a lack of chickens here.

I really like how Emma Barry writes characters that feel real. Both characters grew up poor and have quite a bit of baggage because of that. Neither of them are perfect and Sam is a hard guy to like for parts of the book. But I liked seeing his flaws and seeing Bree accept him despite them. She makes some mistakes too and they have to deal with them. I'm not interested in seeing perfect people fall in love. And seeing Sam and Bree work for their HEA was so rewarding.

I will say the ending didn't entirely work for me, I don't like public ~ things ~ and part of it felt too easy, but it's fine. And I was happy where both characters ended up.

TW: bad relationships with parents (both MCs), trauma from being poor , implied domestic violence (prior to story)
CW: poverty,

Thank you netgalley and Emma Barry for this opportunity.

But I had to DNF this book at 24%. I was supposed to give this. a 1 star but it's a friends-to-lovers trope and it's one of my favorite trope so I'll add another star to that 😊
I just couldn't continue reading it. I can't feel the connection between the main characters. I really though this was a romantic comedy because of the title😅

Funny Guy was an entertaining friends-to-lovers rom-com, with an interesting set-up. There were some parts of this story that were a hit and some that were less so.

Sam's life is exploding. He is a wildly successful comedian, but his latest ex-girlfriend has written a very revealing song about his character. Bree has been his best friend since childhood and has been in love with him for years. She never plans to share her feelings but when a job opportunity in a new city comes up, things start to get more complicated between the best friends.

Sam was a very well plotted out character and this largely felt like his book. He had strengths and numerous flaws and definitely had some growing to do. I felt sympathy for his background and his tendency to self destruct. I also liked the details about his job on the faux SNL set. Bree, on the other hand, felt a little more flat. At one point I had the distinct thought that her only personality trait was pining for Sam. I enjoyed the first part of this book with Bree longing for Sam and him coming around to thinking of her in a more than friendly way, but the reveal of their feelings felt a bit sudden and anti-climatic, as did their relationship. I did really like the third act and the epilogue, because it felt like something was finally happening.

I would recommend this book. It was a quick, entertaining read, filled with drama and longing. If you are a fan of friends-to-lovers, give this one a try!

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the free e-book in exchange for my honest review.

I'm sorry to say I was a bit disappointed with this book.
On paper the story was supposed to be funny and romantic, but in the end I found it boring; but that is probably because it felt real, like a story a friend of mine could share, not a romance book story.
It was actually really similar to my relationship with my boyfriend.
That's why I gave it 3 stars, because it's nice to see for once a story that does not have great gestures (ok, it has one, but it's still relatable, kind of), or great plot twists; it just feels normal, real life.
On the other hand that is exactly what pops the sparkly bubble I look for while reading romance books.

Bree has been in love with her best friend Sam since childhood. Sam can’t pull his head out of his keister long enough to realize he’s about to lose her. When Bree finally realizes that she’s choking on the fresh scene of pine-ing, Sam starts to realize there is one woman he’s never wanted to let go of. But can he resist the temptation to let his past wreck the only love he’s ever known?

Funny Guy is a friends to lovers celebrity romance about a successful comedian who is on an SNL type show and his best friend who has yearned for him unrequited. Both characters bonded over trauma as kids and that makes their fears about actually sealing the deal feel a lot more realistic than just “what if we mess up the friendship.”

Friends to lovers can often be hard to pull off, because at some point we all want to slap the characters upside the head and ask them to just get it over with. Here, that doesn’t happen, with Bree and Sam both being reticent about hurting the other to the point that they hurt each other. That factor made Funny Guy a much more emotional read than many other books that tackle this trope.

I’d recommend Funny Guy to fans of Vi Keeland/Penelope Ward, Lauren Blakely, and Kate Clayborn.

Spice Level: 2/5, open door
Tropes: Celebrity Romance, Friends to Lovers
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Thank you to NetGalley and Montake for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication date May 16, 2023.