Funny You Should Ask
I picked up Funny You Should Ask on day two of one of our recent blizzards, and it was the perfect escape full of witty banter and an addictive romance.
Synopsis: Then. Twentysomething writer Chani Horowitz is stuck. While her former MFA classmates are nabbing book deals, she's in the trenches writing puff pieces. 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. It's terrifying and thrilling all at once . . . yet if she can keep her cool and nail the piece, it could be a huge win. 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. But she's still spent the better part of the last decade getting asked about her deeply personal Gabe Parker profile at every turn. No matter what new essay collection or viral editorial she's promoting, it always comes back to Gabe. So when his PR team requests that they reunite for a second interview, she wants to say no. She wants to pretend that she's forgotten about the time they spent together, years ago. But the truth is that those seventy-two hours are still crystal clear, etched in her memory. And so . . . she says yes.
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.
What appealed to you the most in this story?
I really loved the unique story and formatting. 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.
I cannot forget to mention the amazing Jewish representation in this story!
How was the romance?
This was a fun slow burn second chance romance. Now, it may be a slow burn romance but that didn’t stop the steam and angst between both Chani and Gabe.
Personally, I appreciate characters who reconnect after they’ve done a bit of growing up. Their acknowledgment that something could’ve never truly come into fruition the first time around, showed a lot of personal growth from both characters, since both Chani and Gabe had to deal with a lot of real-life issues (depression, addiction, divorce, inadequate feelings of self-worth) before they could find their back to each other.
Steam level - Open door
How was the pace?
I lost myself in this story and read it in a day!
Do you recommend this story?
Overall, this is a wonderful debut that charmed me, made me laugh, sigh, cringe, but most of all, made me root for Gabe and Chani so hard. I’m a sucker for second chance romances with years and years of mutual pining in between, and Funny You Should Ask hit the mark!
Thank you, Dell Books, for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
