Funny Story

Daphne and Peter fell in love quickly, especially after she learned he wanted a large family. After just five weeks, they moved in together, and their best friends also fell in love, creating a tight-knit group. After a year, they were engaged, and Daphne uprooted her life to move to Peter’s hometown. Finding her dream job as a children’s librarian at the Waning Public Library made the transition more manageable, but all her friends in Waning are Peter’s friends. Though her mother disapproved, Peter bought their house because of Daphne’s poor credit, but she purchased all the furnishings. Petra attended Peter’s bachelor party with his friends three weeks ago. Miles wasn’t invited because he's considered a “stoner.” At the time, Daphne didn’t think anything of it because Petra was Peter’s oldest friend, and as much as Daphne hates admitting it, Petra is likable.

Later that night, Peter returned from the party with a worried look. He abruptly announced that he and Petra were in love and the wedding was off. They are leaving for a trip abroad together, and Daphne has five days to find a new place to live because Petra is moving in. Peter leaves with Petra in her Jeep, and Daphne, still in shock, throws food at them as they drive away. Miles arrives looking for Petra, and Daphne asks if she can move in with him. 

Daphne has always considered herself a minimalist because she and her mother moved a lot after her parents divorced, and she learned not to burden herself with too many possessions. However, once she moved in with Peter, having a home sparked her desire to fill the house with stuff. After they split, cramming everything into Miles’s apartment overcrowded the space. Daphne still has her wedding gown and all their gifts, which she plans to sell online when she is emotionally in a better place. Despite Miles’s messy room and pot smoking, Daphne doesn’t mind living with him even though Peter considers him a “stoner” who gets by on “odd jobs.” While she’s prepping for story time at the library, Miles texts her, and they make dinner plans that night. Daphne looks forward to story time, a bright spot in her day, as the kids bring her great joy. Before leaving, Daphne says goodbye to her coworker Ashleigh, who works in the adult section. Daphne doesn’t know Ashleigh well, but she exudes “scary-librarian” energy and is good with difficult patrons.

Ever since she left home, Daphne has missed her mother. Daphne reflects on the ups and downs of her life and how her mother is “the only permanent thing in my life, the only thing that mattered” (17). At home, Miles is face down on the couch, drunk from rum. He shows Daphne an invitation to Peter and Petra’s wedding on Labor Day weekend. Daphne is shocked that they would send them both an invitation and that the wedding is scheduled close to her and Peter’s original wedding date. Miles gets them a bottle of wine; when Daphne says she didn’t expect him to be a wine drinker, he tells her he works at a winery. They both become emotional discussing their exes’ betrayal, and Daphne, suddenly realizing she is attracted to Miles, admits to longing for and needing physical affection. She offers to watch Bridget Jones’s Diary with him and is disappointed when he says no. Instead, he suggests they get out of the apartment.

Daphne and Miles go to a bar called the MEATLOCKER and fall into conversation with a biker named Gil on his way to Las Vegas. Before long, Miles knows Gil’s entire life story. Daphne has always considered herself socially awkward and marvels at Miles’s ability to make friends easily. On the walk home, Miles says he gets many free drinks because he is a regular and tips well. Daphne admits her social anxiety, and Miles says that he’s always enjoyed getting to know people. She says that despite her trust issues, she likes and trusts him. They drunkenly flirt as they fumble with the door lock. Mr. Dorner emerges from his door and tells them to quiet down. Before they stumble into the apartment, Miles briefly pins her to the wall. Inside, Miles declares they should “just fucking do it” (36), sending a thrill through Daphne. He means they should RSVP to the wedding and go with the intent of making a scene. Daphne reminds him that Peter’s family is classy and kind, but Miles doesn’t care. She says that Peter and Petra invited them to try and appear to be rising above the drama, but she agrees they should go.

The next day, hungover and disoriented, Daphne surveys the apartment, which is full of empty glasses, and tries to remember what happened. She looks at her phone and notices she has downloaded a dating app. Then her phone rings, and when she sees the name, she instantly regrets whatever she did the previous night.

Peter calls about Daphne’s RSVP. He wants her to know that he and Petra genuinely want her to come. She bristles at his use of the words “Our. We.” Thinking of all the ways Peter cared for her makes her briefly consider that she still loves him. Still, his condescending tone infuriates her, and despite her mind telling her not to, she lies to Peter and says she and Miles are dating and coming to the wedding together.

Daphne barges into Miles’s room, but he’s already up and has bought them breakfast. She immediately tells him about the lie, but he barely reacts. Instead of being angry, he thinks it’s a great way to exact revenge on Peter and Petra. He even says, “Maybe we should date” (45). Pieces of the previous evening come back to them as they remember RSVPing for the wedding, determining that Peter was always jealous of Miles and Daphne was jealous of Petra and Peter’s friendship. Daphne grabs his face and reminds him that he will get over Petra one day. After Miles pries, Daphne admits to not blocking Peter on social media, and as of that morning, he still follows her. Miles snaps a photo of them, and since he doesn’t have social media, he tells Daphne to post it to make Petra jealous.

Daphne combs through the books she’s ordering for the library, some hand-picked for her favorite young patrons. One of Daphne’s favorite regulars is Maya, a teen girl who reminds Daphne of herself at that age. Maya is shy, but she and Daphne have “an informal two-person book club” (50). Daphne distracts herself from scrolling social media and watching for people’s reactions to her photo with Miles. Ashleigh, another librarian, emerges from her office, frustrated after one of her mom friends canceled their night out. Without thinking, Daphne offers to go out with Ashleigh. Surprised but willing, Ashleigh suggests they go to Chill Coast Brewery, but Daphne worries she might run into Peter since he’s a beer drinker. She instead suggests they go to Cherry Hill Winery, where Miles works. Daphne gets ready for her night out and wears the sexy dress she wore to her and Peter’s engagement party.

Ashleigh picks Daphne up at her apartment because she claims she and another librarian, Landon, think Daphne is in the FBI or witness protection program. On their way out, Ashleigh wanders into Miles’s room, intrigued by his posters and snowboard collection. Daphne notices a collection of Polaroid pictures on his wall, which “very clearly tell the story of their [Miles and Petra’s] relationship” (58). Daphne thinks about her relationship with Peter and how he now shares everything she planned with Petra. After always choosing “emotionally unavailable men” who reminded her of her father (58), she thought she’d finally found the one in Peter. They arrive at Cherry Hill, a posh establishment with a moody, sophisticated vibe. She spots Miles from afar, and seeing him in his element charms her. She recognizes the aroma at the winery and realizes Miles’s woodsy scent comes from the wood they burn. He approaches them and immediately refers to her as his girlfriend.

Miles orders Daphne and Ashleigh a wine flight, and while he’s gone, Daphne explains their fake relationship to Ashleigh. Ashleigh can tell that Daphne is holding back from giving her details, and she bluntly tells her that if they’re going to be friends, she needs to trust her. Thinking about deepening her friendship with Ashleigh makes Daphne think about losing her friendship with Sadie. She admits she struggles to be vulnerable with people, as the text states, “You can’t untell someone your secrets” (64). To assure Daphne of her loyalty, Ashleigh reveals some vulnerable truths she calls “collateral,” like how she stuffed her bra in middle school and how she struggled after the birth of her son Mulder. She’s often late to work because she prioritizes her son. Hearing Daphne talk about being a mother and her love for her son makes Daphne think of her mother and how she has always dreamed of having children and making her a grandmother. Despite being a single mom, Daphne’s mother always made time to be with her, and she longs to give that to her child.

Feeling a new closeness with Ashleigh, Daphne tells her about Peter and the breakup, which led to Miles becoming her roommate. Delighted by the story, Ashleigh loves their plan to exact revenge on Peter and Petra. Miles returns with their wine and encourages them to try the Chardonnay. When he walks away again and chats with the bartender, Ashleigh tells Daphne she’s lucky to know Miles, but Daphne doesn’t feel fortunate to have endured heartbreak to get here. Ashleigh says Peter sounds like the kind of guy who is always looking for what’s better and would have eventually broken her heart no matter what. Miles returns and says that the bartender heard from Petra about his girlfriend, and he told her Daphne was the one. Ashleigh snaps a photo of them, their “first couples’ candid” (73). A man at the bar offers to take a picture of them all, and Ashleigh joins the couple for a picture as Miles and Daphne lovingly joke about keeping Ashleigh like a new pet.

Ashleigh hooks up with the man from the bar, so Miles must give Daphne a ride home. He offers to take her to a famous diner for milkshakes and fries, and with her first sip, she lets out a moan of satisfaction. He’s surprised she’s never heard of it, and she explains that Peter is very health-conscious and always cooks low-carb meals for them at home. Their life centered around being organized and scheduled, including going to the gym and having sex. Miles suggests that Peter kept Daphne from experiencing life, but he understands how they fell into comfortable domesticity. Daphne still keeps a regimented calendar and schedule on a whiteboard in the apartment, which she expects Miles to use.

As a string of sad songs comes on the radio, Daphne considers that Miles appears to be moving on from his breakup while she’s still in the “anger phase.” Miles encourages her not to hold a grudge. At the winery, Daphne watched Miles interact tensely with a customer. He explains that the man was drunk, and he asked him to leave. Daphne again marvels at the ease with which Miles handles awkward social situations. He says, “Things go smoother if you don’t let people get a rise out of you, […] if you give them control over how you feel, they’ll always use it” (81). Daphne admits it isn’t about control but managing her expectations for others in relationships. After they get their food, Miles suggests they go to the beach. She’s only been to the beach near the library, but Miles declares it’s only for “fudgies.”

To avoid the “fudgies,” or tourists in town only for the summer, Miles drives her through the woods to a secluded beach known only to locals where she moans again when tasting the jalapeño fries. Miles says that tourism keeps Cherry Hill busy in the summer, but he must take odd jobs during the winter to make ends meet. Daphne apologizes to Miles for assuming things about him based on Peter’s judgment. Thinking of Peter makes her emotional, and she’s embarrassed, but Miles tells her it’s normal to feel this way when someone breaks your trust. Miles gives Daphne his sweatshirt to stay warm, and she finds a joint in the pocket. He lights it up and offers it to her. Her first instinct is to refuse, but she realizes that Peter’s influence is guiding her, and she wants to try new things apart from him. She thinks, “I want to know myself, to test my edges and see where I stop and the rest of the world begins” (89). She enjoys the gentle high and how it makes it easier for her to share. Miles says he isn’t a “relationship person” and, aside from Petra, has had only one other serious partner.

When Daphne isn’t at work, she works on the Read-a-thon in August. It’s the library’s primary fundraiser and her passion project. She tells Miles she’s considering moving back to Maryland, where her mother lives, once the Read-a-thon is over. Miles encourages her not to leave town just because Peter forced her to move there. He can tell she loves her work, which is enough reason to stay. Hoping to convince her to stay, Miles offers to become her tour guide over the summer and show her all the sites and secrets of the town. Moreover, he tells her she’s the best roommate he’s ever had, and he likes having her around. Miles receives a text from Petra congratulating him on his new relationship. Daphne pulls herself closer to Miles, almost sitting in his lap, kisses him on the cheek, and snaps a photo for him to send to make Petra jealous.