BookTok Romance Review: Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman

Chani Horowitz is in a rut—she’s fresh off a divorce and struggling with her writing career. Even after publishing two well-received essay collections, all anyone seems to know Chani for is the viral story she wrote ten years ago—a profile of Gabe Parker, Hollywood heartthrob and newly minted James Bond. After her account of attending a movie premiere with Gabe (and being spotted sneaking out of his guest house at three in the morning), everyone is dying to know—did Chani hook up with the hottest actor in Hollywood?

A decade after her whirlwind weekend with Gabe, Chani can’t stop thinking about their time together—and the horribly awkward way they left things off. Then, her editor pitches her the chance to interview Gabe again. Gabe’s PR team hopes a follow-up article will help the beleaguered actor make a comeback after a stint in rehab and being fired from the role of James Bond. Chani and Gabe haven’t spoken since the article was published, but there is still an undeniable spark between them—can they set aside the hurt of ten years of misunderstandings and missed connections and create something real this time?

Funny You Should Ask is divided between Chani and Gabe’s initial weekend together and their reunion ten years later. Interspersed within the narrative are excerpts from Chani’s blog, her published essays, and of course, the article, which the author uses to tease out the details about what made Chani bolt from Gabe’s guest house. Sussman, the author of three young adult novels, makes an impressive entrance into adult contemporary with a fresh take on the celebrity-commoner romance trope. Gabe’s struggles with addiction and Chani’s insecurity that she owes her success to him give the familiar plot a surprisingly mature feel. And of course, Sussman treats readers to plenty of banter and some seriously steamy scenes—it’s no wonder Funny You Should Ask is already a viral hit on BookTok.

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