Relationships can be difficult to handle. No one knows this fact better than the characters in this romance novel.

Daphne Vincent was lucky enough to land a children's librarian job, when she and her fiance Peter moved back to his hometown of Waning Bay, Michigan. She especially enjoys reading and performing for the kids during Story Hour. Other than her work at the public library, though, her personal life revolves solely around Peter and his family and friends.

That is, of course, until Peter meets up with his childhood friend, Petra. And the two of THEM decide that THEY are in love. Peter dumps Daphne, and Petra dumps her boyfriend, Miles. Daphne has to leave Peter's house, the one where they were once planning to make their future together. Fortunately, Miles has a two-bedroom apartment and is sympathetic to Daphne's plight. Daphne moves in as Miles' roommate, even though the two of them, the "dumpees," don't know one another at all.

Since all four still live in the same area, they run into each other from time to time. In order to get revenge and to infuriate their exes, Daphne and Miles start to pretend to be a couple themselves. But will the pretending eventually lead to reality? Readers will no doubt hope that this is the case. Again, though, relationships can be difficult to handle. And Daphne and Miles are still not entirely "over" Peter and Petra.

A casual warning: a few steamy scenes show up in these pages, too.

The fictional town of Waning Bay is located in the little pinkie portion of the Michigan mitten. The characters visit nearby Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, among other sites. Enough local flavor is included that folks who know this part of Michigan will feel as though they are walking in familiar territory. Enough public library scenes are included that readers who like stories set around books and libraries will enjoy learning more about Daphne's interactions with her boss and her co-workers. You don't have to love romance novels to like this book.

Funny Story is a quick and satisfying "beach read" that you don't need a beach for. (Unless the beaches of Lake Michigan count?) It also offers a more than subtle reminder that it is a good practice to know yourself and what your own hopes and dreams are, before you pair up with somebody else.