Review: Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman

FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK

Elissa Sussman

Publication date: April 12, 2022

Format: eARC

Source: Netgalley

3 Stars

A restless young journalist with big dreams interviews a Hollywood heartthrob--and, ten years later, it's clear that their time together meant more than meets the eye in this sexy, engrossing adult debut novel.

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.

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Chani Horowitz is a dissatisfied writer, filled with self-doubt, thanks in no small part to her boyfriend who is a “serious” writer who writes “serious” books (translation: pretentious jerk). When offered the opportunity to interview movie star Gabe Parker, who also happens to be her celeb crush, she ends up spending a whirlwind weekend with Gabe that has lasting effects for them both.

Though unfamiliar with Sussman’s previous novels (all young adult titles), I was intrigued by Funny You Should Ask’s premise. Who hasn’t had a celeb crush and thoughts of What if we actually met? While certain aspects of the story kept me turning the pages, main character Chani was, unfortunately, not one of them. Chani was a prickly character, her go-to emotion being anger. (“You go to rage first,” [my therapist] told me. “It’s your safe place when emotions are high.”) Her interactions with Gabe were less conversations and more snarky comebacks (from her side). And for me, this made Chani unrelatable and highly unlikable.

Gabe, on the other hand, was a flawed character whose flaws didn’t overshadow his likability. Behind the movie star looks and the charm was a man who struggled to keep parts of his life private in an industry where every detail was considered tabloid fodder. He also had a serious case of imposter syndrome which led to escapism through alcohol. Gabe was a good man, living an extraordinary life, and I found myself constantly wishing for his point of view and his story. 

While the lack of connection with Chani kept me from being fully invested in the outcome, I still found myself caught up in the final chapters, ready to see where the reunion between Chani and Gabe, after ten life-altering years, would lead them. A special kudos to the shining star of the novel, Gabe’s fellow actor/friend Oliver. I could have read an entire book just about Gabe and Ollie. 3 Stars

Disclosure: I received a complimentary advance copy of this book for review. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.