Hannah B.'s Reviews > Funny You Should Ask

Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman
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did not like it
bookshelves: should-have-dnfed

✨Funny you should ask I hate it✨

If you don’t like books with flashbacks that culminate to nothing. Don’t read it. If you don’t like books with random “articles” and “interviews” thrown in between the actual plot. Don’t read it. If you don’t like books about “great writers” who when you read their “great writing” you’re like um no? Don’t read it.

Now that I know this book was heavily *inspired* off of a GQ article (about Chris Evans) that the author fails to mention in her acknowledgements, I hate it all even more. I dislike the article because I again found it weird and unethical and weird and I don’t like knowing this shit really happened. Please don’t feel up the people you’re interviewing. And in the book she kept referencing how he was probably too drunk but she still wanted to get that sound bite.

I checked my arc against a finished copy and the author still didn’t mention Edith Zimmerman or that GQ article anywhere in the book/acknowledgments. The rest of my review is also checked against a finished library copy. I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt but alas.



Their relationship presented in the article felt unethical and the writing style was a mix of flashbacks, present, and useless “articles” and “interviews” and “blog posts” thrown in to break up the plot for no reason. I really don’t like when those things pop up in books. I stuck with them at the beginning because I was still interested in the “plot,” but then I realized nothing they revealed was actually useful to the overall story and I skimmed the rest. I mean the plot didn’t reveal anything either, let alone the flashbacks. Why do flashbacks get incorporated when the big “fight” scene in the past is just. so. boring?

I did like the beginning (until the faked dog death and then I was one button press away from full on meltdown) and I was interested to see what really happened in the past. But the more I went along, I felt like her article was unprofessional and awkward and made me feel weird. She kept talking about all of these stereotypes, when her article did its best to perpetuate them? And she was so sad and angry that she had friends with private jets because she didn’t know if her career was “earned” or not.

Plot twist it was not because what else did she have to write about? I can’t imagine she had three collections of essays published. Essays on WHAT. She proves none of her skills to me, which is another tough sell in books: writers, songwriters, etc always just seem so forced and awkward in books and the secondhand embarrassment is cruel to me. She was so whiny about her writing especially when she thought he didn’t like it.



I suppose the dude was more decent, but I still didn’t like him. He sounded nice in theory but the execution was lacking. The whole marriage thing and friends with benefits thing was just not what I wanted to see from him and it made him Not Hot. He was kind of a dick but so was she so they belong together in their phallus palace I suppose. We also finished this book with them knowing each other for a collective six days in ten years. I didn’t buy that.

This book was based on a much shorter, insubstantial in its own right article and it shows. Maybe the article really did happen like the journalist said, but that didn’t make this book any more logical. And it doesn’t have to be but it just had a weird feeling. I was more stressed out at her being invited to after parties and passing out and getting drunk.

I felt zero chemistry between the characters by the end and I disliked both of our MCs which is impressive. She’s angry that people got the wrong impression from an article she intentionally wrote to give the wrong impression and I just………



On that ……….. note, there’s a lot of stilted speech (especially during the sex scene) where they’re like “can…I…..please…….Alaska…….ninety…..seven…..” and she’s like I don’t know what he means but okay and I’m like no not okay I don’t know what’s going on???? After this book I ban ellipses. Funny…you…should…ask…I…am…in…pain…

✨ ”It’s not a problem,” he says. “With you, I…” / “You…?”
✨ “I just…these fucking…goddamn buttons,”
✨ “There…Please…Gabe…Please…”
✨ "Don't," he chokes out, stilling my hand. "I...you…can't..."
✨ "Fuck," he groans. "Can I...can we…..please..?”
✨ “Gabe…” / "Don't...stop...Please..don't..."
✨ "Yes..." My head goes back. "I need...yes..."
✨ "Fuck, I'm..."

^Those all happened in the five page sex scene. It took 90% for:




I’m also very confused because the author recently wrote an article about the importance of sex scenes in romance and that leaves me even more confused…this sex scene was an afterthought at 90%…and…lukewarm…at best... It’s nice to know the author loves sex scenes, but where is this proof in this pudding?

The pining was pretty good but the payoff was stale. Vague is en vogue here. The words “orgasm,” “climax,” “peak,” “come” were never used during the sex scene. “Got off” and “coming” were each used like twice at various points. No “cock” was ever mentioned. I think “length” (mentioned once at 91%) is as good as it got. There’s like nothing regarding her body. Wait! We got: “Hands. Hips. Lips.” Oo baby, oo baby. 👁🫦👁 Le sigh.

The author does this so many times at all times and I never knew what she was talking about and she also referenced things that happened to these characters as if we knew what they were and then like three pages later she defined them and I’m like……………..I just wasted five minutes rereading past pages to see if I missed the information!

The way I read the ellipses sections in my head was a mix between Bella Swan’s pauses and Anthony Bridgerton’s heavy breathing. Imagine how detailed the sex scene was! Imagine it! Are you imagining it? Bc I guarantee whatever you’re imagining is hotter than the book’s one pathetic attempt at sexual ellipses.



Yes. I am one of those angry Goodreads reviewers she mentions in the pointless filler interludes. Funny you should ask.

The only thing I liked by the end (besides the fact that I was done) was his reveal of what happened in the past. It didn’t warrant a breakup and ten years of pining but it was funny. But even then, it wasn’t even revealed in a flashback so my previous point of them being useless still stands. I can see why people like this book, but it checked all the wrong boxes for me.

⭐️/5 🌶🌶/5


P.S. From 30% to 60% this book tricks you into believing it killed a dog (that you saw as a puppy) and that’s fucking sick.

I cried but not bc of anything revolutionary the book did. No I lost it at “wow what a cute puppy ten years ago but time is crazy and now the dog is dead and wow just kidding this dog is actually alive but your dog is still dead have a great life bitch.” I gave the book the benefit of the doubt and kept reading to see if the dog actually was dead and thank god it wasn’t but I was triggered and had a terrible time I can’t believe they expect people to be okay with that. That’s a big gamble. From 30% to 60% and now all that in between % has been tainted and now I’m just pissed off.



Thanks to the publisher for my advanced copy! All opinions are honest and my own as always ✨


***SPOILER***









And to circle back to “great writers” in books not being great writers, I politely ask how the fuck she got the assignment of interviewing him in the first place???? SHE HADN’T EVEN SEEN A BOND MOVIE.

Also who the fuck was reading a third collection of her essays? What did she have to write about??? I absolutely don’t understand.










I am pain.







Me talking to the plot:

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Reading Progress

April 6, 2022 – Shelved
April 6, 2022 – Shelved as: to-read
April 10, 2022 – Started Reading
April 11, 2022 –
60.0% "From 30% to 60% this book tricks you into believing it killed a dog (that you saw as a puppy) and that’s fucking sick."
April 11, 2022 – Shelved as: should-have-dnfed
April 11, 2022 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-50 of 64 (64 new)


Fiona I enjoyed this one but I can definitely see where you're coming from with your critiques! The fake GR reviews elicited am eye roll from me each time.


message 2: by Dani (new)

Dani McLean I just read that article and I really wish I hadn’t. Completely unethical, overwhelmingly creepy, and insanely unprofessional. Knowing this book is remotely based off that definitely puts me off.


antitheticaldreamgirl13 Your review was better than this book. Thank you!


Lilli NAILED it. Spot on review! Thanks for articulating all the ways I was totally let down by this one. At least the cover was cute?


message 5: by Chrissy (new)

Chrissy Oh… my… god…

Thank you for this review and preventing me from going mental while trying to read this ridiculous book! Bella Swan’s poor acting and awkward pausing made me repeatedly cringe, and the sex scene you shared was hard enough to read - I can’t imagine making an entire book of that.

I… appreciate… you!!! 😄


Alaina Hebert Exactly… My… Feelings. Thank… You!


Dara This is so spot on. I just finished this today and I’m so annoyed!!


message 8: by Max (new)

Max The author isn’t doing anything wrong or unethical by not citing the article about Evans. The book is fiction.


Nkiru Your review is spot on. I wasn’t aware of the GQ article until you mentioned it. My God did she lift the plot of the book from that article! I don’t even know how to feel about it. Besides, after reading that article, Chris Evans does come off as somewhat of a character/personality without much depth. Utterly gutted 😭


Keira You put all my thoughts about this book into words. I found the Oliver subplot compelling but the lack of chemistry between the MCs and the fact that they knew each other 6 days total was NOT enough for me to really hold onto in the main plot. Plus, i hate a female main character who seems to hate herself/cannot believe a hot man is into her! Can’t relate and don’t find it sexy!


message 11: by Mikaela (new) - added it

Mikaela Thank you for your honest review! I despise time hop books! So this is a “steer clear” for me!


Pascale I should've read this review before starting it. I hate it.


Therese this review is SO FUNNY and i agree w sm of what u said — more than anything i just didn’t get why that article would matter so much especially when it wasn’t very good 🤣🤣


Therese also ur SO right this was 100% based off that chris evans story


message 16: by James (new)

James Lawner I wouldn't be surprised if the reporter gets cancelled over the article (if she hasn't already).


message 17: by Zoe (new) - rated it 2 stars

Zoe Spot. On. No wonder the author doesn’t hang about on Goodreads if this is the best she has to offer.


Ishita You've captured my thoughts in words I can't be bothered to type out. So, thank you. Because you've covered pretty much all of it.


Tiffany I just finished this book and then saw your review. I agree 100% with everything you said. I recently finished The Bodyguard, which has a similar Handsome Actor/Regular Person plot and it was fantastic! This book would have been bad either way, but definitely when it followed The Bodyguard.


Jessica John Thank you for putting into this into words. I couldn't put my finger on what bothered me so much until I read your review.


message 21: by Chy (new) - rated it 2 stars

Chy Absolutely agreed


Hannah Kincaid This was spot on!!!!


Katie Schaffenberger LMAO at the sex scene! Why..was…everything…written…like…this…Jesus


Kaitlyn This review was 1000 times more entertaining than the book was! And is completely accurate!


message 25: by Erin (new) - rated it 1 star

Erin Ronald I feel we could have a drink with you. I couldn't have laid out more succinct opinions regarding this. The MC'S are both painfully boring and Chani is straight up annoying af. I do not care to see her win at all.


message 26: by Jodi (new) - rated it 5 stars

Jodi I don’t share your opinion, but I still highly enjoyed your review 😂


Holly This review is spot on. 100%.


Jesica Alehli I was too lazy to review because felt the writing was lazy too. This review was perfect.


Piper Ramirez This is it. This review was literally everything this book was. Thank you for writing it out because I didn’t care to but glad someone was willing to share my thoughts with the world.


message 30: by Kari (new) - rated it 2 stars

Kari Sapp Never been so glad to finish a book. The whole thing was a huge, boring, big fat tease. And don’t even get me started on the dog. This is everything I ever wanted to say in a review. Thank you for your service 🙏


Whitney This is incredible and sums up all of my thoughts.

The dog!!!!!!!
The sex scene lol. I listened to the audiobook so I guess I at least got the intentended tone/pauses vs deciding them myself by reading a text version of the book.

It was just…nothing? By the end.
But agreed about the reveal from 10 years before lol. Communication, people!!


Aroha They were 40ish but it felt like they were 20 year olds. And every time i was reminded of their actual age or just the fact that its TEN YEARS!! later, just felt odd. They didn’t feel mature like their ages should’ve shown. To me atleast


Brittany Honestly the whole time I was reading it, I thought it sounded like awful fan fiction about Chris Evans.


message 34: by Molly (new) - rated it 1 star

Molly I NEEDED THIS REVIEW. THANK YOU. FUCK THIS BOOK


message 35: by Anne (new) - added it

Anne “Flashbacks that culminate to nothing.” Exactly.


Madeline wish I read this review before I wasted my time on the book


scthoughts The repetition of the same details told with multiple different medias constantly throughout the entire book was terrible.


message 38: by Coffeeangel (new) - added it

Coffeeangel Curious-- do you ever get refused/denied of ARCs because of your honest opinion and low rating? I hope not


message 39: by Chloe (new)

Chloe Sollenberger Dang I never thought I would be reading the longest comment ever and agreeing to it


Saira F  Sardar I totally agree, the flashbacks drive me mad 🙃


message 41: by yanna (new) - added it

yanna Okay I agree because I totally thought I was tripping as I was/am reading this 😭


Muskan Modi Omg I didn't know about the GQ article. I'm only halfway through and I don't think I can make it through. It's creepy. And it's also creepy that Female Lead's writing style feels same as Edith Zimmerman's ? I felt as if I were reading a part of this book and not the article. Total turnoff. Bye.


message 43: by Lizz (new) - rated it 1 star

Lizz Martensen This review was SO much better than mine, but perfectly summed up how I also felt. Five stars to this review and I have to follow your reviews now so I stop reading books I'll hate.


Christie Cryinggg this is so accurate and making me reconsider my rating


Kathryn Hershey Can I just say, one star reviews like this are probably my favorite part of Goodreads. This book was *fine* if you just want to read a silly dumb rom com, but wanting anything more out of it is asking for disappointment. I'm here for the passion you channeled in your hatred of the writing and characters and I applaud you for this incredibly thorough review.


Alice Jefferson I really loved the book but also appreciate this review - and definitely agree with your point on her interviewing with no experience 😂


message 47: by Elif (new) - rated it 1 star

Elif OH MY GOD. This might be the funniest goodreads review i’ve read but you’re actually so so right. I’m on page 120 or something but I really don’t know how it can go on like what are you going to talk about for 200 more pages i dont know if i should dnf it🥲🥲


Meleny Vargas You’re so right. I only rated this book 3 stars bc of the ending but holy shit she had no depth to her…


xochitl ur mad ab the dog…..? LMFAO 😭


message 50: by Barbara (new)

Barbara I consider myself warned. Retracting the checkmark on Want to Read


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