I’ve been thinking about funny books a lot lately, and specifically what makes a book funny to me. Humor is subjective and especially so when it comes to funny books. What makes me laugh might not work for you, and vice-versa. That’s the beauty of the reading life—and life in general.
I might have guessed that funny books would be characterized by an absence of hard things, but when I survey the books that have made me laugh the hardest, that is not remotely accurate. In fact, the book I found funniest in this year’s Summer Reading Guide is also the one with the darkest premise, and that is Alison Espach’s forthcoming release The Wedding People.(Read about it in our Minimalist Summer Reading Guide.) The 2024 Guide book I found the second funniest might not seem remotely funny at first look: it’s about two sad people, reflecting on their difficult pasts, and features a wistful tone throughout … but it made me laugh so hard I shook the whole couch, repeatedly, and my family kept saying, What are you reading?
For me, the potential for humor seems to be strongest when the heavy and light nestle up side by side. These days I’m enjoying books in which the protagonist, whether they’re an actual person or a fictional character, faces difficult circumstances with sharp humor and a quick wit. My favorite funny authors say there are other elements they keep in mind when writing humor: Rowley and Poeppel love groups of threes, Sedaris and Greer keep an eye out for absurdity, Ephron strove to be “quirky or perverse or thoughtful enough” to make her reader care—and chuckle.
For more recommendations, and more detailed exploration about what makes something funny, MMD Book Club had an insightful (and hilarious) conversation with author Amy Poeppel about funny books a couple of years ago. We talked about the books she personally finds funny, as well as how she infuses humor into her own work. Some of her reasons seem pretty obvious, but others were not at all what I expected!
I hope you enjoy today’s list of funny books; I’d love to hear your recommendations in comments, along with any insight you may have about the kinds of books you tend to find funny, or the elements that your favorite funny authors use to make us laugh out loud while reading.
Funny books
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Shortly after Judd catches his wife having an affair with her boss, he learns his non-observant father’s dying wish was for the family to sit shiva once he was gone. The family is shocked and less than enthused since no one gets along. What could possibly happen when people who hate each other are trapped in a room for seven days? There’s plenty of opportunity for things to go wrong—and they do, in the most ridiculous, understandable ways. Trotter’s wry, sarcastic tone and the flawed but real characters had me eager to find out what would happen next. More info →
In her debut collection of essays, Issa Rae discusses how difficult it is to be an awkward introvert—especially when people are constantly expecting her to be "cool" just because she's Black. She's funny, and her tone is lighthearted—yet she also speaks frankly about the stereotypes she faces as a Black woman. More info →
This is a largely autobiographical novel about the breakup of a marriage; it's way funnier than I might have expected any book on the subject to be. The foodie angle was a pleasant surprise. When a What Should I Read Next? guest raved about this, specifically the audio version read by Meryl Streep, I finally caved and downloaded it. I'm so glad I did. More info →
Gabrielle Union fearlessly shares stories about race, beauty standards, Hollywood, and her own history of sexual assault. The result is moving in many places and laugh-out-loud funny in others. I haven't yet read this myself but several MMD team members rave about it, including Shannan, who loves it because Gabrielle is so honest (some may say a little TOO honest, she says) about her life: she glosses over nothing. She is also hilarious. True story: Shannan read part of this in a bookstore and kept drawing curious glances from her fellow shoppers because she laughed so hard she snorted! More info →
A foul-mouthed pet crow is all that stands between humankind and the end of the world as we know it in Buxton’s genre-bending debut. When ST’s owner Big Jim’s eyes suddenly fall out, the crow attempts all of his tried-and-true remedies to no avail. He sets out with Big Jim’s dog Dennis, only to find zombies are afoot and other predators might be lurking in Seattle. ST may not be the hero anyone expected but he is the one we need. I didn’t expect this horror-ish novel to be as big-hearted and entertaining as it feels. More info →
An inside look at the world of academia via letters from the much-leaguered professor of creative writing and literature Jason Fitger. His department faces massive budget cuts, his writing career is on pause, and so is his personal life. We learn it all as Fitger writes abrasive letters of recommendation for students and tells committee members (and everyone else he writes) exactly what he thinks. As entertaining as it is passive-aggressive, which is to say: greatly. More info →
This book stunned many readers when it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2018, because comic novels never win serious prizes! Until this one. Arthur Less is facing his 50th birthday, his ex-boyfriend of nine year's wedding to another, and his publisher's rejection of his latest manuscript, all at the same time. He decides to hit the road—and on this trip, everything that can go wrong, does. Nonstop puns on the author's name, an arch sense of humor, and an interesting narrative structure keep this book filled with sad things from feeling downcast. Once the narrator was revealed in the book’s final pages I was strongly tempted to immediately begin again. Funny thing: I've noticed that readers tend to enjoy this more on audio than paper; I wonder if it's because Robert Petkoff's narration captures Greer’s intended tone exactly right? More info →
This debut is tender and laugh-out-loud funny, which you might not expect given the premise. Lilian's husband died in a car accident in front of their house four years ago and she hasn’t felt quite ready to move on. Lili is no longer stuck in her grief, but she is in a rut, and generally okay with it: life with her daughters is enough. But when she's given a special project at work to illustrate a book about vegetables, she's signed up for their six-week garden class, introducing Lili (and the readers!) to a delightful cast of fellow gardeners. An unlikely community forms, and no one is quite the same by the time the class ends. More info →
Poeppel’s work inspired this post, though it was hard to choose which novel to feature! We’ll go for this summer favorite: our middle-aged protagonist Bridget planned for the perfect summer ... but then it all went wrong. First her boyfriend breaks up with her, over email (!). Then her two twenty-something children, each dealing with their own crisis, invade her empty nest. Next the classical trio that is her livelihood comes unglued, and her aging father sets his own nearby house on fire. In the course of one short summer everything that can go wrong, does go wrong—and to fix it requires Bridget to fess up to secrets she’s buried for more than twenty years. It’s not the summer Bridget planned for, but it delivers the second chance she needs—and it’s hilarious, with laugh-out-loud dialogue and a pitch-perfect ending. More info →
If you love heartfelt, thoughtful memoirs that also make you laugh, then you must try this collection of essays by pop-culture critic R. Eric Thomas. Eric shares stories from childhood to adulthood, detailing his coming-of-age with bracing candor and hilarious honesty. He writes about discovering his identity as a gay man, feeling like an outsider, and finding his voice, all while injecting hilarious pop culture references, bits of wisdom, and his signature wit. While he relays plenty of difficult experiences, his tone is persistently hopeful. I highly recommend the audiobook version, narrated by the author, for full humorous effect. (I thoroughly enjoyed talking with Eric in What Should I Read Next #392: Insightful and entertaining memoirs after the release of his second memoir Congratulations, The Best Is Over!.) More info →
A master of short-form storytelling, David Sedaris shares his best work in this collection. Though his stories revolve around his personal experiences, Sedaris proves to be keenly aware of the world around him, sharing observations about human nature with humor, wit, and ... a whole lot of sex jokes. Avid Sedaris fans and readers experiencing him for the first time will appreciate this volume of his most memorable work. (Sedaris narrates the audio version himself, as always, and this audiobook includes several outstanding live performances.) More info →
If you enjoy the "fake dating" trope and British humor, this charming romance is for you. (I particularly enjoyed it on audio, as narrated by Joe Jameson). As the son of big time rockstars, Luc O'Donnell is reluctantly famous-by-association. Known as a "bad boy" in the press, Luc has seen his fair share of trouble—but he's put that lifestyle behind him. Now that his estranged father is making a big musical comeback, Luc is back in the media and needs to clean up his image in order to maintain his career. Enter Oliver, a straight-laced, super responsible (and handsome) barrister, vegetarian, and good guy. Seemingly polar opposites of each other, Luc and Oliver start fake dating...and if you've ever watched a rom-com, you can guess what happens from there. Full of heart, humor, and endearing side characters, this romantic comedy is completely swoon-worthy. (Closed door.) More info →
The Bloggess delivers another collection that will make you laugh till the tears flow. By writing about mental health, Lawson has learned how much it benefits readers for her to "go first." Her trademark wit and humor permeates this collection of vulnerable stories about her long-standing experience with depression and anxiety, making readers feel seen and understood in their own struggles. The topics run the gamut from the decidedly light hearted, like "Six Times I've Lost My Shoes While Wearing Them: A List That Shouldn't Exist" to the deadly serious, "An Open Letter to My Insurance Company," in which she details the active harm its policies cause her and others. There aren't enough content warnings to cover the bases here, so consider yourself broadly warned. More info →
If you needed a quick divorce in the 1930s, you’d head to Reno, Nevada, the so-called “divorce capital of the world.” Wealthy women waited out the six weeks at dude ranches to become “residents” so their petition would be granted. Such is the case for heiress and amateur pilot Nina who is on her third divorce and Emily who finally had the gumption to leave her cheating husband. Their lives converge at the Flying Leap in this amusing exploration of marriage, divorce, and friendship. More info →
Grief and the potential for new life and love exist side by side in Rowley’s fan favorite novel (that has a sequel hitting shelves this summer). When Patrick aka Gay Uncle Patrick aka GUP is called in to take care of his nine-year-old niece Maisie and six-year-old nephew Grant after the death of their mother (and his best friend) at his brother’s request, he tries to get out of it. What does a former actor know about raising kids? But needs must and so to Patrick’s Palm Springs home they go. In the process, Patrick has to take stock of his fading career and finally grieve the past loss of his partner, all while shepherding Maisie and Grant through their new normal. While this book contains moments of heartbreak, lighthearted moments abound courtesy of GUP’s constant barrage of both innuendo and dad jokes. More info →
What funny books do you recommend? What makes a book funny to you? Please tell us in the comments section!
P.G. Wodehouse! For some reason his books never seemed very appealing to me (maybe I suspected the books to be a bit “dusty” because of their age?) – but then I read one of his books some months ago (Summer lightning) – and I was hooked! I literally started laughing aloud when reading some passages, and that’s something I NEVER do!
And of course afterwards I asked myself why I hadn’t read him sooner… He’s absolutely hilarious! Perfect for summer!
Martha says:
I was just about to suggest Wodehouse! His books are delightful!!
Nancy says:
I so agree! My family quotes him when the occasion is right.
Antoinette Prada says:
I love reading P.G. Wodehouse. He was a prolific writer so there are many books to choose from. Jeeves and Wooster of course are quite the treat.
Janice says:
I agree! There are some excellent audio versions of the Jeeves books on YouTube.
Jill S Fitzpatrick says:
I’m glad to see Jenny Lawson on this list, she is one of my favorite writers. Her best book (IMO) is her second–Furiously Happy. It strikes the perfect balance between LOL tears-streaming-down-your-face funny and poignant.
Nikki says:
I agree about Furiously Happy. I think Broken is a little too broken for me to laugh too much.
Wendy M Brooks says:
Furiously Happy was amazing.I have never laughed so hard in my life at a book. Two of my favorite scenes were the middle of the night shenanigans with the taxidermy animals and the cats and the scene with the swans.
Hannah Forman says:
To me, “How to Stay Married” and “The World’s Largest Man” by Harrison Scott Key are both laugh out loud funny, while discussing really serious, thoughtful topics.
But I chuckle in Amor Towles, Leif Enger, Gary Schmidt, etc!
Shannon McMillan says:
Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan had me laughing out loud several times!
Guest says:
I just received a notification this is available for me at the library – YAY!!!
April Burk Clark says:
Jeanne Ray’s novels: “Julie and Romeo” (and its sequel “Julie and Romeo Get Lucky”); Eat Cake; and “Step-Ball-Change” tickled my funny bone long before I’d ever heard of her brilliant daughter Ann Patchett.
In a completely different genre, Bill Bryson’s memoir, “A Walk in the Woods,” brought tears to my eyes.
Chris C says:
I enjoyed Jeanne Ray’s entertaining novels too. She writes great dialogue. I discovered Amy Poeppel through this site—love all her novels! Elinor Lipman’s novels are wise and witty—I look forward to each new title. And an oldie I periodically reread is Frederica, by Georgette Heyer.
Tina says:
P. G. Wodehouse, Douglas Adams, and Terry Pratchett are my go to classic authors for laugh out loud books. They are HILARIOUS. I’ve also recently been listening to the Anty Boisjoly cozy series by P. J. Fitzsimmons and the Lady Hardcastle series by T. E. Kinsey.
Tina says:
I should mention that I listen to all of the above listed. I’ve read them in print, but excellent narration adds another level. Jonathan Cecil narrating Wodehouse is perfection.
Tami Spence says:
Yes, Loved THe Guncle and Here for it as well as Congratulations, The Best is Over. I also enjoyed Nothing to See Here! Bossy Pants, of course! For The Love by Jen Hatmaker! I love to follow a heavy or deep read with a light and funny one.
Kate says:
Anything by Samantha Irby. We are Never Meeting in Real Life is my favorite of her four Essay collections. Laugh out loud. Also great in audio. Her voice, the pace and highlights make me laugh all over again.
Stephanie U says:
I searched her name in the comments before leaving my own in caps lock. The audio is especially hilarious. Quietly Hostile was my latest listen and I laughed so hard while driving alone in my car.
Dottie says:
The Thursday Murder Club mysteries by Richard Osman always make me laugh out loud! Perfect summer read!
Deepa says:
They’re wonderful, though the fourth book is rather heavy and sad.
Katie says:
I’m thrilled to see Abbi Waxman on this list. I’ve read all of her books, and they are incredibly funny! It takes a very talented writer to convey humor so effectively that you find yourself laughing out loud.
Diane says:
I thought Alexis Hall’s Ten Thing That Never Happened was really funny too!
Also currently reading/listening to Lily Chu’s The Comeback. I’m listening to it with my 12 year old daughter and we are also laughing a lot.
Amy Rosenthal’s Textbook also very funny.
Funny in Farsi is one of the funniest memoirs I’ve ever read!
Kelsey says:
The Thursday Murder Club, even more so in books 2 and 3, had me laughing out loud as I walked around the house doing chores with my earbuds in. Subtle humor driven by character traits of highly loveable people! Sometimes it’s hard for me to find funny books that aren’t crass or funny at the expense of another person (or group of people), which I just personally don’t care for, but this series was wonderful!
Elizabeth Pickens says:
I’m listening to the book Good Material by Dolly Alderton. Hilarious look at a breakup told by the hapless man who is a standup comedian. He decides to use his breakup as new comedy material. Fun listening!
I’m head over heals for Beth Brower’s Emma M. Lion series. I couldn’t put them down. Quirky. Clean. Fresh. And at times tender. I read in bed before sleep and kept waking my husband up with laughter.
Aimee Sims says:
Absolutely agree – Emma M. Lion is the best series I’ve read in years. Witty, clever, and incredibly funny. Oh, what d give to live in St. Cristian’s!
Patty says:
Thank you for recommending this! I just finished Emma’s first journal and am starting on the second. It’s a delightful series. And right now, the books are free with Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited.
Sandy Hoenecke says:
Whenever I think of an amusing book, I think of One Plus One by Jojo Moyes. The characters are endearing on their road trip from hell. The non-human character , Norman, is delightful. The kids are kind of normal and the adults have th frenemy to lovers vibe and banter I like. I keep very few books after reading; this is one of them.
Wendy says:
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers is my go-to recommendation for a funny book!
Jennie says:
I was going to suggest this one too! I enjoyed it so much I listened it to twice back to back.
Bob says:
Yes to Thursday Murder Club series, and ALL of Harrison Scott Key’s books. And, of course, David Sedaris, especially Holidays on Ice.
Shirleen says:
I would recommend Please Be Advised by Christine Sneed, a novel written in office emails. Also, Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners by Gretchen Anthony.
Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I have added several to my TBR.
Gina says:
The book that immediately came to mind when I saw this post was Musical Chairs. I loved that book and laughed out loud so many times. I’ll be checking out some of the other books here.
Amy S says:
Just finished Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller and I’ll be recommending it to everyone I know. Not only is it laugh out loud funny, it’s an on-point satire of today’s culture.
On audio, I’d recommend Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau and Starter Villian by John Scalzi. The narrators really bring the characters to life and amplify the humor.
Michelle says:
Agree 100% with Mary Jane on audio. It completely made that reading experience shine!!!
Kristin says:
Anything by Dave Barry, both his memoirs and his fiction. India Hilton’s Dangerous Damsels series are so fun — witty banter, think Princess Bride humor. I laughed openly throughout The League of Gentlewomen Witches.
I’ve had David Sedaris on my TBR list for quite some time and I need to be more intentional about reading one of his books!
I love reading funny books to my kids. Listening to them laugh out loud is my favorite! Neil Gaiman has some hilarious kids’ books. But nothing beats reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever to my students and having to wait until the laughter died down so I could continue reading!
Aelfwynn says:
I highly recommend David Sedaris on audio — he reads them and they’re brilliant.
Guest says:
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling made me laugh earlier this year. I love Bill Bryson and find his books always make me laugh, even if the topic isn’t necessarily intended to be funny. Notes From a Small Island continues to make me laugh out loud. Bossypants by Tina Fey was funny. Less which you listed was also quite funny. I haven’t read Guncle but Guncle Abroad is on hold for me so heading to the library get that one as well as Lies and Weddings. It turns out I don’t read a lot of funny books which – to be honest – is startling to me because I LOVE to laugh. This may be a topic for therapy – ha! I do watch a lot of funny shows and movies – maybe that’s my humor outlet more than books.
Jennifer Riverlyn says:
“For me, the potential for humor seems to be strongest when the heavy and light nestle up side by side.”
Yes, I totally agree!
Adrianna says:
And in that spirit, the first book I thought of when I read this is “Born A Crime” by Trevor Noah. Heartbreaking one minute, hilarious the next. Also, if you’re old like me, any Lewis Grizzard book; he was hysterical.
Audrey says:
I’m glad David Sedaris made your list. I know he’s not for everyone but I really got into him during the pandemic. His humour, along with Samantha Irby and R. Eric Thomas, got me through lockdowns, fertility treatments, and fertility treatments during lockdown (an extra dose of awful).
Barb says:
Sophie Kinsella never fails to make me laugh uncontrollably. I totally embarrassed myself on a train while listening to one of the Shopaholic books. Got the giggles and couldn’t quit!
Christine Taft says:
For me the funniest books are those that see absurdity and laugh instead of crying. Totally agree with the person who mentioned Bill Bryson’s “A Walk in the Woods”.
Trevor Noah’s “Born a Crime” certainly falls in the laughing at the absurdity of something really horrible. And I was surprised to find myself laughing out loud at “Lessons in Chemistry.” Again, bad things happen but
Lee Ann says:
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons is marvelous.
Susan says:
As sad as both these books could be in various parts, both had me laughing out loud as well: A Man Called Ove and Laurie Frankel’s This Is How It Always Is. Both of them contain those lovely “gotchas” that appear in everyday family life that are absurd and hilarious.
Connie says:
I found myself laughing out loud at Sylvia’s Second Act by Hillary Yablon. Highly recommend.
Kate says:
I love dry British humor and the one that I read recently that had me laughing so hard was Kingsley Amis’ Lucky Jim. In it, the main character Jim Dixon reacts to boring or uncomfortable situations by making funny faces. I keep picturing the author sitting in front of a mirror and writing down a description of all the funny faces he could make.
Vicky Stedman says:
Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of a Man, His Wife and Her Alligator by Homer Hickman. Delightful!
Sandy Amadon says:
After reading Jonathon Tropper’s This is Where I Leave You, I went in search of and read his entire back catalog. Loved them all. I marvel at the ability to laugh through some of life’s more serious encounters. I feel like I’m storing away preparations because life for all of us is full of twists and turns.
Kathleen says:
Bellwether by Connie Willis, The Rosie Project by Graeme Samson, and The Chili Queen by Sandra Walls are all books I’ve chosen to re-read when I NEEDED to laugh. The first half of the Chili Queen is mildly amusing fast reading but functions as set-up for the second half. Also second the many recommendations of P.G. Wodehouse.
Lindy says:
Just bought Bellether on your recommendation because I found the Rosie Project and the road to Roswell by Connie Willis hilarious.
Lois Homma says:
The Sweet Spot by Amy Poeppel made me laugh out loud. It’s my favorite of hers…
Debbie Burke says:
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson! My book group… we laughed while we read it. We laughed while talked about it. We laughed while we remembered reading it and talking about it.
Suzy says:
I guess it’s books that say things that are so true, but nobody admits, that I find funny, or the ridiculous, the outrageous options that comedians are so good at coming up with. The first would be true of Jane Austen, she was slyly witty about the way people were and the funny things they said, but the two books that always come to mind when I think of laugh-out-loud funny, are Gary Paulsen’s book, “Winterdance”, about trying to train sled dogs—I read it to my husband while we drove to our honeymoon location and I was laughing so hard I couldn’t read—and “On Whale Island” by Daniel Hays, about moving his family to an island for a year, and he was just so outrageously funny. But I’ll agree with several others that I love the Thursday Murder Club books, too, they are LOL funny and I underline the best.
hmbalison says:
One of the funniest books I’ve ever read is Candy Freak by Steve Almond. It’s all about the candy business in America and perfectly captures the nostalgia of candy and childhood. I know this description sounds weird, but give it a chance.
Suzanne Harley says:
I laughed out loud frequently when I read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. The laughter happened both times I read the book. Tina Fey’s Bossypants made me laugh. I also chuckled at The Murder of Mister Wickham. It’s interesting that I don’t find a lot of books funny but I don’t think I am really reading for humor. This list from Anne is a good one!!
Elaine Clements says:
“In a Sunburned Country” and “Neither Here Nor There”, both by Bill Bryson had me laughing so much that my husband told me he couldn’t sleep for the bed shaking.
Kim says:
Dial A for Aunties is one that just had me giggling
Jess says:
Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce is really cute, and similarly, Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Claire Pooley.
Mary Lou says:
As soon as I saw “funny book,” my mind flashed WAY back to high school. I was reading The Once and Future King by T.H. White. I would be reading in study hall, and, hard as I would try, I was not able to stifle my laughter, to the chagrin of the teacher, and amusement of the other students. I love all things Arthurian, and this is still one of my favorite books of all time. Who knew a book could be that much fun?
Lindy says:
Road to Roswell by Connie Willis and the Rosie Project by Graeme Samson are two laugh out loud books.
Tokio says:
Love this list! We all need a good laugh and some lightheartedness, especially during challenging times. I’ve read a few, like ‘We Are Never Meeting in Real Life’ by Samantha Irby and ‘Born a Crime’ by Trevor Noah, and they had me giggling out loud. Thanks for recommending more humorous books. I’m looking forward to diving into those next. Laughter is the best medicine, right?
Patty says:
The problem with recommending humorous books is that what one person finds hilarious another person might find silly and stupid. That said, I thought Steve Hockensmith’s Holmes on the Range series laugh-out- loud funny. Along the same lines is the Inspector Hobbes series by Wilke Martin. (Beware of a fat-shaming comment by the main character in the first book.) Finally, Lisa Lutz’s Spellman series is one of my favorite humorous series.
Nikki Senecal says:
I just read Several People are Typing in one day. I snorted and laughed out loud in public. Especially good for those who had existential angst while using Slack in the workplace.
Pretty sure this is where subjectivity comes into play. I laugh out loud when I read J.D. Robb’s In Death series. Pretty much almost all of them, for sure.
Deirdre says:
You’ll probably think this is strange, but Don Quixote. My family did a buddy read of this book this year. I was laughing out loud pretty regularly, and I always knew when my husband was reading it because he was laughing too. My daughter doesn’t live with us but tells us she was also laughing. We recently met to discuss the book and were laughing out loud just telling our other daughter about it.
I agree with others who mention P.G. Wodehouse and Terry Pratchett. I also laughed out loud at parts of Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime.
I find I need my book humor to be woven into a story where it pops out and surprises me. Otherwise it feels overwhelming. For example, I loooved Lindy West’s essay Sh*t Actually (about the movie Love Actually), but the book was just too much for me.
Anne Bogel says:
I love “strange”! Thanks for sharing, Deirdre!
Dee says:
A favorite must-read book with great humor is A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. Superb.
Shelby says:
Canada by Mike Myers made me laugh so hard I had to stop the audiobook until I stopped laughing because I didn’t want to miss anything. Mike Birgilia’s books have also made me laugh out loud.
Jena L says:
If you’re feeling stabby, for whatever reason, I do highly recommend having a go at the Scholomance books. They’re magical healing in real life, a delight from cover to cover (x3).
I had a rough week last week. I generally like people as a whole, but last week I encountered a whole chain of WTF moments where other people were only landing on the sliding scale between disappointing and infuriating. (Remember how outraged everyone was/is at Brock Turner’s lenient sentence? Yeah, everything was shockingly similar to that, and I was just there for moral support.)
But I had to go home and not take those feelings out on my family.
So I decided to finally let myself reread The Scholomance trilogy by Naomi Novik, a trilogy I’ve only read through completely once before, though I’ve read the first one four or five times and the second one at least twice. (And I’d finally just bought my own set instead of waiting for the library copies.)
She’s a balm to stabbiness, this jaded teen who has a knack for magic that causes massive destruction, who’s stuck for years in a magical high school where the students are all fending for themselves, trying to be one of the 1:4’s who make it out alive. I remembered it was funny, but I’d forgotten just how funny.
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73 comments
P.G. Wodehouse! For some reason his books never seemed very appealing to me (maybe I suspected the books to be a bit “dusty” because of their age?) – but then I read one of his books some months ago (Summer lightning) – and I was hooked! I literally started laughing aloud when reading some passages, and that’s something I NEVER do!
And of course afterwards I asked myself why I hadn’t read him sooner… He’s absolutely hilarious! Perfect for summer!
I was just about to suggest Wodehouse! His books are delightful!!
I so agree! My family quotes him when the occasion is right.
I love reading P.G. Wodehouse. He was a prolific writer so there are many books to choose from. Jeeves and Wooster of course are quite the treat.
I agree! There are some excellent audio versions of the Jeeves books on YouTube.
I’m glad to see Jenny Lawson on this list, she is one of my favorite writers. Her best book (IMO) is her second–Furiously Happy. It strikes the perfect balance between LOL tears-streaming-down-your-face funny and poignant.
I agree about Furiously Happy. I think Broken is a little too broken for me to laugh too much.
Furiously Happy was amazing.I have never laughed so hard in my life at a book. Two of my favorite scenes were the middle of the night shenanigans with the taxidermy animals and the cats and the scene with the swans.
To me, “How to Stay Married” and “The World’s Largest Man” by Harrison Scott Key are both laugh out loud funny, while discussing really serious, thoughtful topics.
But I chuckle in Amor Towles, Leif Enger, Gary Schmidt, etc!
Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan had me laughing out loud several times!
I just received a notification this is available for me at the library – YAY!!!
Jeanne Ray’s novels: “Julie and Romeo” (and its sequel “Julie and Romeo Get Lucky”); Eat Cake; and “Step-Ball-Change” tickled my funny bone long before I’d ever heard of her brilliant daughter Ann Patchett.
In a completely different genre, Bill Bryson’s memoir, “A Walk in the Woods,” brought tears to my eyes.
I enjoyed Jeanne Ray’s entertaining novels too. She writes great dialogue. I discovered Amy Poeppel through this site—love all her novels! Elinor Lipman’s novels are wise and witty—I look forward to each new title. And an oldie I periodically reread is Frederica, by Georgette Heyer.
P. G. Wodehouse, Douglas Adams, and Terry Pratchett are my go to classic authors for laugh out loud books. They are HILARIOUS. I’ve also recently been listening to the Anty Boisjoly cozy series by P. J. Fitzsimmons and the Lady Hardcastle series by T. E. Kinsey.
I should mention that I listen to all of the above listed. I’ve read them in print, but excellent narration adds another level. Jonathan Cecil narrating Wodehouse is perfection.
Yes, Loved THe Guncle and Here for it as well as Congratulations, The Best is Over. I also enjoyed Nothing to See Here! Bossy Pants, of course! For The Love by Jen Hatmaker! I love to follow a heavy or deep read with a light and funny one.
Anything by Samantha Irby. We are Never Meeting in Real Life is my favorite of her four Essay collections. Laugh out loud. Also great in audio. Her voice, the pace and highlights make me laugh all over again.
I searched her name in the comments before leaving my own in caps lock. The audio is especially hilarious. Quietly Hostile was my latest listen and I laughed so hard while driving alone in my car.
The Thursday Murder Club mysteries by Richard Osman always make me laugh out loud! Perfect summer read!
They’re wonderful, though the fourth book is rather heavy and sad.
I’m thrilled to see Abbi Waxman on this list. I’ve read all of her books, and they are incredibly funny! It takes a very talented writer to convey humor so effectively that you find yourself laughing out loud.
I thought Alexis Hall’s Ten Thing That Never Happened was really funny too!
Also currently reading/listening to Lily Chu’s The Comeback. I’m listening to it with my 12 year old daughter and we are also laughing a lot.
Amy Rosenthal’s Textbook also very funny.
Funny in Farsi is one of the funniest memoirs I’ve ever read!
The Thursday Murder Club, even more so in books 2 and 3, had me laughing out loud as I walked around the house doing chores with my earbuds in. Subtle humor driven by character traits of highly loveable people! Sometimes it’s hard for me to find funny books that aren’t crass or funny at the expense of another person (or group of people), which I just personally don’t care for, but this series was wonderful!
I’m listening to the book Good Material by Dolly Alderton. Hilarious look at a breakup told by the hapless man who is a standup comedian. He decides to use his breakup as new comedy material. Fun listening!
I’m head over heals for Beth Brower’s Emma M. Lion series. I couldn’t put them down. Quirky. Clean. Fresh. And at times tender. I read in bed before sleep and kept waking my husband up with laughter.
Absolutely agree – Emma M. Lion is the best series I’ve read in years. Witty, clever, and incredibly funny. Oh, what d give to live in St. Cristian’s!
Thank you for recommending this! I just finished Emma’s first journal and am starting on the second. It’s a delightful series. And right now, the books are free with Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited.
Whenever I think of an amusing book, I think of One Plus One by Jojo Moyes. The characters are endearing on their road trip from hell. The non-human character , Norman, is delightful. The kids are kind of normal and the adults have th frenemy to lovers vibe and banter I like. I keep very few books after reading; this is one of them.
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers is my go-to recommendation for a funny book!
I was going to suggest this one too! I enjoyed it so much I listened it to twice back to back.
Yes to Thursday Murder Club series, and ALL of Harrison Scott Key’s books. And, of course, David Sedaris, especially Holidays on Ice.
I would recommend Please Be Advised by Christine Sneed, a novel written in office emails. Also, Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners by Gretchen Anthony.
Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I have added several to my TBR.
The book that immediately came to mind when I saw this post was Musical Chairs. I loved that book and laughed out loud so many times. I’ll be checking out some of the other books here.
Just finished Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller and I’ll be recommending it to everyone I know. Not only is it laugh out loud funny, it’s an on-point satire of today’s culture.
On audio, I’d recommend Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau and Starter Villian by John Scalzi. The narrators really bring the characters to life and amplify the humor.
Agree 100% with Mary Jane on audio. It completely made that reading experience shine!!!
Anything by Dave Barry, both his memoirs and his fiction. India Hilton’s Dangerous Damsels series are so fun — witty banter, think Princess Bride humor. I laughed openly throughout The League of Gentlewomen Witches.
Holton! Ugh spell check
I’ve had David Sedaris on my TBR list for quite some time and I need to be more intentional about reading one of his books!
I love reading funny books to my kids. Listening to them laugh out loud is my favorite! Neil Gaiman has some hilarious kids’ books. But nothing beats reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever to my students and having to wait until the laughter died down so I could continue reading!
I highly recommend David Sedaris on audio — he reads them and they’re brilliant.
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling made me laugh earlier this year. I love Bill Bryson and find his books always make me laugh, even if the topic isn’t necessarily intended to be funny. Notes From a Small Island continues to make me laugh out loud. Bossypants by Tina Fey was funny. Less which you listed was also quite funny. I haven’t read Guncle but Guncle Abroad is on hold for me so heading to the library get that one as well as Lies and Weddings. It turns out I don’t read a lot of funny books which – to be honest – is startling to me because I LOVE to laugh. This may be a topic for therapy – ha! I do watch a lot of funny shows and movies – maybe that’s my humor outlet more than books.
“For me, the potential for humor seems to be strongest when the heavy and light nestle up side by side.”
Yes, I totally agree!
And in that spirit, the first book I thought of when I read this is “Born A Crime” by Trevor Noah. Heartbreaking one minute, hilarious the next. Also, if you’re old like me, any Lewis Grizzard book; he was hysterical.
I’m glad David Sedaris made your list. I know he’s not for everyone but I really got into him during the pandemic. His humour, along with Samantha Irby and R. Eric Thomas, got me through lockdowns, fertility treatments, and fertility treatments during lockdown (an extra dose of awful).
Sophie Kinsella never fails to make me laugh uncontrollably. I totally embarrassed myself on a train while listening to one of the Shopaholic books. Got the giggles and couldn’t quit!
For me the funniest books are those that see absurdity and laugh instead of crying. Totally agree with the person who mentioned Bill Bryson’s “A Walk in the Woods”.
Trevor Noah’s “Born a Crime” certainly falls in the laughing at the absurdity of something really horrible. And I was surprised to find myself laughing out loud at “Lessons in Chemistry.” Again, bad things happen but
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons is marvelous.
As sad as both these books could be in various parts, both had me laughing out loud as well: A Man Called Ove and Laurie Frankel’s This Is How It Always Is. Both of them contain those lovely “gotchas” that appear in everyday family life that are absurd and hilarious.
I found myself laughing out loud at Sylvia’s Second Act by Hillary Yablon. Highly recommend.
I love dry British humor and the one that I read recently that had me laughing so hard was Kingsley Amis’ Lucky Jim. In it, the main character Jim Dixon reacts to boring or uncomfortable situations by making funny faces. I keep picturing the author sitting in front of a mirror and writing down a description of all the funny faces he could make.
Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of a Man, His Wife and Her Alligator by Homer Hickman. Delightful!
After reading Jonathon Tropper’s This is Where I Leave You, I went in search of and read his entire back catalog. Loved them all. I marvel at the ability to laugh through some of life’s more serious encounters. I feel like I’m storing away preparations because life for all of us is full of twists and turns.
Bellwether by Connie Willis, The Rosie Project by Graeme Samson, and The Chili Queen by Sandra Walls are all books I’ve chosen to re-read when I NEEDED to laugh. The first half of the Chili Queen is mildly amusing fast reading but functions as set-up for the second half. Also second the many recommendations of P.G. Wodehouse.
Just bought Bellether on your recommendation because I found the Rosie Project and the road to Roswell by Connie Willis hilarious.
The Sweet Spot by Amy Poeppel made me laugh out loud. It’s my favorite of hers…
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson! My book group… we laughed while we read it. We laughed while talked about it. We laughed while we remembered reading it and talking about it.
I guess it’s books that say things that are so true, but nobody admits, that I find funny, or the ridiculous, the outrageous options that comedians are so good at coming up with. The first would be true of Jane Austen, she was slyly witty about the way people were and the funny things they said, but the two books that always come to mind when I think of laugh-out-loud funny, are Gary Paulsen’s book, “Winterdance”, about trying to train sled dogs—I read it to my husband while we drove to our honeymoon location and I was laughing so hard I couldn’t read—and “On Whale Island” by Daniel Hays, about moving his family to an island for a year, and he was just so outrageously funny. But I’ll agree with several others that I love the Thursday Murder Club books, too, they are LOL funny and I underline the best.
One of the funniest books I’ve ever read is Candy Freak by Steve Almond. It’s all about the candy business in America and perfectly captures the nostalgia of candy and childhood. I know this description sounds weird, but give it a chance.
I laughed out loud frequently when I read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. The laughter happened both times I read the book. Tina Fey’s Bossypants made me laugh. I also chuckled at The Murder of Mister Wickham. It’s interesting that I don’t find a lot of books funny but I don’t think I am really reading for humor. This list from Anne is a good one!!
“In a Sunburned Country” and “Neither Here Nor There”, both by Bill Bryson had me laughing so much that my husband told me he couldn’t sleep for the bed shaking.
Dial A for Aunties is one that just had me giggling
Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce is really cute, and similarly, Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Claire Pooley.
As soon as I saw “funny book,” my mind flashed WAY back to high school. I was reading The Once and Future King by T.H. White. I would be reading in study hall, and, hard as I would try, I was not able to stifle my laughter, to the chagrin of the teacher, and amusement of the other students. I love all things Arthurian, and this is still one of my favorite books of all time. Who knew a book could be that much fun?
Road to Roswell by Connie Willis and the Rosie Project by Graeme Samson are two laugh out loud books.
Love this list! We all need a good laugh and some lightheartedness, especially during challenging times. I’ve read a few, like ‘We Are Never Meeting in Real Life’ by Samantha Irby and ‘Born a Crime’ by Trevor Noah, and they had me giggling out loud. Thanks for recommending more humorous books. I’m looking forward to diving into those next. Laughter is the best medicine, right?
The problem with recommending humorous books is that what one person finds hilarious another person might find silly and stupid. That said, I thought Steve Hockensmith’s Holmes on the Range series laugh-out- loud funny. Along the same lines is the Inspector Hobbes series by Wilke Martin. (Beware of a fat-shaming comment by the main character in the first book.) Finally, Lisa Lutz’s Spellman series is one of my favorite humorous series.
I just read Several People are Typing in one day. I snorted and laughed out loud in public. Especially good for those who had existential angst while using Slack in the workplace.
Pretty sure this is where subjectivity comes into play. I laugh out loud when I read J.D. Robb’s In Death series. Pretty much almost all of them, for sure.
You’ll probably think this is strange, but Don Quixote. My family did a buddy read of this book this year. I was laughing out loud pretty regularly, and I always knew when my husband was reading it because he was laughing too. My daughter doesn’t live with us but tells us she was also laughing. We recently met to discuss the book and were laughing out loud just telling our other daughter about it.
I agree with others who mention P.G. Wodehouse and Terry Pratchett. I also laughed out loud at parts of Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime.
I find I need my book humor to be woven into a story where it pops out and surprises me. Otherwise it feels overwhelming. For example, I loooved Lindy West’s essay Sh*t Actually (about the movie Love Actually), but the book was just too much for me.
I love “strange”! Thanks for sharing, Deirdre!
A favorite must-read book with great humor is A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. Superb.
Canada by Mike Myers made me laugh so hard I had to stop the audiobook until I stopped laughing because I didn’t want to miss anything. Mike Birgilia’s books have also made me laugh out loud.
If you’re feeling stabby, for whatever reason, I do highly recommend having a go at the Scholomance books. They’re magical healing in real life, a delight from cover to cover (x3).
I had a rough week last week. I generally like people as a whole, but last week I encountered a whole chain of WTF moments where other people were only landing on the sliding scale between disappointing and infuriating. (Remember how outraged everyone was/is at Brock Turner’s lenient sentence? Yeah, everything was shockingly similar to that, and I was just there for moral support.)
But I had to go home and not take those feelings out on my family.
So I decided to finally let myself reread The Scholomance trilogy by Naomi Novik, a trilogy I’ve only read through completely once before, though I’ve read the first one four or five times and the second one at least twice. (And I’d finally just bought my own set instead of waiting for the library copies.)
She’s a balm to stabbiness, this jaded teen who has a knack for magic that causes massive destruction, who’s stuck for years in a magical high school where the students are all fending for themselves, trying to be one of the 1:4’s who make it out alive. I remembered it was funny, but I’d forgotten just how funny.
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