Funny books Archives

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl

by Issa Rae

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 also speaks frankly about the stereotypes she faces as a Black woman.

The Guncle

by Steven Rowley

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. A heartwarming exploration of grief and family.

Heartburn

by Nora Ephron

Is it possible to write a sidesplitting novel about the breakup of the perfect marriage? If the writer is Nora Ephron, the answer is a resounding yes. The creator of Sleepless in Seattle reminds us that comedy depends on anguish as surely as a proper gravy depends on flour and butter. Seven months into her pregnancy, Rachel Samstat discovers that her husband, Mark, is in love with another woman. Audie Award Finalist.

Hollow Kingdom

by Kira Jane Buxton

Holly says: "Dystopian horror, but make it funny: this debut from Buxton stars a domesticated crow on a quest to save humanity—or failing that, humanity’s pets—after a zombie apocalypse. Unexpected, touching, and delightful, it’s set across the northwest from Seattle to Canada. If you love it as much as I did, be sure to pick up book two, Feral Creatures."

Less

by Andrew Sean Greer

I loved this so much. This Pulitzer winner manages to be serious and seriously funny. The hero is Arthur Less, who 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.

Dear Committee Members

by Julie Schumacher

An inside look at the world of academia via letters from the much-leaguered professor creative writing and literature Jason Fitger. His department faces massive budget cuts, his writing career is on pause, and so is his personal life, for that matter. 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.

The Garden of Small Beginnings

by Abbi Waxman

This is laugh out loud funny, tender, and written in a fresh voice, 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 been quite ready to move on. Lili is not stuck in her grief but she's 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.

Musical Chairs

by Amy Poeppel

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. And then 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 chances she needs—and it’s hilarious, with laugh-out-loud dialogue and a pitch-perfect ending.

Here for It: Or How to Save Your Soul in America

by R. Eric Thomas

If you love heartfelt, thoughtful memoirs that also make you laugh, then you must pick up 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, 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.

The Best of Me

by David Sedaris

A master of short-form storytelling, David Sedaris shares his best stories in this "best of" 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. Both avid Sedaris fans and readers who are new to his work will appreciate this volume of his most memorable work. (I'm currently 90% through the audio version; Sedaris narrates himself, as always, and this new audiobook includes some live performances that are outstanding.)

Boyfriend Material

by Alexis Hall

If you enjoy the "fake dating" trope and British humor, this charming romance novel 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 closed door romantic comedy is completely swoon-worthy.

Chirp

Broken (in the Best Possible Way)

by Jenny Lawson

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. Fabulous on audio, as read by the author. I’ve never listened to Jenny Lawson before—and whoa, have I been missing out! I laughed until I cried as Lawson sat beside me and told me her story (for that’s what it felt like), lending greater depth and vulnerability to her essay collection.

Better Luck Next Time

by Julia Claiborne Johnson

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.

This is Where I Leave You

by Jonathan Tropper

USA Today calls Tropper "often sidesplitting, mostly heartbreaking... a more sincere, insightful version of Nick Hornby." From the publisher: "The death of Judd Foxman's father marks the first time that the entire Foxman clan has congregated in years. Simultaneously mourning the demise of his father and his marriage, Judd joins his dysfunctional family as they reluctantly sit shiva-and spend seven days and nights under the same roof."

We’re Going to Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, and True

by Gabrielle Union

Gabrielle Union’s memoir-in-essays is a shining example in the sea of celebrity memoirs. She 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. Not everyone can strike the right balance but Union nails it. Her follow-up memoir, You Got Anything Stronger?: Stories, is out now.

Chirp

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