This week’s Top Ten Tuesday list was supposed to be about books that made me laugh. Two immediately jumped out in my brain — the Jessica Darling series (snort-laughing-in-public-and-embarrassing-my-husband funny) and Audrey, Wait.
Then I was stumped for other funny books I’ve read so I went to Goodreads to look through my “read” list. As I was scrolling I was like “Okay, I read The Deal recently and that was pretty funny at sometimes.” Then, “okay I think The Rosie Project made me laugh, too, if I remember correctly.” And then a Sedaris book I read forever ago (Me Talk Pretty One Day). Then, “okay Yes, Please was funny at times. Oh and I Love Everybody And Other Atrocious Lies.”
But then that was the extent of books I could definitively say made me laugh or that I found funny in a memorable way. I’m sure there were WAY more books that have made me laugh but I just couldn’t recall them like “OH YES THAT BOOK WAS PRETTY FUNNY.” It kind of made me sad. I like funny things. I like to laugh. Why don’t I read any funny books??
I know that I have a tendency to read a lot of dark and sad books because that’s just who I am but, oh man, going through my read list it was like going doing the line like SAD, DEPRESSING, BROKE MY HEART, DEATH, DYING, UGLY SOBBED, STILL NOT RECOVERED, OOH VERY DARK, TEARS FOR DAYS, GOING TO CURL UP IN A BALL etc. etc.
I mean, I’m totally fine with it. I love my preferences. I KNOW them. (These are also my preferences for my tv shows because pretty much I’m always crying). But also? I kind of want some light and funny??? So this is where you come in.
I AM DESPERATELY IN NEED OF SOME FUNNY BOOK RECS.
Hit me with them in the comments!!
Kim @ Bookworm Book Reviews says
I love Laurie Notaro. If you haven’t read all of her other books, you should. Even the fiction books she wrote are hilarious! You can check out my TTT post for other recommendations if you want. Happy reading!
Lindsey @ Bring My Books says
THE SPELLMAN FILES BY LISA LUTZ
6 books, madcap mystery, lol snort in public funny.
THEY ARE AMAZING.
Chrissi Reads says
I don’t read many funny books either! I do recommend Sophie Kinsella, if you’re looking for a light read. Most of her books are quite funny!
Wendy @ Book Scents says
What was that book that was so bad you were crying from laughing?? the beaf bayonet??? lolol that was my first thought as I read your post hahahah. not quite what you’re looking for but teeheee.
Emmah says
I feel you there! Basically all I read and watch are heavy/sad things. I NEED HAPPY/FUNNY BOOKS.
Anne @HeadFullofBooks says
I am doing some shopping this week for funny books, too.
My TTT
Melissa says
Like you, I read a lot of books with tough storylines, but I definitely have some funny recs for you, including: Lola Carlyle’s 12-Step Romance by Danielle Younge-Ullman, Romancing the Nerd by Leah Rae Miller, Naked by David Sedaris, The DUFF by Kody Keplinger, Holding Court by K.C. Held, and Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford.
Petra says
Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers is equally part heartbreaking, part funny. Maybe you’ll enjoy that one? 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Here’s my TTT
Grace @ Rebel Mommy Book Blog says
Denton Little’s Deathdate, Attachments, Wallbanger are some I can think of. Listening to some of my favorite funny ladies memoirs is always guaranteed to make me laugh too.
Rachel Writes Things says
THE JESSICA DARLING SERIES!!! by Megan McCafferty. They came out in 2001/2002/2003/2004/2005/2006/2007/2008 but omg they are SO FUNNY. Also Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a hoot! Hope you’re able to find some funny ones today, Jamie. But I also have a hard time- I tend to be drawn to darker books as well.
Tiff @ Mostly YA Lit says
I’ve been turning to actual girl comedians for my funny lately. Have you read any of Mindy Kaling’s memoirs/short essays? They made me laugh a ton.
Honestly, I’m kinda like you, I don’t read a ton of funny books, but I also think that that’s because funny is very subjective, and frankly, there aren’t a lot of people who are writing super funny books in YA…Maureen Johnson is one of the ones who comes to mind, but even her books aren’t laugh-out-loud.
I did totally laugh out loud at Morgan Matson’s The Unexpected Everything, which, if you haven’t read it yet, Jamie, is one of her BEST.
Stephanie says
Even though it is non-fiction, A Walk in the Woods had me snorting Pepsi out my nose onto the break room wall. Very embarrassing. Not even a little bit ladylike.
Brittany says
I’m the same way, I pretty much only read books that crush my soul and destroy me emotionally, so I couldn’t think of ten funny books! XD I’ve seen My Lady Jane on these lists repeatedly though, and some good friends have told me I must read it asap, so I’m hoping that will be hilarious!
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
L says
Ditto on recommending the Spellman Files!
But more importantly you NEED to read Where’d You Go, Bernadette? Everyone I know who has read it loves it and thinks it’s hilarious.
imyril says
This one was a bit of a challenge for me too, although I quickly realised that the answer (for me) was non-fiction and comic strips. Books? I mostly read for the Big Turbulent Feelings, not the giggles. And some of the books on my list definitely deliver on both (Night Waking – Sarah Moss). But for unadulterated book-loving giggles, I stand by The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett. It’s adorable – the Queen of England becomes a bookworm, and the nation panics.
Rest of my TTT.
molly says
My list of funny books was quite the mix, too, because it’s not my go-to genre. I’m all about the soul-crushing books. Plus I have a weird sense of humor. I’ve heard great things about Denton’s Little Deathdate for funny YA. And even though it was sad too, Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl was funny. But I mostly like humor in romance or in urban fantasy for adult fiction, or I like dark satire or black humor.
Julie says
Hi Jamie! Ages ago I read BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY commuting in and out of Center City, and I know I made everyone turn and look at me multiple times because I guffawed or snorted. 😀 I also recently read DON’T GET CAUGHT by Kurt Dinan and I found it to be hilarious. Hope these help!
Dahlia Adler says
THE F-IT LIST by Julie Halpern. So highly rec-ing this to you. Also think you’ll like SCARLETT EPSTEIN HATES IT HERE!
Steph Campbell says
Every time I think of funny books, I think Jessica Darling as well!! 💕💕
Non-fic wise I love Jen Lancaster. Nick & Norah and Naomi & Ely were funny. Gah, funny rec’s are the hardest!
Kate @ Mom's Radius says
I couldn’t come up with any either, so I wrote about funny kids books. I have read a lot of those with my son.
Linda @ threegoodrats says
I second Bridget Jones’s Diary and A Walk in the Woods. Also: Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple, Beauty Queens by Libba Bray (the audio book is fantastic!), Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh, How To Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. I love funny books!
Deanna says
Krista Higgins Blue Heron series is pretty funny, especially Waiting on You. I also laughed a lot reading Alice Clayton’s Wallbanger.
Deanna Schwartz says
E. Lockhart’s early books are hilarious! I love Fly on the Wall 🙂
Lucy says
Lot’s of funny memoirs around. Try Jenny Lawson’s ‘Let’s Pretend this Never Happened’, Mindy Kaling’s ‘Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me’ and Caitlin Moran’s ‘How to Be a Woman’.
Shelf Worn says
Hello. Like your blog! This was my first TTT and quite tricky – I guess I don’t read many funny books either. I might have to check out Amy Poehler – love her. Most of my recommendations are a very British humour, but I’m British, so they made me giggle. Lots.
Jessica @ a GREAT read says
It’s not that I necessarily read “funny” books, but some books I’ve read have had a nice amount of humor weaved in and I definitely LOL’d a lot with my ten! I HIGHLY recommend the Charley Davidson series if you haven’t read that. It’s paranormal and mystery and naturally, there’s some snark/humor wove in and some pretty steamy romance!
Other books I’ve read that I found funny were Oblivion by Jennifer L. Armentrout, which is basically the first three (in ebook format) Lux books but in Daemon (the hero)’s point of view. And while he was kind of a-hole like in the first book, he’s still pretty funny! And being inside his head definitely made things funnier!!
Here’s my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
Carrie says
I second the Kristan Higgins recommendation! My TTT
Marie says
I’ll give the third vote for Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Lawson, and it was completely hysterical. 🙂
Another that made me laugh out loud was a YA novel called King Dork, by Frank Portman. If you haven’t read that already, definitely give it a try. I LOVED it!
My other go-to funny novel rec is A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz. It’s over 500 pages, and it *might* not be in your wheelhouse, so you’d want to read some reviews and/or an excerpt to see what you think, or if your library has a copy, check it out and read maybe 30 pages. That’s enough to know if the tone is right for you or not.
Kayla @ Tiny Bookshelves says
i had the exact same thought when I saw the topic for this week – what books have I actually read that made me laugh? Looking at my Read list on Goodreads confirmed that I’m mostly a fan of dark, twisty, and love. The Jessica Darling series and the Stephanie Plum series’ were the only ones that I could think of quickly. PS. I Love You and PS. I Still Love You had me giggling (I think).
Danielle @ Bookish in Texas says
E. Lockhart’s The Boyfriend List series is super funny (and they’re short, quick reads). Plus I named my dog after the main character so they’ve gotta be good! Meg Cabot’s books are always funny too, I highly recommend The Mediator series!
Trina (Between Chapters) says
Recent-ish reads that have made me cackle out loud: The Martian, Furiously Happy, the Sex Criminals comics (if you’re ok with illustrated sex scenes, they have really witty commentary on socialization!).
Michelle says
I had this same issue! I really wanted to post my first TTT this week but couldn’t come up with very many funny books! If the topic were books that break your heart, I have plenty of those! I’m checking out the recommendations from everyone else to add some to my TBR list too!
Mallory @ The Leaning Tower of Tomes says
The majority of the books I read are dark and serious and emotionally draining, but I do come across lighter, more humorous books from time to time. I highly recommend Rick Riordan’s stuff if you like teen sarcasm and general hilariousness. I also love the Calvin and Hobbes comics, good for all ages. Surviving the Applewhites is a middle grade favorite of mine, and of course I can’t forget about Roald Dahl’s books! Hope you find something that will make you laugh!
Terra says
For funny I like most any book by P.G. Wodehouse (especially his Jeeves and Wooster books), Farley Mowat’s The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be, The Rosie Project, Walk in the Woods. I like humor for a change of pace.
lissa says
I like ‘Postcards from a dead girl’ by Kirk Farber, which I always recommend to anyone who will listen. It’s a pretty funny and sad book & also a very easy read. also, ‘Poison’ by Bridget Zinn is also pretty funny with some darkness. I’m also looking for more funny books but I kind of prefer fiction over non-fiction so I haven’t really found all that much to recommend.
have a lovely day.
Sarah J. says
I feel the same way! It’s so rare that books genuinely make me laugh. I do recommend Vonnegut if you are in need of a dark chuckle because while it’s darker in content the humor makes it hard not to laugh in such depressing situations. Funny books are hard to come back because I find that humor is a hard thing to put on paper. Most things can go over my head and I won’t chuckle at all, but Vonnegut has a good way of always hitting the nail on the head, particularly in Slaughterhouse-Five.
JoLee says
I thought My Lady Jane was pretty darn funny. Also, all of Kasie West’s contemporaries are pretty funny. I liked The Distance Between Us the most. (Maybe you’ve already read them?)