The Best of Me by David Sedaris
In The Best of Me, short-form storytelling master David Sedaris shares stories of his personal experiences, as well as observations about human nature, with humor, wit, and a lot of sex jokes. Sedaris also narrates the audiobook, adding to the humor.
Better Luck Next Time by Julia Claiborne Johnson
Julia Claiborne Johnson’s second novel, Better Luck Next Time, follows 24-year-old Ward, a former Yale student working as a ranch hand after his family lost everything in the Great Depression. Ward thinks he has the Flying Leap’s clients figured out until two divorcees, Nina and Emily, arrive and upend everything he thinks he knows. The novel is an amusing exploration of marriage, divorce, and friendship.
Bossypants by Tina Fey
You probably know Tina Fey as an actress, comedian, and producer, but Bossypants explores who she was before that. From her early days working at the YMCA to her adventures in motherhood, this hilarious memoir gives readers a glimpse into who Tina Fey really is.
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
If you enjoy the “fake dating” trope and British humor, Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall is the book for you. As the son of famous rock stars, Luc O’Donnell is famous by association and known as a bad boy to the press. Now that his estranged father is making a musical comeback, Luc needs to clean up his image. He decides to start a fake relationship with straight-laced barrister Oliver, and chaos ensues from there.
Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
You may have seen the movie, but did you know Bridget Jones’s Diary was originally a book? The novel follows single 30-something Bridget Jones as she begins a quest to lose 7 pounds, stop smoking, and brighten her love life. This fun, modern Pride and Prejudice retelling is sure to make readers laugh.
Broken (in the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson
In Broken (in the Best Possible Way), blogger Jenny Lawson writes about her experience with depression and anxiety. While topics range from lighthearted to serious, Lawson’s trademark wit and humor prevail in every essay.
Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
Told with deadpan humor and bitter irony, Cat’s Cradle follows the 3 children of Dr. Felix Hoenikker, one of the “founding fathers” of the atomic bomb, as they search for the whereabouts of ice-nine, a lethal chemical invented by their father that has the capability of freezing the entire planet. In addition to being hilarious, the novel offers important commentary on American imperialism, man vs. technology, and the threat of nuclear war.
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
Originally published in 1932, Cold Comfort Farm is a satirical response to romantic rural literature popular at the time. It follows 19-year-old metropolitan orphan Flora Poste, who decides to impose herself upon her remote farming relatives. The laugh-out-loud novel explores what happens when a bossy city girl attempts to meddle in pastoral affairs.
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
A posthumous winner of the 1981 Pulitzer Prize, John Kennedy Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces follows the misadventures of Ignatius Reilly, a thirty-something who lives with his mother in 1960s New Orleans, as he struggles to find work while battling an affliction of the pyloric valve. The novel is full of colorful characters and has entertained scholars, skeptics, and the average reader for decades.
Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher
Julie Schumacher’s epistolary novel Dear Committee Members follows Jason Fitger, a beleaguered professor of creative writing and literature, as his department faces massive budget cuts and both his writing career and personal life are on pause. The novel is told in a series of hilarious letters of recommendation that Fitger is asked to write for his students and colleagues.
Death Valley by Melissa Broder
In Melissa Broder’s Death Valley, a woman flees to the Californian desert to escape her sorrows surrounding her husband’s illness and her father being in the ICU. When the motel receptionist recommends a nearby hike, the woman discovers a towering cactus with a gash through its side. The cactus beckons to her like a door, so she enters it and sets off on a mystical journey.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
When aliens crush the Earth and turn everything into a real-life dungeon crawl, Carl must try to survive by killing and looting monsters and making his way to the 18th level—all with the help of his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut. Did we mention he’s in his underwear the entire time? Dungeon Crawler Carl is perfect for fans of tabletop role-playing games and video games.
Florida Roadkill by Tim Dorsey
Described as a funnier Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Tim Dorsey’s Florida Roadkill follows trivia buff Serge A. Storms as he, his drug-addled partner Coleman, and a stripper named Sharon all battle to steal a suitcase filled with $5 million in stolen insurance money. This is the first book in the Serge Storms series, so there are plenty more laughs to come.
The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman
Abbi Waxman’s hilarious and tender debut novel, The Garden of Small Beginnings, follows Lillian, who feels stuck in a rut after her husband’s death four years prior. When she’s given a special project at work to illustrate a book about vegetables, she signs up for a 6-week garden class, which introduces her to a quirky group of gardeners who help her see that the sun must shine, whether you want it to or not.
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Filled with Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s wit and British humor, Good Omens is a hilarious exploration of the end of the world. After a witch’s prophecy reveals that the world will end next Saturday before dinner, an angel and a demon set out to find the Antichrist to put a stop to it. Unfortunately, the Antichrist was switched at birth by a Satanist nun, so this makes their quest a bit more challenging.
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
Steven Rowley’s novel The Guncle follows Patrick, aka Gay Uncle Patrick, who is asked to take care of his 9-year-old niece, Maisie, and 6-year-old nephew, Grant, after the death of their mother (Patrick’s best friend and his brother’s wife). However, Patrick knows nothing about raising kids. What follows is a hilarious and heartbreaking novel about grief and family, mixed with plenty of innuendos and dad jokes.
Heartburn by Nora Ephron
Perhaps better known for writing movies like When Harry Met Sally and You’ve Got Mail, Nora Ephron also wrote Heartburn, a largely autobiographical novel about the breakup of a marriage. While writing about adultery, revenge, group therapy, and pot roast, Ephron reminds her readers that comedy depends on anguish.
Here for It by R. Eric Thomas
In his essay collection Here for It: Or How to Save Your Soul in America, pop culture critic R. Eric Thomas shares stories from his childhood into adulthood, detailing his coming-of-age with a hilarious honesty. He uses his signature wit to write about discovering his identity as a gay man, feeling like an outsider, and finding his voice, all while injecting hilarious pop culture references.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
In Douglas Adams’s iconic sci-fi novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Arthur Dent is plucked off the Earth seconds before it is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway. Saved by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the two set off on a journey through space, aided by quotes from the Hitchhiker’s Guide.
Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton
In Kira Jane Buxton’s debut novel Hollow Kingdom, a foul-mouthed crow stands between humankind and the end of the world. After ST’s owner’s eyes suddenly fall out, the crow sets out on his own and discovers that zombies are prowling around Seattle. This genre-bending novel is a humorous and big-hearted take on the apocalypse.
How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
Described as fearless, feminist, and funny, Caitlin Moran’s How to Be a Woman is a compilation of well-crafted arguments on how to bring down the patriarchy and zingers about bras, strip clubs, witches, and more. This book is laugh-out-loud funny and relatable to women everywhere.
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
Graphic novels and illustrations aren’t just for kids; Allie Brosh’s Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened follows the author’s adventures with depression and rescue dogs. This full-color, illustrated book compiles content from Brosh’s blog and webcomic, along with never-before-seen essays.
I Was Told There’d Be Cake by Sloane Crosley
Sloane Crosley’s essay collection I Was Told There’d Be Cake details the pitfalls and struggles of young urban life. From ruining an exhibit at the Natural History Museum to provoking her first boss to call the cops on her mysterious neighbor, Crosley can do no right despite her good intentions.
I’d Like to Play Alone, Please by Tom Segura
In I’d Like to Play Alone, Please, stand-up comedian and podcast host Tom Segura recounts real-life stories of parenting, celebrity encounters, youthful mistakes, and more. He combines his signature curmudgeonly humor with a revealing look at situations that have shaped him into the person he is.
The Idiot by Elif Batuman
The Idiot follows Selin, the daughter of Turkish immigrants, throughout her freshman year at Harvard, where she develops feelings for a boy she’s barely spoken to and spends the summer teaching English in the Hungarian countryside. Selin’s deadpan humor only adds to the novel’s relatability.
I’m Just a Person by Tig Notaro
In I’m Just a Person, Tig Notaro writes about a difficult 4-month period in 2012, in which she was hospitalized with an intestinal disease, her mother unexpectedly died, she went through a breakup, and was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer. Notaro dives into how she turned her personal tragedies into joy by discussing them in her comedy shows.
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
If you’re searching for a funny classic, look no further than Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. This play follows Cecily Cardew and Gwendolen Fairfax, who have both been wooed by the mysterious suitor Ernest. The problem is Ernest isn’t a real person, and two men, Jack and Algernon, have posed as the character to win the women’s hearts. When all four arrive at Jack’s country home on the same weekend, chaos ensues.
In Persuasion Nation by George Saunders
Described as George Saunders’s “best work yet,” In Persuasion Nation is a collection of short stories that blend the literary with the fantastical, offering insight into the emptiness and hilarity of the modern world. Saunders’s satire explores both heartache and humor.
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Less by Andrew Sean Greer follows Arthur Less as he receives an invitation to his ex-boyfriend’s wedding, along with several literary invitations from around the world. Less then decides to set off on a road trip, accepting as many invitations as possible. The book is a love story, a satire of the American abroad, and a rumination on time and the human heart, all rolled into one.
Little Weirds by Jenny Slate
In her memoir-in-essays Little Weirds, actress and comedian Jenny Slate writes about the pain and beauty of life, exploring topics like heartbreak, confusion, and misogyny. Fans will love reading about the world through Slate’s unique perspective.
Live Right and Find Happiness (Although Beer is Much Faster) by Dave Barry
In Live Right and Find Happiness (Although Beer is Much Faster), Pulitzer Prize winner Dave Barry compiles a list of never-before-published essays on a variety of topics, from Brazil’s soccer obsession to Putin’s Russia and witty advice for Barry’s infant grandson. Whether you actually learn anything from Barry’s life lessons or not, you’ll have a lot to laugh about.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
Margo’s Got Money Troubles follows Margo Millet, the daughter of a Hooters waitress and an ex-pro wrestler, after she enrolls at her local junior college, begins a brief affair with her English professor, and ends up pregnant. Now unemployed, alone with an infant, and on the verge of an eviction, she allows her estranged father to move in with her and decides to start an OnlyFans with advice from the world of professional wrestling.
Meaty by Samantha Irby
In her debut essay collection Meaty, Samantha Irby explores everything from failed relationships and being Black to taco feasts, bouts with Crohn’s disease, and more. Each essay is composed with scathing wit and poignant honesty, which fans of her hilarious blog adore.
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae
In her debut collection of essays, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, actress and writer Issa Rae discusses the difficulties of being an awkward introvert, especially when people constantly expect her to be “cool” just because she’s Black. Rae maintains a funny, lighthearted tone while speaking frankly about the stereotypes she faces.
More Stories About Spaceships and Cancer by Casper Kelly
Adult Swim writer Casper Kelly brings his hilarious, dark, and absurdist vision to life in More Stories About Spaceships and Cancer, a collection of bizarre short stories guided by a horror host. Readers enter the mind of one of the 7 dwarves who lusts after Snow White, an elderly man who has had his brain placed in a vat, and more.
Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel
In Amy Poeppel’s Musical Chairs, Bridget planned for the perfect summer, but everything goes wrong when her boyfriend breaks up with her over email, her two 20-something children show up unannounced, and her aging father sets his house on fire. While not the summer she planned for, it gives her the second chance she needs and allows her to confess to secrets she’s kept for over 20 years. The novel delivers laugh-out-loud dialogue and a pitch-perfect ending.
No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July
Award-winning performance artist and filmmaker Miranda July delights readers with No One Belongs Here More Than You, a collection of short stories that explore the awkwardness of the human experience. The collection is sly, tender, strange, and often hilarious.
One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B. J. Novak
In his debut book One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories, actor and comedian B. J. Novak tries his hand at fiction, compiling a collection of short stories across a wide range of subjects, themes, and tones. The result is a book that’s hilarious, insightful, provocative, and moving.
Portnoy’s Complaint by Philip Roth
Named after a psychiatric disorder in which “altruistic impulses are perpetually at war with extreme sexual longing,” Portnoy’s Complaint is told in a continuous monologue from patient to psychoanalyst, drawing readers into the mind of lust-ridden bachelor Alexander Portnoy. This novel has been described as “deliciously funny” and “hilariously lewd.”
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
In Queenie, Queenie Jenkins is a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in London, trying to connect with both cultures. After a messy breakup with her white boyfriend, Queenie seeks comfort in all the wrong places and makes several questionable decisions. Carty-William’s sensitive and thoughtful voice amplifies the inherent humor in this heartbreaking and hilarious novel.
Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey
Monica Heisey’s debut novel, Really Good, Actually, follows Maggie, a 29-year-old divorcee who feels like her life is going nowhere. Throughout the novel, Maggie explores her first year of single life, trying out new hobbies, going on dates, and asking herself tough questions along the way. This laugh-out-loud book is a tender and bittersweet comedy that explores the uncertainties of modern love, friendship, and the search for happiness.
The Sellout by Paul Beatty
Booker Prize Winner The Sellout is a satirical novel about race and racism that reads like a stand-up routine. It follows the narrator through his isolated upbringing and the outrageous race trial that sends him to the Supreme Court; after discovering his “agrarian ghetto” town has been removed from the map of California, he leads an initiative to reinstate slavery and segregate the local high school. The novel is full of keen observations and all-American cultural and historical references.
Several People Are Typing by Calvin Kasulke
If you work from home, you’ll probably get a kick out of Calvin Kasulke’s Several People Are Typing. Told entirely through Slack messages, this comedy-horror follows Gerald, a mid-level employee of a public relations firm, whose consciousness is trapped in Slack. His colleagues assume it’s an elaborate hoax so Gerald can work from home, so he enlists the help of his coworker Pradeep to help him escape.
Shrill by Lindy West
In Shrill, Lindy West is hilariously witty and outspoken, tackling topics like body image, social justice, and pop culture. Her essays discuss her transition from shy, quiet girl to loud, unapologetic feminist in an age where pop culture is hostile to women.
Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
Skippy Dies explores what happens when Skippy, a 14-year-old boy, ends up dead on the floor of a local donut shop. The novel follows the lives of a group of students and faculty members at Skippy’s boarding school, Seabrook College, and explores the events leading up to Skippy’s death and the aftermath within the Seabrook community.
A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again by David Foster Wallace
David Foster Wallace’s A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again is a collection of essays and arguments on subjects ranging from television and the films of David Lynch to the postmodern literary theory and the supposed fun of traveling on a Caribbean luxury liner. The collection is both illuminating and will have readers bent over laughing.
Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult by Maria Bamford
In Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult, comedian Maria Bamford recounts every anonymous fellowship she’s joined, exploring what it means to keep going, to feel like you don’t belong, and to be a member of society, even when you aren’t good at it. This hilarious memoir is a brutally honest depiction of show business, mental health, and the comfort of rigid belief systems.
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming
The first book in the Mead Mishaps series, That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon, follows a woman named Cinnamon after she casually runs into a demon after a night out. After attempting to attack her, he reveals that the goddess they worship is evil and has made all of the demons lose control. Together, the two of them set off on an adventure to destroy the goddess and fall in love along the way.
This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
After Judd catches his wife having an affair, he discovers his late father’s dying wish was for their dysfunctional family to sit shiva and spend 7 days and nights under the same roof. The week soon spins out of control as grudges resurface, secrets are revealed, and old passions are reawakened. Jonathan Tropper’s This is Where I Leave You is a funny and emotionally raw novel about love, marriage, divorce, and family.
The Ugly Cry by Danielle Henderson
Danielle Henderson’s memoir The Ugly Cry follows Henderson through her childhood, when her mother abandoned her at 10 years old, and she was raised by her grandparents in a predominantly white neighborhood in upstate New York. The memoir describes how Henderson became a “weird” Black girl and how her foul-mouthed, unapologetic grandmother taught her to believe in herself.
Under the Frog by Tibor Fischer
The dark comedy Under the Frog follows the adventures of two Hungarian basketball players through the years between the end of World War II and the anti-Soviet uprising of 1956. Fleeing their pointless factory work, the two athletes travel across Hungaray, often in the nude, on a quest for food, women, and meaning.
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson is at his wittiest in A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, in which he introduces readers to the history and ecology of the Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine, as well as the people (and bears) he meets along the way.
We’re Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union
In We’re Going to Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, and True, actress Gabrielle Union shares stories about race, beauty standards, Hollywood, and her personal history of sexual assault. The result is an emotional, honest, and laugh-out-loud funny look into Union’s life.
Where the Deer and the Antelope Play by Nick Offerman
In Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside, actor Nick Offerman takes a humorous and inspiring trip to America’s trails, farms, and frontier to examine the land and the people who live there. The book is filled with witty, heartwarming stories and is a celebration of the physical land of America.
Why Not Me? By Mindy Kaling
In her second book, Why Not Me?, actress and comedian Mindy Kaling details her ongoing quest to find happiness and excitement in her life, whether by falling in love, finding new friendships, or losing weight without any behavior modifications whatsoever. Her essays include her tongue-in-cheek tips for on-camera beauty, her musings on America’s fixation with actresses’ weight, and her relationship with ex-boyfriend and close friend B. J. Novak.
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