Funny Books to Read Because We Need Them Now More Than Ever

Meet one of my favorite books of the year.

The Sideways Life of Denny Voss is a gentle story with a few explosive f-bombs for good measure, exploring the collision of good intentions when Denny, a neurodivergent adult, finds himself embroiled in a murder mystery in which he is the only suspect for a prestigious man in their small town.

What I loved is Kennedy's earnest balance of never making the story saccharine, while acknowledging each of these characters' flaws, especially his complicated relationship with his absentee mother, who abandoned him as a child.

This story indeed insists on showing how messy lives can be full of bright spots.

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One of my favorite thriller writers is back with a brilliantly funny, twisty heist caper novel. This story brings together a washed-up rockstar who reunites his old band for one final gig—and a daring robbery!

Although the plan has a lot of plot holes, this crime may provide Mo with a chance to connect with the daughter he's never known. So he and his gang of middle-aged has-beens dive into what will be the most outrageous heist New Jersey's ever seen, but only if they can pull it off and stay alive.

Packed with astonishing twists, Kardos, known for his comedic thrillers, is back to wow us again in this new novel that you can pre-order for December.

Release Date- 2 December 2025

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There are no heroes to root for in this story, but I loved this biting, darkly funny debut about house-hunting mania in an overheated market with all my heart.

When one woman's quest to win a house becomes a satire of status, Kashino showcases the crazy lengths we'll go to make a front lawn look like a life.

I laughed a lot over Margot's antics, but that's not to say she doesn't layer in a good backstory for the character as we learn more about her father, for whom she learned a few tricks of the trade on how to get what you want out of life.

I'm excited to introduce you to the author on the Book Gang Podcast later this fall.

Release Date- 25 November 2025

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When the family matriarch, Roses Sun, faces an existential crisis to produce a male heir bearing the clan's surname, she fears her generation is the one in which their esteemed lineage ends.

Faced with this terrifying fate, Roses summons her favorite nephew, Wayward. Believing him to possess the "lucky seed," Roses presents a mandatory suggestion: father a baby boy who will inherit everything or else.

Succession meets Crazy Rich Asians in this chaotic, darkly funny romp about the lengths a wealthy family will go to ensure the birth of a male heir from the gay black sheep of their clan.

Release Date- 11 November 2025

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Harkin's bawdy, brilliant dive into one of history's most audacious identity swaps spins fact and fiction into a raucous tale.

Reimagining the little-known story of a 15th-century farm boy thrown into royalty, Harkin delivers a hero who shape-shifts his way through courtly intrigue, rebellion, and betrayal with cunningness and surprising heart.

Laced with wickedly profane and period-perfect language, readers follow this would-be Earl of Warwick as he navigates a life that was never meant to be his.

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This new novel delivers a glam-metal, '80s-tinged romp that offers readers part rock saga and part absurdist caper.

Drummer Rikki Thunder dreams of rock stardom in ’80s L.A., but his band’s world tour turns into Cold War chaos when they’re caught up in espionage and revolution. Kennedy blends satire, music-scene absurdity, and political farce into a laugh-out-loud romp that’s as over the top as a drum solo in leather pants.

If you like your humor loud, raucous, and stage-diving, this book delivers on audiobook format narrated by the incomparable Wil Wheaton.

This book has been described by many fellow readers as weird, darkly funny, and unignorably. unusual story,

Linda spends her days moderating toxic internet comments and her nights sneaking off to airports to admire airplanes. It's a hobby that turns into a full-blown romantic fixation that is as intriguing as she is.

Folk imagines a protagonist whose obsession with airplanes becomes a surreal lens on our desires, loneliness, and internet-era strangeness.

Percival Everett takes a bold swing at Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and delivers something blisteringly clever and wildly entertaining.

By shifting the focus to Jim, Everett not only restores him to the role of hero but also gives him wit, voice, and the sly ability to turn the tables on every assumption made about him.

There’s biting social commentary here, but also laugh-out-loud moments as Jim punctures the pretensions of the world around him with sarcasm, cunning, and a storyteller’s sense of timing.

I can't wait to discuss this with my book club this year.

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In this speculative fiction book, Lily wakes up in a chic desert compound alongside nine other women, who are contestants in a brutal reality show where they must couple up and complete hilariously inane tasks to survive.

Rawle's opener tosses contestants around on the floor like debris. These women are easy to confuse, but this appears to be intentional, from one blonde looking at another and believing it to be a mirror of herself, to a male castmate who loved to throw around big words that he did not understand, the author's cheeky humor plays into some "Barbie & Ken" themes that made me laugh.

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I have this razor-smart novel on my book stack right now and can't wait to dive into Walter's sharp social observation with satirical flourishes. Walter uses wry, comic touches amid a story about disconnection and redemption.

Not knock-down slapstick, but sly and frequently hilarious, according to my incredible cohost on the FULLY BOOKED Show, where we share our latest reviews every month.

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Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, this YA debut takes on endometriosis and medical gaslighting with a protagonist who refuses to downplay her pain.

Delia's sharp, witty voice makes the story as entertaining as it is eye-opening, offering a much-needed, unflinchingly honest look at what it means to fight for your health when no one believes you.

I gave this moving, funny, and beautifully layered sibling story five stars.

From Oscar speeches to book deals to failed baseball careers, each sibling in this family lives a very different life, until a surprise group text pulls them into a spontaneous family reunion in the middle of nowhere.

Smith embeds flashbacks to their childhood road trips to add bittersweet nostalgia while keeping the story brisk and engaging throughout.

I laughed, teared up, and didn't want the story to end. These siblings feel like real people you root for, even when they're a mess.

Wood’s novel may sound saccharine, but I promise it’s anything but, and it’s genuinely funny. Some of the best laughs come from inmates filling out book club feedback forms, all under the watchful eye of Harriet, a retired English teacher who kicks off this story with gusto.

Then comes Violet, newly released from prison after a tragic mistake, whose path collides with Frank, a widower still reeling from the loss of his wife. With Harriet’s steady guidance, their three lives begin to tangle together in surprising ways.

Wise, witty, and deeply compassionate, this is a novel about the power of stories, the grace of second chances, and how laughter can carry us through even the hardest chapters. This was a book club hit!

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Two rival bookshops, one irresistible rom-com. Josie, the meticulous literary-fiction devotee, and Ryan, the free-spirited romance-only seller, are forced into competition when their shared owner dangles one manager's job between them. The twist? They've been anonymous confidants in an online book forum all along.

If you loved You've Got Mail, this book is perfect for you.

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Annie Hartnett delivered another zany and big-hearted tale, kicking off this literary fiction story with a death-predicting nursing home cat named Pancakes and only getting wilder from there.

When broke, sixty-something lottery winner PJ Halliday inherits his late brother's grandkids, he reluctantly includes them, his adult daughter, and the morbidly magical cat, heading west on a misguided mission to win back his high school sweetheart.

Your heart will be pulled in all different directions, especially as the story concludes with a gorgeous twist.

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Blending memoir and cultural critique, Amanda Hess takes on the strange terrain of parenting in the algorithm age. Beginning with a complicated pregnancy, she traces how technology—fertility apps, genetic tests, influencer culture, even baby monitors—shapes not only how we parent but how we think about parenthood itself.

Smart, funny, and piercingly observant, Hess captures the absurdities and anxieties of raising kids while everything is made clickable, trackable, and marketable.

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This biting, satirical domestic suspense story features a mother who believes that her son may be involved in the disappearance of his childhood bully and is determined to get to the bottom of it come hell or high water.

This novel offers some surprising and laugh-out-loud twists as they get to the bottom of the mystery. It kept me guessing, but more importantly, I felt highly entertained.

Florence is the kind of unlikable protagonist I love—insufferable, messy, and unapologetically flawed. I indulged in her antics, and Harman's writing made the experience deliciously fun.

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In the overlooked Tuscan village of Lazzarini Boscarino, a prized six-pound truffle is discovered, giving the eccentric townspeople a chance to outshine their pretentious neighbors.

Mayor Delizia rallies a colorful misfit cast to guard the treasure and revive the town's fortunes. But with rivals and secrets piling up, small-town chaos is never far behind.

This over-the-top truffle farce from the author of Hollow Kingdom had me belly-laughing through much of her cinematic storytelling, and it reminded me of Jamie (Colin Firth) and his Portuguese housekeeper, Aurelia (Lúcia Moniz), in Love Actually, as the town comes together for some adorable reasons.

Professor Daphne Ouverture's brilliant yet insufferable colleague is murdered, and she finds herself entangled in a dangerous game. Wallbrook presents a campus crime caper with a wink that had me laughing hysterically through its dialogue.

Cozy, clever, and frequently funny in a literary way. It was one of my favorite books of the summer, and I'm eager to explore the subsequent adventures in this cozy series.

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What happens when a woman who once dabbled in a "love elixir" is suddenly face-to-face with the boy it backfired on... seventy years later?

Augusta Stern may be retired, but her wit is as sharp as ever, especially when sparring with Irving Rivkin, the one who got away (and isn't about to let her forget it).

Full of zippy banter, second-chance sparks, and just a hint of old-world magic, this novel proves it's never too late to fall in love or trade barbs with the only person who can keep up with you. It was a massive hit with my book club!

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Julie Chan has spent most of her life overlooked until she stumbles upon her influencer twin's body and slips into her perfectly filtered world.

Suddenly, she's juggling skincare sponsorships, curated brunches, and a dangerously exclusive clique of Instagram-famous besties.

Darkly funny and razor-sharp, this debut skewers influencer culture while unraveling a mystery that proves sometimes the scariest thing isn't murder, but it is going viral. This thriller will check the boxes for horror enthusiasts.

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When the apocalypse hits, it's not humans but a foul-mouthed crow named S.T. who steals the show. Buxton's debut is irreverent, surprisingly tender, and full of laugh-out-loud animal commentary about what happens when the pets outlive their masters.

I laughed uncontrollably through this one, and it was worthy of loud and obnoxious laughter. I can't rave enough about what a treat this book was and a perfect Halloween read for those seeking that in their reading life.

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She’s a bodyguard, and he’s America’s most wholesome movie star. Center flips the protective bodyguard trope on its head with a rom-com that’s equal parts tenderhearted and laugh-out-loud funny.

Between the swoony moments, absurd situations, and genuine heart, this is Katherine Center at her best, and I grinned so hard my face hurt.

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What if your harshest critic turned out to be your perfect match? That's the setup for this smart, snarky rom-com about Natalie, a debut author still stung by a brutal one-star review, and Rob, the grumpy academic who wrote it.

When weddings and life events keep throwing them together, the banter turns sharp, the sparks undeniable, and the line between hate and something sweeter begins to blur.

Hankin nails the humor of book culture while serving up a romance that's both witty and winning.

This book had When Harry Met Sally vibes, and I loved it more than the recent Emily Henry novels Get it!

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Kuang's razor-sharp satire aims at the publishing industry with a story that's as uncomfortable as it is hilarious.

When a struggling white writer steals her late friend's manuscript and rebrands herself as "Juniper Song," she's suddenly a literary darling, but at what cost?

With biting humor, cringeworthy Instagram posts, and a pitch-perfect takedown of ambition run amok, this novel skewers cultural appropriation, envy, and the messy underbelly of book culture.

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Inspired by Lane's years as Carrie Fisher's assistant, this novel is sharp, hilarious, and oddly heartwarming.

Charlie, a disillusioned writer's assistant, lands a job with the eccentric, larger-than-life Kathi Kannon, a Hollywood icon who's equal parts glamorous diva and fragile human being. What begins as an exhausting ride through celebrity chaos transforms into a strangely beautiful friendship.

Equal parts gossip-sparkly and heart-squeezing, this novel is Hollywood satire with a soul.

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Marcy Dermansky's my go-to choice for deadpan, absurd, and deliciously weird storytelling.

Allison Brody escapes an abusive boyfriend and buys a small house by the ocean, only to be concussed by a falling coconut. From there, her life spirals into a series of bizarre, bleakly funny misadventures involving brain injuries, strange men, and a struggle to reclaim her sense of self.

Brisk and compulsively readable, this short read delivered on audible chuckles as this story of survival turned into a dark comedy of resilience.

When two children literally burst into flames whenever they get upset, their new caretaker, Lillian, is tasked with keeping them safe and unscorched.

What could have been pure farce instead becomes a hilarious and unexpectedly tender meditation on belonging in messy families.

Wilson has a gift for making the surreal feel ordinary, turning spontaneous combustion into a heartwarming (and hilarious) parenting metaphor.

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Patrick, once a beloved sitcom star and now a semi-reclusive Palm Springs icon, isn't exactly parenting material.

But when tragedy leaves him in charge of his niece and nephew for the summer, "GUP" (Gay Uncle Patrick) must swap martinis for macaroni and learn that grief and kids don't come with a script.

Witty, warm, and endlessly quotable, The Guncle is a comedy about love, loss, and the unexpected ways family saves us.

If Jane Austen had written a sitcom, it would look a lot like Emma.

The novel follows well-meaning but hopelessly meddlesome Emma Woodhouse, who’s convinced she has a talent for matchmaking, despite every single one of her schemes going hilariously wrong.

Between her misplaced confidence, witty sparring with Mr. Knightley, and the endless social blunders of her neighbors, Emma delivers some of Austen’s sharpest comedic moments. 

This science fiction book is filled with laughs and "boy humor" that I couldn't wait to share with my husband, from hilarious mating rituals to heart-pounding danger in this fast-paced adventure through an alternate dimension where Godzilla-sized creatures roam.

Scalzi loads the story with pop culture jokes, workplace satire, and just enough heart to balance the chaos of saving monsters the size of skyscrapers.

I love that Scalzi never takes things too seriously, and if you want to go on a bender with a funny writer, this one is the perfect anecdote.

Two radio colleagues fake a breakup podcast as cohosts, but the twist is that they were never together. Their on-air bickering is pure screwball comedy, and the fake-it-til-you-make-it tension off the air is just as fun.

The inclusion of podcast scripts only ups the delight factor, making this rom-com as bingeable as your favorite show.

Jen Dixon never signed up to be the perfect kindergarten class mom, and thank goodness, because her unfiltered emails to parents are what make her unforgettable.

Armed with sarcasm, a knack for wine-fueled honesty, and zero tolerance for sanctimommies, Jen turns school politics into pure comedy.

Laurie Gelman nails the chaos of modern parenting in a satire that's both wickedly funny and a little too real.

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From lutefisk dinners to chocolate-drenched county fair bars, Stradal spins a story as quirky and satisfying as a Midwestern potluck.

The novel follows Eva Thorvald, a gifted chef whose life is revealed through a series of interconnected food-obsessed tales, from her chili contest beginnings to her rise as a culinary star.

Equal parts tender, funny, and flavorful, this is a love letter to eccentric families, Midwest traditions, and the meals that shape us.

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Small-town drama meets ghostly commentary in this quirky, big-hearted novel that I count as my favorite audiobook experience.

Emma Starling returns home to care for her dying father, only to get swept into the mystery of a missing friend told through the gossip of a cemetery full of chatty spirits.

With wit, warmth, and a touch of the absurd, Hartnett spins a story about family and the unlikely places where hope hides.

Ember is in her twenties and struggling financially. Now rejected for her 37th time for a job, she decides to fabricate her education and race to land a corporate position.

On her way to her promising job interview, she encounters a handsome man named Danuwoa, who works at the same corporation, and their relationship blossoms into romantic shenanigans, despite the strict corporate policy.

This novel offers many laugh-out-loud moments as she navigates the weird corporate culture, from not understanding "all hands on deck" to never knowing what they do in the company due to their vague website description. I laughed so hard through these scenes.

I don't know how Moyes does it, but this book made me laugh, cry, and connect with every character.

A struggling single mom with a math-prodigy daughter is offered the chance of a lifetime to enter a math contest happening in Scotland that provides a cash prize that could cover her daughter's education.

Determined to seize this chance, she does everything possible to get her daughter there, including hitching a ride with an unlikely man who may ultimately change their lives forever.

Moyes proves she can deliver both romantic feels and laugh-out-loud detours.

This laugh-out-loud romance combines the excitement of 90 Day Fiancé with the thrill of The Amazing Race, as two women who've never met before must convince their families that they're in love and getting married within six weeks to win a cash prize on the reality show, Instant I Do.

Prepare for fast-paced drama, steamy open-door scenes, and thought-provoking exploration of family, identity, and faith, all accompanied by a Real World-inspired confessional cam.

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For Graham, a private introvert, social situations can be quite exhausting.

Audra, his new wife, often puts him in circumstances where he must interact with unusual people, such as the eccentric members of his son’s origami club. This leads him from one hilariously awkward moment to another.

When Audra decides it is time to be friends with his ex-wife, Elspeth, she throws Graham's world into a total tailspin as he begins to acknowledge the contrasts between these two women and wonder why he let his first wife go.

It is in these moments that he must face his own choices and whether he made the right ones.

Heiny's comedy of manners is sharp, laugh-out-loud funny, and sneakily profound.

A chaotic road trip, a reluctant travel partner, and a box of cremains riding shotgun. What could possibly go right?

Adler had me cackling from the start, especially when the couple crashes at a bed-and-breakfast adorned with paint-by-number Jesuses. With banter as quick as the mile markers flying past, this enemies-to-lovers rom-com is equal parts heartfelt and hilarious.

For historical fiction fans, the dual timeline offers incredible insights into women's history and a snapshot of women's rights in the past.

Two childhood best friends turned bitter rivals reluctantly reunite in their thirties when asked to grant their beloved English teacher one last wish: the road trip of a lifetime. The catch? He’s terminally ill, and they’ll need a van loaded with medical equipment to make it happen.

Cochrun infuses even the heaviest moments with warmth and humor, delivering a zany, heartfelt ride where old grudges, unresolved feelings, and laugh-out-loud mishaps all collide.

Nobody writes banter like Emily Henry, and Book Lovers might be her sharpest yet.

Narrator Julia Whelan nails every one-liner as Nora, the ruthless literary agent, and Charlie, the broody editor, toss verbal grenades that slowly turn into flirting.

This rom-com book is a love letter to publishing and rom-com tropes, delivering ample laughs alongside a swoony, surprising romance.

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David Sedaris has a knack for turning his own awkwardness into comedy gold.

In this memorable essay collection, he wax's poetically on everything from his oddball childhood in North Carolina to his doomed attempts at mastering the French language. This book made us laugh until we cried, as all of his books do. 

Sedaris certainly reminds us that life’s cringiest moments are also the funniest, if you know how to tell the story.

Roseanne Barr's daughter pulls back the curtain on her surreal Hollywood childhood, complete with fat camps, psychiatric hospitals, and growing up in the shadow of fame.

Pentland writes with sharp wit and surprising vulnerability, showing that sometimes the punchline is simply about survival. I consider my interview with the memoirist on Book Gang to be one of my favorites; being entrusted with her story was an incredible gift.

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From Spanx to wedding planning to the indignities of adulthood, Klein's essays are brutally honest and hilariously self-deprecating. She mines everyday embarrassments for comedy while sneaking in sharp truths about our gender and identity.

There are a couple of raunchy chapters I could have done without, but the majority of the book was just sincere and hilarious. I'm so glad I read this one!

When Meddelin Chan accidentally kills her blind date, her well-meaning but wildly overbearing aunties swoop in to “help” with the cleanup, and chaos ensues.

Sutanto blends rom-com, mystery, and family farce into a madcap caper where homicide is somehow both hilarious and heartwarming.

The rapid-fire banter between the aunties steals every scene, making this book a laugh-out-loud delight.

Jeff Lindsay narrates his own book, and it is perfect. In this first book in the series, Dexter is a blood-spatter analyst by day, meticulous serial killer by night.

The twist? He only hunts the truly guilty.

With sardonic wit and macabre charm, Lindsay's debut introduced readers to crime fiction's most unlikely antihero.

Equal parts chilling and laugh-out-loud twisted, this dark comedy of murder launched a cult phenomenon.

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A disabled man with a sharp sense of humor may have witnessed a kidnapping from his porch in this hilarious mystery.  Leitch keeps the tension high but filters it through witty, observant narration that makes this thriller unexpectedly funny and profoundly moving.

Daniel remains one of the most memorable protagonists I've had the pleasure of reading.

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Struggling novelist, single mom, and possible hitwoman? Finlay Donovan stumbles into a murder-for-hire scheme with a comic flair that makes her the patron saint of chaotic women everywhere.

This book is laugh-out-loud funny with incredibly witty dialogue best served up as an audiobook experience.

Finlay's unlikely accomplice and love interests just add more and more fun to the plot and showcase why this series has staying power.

Online dating is rough enough without a body count. After a brutal breakup, Gwen reluctantly turns to a dating app, only to discover her matches are winding up dead, and she's the common denominator.

Half rom-com, half murder mystery, this sharp debut skewers swipe culture with biting wit, equal parts cringe and comedy. I loved every minute of it.

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An elderly tea shop owner finds a dead body in her shop and decides she's a better detective than the police. Vera's nosiness, meddling, and unshakable confidence make this mystery equal parts cozy and hilarious as we dig into this case.

As she investigates, Vera unexpectedly finds herself forming deep connections with her customers, forcing her to juggle detective work with her growing friendships.

If you’re craving a charming and cozy mystery, the audiobook of this novel is delightful.