10 Humorous Books That Will Have You Laughing Out Loud From Start to Finish!
From silly characters to unbelievable plot points, these reads are sure to bring on smiles
Books are influential. They have the power to make you cry, dream, escape reality and catapult you on new adventures. Books also have the magical ability to bring on smiles and laughs when they’re needed most. So whether you’ve had a bad day, a daunting workweek or you’re just feeling a little blue, you’re in the right place! Here, we gathered up 10 humorous books that will boost your mood and have you chuckling and clutching your sides in no time.
First For Women editors and book lovers compiled a list of our favorite giggle-worthy stories. From relatable, hot-mess characters to ridiculous plot points and funny one-liners, these novels are bound to have you smiling. For the full list of recommendations, keep scrolling. Happy reading!
‘Finlay Donovan is Killing It’ by Elle Cosimano
Finlay Donovan is doing great… except she really isn’t. She’s a single mom of two struggling to put out her next novel and her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her. But when someone overhears Finlay discussing the plot of her next suspense novel with her agent, she’s soon mistaken for a contract killer. Before long, Finlay accepts an offer to dispose of a ‘problem husband’ because she needs the money, but she soon discovers that real-life crime is no joke—because now she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation.
What people are saying: “I hadn’t read a mystery/thriller in a while, and this was campy and fun enough to make me forget I was reading about the mob. I couldn’t believe what I was reading, but I was actually laughing out loud at several points throughout the story.”
‘Rachel Weiss’s Group Chat’ by Lauren Appelbaum
Rachel Weiss is turning 30, but she feels like her life is falling apart. She’s stuck at a job she hates, attracts the wrong type of men and now her overbearing mother has resorted to matchmaking. Luckily, Rachel has her best friends, and their chaotic group chat to keep her afloat. But as her friend group starts to crumble, Rachel turns to the unexpected tech bro her mom is trying to set her up with for comfort.
What people are saying: “Rachel Weiss is a hot mess and I loved her for it. This book was a fun reading journey and I found myself laughing at or relating to Rachel’s actions. While I wouldn’t classify this as a romance, I liked the exploration Rachel made to understand her worth and happiness. This was a fun debut, and I immensely enjoyed the story.”
‘Talking as Fast as I Can’ by Lauren Graham
Lauren Graham is candid and funny in this collection of her personal essays. With stories from her time on the Gilmore Girls set to the challenges of being a single woman in Hollywood, this memoir covers it all. She comes to life in the book and brings out an energy that resonates with readers.
What people are saying: “Gilmore Girls is my favorite show, and I knew I had to read this memoir immediately. It was almost as if Graham was speaking to me directly. I loved reading about her acting career and her time between seasons of the show. I found myself laughing out loud and genuinely enjoying her anecdotes.”
‘I Hope This Finds You Well’ by Natalie Sue
Wildly funny moments and office hijinks combine in this bestselling novel by Natalie Sue. Jolene believes her interactions with her colleagues should start and end with her official administrative duties for Supershops, Inc. But her coworkers don’t understand the concept of boundaries. To survive her day job, Jolene vents her grievances in email post scripts and changes the color to white so no one sees. However, one of her secret messages gets exposed and she’s now forced to do sensitivity training. Suddenly, an IT mixup grants her access to the whole department’s emails and DMs. Jolene is soon drawn into the lives of her coworkers and must decide if she’s comfortable staying in her cubicle or if she’ll come clean to everyone.
What people are saying: “With all the chaos in our world right now, this book is a sweet and laugh-out-loud escape. The main character is relatable, funny as all heck, and has her own tale of woe that she eventually reveals. I am so impressed with the author, as this is her debut novel. I gobbled this book up in a few days. Loved the twists and turns. Admired the characters and their development. Fantastic read for any age. Love, love, love. Cannot recommend enough!”
‘The Good, The Bad, and The Aunties’ by Jesse Q. Sutanto
After their honeymoon, Meddy Chan and her husband, Nathan, arrive in Jakarta to spend Chinese New Year with her family. What follows is a hysterical series of antics featuring Meddy’s four aunties, rival criminal families and a twisty mystery. This is the third book in Jesse Q. Sutanto’s Aunties series and you can’t help but laugh out loud.
What people are saying: “I loved this book! Being back with Meddy and the Aunties is so amazing. Ms. Sutanto writes in such a way that you feel you are actually immersed in the story. This was such a fun time in Jakarta. I definitely recommend this book!”
‘The Burnout’ by Sophie Kinsella
Filled with laugh-out-loud moments and smart prose, this saga by Sophie Kinsella is guaranteed to charm. Sasha’s career has officially burned her out. She decides to visit the English seaside resort she loved as a child to finally relax. But it’s off-season, and the only other occupant is Finn—another totally stressed-out professional. When messages addressed to them appear on the beach, the two start to talk. As they open up to one another, Sasha and Finn feel a spark that ignites them both.
What people are saying: “I had never read any of Sophie Kinsella’s books, but I’m definitely going to in the future because I really enjoyed this one. As someone who’s been exactly that burnt out from work, it really captured that feeling of rediscovering yourself after a breakdown like that. I thought the ending was perfectly done and it left me with such a smile on my face.”
‘Other People’s Houses’ by Abbi Waxman
As the carpool commander of her Los Angeles neighborhood, Frances Bloom is good at keeping what she knows about her neighbors to herself. But when she finds out her friend is in the midst of an affair that ultimately destroys her marriage, Frances and the four other families in the carpool are forced to overcome a flood of insecurity and suspicion in their own marriages…or drown trying.
What people are saying: “Anytime I’m in a funk, I reach for heartwarming, funny reads—and this novel by Abbi Waxman is just that!” says Patty Bontekoe, FIRST Executive Editor. “Told from the point of view of multiple neighbors, I was snickering and smiling throughout. It was such a fun escape.”
‘City of Likes’ by Jenny Mollen
Struggling to cement herself in a new city after the birth of her second child, Megan Chernoff meets Daphne Cole, a well-known, enviable Instagram “momfluencer.” Daphne takes an instant interest in Meg and pulls her into a whirlwind of fancy meals, exclusive parties and all the perks that come with posting content on Instagram—convincing Meg to become an influencer as well. The deeper Meg falls into the need for “likes,” freebies and followers, the more she loses track of what matters most—her sons, her husband, even her dog.
What people are saying: “This book was so good! I finished it in a day because I couldn’t put it down. It was funny and entertaining with a serious and important message. I’ve loved all of Jenny’s books and just love her as a human being.”
‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ by Helen Fielding
Witty observations, hilarious mishaps, juicy love triangles…Bridget Jones’s Diary launched a genre and became a touchstone for readers through the years. And in the 25th-anniversary reprint, readers get to revisit their favorite ‘hot mess.’ The story follows single, 30-something Bridget Jones, who shares her life through a series of diary entries. As Bridget attempts to heal heartbreak and get her life together, comedic and cringe-worthy trials and tribulations unfold. A pitch-perfect story about self-discovery, love, second chances and finding your way.
What people are saying: “What can I say – it’s not Shakespeare but I wanted a light book and this one made me laugh out loud when I read it 20-plus years ago. Recently I re-read it and it still made me laugh out loud. It’s well-written and Bridget is delightful, quirky, hilarious and endearing”
‘The Princess Bride’ by William Goldman
Before the major motion picture, The Princess Bride, there was the beloved book. After losing her love, Princess Buttercup reluctantly agrees to marry Prince Humperdink. But when he turns out to be a scoundrel, only a pirate and his ragtag gang can help her.
What people are saying: “There’s nothing like a tale full of romance, a pirate and a giant to lift my spirits—and this cult classic has it all!” raves Carey Ostergard, FIRST Executive Editor. “It truly is a laugh-out- loud adventure!”
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