Funny Books That Had Me Laughing Out Loud: My Hilarious Reading Journey
- Alis Page
- Mar 21
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 5
If you're anything like me, sometimes you just need a good laugh to brighten up your day. And what better way to get a dose of humour than through the pages of a funny book? Over the last few years, I’ve stumbled upon some absolute gems that had me laughing out loud (and sometimes even snorting in public—oops!). There are also some that failed to make me laugh as well, but I think that is my quirky sense of humour. However, whether it's witty dialogue, absurd situations, or quirky characters, these funny books completely took me by surprise. In this post, I’ll share a few of the ones that had me in stitches, hoping you might find your next hilarious read among them!
Title: Maybe Its About Time
Author: Neil Boss
Genre: Humour, Contemporary
Proceeds: All proceeds go to Gingerbread Charity
Date Published: 2022
Book Length: 552
Format: Paperback supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it, and highly recommend
About Book: Two people trapped in their different worlds. One by wealth and one by poverty. Twenty years working for The Firm has given Marcus Barlow everything he wants but has taken his soul in return. Finding a way to leave has become an obsession.
Claire Halford’s life hits rock bottom when she is caught stealing food from Tesco Express. Left alone by her husband with two small children and an STI, her suicide music is starting to play louder in her head.
A chance meeting brings them together. As a mystery virus from China starts to run riot across the country, their world’s collide and they find they have more in common than they knew.
Set in the early months of 2020, Maybe It’s About Time is a story about the difficulty of changing lives for the better. Starting as a funny and satirical view of the egocentric world of professional services, it gives way to a heart-warming story of an unlikely friendship that rejuvenates Marcus and Claire, giving them both hope for a better future.
My Thoughts: Maybe It’s About Time by Neil Boss is a book from two very different perspectives. When I received the book, I was a little overwhelmed as it is 540 pages long. But Neil Boss’s writing is witty and dotted with ironic humour that made me smile all throughout. So, it became a very easy read.
I followed each of the main protagonists with intrigue as Neil Boss’s descriptions and way with words made them come alive and although they are worlds apart on the economic scale they don’t seem too far apart on a more grounded level and early in the book I felt sorry for them both and wondered where the story was going to take them. The chapters have the dates at the end, and it felt like a countdown to doomsday as my mind went back to the time just before covid and I remember the warning signs that came into our lives as we all went about our daily routines.
The chapters are long and that sometimes negated the tension building, and I did sometimes find myself in the early part of the book willing the chapter to end. I enjoyed the witty put downs in Marcus’s head, they made me laugh.
Maybe Its About Time is a brilliant mixture of completely different characters trying to get through life in the best way possible, the main group of characters are all caring and sympathetic in their own indomitable way which warmed my heart
I found the book mesmerising, thinking back to how I remember the time, but reading others’ views. The book had everything sadness, wit, humour along with thought provoking subjects aplenty. It also brought back memories of lockdown that I still can’t quite believe happened. The book highlighted for me that there are people who care out there when times are tough.
In conclusion, maybe Its About Time is a funny, sad look at a period in time that we will all never forget. The writing is a superb look at life, the characters are well developed each with there own unique flaws. I laughed and cried and there was certainly surprises that I was not expecting. A great first book from Neil Boss that I fully recommend.
Title: The Book of Beginnings
Author: Sally Page
Genre: Family Saga, Humorous Fiction
Publisher: Harper Collins
Date Published: 2023
Format: Paperback
Book Length: 416
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: Her new chapter starts now…
Jo Sorsby is hiding from her past when she agrees to run her uncle’s beloved stationery shop. Glimpsing the lives of her customers between the warm wooden shelves, as they scribble little notes and browse colourful notebooks, distracts her from her bruised heart.
When she meets Ruth, a vicar running from a secret, and Malcolm, a septuagenarian still finding himself, she suddenly realizes she isn’t alone.
They each have a story that can transform Jo’s life… if only she can let them in.
My Thoughts: The Book of Beginnings by Sally Page is a book about secrets, friendship, hope and belief. This is the second time I have read this book and although, I usually think there are two many books out there to read a book twice, I couldn’t resist as Sally Page is coming to our Book Club, so it has been made our Book of the Month.
As I read through the characters return to me like old friends, Sally's writing makes you feel as if you are part of each conversation. I loved the camaraderie between Jo, Ruth and Malcolm it felt like a friendship had been bonded for the long term wherever their lives would take them. Malcolm was still my favourite character, his personality opened up like a beautiful flower as the friendship progressed. Sally Page’s writing has the ability to get under the skin of people and makes you want to get to know them.
At times I cried, not because of the sadness, but simply because of the raw honesty, but at times I laughed because of the gorgeous quips, the description of the peoples faces and the antics the three friends got up to.
I loved the historical element from beyond the grave, and really enjoyed the musings between the three amigos on what the ghosts would talk about.
In conclusion, a book that is worthy of all 5 stars that is funny and sad and a great testament to true friendship. If you love a book that has a bit of everything romance, friendship, laughter and raw emotion then this book is for you.
Title: The Secrets of Flowers
Author: Sally Page
Genre: Humour Romance
Publisher: Harper Collins
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 432
Format: Paperback supplied by Harper Collins in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: The smallest treasures can hold the biggest mysteries…
One year after her husband’s death Emma has become a wallflower, hiding among the brighter blooms in the florist where she works.
But when a colleague invites her to a talk on the Titanic, she begins a quest to uncover who arranged the flowers on board.
As Emma discovers the lost story of the girl and the great ship, she realises that flowers may unlock long buried secrets in her own life…
Will she be able to unlock the mystery of the Titanic and heal her heart too?
My Thoughts: The Secrets of Flowers by Sally Page is a book I was eagerly anticipating after reading the synopsis. Each chapter is introduced with the name of a flower, setting the scene beautifully and immersing you in the story. Sally Page has a unique talent for intricate descriptions—so much so that as you read, you can almost smell the flowers blooming from the pages.
I loved the alternating chapters between Violet and Emma; it added an air of mystery that kept me hooked. Emma is a lost soul, and in true Sally Page fashion, she finds a way to connect with others. The building of trust among the main characters is heartwarming, uplifting, and full of hope. The inclusion of the Titanic theme was a particular highlight for me, and I now consider myself a ‘sympathiser’ with a touch of ‘romanticism’ thrown in.
I felt a deep kinship with the wise words spoken to Emma by many of the protagonists—they brought tears to my eyes, but in the best, most uplifting way. This is a testament to Sally Page’s skill as a writer.
In conclusion, The Secrets of Flowers is a wonderful book about friendship, hope, and healing that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a heartwarming and sometimes humorous read. It's a story that lingers with you long after the last page is turned.
Title: The Grand Scheme of Things
Author: Warona Jay
Genre: Literary Humour
Publisher: Footnote Press
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 273
Format: Paperback provided by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: Two unlikely friends hatch an extraordinary scheme to expose the theatre world in this wildly entertaining and sharply observed debut novel exploring perception, redemption, and how success shapes us all. Meet Relebogile Naledi Mpho Moruakgomo. Or, for short, Eddie: an aspiring playwright who dreams of making it big in London's theatre world. But after repeated rejections from white talent agents, Eddie suspects her non-white sounding name might be the problem. Enter Hugo Lawrence Smith: good looking, well-connected, charismatic and . . . very white. Stifled by his law degree and looking for a way out of the corporate world, he finds a kindred spirit in Eddie after a chance encounter at a cafe. Together they devise a plan, one which will see Eddie's play on stage and Hugo's name in lights. They send out her script under his name and vow to keep the play's origins a secret until it reaches critical levels of success. Then they can expose the theatre world for its racism and hollow clout-chasing. But as their plan spins wildly out of control, Eddie and Hugo find themselves wondering if their reputations, and their friendship, can survive.
My Thoughts The Grand Scheme of Things by Warona Jay falls under the Literary Humour genre. From the moment I started reading, I felt as if the weight of the world rested on the shoulders of Eddie, the main protagonist. One of my favourite quotes from the book comes early on: “Being the first child in my mother’s family to be raised outside the country meant that every return was like Neil Armstrong bringing remnants of the moon back with him.” This perfectly encapsulated the sense of pressure and expectation that Eddie carried with her throughout the book.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this book, but the writing was eloquent and flowed effortlessly. The prose is graceful, as if it dances off the page. Warona Jay skillfully explored complex subjects in a way that drew you in and made me want to learn and understand more.
The friendship between Eddie (Naledi) and Hugo stands out as particularly authentic. Their bond felt genuine and rooted in a shared desire to change their lives through the play Eddie wrote. Despite coming from distinct backgrounds and having different personalities, they complement each other perfectly. Their interactions are filled with honest conversations and moments of tension, along with disagreements and arguments which only add to the believability of their relationship.
This book is full of twists, turns, and emotion, sometimes sad and sometimes humorous, making it hard to put down. I thoroughly recommend The Grand Scheme of Things – it’s a captivating read that didn’t disappoint me.
Reading funny books has always been my escape when I need a little pick-me-up, and I’ve been lucky to come across some fantastic ones over the years. Laughter really is the best medicine, and these books have been my personal prescription for joy. If you haven’t checked out any of these titles yet, I highly recommend giving them a go! And, of course, if you have any hilarious recommendations of your own, drop them in the comments. I’m always on the lookout for more books that’ll make me laugh until my stomach hurts!
Alis x
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