As hosted by The Broke & The Bookish
Today’s top ten is all about fun! Humor is an important aspect in fiction: it can be it’s own genre or it can be used in a story to balance out the heavier, more dramatic aspects of the story.
The latter is the kind I read most. I love when I am reading a fantasy or sci-fi and in the midst of this epic and dangerous adventure there is this sudden unexpected burst of humor. I love funny sidekicks. I love banter between characters. I love when books can have you crying one page and laughing the next. I love subtle, hidden references that are not so much ‘laugh-out-loud’ funny but more of a ‘ha-I-can’t-believe-they-did-that’ kind of funny. I love witty and sassy characters.
So without further ado, here are my top ten books that will make you laugh (or at least chuckle):
Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
Really any Sophie Kinsella book could make this list as everything she writes is funny. But I chose Finding Audrey because it’s the last one by her I read and because I love how she managed to write about a pretty heavy topic (Audrey is a girl with severe social anxiety, so much that she can’t even leave the house and has to wear sunglasses all the time) and still manage to make it a funny story without taking anything away from the main issue. Especially the family dynamics are hilarious and had me laughing out loud almost constantly.
Is Everyone Hanging Out WIthout Me & Why Not Me by Mindy Kaling
I love Mindy Kaling. I love her sense of humor. I binge-watched The Mindy Project when I first discovered it. And her humor definitely translates to her books. Mindy is the best friend you wish you had. So I would definitely recommend her books to anyone.
The Martian by Andy Weir
Currently still reading this one, but it has already earned a spot on this list because I don’t think I’ve ever read a funnier book than this one. Which is weird, considering it’s a story about an astronaut who ends up all alone on Mars and has to survive there on his own in dangerous circumstances. But the main character, Mark Watney, is such a smart, positive and extremely funny character that you can’t help but root for him.
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
The Lunar Chronicles are funny in so many ways. They are funny because they are totally original sci-fi retellings of popular fairytales, so it’s hilarious when Cinderella is suddenly a cyborg, Rapunzel is imprisoned on a satellite and so on. But it is also funny because of all the characters and their banter. They all have their own humor and are funny in their own way, though my favorites are Iko (the android who forgets she’s not human) and Captain Thorne (the charming thief – think Flynn Rider)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
Another series that is funny both because it uses Greek mythology in an original way so it is fun to see those references and ecause of the tone of voice of the main protagonist. Percy is amazing: he’s cheeky, snarky and sassy. This series may be middle-grade, but don’t let that stop you because it is PERFECTION! I loved this series so much and I really want to re-read soon so I can continue with the rest of the series.
Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
I read this years ago and loved it so much and I love it even more now that I am actually getting closer to Bridget Jones’s age. This is also one of the best movie adaptations ever I think. Plus it’s a Pride and Prejudice retelling: come on, that is just hilarious already all on it’s own! And though technically it’s not about the book itself, I still find the fact that Colin Firth played both Mr. Darcy in the Pride and Prejudice TV mini series and Mr. Darcy in Bridget Jones’s diary so cool and completely hilarious!
The Ruby Red trilogy by Kerstin Gier
A funny, sassy heroine and one of the best sidekicks ever? That’s pretty much a recipe for fun in my book. In this story about time travel, Gwen finds out she’s the last one in an ancient line of time travellers and is pretty much thrust into a dangerous world without much training. Luckily she can see ghosts (!) and she has a lot of help from Xemerius, a wise-cracking Gargoyle demon only Gwen can see. Hilarity ensues.
The Mortal Instruments & The Infernal Devices & The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare
Other than that they are all set in the world of Shadowhunters, these series have a few other things in common as well. They all have exceptionally great and intriguing characters. They will all pull at your heartstrings. They have some amazing worldbuilding. And last but not least: they are all just very FUNNY. In the midst of demon hunting and saving the world, you can count on these characters to crack some jokes to lighten up the mood. (And while they may be set in the same world I don’t mind one bit. Each book is so unique and different and I will keep on reading these series as long as Cassandra Clare keeps writing them)
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
One of my favorite books of 2015! Rainbow Rowell is just overall a great writer who manages to bring humor in everything she writes, but Carry On was the icing on the cake for me. As a Harry Potter nerd, I really loved the many references in this book to Harry Potter (and any other Chosen One story really), which were so smart and funny and made me completely fall in love with this unique story and these characters.
What are some funny books you would recommend?
Have you read any of the books on my TTT? If yes, what did you think of them?
Great list ! I’ve read some of them, like everything from the Shadowhunter world, The Lunar Chronicles and some from the Percy jackson series.. And I still need to read Carry On, I have in on my shelves at home, but haven’t gotten to it yet… But you make it sound very promising !
My TTT
Thanks! I hope you’ll enjoy Carry On, it’s different but I really loved it 🙂
Great list. We share The Lunar Chronicles. Iko and Thorne are great. And Ruby Red does have some laugh inducing moments.
Thanks! Ah yes, Iko and Thorne are amazing! 🙂
The Martian made my list- I don’t know why Carry On didn’t- Rainbow Rowell is so funny!
My FF
Yes, the Martian! I think it’s one of the funniest books I’ve ever read, I really liked it 🙂
Cinder just missed out on my list! Nice list
Thanks! I know, sometimes we need a top 11 (or 12, or 13) 🙂
Definitely so true! It is sometimes so difficult to narrow them down!!
Yes, the pile just keeps getting bigger instead of smaller! Which is not a bad problem to have though 🙂
Most definitely not! 🙂
Mindy made my list too. I totally forgot about Finding Audrey but yes that totally made me laugh. The Martian took me by surprise at just how funny it was. Great list!
Thanks! I love Mindy, glad she’s on your list too! 🙂
Mindy Kaling is hilarious! I’ve read Why Not Me?, and LOVED it, but I STILL need to read her first book. I should get on that ASAP! Great Top Ten!
My TTT.
Yes, Mindy! I love her humor, both in books and on TV 🙂
almost all of these have been on my TBR list for way too long now. I must prioritize them! 🙂 My TTT
I know! So many books, so little time! 🙂
Love the Percy Jackson books, they made me laugh so hard!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2016/04/19/top-ten-tuesday-53/
Yes, the Percy Jackson books are super funny, I love them! 🙂
AHH I LOVE YOUR LIST! And omg yes Cassandra Clare books are always the perfect blend of hilarious quips and action scenes. <3 And can Rick Riordan write anything but the most HILARIOUS characters ever?!?! Magnus Chase had me in stitches. XD And Percy Jackson is so adorkable. OH OH AND CARRY ON. I loved the banter in there. That book was so very cute (and I didn't think that I'd like it originally!? But it's totally one of my favourites now!)
Thanks for stopping by @ Paper Fury!
Thank you! 🙂 I unfortunately only read Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan but I really want to read his other series soon! I just convinced myself I first need to re-read PJO, but I’ll get there! And I totally get you about Carry On – I thought the blurb sounded a little silly and I didn’t think I would like it either. But then it turned out sooo good 🙂
Aw such a great list! I loved Cinder, I can’t wait to read the next book in the series 😀
Thanks! I thought the Lunar Chronicles only got better with each next book, so I hope you’ll enjoy them too 🙂