Our roundup of the funniest and best new book releases to read this Summer 2023 in humor, jokes and comedy, including essays, novels, memoirs and more.
what are the best new humor, comedy and joke books to read this summer?
Though it may be a bit of a cliché, laughter really is the best medicine. And if you’re looking to prescribe yourself some smiles this summer, there’s no better place to start than with these recent book releases.
Funniest and best new book releases to read this Summer 2023 with humor, jokes and comedy, including essays, novels and memoirs.
We have a roundup of the funniest new book releases in humor, comedy and jokes, including essays, novels, memoirs, and everything in between. The next time you need a little pick-me-up, pick up one of these ten reads – you’ll thank us later.
10 funniest new book releases with humor, comedy and jokes for Summer 2023
1. Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey
Though Really Good, Actually may not sound like the funniest book you’ve ever read – it’s about a young woman named Maggie, who is recently divorced and trying to figure out what to do with her life – we think you should give it a try. After all, Monica Heisey is a super-talented comedian and writer – and was even a writer on one of our all-time favorite funny shows, Schitt’s Creek. Really Good, Actually is one of the most relatable books we’ve read in years, and we could listen to Maggie’s hilarious narration all day long.
2. Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby
We love Samantha Irby’s previous books Wow, No Thank You and We Are Never Meeting in Real Life, as well as her work writing for several of our favorite television shows. And lucky for all of us, Irby’s latest book of essays was released in mid-May. Quietly Hostile looks a comedic look at Irby’s life behind-the-scenes of Hollywood as she rises to new levels of fame – a must-read.
3. Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
Talia Hibbert is one of our all-time favorite romance authors, in part because of the way she manages to blend her swoon-worthy love stories with a healthy amount of charm and humor. And her latest book is no exception. In Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute, two rival teens – who happen to share a complicated history – are forced to work together during their high school’s wilderness survival program. If that doesn’t sound like a recipe for (hilarious) disaster, then we don’t know what does. Then again, we’d write anything Hibbert decides to write.
4. Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
If you love the idea of a funny novel that’s full of laugh-out-loud moments, but you want characters who are a little older – or maybe a lot older – then we suggest you try Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. Its protagonist is the elderly Vera, who lives in San Francisco’s Chinatown – and whose life is turned upside down by the appearance of a dead body in her tea shop. Vera may not sound like your typical detective, but that’s what makes Sutanto’s novel such a funny and underrated delight.
5. Boys Weekend by Mattie Lubchansky
If you’re excited by the idea of murder, but you’re looking for humor that has a little more of a dark side, then we have the perfect new release for you. Mattie Lubchansky is an award-winning cartoonist, and their new novel takes place at a bachelor party. Sammie is invited even though they no longer identify as a man – and the weekend goes from bad to worse when they discover a murderous cult staying at their hotel. If you’re someone who laughs your way through slasher flicks – and if you’re also craving a more serious story about the realities of existing as transfemme person– then this bloody, funny, unique book is the one for you.
6. I’d Like to Play Alone, Please: Essays by Tom Segura
If to you, real humor is hearing about the hilarious – and seems-too-funny-to-be-true – situations that befall our fellow human beings, then Tom Segura’s stories are made for you. Read through funny and often absurd tales of Segura’s experiences as a touring comedian, as a parent, and as a son. Segura’s comedic voice shines through on every page.
7. Not Funny: Essays on Life, Comedy, Culture, Et Cetera by Jena Friedman
While we’re all aboard this nonfiction train, we wanted to recommend another book of essays to you. And these essays aren’t just funny, but are also about comedy, as well as the rest of the pop culture landscape. Jena Friedman has written for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Late Show with David Letterman, and she brings her superb writing to the most pertinent topics of the moment – such as the rise of fascism. Humor can be a secret weapon when it comes to dealing with current events, and Friedman is a master of the art. And don’t be fooled: the book is funny after all.
8. Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World’s Ugliest Sweater by Peggy Orenstein
We love our humor with a side of humanity. And that’s what’s so great about this magnetic memoir by Peggy Orenstein, which is funny, yes, but also full of grief, and heart, and a story of COVID – and knitting – that many of us will relate to. In some ways, it feels like there was not enough writing about the emotional impact of the pandemic; at least, not outside of online think pieces. This book is a sweet, necessary – and funny! – burst of fresh air that many will be able to relate to.
9. How to Stay Productive When the World is Ending: Productivity, Burnout, and Why Everyone Needs to Relax More Except You by Reductress
Reductress is always there for us with their hilarious – and accurate – takes on the world we live in. And here they are with a whole new book of them! In this hot new release – which you may have already seen on shelves – the women’s parody website takes on the topic of productivity. These essays, visuals, and how-to’s are here to help you laugh at the crazy world we live in, and the way in which we are all victims of capitalism. Read it and weep – from laughter, and maybe a little bit for real.
10. Dad Jokes: A Collection of Cringey Crack-Ups by Slade Wentworth
Father’s Day is coming up, and we thought we should leave some room for our favorite kind of humor – the dad joke. Dad jokes may have a bad reputation, but be honest for a second: don’t they always seem to make you laugh? Whether you get this for your dad, a dad, or yourself, we know this little book of dead jokes is sure to brighten your day.
Funniest new comedy books to read this Summer 2023
Those are our recommendations for the funniest and best new book releases to read this Summer 2023 in humor, jokes and comedy, including essays, novels, memoirs and more.
