10 Funny Books to Lift Your Spirits: From Romantic-Comedies to Family Sagas

Books are like balms — grabbing the right book at the right time can provide the perfect antidote for what you’re going through at that very moment. Whether you need a dose of hope, happiness, comfort, inspiration, courage…you name it, a great book has the power to ease worries and offer a safe haven to rest and recharge. And after a long day or a difficult week, there are few things better than snuggling up with a good read that makes you smile. Keep reading for a variety of funny books to check out...

To kick off the giggle fest, we’ve rounded up our favorite laugh-out-loud reads both new and old. Grab yourself a plush blanket, a steaming mug of something tasty (like this golden spice latte) and a novel that will inspire laughs. Keep scrolling to discover 10 of the best funny books in an array of genres, from hilarious rom-coms and charming chick lit to comedic mysteries and more. Happy reading!  

If you like slow-burn stories with fun banter...

Try The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Whether it’s her rocky career or romantic life, Olive considers herself unlucky. Meanwhile, her twin sister, Ami, seems to have it all, including an upcoming fairy-tale wedding and honeymoon. To make matters trickier, Olive has to face her nemesis, Ethan, who happens to be the best man. But when the wedding party gets sick from shellfish, Olive and Ethan are the only two unaffected. Putting their mutual dislike aside for a free trip, they embark on a tropical getaway. What follows is a series of funny antics and unexpected chemistry that leaves Olive finally ­feeling…fortunate.

What readers are saying: "Never in my life have I read a book that had the same sense of humor as me — until now. This is honestly one of the funniest books I have ever read. I was giggling pretty much throughout the entire thing! And i love the natural connection that developed between Olive and Ethan."

If you like hilarious mother-daughter stories...

Try I Was Told This Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman

Known for her charming comical novels, bestselling author Abbi Waxman stirs up smiles in this family saga. Mother-daughter duo Jessica and Emily Burnstein travel to the East Coast for a college tour...but they have very different ideas on how this trip should go. Emily wants freedom, while Jessica wants to restore a bond with her daughter. On a bus with a dozen strangers — and two familiar enemies — the pair face truths and secrets that may alter their relationship and the future.

What readers are saying: "The selling point of this novel, for me, was its humor. This is a funny novel, no doubt about it. If you need a conversational pick-me-up or a distracting afternoon, this is the perfect pick. I loved the antics, the humor, and the relatability of family dynamics gone sour."

If you like charming, witty historical stories...

Try To Swoon and to Spar by Martha Waters

Sweet, smart and laugh-out-loud worthy, this fun Regency-era rom-com follows an unconventional couple. Viscount Penvale has been waiting years to buy back his family home, Trethwick Abbey, from his estranged uncle. His uncle finally agrees to sell, but with one major caveat: Penvale must marry his uncle's ward, Jane Spencer. When the two meet in London they are not impressed. Penvale finds Jane headstrong while Jane finds him icy and aloof. Nevertheless, they agree to marry in name only and return to the estate. What soon follows is a series of fake estate hauntings and spoofs, funny antics and the unexpected possibility of love.

If you like darkly comedic, fast-paced crime stories...

Try Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen

Ava Wong has never so much as jaywalked, but her straight-and-narrow life — with a perfect husband and child too — isn’t all that, well, perfect, after all. Her marriage is crumbling, her law degree hasn't been used in years and her toddler's tantrums are pushing her over the edge. So when her former college roommate, Winnie Fang, blows back into town, turned from wallflower to power-broker, Ava is intrigued. The secret to Winnie's success? Winnie runs a counterfeit scheme involving luxury handbags and she needs someone to help manage her business — someone unassuming and innocent like Ava. What follows is a series of high-stakes schemes, sharp comic moments and thrilling adventure!

What readers are saying: "An absolute delight when I really needed a distraction. This book was funny, juicy, and a totally different world to get swept up in. I think it would make a fun movie!"

If you like engaging, amusing stories about family secrets...

Try The Floating Feldmans by Elyssa Friedland

The Feldman family heads for choppy waters in this witty, laugh-out-loud novel that picks up just as the crew reunites for the first time in more than a decade. With the whole family aboard the same cruise ship to celebrate their mother Annette’s 70th birthday, tensions rise when old sibling rivalries and family secrets bubble to the surface. But adrift in the open seas, they have nowhere to turn to stay afloat…except to one another.

What readers are saying: "I chuckled. I teared up. I identified with the challenges of being in a family and not always saying what’s on our minds, including apologizing and thanking one another. Recommend!"

If you like giggle-worthy rom-coms set in London...

Try I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella

Quirky, lovable Fixie Farr got her nickname because she just can’t stop “fixing” things — from a broken coffee machine to her sister’s marriage — yet she pays no attention at all to her own needs. And since her dad passed away, leaving his housewares store in the hands of his family, Fixie spends all her time picking up the slack. So when a handsome stranger in a coffee shop asks her to keep an eye on his laptop and it comes close to being destroyed, she saves it. The stranger, a man named Sebastian, writes her a note that says she can ask for anything in return. Will Fixie take him up on his IOU?

What readers are saying: "The thing is, when you read a book by your favorite author, your expectations are high. You can’t help it! So going into I Owe You One, I expected to like it. I wanted it to make me feel better, make me laugh, swoon and root for characters…and it delivered."

If you like sharp historical fiction with a compelling heroine...

Try Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Darkly funny moments, memorable characters and emotion abound in this bestselling novel that was made into an AppleTV series starring Brie Larson. Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman in the early 1960s. Her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute has an unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans, the scientist who falls in love with her. But, like science, life proves unpredictable. A few years later, Elizabeth is a single mom and the unlikely star of America's beloved cooking show, Supper at Six. Elizabeth's bizarre approach to cooking ("combine 1 Tbs acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride") helps her followers grow, but not everyone is happy. Elizabeth isn't just teaching women to cook delicious meals...she's teaching them to change the narrative.

What readers are saying: "It’s bold, sarcastic, happy, sad, and too darn funny! Several times throughout the book, I would just bust out laughing. Ms. Garmus writes in such a way that brings the characters to life, the reader can’t resist loving them all! This is the type of book you don’t want to put down."

If you like multi-generational mysteries set around a wedding...

Try Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Q Sutanto

Meddy Chan can't wait to marry her college sweetheart, Nathan, but her aunts and Ma are becoming a problem. Instead of having them cater the wedding, Meddy asks them to enjoy the day as guests. In turn, they find her the 'perfect' wedding vendors. Meddy especially hits it off with Staphanie, the photographer. They have so much in common — down to the unfortunately misspelled name. But when Meddy hears her talking about taking out a human target, things go awry. Meddy soon learns Staphanie's family are actual mafia...and they're using her wedding as a chance to carry out shady business. Her aunties and family will do whatever it takes to save her special day — even if it means taking down the mafia!

What people are saying: "My stomach truly hurts after laughing so hard! My eyes are still watery! My cheeks hurt. That was absolutely so much fun. It guarantees unstoppable laugh-out-loud moments!"

If you like funny yet endearing romantic stories...

Try Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

In a roundup of funny books, how could we resist including this aptly named read by bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld? Behind-the-scenes drama, hilarious banter, undeniable chemistry…this novel has it all! Sally Milz is a sketch writer for the late-night live comedy show The Night Owls. After a few heartbreaks, she’s sworn off love. Until Noah Brewster, a pop music sensation, signs on to host one week on the show. They hit it off, but Sally has to remind herself that this isn’t a romantic comedy—it’s real life. As sparks fly, Sally wrestles with her heart.

What people are saying: "I just loved this book. Super fast read, extremely witty, funny, at times hilarious and just the right amount of romance. A definite must read!"

If you like heist stories with an unstoppable main character...

Try Dirty Thirty by Janet Evanovich

Beloved author Janet Evanovich is well-known for her high-stakes, comedic page-turners — and her latest in the bestselling Stephanie Plum series follows suit. This time, bounty hunter Stephanie is hired by jeweler Martin Plover to find his former security guard, Andy Manley, who he thinks stole diamonds out of his safe. What follows is chaos and an overnight stakeout with her mother and Grandma Mazur to find the fortune.

What people are saying: "This was a fun and light-hearted cozy mystery with some sass! I enjoyed the fast pace and the silly banter between Stephanie’s partner and her two love interests."

For more funny fare:

Jokes About Cats That Are So Funny They’ll Have *You* On All Fours!

Book Jokes That Will Make You Laugh So Hard The Librarian Will Give You a Dirty Look

For more feel-good reads:

Cozy Fall Reads: 10 Feel-Good Books To Snuggle Up With This Season