Humor bestsellers

“Olive is a scientist. Olive is also not a dater. She dated a guy named Jeremy, but that ended because 1) she didn’t really care and 2) she saw sparks fly between him and her BFF. Olive wants her best friend to be happy and decides to kiss a random guy to prove that she has moved on. The problem is, the random guy she kisses turns out to be none other than the known asshole professor, Dr. Adam Carlsen. Mortified, Olive apologies, but it’s not long before everyone finds out and spreads the rumor that they are dating. As Olive tries to put a stop to it, she realizes with Adam, that both can gain something from a fake dating situation. Thus, they move forward with rules and an end date in mind. But what happens when Olive starts to see a softer side of Adam? One who buys her pumpkin spice lattes and gives her such encouragement regarding her science? Also, he is pretty gorgeous. Can Olive really keep this up? Or will it implode before their end goal? This book was such a surprise that had me curled up in bed for hours. The details, the character development, and the intensity of written emotion had me feeling like I had been wrecked and then put back together, only wanting more.”

“What fun! This delightful book should be in every beach bag this summer. A hilariously comedic rom-com with memorable characters, set in varied vacation spots in various years. I enjoyed the changing timeline and seeing the relationship as it grew through the years.”

“So funny. I couldn’t stop listening until I had heard all of his anecdotes. Loved it.”

“At its simplest, we could just say this is a story about the human condition. Backman’s wry and deceptively simple storytelling provides us an exquisite and astute study of the little complexities that fills our lives with joy and pain. Through his rich story exploring second chances, missed opportunities, and unintended consequences, he captures the essence of what it means to be human and the complexities of navigating relationships with each other by exploring what we say and do not say to one another. The audio version is absolutely spectacular. The narrator brings each character to life with unique and spot-on personalities that I cannot imagine creating myself in my head. Her delivery of the dialogue and story is spot on and kept me laughing throughout.”

“McQuiston delivers a delightful sophomore novel that surprised me. Though similar to Red, White, and Royal Blue, One Last Stop adds a science fiction time loop element that makes it fun and different. I had major missing-Brooklyn-feels while listening to this! McQuiston perfectly captures the magic of Brooklyn and the MTA (both good and bad). They have a super strong cast of characters that celebrates found family and kindness. McQuiston redefines what a modern romance can be by combining genres and featuring a strong queer relationship.”

“2020 is apparently the year I start reading romance novels and loving them. Maybe it's my need for a little lighthearted fluff in quarantine, but straight fluff isn't really my jam no matter the day. I want fluff with meat on its bones. I want fluff with substance.

As for Beach Read... Did I just give a romance novel ALL THE STARS? Why yes. Yes I did. And if I could give it a few more, I would. Because Beach Read is just the kind of substantial 'fluff' I needed to read. It's the kind of book that flips the patriarchy on its head, the one that has told readers like me that romance novels can't be good literature. Because at the end of the day, my preference for anything *but* romance had little to do with the writing quality, and everything to do with social biases. Henry attacks those head on. And then she goes leaps and bounds further, delving into grief and love and identity, and how we understand each other.

This book is therapy. It's a book about writer's block in the best of ways - not just the literal premise of swapping stories, but that of feeling stuck in a rut and not knowing what to do to move forward with life. I felt completely and utterly seen in its pages. I cried ugly tears until I had none left. And then it lifted me up in a bucket full of swoon. Reader, I adored every minute. And with Julia Whelan to narrate, what more could you ask for?”

“As if there is anything greater than a new David Sedaris, it's listening to David Sedaris read the new David Sedaris. This self-edited collection of essays from his prolific 25-year career is exactly what we need to boost the morale of 2020 and remind ourselves what a crazy world we've always lived in when viewed through Sedaris's keen observational eye and told with his unique & irreverent voice. The Best of Me is perfect for both long-time fans or those reading Sedaris for the first time and the audio read by the author means no nuance is left behind.”

“One of my favorite audiobooks this year! I loved the narration nearly as much as I loved each of the characters and their journey. You can't help but root for the children, and appreciate how the weirdness actually accentuates the trials and tribulations of found family versus those we're related to in a very real way. Delightful.”

“This is a beautifully inclusive novel that made me cry and laugh harder than I’d like too. Chloe and Red were amazing characters that I didn’t want to leave when the story ended. I can’t get over Chloe being a larger lady and the story not focusing on that. I was bracing myself so many times for her to feel sad about her weight or talk about how much she might eat to de-stress herself but the story never gave me that, and I appreciated it so much. She was fine with her appearance and it’s that type of attitude and writing that made me love Chloe even more. I also loved how determined Chloe was to not let her disability take over her life. It’s important to me to see stories like this getting written because representation is huge as a bookseller. I believe everyone deserves to be seen and this was a pure gem.”

“Jenny Lawson is and will forever be my crazy, taxidermied spirit animal. In Broken she managed to make me snort coffee from my nose in laughter, then grasp at my aching heart a moment later in mutual grief. There's so much exposed nerve in this book that it is impossible not to get sucked into her vulnerability. I think she'd want you to know it's okay to come on over and linger in the pain. Just, you know, not TOO close next to her. Personal space and all that.”

“A satisfying conclusion to an absolutely delightful series! In the final installment of the trilogy, we follow the youngest Brown sister, Eve, a lovable hot mess who is looking to prove to her parents that she can get her life together. Her attempts to turn things around lead her to accidentally interview for as job as a chef at a bed and breakfast. The owner of the B&B, Jacob, is Eve’s polar opposite on paper, so they naturally get off to a bad start. It doesn’t help that Eve also hits him with her car! As the pair begin to learn more about each other, the sweetest romance blooms. Talia Hibbert proves once again that she knows how to write a romantic comedy!”

“At home while peeling wallpaper or making diner—or just closing my eyes for a while—a non-fiction audio book is a perfect companion, especially if it’s teaching me something as well as being entertaining. The Body: A Guide For Occupants by Bill Bryson, narrated by Bill Bryson, is exactly that kind of book. Bryson’s voice is genial, sometimes humble, and yet informative and authoritative, and I was pleased that he choice to narrate it. And the subject is me! Well, sort of. But what could be more compelling than learning about this body that has taken care of me for, well, many years now. And even the insights that might not relate to me at this moment are fascinating. I kept thinking about my friends and how this book could help me to better understand their aches and pains and medical conditions. And, maybe most importantly, by listening to this book I became amazed at the idea that these bodies of ours do so much to keep us healthy and alive—and to understand how we should be helping our bodies to do so. I’d love to quote all the facts I’ve learned—such as information about viruses, and the odd facts that seem unbelievable, such as the Anton-Babinski syndrome, where people who are blind refuse to believe it—but that’s why you should listen to this book, to find these gems for yourself.”

“While Dev believes in fairytale romances, Charlie most certainly does not. That doesn’t stop the two of them from stumbling into their own romantic comedy that will leave you absolutely charmed.”

“There are many ways to craft a humorous essay. One of the most straightforward is to harness the clarity to tell it exactly like it is. You know, through the warped lens of personality. Samantha Irby sees all, and she sees it through wickedly potent bifocals.”

“During a year of critical burnout for many, I never expected to be so deeply touched by a book about the very same. But that is exactly what The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang did - it moved me... to tears, shouts, and fist pumps.... An undeniable masterpiece in the romance (or any) genre that I have already recommended to everyone I know.”

“I didn’t think it was possible to combine education and humor so effectively in a book about racism, but Ruffin and Lamar proved me wrong. This incredibly well-structured, digestible, challenging, and engaging book opened my eyes to the many ways racism can permeate every interaction in Black people’s lives. The way the sisters play off each other and how Ruffin reflects on Lamar’s experience in contrast to her own make the book especially accessible. A must-read!”

“I have never been so mad to realize a title was an author's debut. Sweet, tender, funny, I devoured this book. I wanted to cancel plans for this book! Spending time with these characters was the literary equivalent of curling up by the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate while it's snowing outside. McQuiston's words were a direct line to my 23 year-old self. I couldn't believe they stared back at me from the page. And while I wish this book had been around when I had just come out, when I was figuring myself out, reading it now is almost just as good (we all need disaster bisexual role models).”

“The Witches Are Coming is a timely and engaging collection of essays (read by the author Lindy West in the audiobook version, which I highly recommend). With a great balance of rage, humor, optimism, and urgency, West addresses the state of American culture and how we can move forward, specifically with regard to how women are framed in the narrative that has been written throughout the past hundred years. But she also talks about race, climate change, getting her book Shrill made into a TV show, Adam Sandler, and a number of other topics. West's book is a rally cry for witches; it will make you feel like picking up a broom and flying off to a coven meeting.”

“This compact novel captures the life of a social media influencer in such a stunning way—I listened to this book with my jaw on the floor. Incredible (though if you've never opened Instagram or Twitter, this might not be for you).”

“Lindy West makes true observations about movies in ways that will make you laugh at out, and cause you to re-think some of your 90s/00s favorite films! Her witty commentary is what we all NEED in this 2020 world, even if you have not seen the films. It’s written by someone smart and hilarious who has strong opinions about things that don’t matter. The PERFECT road trip audiobook, listeners can come in and out without loosing place in the book. *12/10 DVDs of The Fugitive*”

“Mary Jane is 14 in 1975 and her summer nannying job is filled with surprises, spontaneity, and love as she is pulled into the family of the little girl she watches. A sweet and funny story of discovering yourself, your loved ones, and where you fit in. It really hit home for me.”

“Hola Papi was endearing and sweetly funny. I loved the structure of this memoir where Brammer is answering letters to his advice column with heart and empathy. The audio book is expertly narrated by John Paul Brammer himself which added to the listening experience. Highly recommend!”

“There's nothing better than a good enemies-to-lovers trope, and The Worst Best Man delivers a great wedding-themed twist. I loved the representation of Brazilian American culture in this book; Lina's family provides an excellent supporting cast filled with personality. I can only hope this isn't the last we'll see of them!”

“I listened to this on libro.fm and loved every second! Lovable cast of characters and super sweet love story. This book put a smile on my face and makes me smile when I talk about it with other people.”

“Calypso by David Sedaris is laugh out loud hysterical in true Sedaris fashion. Listening to him read and deliver his stories is like listening to a stand-up comedian. This collection is fairly personal and many stories involve his family and their adventures in his North Carolinian beach house, aptly name the “Sea Section”. Sedaris manages to tackle even difficult issues like suicide and aging with grace and just the right amount of self-deprecation mixed with brutal honesty. Highly recommend!”

“One of the great pleasures of getting to work in a bookstore is having co-workers coax you to new genres and experiences. So many folk were raving about Talia Hibbert that I decided to give her a read. Delightful! Funny and moving. Damn charming. Serious in intent and yet light as a feather. And very, very sexy. If you are looking for a book filled with joy during this tough time, I can't think of a better choice. And the narrator, Ione Butler is just as delightful and talented as the prose that she is reading. Talia Hibbert and Ione Butler make for a fantastic, perfect pairing.”

“I love Irish reels. But when the music swelled to mark the end of Good Eggs I was sad. I had to say goodbye to Kevin? And Aideen? And GRAM? Spending time with the Gogartys of Dublin—as they wend their way through misadventures, orneriness, teen angst, and, finally, sweet but dotty grandma's quest for revenge—you'll wish they were your family, too. For all the convolutions, it always feels like all will be well, so it's okay to laugh out loud as the plot thickens!”

“Lauren Hough has led a more interesting life than you, but no need to be jealous: this life includes growing up traveling the world in a sex cult, getting kicked out of the Air Force under Don't Ask Don't Tell, and a 7 day stint in the SHU without even having her arrest processed. And as a former cable guy and gay bar bouncer, she has seen more of the weird, wild, and insufferable parts of human nature than most of us ever will. The essays in this book are Hough processing the terror of being gay in the South and in the military in the 90s, the trauma and shame of her childhood (it took her longer to come out as a cult survivor than it did to come out as a lesbian) and learning, through all of the noise and violence, to stop trying to fit in for the sake of love and belonging and instead finding the liberation in just being herself. Hough does all of this with essays as poignant as they are laugh-out-loud funny, with a singular voice that is ready to call out the bullshit. (CW: rape, child sexual assault, violence against LGBT folk.)”

“What can I say about this book without becoming a blubbering, incoherent mess? To say I loved it with my whole heart would be an understatement. The Soulmate Equation is the best mix of enemies to lovers and quasi-fake/forced dating I’ve read in a while, and who could say no to the genetic dating app premise (I wish the app was real)? I was holding in my squeals so as not to wake anyone because I couldn’t stop listening. If you like your romance with a dash of science, nerd puns, and a sultry cinnamon roll, this one is for you. And Jess’s kid? Can we be best friends?”

“This fake-dating, opposites-attract romance is simply perfect. A social media astrologer is set up with her new business partner’s actuary sister. While the date goes terribly, how helpful it would be for both of them to have a date for certain upcoming events. The two leads are wonderful, flawed women with their own baggage and hang-ups (hello, family drama!), and it’s a joy to watch them fall in love with each other in spite of everything.”

“This story opened its broad arms and admitted me into the recharging station that I needed so badly in 2021. It was cute. It was sweet. It was heart-wrenching. It was steamy. It was everything!”

“When novelist Arthur Less learns that his longtime boyfriend is marrying another man, he accepts every invitation he's received and travels around the world. This novel of a man facing 50 and looking back at his life and love is an utter delight.”

“A famous rom-com duo takes on HGTV in their latest surefire hit. Underpaid and overworked assistants Carey and James didn’t intend to be in charge of keeping together a reality TV couple’s marriage, but here they are. They also didn’t intend to fall for each other, but as they try to fix the crumbling marriage of Melissa and Rusty Tripp, they find common ground. Equal parts sweet and steamy, with a story about finding your spine and self-worth.”