I’m going on vacation this weekend and want to grab a book to read while not rock hunting. I like most genres but I really just want a fun book. Nothing depressing or overly emotional or terrifying. Just some laughs, a good plot, and enjoyable characters. Maybe something shorter?
by Otterpop26
15 Comments
Try Deanna Raybourn’s Killers of a Certain Age. It’s hysterical.
You might like Kevin Wilson’s work. They’re all reasonably short. They’re all funny. Each has this kind of seriousness running beneath the silliness, but they’re by no means depressing. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by him. Now Is Not The Time To Panic may have been my favorite.
It’s about a would-be political candidate whose… children accidentally catch on fire sometimes. So his wife hires her old friend who’s a bit down on her luck to look after him.
It’s funny, and Wilson takes this insane premise, and steers it into a few more serious themes at times too.
What genres have you liked in the past? Sci fi maybe consider murderbot
Seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo is also a lighter rea
Project Hail Mary gets recommended all the time but for good reason
Under recommended in my opinion: I hope this finds you well. I thought it was hilarious
Obligatory Project Hail Mary recc
The most fun author of all time is P.G. Wodehouse. Anything by him,
‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’, ‘Monk and Robot’, or ‘Project Hail Mary’ might be some good options!
Liane Moriarty and Kate Morton are my go to authors for this kind of book!
Some books that I’ve read recently that fit your requirements:
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T Kingfisher
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz – has some romance but also a redemption arc and found family
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
“Nothing to See Here”! It’s a quick read and very absurdist and surprisingly funny
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
If you wanna read something hilarious and non fiction I recommend Action Park by Andy Mulvihill. It’s the story of a theme park his dad owned in the 80s in New Jersey. It is WILD. From the snakes in the bumper boat pit to the rides his dad just built out of pvc pipe with zero engineering degree. It’s a great vacation read.
Christopher Moore
Tim Dorsey
Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck. Short, fun, witty, poignant at parts, it moves (and at times moving). Written in 1961 after a cross country trip with his dog, Charley. Many sections still resonate today.
Lucky Jim, Kingsley Amis
A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan
Fear and Trembling, Amélie Nothomb
Less, Andrew Sean Greer
There’s a new David Sedaris book coming out next week, The Land and Its People.