The most genuinely laugh out loud book I know of is Jenny Lawson’s *Lets Pretend This Never Happened*.
It’s autobiographical(ish) and touches on battles with mental illness – just in case that’s a trigger warning.
Her later books dive much deeper along those lines but the first one only touches on it and it is very, very funny.
warmworm0_0 on
God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut. He’s a satire writer, and if that’s your thing, this book will make you laugh out loud. It’s a little sad at times, but not terribly dark.
PsyferRL on
*Snow Crash* by Neal Stephenson made me laugh out loud numerous times. It’s satire, so “well-written” in this case should be viewed from specifically the lens of satire rather than explicitly serious literature. But I absolutely think it’s well-written in that context, in addition to also just being an interesting plot as well.
I lost count how many times I laughed out loud while reading *Slaughterhouse-Five* by Kurt Vonnegut, though it’s definitely a dark humor. With that being said, it’s more “dark” in the sense of making light-hearted humor out of a dark situation, rather than the humor itself being dark. I offer the below passage as an example. (No spoilers, the book is a WWII-era story among other things, so the below doesn’t reveal anything important)
>Billy coughed when the door was opened, and when he coughed he shit thin gruel. This was in accordance with the Third Law of Motion according to Sir Isaac Newton. This law tells us that for every action there is a reaction which is equal and opposite in direction.
>This can be useful in rocketry.
Context is a group of POWs being hauled off to various locations via train. The “darkness” is the subject matter, but Vonnegut’s portrayal of it is never really that dark, and the insertion of humor like he does above is RAMPANT throughout the book!
I’ll finish this recommendation by saying if you personally have a history of PTSD, it may not be as funny for you. Emphasis on “may” though, because I’ve known a few who both suffer from PTSD but found the book hilarious. So your mileage may vary.
Paramedic229635 on
Yahtzee Croshaw, funny author with great characters.
Differently Morphus and Existentially Challenged – Governmental agency involved in the regulation of magic and extra dimensional beings.
Mogworld – Main character is undead. Hijinks ensue.
The Jacques McKeown series – An unemployed star pilot tries to get by in a universe where transporters are a thing. The first book in the series is Will save the galaxy for food.
tketchum12 on
Starter Villain by John Scalzi had me laughing out loud numerous times. A guy down on his luck inherits his uncles villain business. It’s silly and fun.
Equivalent_Ad2398 on
Lucky Jim, Kingsley Amis
Catch-22, Joseph Heller (but cry, too)
randomberlinchick on
One of my favorite books to recommend here: *Bad Monkeys* by Matt Ruff
kdye2139 on
Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer- I genuinely was laughing out loud during this one
perseus0dys on
Dungeon Crawler Carl. Started in december with the first one and completely hooked, just finished my fifth book (of 7). Synopsis:
Dungeon Crawler Carl is a fantastic progression fantasy/LitRPG novel series by Matt Dinniman that combines dark humor, survival game elements, and compelling character development. The story follows Carl Purcell, an ordinary guy who, along with his ex-girlfriend’s cat Princess Donut (who can now talk), is forced into an interdimensional dungeon crawl when Earth is invaded by aliens who turn the planet into a deadly game show for the entertainment of the multiverse.
What makes this series particularly engaging is:
The unique blend of tones – It masterfully balances genuinely dark and horrific moments with absurdist humor. You might go from laughing at Carl’s snarky commentary or Princess Donut’s cat-like behavior to being genuinely moved by the human drama or shocked by the brutal reality of their situation.
The game system – Unlike many LitRPGs that feel arbitrary, the dungeon’s rules and rewards are cleverly designed to create maximum entertainment for the viewing audience. Players can earn “Ratings Points” by being entertaining, which adds a meta layer to every decision Carl makes. Should he take the safe route or do something flashy for more points?
The relationship between Carl and Donut – Their dynamic evolves from reluctant partners to a genuine team. Donut isn’t just a cute mascot; she’s a fully realized character whose feline perspective on things provides both comedy and insight.
The worldbuilding – The dungeon isn’t just a series of random challenges. There’s a deeper conspiracy involving the aliens (called Founders), other dimensions, and the true nature of the game. Each floor of the dungeon has its own theme and challenges, keeping the story fresh and exciting.
The character growth – Carl starts as an average guy who worked as a dog walker, but his experiences force him to become more strategic, resilient, and resourceful. However, the story never loses sight of his fundamental humanity and moral compass.
If you enjoy stories that combine action, strategy, humor, and genuine character development, while subverting common tropes of both progression fantasy and reality TV, you’ll likely find Dungeon Crawler Carl to be an addictive read. It’s especially appealing for readers who like seeing characters use creativity and wit to overcome challenges, rather than just brute force.
I’m not a gamer and this is the first time I’ve read LitRPG. But man..
Brief-Buy9191 on
“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” – Douglas Adams
“A Confederacy of Dunces” – John Kennedy Toole
“Where’d You Go, Bernadette” – Maria Semple
“Less” – Andrew Sean Greer
“My Family and Other Animals” – Gerald Durrell
ommaandnugs on
Jana DeLeon Miss Fortune series and Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich are both laugh out loud light mysteries.
11 Comments
The most genuinely laugh out loud book I know of is Jenny Lawson’s *Lets Pretend This Never Happened*.
It’s autobiographical(ish) and touches on battles with mental illness – just in case that’s a trigger warning.
Her later books dive much deeper along those lines but the first one only touches on it and it is very, very funny.
God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut. He’s a satire writer, and if that’s your thing, this book will make you laugh out loud. It’s a little sad at times, but not terribly dark.
*Snow Crash* by Neal Stephenson made me laugh out loud numerous times. It’s satire, so “well-written” in this case should be viewed from specifically the lens of satire rather than explicitly serious literature. But I absolutely think it’s well-written in that context, in addition to also just being an interesting plot as well.
I lost count how many times I laughed out loud while reading *Slaughterhouse-Five* by Kurt Vonnegut, though it’s definitely a dark humor. With that being said, it’s more “dark” in the sense of making light-hearted humor out of a dark situation, rather than the humor itself being dark. I offer the below passage as an example. (No spoilers, the book is a WWII-era story among other things, so the below doesn’t reveal anything important)
>Billy coughed when the door was opened, and when he coughed he shit thin gruel. This was in accordance with the Third Law of Motion according to Sir Isaac Newton. This law tells us that for every action there is a reaction which is equal and opposite in direction.
>This can be useful in rocketry.
Context is a group of POWs being hauled off to various locations via train. The “darkness” is the subject matter, but Vonnegut’s portrayal of it is never really that dark, and the insertion of humor like he does above is RAMPANT throughout the book!
I’ll finish this recommendation by saying if you personally have a history of PTSD, it may not be as funny for you. Emphasis on “may” though, because I’ve known a few who both suffer from PTSD but found the book hilarious. So your mileage may vary.
Yahtzee Croshaw, funny author with great characters.
Differently Morphus and Existentially Challenged – Governmental agency involved in the regulation of magic and extra dimensional beings.
Mogworld – Main character is undead. Hijinks ensue.
The Jacques McKeown series – An unemployed star pilot tries to get by in a universe where transporters are a thing. The first book in the series is Will save the galaxy for food.
Starter Villain by John Scalzi had me laughing out loud numerous times. A guy down on his luck inherits his uncles villain business. It’s silly and fun.
Lucky Jim, Kingsley Amis
Catch-22, Joseph Heller (but cry, too)
One of my favorite books to recommend here: *Bad Monkeys* by Matt Ruff
Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer- I genuinely was laughing out loud during this one
Dungeon Crawler Carl. Started in december with the first one and completely hooked, just finished my fifth book (of 7). Synopsis:
Dungeon Crawler Carl is a fantastic progression fantasy/LitRPG novel series by Matt Dinniman that combines dark humor, survival game elements, and compelling character development. The story follows Carl Purcell, an ordinary guy who, along with his ex-girlfriend’s cat Princess Donut (who can now talk), is forced into an interdimensional dungeon crawl when Earth is invaded by aliens who turn the planet into a deadly game show for the entertainment of the multiverse.
What makes this series particularly engaging is:
The unique blend of tones – It masterfully balances genuinely dark and horrific moments with absurdist humor. You might go from laughing at Carl’s snarky commentary or Princess Donut’s cat-like behavior to being genuinely moved by the human drama or shocked by the brutal reality of their situation.
The game system – Unlike many LitRPGs that feel arbitrary, the dungeon’s rules and rewards are cleverly designed to create maximum entertainment for the viewing audience. Players can earn “Ratings Points” by being entertaining, which adds a meta layer to every decision Carl makes. Should he take the safe route or do something flashy for more points?
The relationship between Carl and Donut – Their dynamic evolves from reluctant partners to a genuine team. Donut isn’t just a cute mascot; she’s a fully realized character whose feline perspective on things provides both comedy and insight.
The worldbuilding – The dungeon isn’t just a series of random challenges. There’s a deeper conspiracy involving the aliens (called Founders), other dimensions, and the true nature of the game. Each floor of the dungeon has its own theme and challenges, keeping the story fresh and exciting.
The character growth – Carl starts as an average guy who worked as a dog walker, but his experiences force him to become more strategic, resilient, and resourceful. However, the story never loses sight of his fundamental humanity and moral compass.
If you enjoy stories that combine action, strategy, humor, and genuine character development, while subverting common tropes of both progression fantasy and reality TV, you’ll likely find Dungeon Crawler Carl to be an addictive read. It’s especially appealing for readers who like seeing characters use creativity and wit to overcome challenges, rather than just brute force.
I’m not a gamer and this is the first time I’ve read LitRPG. But man..
“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” – Douglas Adams
“A Confederacy of Dunces” – John Kennedy Toole
“Where’d You Go, Bernadette” – Maria Semple
“Less” – Andrew Sean Greer
“My Family and Other Animals” – Gerald Durrell
Jana DeLeon Miss Fortune series and Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich are both laugh out loud light mysteries.