This week’s theme is books that make you laugh. My first thought was, “Really?” Because it feels like I just did that topic (probably since I did). So I thought about doing some bookish humor instead… but … eh. At the end of the day, I decided I have enough “books that make me laugh” in my arsenal to do another post with a whole new list.
So, I hereby give you …
These are not in any particular order. Thanks, as always, to the bloggers at The Broke and The Bookish for hosting this weekly linkup!
Books that will have you laughing for sure!
A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin
The World’s Fair.
Chicago, 1893.
It seems a perfect backdrop for what Violet Hayes longs to experience: a little mystery, a little romance. To be honest, it is more than a little mystery. She schemed her way to Chicago to discover the mother she barely remembered. As for romance…well, with the help of her grandmother and three great aunts, that is coming along nicely as well–perhaps too well. Each of her relatives–including her saintly grandmother–seems to have a separate agenda for her. In the course of a summer, Violet’s world will open wide before her eyes. But in the wake of discovery, she must find a way to determine which path–and which man–will ultimately be the right lifetime choice for her.
(Side note: My husband is currently listening to this on audiobook and I absolutely LOVE hearing him guffaw at Violet’s narrative voice and at the predicaments in which she often finds herself! Take-aways: Guys like this book too AND the audiobook is fantastic!)
Undercover Bride by Margaret Brownley
Pinkerton detective Maggie Cartwright is tasked with going undercover as a mail order bride. Her “fiancé” is widower Garrett Thomas, aka the suspected Whistle-Stop Bandit. No sooner does Maggie arrive in Arizona Territory when she’s confronted with an early wedding date—the clock is ticking on her detective work or she may end up a criminal’s wife! As the day of the wedding draws near, Maggie begins to panic. The problem is that the more she gets to know Garrett and his two adorable children, the harder it is to keep up the deception. Can a man as kind and gentle as Garrett really be the Whistle-Stop Bandit? Read my review.
A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer
Stone Hammond is the best tracker in Texas. He never comes home empty-handed. So when a wealthy railroad investor hires him to find his abducted granddaughter, Stone eagerly accepts. Charlotte Atherton, former headmistress of Sullivan’s Academy for Exceptional Youths, will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially the orphaned girl entrusted to her care. Charlotte promised Lily’s mother she’d keep the girl away from her unscrupulous grandfather, and nothing will stop Charlotte from fulfilling that pledge. Not even the handsome bounty hunter with surprisingly honest eyes who comes looking for them. When Miss Atherton produces documentation that shows her to be Lily’s legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he’s been led to believe. Is she villain or victim? Then a new danger forces Charlotte to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone vows to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he’s ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte’s heart. Read my review.
A Fool & His Monet by Sandra Orchard
Serena Jones has a passion for recovering lost and stolen art–one that’s surpassed only by her zeal to uncover the truth about the art thief who murdered her grandfather. She’s joined the FBI Art Crime Team with the secret hope that one of her cases will lead to his killer. Now, despite her mother’s pleas to do something safer–like get married–Serena’s learning how to go undercover to catch thieves and black market traders. When a local museum discovers an irreplaceable Monet missing, Jones leaps into action. The clues point in different directions, and her boss orders her to cease investigating her most promising suspect. But determined to solve the case and perhaps discover another clue in her grandfather’s murder, she pushes ahead, regardless of the danger. Read my review.
Books that may make you laugh AND cry:
More Than a Promise by Ruth Logan Herne
Artist Elle Drake returned to her small town for peace and solace after a devastating break-up. She never expected to find herself posing as a widower’s fiancée to help him keep custody of his three rambunctious boys. And she certainly never expected to fall deeply, desperately in love with him. The newest Christian romance by Ruth Logan Hearne combines heart and humor with a dose of small-town reality. Read my review.
Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti
Lucy and Charlie Tuttle agree on one thing: they’re committed to each other for life. Trouble is, neither of them expected life to look like this. While Charlie retired early, Lucy is devoted to a long-term career . . . until the day she has no choice. Forced to retire from her position as music educator in a small Midwestern K-8 school, Lucy can only watch helplessly as the program her father started years ago disintegrates before her eyes. As the music fades and a chasm separates her from the passion of her heart, Lucy wonders if her faith’s song has gone silent, too. The musical score of her life seems to be missing all the notes. When a simple misstep threatens to silence Lucy forever, a young boy and his soundless mother change the way she sees–and hears–everything. Read my review.
Sit Stay Love by Dana Mentink
Take one abrasive professional athlete, a quirky out-of-work schoolteacher, and an overweight geriatric dog, and you’re ready for a lesson in love…Tippy style. Pro baseball pitcher Cal Crawford is not a dog guy. When he inherits his deceased mother’s elderly dog, Tippy, he’s quick to call on a pet-sitting service. Gina isn’t thrilled to be a dog sitter when her aspirations lie in the classroom. Furthermore, she can’t abide the unfriendly Cal, a man with all the charm of a wet towel. But with no other prospects and a deep love for all things canine, she takes the job caring for Tippy. As Gina travels through Cal’s world with Tippy in tow, she begins to see Cal in a different light. Gina longs to show Cal the God-given blessings in his life that have nothing to do with baseball or fame. When her longing blooms into attraction, Gina does her best to suppress it. But Cal is falling in love with her too… Read my review.
Books by these authors are a safely-hilarious bet!
1. Jen Turano
2. Mary Connealy
3. Deeanne Gist
4. Regina Jennings
*All of the above write “hysterical historical” or at least historical romance that is full of great humor.
5. Pepper Basham
*Pepper Basham also writes historical romance – beautiful, poetic historical romance. And in those novels, you can see traces of her delightful humor. But it’s her contemporaries like the newly released A Twist of Faith that will have you laughing until your sides hurt!
Ok – now it’s your turn! What books make YOU laugh?
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I haven’t read any of these books. Thank you for the recommendations! 🙂
Chrissi, I hope to hear from you after you’ve read Song of Silence.
So true! Love your list of books and authors!
Clearly you like historical…or maybe that’s hysterical…romance.
Good list! I didn’t know Lynn Austin did funny, I have to check that out!
It surprised me too when I read it the first time!
Jan Karon’s delightful cast of characters in her Mitford series keep me in stitches.
These are all new to me. Will definitely have to check them out because I love to laugh when reading. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Grace!
Grace, good to “meet” you here. I hope you’ll find plenty to laugh about, and plenty to ponder, in Song of Silence.
<3
Great list. One I’ve read, a couple are on the TBR pile. And I enjoy Mary Coneally’s sense of humor. There’s something about listening on audiobook, too. A line that looks mildly amusing in print can be laugh-out-loud funny in the voice of the right narrator.
And I must add, because you’ve mentioned it elsewhere, you MUST read Jenny B. Jones and get a taste of her humor. I’ve only read several of her books, but she has a wonderful, wry sense of humor.
YES! She is definitely on my “need to read asap” list!! 🙂
I haven’t read any of these but I have been wanting to broaden my historical romance reading. I love humor mixed in with romance. It makes the book so much more fun!
it really does! I highly recommend any of these 🙂
Even though Song of Silence isn’t historical–definitely contemporary–I hope you’ll give that one a try, too, since it is love story, life story, and more.
Carrie, thanks for the giggles! 🙂 I was also surprised to see Lynn Austin on the list.
this particular book anyway is hilarious!
Just the look on her face on Undercover Bride! I definitely need to start adding some of these into my reading!
Lol!
Jen Turano is my go to for a good laugh! But Mary Connealy’s books are very goodnat getting a laugh put of me too! I have yet to read most of these other books! So many books… So little time!
A Fool and His Monet sounds great – art theft AND humor…right up my alley! 🙂
My TTT.
YES! Erika – you would really enjoy that one!
I don’t think I’ve heard of any of these, but A Fool and his Monet has me intrigued, as Monet is one of my favorite artists! My TTT
it’s super fun!
This is a delightful list. Many I was not aware of. Have to give them a try. Erika recommended your bog to me.
oh how nice of her! Welcome, Charline! I’m so glad you’re here 🙂
Thanks for your comments, Charline! Hope to see you in the pages soon!
Okay. So I have to ask…Where’s Higgins? 😉
Well… see … she figured in so prominently on my first list that I bypassed her this time in favor of other books/authors. BUT I could have probably included her in the authors list. *hangs head in shame* 😉
Wow, great list! I don’t know any of these authors so very excited to look at those :))
yay! 🙂
So glad you’ll get a taste of new books, Anna!
Aw, I’ve been curious about “A Proper Pursuit” for a while now. One of these days I’ll have to get a copy because it does sound really good. 🙂
you should! It’s so much fun! 🙂
Thanks for sharing so many wonderful funny books and authors!
I love how you incorporated books that make you laugh AND cry. Maybe it’s weird but I really like books that can make you feel ALL the emotions 🙂
i do too!
and Cynthia Ruchti’s books in particular are some of my faves for that phenomenon 🙂
Oh my gosh, the Monet book! I must read that! Love the description and the cover. Great list this week as always! 🙂
You would really enjoy that one, Kristi! thanks 🙂
I’ve not heard of some of these authors. Thanks for the great list!
yay!
Lovely list – I’ve not read any of these but you sound like you’ve had loads of fun which is good.
Lynn 😀
🙂
Wow- all of these are new to me! Love hearing about new & funny writers!
Thanks for stopping by my TTT 🙂
thanks, Michelle!
Ah, yes, dog books always make me smile. Great list this week!
thanks, alicia!
I’ve not heard of any of these authors! The first one, A Proper Pursuit, sounds really good! I’ll have to check that out!
it’s so good!
Undercover Bride and A Fool and His Monet sound like good ones!
Thanks for visiting my blog earlier. 🙂
they’re all good 🙂 Thanks, Lauren!
I can honestly say I have learned of new books and authors today because I hadn’t heard of any of these but they seem like lots of LOL fun!
They are! I highly recommend all of them!
I’m so thrilled to see Song of Silence on this list. It is not a laugh-a-minute story. In fact, it addresses some serious issues like marriage relationships, depression, early retirement, loss of passion. But, as in life, when we can keep our sense of humor even during the tough times, we can ride the storm and emerge with our sanity! 🙂
So well-said!
Wow!! These are all new to me. Song of Silence looks like a great book. I will have to check it out. Thanks for stopping by my TTT and sharing!
Song of Silence is fantastic!!!
I know that Mary Conneally writes “hysterical historicals” but her cozy mysteries are FUNNY too. I could have written a post just on cozies, but I did that too …. Thanks for your list!
I still need to find those cozies of hers – thanks for the reminder!!!!
Sit Stay Love sounds so cute! I’m glad you warned that it’s also a potential tear jerker, though – I don’t want to be surprised by another “funny dog book that suddenly makes my cry unexpectedly” situation like John Grogan’s Marley and Me. 😛
Oh goodness – it’s nowhere the angst level of Marley lol
Oh, I absolutely love A Worthy Pursuit!!! And now I’m dying to read the novel by Ruth Logan Herne; it sounds fantastic! What a great list!
I highly recommend ALL of these 😀
I haven’t read any of the books/authors that you have mentioned. Thanks for the recommendations though. I need to add funny books to my TBR and I hope to get some of the books that you have mentioned. Happy reading.
Yay!
Thank you for stopping by my TTT, loved your comment.
I must admit, I never heard about any of these authors and that’s the beauty of this, we can all recommend each other books that we might not have found otherwise. Thank you so much.
Happy Reading,
Marianne from
Let’s Read
Absolutely! Thanks!
A Fool and his Monet sounds great – love a good heist book!
It’s so fun!
I haven’t read any of these, but really like the look of Sit Stay Love. The cover made me chuckle too 🙂
Isn’t it cute? 🙂
Great list! These all sound like good books! 🙂
Thanks! They are 🙂
I’ve not heard any of these before. The first book intrigues me — Chicago’s World’s Fair is a great setting!!
it really is!
Oh wow, I have not read any of these but it’s a great list!
Thanks! 🙂
What a great list! I haven’t read any of these, but I will most definitely be checking some of them out. <3 Thanks for sharing!
I haven’t read any of these! I found out when making my list that I don’t read too many humourous ones though.
Awww you’re missing out 🙂
These are all new to me, but they sound great, so I’ll have to look for them in the library! Thanks for visiting my TTT! Happy reading!
Totally agree with you that Jen Turano’s books are always hilarious! And I really need to read her new series, because I haven’t yet. I’ve also got a Regina Jennings book waiting for me and now, knowing that her books are funny, I’m even more excited to read it. Definitely need to check some of these others out!
yay!!! Enjoy 🙂
I haven’t read any of these or even heard of these authors EEEP. I’m probably living under a rock. But omg there’s never too many lists of books that make us laugh, right?! (I say bonus points to the ones that have us laughing AND sobbing. XD)
Thanks for stopping by @ Paper Fury!
Love it, Cait!
Just added Lynn Austin to my “to-reads” on Goodreads! 😀
Yay!!! Her books are all so different from each other and all just fabulous.