Laugh-out-Loud Books

Our Laugh-out-Loud Books Collection highlights titles that bring levity to literature through satire, dark humor, or hilarious dialogue. Representing genres ranging from romantic comedies to classic children's titles, this Collection features titles to tickle every reader's funny bone.

Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Philosophy, Humor, Self Help, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy


Publication year 1973

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

Tags Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

In the novel How to Eat Fried Worms, a boy accepts a $50 bet from a friend to eat 15 worms in 15 days, but as he nears victory, he faces a flurry of nasty tricks and traps that go wildly out of control. Written by Thomas Rockwell, son of the famous American illustrator Norman Rockwell, and published in 1973, the book sold over three million copies, won several awards, was a target of censors... Read How To Eat Fried Worms Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Gender, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Humor


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Humor

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe (2010) is a science fiction novel by American writer Charles Yu. Yu wrote the novel after merging two separate story ideas—one about a father-son relationship and the other about a man who keeps waking up in different universes. The narrative views the emotional tension between the father and son through the lens of quantum mechanics and popular philosophy. The novel was a finalist for the John... Read How To Live Safely In a Science Fictional Universe Summary


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Humor, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature


Publication year 2013

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Fear

Tags Humor, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Mental Illness, Depression / Suicide, Animals, Biography


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Disability, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Humor


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Humor, Contemporary Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Romance, Humor, LGBTQ, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Fame, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Humor, Modern Classic Fiction, Biography, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family

Tags Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Action / Adventure, Humor


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Romance, Holidays & Occasions, Humor


Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Satire, Modern Classic Fiction, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Humor, Post Modernism, American Literature, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Sports

Infinite Jest is a fiction novel by David Foster Wallace. First published in 1996, the novel has an unconventional narrative structure with hundreds of extensive footnotes. Exploring themes of addiction, alienation, and the plight of modern existence, Infinite Jest is famous for its complexity and humor. The novel has been praised by critics and heralded as one of the most important literary works of the 20th century. This guide was written using the 2014 Abacus... Read Infinite Jest Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Magical Realism, Children's Literature, Humor, Arts / Culture, Fantasy


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Disability, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Diversity, Disability, Bullying, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Realistic Fiction, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Race / Racism, Arts / Culture, Diversity, History: U.S., Asian Literature, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Humor


Publication year 2009

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers

Tags Humor, Play: Comedy / Satire, Education, Education, Gender / Feminism, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Historical Fiction, Romance

In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play), which premiered on Broadway in 2010, has since become one of Sarah Ruhl’s best-known and most popularly produced plays. Prior to Ruhl’s Broadway debut with In the Next Room, she earned a MacArthur Genius Fellowship and a PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award, and her 2004 play The Clean House was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. In the Next Room was also a Pulitzer Prize finalist and... Read In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1999

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Gender, Self Discovery

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Satire, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor

Invisible Monsters is the third novel by bestselling novelist Chuck Palahniuk. Published in 1999, the novel was intended to be Palahniuk’s first published novel but was rejected for its disturbing content. Invisible Monsters is a contemporary work in the first person with a non-linear narration. The main characters include a former model and transgender woman focused on the search for identity in a society where beauty defines a person’s self-worth.Content Warning: Please be advised that... Read Invisible Monsters Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Midlife, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Romance, Humor, LGBTQ, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction