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 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Realistic Fiction, Romance, Humor, Gender / Feminism


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Business / Economics, Drama / Tragedy, Romance, Fantasy, Humor


Publication year 1743

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Satire, British Literature, Georgian Era, Education, Education, History: World, Humor, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams

Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Humor, Children's Literature


Publication year 1771

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Classic Fiction, Humor, Satire, Travel Literature, British Literature, Georgian Era, Education, Education, History: World


Publication year 1953

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, American Literature, Fantasy, Humor, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1752

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Language, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, Humor, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family

Tags Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction, Business / Economics, Inspirational, Humor


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family

Tags Romance, Humor, New Adult, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Fame, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: The Past

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Humor

In 2014’s The Fourteenth Goldfish, by Jennifer L Holm, an aging scientist turns himself into a teenager who must re-enter middle school alongside his granddaughter while they plot to get him back into his lab to finish his brilliant work. A humorous science-fiction novel for middle-grade readers, The Fourteenth Goldfish is the first in a two-book series.   New York Times Bestselling author Holm has written nearly 60 books for young readers, including the May Amelia... Read The Fourteenth Goldfish Summary


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Bullying, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure

The Fourth Stall is a 2011 contemporary realistic middle grade novel by Chris Rylander. With the help of his best friend and business manager Vince, sixth grader Mac runs a secret business as a “fixer” in his elementary school: He solves problems and provides services for fellow students—for a price. When Mac takes on a customer requiring protection from Staples, a legendary local criminal, he must decide the best way to deal with Staples’s harmful... Read The Fourth Stall Summary


Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Play: Comedy / Satire, Classic Fiction, Ancient Greece, Classical Period, Drama / Tragedy, Fantasy, Humor

Frogs is an ancient Athenian comic play by Aristophanes (446-386 B.C.E.). It was first performed in 405 B.C.E. for the Lenaia, an annual sacred festival held in January in honor of the god Dionysus. According to ancient sources, Frogs (which won first prize) was held in such high regard that it was honored with a second production, an unusual event since comedies and tragedies were produced for competition at sacred festivals and rarely staged again... Read The Frogs Summary


Publication year 2008

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Action / Adventure, Travel Literature, Science / Nature, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self Help, Humor

In his 2008 nonfiction book The Geography of Bliss, Eric Weiner travels the world in search of happiness. Weiner, a former foreign correspondent for National Public Radio, sets out in this travelogue to investigate where in the world people are the most happy—and why. Casting himself as an inveterately cranky person, Weiner mixes humor, scientific inquiry, and psychological research to explain geographic concentrations of elevated mood. Since its publication, the book has been on the... Read The Geography of Bliss Summary


Publication year 1873

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Economics, Society: Politics & Government

Tags American Literature, History: World, Humor, Classic Fiction, Satire, Historical Fiction, Gilded Age, Politics / Government


Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Joy

Tags Fantasy, Animals, Classic Fiction, Humor


Publication year 1999

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Humor, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure

Published in 1999, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is a psychological thriller novel by bestselling author Stephen King. Renowned for his horror writing, King draws on primal human fears as he follows spirited nine-year-old Trisha McFarland on a harrowing battle for survival after getting lost in the woods. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon explores themes of nature, faith, and the dangers of everyday life through the eyes of a plucky young heroine. Plans... Read The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon Summary


Publication year 159

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Fantasy, Mythology, Humor, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Relationships, Animals, History: European, Ancient Rome


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, History: World, Humor

The Good Lord Bird is a 2013 novel written by James McBride. It is set during three years of the slave era South and is a work of progressive Americana in the vein of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The Good Lord Bird received the National Book Award and great critical acclaim, and is now being adapted into a television series for Showtime. It examines themes of slavery, loyalty, racism, and violent protest.Plot... Read The Good Lord Bird Summary


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Humor, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Arts / Culture, Modern Classic Fiction

The Great Greene Heist is a middle grade novel by Varian Johnson that follows Jackson Greene, a middle school boy and nearly reformed prankster, who tries to win his crush through hijinks. The novel was named Publisher’s Best Summer Book of 2014, ALA ALSC Notable Children’s Book in 2015, and received a Kirkus Star Review. Johnson published the sequel To Catch a Cheat in 2016. Johnson is also the author of The Parker Inheritance, which... Read The Great Greene Heist Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

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