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20 Books That Will Make Mom Laugh Out Loud

Because a great book never goes out of style!

By Haley Somolinos, Douglas County Libraries November 4, 2019

Put a little more giggle in your gift-giving this year. Books are the gift that never goes out of style, and what mom couldn't use a little more laughter in her day?

The Knockoff by Lucky Skyes and Jo Piazza
The Knockoff  is an insider's look at the ever-changing world of fashion, and it is wickedly funny.

Let's Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
Jenny Lawson, known to the internet world as The Bloggess, is a comic genius. This book recounts her eccentric childhood in rural Texas. It's hysterical and yet unexpectedly touching.

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
Another popular blogger turned author, Brosh turns embarrassing life moments into hilarious comics. The subjects range from light (dogs) to dark (depression), but they all contain offbeat humor.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
This charming satirical novel is about an agoraphobic mother and her broken promise to take her daughter to Antarctica. It's hysterical, wacky, and heartfelt

Bossy Pants by Tina Fey
Tina Fey of 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live fame is one of the funniest women on television. Naturally, her memoir is laugh out loud funny. The book ranges from her start in the comedy world to balancing work and family as well as how to handle being in a male-dominated industry. Of course, all these subjects are handled with her dry wit.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
No funny book list would be complete without the comic genius of David Sedaris. While any of his short story collections are guaranteed to make you laugh out loud, this one is a stand-out, covering his attempts to learn French where he progresses "from speaking like an evil baby to speaking like a hillbilly."

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
This whimsical odyssey through the galaxy is one of the funniest science fiction series out there. Adams is the king of intelligent satire and comedic dialogue.

The Stench of Honolulu by Jack Handey
This is legendary "Deep Thoughts" humorist's first novel; it's an absurd adventure tale. An unreliable narrator and his friend discover an old treasure map and embark on a quest for the Golden Monkey, which takes them to the mysterious and stinky foreign land of Honolulu.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
After spending twenty years in Britain, Bryson decides to hike the Appalachian Trail to rediscover his native home. It's a delightful chronicle of the history of the trail and the places it passes through.

I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron
Screenwriter of romantic comedy classics like Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail, Ephron nails the effects of aging on women. It's wickedly witty.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman
A true fantasy classic with fencing, torture, poison, true love, revenge, passions, miracles. It's a wonderful spoof of classic swashbuckling romance.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
International bestselling romantic comedy features a socially challenged but lovably quirky genetics professor on his quest to find true love. It's at once funny, touching, and delightful.

Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach
Roach tackles the strange science of space travel with wry humor. It is a surreal and entertaining trip.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
A brilliant take on school yard scandal, ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters. There's murder, but Moriarty's sly humor gives the book the right balance of light and dark.

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
Widely considered an American comic masterpiece, A Confederacy of Dunces covers zany adventures in New Orleans brimming with original characters.

The Essays of E.B. White by E.B. White
While White is perhaps best known for beloved classics like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, his essays for publications like The New Yorker and Harper's are phenomenal. They are insightful and incredibly amusing.

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
On the eve of Armageddon, Aziraphale, a rare-book dealing angel, and Crowley, his demon friend, found that they are rather fond of their Earthly lifestyles and are not actually looking forward to the impending Rapture. So they set off to find the misplaced Antichrist infant ... hilarity ensues.

Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
Wodehouse is one of the best British humorists of the 20th century. Well-intentioned, wealthy layabout Bertie Wooster always seems to get himself in trouble. It's up to his brilliant butler, Jeeves, to bail him out. It's a classic.

I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley
Crosley takes stereotypical tales of mid-20s life and turns them into hilarious vignettes with a sassy edge.

Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sing by Christopher Moore
A wild romp in whale researching with a boatful of wacky characters. It is thoughtful, irreverent. and hilariously funny.

Hatched! The Big Push from Pregnancy to Motherhood by Sloane Tanen
You're in for a treat if you’ve haven't been exposed to Tanen's signature chicks. She tackles the trials and tribulations of pregnancy and motherhood.

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Reprinted with permission from the Douglas County Libraries blog. The DCL blog augments the collections, services, and programs offered at Douglas County Libraries. It's the perfect resource for parents to find book recommendations for the kids, as well as finding something for themselves.


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