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 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Romance, Humor, Race / Racism


Publication year 1773

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Humor, Classic Fiction, Play: Comedy / Satire, British Literature, History: World, Drama / Tragedy

She Stoops to Conquer is a play by British writer Oliver Goldsmith, first performed in 1773. The play is a comedy of manners and a romance set in 18th-century England. Goldsmith was an Anglo-Irish poet and dramatist and this play is his most popular and well-known work, with performances still regularly occurring in the 21st century. In 1778, John O'Keeffe wrote a successful sequel to the play, entitled Tony Lumpkin in Town. She Stoops to... Read She Stoops to Conquer Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Disability

Tags Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Grief / Death


Publication year 1978

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Community

Tags Humor, Magical Realism, Education, Children's Literature, Education, Fantasy


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

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


Publication year 2014

Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Natural World: Animals, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1982

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Teams, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Humor, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Sports


Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Humor, Holidays & Occasions, Modern Classic Fiction

Skipping Christmas is a 2001 satirical novella by John Grisham. It tells the story of Luther and Nora Krank, a married couple whose adult daughter, Blair, moves to Peru a month before Christmas. Facing their first Christmas without their daughter, and disillusioned by the holiday’s excesses, they decide to forego Christmas that year and go on a cruise instead. However, their decision brings them into conflict with their friends and neighbors, who expect them to... Read Skipping Christmas Summary


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Irish Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor

Skippy Dies, published in 2010, is a tragicomic novel by Irish author Paul Murray. Murray originally wrote the novel as a short story before expanding it into a longform work of fiction, basing the Catholic boarding school where the book is set on the prestigious secondary school the author attended in Dublin.The novel was nominated for the longlists and shortlists of several distinguished awards, including the Booker Prize, the Irish Novel of the Year, and... Read Skippy Dies Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Community, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

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


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers

Tags Magical Realism, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Humor, British Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Slam (2007) is a young adult novel written by Nick Hornby. It tells the story of Sam Jones, a skateboarder who finds out that his girlfriend is pregnant when they are both 16 years old—his mother’s age when she had him. The novel explores themes such as Navigating Teenage Parenthood, How a Few Seconds Can Change Everything, and Relationships, Wisdom, and Growing Up.Nick Hornby is a renowned English writer known for his humorous fiction about... Read Slam Summary


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Bullying, Depression / Suicide, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance

David Lubar’s young adult novel Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie (2005) was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults in 2006 and a BCCB Blue Ribbon Book. Lubar, a computer programmer-turned-author, has published many books for young readers, including Hidden Talents (1999) and the Weenies series.The story follows 14-year-old Scott Hudson as he navigates his first year of high school with both hilarious and tragic results. Lubar’s novel humorously addresses coming-of-age issues such as changing relationships... Read Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

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


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Food, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Teams, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Education

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Bullying, Grief / Death, Trauma / Abuse / Violence


Publication year 2010

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

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

Smile by Raina Telgemeier is an autobiographical graphic novel and the winner of the 2011 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Teens. It originated as a weekly webcomic in 2004 before Telgemeier expanded it into a book in 2010. Telgemeier is the writer and illustrator, while Stephanie Yue is the colorist. Smile is a coming-of-age tale, set in a San Francisco suburb from 1989 to 1992, in which Telgemeier struggles with preteen life after losing... Read Smile Summary


Publication year 2013

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Science / Nature, Humor, Grief / Death, Biography


Publication year 1973

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Satire, Post Modernism, History: U.S., Humor, Classic Fiction

“Some of Us Had Been Threatening Our Friend Colby” is a short story by American author Donald Barthelme. Originally published in a 1973 issue of The New Yorker, it was later included in Barthelme’s 1976 anthology, Amateurs. The narrative follows the extended and absurd deliberation of a group of friends about how to hang their friend for committing an unnamed offense. With the friends embodying a range of logistical roles and viewpoints concerning the act... Read Some of Us Had Been Threatening Our Friend Colby Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Society: Class, Life/Time: Midlife

Tags Romance, Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness

Tags Romance, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Humor


Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

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

Son of the Mob is a young adult novel by Gordon Korman, published in 2002. It is a comedic adventure story that concerns a teenaged boy named Vince Luca, and his attempts to come to terms with his Mafia family.Vince’s life is a mixture of mundane teenaged concerns (girls, grades) and adult criminal activity. This is established in the first chapter of the book, when he takes a girl named Angela out on a date... Read Son of the Mob Summary