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Original poster

Recommendations for funny, uplifting books please 🙏🏻

58 replies

CanineJesus · 07/01/2026 22:31

I’ve recently read a few pretty heavy, depressing books (haven’t even finished one of them, gave up half way through) and I’m desperate to read something much lighter and funny. ‘Laugh on the train’ type of book.
any recommendations please? 🙏🏻

OP posts:
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Original poster
CanineJesus · 19/01/2026 11:58

Again, thank you everyone- I have a nice long list 😊

OP posts:
HelenaWilson · 19/01/2026 00:08

No-one mentioned Georgette Heyer? Light and witty and laugh out loud funny in places.

They are romances, but there's always a cast of secondary characters, often with their own stories going on.

Advent0range · 18/01/2026 23:50

Someone else's shoes by JoJo Moyes

Ophy83 · 16/01/2026 16:12

Bill Bryson - The Thunderbolt Kid (the diving board story!) and Notes from a Small Island are my particular favourites.

All the Jeeves and Wooster books.

Almondflour · 10/01/2026 20:29

My family and other animals - loved it :)

Dappy777 · 10/01/2026 13:23

P. G. Wodehouse: Right Ho Jeeves
P. G. Wodehouse: Joy in the Springtime
Douglas Adams: Hitchiker’s Guide
Brian Blessed: Absolute Pandemonium (listen to him read it if you can)
Patrick Fermor: A Time of Gifts

I also find Bill Bryson a very cheerful writer, so too Stephen Fry.

chattyness · 10/01/2026 11:28

I just came back to add Dead Lovely by Helen Fitzgerald as it just caught my eye on my bookshelf this morning. I couldn't put it down & I'm going to re-read it again soon.
This should have been made into a tv drama or film instead of The Cry which was slow & grim, Dead Lovely would have been much better viewing.

DarkEyedSailor · 09/01/2026 13:34

LittlePotteryBird · 09/01/2026 10:51

Oh yes, I’d forgotten! I loved High Rising and the descriptions of the son. 😂

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His moorhen poemGrin

LittlePotteryBird · 09/01/2026 10:51

DarkEyedSailor · 09/01/2026 09:30

Angela Thirkell, don't know if anyone has mentioned her?

Oh yes, I’d forgotten! I loved High Rising and the descriptions of the son. 😂

Shockhorror22 · 09/01/2026 10:30

I will definitely be following these suggestions up!
Also, I too would strongly recommend The Tent, the Bucket and Me - hilarious.
Short stories by Saki - some of them are quite dark but they are very funny.

rhubarblover · 09/01/2026 10:18

Autobiography, not fiction, but a strong recommendation for the Moon’s a Balloon by David Niven. Old but genuinely funny and great classic Hollywood stories.

Thingamebobwotsit · 09/01/2026 10:10

Great list. Also adding Bella Mackie, Caimh McDonnell - silly, fun and easy reads.

Mrs Benson's Beetle by Rachel Hodges (I think?)

MimiGC · 09/01/2026 09:54

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka - very funny.

flairyfairy · 09/01/2026 09:52

when I had exactly the same request someone pointed me to the Stephanie Plum series about a New Jersey bounty hunter. There are 30 plus and while quality drops a bit in later books, the first ones absolutely hit the brief. It starts with One for the Money.

BlueEyedBogWitch · 09/01/2026 09:49

LittlePotteryBird · 09/01/2026 09:10

I second Diary of a Provincial Lady, also agree about Bill Bryson and Adrian Mole.

I would like to add Diary of a Nobody. Surprisingly little has changed about human behaviour and what we find amusing in the 130 odd years since it was written.

Yes! I remember thinking when I read it that it could have been written yesterday. So funny.

DarkEyedSailor · 09/01/2026 09:30

Angela Thirkell, don't know if anyone has mentioned her?

LittlePotteryBird · 09/01/2026 09:10

I second Diary of a Provincial Lady, also agree about Bill Bryson and Adrian Mole.

I would like to add Diary of a Nobody. Surprisingly little has changed about human behaviour and what we find amusing in the 130 odd years since it was written.

Nyeaccident · 09/01/2026 08:27

BlueEyedBogWitch · 09/01/2026 05:10

Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny is very funny.

Oh yes I love her books well written and intelligent but also very funny

lavenderandlemon · 09/01/2026 07:59

The Diary of a Provincial Lady is hilarious.

If you enjoy a bit of romance, I find Emily Henry's books are well written and have a bit more substance than some.

AndMiffyWentToSleep · 09/01/2026 07:34

Ooh I’m saving this thread - it can be my new reading list!
I recommend Miss Petticrew Lives for a Day - a lovely lighthearted, happy book.

BlueEyedBogWitch · 09/01/2026 05:10

Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny is very funny.

JustOneMoreChapter · 09/01/2026 00:58

I didn't realise that Jane Austen's Juvenilia were so funny. I found myself laughing aloud a lot when I first read them. Some of the stories reminded me of Daisy Ashford's The Young Visiters and JA's History of England also made me think of 1066 and All That. Her childhood work helped me understand the humour in her adult novels much more and that was an unexpected bonus - I had a bit of an 'ah ha' moment.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 08/01/2026 23:57

Bridget jones and any Sophie Kinsella

Rainallnight · 08/01/2026 23:19

It’s non-fiction but all of the David Sedaris books make me laugh

ThankYouVeryMuchJerry · 08/01/2026 23:14

Agree with lots mentioned.
Unreliable Memoirs by Clive James is very funny