8 Funny Novels You Must Read In 2025

If you're looking to escape into pages that will have you snorting with laughter, clutching your stomach, or wheezing uncontrollably in public spaces, you've landed in the right place. Below is a list of 8 funny novels you must read in 2025. These books deliver relentless humor wrapped in compelling storytelling that will delight readers of all tastes.

1. The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

Kevin Wilson’s The Family Fang is a darkly comedic novel about performance art, dysfunctional family dynamics, and the fine line between brilliance and madness. Caleb and Camille Fang are famous performance artists who use their children—Annie and Buster—as props in public stunts. Now adults, the siblings are emotionally scarred and struggling with their own identities. When their parents go missing, Annie and Buster are drawn back into the chaos. Wilson’s storytelling is witty, weird, and wildly imaginative, delivering satirical brilliance with emotional depth.

2. The Princess Bride by William Goldman

The Princess Bride is a satirical fairy tale adventure that delights readers with romance, sword fights, and witty banter—all told with tongue firmly in cheek. Presented as an abridged version of a fictional classic, William Goldman infuses the story with meta-humor and playful commentary, making it as much a parody of fantasy tropes as a heartfelt homage. From the unforgettable Inigo Montoya to the hilarious Cliffs of Insanity, every page is filled with quotable lines and comedic twists. The Princess Bride is a brilliant blend of satire, swashbuckling, and laugh-out-loud absurdity, appealing to readers of all ages.

3. Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding

Told in diary form, it chronicles a year in the chaotic life of Bridget Jones—a single thirty-something navigating dating, dieting, and dysfunctional family dynamics in London. With biting wit and emotional honesty, Helen Fielding delivers a charmingly neurotic protagonist who’s as relatable as she is ridiculous. Loosely inspired by Pride and Prejudice, the novel captures the insecurities of modern womanhood with laugh-out-loud scenarios and memorable one-liners. Bridget’s awkward charm and self-deprecating humor have made her an enduring icon in comedic fiction.

4. The Portable Veblen by Elizabeth McKenzie

The Portable Veblen is a whimsical and wildly original romantic comedy that blends neurotic families, pharmaceutical conspiracies, and a possibly sentient squirrel. Set in Palo Alto, the novel follows Veblen, a quirky translator obsessed with Thorstein Veblen, as she navigates her engagement to Paul, a neurologist entangled in ethically murky research. McKenzie’s prose is clever, unpredictable, and laced with offbeat humor and biting satire. Through its eccentric characters and surreal moments, the book explores themes of consumerism, mental health, and love with a light yet meaningful touch. It’s a brilliantly strange, intellectually playful comedy for the literary-minded reader.

5. Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis

The story follows Jim Dixon, a disillusioned lecturer at a provincial university, whose professional and personal life are constantly derailed by awkward social blunders and absurd misunderstandings. Amis captures the suffocating stuffiness of post-war British society with venomous wit and sparkling prose. From drunken lectures to disastrous romantic entanglements, Dixon's misadventures are both cringeworthy and side-splitting. Lucky Jim remains a timeless, sharp-witted satire of institutions and intellectual pomposity, making it a beloved classic in the canon of dark, literary humor.

6. Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Maria Semple’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette is a sharp, witty mystery-comedy that explores the limits of genius and the absurdities of suburban life. Told through emails, memos, and documents, it follows teenager Bee as she investigates the disappearance of her mother, Bernadette—an eccentric architect and social outcast. The novel skewers tech culture, helicopter parenting, and upper-class hypocrisy with biting satire and emotional depth. Underneath the comedy lies a heartfelt exploration of creativity, family, and belonging. It’s clever, charming, and consistently laugh-out-loud funny.

7. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

Me Talk Pretty One Day is a brilliant collection of personal essays from humorist David Sedaris, chronicling everything from his childhood speech therapy sessions to his surreal experiences learning French in Paris. Each essay is tightly constructed with perfect pacing and punchlines that land every time. While not a traditional novel, the book’s cohesion and tone make it feel like a singular comedic journey. It’s a modern classic in humorous nonfiction.

8. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Graeme Simsion’s The Rosie Project is a quirky romantic comedy centered on Don Tillman, a brilliant yet socially awkward genetics professor who decides it’s time to find a wife. His solution? A scientific questionnaire designed to eliminate unsuitable partners. Enter Rosie, who fails every test—but might just be perfect for him. With echoes of The Big Bang Theory and Asperger’s syndrome thoughtfully woven into the story, Simsion delivers laughs with heart and humanity. A truly unique and charmingly unconventional love story.

Conclusion

From apocalyptic prophecies gone wrong to bumbling romantic misadventures, these funny novels are not just hilarious—they’re unforgettable. Reading them is more than just a good time—it’s an experience, a journey into the minds of authors who understand that laughter is one of the most powerful tools in storytelling. Add these to your reading list, and prepare for spontaneous laughter, joyful tears, and maybe a few strange looks in public.

If you're serious about diving into the world of funny fiction that truly delivers, start with any title on this list—and don't say we didn’t warn you when your face starts to hurt from smiling.