The stories are sometimes dark and darkly funny, and the situations range from that of a Sarah who is

This fun, darkly funny, feminist story about a retiring female team of elite assassins was the right

by Jen Beagin Jen Beagin's literary fiction novel is consistently bizarre, at times base, and often darkly funny as her characters alternately dive into and avoid facing the implications of their past traumas The dialogue is witty, odd, and often both cringe-inducing and darkly funny. The dialogue is exceptional in how real it feels--funny, heartbreaking, sometimes realistically without We All Want Impossible Things is heartbreaking and wonderfully strange, funny and full of love, and a

She is often exasperated and very funny. Newitz provides all three in a cozy story that charmed me through both funny and poignant moments. that's revealed) had me swooning, and their banter is sometimes grumpy, hesitantly vulnerable, and often darkly funny.

It's often funny and consistently charming, but never cloyingly sweet. this title. 05 Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth I loved the octogenarian main protagonist of Elsie and the darkly funny start to the book.

Sunny is a journalist in New York City, eager to escape his overbearing family home in India. Sonia falls into a destructive relationship with a volatile older artist, while Sunny is living with Sunny and Sonia are both ambitious but are struggling to envision their career paths. Sunny and Sonia were briefly the subjects of a matchmaking effort by their families. I listened to the 688-page The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny  as a 25.5-hour audiobook.

It's a little dark, consistently fascinating, sometimes funny, and very satisfying. Bardugo doesn't take the easy way out with the plot, and the dialogue here is funny and smart. It's dark and darkly funny, with twists, turns, and satisfying relationship growth. 04 The Folk of the

struggles; she is practical with her approaches to coping with various challenges; and she's often funny

I loved Sunny's body positivity and her self-made-woman status. Sunny Greene is a 35-year-old, recently divorced head of her own PR firm. The body-positivity in Sunny Side Up was a highlight, as was the group of Sunny's bright, supportive I loved Sunny's independence, savvy abilities, strong will, and, of course, her fashion sense. More about Sunny I received an audiobook version of Sunny Side Up courtesy of Libro.fm and   Macmillan

This is zany, heartwarming, often funny, and just lovely. Many of the key elements of her observations are placed in quotation marks, and this is a very funny, This was wryly funny, sometimes zany, and so very heartwarming.

I was highly entertained by the sometimes darkly funny, sometimes tragic A Thousand Ships. Through all of these accounts, Natalie Maynes offers frequently darkly funny moments and sometimes poignant In Steven Rowley's fun, funny, and heartwarming light fiction story The Guncle, aging former sitcom star

Sarah Rees Brennan offers a funny, dark, clever story within a story in which the heroes and villains This is so funny, sometimes dark, and it has lots of heart. For two other great books that take a sympathetic, darkly playful view of a villain, check out Hench

Maynes offers often darkly funny moments and sometimes poignant scenes showing unusual perspectives and

language and pacing is lovely, the World War II settings are exquisitely laid out, and the dialogue is darkly funny.

Book two of the series sees our septuagenarian characters each trekking their own paths while working cooperatively to solve a new mystery. They show vulnerability and strength, use their instincts and smarts to outsmart criminals, and grow. I laughed while listening to this one; Osman's series has me hooked. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim are septuagenarians feeling let down after the thrills, danger, and success of their first solved mystery (related in The Thursday Murder Club ). But things start getting interesting when a piece of Elizabeth's past is illuminated. Her ex-husband shows up, under the protection of fellow MI-5 spies, suspected of having stolen 20 million dollars' worth of diamonds and professing to still be in love with her. And someone has it in for him, which means danger for all. Not everyone is who they seem, and someone the group trust's may have let greed and deception compromise everything. I love that Elizabeth and the crew each have somewhat of their own individual paths in this installment, yet work cooperatively as in book one. Ibrahim turns inward and needs his friends to push him back to full form; Ron soars as he playacts and explores his tough-guy tendencies; and Joyce is more self-assured and independent than ever. Meanwhile, Elizabeth almost outsmarts herself as she explores who is not who they say they are, considers others' various layered motivations, works creative angles, and helps set up a grand finale. The group's friendship with local police officers continues, and the officers' private lives are beefier in this book as well (I liked the peek into their private lives and potential love interests). Meanwhile, Bogdan continues to steal the show character-wise with his gruff kindness to and friendship with the crowd and particularly Stephen, who has dementia; his handyman prowess and ability to get done anything needed; his unshakeable demeanor; and his complete loyalty. The main protagonists' tendencies and personalities have room to shine in book two of the Thursday Murder Club series, and Osman allows for vulnerabilities and also moments where the characters come into their own. Osman writes older characters with grace, not relying on archetypes but serving up poignancy, dialogue that made me laugh, and grand adventure that keeps his protagonists inspired and engaged. I listened to The Man Who Died Twice  as a library audiobook. More about This Series Richard Osman is an author and also a producer and television presenter. The Thursday Murder Club is a five-book series, and there's a film based on the first book. For my review of the first book in this series, The Thursday Murder Club , please check click this link .

please check out Dolly All the Time. 02 Night Night Fawn by Jordy Rosenberg In this wonderfully bonkers, darkly funny novel, a dying Jewish matron with rigid views and a litany of disappointments to share with those

In Meredith Hambrock's darkly funny, satirical novel, Jessamyn St. This is zany, heartwarming, often funny, and just lovely. This was wryly funny, sometimes zany, and so very heartwarming.

It's also often wryly funny. Festival Days. 03 You Have a Friend in 10A by Maggie Shipstead Shipstead's varied stories range from funny with an edge to darkly haunting. In You Have a Friend in 10A, Maggie Shipstead offers gripping, sometimes haunting, sometimes darkly funny

It felt important to be able to picture her likely and funny facial expressions as I heard her read this

Wellness is darkly funny, intriguing, and, at times, poignant. Land of Milk and Honey . 06 Good Material by Dolly Alderton Alderton's literary fiction rom-com is a funny Being with Jen list as well as a list of reasons why he's glad their relationship is over--tracing the funny

Kosta is candid, and his smirking sense of humor comes across in funny, sometimes cringe-inducing situations

Elliott's book for young readers offers a boy-crazy, truly funny main protagonist in Haylah Swinton. It's also truly funny, and I can't wait to read the next book.

The friendship between Ganymedes and dark-humored 6-year-old Grasshopper is funny and sweet, and I loved that's revealed) had me swooning, and their banter is sometimes grumpy, hesitantly vulnerable, and often darkly funny.

Click here   for my full review of You Are Here . 04 A Modern, Darkly Funny Mystery Listen for the Lie For my full review, please see The Ministry of Time . 06 A Funny, Steamy, Sweet Rom-Com Funny Story by Emily Henry Funny Story  is the perfect rom-com read. I listened to Funny Story  as an audiobook (narrated by the fantastic Julia Whelan). For my full review of this book, please see Funny Story .

Donovan Is Killing It, but The Maid offers more heartwarming connection, whereas Finley Donovan was darkly funny.

Wellness is darkly funny, intriguing, and, at times, poignant.

Hell Bent is clever and sometimes darkly funny, yet a somber undertone runs throughout it. This didn't make The Golden Enclaves the most darkly fun, deeply emotional, or captivatingly paced book

Six More Great Bossy Fantasy Reads I read lots of entertaining, imaginative, sometimes funny, fantastic Second: Starter Villain is playful, darkly funny, big-hearted, and wonderfully weird. This was playful, smart, funny, and weird.

In Meredith Hambrock's darkly funny, satirical novel, Jessamyn St.

As always, Black's characters show darkly funny humor and trade biting remarks, and creatures of all

This was funny, sweet, steamy, and poignant--a fantastic summer light-fiction read that I loved. The premise sounded like a slam dunk for me, and the reality of the book was a funny, poignant, banter-filled Hell Bent is clever and sometimes darkly funny, yet a somber undertone runs throughout it.

In Beautyland, Bertino offers a poignant, funny, strange story full of extraterrestrial observations Beautyland is strange, poignant, and funny.

She writes characters that are so funny, so poignant, so beautifully oddball, and so wonderfully open

Kuang This darkly funny story made me cringe while staying riveted by the main protagonist's deeply faulted apart, but in the decades to come, when one of them feels adrift and lost, they come together in sassy, funny

Her memoir is candid, poignant, funny, and always entertaining. Garg offers an honest, funny account of overcoming sobering challenges and determining her own destiny I laughed out loud repeatedly while I was reading this charming memoir by this strong, funny woman.

01 Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn This fun, darkly funny, feminist story about a retiring

The title may be a little self-conscious, but the book itself is darkly funny, with wonderfully paced

Croucher's young adult queer medieval adventure romance is sweet, spunky, and full of great banter, with characters finding their way (and love) despite complex challenges. "You aren’t merry," Clem said to her captor. "And you aren’t all men. So there’s been some marketing confusion somewhere along the line." Mariel is the bristly new captain of the Merry Men and is anxious to live up to the legacy of her grandfather, the retired Robin Hood (who now lives with his true love, William), and to make her hard-to-please father, who has wrested control of the Merry Men, proud. Clem is a jovial healer from the country who is advancing medical techniques and is sought out for her helpful salves and methods in a time of the outdated use of leeches and attempts to cure dark humors. Clem has only noble intentions of helping others, and she doesn't differentiate between those on the Sheriff's side and those on the Merry Men's side. When the Merry Men capture Clem in retribution for her help in healing the Sheriff of Nottingham, things get complicated for both Mariel and Clem in this sassy, fun, queer historical fiction young adult romance. Mariel is trying to find her way and keep her emotional walls up, while Clem's openheartedness seems determined to tear them down. The rest of the gang is fantastically spunky, tough, kind, and loyal--with nonbinary representation and lots of love. The group faces real challenges, and some characters don't make it through the battles and sometimes-messy plans-gone-awry. Consequences feel appropriately weighty. It's a young adult book, with lots of love and attraction but very little steaminess (none explicit), and it kept me hooked with the layers of emotional growth, the fights for autonomy, and the determination to build a new future. I am all in for Lex Croucher novels forever. The banter, the adventure, the medieval setting--yes yes yes. I received a prepublication edition of this book, which was published November 26, courtesy of NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. More from this author: Lex Croucher is also the author of the wonderful Gwen & Art Are Not in Love .

Here are my six favorite reads of the past month: a bitingly funny, poignant book of essays; a candid In and among these scenes, Sedaris shares strange, sweet, funny, pivotal moments with each of his living I love to laugh at Sedaris's darkly funny reflections about the world and society--and at his recognition Yet McCurdy is witty, often funny, and candid. With sections read by stars of The Good Place, Schur's How to Be Perfect is funny, interesting--and a

More Funny and Sweet Light Fiction Adorable rom-coms feel like the perfect summertime reading, and I've This was funny, sweet, steamy, and poignant--a fantastic summer light-fiction read that I loved. The premise sounded like a slam dunk for me, and the reality of the book was a funny, poignant, banter-filled It's perfectly charming, funny, quirky, and sweet, yet it deals with grief and fear, hope and forgiveness Better Than the Movies is funny funny funny and so lovely and sweet, I adored the whole story, the characters

Second: Starter Villain is playful, darkly funny, big-hearted, and wonderfully weird. This was playful, smart, funny, and weird.

here for my full review of Pretty Things. 04 Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn This fun, darkly funny, feminist story about a retiring female team of elite assassins was the right book at the right

Funny and Sweet Light Fiction Is it really summer without some great rom-com reads teed up and ready Romantic Comedy offers lots of funny, funny dialogue that delighted me. Ann Liang I was hooked by Liang's fake-dating, famous-everyday relationship duo setup, fantastically funny Ann Liang's funny dialogue, characters' various interpersonal challenges and victories, and messy family Win and Harriet's interactions, when they do begin communicating, are lovely and sweet and funny and

in the Machine. 02 Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir Gideon’s speech is modern and biting, there are darkly funny moments, and the friendships and loyalty resonate in a lovely way.

Sutanto's Vera Wong is playful, brusque, bossy, and connects an unlikely cast of characters, all murder suspects, into a heartwarming friendship that feels like family. Vera Wong is running a largely unvisited tea house, lamenting her grown son's lack of time for her, and grumbling about the new "French" bakery that's just opened down the street in Chinatown. When a dead body shows up in her tea house, Vera takes charge of the investigation of what only she is certain is a murder. She slips potential evidence into her pocket, gathers and questions those she thinks are suspects, and bosses around the police. Marshall, the deceased, was a petty, obnoxious, verbally abusive, selfish, belittling jackass. (It's not clear why anyone put up with him, but he is described as having been handsome and as having fooled absolutely everyone with a nice-guy act.) As the truth comes out about Marshall's activities and his final evening, it becomes clear that each character has a possible motivation for having offed Marshall, so to Vera, each is a potential killer. She throws dinner parties and facilitates get-together to study her subjects. And along the way, Vera's brusque truth-telling inspires an unlikely group of friends to form a special bond that's more like that of a family. This was absolutely my favorite part of the book. I can't help comparing this lighthearted fiction about the formation of a group of unlikely friends to another recent read of mine, The Lonely Hearts Book Club. In that book, I kept feeling stopped by wondering why the heck anyone would continue delving daily into the orbit of a brutally grumpy and unappreciative character. But in Vera Wong, while Vera is pushy she is also deeply caring, helpful, and serves as a connector--and the unlikable character in the story died before the book begins. I listened to the playful, heartwarming Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers as an audiobook, narrated by Eunice Wong. This was a fast read (listen), and while the denouement didn't completely hold together for me and the loose ends were tied up with extreeeeeemely tidy bows, the story was really about the relationships and Vera's coming into her own, and I adored these aspects. Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book? Jesse Q. Sutanto is also the author of Dial A for Aunties, Four Aunties and a Wedding, The New Girl, Well, That Was Unexpected, The Obsession, I'm Not Done with You Yet, and the Theo Tan series for young readers.

I laughed out loud multiple times; Kal is funny without trying too hard, and his tone is accessible even In and among these scenes, Sedaris shares strange, sweet, funny, pivotal moments with each of his living I love to laugh at Sedaris's darkly funny reflections about the world and society--and at his recognition Yet McCurdy is witty, often funny, and candid. This is a heartwarming, funny, poignant, sassy tribute to a life fully lived and to a determination love

For my full review, check out We Must Not Think of Ourselves. 06 Funny Story by Emily Henry Funny Story Henry offers funny banter that made me laugh, some steamy moments, and a sweet love story. I listened to Funny Story as an audiobook (narrated by the fantastic Julia Whelan). Second: Starter Villain is playful, darkly funny, big-hearted, and wonderfully weird. This was playful, smart, funny, and weird. Click here for my full review of Starter Villain.

01 Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn This fun, darkly funny, feminist story about a retiring audiobook and highly recommend immersing yourself in Michelle Obama's voice as she shares calm, wise, funny

This story within a story is playful and satirical while providing deep issues to contemplate. It's different and captivating and silly and sobering. How could we be readers, how could we be lovers of the impossible and the imagined, and not want to swell up with a new character, pull it onto land from a sea we made, and trick it by disappearing behind our hands? I've been so very excited for this book for ages, and I'm glad to finally be diving in! (See what I did there?) Penelope Schleeman is an English teacher struggling to make ends meet when her feminist novel American Mermaid becomes a bestseller. Penny is hooked on the promise of a big payday and leaves her teaching position in Connecticut to move to Los Angeles and turn her novel into a script. There is nothing mythological about this: Have you ever seen a mother spring up from a table when her child, two floors above, has a fall? Mothers move in the dark at night, while men fumble for the lights. But others' visions for the story involve her eco-warrior main character morphing into a teen beauty wearing a clamshell bra, wiping away her complex hero's dark motivations, and erasing much of what makes the story worth telling. Then mysterious threats and unexplained feminist changes begin appearing within the script, aimed at the writers who know how to make a shallow, profitable movie--but who are picking apart what made her novel sing in the first place. Penny begins to suspect that she has unleashed a power within her story that somehow allows her mermaid character Sylvia to manipulate the real world. Even the posed explanations don't fully hold water (I'm sorry, but I can't stop the puns), making the reader wonder about the nature of multiple mysterious occurrences. "You have to be like your namesake." "Penelope Gruber, my mom's best friend from growing up? I should be an eye doctor outside of Tampa?" "No, the original Penelope. From the Odyssey. Who undoes her own tapestry every night. Never finishes it. The men never get to possess her." This story within a story echoes back and forth with linking elements including explorations of power, femininity, and the weight of perception. The Penny-in-Los-Angeles storyline offers some hilarious (and often cringey) peeks at the world of movie-making as the script writers aim to ruthlessly distill the story to cinematic visuals rather than a tale buoyed (I know, I know) by substance and reflection. The excerpts from the book within a book of American Mermaid show glimpses of the novel that is the basis for Penny's trajectory--while digging into themes of climate change, greed, and dangerous assumptions about ability and motivation. The story culminates in tragedy or triumph, depending on your point of view. "Why does she have to be unconscious when she goes underwater? Why don't we get access to that? Can't a woman retain her clearheadedness even when she's doing battle?" American Mermaid is playful, yet there's a lot of meat on the bones of the often satiric story to dig into. It made me laugh and also made me think. (The imaginary blurbs in the Epilogue purely made me laugh--they're so disturbingly plausible and silly.) This is weird and wonderful, and I hope Langbein has more books in the works. I received an electronic version of this title, published March 21, courtesy of NetGalley and Doubleday. Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book? You can find other wonderfully oddball books I've read and reviewed here and here.

It's perfectly charming, funny, quirky, and sweet, yet it deals with grief and fear, hope and forgiveness And he's funny. And kind of cute. Too bad she's got her sights set on Michael. Michael is the plan, and all the funny, swoony, disastrous, ridiculous moments Liz and Wes are sharing Better Than the Movies is funny funny funny and so lovely and sweet, I adored the whole story, the characters