Find your next great read on National Humor Month by exploring my reviews of these hilarious YA books that will crack you up.
They say laughter is the best medicine. Well, with depression at an all-time high among teens, I recommend some funny novels to celebrate the lighter side of life. Reading stories won’t cure serious mental health issues, but sometimes a little levity can make you feel better and reach out for help.
Here is my list of hilarious YA books that will crack you up. They’re books about tough topics facing teens, but they also have protagonists who are just plain funny. I promise they will make you laugh out loud at times. I did.
The Future Unborn by Khristina Chess
“There is no place for the word twerking anywhere on your college application. Ever.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from The Future Unborn
So compelling! The Future Unborn grabbed and held my interest from the very beginning. What makes The Future Unborn so special is the contrast between the intense situation she finds herself in with the unplanned pregnancy and her “normal” challenges on a team of super-smart team of teen robotics engineers. There are a lot of funny moments. I loved seeing her journey and the brave choices she makes. The ending is a surprise!
You won’t want to miss this often lighthearted and funny YA book about teen pregnancy. Fans of Far from the Tree will enjoy this one. In fact, Khristina Chess is such a great author that she’s on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited because she’s all-around amazing!
It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
“Tentacles is my term—the Tentacles are the evil tasks that invade my life. Like, for example, my American History class last week, which necessitated me writing a paper on the weapons of the Revolutionary War, which necessitated me traveling to the Metropolitan museum to check out some of the old guns, which necessitated me getting in the subway, which necessitated me being away from my cell phone and e-mail for 45 minutes, which meant that I didn’t get to respond to a mass mail sent out by my teacher asking who needed extra credit, which meant other kids snapped up the extra credit, which meant I wasn’t going to get a 98 in the class, which meant I wasn’t anywhere close to a 98.6 average (body temperature, that’s what you needed to get), which meant I wasn’t going to get into a Good College, which meant I wasn’t going to have a Good Job, which meant I wasn’t going to have health insurance, which meant I’d have to pay tremendous amounts of money for the shrinks and drugs my brain needed, which meant I wasn’t going to have enough money to pay for a Good Lifestyle, which meant I’d feel ashamed, which meant I’d get depressed, and that was the big one because I knew what that did to me: it made it so I wouldn’t get out of bed, which led to the ultimate thing—homelessness.” ― Ned Vizzini, quote from It’s Kind of a Funny Story
That is the wonderful, funny, and utterly unique voice of the narrator of this novel, Craig Gilner, who has ambitious goals for his life but who also suffers from anxiety and depression. He’s trying. Really. But things like The Tentacles get in the way.
I loved this book! It is a humorous and hopeful novel about a boy whose suicidal episode sends him on a very interesting journey through an adult psychiatric ward in a New York City hospital.
This book is a must-read for anyone interested in YA novels about depression and anxiety and looking for hilarious YA books that will just crack you up.
Buy it. Read it. Ned Vizzini’s writing is masterful. It’s so incredibly sad that the author died from an apparent suicide.
Mosquitoland by David Arnold
“I call it Mim’s Theorem of Monkey See Monkey Don’t, and what it boils down to is this: it is my belief that there are some people whose sole purpose of existence is to show the rest of us how not to act.” ― David Arnold, quote from Mosquitoland
I loved this book! I’ve included it in my list of The Best YA Book Recommendations for All Ages (And Why), and one of the reasons is that the lyrical and often lough out loud funny voice of the narrator.
Mosquitoland is the story is about a girl named Mim Malone, whose parents have divorced. She’s living with her dad, who has custody of Mim and has remarried, but Mim runs away and rides a bus to Ohio to return to her mom.
This is a long journey where Mim (a young girl on her own) encounters a cast of diverse characters, dangers, and adventures. If you are looking for an unforgettable YA book about separation and divorce and how that impacts young people, let Mim tell you in her own voice. She has a lot to say.
If you’re looking for hilarious YA books that will crack you up, this fun coming of age novel belongs in your TBR pile.
The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
“We might as well make some trouble together.” ― Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson, quote from The Agathas
I absolutely love Kathleen Glasgow and all her books. The Agathas is a good read, and I could not guess who the killer was until the very end. I enjoyed the growing friendship between Alice and Iris, as well as the secondary cast of sidekick characters they brought onto the case. “Fun” is the adjective other reviewers have frequently used for The Agathas, and I can agree with that. Plucky Alice and sensitive Iris make a fun pair of sleuths.
I felt the book fulfilled its mission in its mystery genre, and if the characters and writing weren’t as lovely as Glasgow’s other books, that’s more of a byproduct of the category. Also, it’s a collaboration and my first glimpse into anything by Liz Lawson.
If you’re looking for an entertaining YA mystery that’s also LOL funny, you should definitely add The Agathas to your TBR pile. In fact, Kathleen Glasgow is such a great author that she’s on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited because she’s all-around amazing!
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
“We all have to find our own ways to say good-bye.” ― Sherman Alexie, quote from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Junior Spirit is a courageous boy who dares to leave the reservation, his school, and his best friend to seek a different life. His story is funny, heartbreaking, inspiring, and brave. I loved his quirky voice, his cartoons, and I cheered so hard for him in his basketball game.
This novel highlights the contrast between extreme poverty and wealth, as well as racial differences. These themes are handled with humor and sensitivity.
The writing in this book is delightful. It often makes banned book lists because of the profanity, but it will make you laugh out loud. That’s why you should read it immediately if you’re looking for hilarious YA books that will crack you up.
Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
“We used to be pretty good friends, but fourteen-year-old girls are psychotic.” ― Jesse Andrews, quote from Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
I loved this book. It was so comical, which is an odd thing to say about a book about a girl dying from cancer. But it’s true. It’s sad humor in the face of tragedy.
Greg and Earl are weird, unlikely friends and amateur filmmakers who manage to fly below the radar at school and enjoy their private world. Then Greg’s mom makes him reach out to Rachel, a childhood friend who has been diagnosed with leukemia and needs a friend.
Earl turns out to be the more compassionate of the pair, and the two of them set out to make a movie about Rachel. Their brilliant idea fails in execution and is the Worst Film Ever Made.
This wonderful novel is full of crude humor, heart, honesty, and surprises as Greg learns things about his long-time friend Earl, as well as himself, though this journey with the dying girl, Rachel. If you’re looking for hilarious YA books that will make you laugh out loud, Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl is definitely a title to add to your reading list.
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
“I just can’t believe that life would give us to each other,” he said, “and then take it back.”
“I can,” she said. “Life’s a bastard.” ― Rainbow Rowell, quote from Eleanor and Park
It's been a long time since I've encountered a novel that I literally couldn't put down. Eleanor & Park was one of those books. I loved every minute. I sat on the porch, on the couch, on the floor by the window... and devoured this book. I giggled. I sighed. It was a wonderful reading experience about first love. Sweet and heartbreaking and everything I wanted. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, humorous, romantic young love story.
The story unfolds from alternating points of view, both Eleanor and Park, as they fall in love over the course of one year. The dialog is witty, snappy, and fun. As a super-dreamy YA book about dating, intimacy, and sex, it will give you all the feels about falling in love for the first time with those awkward first telephone conversations.
Don’t miss this hilarious YA book that will crack you up and make you laugh out loud at times. I did.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
“I want to say yes, but I don't want to be with a boy whose heart belongs to somebody else. Just once, I want to be somebody else's first choice.” ― Jenny Han, quote from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Lara Jean is a super sweet adorable character, and even though the story seems like a common love triangle, there are enough twists to keep the pages turning. Plus, Lara Jean herself is such a star. She’s naive and on her own for the first time, and she’s making all kinds of mistakes. She’s basically a train wreck. I love her immensely. Two plot points surprised me, and I thought I had those wrapped up early on.
I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did, but I finished it in two sittings. Now I see why everyone’s been reading it! :-)
If you’re the last person on the planet to miss this one, you must go and read this comical YA book about dating.
BONUS: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
“Because while stupid people may not know they’re stupid because they’re stupid, surely unattractive people must know they’re unattractive because of mirrors.” ― Bonnie Garmus, quote from Lessons in Chemistry
Lessons in Chemistry is one of the best books I've read in a while. It made me laugh out loud on many occasions. Elizabeth Zott has a direct and no nonsense practicality about her that is so lovable. Her dog, six thirty, makes a delightful sidekick. That she teaches him almost 1,000 words (and the author gives him a point of view) is beyond wonderful.
Elizabeth's struggles for equality in a male-dominated world were poignant and emotional. She demonstrated great restraint and composure when it wasn't deserved. I felt grateful to women of her generation for the opportunities I enjoy today in the technology workplace.
Since Elizabeth Zott is an adult, this book does not technically fit my list of hilarious YA books that will crack you up. Still, it’s an inspiring, page-turning, and important book about women in technology and the challenges faced historically to make progress in this area. I highly recommend it to women of all ages.
Other Hilarious YA Books That Will Crack You Up
If you are looking for some other YA books that will crack you up, check out the YA Humor Books list on Goodreads. You might also be interested in my post Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of reviews of YA books.
Do you have any personal favorites to recommend to me? I’m always looking for another great read in this category.
Khristina Chess is the award-winning author of several YA novels about troubled teens turning corners. You can find her on Amazon, Goodreads, and Twitter as an active daily contributor in the #5amwritersclub.