This was unexpected in a good way. I was expecting an enjoyable but run-of-the-mill romantic comedy. Despite the romance plot (which I enjoyed—I’ll get to that), I didn’t think that the romance was the most prominent storyline until towards the end. Rather, I felt this was a story about Presley, her grief over losing her mother, the solace she and Susan found in their connection, and her journey of self-discovery. And then there is a love story, too. But it isn’t the love story I expected.

Susan Clark’s storyline appears on the surface to be included as a catalyst for Presley to meet other viable dating options (her son, Lawrence) and to connect about her late mother. Susan brings both of those to the book, but her character is experiencing her own story of love, loss, betrayal, and opening up. Her husband is the head of the network where Presley works, and he’s been caught up in his own #metoo scandal. The book doesn’t touch heavily on her husband, though. Susan needed someone to connect with as she processed what happened in her marriage, and Presley being the daughter of her best friend offered her a way to both connect with her friend, but also mentor a younger woman. They also connect over losing someone they cared deeply for. She also, of course, introduces her sons to Presley and becomes the family that Presley needed. Susan’s story doesn’t go where you think it will, and that is a positive thing. I appreciated the way it was left. It felt organic and healing, somehow.

I keep thinking of all the cheesy sayings about opening yourself up to new connections (when life closes a door… etc.) after reading this book. Despite rolling our eyes at the saying themselves, their message is true. We always have options, and sometimes it isn’t life that is trapping us, it’s ourselves. Presley is closed off in many ways, she has crafted a narrative about herself that she doesn’t do relationships. But does she actually believe this, or is it because of her crush on Adam?

I’d argue it is the latter, because we also don’t see Presley engaging in casual flings in the book. She isn’t looking to meet anyone as long as Adam is still an option (though she doesn’t admit this to herself until some tough love from her bestie, Izzy). Presley and Izzy’s friendship was authentic to being in your early twenties. They experience the complications that occur when close friends grow into their adult lives and relationships at different times and at different paces, and are finding their new normal. Issy was a serial dater, but finds herself with a girlfriend just as Presley is dealing with a tough relationship moment with Adam. I liked seeing their growth!

Thank you to Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for my copy. Opinions are my own.

I’ve had two close friends lose parents to alcoholism this year alone, so this book hit home in that regard for sure. I liked the age-gap friendship between Presley & Susan - an old friend of Presley’s mom who’s going through her own personal crisis and seeking connection. Their antics cracked me up and I found their friendship to be so sweet and believable. Presley’s unrequited love for a “bestie” coworker was so relatable as well and her overall job finding comedians for a late night show was interesting and fun. I love an NYC setting and this book is a great mix of depth and humor excellently narrated for audiobook. Cat Shook is quickly becoming an auto read for me.

I really really enjoyed this book. I love a good romance, but then you add in humor, and i'm sold. This book was just so golden. Highly recommend

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was a cute read, with well written characters, plenty of humor and a sense of realness. The narrator did great. I would read more by this author.

Presley Fry, a character entrenched in the routines of her assistant role at the Late Night Show. Her life, marked by a pragmatic approach to dating and a reliance on her lively roommate Isabelle for social engagements, lacks genuine connection. Yet, Presley finds joy in the world of stand-up comedy and the discovery of new comedic talent. Her life is further complicated by her grief over her mother’s recent death.And her life shifts with the introduction of Susan Clark, her mother’s childhood friend.

“Humor Me” balances humor and seriousness, capturing the essence of a woman finding her way through the intertwining challenges of career, love, and loss. Presley's journey is relatable and heartfelt, making this a compelling read for those who appreciate character-driven stories with emotional depth and a touch of humor.

A light fiction novel walking is through a young woman's journey to finding herself in her career, family, friendships, and love life.

A really cute audiobook. I enjoyed the characters, the nods to New York and the comedy scene. This was the first book I've read by this author. I really enjoyed their writing style. A good 4 stars from me! Thanks NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my gifted audiobook copy.

This one took me all week to finish. It was a slow start for me but then picked up in the middle. I wasn’t that much of a fan of Cat Shook’s previous novel, If We Are Being Honest l, but found Humor are way more enjoyable. I enjoyed the ending and finally found myself smiling and chuckling a lot more at that point. Maybe I was in a better mood towards the end of the week. Ferdelle Capistrano did a wonderful job with the narration which helped me get through the beginning parts. I wasn’t so much of a fan of Presley honestly but enjoyed the other characters in the novel.

A good read if you are looking for a novel with a little romance and a whole lot of NYC.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

What a great book!! I loved the story and the writing style. Such a good romcom! It was exciting from page 1! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would! My first for this author but will not be my last!

I listened to this on audio and I think it was a good choice! The writing is laugh out loud funny and I thoroughly enjoyed the witty banter. I enjoyed the comedy aspect as well as the New York setting. A fun, easy, laugh out loud read! My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a lot heavier than I thought it would be. Presley is working through her grief from losing her mom, who was an alcoholic. She befriends her mom’s old best friend from childhood, who is going through her own grief (and her own marriage issues). Presley has a significant relationship with her roommate and best friend, Isabelle. I loved their friendship.

"Humor Me" offers a refreshing take on the romantic comedy genre, blending workplace drama, personal grief, and the world of stand-up comedy into a smart, engaging narrative. Presley's journey from guarded assistant to finding genuine connections through laughter provides a compelling emotional arc, while the novel's exploration of unexpected friendships adds depth to the typical rom-com formula. The book's witty dialogue and insightful look into the comedy scene make it a standout in the genre, offering both laughs and touching moments as Presley navigates loss, love, and the healing power of humor.

Humor Me was supposed to be “a hilarious, heartfelt novel about the healing power of female friendship, unexpected love, and stand-up comedy.” Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. It started off with a lot of potential with several strong story lines available but instead it lacked a central plot focus and just had several small open ended story lines.

The MC, Presley, honestly annoyed/frustrated me. She’s a 25 year old planted in NYC as an assistant for a late night comedy show but she came off as more of an immature, jealous, selfish, dramatic, privileged high school teenager. I think it was intended for her to be written as a strong feminist but it felt like she was trying too hard and she came off as more angry and demanding to me.

I LOVE the cover of the book, it’s what originally caught my attention. I liked that there was a diverse group of characters, and enjoyed watching Susan and Presley’s relationship blossom. I also liked that we got to “hear” the comedian’s performance, as if we were there with Presley when she went to listen/interview them for the Late Night Show, I thought that was unique.

Sadly, I struggled to finish this one. I wanted to DNF it several times and probably would have if it weren’t for having an audiobook, however, it didn’t always hold my attention. The story lacked a strong plot, making it feel pointless and underwhelming. What really turned me off was the multiple comments/hints of political beliefs and opinions…I read to escape the stress and chaos of reality. Then to top it off, I made myself finish only to get a ridiculously abrupt ending that gave absolutely no closure to any of the story lines. I clearly wasn’t the targeted audience for this one.

2.5 Stars (rounded up)

I really enjoyed this book - there was a fantastic balance of humor and emotional depth. I loved the NYC setting, and the found family here. This book was both light-hearted and deep, and dealt with grief and substance use in a really unique way.

Humor Me by Cat Shook was a captivating and funny book that explored a young woman’s life while she lived and worked in the heart of New York City. It took place shortly after the death of her mother. Her grief was still raw, very difficult to talk about and dictated her all but nonexistent social life. Humor Me was character driven and was told in the first person POV of Presley Fry. I listened to the audiobook of Humor Me that was well narrated by Ferdelle Capistrano. This was my first time that I listened to an audiobook by this narrator. I enjoyed the performance very much.

Presley Fry was a twenty-five year old woman who had recently lost her mother. Even though, Presley and her late mother had not always been close or had the most ideal relationship, Presley missed her presence in her life. Her mother had suffered from alcoholism and was often emotionally absent from Presley’s life but Presley missed her mother regardless. She found it difficult to talk about her mother’s death and how her mother’s death was affecting her thoughts and emotions. Presley lived in a small apartment that she shared with her best friend Izzy. The two had been college roommates and then just continued the same arrangement when they both moved to New York City and secured jobs. Presley had come to depend on Izzy to help her navigate her social life. If Presley had been left to her own devices, her social life would have been nonexistent. Izzy and Presley were best friends and relied on each other for almost everything.

Presley worked as an assistant for a late-night comedy show. She loved her job and worked very hard at trying to impress her boss. Presley was trying to send the message that she was ready for a promotion. An assistant’s salary left a lot to be desired. Financially, Presley had to make sure that she was careful with her money. A promotion would improve her financial situation greatly. Presley had another best friend that worked with her. His name was Adam. Presley and Adam spent a great deal of time together both at work and outside of work. They spoke on the phone every night. Izzy and others constantly teased Presley that Adam had feelings for her. At first, Presley was adamant that she and Adam were just friends but at some point Presley started imagining what a relationship with Adam would look like. Perhaps they could be more than friends. She had to admit that she was developing feelings for Adam. Did Adam also have feelings for Presley? Presley allowed herself to picture a future with Adam in it. Would he feel the same way?

Around this time, Presley was offered the additional opportunity of finding up and coming stand up comedians for the comedy show she worked for. She was really excited about this new responsibility. It allowed Presley to attend comedy shows and preview new talent. Presley was in her element when she was doing this. At about this time, Presley randomly ran into an old friend of her late mom’s. Susan Clark had grown up with Presley’s late mother. When Presley first arrived in New York City, it was Susan Clark’s husband that had helped Presley secure the job with the comedy show. Presley was aware that there were rumors about inappropriate behavior circulating around Susan’s husband but Presley was hesitant to bring the matter up. Susan was so glad to have run into Presley. She was determined to make Presley a friend even though there was such a big age difference. What evolved between Presley and Susan was really special. This new friendship was just what both Presley and Susan needed. Presley also found herself in the position of finding a new and exciting romantic connection with the most unexpected person.

I really liked Presley’s character and admired the growth she showed throughout the book. Presley’s relationship with Adam proved to be a testament to Presley’s ability to stay true to her convictions and beliefs. I admired her for making her decision and sticking to it as hard as it probably was for her. The unlikely relationship that sprang up between Presley and Susan Clark was unexpected, fun and so special. If it was even possible, Izzy and Presley grew closer and more accepting of one another’s unique situations over the course of the story. They learned to support one another unconditionally and respect their choices. Humor Me was about friendships, ambition, mother/daughter relationships, acceptance and loss. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Humor Me by Cat Shook and recommend it highly.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to Humor Me by Cat Shook through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

I finished this book because I’m not a quitter haha but it really just wasn’t for me. Nor is the TV show Friends, if that tells you anything. I seem to be in the minority here, though, as most reviews are pretty glowing.

I did get as far as I did because of the audiobook. I loved the narration and I did laugh out loud at some of the funny bits throughout.

But overall the romance was lackluster and I just couldn’t get invested in the story. I found my mind wandering enough that when I came to I didn’t even know what was happening. Oh well, not every book is for every person amiright?

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, Celadon Books, and the author for the ALC and ARC editions in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I requested this book simply because it was compared to Curtis Sittenfeld's Romantic Comedy, which I adored. Beyond that, I went in a bit blind. There was one obvious similarity between both stories- women who work for comedy sketch shows, but that’s about the only glaring thing in common. That was ok, though, because Humor Me stands just fine on its own. It is much more contemporary fiction rather than a romance. There is a romantic storyline that is significant to Presley’s growth, but I think her story of letting go of romanticizing what might be with someone else is way more significant. After learning that she is being strung along by someone she has crushed on and cared for, she processes that this is absolutely unacceptable and sees it for what it is- cruel. This was undoubtedly my favorite part of the book. Her not allowing herself to be treated this way, but then also when she’s aware she may be guilty of this same behavior if she isn’t self-aware. This was character growth and maturity at its finest! But even as I said I considered her letting go of a previous desired relationship as a favorite point, it is still worth noting that the beginnings of a new relationship with Lawrence were very well done, believable and so easy to route for!

There is a very strong coming-of-age element not only present in her love life but as well as in her friendships. Through her deep grief over the loss of her mother, a relationship that was fractured, adding layers upon layers to her grief, she forms a friendship with an unlikely woman- a childhood friend of her mother's. Then, her best friend and roommate enters a relationship that pushes Presley into learning to navigate friendships when you have to share your person with someone else.
The contemporary fiction storytelling of a coming-of-agish vib, big city with professional comedy gave me Good Material by Dolly Alderton vibes.

My only real complaint about this audiobook was the narrator’s male voices just weren’t my favorite to listen to, otherwise I enjoyed it!

I really wanted to love this book. I even tried reading it as I had the audio and kindle versions. I just couldn't connect to it.

The plot sounded so good but I just wasn't feeling it.

I found it a little monotonal and the characters were a tad flat. It did get better in the last 1/3 but it wasn't enough to bring this book back from the brink for me.

The pace was slow too and I think that was one of the reasons it really didn't work for me.

it was a 3 star read for me but I think im in the minority.

Enjoyable read that was engaging from beginning to end.

Thank you to NetGalley aan the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was good, I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it but all in all it was a lovely read. Glad I spent the time reading it—it was a great listen.