Humour Books

Book SynopsisThe international bestseller from the author of Breakfast with Einstein Emmy is no ordinary dog. When adopted from the shelter by physics professor Chad Orzel, she becomes immediately fascinated by his work. Could she use quantum tunnelling to get through the neighbour’s fence? How about diffracting round a tree to chase squirrels? Or using virtual particles to catch bunnies made of cheese? Taking Emmy’s anarchic behaviour as a starting point, Orzel explains the key theories of quantum physics. From quarks and gluons to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, this is a uniquely entertaining way to unlock the secrets of the universe.Trade Review‘Elegantly approachable descriptions...with a refreshing emphasis on recent research. Highly satisfying.’ * Guardian *‘Sure to become a classic.’ * physicsworld.com *‘Quantum entanglement, quantum teleportation and virtual particles are all explained with the author’s characteristic lighthearted touch. Readers who've shied away from popular treatments of physics in the past may find his cheerful discussion a real treat.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘It’s hard to imagine a better way to grasp basic quantum physics.’ * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisReaders can discover all the foul facts about IRELAND, includingwhy wax models were captured and made Prisoners of War, which warriorswent to battle naked, and how to make yourself invisible.

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Book SynopsisAgent Moose, the best (worst) secret agent in the Big Forest, andhis slightly-more-intelligent sidekick Owlfred are on the case inthis full colour graphic novel containing three stories featuringa missing turtle, thefts to solve and mysterious flash floodsin the Big Forest.

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Book SynopsisDANGEROUS DISEASES coughs up the disgusting details of the sicknessesthat mankind has suffered from. Find out which brave nurse drankdiarrhoea, which scientist used eyeballs as food for bacteriaand why deadly cholera makes your skin turn blue. Redesigned ina bold, funky new look for the next generation of HORRIBLE SCIENCEfans.

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Book SynopsisSir Winston Churchill remains a British hero, lauded for his oratorical skill. He wrote histories, biographies, memoirs, and even a novel, while his journalism, speeches and broadcasts run to millions of words. From 1940 he inspired and united the British people and guided their war effort. Behind the public figure, however, was a man of vast humanity and enormous wit. His most famous speeches and sayings have passed into history but many of his aphorisms, puns and jokes are less well known. This enchanting collection brings together hundreds of his wittiest remarks as a record of all that was best about this endearing, conceited, talented and wildly funny Englishman. Also available in the series:(9781782433651) The Wicked Wit of Queen Elizabeth II(9781782435426) The Wicked Wit of Oscar Wilde(9781782435662) The Wicked Wit of Jane Austen

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Book SynopsisWINNER: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER READER AWARD FOR BEST TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR 2016WINNER: BOOKS ARE MY BAG READER AWARD FOR BEST AUTOBIOGRAPHY OR BIOGRAPHY 2016Twenty years ago, Bill Bryson went on a trip around Britain to celebrate the green and kindly island that had become his adopted country. The hilarious book that resulted, Notes from a Small Island, was taken to the nation's heart and became the bestselling travel book ever, and was also voted in a BBC poll the book that best represents Britain.Now, to mark the twentieth anniversary of that modern classic, Bryson makes a brand-new journey round Britain to see what has changed.Following (but not too closely) a route he dubs the Bryson Line, from Bognor Regis to Cape Wrath, by way of places that many people never get to at all, Bryson sets out to rediscover the wondrously beautiful, magnificently eccentric, endearingly unique country that he thought he knew but doesn't altogether Trade ReviewWarm, funny, thoughtful, sometimes grumpy. An absolute joy.+ in Country Life: I snorted with laughter…The Road to Little Dribbling is consistently and unendingly fabulous…I intend on buying a copy for everyone I know. * Clare Balding *Fans should expect to chuckle, snort, snigger, grunt, laugh out loud and shake with recognition…a clotted cream and homemade jam scone of a treat. * Sunday Times *Is it the funniest travel book I’ve read all year? Of course it is. * Daily Telegraph *There were moments when I snorted out loud with laughter while reading this book in public…He can be as gloriously silly as ever. * The Times *Bryson has no equal. He combines the charm and humour of Michael Palin with the cantankerousness of Victor Meldrew and the result is a benign intolerance that makes for a gloriously funny read. * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisFrom award-winning greetings card designer Rosie Made a Thing comes an invaluable handbook for all of those afflicted with adulthood'.It's not easy being a grown-up.From surviving ever-more apocalyptic hangovers, relationship niggles and endless laundry, to trying to stay healthy whenwellcake.But with this book, your besties and a big glass of wine, these tricky adult situations may be a little easier to navigate.If not, try adding some gin.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisJoin Don and Rosie in their next chapter together with the joyously weird and wonderful romantic comedy you''ll never forget . . .THE INTERNATIONAL MILLION COPY BESTSELLING SERIES''A wholly absorbing, vivid read that leaves you pining to be reunited with its characters every time you put it down - if you''re able to'' INDEPENDENT''Offers plenty more laugh-out-loud moments'' GUARDIAN ''Touching and entertaining'' MAIL ON SUNDAY''Hilarious'' EVENING STANDARD ___________ Can a man who loves order embrace chaos?Forty-one-year-old geneticist Don Tillman is living in New York City with his new wife Rosie.Sure, they''re incompatible on paper - yet when did love ever follow the rules?And after ten months and ten days of marriage, Don has accepted a little chaos into his carefully ordered life.But when Rosie announces she''s pregnant, Don panicsTrade ReviewAll three of the Rosie novels made me laugh out loud. Ultimately the story is about getting inside the mind and heart of someone a lot of people see as odd, and discovering that he isn't really that different from anybody else -- Bill Gates, 2020 Summer BooksWholly absorbing. Leaves you pining to be reunited with its characters every time you put it down - if you're able to * Independent *Don Tillman is the protagonist who keeps on giving. He is a gem, an empirical laser trained on human shortcomings, especially male ones, and even more especially his own. He is also utterly charming in his lack of guile and his belief in improvability . . . blissfully comic * Evening Standard *Simsion is very smart at negotiating the line between a satire of the whole modern baby-rearing neurosis and drawing intriguing characters . . . this book is an intelligent piece of fun * The Times *Offers plenty more laugh-out-loud moments * Guardian *Touching and entertaining * Mail on Sunday *Quirky and sweetly funny, you will want to join the Don Tillman fan club all over again * Sun on Sunday *Genuinely heartwarming, truly endearing, plenty of LOLs. You may end up a blubbing wreck * Heat *There is much to love in this comedy of errors * Sunday Express *If you loved The Rosie Project, I don't see how you could fail to love this funny, poignant sparkler of a novel too * Woman & Home *Equally heart-warming and hilarious * Good Housekeeping *The hilarious follow-up to The Rosie Project, one of the best novels I've read in ages. There's no sophomore slump here . . . It's a funny novel that also made me think about relationships. A sweet, entertaining, and thought-provoking book * Bill Gates *Prime deck-chair material * The Times 'Our Favourite Comic Novels' on The Rosie Project *

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Book SynopsisThe companion book to the entertainment show that has taken the UK by storm.

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Book SynopsisWhat if you had the chance to tell your hero just how much they meant to you?If Nick Drake came to my houseand knocked upon the doorI'm sure I'd be more happythan I've ever been beforeIn If Nick Drake Came to My House, Mackenzie Crook the creator of Detectorists and Worzel Gummidge explores the power of art to impact our lives, expressed through verse and image depicting an imaginary visit from the late, great singer-songwriter. A tender homage to a classic book by Joan Gale Thomas, Crook's first book for adults is infused with his characteristic warm humour, both in the short yet powerful story and his own beautiful illustrations. It's a book for anyone who has ever wished they had the chance to tell their hero how much they meant to them.

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Book SynopsisThe trouble which begins with Gussie Fink-Nottle wandering the streets of London dressed as Mephistopheles reaches its awful climax in his drunken speech to the boys of Market Snodsbury Grammar School. For Bertie Wooster's old friend has fallen in love with Madeline Bassett and, as usual, makes a hash of the affair until Jeeves comes to the rescue. In the meantime, Jeeves must also solve the mystery of the white mess jacket, while sorting out the lives of Bertie's cousin Angela, her mother, and her mother's French chef. In short, a normal working day for that prince among gentlemen's gentlemen in what must be a candidate for the name of the funniest novel in the English language.

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Book SynopsisThey sound like the Bad Guys, they look like the Bad Guys. . . Watch the fur fly as the world's baddest good guys take on two newadventures.

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Book Synopsis60 achievable adventures that celebrate the best of Britain and Britishness – must-do things that are on your doorstep rather than the other side of the world. If you want to ski off a cliff or swim with sharks, stop reading now. This book is about achievable adventures that celebrate the best of Britain and Britishness. The 60 mini adventures included are graded in difficulty from comically easy to mildly challenging, making them suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities. They include the most beautiful place to go for a stroll, the easiest place for a wild swim and, more importantly, the most spectacular place to have a cup of tea. Not to mention flying in a Spitfire and finding delicious food among the hedgerows. So what's on this Great British Bucket List? Well, a host of alternative UK adventures to get you out of the house. From fossil hunting on the Jurassic coast to forest bathing in Standish Woods, family-friendly music festivals to spectacular walks and lazy picnic hotspots, this essential guide is packed with must-do experiences. Discover the world of luxury eco-glamping in Devon and Suffolk. Book your tickets for the Minack, Cornwall's world famous open-air theatre. Follow in the footsteps of the Kinder Scout mass trespass in Dark Peak, or go canoeing down the Wye Valley in Wales. Besides old favourites, such as Stonehenge and Westminster Abbey, readers will find a bucket list bursting with suggestions for pleasant days out at some of the National Trust's historic houses. Whether you're luxuriating in Sissinghurst's famous gardens or moseying around Fountains Abbey, you're sure to have a uniquely British adventure.

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Book SynopsisWhy did the banana go to the doctors? Because he wasn't peeling very well! Proving the age-old maxim that ‘it’s in the way that you tell them’, Dads – for the best part of forever – have always been renowned for being truly god-awful joke tellers. Whether it’s telling them at the wrong moment, misremembering the punchline or it just simply being one of those jokes that were terrible to begin with, Dads are an embarrassment to the whole family when it comes to trying to tell jokes. The VERY Embarrassing Book of Dad Jokes is full to the brim with jokes that only your dear old Dad would dare say – jokes that will make you groan, sigh … and then probably make you groan again. Dads take great pleasure in these kinds of jokes and some of them are so rubbish they actually blossom into proper rib-ticklers – but don’t tell your dad that, it’ll only encourage him!

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Book Synopsis''Maths at its most playful and multifarious'' Jordan EllenbergMatt Parker, author of the No.1 bestseller Humble Pi, takes us on a riotous journey through the possibilities of numbers Mathematician Matt Parker uses bizarre Klein Bottles, unimaginably small pizza slices, knots no one can untie and computers built from dominoes to reveal some of the most exotic and fascinating ideas in mathematics. Starting with simple numbers and algebra, this book goes on to deal with inconceivably big numbers in more dimensions than you ever knew existed. And always with something for you to make or do along the way. ''The book oozes with sheer joy'' New Scientist''Matt Parker is some sort of unholy fusion of a prankster, wizard and brilliant nerd - clever, funny and ever so slightly naughty'' Adam Rutherford, author of Creation''Matt Parker never got the memo about maths being boring ... he seeks to reconnect us to the numbers around us'' Simon Usborne, Independent''Essential reading'' ObserverTrade ReviewAn unusual, in-depth but highly accessible popular-maths book by a member of the London Mathematical Society who also has a sideline in stand-up comedy -- Books of the Year * Economist *Matt Parker is some sort of unholy fusion of a prankster, wizard and brilliant nerd - clever, funny and ever so slightly naughty -- Adam Rutherford, author of CREATIONEssential reading * Observer *Matt Parker is a lovely, funny, big, dork -- Ben GoldacreShows off maths at its most playful and multifarious, ranging from classics like knot theory and ruler-and-compass constructions to more whimsical topics like the topology of beer logos and error-correcting scarves -- Jordan Ellenberg, author of HOW NOT TO BE WRONGThis is the best book on recreational mathematics since Martin Gardner's My Best Mathematical and Logic Puzzles -- Harold D. Shane, Mathematics Emeritus, Baruch Coll., CUNY * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisBest friend to Charlie Brown, brother to Lucy, lovable Linus shares his outlook on life in this beautifully produced gift book for all generations. In his incomparable style, Linus spends his days fiercely protecting his security blanket, dodging the insults of his big sister, considering the flavour of his thumb and waiting for the Great Pumpkin to finally appear. For the millions of faithful Charles Schulz fans, and those who fondly remember this philosophical little boy with his blanket, this new series of books sees the beguiling Peanuts gang share their sentiments on everything from food to friendship.Trade ReviewI became obsessed . . . It's hilarious. We all went to school with a Lucy, or a Linus -- JUDE LAWIt's impossible to think of another popular art form that reaches across generations the way the daily comic strip does . . . at the pinnacle of that long tradition, there was Charles Schulz * * Seattle Times * *The world of Peanuts is a microcosm, a little human comedy for the innocent reader and for the sophisticated -- UMBERTO ECOCharles Schulz was, plain and simple, a great artist and philosopher . . . But most importantly, he teaches all ages that if you can learn to laugh at the things that cause you the most pain you will be the strongest of all. Peanuts: a real way of life -- JOHN WATERSCharles Schulz was an American treasure - an artist, philosopher, and keen observer of human life -- BILL CLINTON

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER. ORDER THE HILARIOUS BOOK FROM TIKTOK AND INSTA SENSATION HAYLEY MORRIS, NOW!_____'An insightful, intimate account of modern life that is a joy to read, with shades of Dolly Alderton's Everything I Know About Love.' - Scarlett Sangster, iNewsBrain: We left the oven on!Me: No don't say that, I've not got time for this!Brain: The house is probably on fire!Me: Stop it, I need to write this book description.Brain: But the blazing fire.Me: We didn't even use the oven today.Brain: But what if -Me: No. We're not doing this, I'm finishing this description.Hello there! Hayley Morris here. Or you might know me as the Brain Girl, and don't be fooled...it's not because I'm outrageously smart. Just an avid overthinker. I'm on a mission to prove once and for all that You. Are. Normal. Running through imaginary arguments whilst showering, hiding your knickers in the nurse's office before they look directly into your vagina, or not knowing how to be a normal human when you have the plumber over. I've spent the majority of my life saying and doing embarrassing things that wake me up in a cold sweat at 3am as my Brain reminds me of every minor detail.In this book, I've overthought absolutely everything so you don't have to. I'll be talking about everything from dating to discharge, mental health to menstrual cups. I might not be able to banish your anxiety or make you feel 100% comfortable in your skin, but I hope I can at least give you a break from the constant brain chatter and we can rejoice and laugh at how similar we actually all are.DON'T OVERTHINK IT. ORDER NOW.'Hilarious...I absolutely loved this book! I almost wet myself from laughing!' Dr Amir KhanTrade ReviewCalling all avid overthinkers, this funny and honest book is here to give you a break from the constant brain chatter. * Stylist *Hilarious...I absolutely loved this book! I almost wet myself from laughing! * Dr Amir Khan *Hayley Morris's debut is a fresh, very funny take on 21st-century high-functioning anxiety... an insightful, intimate account of modern life that is a joy to read, with shades of Dolly Alderton's Everything I Know about Love -- Scarlett Sangster * iNews *A fresh, laugh-out-loud take on 21st-century high-functioning anxiety, Hayley Morris's honest and easy-to-read debut is a joy. It's a zeitgeist novel for our times, exposing just how normal it is to feel abnormal... Morris' insightful narrative to modern life feels like confessing to a best friend. Hayley Morris is most definitely an author to watch. * Press Association *TikTok's funniest comedian * Sunday Times (praise for online content) *

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Book SynopsisDo you need to quit golf? Take a short quiz! Danny Cahill will make you laugh and nod with recognition in his latest book (part social satire/ commentary; part clever psychological study) about the game of golf and its intoxicating hold on those who love it.

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Book SynopsisThe second set of books collecting Bill Watterson's timeless Calvin and Hobbes comics in a new portable format designed to introduce the timeless adventures of a boy and his stuffed tiger to a new generation of readers. Featuring nearly 500 comics presented chronologically from March 1987 to July 1988, this is the second set in a planned series of seven.Calvin and Hobbes is one of the most popular comic strips of all time. The imaginative world of a boy and his real-only-to-him tiger first appeared in 1985 and could be read in more than 2,400 newspapers when Bill Watterson retired on January 1, 1996. This compact, portable new format will fit easily into backpacks as well as on the collector's shelf. Featuring archival slipcase and cover art selected by the author, The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium pays tribute to the strip's origin in newspapers while appealing to both new and exist

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER80TH BIRTHDAY EDITION - NOW WITH 10 NEW TALL TALES!'Connolly's raucous run through his life is as furious, funny and foul-mouthed as you'd expect' Sunday TimesIn December 2018, after fifty years of belly-laughs, energy and outrage, Billy Connolly announced his retirement from live stand-up comedy. It had been an extraordinary career.When he first started out in the late sixties, Billy played the banjo in the folk clubs of Scotland. Between songs, he would improvise a bit, telling anecdotes from the Clyde shipyard where he'd worked. In the process, he made all kinds of discoveries about what audiences found funny, from his own brilliant mimes to the power of speaking irreverently about politics or explicitly about sex. He began to understand the craft of great storytelling. Soon the songs became shorter and the monologues longer, and Billy quickly became recognised as one of the most exciting comedians of his generation.Billy's routines always felt spontaneous. He never wrote scripts, always creating his comedy freshly on stage in the presence of a live audience. A brilliant comic story might be subsequently discarded, adapted or embellished. A quick observation or short anecdote one night, could become a twenty-minute segment by the next night of a tour.Billy always brought a beautiful sense of the absurd to his shows as he riffed on his family, hecklers, swimming in the North Sea or naked bungee jumping. But his comedy can be laced with anger too. He hates pretentiousness and calls out hypocrisy wherever he sees it. His insights about the human condition have shocked many people, while his unique talent and startling appearance on stage gave him license to say anything he damn well pleased about sex, politics or religion. Billy got away with it because he has always had the popular touch. His comedy spans generations and different social tribes in a way that few others have ever managed.Tall Tales and Wee Stories brings together the very best of Billy's storytelling for the first time and includes his most famous routines including, The Last Supper, Jojoba Shampoo, Incontinence Pants and Shouting at Wildebeest. With an introduction and original illustrations by Billy throughout, it is an inspirational, energetic and riotously funny read, and a fitting celebration of our greatest ever comedian.Trade ReviewA read that entirely fits the personality of the extreme personality who wrote it, Connolly's raucous run through his life is as furious, funny and foul-mouthed as you'd expect. His stand-up knack for easy storytelling shines through * Sunday Times *A read that entirely fits the personality of the extreme personality who wrote it, Connolly's raucous run through his life is as furious, funny and foul-mouthed as you'd expect. His stand-up knack for easy storytelling shines through * Sunday Times *Wild and whirling . . . it reads like a talking book * Observer *Wild and whirling . . . it reads like a talking book * Observer *Connolly's writing is so much like his speech you can hear him as you read. * Evening Standard *Connolly's writing is so much like his speech you can hear him as you read. * Evening Standard *A glorious memoir full of insights into the funnyman's life and career. Hilarious. * Prima *A glorious memoir full of insights into the funnyman's life and career. Hilarious. * Prima *The Big Yin Bible * The List *The Big Yin Bible * The List *A very humorous read * Daily Stock Dish *A very humorous read * Daily Stock Dish *One of stand-up's great naturals. No one told a story better. * Guardian *One of stand-up's great naturals. No one told a story better. * Guardian *Raucous and side-splitting * Yours *Raucous and side-splitting * Yours *Wry, sometimes sacrilegious, often absurd and outrageously funny * The Senior AU *Wry, sometimes sacrilegious, often absurd and outrageously funny * The Senior AU *Gloriously, unashamedly peppered with swearing, bodily functions and drunken behaviour . . . you will laugh, guffaw and snort your way through this remarkable book * The Wee Review *Gloriously, unashamedly peppered with swearing, bodily functions and drunken behaviour . . . you will laugh, guffaw and snort your way through this remarkable book * The Wee Review *Bracingly sweary, robustly rude and brilliantly original, this is essential reading for fans of the Big Yin. * Daily Mail *Bracingly sweary, robustly rude and brilliantly original, this is essential reading for fans of the Big Yin. * Daily Mail *This book brings together the best of his stories...and offers something of a potted history of a life of spontaneous performance on stage. * Irish Independent Review *This book brings together the best of his stories...and offers something of a potted history of a life of spontaneous performance on stage. * Irish Independent Review *

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2019, Diary of a Somebody is a unique mix of poetry and diary by the unofficial Poet Laureate of Twitter, the enigmatic Brian Bilston.'If you like a) laughing or b) words which rhyme with each other, you will love Brian Bilston' - Richard Osman, author of The Thursday Murder Club‘Nobody must find out about this unique gem, because I’m giving it to EVERYONE, and I want to appear clever and discerning.’ – Dawn FrenchIt’s January 1st and Brian Bilston’s life needs to change. His ex-wife has taken up with a new man, a motivational speaker and marketing guru to boot; he seems to constantly disappoint his long-suffering son; and at work he is drowning in a sea of spreadsheets and management jargon.Brian's resolution is to write a poem every day; poetry will be his salvation. But there is an obstacle to his happiness in the form of Toby Salt, his arch nemesis in the Poetry Group and rival suitor to Liz, Brian’s new poetic inspiration. When Toby goes missing, Brian is the number one suspect.Part tender love story, part suburban murder mystery, part scathing description of a wasted life, and interspersed with some of the funniest poems about the mundane and the profound, Diary of a Somebody is a unique, original and hilarious novel.‘Glorious. I will be astonished if I read a more original, more inventive or funnier novel this year.’ – Adam Kay, author of This is Going to Hurt.Trade ReviewNobody must find out about this unique gem, because I’m giving it to EVERYONE -- Dawn FrenchGlorious. I will be astonished if I read a more original, more inventive or funnier novel this year. -- Adam KayAchingly funny. Without doubt it should win next year's Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize for the best comic novel, even if my own novel is in contention as well -- Jonathan CoeIf you like a) laughing or b) words which rhyme with each other, you will love Brian Bilston -- Richard OsmanNot since Victoria Wood has a writer squeezed so much hilarity from a biscuit. * The Oldie *How do I laugh at thee? Let me count the ways . . . If you like sub-Carry On puns, clever parodies of famous poems and Wittgensteinian meditations on language, you’ll love it * Mail on Sunday *The midlife answer to Adrian Mole? It's a big comparison to make, in comic novel terms, but Brian Bilston - parodist and 'poet laureate of Twitter'- is worthy . . . Laugh. Cry. Cringe. * Stella Magazine, Sunday Telegraph *He has a knack for playing with language but his poems are accessible, witty and touching . . . In fact I rather regretted reading it over just a couple of days - it would have been better to take longer and saver it. -- Kirsty McLuckie * The Scotsman Magazine *A welcome reminder of the joy to be had when you put yourself in the hands of someone who knows their way round both a joke and a bittersweet narrative . . . Funny and ingenious * The Times *In a similar way to Morrissey and John Cooper Clarke, [Bilston] has the ability to make the mundane both funny and beautiful – whether that's taking out the bins or procrastinating on Twitter . . . A must-read for anyone who is a fan of wordplay, puns, The Smiths and custard creams. -- Dominic Kearney * Irish News *The English comic novel, whose death this year was announced prematurely, is actually alive, well and in the safe hands of Brian Bilston -- Jonathan Coe * The Times *Highly original, genuinely funny and clever, with a gentle humanity in between the lines. Brian Bilston should be Poet Laureate -- John O'FarrellBilston is the greatest English anti-hero of our time. His poems have delighted people on Twitter for several years, and now he's treated us to this brilliant novel . . . This book has everything you want from a comic novel . . . Brian Bilston is real. And I love him * Spectator *The pseudonymous Brian Bilston turns the base metal of comic verse into gold . . . Imagine a mash-up of John Cooper Clarke, Ed Reardon’s Week and James Joyce, and you’re about halfway there . . . Bilston is a magician with words . . . Read this novel in short bursts, pausing to savour its individual brilliancies * Guardian *Brian Bilston is bringing poetry to the masses . . . topical, witty, thoughtful * Irish Times *Brian Bilston is a laureate for our fractured times, a wordsmith who cares deeply about the impact his language makes as it dances before our eyes -- Ian McMillanOne of the funniest novels in years . . . It also has genuine heart - and scores of poems so witty and accomplished that, in the real world, their author would surely be as famous as, well . . . I predict that Brian Bilston will soon be * Reader's Digest *Part John Cooper Clarke, part Frank Sidebottom . . . brilliant * Esquire *Bilston is no stranger to crafting cleverly composed poetry * Huffington Post *Word play, laugh-out-loud poems and the deft skewering of office life are part of the fun in this brilliant comic debut. -- Eithne Farry * Sunday Express *In 1892, George and Weedon Grossmith published The Diary of a Nobody, now a classic of comic writing. In 1978, Christopher Matthew updated the idea. Now Brian Bilston brings us another Diary of a Somebody and it's as fun as its predecessors. -- William Hartston * Daily Express *This fun, charming novel is a fine showcase for Bilston’s irrepressible creativity . . . It’s all done with wit, playfulness and a sense of amused wonder at the possibilities and idiosyncrasies of the English language, with the occasional groanworthy pun seeming like a price well worth paying. -- Alastair Mabbott * Herald *Bilston has perfected his comic voice, which brings to mind a bitter man-child with spades of misanthropic charm and a dash of Alan Partridge-esque pedantry. This is a comic novel of the highest order. * Literary Review *An original, imaginative and funny book. * Daily Mirror *Part murder mystery, mainly great comic novel. * "What We're Reading", i *Charming, funny and touching. -- Ian Rankin * First Printing *The midlife answer to Adrian Mole? It’s a big comparison to make, in comic novel terms, but Brian Bilston is worthy. In Diary of a Somebody, Brian makes a New Year’s Resolution to write a poem a day for a year. Hilarious results ensue, as well as the disappearance of a poetry (and love) rival. Laugh. Cry. Cringe -- Stella Magazine * Sunday Telegraph *Sparkling with wit, intelligence and humanity. -- Jonathan Coe * First Printing *

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Book SynopsisDavid Nobbs was born in Kent. After university, he entered the army, then tried his hand at journalism and advertising before becoming a writer. A distinguished novelist and comedy writer best known for The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, David Nobbs was acknowledged by his peers as a comic genius. He died in August 2015.Trade Review"A delicious entertainment, as comic and as sharp as they come" Guardian "The funniest character ever to emerge from the world of the commuter" Daily Express "David Nobbs's The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin is hilarious from start to finish and boasts an undercurrent of poignant seriousness. I would urge anyone who hasn't read it to do so." -- Nicholas Royle

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Book SynopsisJasper Fforde's Sunday Times bestselling new fantastical satire: what happens when a family of human-sized, human-like rabbits moves in next door?Trade ReviewA serious minded comedy * Mail on Sunday *A political satire cloaked in Fforde's trademark bizarre whimsy, the novel reads like a crazed cross between Watership Down and Nineteen Eighty-Four. * Guardian *Fforde's engaging writing has created a story that is a clever blend of the biting allegorical satire we expect from Orwell's greatest hits and the good-natured adventures of Michael Bond's naïve and kind-hearted Paddington Bear. * SciFi Now *Jasper Fforde's most chilling and realistic book yet * Guardian *The Constant Rabbit is designed to shake readers out of that complacency: to recognise that merely holding liberal values is not enough to prevent the quickening advance of racism and xenophobia in this country. * Financial Times *It's huge fun too, with all the inventive wordplay, impeccable worldbuilding and fiendish plotting that Fforde's "Constant Readers" have come to expect. * SFX *Fuelled by Fforde's trademark wit, imagination and brilliantly bizarre world-building... You won't read anything quite like this in 2020 - or beyond that too. * CultureFly *Sheer inventiveness, wit, complexity, erudition, unexpectedness and originality * The Times *A born wordsmith of effervescent imagination * Independent *Forget all the rules of time, space and reality; just sit back and enjoy the adventure * Telegraph *Brilliantly funny . . . His relentless imagination and his affection for his characters are contagious and irresistible * New York Times *True literary comic genius * Sunday Express *Reading a Fforde novel feels like taking off on a magic carpet, only to be picked up by another and another and taken on new flights of fantasy . . . you just sit back and enjoy the ride * Scotsman *Jasper Fforde's entertaining, surprisingly thoughtful yet fleet-footed new book-a standalone novel with a climax so dramatic, irrevocable, perfect yet unpredictable that it seems impossible to extend the book to a series-is the comedic master's foray into this thematic realm. It is, as one might expect, by turns droll and hilarious, poignant and cruel, hopeful and despairing. In other words, a true comedy in depth, a form that is not mere mindless japes and slapstick, but one which counsels us that if we don't laugh, we must cry. * Locus *An astonishingly well-crafted work of social and political satire * Kirkus Reviews *Lovely little satire...wonderfully imaginative and very funny. * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisThe best dad joke book you'll ever read. Yes, it's that bad. As the ancient adage goes, 'A good dad joke is as bad as a bad dad joke'. On that fuzzy logic alone, 100 per cent of the 180+ dad jokes in this book are pure comedy gold. The jokes included in this tiny tome are revered by dads all over the world – that's how bad they are. Some jokes are old, some are new, some are unrepeatable – but all of them are worn out and tired. If you're a dad, you'll love them. If you're buying it for your dad, don't worry, the book is little for a purpose: should the urge to throw it down the toilet arise, it'll fit in one flush. Like dads themselves, these dad jokes are absolute stinkers. They haven't showered or gone to the gym in a while and, due to bloating, haven't seen their funny bones in a long time. But, like dads themselves, you'd miss them if you didn't hear them every once in a while. They are loveable in their own charming way. But, remember, don't eat all these jokes at once – you'll have a severe nervous breakdown. You have been warned! Table of ContentsClassic Dad Jokes • Punderful Dad Jokes • Awkward & Embarrassing • The Best of the Worst • The Worst of the Best • Badly Behaved Dad Jokes • Just Plain Bad.

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Book SynopsisFrom bestselling author Terry Pratchett, everything you need to know to identify the real, unadulterated cat.The Unadulterated Cat is becoming an endangered species as more and more of us settle for those boring mass-produced cats the ad-men sell us - the pussies that purr into their gold-plated food bowls on the telly. But the Campaign for Real Cats sets out to change all that by helping us to recognise a true, unadulterated cat when we see one. For example: real cats have ears that look like they''ve been trimmed with pinking shears; real cats never wear flea collars... or appear on Christmas cards... or chase anything with a bell in it; real cats do eat quiche. And giblets. And butter. And anything else left on the table, if they think they can get away with it. Real cats can hear a fridge door opening two rooms away...Trade Review'An extremely funny little tome, purrfect (sorry) for anyone who lives at the mercy of Felis Catus' VENUE

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Book SynopsisAdd a touch of playfulness to your practice with the adorable cat tarot cards of Mystic Cats Tarot. From illustrator and designer Michelle Romo, this cat tarot deck is the purr-fect addition to any tarot toolkit.TheMystic Cats Tarotdeck is full of adorable kitties, frogs, rainbows, and more.

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Book SynopsisA laugh-out-loud 'best of' selection of TommyInnit's most weird and wonderful quotes - plus much more - carefully selected to BLOW YOUR MIND by him and best friend Wilbur Soot.'Nah, I think I'd be a pretty bad shark''What if God was just legs?' 'We're really just chilling, fellas'Born sometime in the early 2000s, TommyInnit's first job was a YouTuber. No, really, we're not joking, the very first job he had was a YouTuber. For the last three years, he's been mouthing off on the internet to anyone who will listen. So far, that's over 40 million followers. Will there ever be an end to TommyInnit's rampant flurry of success? Probably.And Wilbur Soot has been right by his side. Wilbur first started his career as a young man staring at the wall until he also became a YouTuber. He also discovered a little activity some may call 'singing'.In The Quote Book, TommyInnit covers a wealth of topics from cars-that-grow-teeth to slime people, and from things that be crazy to octopi. Curated and edited by Wilbur Soot, TommyInnit is about to change your life one word at a time. Unless, dear reader, you read two words at a time, like he does.Featuring: A day in the life Inside TommyInnit's brain What TommyInnit would do if he was God Life advice from Wilbur Love poetry and history lessons, TommyInnit style Wilbur's attempts to reason with TommyInnit

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Book SynopsisFlush was an English cocker spaniel who belonged to the nineteenth-century poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Virginia Woolf learned of him from the love letters Elizabeth wrote to her future husband, fellow poet Robert Browning, and found ‘the figure of their dog made me laugh so, I couldn't resist making him a Life.’ The resulting ‘biography’ combines sensuous imaginative description with sharp social comment, and brings Woolf’s unsentimental humour and insight to the fore. We see Flush as loyal confidant to Elizabeth on her sickbed at Wimpole Street, and from his jealous perspective we witness her courtship by Browning, their elopement and new life in Italy. The perfect accessible introduction to Woolf’s genius, a unique blend of fact and fiction, Flush is perhaps best read in the company of a canine companion.This edition includes the four original illustrations by Vanessa Bell and an afterword by Margaret Forster.Cover designed by the award-winning Finnish designer Aino-Maija MetsolaTrade ReviewA most triumphant trespassing of human imagination into dog sensibilities... The result is a book of irresistible grace and charm * Spectator *Flush is an afternoon's delight for dog-loving readers. It's wit and whimsy and sniffing, snuffling playfulness will amuse anyone who's ever known a spaniel. Woolf's literary underdog is a canine classic. * Guardian *A masterpiece... It is not fiction because it has the substance, the reality of truth. It is not biography because it has the freedom, the artistry of fiction * New York Herald Tribune Books *

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Book SynopsisA delight' StylistFunny, real and caring' YOU MagazineFunny, irreverent and moving everything you would expect from the thick-fringed presenter who's won a place in the nation's hearts' The SunFull of hilarious insights' Vanity FairA SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERFunny, moving and truthful QuiteClaudia Winkleman'swarmth, humour, no-holds-barred attitude and smoky eye have made her the favourite broadcaster of millions and a much-loved household name.In this, her first ever book, Claudia invites us all into her world. She shares her observations on topics such as the importance of melted cheese, why black coats are vital, how it's never okay to have sex with someone who has an opinion on your date outfit, how nurses are our most precious national treasure, and why colourful clothing is only for the under 10s (if you're reading this sporting a bright red jumper and you're 9, great! If you're older, sorry).This is a love letter to life the real, sometimes messy kind. Quite celebrates friendshipTrade Review‘Funny, irreverent and moving… everything you would expect from the thick-fringed presenter who’s won a place in the nation’s hearts’ The Sun ‘Filled with humour that's perfectly balanced with wisdom, reading it makes you feel like you're having a good gossip with her’ Red ‘A delight’ Stylist ‘Full of hilarious insights’ Vanity Fair ‘Full of humour, quirkiness and astute observations’ Prima ‘This charming, warm-hearted book proves just what an intelligent, quick-witted woman Claudia is’ Woman & Home ‘A wonderfully honest read’ Good Housekeeping ‘Funny, real and caring’ YOU Magazine ‘Effervescent and engaging’ The Mirror ‘An effervescent and fun read’ S Magazine ‘A warm, heartfelt look at the little things in life’. Radio Times ‘An entertainingly opinionated miscellany of personal wisdom’ The Sunday People ‘Light-hearted but also powerful’ The Daily Record ‘Witty and entertaining’ Heat ‘A must-read’ Hello ‘Smart, hilarious, self-deprecating’ Vanessa Feltz, Daily Express ‘Entertainingly opinionated’ The Sunday Express Magazine ‘A warm, witty look at modern life’ Cosmopolitan

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Book SynopsisTO GET TO THE TOP, YOU NEED TO SNAP A FEW NECKS''I LOVED this! Devoured in one sitting'' ?????''''If Selling Sunset met Desperate Housewives and got wrapped up in a murder mystery'' ?????''I was just blown away by this book'' ?????''So funny it should be illegal'' MAZ EVANS''A whip-smart, hilarious whodunnit!'' BETH REEKLES''Darkly fun'' EMILY-JANE CLARKE Meet the women of Harrington Estates. They''re one big happy family. At least, that''s what they all say...New arrival Bella is determined to get to the top, and she doesn''t mind stepping on some Louboutin-clad toes to get there.No-nonsense Hannah was the rising star, but now Bella''s stealing her thunder - and her agent of the year award.Olivia wants it all - the glittering career, the picture-perfect family. But lately it feels like something - or someone - is trying to snatch it away.Then there''s poor Claire, who has lost more keys than sold properties - and Bella makes sure the whole office knows it.When Bella is found dead at the open house for a 10-million mansion, everyone''s a suspect. They''d all die for that listing, after all.But did one of them kill for it?Fans of How to Kill Your Family and Selling Sunset will love this hilariously dark thriller from Kate Weston, with characters you''ll love to hate, vicious office politics, and a twist you''ll NEVER see coming.Readers can''t get enough of How to Make a Killing:''I adored How to Make a Killing. With its dark humour, catty women, the mounting body count and the twists and turns that led to the final reveal, it was a most enjoyable read'' ?????''Great book ... gave me Selling Sunset vibes only with a dark twist. It kept me guessing, loved it.'' ?????''Such a fab read full of wit and whip smart plot points. the characters were a delight to get to ''know in probably all the wrong ways and reason'' ?????''I loved How to Make a Killing ... a fabulous summer read that kept me gripped, and guessing.'' ?????''Oh, the drama! I loved this. Everyone was screwing everyone over, meaning every character had a motive, and I wasn''t a hundred percent sure who did it until the very end.... And the last bit!!! Loved it.'' ?????''A dark and dangerous, witty suspense where anything goes, filled with utterly devious characters populating a pacy and frothy plot brimming with deep humour. Deliciously dark and endlessly entertaining.'' ?????''A smart, stylish murder mystery that doesn''t take itself too seriously-and is all the more entertaining for it.'' ?????''This was such a fun read and one I''d recommend to anyone who loves a bit of dark humour mixed with murder. I laughed out loud throughout...Such a brilliant book and one I''ll be recommending.'' ?????''The reveal hit me like a sculpture to the head. I loved it.'' ?????

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Book SynopsisTo celebrate the earliest arrival of Christmas ever - this September, no doubt - The Little Book of Christmas Jokes is the perfect stocking filler gift for those looking to infuse their family with even more festive cheer than last year.Stuffed with more than 175 Yuletide gems, these jolly jokes are guaranteed to make your family and friends laugh - at least once! From puns to gags, one liners to quips, knock-knocks to OTT farcical silliness of which you can''t even begin to imagine, this book - unlike the Inns of Bethlehem - welcomes everyone.So, what better way to start the festive party than with these hilarious greatest hits of Christmas, a gift book which Santa Claus himself approved, claiming it was Twice the amount of Christmas fun as Michael Bublé''s baubles, in his December newsletter.What does Santa suffer from if he gets stuck in a chimney?Claus-trophobia!What do the Elves call Santa if he forgets to wear his undercrackers?St NickerlessWhy don''t you ever see Santa in hospital?Because he has private elf care!The Christmas Cracker was invented by Tom Smith, a London-based confectioner and baker, in 1840. Smith initially called them Bangs of Expectation before changing the name. At first, love poems were found inside, though they were replaced by hats and jokes in the 1920s.

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Book SynopsisReady to spice up your comedy game? This tiny tome is the ultimate collection of rude jokes that''ll have you and your friends rolling on the floor with laughter and maybe blushing a little, too!This pocket-sized compendium is your backstage pass to the world of cheeky humour, filled with outrageous punchlines and wickedly funny one-liners that push the boundaries of traditional comedy. From witty observations to playful innuendos, every page is packed with jokes that are perfect for parties, gatherings or just a good old laugh when you need it most.Whether you''re a comedy connoisseur or just looking to lighten the mood, this book is a treasure trove of hilarity that guarantees to tickle your funny bone. So kick off your shoes, gather your friends and get ready to unleash a wave of laughter that''s as bold and irreverent as it gets - because life''s too short not to laugh a little dirty!SAMPLE CONTENT:What''s the difference between a snowman and a snow woman?Snowballs.How many flies does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Just two. But you have to wonder how they got in there.Why did the ghost go to rehab?He was addicted to boos.Did you hear about the two bald guys who put their heads together?They made an ass out of themselves!Did you hear about the man who got his fingers caught in a bra?It was a booby trap.

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Book SynopsisThe Mr. Men have been tickling children for generations with their funny and charming antics. The Mr Men for Grown-Ups series now gives adults the chance to laugh along as the Mr Men and Little Miss try to cope with the very grown-up world around them. Featuring Roger Hargreaves classic artwork alongside hilariously funny new text.Little Miss Busy hadn''t always been so busy. She used to enjoy lazy weekends and leisurely lie-ins. But then she had kids. Now her life is a constant juggle of demands and pressure to be the perfect mum. How does Little Miss Busy do it?The perfect book for anyone who has ever faced the trials and tribulations of the wonderful and exasperating world of parenthood.Also available The Mr Men for Grown-Ups series:Mr Greedy Eats Clean to Get Lean, Little Miss Shy Goes Online Dating and Mr Happy and the Office Party, Mr Grumpy Nails Fatherhood and Little Miss Lucky is Getting Married.

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Book SynopsisThis is a PAPERBACK BOOK. And it is ram-jammed full of poems by KEY. Originally it was conceived and sold as a hardback book. Increasingly KEY has agitated for that brute to be superseded by something more chic; a slimmer, more athletic version that one can slide into a pocket or down a rugby sock. And now here it is.Within its featherweight pages you will find the vast majority of the same poems as you'll find in its unwieldy predecessor. Poems skewering such thorny issues as sex, pancakes, footy and vodka. But, in order to drum up renewed interest, KEY has also added a new poem. And there are also seven new introductions. And KEY has also been allowed to waddle round the text with his Lamy fountain pen, altering and updating. Improving. Making everything just so. For this: THE PAPERBACK.Trade ReviewRenders all other poetry collections redundant, which they were anyway -- CHARLIE BROOKERKey locates the spot where poetry, comedy and art intersect, picnics there pleasurably, then takes a crap on it -- ADAM BUXTONI am jealous of my friend Tim Key. He has one of the funniest, smartest comic minds in the country. If women start finding him attractive I will hang myself -- STEPHEN MERCHANTTim Key is one of the most talented comedic brains in Britain! . . . This collection of his latest work is a delight -- LAUREN LAVERNEHis brief verses range from the whimsical to the sinister . . . He is quick and mischievous, rarely earnest * * Guardian * *If there's a funnier book of poems published this year, then we will eat all the hats in the Dazed fashion cupboard . . . [Key] is one of those rare and blessed people who seem almost biologically incapable of doing anything that isn't completely hilarious. . . . A total comic masterpiece from a total comic genius * * Dazed and Confused * *He's a genius plain and simple * * Time Out * *Key is a brilliantly intelligent comic. His poems are hugely skilful, and often funnier in five lines than many comedians can manage to be in an hour on stage * * The List * *

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Book Synopsis'It’s a wildly satisfying and moving read ... I loved this special book' – Graham Norton Six years ago, Jo Caulfield was about to go on stage when she found out that her big sister Annie had cancer. Not the best way to start a nationwide comedy tour. But the tour turns out to be a welcome distraction for both sisters. As Jo reports back from various hotels and service stations, they revisit their childhood and adolescence while navigating Annie’s illness, learning through trial and error how to behave when someone you love gets sick. The Funny Thing About Death is a hilarious memoir of two unconventional girls growing up in the 1970s. They didn’t fit in at the Air Force bases they were raised on or the strict convent boarding school they were sent to. The Air Force was obsessed with communists and the nuns were obsessed with the Virgin Mary, neither of which were of interest to Jo or Annie. Annie was witty, spiky and greedy for life, rushing to be ‘interesting’ and experience adventures. She travelled the world and became a screenwriter and broadcaster. Jo was equally rebellious but didn’t have a plan. She just wanted to be interesting like her big sister and thought it might involve eyeliner, smoking and being in a band. Like her stand-up, Jo Caulfield’s caustic wit and razor-sharp observations make her account of life with her sister, even in the worst of times, as entertaining as it is touching and relatable.Trade Review'Profound and very funny...full of brilliantly observational material… extraordinary' * Mail on Sunday *'There’s so much I’d like to say about this book. It’s a wildly satisfying and moving read. Big laughs combined with rare insight and heartbreak. The writing is so readable and unfussy and the humour is done so well, never forced or shoehorned. I loved this special book' -- Graham Norton'I devoured it in one sitting. Loved it: funny, warm, engaging' -- Emma Kennedy, actor, comedian, writer'Suffused with tenderness, warmth and some heartbreaking fragility...Caulfield has delivered a fitting tribute to her sister that, crucially, you suspect Annie would sneakily delight in' * Chortle *'I was blessed to sit in a room making up jokes with Annie Caulfield. Jo has captured her big sister’s sense of humour and humanity beautifully' -- Lenny Henry'Laughter isn’t just for the good times. Laughter is what gets us through the toughest times, and Jo Caulfield demonstrates that beautifully in this heartfelt and hilarious book' -- Jimmy Carr'A remarkable and cathartic read... Caulfield manages to capture the enormity of grief perfectly' * Scots Magazine, Book of the Month *'I knew Jo Caulfield was funny, one of the funniest comics around, but her book is also moving and surprising. A brilliantly engaging read' -- Susan Calman'Jo's writing is a masterclass in letting the catastrophe of loss speak for itself. Amidst heartache and grief shines the joy of the extraordinary sibling bond, so often taken for granted. A superb read' -- Shaparak Khorsandi'Packed with humanity... a reminder that laughter is what gets you through the tears' * Press and Journal *'Warm and tender, frequently very funny and, ultimately, incredibly moving tale of siblings and cancer. Without a shred of mawkishness, the book manages to move seamlessly from funny to tragic' -- Jenny Eclair'Where do you start with the death of a beloved sibling? I wish I’d started on page one of Jo’s book. She navigates the treacherous waters of bereavement and its unpredictable behaviour and emotions in this open, funny, sad, wry and highly readable gem' -- Jo Brand'Excellent writing with heart, truth and comedy rolled into one important journey' -- Helen Lederer'Sweet, brutal, funny, intimate and totally compelling, this is a brilliant meditation on grief and sisterhood - and a celebration of the seemingly inconsequential details and random moments that bind us to each other' -- Viv Groskop'If this book was just a eulogy, that would be more than enough reason to say that you must read this, but it offers readers so much more. It is an inspirational book about love, fragility, loss and the bond between two sisters. Captivatingly told and filled with enchantment, it made me glad I had known Annie and glad that I know Jo' -- Robin Ince'It manages to both break your heart and get you giggling' -- Teddy Jamieson * Sunday Post *'A beautiful, bold portrait of a much-loved sister that will speak to everyone who has loved and lost and everyone who is yet to lose someone. Honest, raw, surprising, life-affirming, and because it's Jo Caulfield, of course, it's very, very funny. You'll laugh, cry, breathe and want to read it again' -- Deborah Frances-White, author and host of The Guilty Feminist'a story of two women carving out their place in the world, each with their experience of not fitting in and their own rebellious spirit' * The Bookseller *'This memoir is every bit as exquisitely funny and poignant as one would expect. Jo's a massive talent' -- Paul Sinha'Caulfield is sharp and funny, capturing childhood eccentricities marvellously, alongside the cathartic necessity of humour in the darker times. Her writing in honest and highly readable, intimate without being mawkish or overly sentimental' -- Victoria Nangle * Beyond the Joke *'Structurally it’s fascinating, as the story of their lives together is juxtaposed with the arc of Annie’s illness... a comforting, moving and on occasion incredibly funny read' -- Phil Jupitus * Irish Independent *'This book conveys the awfulness of grief, but Caulfield’s admiration for Annie - a fellow writer and tremendous wit - makes an even greater impression... Caulfield speaks perceptively about the intricate nature of mourning' -- Julia Bueno * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisCollected wisdom from the internet’s best-loved advice columnist. I recently learned from one of my co-workers that my boss gathered everyone together after I was hired and told them that I was nonbinary and used they/them pronouns, which isn’t true — I’d been very clear that I’m a trans man who uses male pronouns. How should I handle this? My husband keeps leaving his toenail clippings around the house. I’ve started slipping them into his coffee cup. Is there a better solution? I think I’m in love with my brother’s wife. What should I do? A collection of the weirdest and wildest questions sent to Slate’s longtime agony aunt, internet darling Daniel M. Lavery, whose sympathetic, thoughtful, good-humoured advice is read by millions. Featuring new material as well as fan favourites, this is a must-have for Dear Prudence fans and a dose of good sense, compassion, and understanding in an increasingly fractured world.Trade Review‘For five years Daniel Lavery wrote the popular advice column Dear Prudence for the online American magazine Slate [which] attracted an enthusiastic audience… Lavery’s compassionate and idiosyncratic reflections thrust him into the public limelight. Dear Prudence is a collection of the weirdest and wildest questions, including privacy violations by a spy-cam wearing cat, sent to the column, and a reflection by Lavery on how his public gender transition and split from his religious family impacted on the advice he gave. Often funny and insightful, Dear Prudence is also quite poignant and moving at times.’ -- Jeff Popple * Canberra Weekly *‘Slate's advice-giving Prudence fields questions about relationships, work dilemmas, social faux pas, and just about everything else. Lavery was the fourth Prudence … Under his tenure, Prudie’s advice was modern and informed but presented with enough of the gentility and clever turns of phrase of the classic advice-givers to endear the column to a wide readership. Collected here are some of his favourite letters with notes on those that kept him up at night, those he wished he'd answered differently, and those he still hopes had happy endings. The collection is organised thematically, and Lavery winds his own life experience through the commentary, including his estrangement from his family and his gender transition … Across the board, this retrospective is entertaining and comforting. Answers for those hurting are affirming, gentle, and knowledgeable, but for those on the other side, his wit is on full display and his biting responses satisfyingly pull no punches.’ * Booklist *‘I loved the letters, Lavery’s responses, and Lavery’s approach to Dear Prudence.’ * Keeping Up With the Penguins *‘Reliably entertaining … Lavery replied with wit and empathy and as you read more letters, you learn more about Lavery himself.’ -- Prudence Wade * The i *Praise for Something That May Shock and Discredit You: ‘At last, we have the work of transgender bathos we didn’t know we needed, but very much do … [Lavery’s] narrative is anything but linear: It skips back in time to mythic Greece, traipses across the landscape of contemporary pop culture and, in one wonderfully fabulist entry that would make Carmen Maria Machado proud, slips outside of time altogether … One of our smartest, most inventive humour writers, [Lavery] combines bathos and the devotional into a revelation.’ -- Jordy Rosenberg * The New York Times *Praise for Something That May Shock and Discredit You: ‘[Lavery’s] playful takes on pop culture as he explores everything from House Hunters to Golden Girls to Lord Byron, Lacan, and Rilke … [Lavery’s] writing is vulnerable but confident, specific but never narrow, literal and lyrical. The author is refreshingly unafraid of his own uncertainty, but he’s always definitive where it counts … You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, often both at once. Everyone should read this extraordinary book.’ * Kirkus Reviews, starred review *Praise for Something That May Shock and Discredit You: ‘[A] memoir comprised of the humorous essays that have become his trademark … Some are essays and some are scripts or imagined conversations; at first the chapters and interludes are distinct, but at a certain point they start to blend together. All are hilarious, infused with the type of magical thinking Lavery excels at. They weave Lavery’s life experiences together with his historical and pop-cultural obsession.’ -- Claire Landsbaum * Vanity Fair *

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