I read this charming, laugh out loud book as part of a Bookstagram/Blog tour for The Fantastic Flying Book Club and I'm so happy I did! Real quick I want to comment on the cover of the book, because although it is fairly simply, it really gets the point across and I think it's so fitting for a YA novel because just about every teenager uses emojis. Okay, back to the actual story. Rubin could not have picked a better title for this book, Crying Laughing, because the majority of the time I spent reading I was either laughing or crying. When it comes to comedy, the main character, Winnifred Friedman, is everything I wish I could be because she is SO FUNNY! The characters she does throughout the story are hilarious and she's insanely witty. I LOL'd multiple times while reading this, many of those times being in public. Winnie knows that she's funny, too. The problem is that she wants everybody else to realize that too, which is kind of hard when she refuses to every perform in front of people again after completely bombing at her Bat Mitzvah (Also yay for Jewish rep, specifically the MC!). The only person she openly jokes with is her dad, and occassionally her two best friends, Leili and Asmaa (name change in the finished copy). On her second day of sophomore year, Eric, the funniest guy in school, laughs at a comment she makes while they're in the lunch line and he asks her to join the Improv Troupe. She's so ready to jump back in and start doing comedy again, but then she finds out that her dad has ALS. I haven't come across a lot of YA novels, or even adult novels, that have a character who suffers from ALS. We're able to see in this story not only how this disease is affecting Winnie's dad, but also the strain it puts on her and her mom. Although this novel is filled with fantastic jokes and humor, it's so much more than that. It's a story about a girl trying to navigate through 10th grade, which is hard enough before you find out that your dad is suffering from an incurable disease. Winnie learns a lot about herself, her parents, and even her friends throughout this story and you get to really see her grow as a person. She learns that through the really hard times, laughing is the very thing that she needs to pull through. This book was simultaneously tearjerking and heartwarming and I can't recommend it enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing me the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book!

Not a huge fan of young adult anymore, but loved this one. The characters were easy to like, and that always makes a book much more enjoyable. Such a fun read! Really well written.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Fantastic Flying Book Club, Netgalley and Knopf for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

Okay but seriously I was not expecting this book to hit me the way it did, and wow. Sometimes part of me forgets that contemporary characters can go through some difficult things in their life, not just the big “having to save the world” type of issues that fantasy books usually have. Sometimes, the real life big issues are just as hard to read about and deal with, and may seem even larger than life than the other stuff.

I get how it feels to have someone close to you, especially a parent or grandparent, get diagnosed with an illness that has no cure, that ends in their death… I know we all end up leaving this life at one point or another, but having that added factor doesn’t make it any easier. For those of you that want more information on ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), feel free to go here.

Sometimes one needs to rely on humor in order to take their mind away from the really shitty stuff, and that’s what Winnie does. Even before her father was diagnosed with ALS. She’s actually very punny, as evidenced from the very first chapter – actually the very first two pages quite honestly. And I think that is what made me almost immediately feel for her. I don’t always like a character so quickly, or continue to like a character after the beginning, so it was nice to have another MC that I wanted to care for and just give her a shoulder to cry on and support like at all times.

I think about what Winnie had to go through as a teenager trying to deal with her father’s sickness, and trying to bring some sort of joy and laughter into his life since he can’t give the same amount of level that he used to. I mean, her father is her role model, her inspiration as to why she got into comedy in the first place. She actually wants to do entertaining and good comedy, not jokes that only deal with farts, sex, or cruelty.

No joke.

I’m just thoroughly impressed with this book, and I’m so glad I had an opportunity to read this novel.

Be right back, though. I’m still crying.

It took me a while to get into this one but I did quite enjoy it at the end. For whatever reason all the references really jumped out at me and made it hard for me to stay in the world and I wasn't necessarily laughing at any of the comedy. But the scene in Chili's and the resulting scenes really moved me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Lance Rubin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The title Laughing Crying is actually super appropriate, as that's exactly what I did. I loved Winnie so much, and she's truly hilarious. But oh man, about the halfway point, I literally started crying reading this. (A good cry!)

Winnie Friedman is the exact kind of girl I would've loved growing up, because she's everything I'm not: funny, smart, and brave. It really does take courage to do stand up at a bat mitzvah. (Even if she did totally blow it...)

Another thing I love about her is her love of comedy. Like, smart comedy, at that. She even mentions early on in the book that sure, fart jokes can be funny, but there's so much more nuance to it! Her admiration of her father is so pure, as well. That's why when he finally talks about his diagnosis, it's so painful.

Winnie's relationships with Asmaa and Leili are absolutely wonderful, as well. This is how real teenage friendships are! But ohhhhhh, Evan. He's the exact boy girls date for their first ever relationship, and it always turns out horrible.

One of my top reads for this year, Rubin handles a serious disease with grace and humor. I give Laughing Crying 5 out of 5 frozen yogurts.

It's so cool to see a book that celebrates aspiring female comics - and I'll give it to Winnie (and Lance Rubin), she delivers! Some of the tropes, particularly as they relate to high school romance and teenagery, are ones that are popular to most YA titles, but then again, they're tropes for a reason - amiright? I think what ultimately sold me the most was Winnie's relationship with her father and how she (and the family) cope with his ALS diagnosis. Rubin does such an exceptional job of balancing the humor with the serious creating a story that is well-rounded and, dare I say, enjoyable! I love books that make me laugh, cry, and cry laughing and that's EXACTLY what this book. Not an easy task. Ultimately, a unique story that is a must-have for YA collections.

Thank you to Knopf Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the e-ARC to read and review.

I wanted to read this book because the main character, Winnie, loves comedy and so do I. I was drawn in by comedy being the focus of the novel, which I've never seen before in YA. Comedy is extremely subjective and incredibly difficult to be successful in. Lance Rubin does a good job meshing comedy, some of the realities of comedy, and the life of a 15-year-old all together.

I wasn't cracking up or anything while reading (wasn't my brand of comedy) but it was still an interesting story. Actually, the true essence of "Crying Laughing" went far deeper than I thought it would be. The allusions to life as a comedian were strongly on the forefront.

I like Winnie and could relate to her not wanting to do something she's passionate about after one bad experience. I think anyone can relate to that notion in one way or another. She's not that funny (again, not my brand of comedy). But I enjoyed her journey throughout the story as she rediscovers what makes her special. That was well crafted by the author. My favorite thing about Winnie is how strong her voice comes across. Her tone gave me a clear image of the kind of person she is.

I liked viewing Winnie's home life and how it so seamlessly (post-read) it juxtaposed with school life. There were connections and signs I missed in the beginning or didn't quite grasp until the end.

Winnie and her family are so close but they all still have flaws which is always great to see. The cast of characters is very diverse and I think readers the same age can connect with at least one character in some way.

I don't know much about ALS but what I do know I saw depicted in strong details. The author paints a devastating, crippling, depressing picture. All these bad things happen and create a huge challenge Winnie has to overcome.

There are a lot of real-world allusions - for me, too much "product placement" for lack of better words. But I do profoundly agree that Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are amazing and comedy gold.

I read this book within 3 days because I couldn't stop reading - nor did I want to. I would read more books by Lance Rubin. He is a very good storyteller.

The best part about this book is the fact that Lance Rubin perfectly captures the teenage voice of his characters. You experience everything along with them and everything is so well written that you feel what they do. There is such second hand embarrassment for Winnie at times that it reminded me of the Scotts Tots episode of The Office, but it’s not just that. I cared about everyone in the book and maybe because I’m a little older HATED Evan because I knew he was going to be a jerky teenage boy because that’s how he seemed to me from the moment he made Winnie do the announcements without warning her first. And everything that happens with her father is so well done that you’re emotionally invested in everything that happens. I would honestly recommend this novel to everyone. I couldn’t put it down.

This should have been a great year for Winnie. She had her two best friends at her side, a cute older boy was showing interest in her, and she was going to attempt performing again, but then, things started to unravel. Friend drama, boy drama, epic comedy fails, and worst of all, her father's ALS diagnosis had Winnie wondering where she could find any humor in her life, but with love, and yes, comedy, Winnie was able to find her way.

I think my first update for this book was about how I had already laughed and cried. Rubin did a wonderful job blending the light and heavy in this beautiful story, which delivered quite an emotional punch.

Five Things I Love About Crying Laughing:

1. Winnie was a little spark plug. I found her witty and charming, and she did indeed, make me laugh. Her journey over the course of this book was not an easy one, but she took each lesson to heart, and learned from her mistakes, as well as, the mistakes of others. She opened her eyes a little wider, and began to see the world in a bit more detail.

2. I think I have only read one other YA book that featured improv, but not to the depth encountered in this book. Rubin really delivered an education on the art of improv, and I enjoyed learning more about it. It was also a nice parallel to how Winnie needed to begin listening more and living in the moment. She had to challenge herself to not think about her father's end, but rather, treasure the moments she still had with him.

3. When I took my adolescent psychology class, I remember discussing how this was a time in a teen's life, when they realize their parents were only human. They made mistakes and were simply mere mortals. Winnie had to face this about her father, who she sort of hero worshipped. She first had to accept, that he would probably be gone in 2 - 5 years, and then she learned some more hard truths about her parents, which she had to deal with. Rubin handled this part quite thoughtfully, and spared no emotional impact as he did so.

4. The relationship between Winnie and her father was very special. I loved seeing them interact and joke around, but I also found their deeper discussions quite touching. These two filled me with feels and brought me to tears.

5. I loved the friendship that Winnie shared with Asmaa and Leili. They had some ups and downs over the course of the story, but that only made it seem more authentic. Fletcher was also a good friend, and all three were a source of comfort and support for Winnie as she attempted to deal with her father's failing health and family situation.

"Laughing and crying, you know it's the same release." - Joni Mitchell (from Laughing Crying)
As promised, this book made me laugh and cry, but it also was a great reminder to hold onto the ones you love, while you can, to listen to each other, and to be present.

A sweet, well-paced book that kept me smiling (most of the time), even when I wasn't laughing. I would definitely recommend this to someone who likes YA titles; especially those who hate love triangles (like me), because there aren't any.

This book was funny, character driven, and had some really good surprises. It was really fleshed out and I was never bored. I think there were some points where the author dropped the ball plot point wise or tried to divert from the obvious when that may have been a better option, but overall it was great read that I highly recommend. To see my full review visit my book blog (Books 4 Jessica) on 11/23 for my review and favorite quotes post as part of my participation in the Fantastic Flying Book Club tour.

Thank you Netgalley and Publishers for granting me early access to "Crying Laughing".

I'm currently in the middle of a major move, and will definitely come back at a later time and write out a full review and rating.

Thank you so much!

This book is a love letter to comedy even (and especially) in the most trying times and it succeeds on every level. I was in awe of how easy it was to get swept up in the highs and lows of Winnie's performances--not an easy feat for a book to accomplish, but this one 100% does. It's also the most aptly titled book ever as there are genuine, laugh-out-loud moments layered over a complex story of a devastating diagnosis and its profound effect on a family's dynamics. Most importantly, Winnie Friedman is a character you'll root for from page one and finish the book feeling like you made a (hilarious) new friend.

Hilarious laugh-out-loud story about funny want-to-be-improv-comedian Winnie who suddenly is dealing with her father's no-so-funny ALS diagnosis. Winnie and her family are going through so much, so many emotions, in light of her father's very serious diagnosis. When the funniest boy in her grade invites her to be in the improv club, Winnie is excited to have new friends and work on perfecting her own improv. Somehow, Winnie can still find humor in her life in spite of all that is going on and she is hilarious. Her parents are amazing and doing what they can to support her in light of her father's illness. Very real characters in a tough situation, somehow laced with humor. Loved this book! Well written and funny too!!

Thank you Netgalley for sending me this arc. I will be reviewing this book in the near future with an honest rating and review.

Winnie is your typical teenager dealing with typical teenager things until one thing becomes anything but typical, her father’s diagnosis with ALS. The title is fitting. They story flows very well between the typical funny teenager issues and the less than funny, heartbreaking reality, having to accept her dad’s heartbreaking diagnosis. The main character is obsessed with comedy and tries her hand at improv, following the sin the steps of her comedic heroes. While she steps into the unknown she also learns that life isn’t simple as it appears and not everything can be solved with a joke. It’s a darling YA book.

Book Review
Crying Laughing by Lance Rubin
Publishing date: November 19, 2019
Read courtesy of netgalley.com

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If we couldn't get more of Denton Little, at least we have Winnie Friedman. Cleverly written story about comedy without being forced and corny -- quite an achievement. Makes me want to start an improv club for my students!

Even though I know a bat mitzvah is for girls and a bar mitzvah is for boys, and the reader is told about the character's bat mitzvah, I still found myself [pleasantly] surprised when I absorbed that the protagonist was a female and not a male. This is a good thing since I was able to break myself from stereotypical thinking early in the story. I think that the character is Jewish also makes for a subtle take on the humor that other ethnicities might not have inherent in their culture, the subtleties between puns and sarcasm, which are so integral to Jewish and Yiddish parlance. In other words, this mix of character development worked very well for this story.

And speaking of inherent ... sporks are inherently funny. Just sayin'...

Teens will relate to the cute humor throughout the story, too. For example, categorizing potential relationships as "hope-will-flirts," "neutral-will-flirts," and "please-don't-flirts" is funny and quite teenager-ish.

While the humor carries the story afloat, the author does an a-ma-zing job of showing a teen's understanding of complicated adult conversations. Winnie's father has ALS, and the subject is handled honestly from the patient-, the parent, and the family-perspectives. All of the characters are treated with equal humanness and not made into oversimplified caricatures.

The few criticisms I have do not deter from the 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ or the story. There are just a few times where the writing is too PC or 'too' inclusive just to fit in with the contemporary times....Jews, hijabs, and trigger warnings. There are also some contemporary references that might date the book before it's ready to be a thing of the past: Polly-O string cheese (specifically Polly-O), the TV show Parks and Rec, Totes McGotes, and FOMO.

Regardless, I loved this book and cannot wait to get it for my high school library!

I don't personally know anyone with ALS, but this book hit so close to home for me, living with a completely different disease of my own. The effect that Winnie's dad's diagnosis had on the family broke my heart, and I loved getting to see how they all supported each other along the way. I actually never expected to be too into the humor in this book, maybe the occasional laugh here and there, but I ended up enjoying this so much, especially whenever Winnie was involved and trying to sound good! When it didn't always work out for her, it was hilarious what she would do and think. I couldn't get enough of the banter between Winnie and her friends and classmates either. Hands down, Crying Laughing was one of the best books I've read this year. I'd recommend it to anyone needing a quick read but with a ton of heart and laughs to go around!

Laugh out loud funny, witty and has an all encompassing warm fuzzy feeling to it from the very first page, to the last goodbye. Absolutely 5/5 stars for being he new comedic read of the century.