This book totally surprised me—in the best way! It’s got solid friendships, a dash of romance (but not too much), plenty of NYC vibes, and lots of love for the comedy scene. It nails what it’s like to stumble through your 20s—figuring out work, relationships, grief, and just… life. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Susan and Presley’s dynamic, but it ended up being one of my favorite parts. Super relatable and refreshingly real.

Oh man, how I wanted to like this book, but it just really felt like it wasn’t sure what it wanted to be. Is it a rom-com? Is it a #metoo novel? Is it a drama? Is it chick lit? I don’t damn know. It’s a little bit of everything, but not enough of just one thing. I just wanted… more.

I find the description of this novel to not actually align with the book itself. It’s compared to Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld but the big comparison is that both leads work in late night comedy tv. I LOVED Romantic Comedy. It was raw and heartbreaking, but also a true romantic comedy of a book. Humor Me is not. So much of the book is nothing happening. The description also describes Susan as someone trying to take Presley under her wing and mentor her, which is absolutely not the case. Presley’s mother has recently died, and Susan was her mother’s best friend before life got away from each of them (Susan to be a rich wife, and Presley’s mom a struggling alcoholic). It really just seems like Susan regrets pushing her old friend from her life and is trying to get her back through her daughter. It’s an obviously uncomfortable relationship, if not also probably inappropriate. I disliked it the entire time. I don’t have a problem with intergenerational friendships, but this one just felt inauthentic and weirdly icky.

I also felt some men were judged too harshly for things (her crush, who was icky nonetheless), but others weren’t judged harshly enough for literal sexual assault crimes. It just felt imbalanced.

My favorite parts of the book were those with Clark in them. Those moments felt like a friends-to-lovers romance, and I heavily enjoyed those parts of the book. With that being said, the ending was wildly abrupt, and it didn’t feel totally over.

I really enjoyed how different this book was for me. I haven't read anything like this one!

The major themes in this one that stood out were grief, family, love and friendship. Though I think the author hit the mark on most, I was still hoping for a little bit more!

I think at times this kept hitting some lulls for me. But I think people who love New York will really love this one !

And overall, the ending I was left feeling a little unsatisfied. But the character development of the MFC was great !!


Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review *

I was pleasantly surprised by this one! I really enjoyed the characters and the realism in this book! Presley was a great character to follow as she navigates her life in the bustling city of Manhattan with her best friend, a dude who is kind of a jerk, a really sweet guy, and a new maternal figure. Throughout all of this she is also struggling with the grief and loss of her alcoholic mother. And while they did not always have the best relationship, that grief still remains. I absolutely loved that Presley basically told Adam to kick rocks because I was not a fan and Clark was a way better option for her. I did wish for a little more from the ending but I also liked how it wasn't necessarily an ending but a beginning for all of the characters as they enter the next chapter (pun fully intended) of their lives. Overall I really enjoyed this one!

Humor me was a book I did DNF but I want to give it a rating! It’s actually a 3.75 round up to four. I really believe it was a mood I was in when reading. I wanted to love it so bad— I will definitely circle back to it because it’s worth the read.

Overall a decent book. Presley is part of the late night comedy scene, and we follow her while she navigates finding her way, living life in NYC, getting along with coworkers and meeting up with one of her mom‘s old friends. Her mother has passed away and she seems to have not really dealt with the grief or processed it, but her mom‘s friend is able to help work through many things as she meets and develops relationship with her son.
Overall, this was a good book, but I feel like it was a slow starter. Thank you Net Galley for the advanced copy.

This is a fun and touching book about Presley Fry, who works at a late night talk show in New York City. She’s dealing with the loss of her mom and trying to find her place in the comedy world.
The story is both funny and heartfelt. Presley is a relatable character, and her friendship with her roommate Isabelle is really sweet. The book shows how laughter and friends can help you through tough times.
Overall, it’s a charming read that fans of contemporary fiction will enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley!

If you love:

Found family
Grumpy x sunshine vibes
Healing through humor
Unexpected matchmaking
Slow burn with depth
relatable, awkwardly charming, and navigating grief, comedy, and connection in the best way. Funny, heartfelt, and quietly romantic—this one’s a gem.

Presley still hasn’t recovered from the death of her mother. She is trying to get ahead at her job, wondering when she will finally be in a relationship, and getting caught up in a friendship with Susan, an old classmate of her mom’s. There is some background #MeToo action, but it really doesn’t serve much purpose. There is some backstory about Susan and Presley’s mom, but it is underwhelming.

I just didn’t relate to Presley, and reading this book made me feel old. This was a buddy read with Jen, and I think she had a similar reaction.

This book was just not for me. Reading stand up comedy and jokes was difficult as you are not hearing their voice, intentions, and physically being there for the joke. You are reading after it happens. I didn’t understand where the story was going until the last 20% of the story. I did however like the main character, Presley learning about herself and how to advocate for her grief by the end of the story. This plot of this story may not have been for me, but her writing was easy and quick to read. I will definitely read another one of her books as not all books for everyone.

** Thank you NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Cat Shook for an eARC copy of “Humor Me”.

This book was good. It wasn't life-changing, but it's a solid story. I really love stand-up comedy, even though most of the people I know who live in that world are barely holding it together or have come from dark pasts. That part rang somewhat true. There's a rawness to it that the book touches on, but it kept things overall pretty light.

The female friendships were the highlight for me. Presley and her roommate Izzy had this easy, chaotic bond that felt exactly like my 20s in New York... oversharing, eating bad food, being weirdly emotionally supportive while also kinda flailing. I actually loved that. Also, Presley dealing with her mom’s death felt real but not in a dramatic, made-for-streaming-limited-series kind of way.

I would recommend it. Maybe not to everyone, but if you’ve ever dreamed of being funny for a living or dated someone who thought they were, there’s stuff in here you’ll recognize... and maybe wince at.

This novel is about Presley, a 25 year old assistant on a late night show who is still grieving the death of her alcoholic mother and who doesn’t do relationship, as she deals with an office crush, trying to get a promotion at work, and a surprising friendship with an old friend of her mother’s.

I feel like this book couldn’t decide if it wanted to be a romance or a coming of age novel, and was also throwing so much other stuff in there including Me Too, the aforementioned dead alcoholic mother, way too many details about Presley scouting up and coming comics, and more. But the biggest problem for me was that Presley was so unlikeable and unrelatable, and I don’t think that was the author’s intention. Maybe I’m just too old.

I will read anything Cat Shook writes. She's so underrated. I'm a millennial but still found the Gen Z stories and struggles relatable.

This was a bit more romance-heavy than I expected, but the romance aspect took some interesting turns and helped with character growth.

The non-traditional friendship and traditional friendship were both done well and believable.

I love comedy, so I appreciated the standup bits as well.

Thank you for the ARC. I purchased for my library and will share widely.

I really enjoyed this book. If I was in my mid 20s, I would be yelling preach at a lot of Presley’s conundrums. I never lived in New York but I really appreciate all the nods to its big bright lights and the comedy scene. Specifically I felt the book had a great storyline and it was a bit unique with the drawback to her mom‘s friend at first it was awkward, but then it all makes sense. She is so forward thinking and at times bold, which from a 25 year old felt unique. Very gen Z energy.

Humor Me is a witty and heartwarming rom-com that perfectly balances humor with heartfelt moments. Cat Shook crafts a charming story where New York City itself feels like a character, adding to the novel’s vibrant energy. The humor is sharp, the romance is sweet, and the characters are delightfully relatable. I devoured this book over a weekend—it’s the perfect feel-good read for fans of lighthearted romance. Highly recommend!

Humor Me is a fun, witty story that balances humor with real heart. Shook’s clever writing and quirky characters make it a delightful read with plenty of laughs and warm moments.

While I did binge read this entire book in a day, I'm not exactly sure how I feel about it. There were elements that were truly great. I REALLY enjoyed how one of the main characters of the book was New York City. It felt like a love letter to the city, and having recently visited myself, it really resonated with me. I did enjoy the "love interest" portion of the book as well as the relationship that our main character Presley developed with Susan, a friend of her late mother. It was good to see the character growth in Presley as well. There were some elements, however, that just seemed a bit too harped on and I'm not totally sure helped the flow of the story. The "Me Too" of it all seemed a bit forced at times, and I physically wanted to punch the douche-canoe that was Adam from the minute he showed up on page. Nevertheless, this was a like not a love for me. I enjoyed my time here, but I also know that this book will inevitably be somewhat forgettable for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a light read and fun. I was a bit disappointed with the ending because it kind of doesn't tie neatly in a bow, but it made sense with the rest of the book and gave you hope for a sequel!

Humor Me by Cat Shook is a witty and heartwarming rom-com that balances humor with heartfelt moments. The quirky characters and charming dialogue make for an enjoyable, lighthearted read, perfect for fans of feel-good romance with a touch of comedy.

Humor Me by Cat Shook is a fun and lighthearted exploration of the healing power of female friendship, unexpected love, and the world of stand-up comedy. The characters are endearing, and their journey through personal growth and laughter is both heartwarming and entertaining.

While it doesn't break any new ground, the charm of the story lies in its ability to keep things light yet meaningful. It’s a delightful read that’ll leave you smiling—perfect for when you’re looking for something uplifting with a bit of humor.