It took me much longer than I'd like to admit to finish this book. It was interesting seeing into this type of career, I am being vague so I don't leave spoilers. It was interesting to see different aspects of a scandal. It was good to see the main character's growth.

. . . ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⋆ ⭒
This is one of those books where I went in semi-blind and reaped the benefits of not remembering the synopsis from when I requested it. It centered around a young woman, Presley, living in New York working as a production assistant for a late night show. She befriends her mother’s childhood friend, and there’s a some romantic storyline tucked in here as well. I saw the intergenerational friendship and hit ‘request’ because everything else is gravy at that point, but just like the rest of synopsis came and went from my memory, some of the plot did as well. Overall, I enjoyed this novel, but a day or two after finishing it, I couldn’t really recall what had happened. Maybe it’s a product of consuming as many books as I do, or maybe of the book itself, but either way I did enjoy the book while I was reading it.

It was mostly the relationships in this book that really caught my attention and interest. I loved Presley’s relationship with her roommate and best friend Isabelle, the working relationship ( and friendship ) with her boss Emma, the friendship that developed between her and her mother’s friend Susan, the complicated dynamics between her and her mother, the relationship and connection she had with her grandparents, and the romantic relationship she forms ( no spoilers ). Within that, I did have a bit of a hard time with just how cynical Presley was - I’m all for sarcasm and a dry sense of humor, but there was a couple times that she came off a bit more judgmental than cynical, and it didn’t always sit favourably with her character.

Ultimately, this was a very middle-of-the-road read for me - I enjoyed it while I was in it, but I didn’t feel like it had much lasting power after I turned the last page. On to the next!

~👩🏻‍🦰

⧞ Thank you so much to @netgalley & @celadonbooks for a digital advanced readers copy of this book!

I enjoyed this book despite it not being quite what I expected. It wasn't much of a glimpse into the life of a late night TV show writer (just a little bit) but more into grief for a complicated relationship and finding friendship in unlikely places. I do like that the character grew and rose up to the challenges in the book and the side romance was sweet.

Presley Fry has been an assistant at a late-night TV show for two years and the only thing that keeps her going is that she's closer than ever to being able to scout talent for the comedy showcase. But her mother just died and the baggage that their complicated relationship came with gets even heavier when mom's best friend from childhood, Susan, decides to take her under her wing. That Susan is going through some major drama after her TV network head husband gets caught in a sex scandal is the least of all the complicated emotions and situations that Presley will have to navigate.

It's a very interesting story that focuses on Presley's growth as a person and the connections she makes along the way to help her navigate life. Following along as she has to face that what she thinks she wants and what she needs are not necessarily the same thing. Shook somehow made a story of loss and growth not just interesting, but fun. You're tagging along with Presley and those around her as they live their life, make difficult choices, and experience everything that life in New York has to offer. There's no way this wouldn't have made an engaging book to begin with, but Shook somehow made a story of loss and growth not just interesting, but fun.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the thought-provoking read!

A contemporary story with a romance subplot. Primary focus is on grief and coping through strong friendships. The NYC setting gives the book a fresh atmosphere and the strong female protagonist offers a poignant reflection on life after the loss of a parent. The story suffered from some slow pacing and underdeveloped side characters,

Truly not the book for me. Took more than halfway to really get into it and even then I wasn’t sure if it was worth continuing. Really interested to see what comes next from this author, but unfortunately this one just didn’t do it for me

I liked Presley's character. She is a typically working woman looking for love.

Presley was hard to follow at times, but this is one of the issues I have with contemporary romances. The characters are related but not at the same time. There is so much happening that I would have liked a second POV.

Overall, I did like Humor Me.

Thank you Celadon Books and NetGalley for the eARC of Humor Me! All opinions in this review are my own.

I can't quite articulate why I love Cat Shook's writing so much, but her sophomore novel proves once again how well she can write a capitivating story about ordinary people.

Presley's story immediately drew me in as she deals with feelings for one of her closest friends, trying to be successful in a difficult field, navigating her best friend being in a relationship for the first time, and the grief for her mother that she hasn't fully processed yet. I loved this glimpse into Presley's life and how it is not solely focused on her romantic endeavors but on her relationships as a whole.

I am already looking forward to Cat Shook's next novel.

This wasn’t exactly what I was expecting but it was still an okay read. I’m not sure that I will be picking up more from this author in the future but I’m not totally ruling it out either.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Humor Me by Cat Shook. Presley is from the South, but now living in Manhattan and working for a tv talk show. She lives with her best friend from college, Isabella. Her alcoholic and troublesome mother has recently died and Presley is navigating her grief, when she becomes friends with a childhood friend of her mother’s who is going through some things herself. There is romance, friendship, and New York City is it’s own character in the novel. There are some rough spots in this but it is mostly light and a fun read. #humorme #catshook #netgalley #bookstagram #newyorkcitynovel #lovetoread #takeapagefrommybook #readersofinstagram

I read Cat Shook's debut novel, If We’re Being Honest, last year and thought it was fine. There were too many characters and subplots, which made it hard to care about any of them. However, I liked her writing style, so I decided to give her new book a try. To my surprise, I absolutely loved it! It's hard to explain why, since not much actually happens. It's about a 20-something in New York City coping with grief after her mother's death while reconnecting with one of her mother's oldest friends. But something about it clicked with me immediately.

The portrayal of grief was nuanced. Presley had a complicated relationship with her mother and is avoiding dealing with her grief. What really stood out for me, though, was the exploration of friendship. Presley has an amazing bond with her roommate Izzy, a complicated (and unhealthy) friendship with her coworker Adam, and is navigating how to be friends with Susan, her mother's oldest friend, whom she barely knows. All three friendships felt realistic.

Books about floundering 20-somethings can be hit or miss for me, but this one was definitely a big hit! It may not be for everyone, but I hope there will be others who will love it as much as I did.

HUMOR ME
Cat Shook

DNF at 11%

HUMOR ME by Cat Shook is not for me. Cat Shook is not for me. This is my second attempt at a Shook book and it was as much a failure as the last one.

There is an undercurrent of hate within the pages. The attempts at sarcasm are off. And the jokes are not funny and often are at the expense of one demographic or another.

A big disappointment!

Thanks to Netgalley and Celadon Books for the advanced copy! I’m sorry this one didn’t work for me.

HUMOR ME…⭐️⭐️

Would recommend for fans of…
🏙️ Romantic Comedy
🏙️ You, Again
🏙️ Queenie

If I had to make a pick for the book that surprised me most this year, it would 100% be Cat Shook’s Humor Me. And after sitting with this book for more than a month, I can definitely say that it’s one that will stay with you long after you read it.

It’s hard to define what genre Humor Me falls into, but I’d classify it as contemporary fiction with a healthy dose of romance. It is a story that really sneaks up on you, starting out as an exploration of a young woman figuring out her life in the midst of grief before evolving into a story that’s as focused on friendship as it is romance.

Presley is the main character, an assistant at a late night show who’s figuring out her next steps after the passing of her mother. In the midst of this, she meets Susan, her late mother’s childhood friend, and the two women form a bond that helps both of them grow in the midst of difficult times.

The story is told through Presley’s POV which I thoroughly enjoyed, as a lot of her worries about her career and friendships would be relatable to anyone who is, or has been, in their 20s, unsure of what the future holds. Presley’s voice was refreshingly funny as well, which helped balance out some of the deeper emotional moments in the story (alcoholism, parental loss, and workplace harassment are all discussed throughout). Even though those heavy topics are key to the story, there was a sense of hope and lightness that kept the story moving forward.

*slight spoilers below*

In terms of the romance, I adored Clark. Getting to see how he and Presley bonded was so sweet, and I loved all of their scenes together. But as much as I loved seeing their HEA, I thought ending the story with Presley and her best friend was a lovely and perfectly poignant conclusion.

Humor Me is out now. Thanks to Celadon and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Humor Me by Cat Shook
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Humor Me is one of those books that’s perfect for keeping you company while folding laundry. I can’t say I was enthralled or dying to know how it would end, but it was enjoyable nonetheless

.Our protagonist Presley is 25 and.. it shows. Think Adelaide vibes - but with way more potty mouths, stand-up comedy, and pop culture references. There’s also an unexpected bit of heart here: Shook dives into grief in a way that’s raw meaningful.

SATC and GIRLS fans, you’re in luck—New York is a major player here, with vibes reminiscent of both shows following funny and spunky young girls trying to find their way in the big city .

Overall, if you’re in the mood for something light, real, and genuinely funny, it’s worth a go.

While classified as a romance (or even a romcom), Humor Me felt more like a coming of age novel as we follow main character Presley Fry as she navigates New York City, trying to get promoted (not to mention her crush at work!) and working through her complicated relationship with her deceased mother. This is definitely a character-driven story as we follow Presley through the ups and downs of her life.

I actually enjoyed this one more than her previous novel, If We're Being Honest. I connected more to the characters in this book and enjoyed the setting and humor.

The author’s sharp humor and relatable characters make for an engaging read. I loved how Shook balances laugh-out-loud moments with poignant insights. The writing flowed smoothly, and the clever anecdotes kept me entertained from start to finish. My only minor critique is that a few storylines felt rushed, but overall, it’s a fun and uplifting book perfect for anyone needing a good laugh!

I love books with a character driven plot and this is a coming of age story that is very engaging. The setting is NYC which is also a favourite of mine. Presley works at a late night talk show and is starting to find the stand up talent to perform on the show. She hopes to move up in her current job and this is the first step. Presley also has a lot of unresolved grief from the death of her often absent alcoholic mother. Susan, a friend of her mothers when they were teenagers, befriends Presley and shows her a different side of her mother which helps her find more connection to her. Presley also struggles with letting people in and setting personal boundaries. As the book unfolds she gets better with this and is able to finally find some stability and clarity in her life. It was interesting to see Presley’s character develop throughout the story. The book also deals with some other layers such as the MeToo movement which was front and center during the time period of the story. This is the author’s second book and I have enjoyed both of them. If you like a character driven plot be sure to check this one out.

I listened to this one on audio and had mixed feelings. I really enjoyed the first half but then it seemed to drag a bit. I hated her coworker/ friend for some reason but liked the main character.

I usually go into a sophomore book by an author with a bit of dread, and it is rare when I am pleasantly surprised. It happened with this book “Humor Me” by Cat Shook. I had read the author’s debut novel “If We’re Being Honest” back in April 2023, and while I liked it and was interested in continuing to read the author’s work I wasn’t in love with it. This one I fell in love with, and am shouting from the rooftops telling you to read it.

Presley is the main character but there are some great other characters throughout this book that I grew pretty attached to like Susan Clark. While there is a romance in the book, it is secondary to the main themes of self-discovery and family. The other thing that I really enjoyed about this book were the comedy skits from the shows that Presley attended, adding the humor to this adorable book. This is a rare book that made me tear up at the end. Thank you to Celadon Books for the advanced copy, its been out since July and available wherever books are sold.

This one was okay. It's categorized as a romance but I don't think I would categorize it as one. It was still an enjoyable story.