I like how this novel is described as a love letter to the New York City stand-up scene.

Presley Fry is not amused. She’s been an assistant at the Late Night Show for way too long, she’s adopted a “business casual” approach to dating to save herself from the embarrassment of seeking genuine connection, and she’s content to allow her gregarious roommate, Isabelle, to orchestrate her entire social life. And yet, Presley is absolutely enamored with her job and the world of stand-up comedy. The joy she finds in discovering up-and-coming comedians, the beauty and connection in their shared humor―it’s enough for now.

Enter Susan Clark, the childhood best friend of Presley’s late mother, whose death still knocks the wind out of Presley whenever she reaches for the phone. Susan is married to the head of the network where Presley works, and she is determined to take Presley under her wing and ease her way through life in the big city. She’s also determined to connect Presley with her son, the bright and affable Lawrence, who couldn’t be further from Presley’s type.

As Presley grapples with the loss of her mother and finds her people among those who seek out comedy to make the world a bit brighter, Humor Me reminds us that friendship can emerge from where you least expect it and that shared laughter can ease some of the deepest pain.

My review is solely based on the summary. It sounds like a fun novel with some ups and down (depth).

I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @celadonbooks for our gifted copies.

Presley is working at a late night tv show as an assistant who scouts for the 5 minute stand up spot on Fridays. She also has an office crush on Adam who sometimes flirts back. She’s in her 20s, living in the East Village on not enough money and is roommates with her best friend, Isabelle. Both women are looking for love and Presley is also still grieving the loss of her alcoholic mother, Patty.

One day, Presley runs into an old friend of her mother’s, Susan. They exchange hellos and a very tight hug from Susan. She is looking for a friend and finds one in Presley. Soon they are doing things together, going to lunch, shopping and going to karaoke. They are close despite their age difference. Susan also keeps trying to get Presley to hang out with her son, Clark.

I loved Presley and Susan’s unexpected friendship. Both women are going through things and gravitate toward each other, Presley is missing that mother figure in her life despite her mother not even being a very good mother. Susan is craving that feeling of being needed and nurturing someone. Isabelle was also a massive part of Presley’s life. They had a wonderful friendship that was really more like sisters.

I really liked that this book understood what it’s like to be in your 20s in NYC. Going to random happy hours on work nights and coming home too late, work crushes that don’t go anywhere, lots of take out and new experiences. My favorite part of the book was her relationship with Adam. He was definitely bad news, but I could so relate being so into someone and he didn’t reciprocate. He just loved the attention Presley gave him. I also loved Presley’s job and would love to watch that much standup.

Humor Me
Presley Fry is going through a lot. She is an assistant for The Late Night Show and dealing with the grief of recently losing her mom. Presley tries to find the humor in her relationships- with her best friend, her mom’s friend from her hometown, her coworkers, and of course- with boys.

This was such a healing journey to read and by the end of the book Presley truly grew so much. Grief is such a hard thing to go through, especially when you feel alone, and so I really felt for Presley. I loved seeing Presley grow and open up, and with that see her relationships and the way she approaches them, change. Also, I just love Clark and his role in this book, that’s all.

There wasn’t a huge a plot to this book, it was more about self growth, but I really enjoyed reading this. It was a good read and different from the fast paced fantasy books I’ve been reading.

Definitely check this out! And thank you to Celadon Books and Cat Shook for this eARC.

This was a witty and charming read filled with heartfelt emotion. It was a story about grief, friendship and self-discovery. I loved the author’s sharp dialogue and the relatable characters. The plot was predictable but thoroughly entertaining. It was a fun escape!

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher and the author for an eARC.

This book was not what I expected, idk what made me choose to want to read it but I am so glad I did.
I cannot stop smiling like a fool after reading it. I wish it was longer. Author did an amazing job focusing on different themes throughout the book. Which made it exciting, and leaves you with a feeling of fulfilment yet emptiness. I WANT 10 MORE BOOKS ON PRESLEY AND CLARK RN. This is the second time I’ve read a book this year where I have judged and felt unsatisfied with the male mc but only to fall in love with them both times. It is such a good book please read it.

https://booksformind.com/july-2024-book-reviews/

Here's my review:

I can't say I didn't enjoy this book, but I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. It took me forever to get through it, and I found myself throughout a few evenings feeling like reading it was a chore. Don't get me wrong, it's an okay read, but one that I'll probably forget by the time this review is up. I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy, but it wasn't a hit for me. I'll leave it at that, as you might like it more than I did. At least, I hope so!

A total blast and perfect for when you need a good laugh. The story follows Jamie, who gets caught up in a bunch of funny and awkward situations as she tries to figure out life. Shook’s sense of humor really shines through, making Jamie’s adventures both hilarious and relatable.

The book is a great mix of comedy and heartfelt moments. While it’s packed with laughs, it also touches on friendship and figuring out who you are. With its quirky characters and sharp humor, *Humor Me* is a fun and entertaining read that’ll keep you smiling from start to finish.

I'm not good at jokes. And I don't enjoy jokesters or comedians much. (= I'm opposite to my husband, who never forgets one.) So I didn't find the humor in this novel.

However, the conversations between girlfriends and others, the interactions at work and beyond, and the possibilities that others see and hope for us hooked me.

The coarse language? I think it would have been just as effective without it. The amoral lifestyle? I couldn't cheer for the characters much of the time. But could life happen this way? It probably does in some settings.

Read it at your peril and for your own amusement?

A love letter to New York City and Nora Ephron romcoms (two of my favorite things!), HUMOR ME is a total joy to read. Set in 2017-18 NYC, the story follows 25-year-old Presley Fry, who has a lot on her plate. She's struggling to move up the corporate ladder as an assistant at the Late Night Show, dealing with an all-consuming secret crush on her coworker Adam, and grieving her mother's death. Enter Susan, her late mom's childhood best friend, who is determined to become a friend to Presley, too. Under the glitzy veneer of lavish lunches and glamorous shopping trips, an unlikely bond develops between Presley and Susan—and between Presley and Susan's charming son, Lawrence. Can Presley open her heart to happiness, love, and belonging in the big city?

I so enjoyed this one! The romance that develops later in the story was so sweet, but where this book really shines, in my opinion, is in its depiction of strong friendships between women. It was wonderful to watch Presley and Susan develop such a close relationship, and truly root for and support each other. I also adored Presley's friendship with her best friend, Izzy, who was such a fun character to read about! Presley's narration was also a blast to follow overall—sharp and witty from start to finish. I was honestly a little unsure of her character initially—she seemed like she'd be a "not-like-other-girls" type, which is not a fave for me. However, I think Cat Shook does such a great job of developing Presley's character and showing her vulnerable, softer side underneath the humor and snark. I particularly enjoyed seeing how passionate she is about her job and stand-up comedy, how fiercely loyal she is to the people she cares about, and how she secretly wants to connect and let people in, which I think so many readers will be able to relate to. Presley's growth is so well-done that even if you don't click with her character at the start of the story, you will definitely be rooting for her by the end! While it might be a little cliche in book reviews to say that a story embodies "equal parts humor and heart," I could truly think of no better way to describe HUMOR ME. Don't hesitate to check it out this summer! I look forward to seeing what Cat Shook writes next. Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC.

I read Cat Shooks first book and loved it. I was very happy to receive, Humor Me, from #netgalley. This book included something that I LOVE in most romance-y type books and that is strong female friendships. The relationship between Izzy and Presley was great. The relationship between Susan and Presley added an extra lovely flavor. I enjoyed the reality of the outcome of her and Adam’s friendship. The romance was real and took a realistic amount of time to development. This book was very enjoyable. Highly recommended

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

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🎉New Book Review🎉 Humor Me

I enjoyed the reading experience of Humor Me, the latest book by Cat Shook, author of last year’s If We’re Being Honest. Presley Fry, an assistant at a “Late Show” in NYC is hoping for a promotion by finding a breakthrough comedian throughout the boroughs. She also has an unrequited crush and is grieving her mom.
Shook is especially good at writing relationships, especially her longtime friendship with roommate Izzy and a burgeoning friendship with Susan, an old friend of her mom. This is where Shook shines, where the interactions and dialog between the women are supportive, realistic and well done. And New York as the setting is spot on.

I will be recommending Humor Me (available now) to lots of different readers, with a small caveat. And Cat Shook is becoming an auto-buy author for me.

A disclaimer: I typically love reading about twentysomethings living their best life in NYC even though I am no longer in that stage of my life. I did not enjoy the casual sex attitude and scenes.

Thanks to #Celadon for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Humor Me is such an original story. It is so much more than your typical romcom. I also found it very witty, which is not my typical type of book. The story deals with several serious issues while somehow also managing to remain a light and enjoyable read.

This is my first book by Cat Shook, and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be reading her other books.

Thank you to Celadon Books and Netgalley for this advanced readers copy

Could not get into this one but would definitely recommend to fans of Normal People and Conversations with Friends !

Not my vibe but well written.

I was looking for a good book about female friendships and the power of love. Humor Me fit the bill. It was a great read.

Humor Me
by Cat Shook
Thank you to Celadon Books for the digital copy!

Presley is grinding in New York City- an assistant on a weekly comedy show and living paycheck to paycheck. She doesn't have time to date, but she has her best friend and roommate Isabelle to keep her company. Presley spends most of her time scouting new comedy acts but when she reconnects with her late mother's best friend, they begin an unexpected friendship.

This book was just a big love note to New York City. The way that so many people seem to struggle in their own ways but their love for the city just trumps all. It was very similar to Romantic Comedy in the SNL like aspects, but this book had way more character development. The progress was a little too slow for me, but that's a me problem because I just need more plot. Presley's relationships were all so well developed and strong- this book could feel like a cozy hug. This is a lesson for any young adult finding themselves - there are so many more kinds of love than just the romantic kind.

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

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

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

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

2.5 Stars (rounded up)

I really enjoyed this character driven novel and the way the author handled the topic of grief and the individual uniqueness of the experience for those grieving. Presley is has the interesting job of scouting comedic acts and develops a not necessarily wanted, but intriguing relationship with her late mother's friend Susan. Susan is trying to fix her up with her son Lawrence much to Presley's dismay. I loved getting to see the development in these characters and the way they grew on each other. The humor is spot on and the audiobook narration is fantastic.

I just really enjoyed this story and I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

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

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

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

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