Humor Me by Cat Shook

Humor Me Reviews

• 
  Sujoya(theoverbookedbibliophile)

  3.75⭐️
  
  Twenty-five-year-old Presley Fry has a lot on her plate! An assistant at a late-night talk show she is long due for a promotion and is on the hunt for a talented new stand-up comic to be featured on the show which has her exploring the stand-up comedy scene in NYC. It’s been a little over a year since her mother, with whom she shared a complicated relationship, passed away, and Presley is yet to come to terms with her loss. Her social life is mostly guided by her friend and roommate Isabelle, "Izzy," which is fine by Presley since she isn’t too confident in herself. She is also trying to navigate her feelings for a colleague, not quite sure whether the person thinks of her in the same light. When her mother’s childhood friend, the charismatic Susan Clark, who is also navigating a particularly disturbing life situation takes her under her wing, Susan’s friendship, advice and worldview not only nudge Presley out of her comfort zone but also help her to navigate her grief, open up to new experiences and embark on a journey of healing, self-discovery and personal growth.
  
  The narrative is presented from Presley’s first-person POV. A lot is going on with the characters, but the narrative is fluid and the plot never gets convoluted or difficult to follow. The character-driven elements were stronger than the plot-driven aspect of this novel, which made this an interesting and enjoyable read.
  
  The pacing is on the slower side, which suits the nature of the story. Cat Shook writes with wit, humor and much emotional depth and addresses sensitive themes such as complex mother-daughter relationships, alcoholism, the #MeToo movement, grief and infidelity with maturity and compassion. Her characters are real and relatable. We might not agree with all of their choices, but you can understand them. Presley is an endearing character and I was invested in her journey as she navigated her personal and professional struggles, her grief and much more. Susan is an interesting character and I enjoyed her dynamic with Presley. The romance angle was well-developed and deftly woven into the narrative. I enjoyed the insight into the NYC comedy scene, though I would have liked this aspect to have been featured in more depth. The ending is a bit too neatly tied up and convenient, but stories such as these are mostly predictable, so that’s not surprising.
  
  Overall, I enjoyed Humor Me by Cat Shook and thought it was a well-written novel.
  
  I paired my reading with the audiobook narrated by Ferdelle Capistrano, which made for a delightful immersion reading experience.
  
  Many thanks to Celadon for the digital review copy and Macmillan Audio for the ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
  
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• 
  Cassie

  Humor Me is a marvel. Billed as a love letter to the NYC stand-up comedy scene, its protagonist is Presley Fry, who works as an assistant on a beloved late night show. Presley is dealing with a lot. She’s anxious that she hasn’t yet been promoted, and she’s mortified that she seems to have caught feelings for her work BFF, Adam. But mostly, Presley is dealing with grief over her mother’s death the previous year, trying to grapple with the fact that so much about their complicated relationship was left unresolved. When she runs into her mother’s childhood best friend, Susan, the two strike up an unexpected friendship, leading Presley to relationships and realizations she never could have anticipated.
  
  Humor Me is one of those novels that celebrates the messy magic of life: what it’s like to be young in a big city, trying to figure out who you are and what you want, both personally and professionally; how it feels to fall in love – with someone else, with your city, with yourself; what it’s like to navigate the fraught waters of grief. Presley is the best kind of character; she’s vulnerable but guarded, longs for connection even though she sabotages opportunities for it at every turn, self-aware even though she stubbornly refuses to face some hard truths about her life. Her closest relationships – with her best friend Isabelle and especially with Susan – are conveyed with so much authenticity. I adored the relationship between Presley and Susan, with its subtle mother-daughter vibes and the genuine warmth and affection at its heart.
  
  Humor Me is funny and sexy and charming, but also surprisingly emotionally resonant, dealing with deep themes like complex family dynamics, alcoholism, and #MeToo in a well-balanced narrative. It’s a “slice of life” sort of book, not majorly plot-forward – it’s more just the story of Presley’s growth and becoming, and Cat Shook kept me invested in her whole journey. Thank you to Celadon Books for the early reading opportunity.
• 
  Mallory

  This was an interesting story that really kept me on my toes. Just when I thought it was one thing, like a comedy, it sucker punched me with some authentic grief and then bam we had romance. None of the pieces were bad, but it was a lot to take in all together in one book. The writing was good, but this was a book I picked up and put down more times than I would have liked. I liked our main character Presley, but in her keeping her deep truths to herself I felt like we didn’t get to see her fully developed either. Presley is working for minimum wage as an assistant at a late night show and she is working hard to take over the stand up comedy spot to help her move up in her career. This is a story of unconventional friendships and how they change and develop. Presley doesn’t have a lot of friends. Her best friend and roommate Izzy, her deceased mother’s old friend who bumps into her adopts her Susan, Adam her coworker, and Lawrence Susan’s son. This book did hit the gambit and I laughed out loud and shed a few tears. Overall I gave it 3.5 stars which I rounded up for the genuine emotion it inspired.
• 
  Marilyn (recuperating from hip replacement surgery

  Humor Me by Cat Shook was a captivating and funny book that explored a young woman’s life while she lived and worked in the heart of New York City. It took place shortly after the death of her mother. Her grief was still raw, very difficult to talk about and dictated her all but nonexistent social life. Humor Me was character driven and was told in the first person POV of Presley Fry. I listened to the audiobook of Humor Me that was well narrated by Ferdelle Capistrano. This was my first time that I listened to an audiobook by this narrator. I enjoyed the performance very much.
  
  Presley Fry was a twenty-five year old woman who had recently lost her mother. Even though, Presley and her late mother had not always been close or had the most ideal relationship, Presley missed her presence in her life. Her mother had suffered from alcoholism and was often emotionally absent from Presley’s life but Presley missed her mother regardless. She found it difficult to talk about her mother’s death and how her mother’s death was affecting her thoughts and emotions. Presley lived in a small apartment that she shared with her best friend Izzy. The two had been college roommates and then just continued the same arrangement when they both moved to New York City and secured jobs. Presley had come to depend on Izzy to help her navigate her social life. If Presley had been left to her own devices, her social life would have been nonexistent. Izzy and Presley were best friends and relied on each other for almost everything.
  
  Presley worked as an assistant for a late-night comedy show. She loved her job and worked very hard at trying to impress her boss. Presley was trying to send the message that she was ready for a promotion. An assistant’s salary left a lot to be desired. Financially, Presley had to make sure that she was careful with her money. A promotion would improve her financial situation greatly. Presley had another best friend that worked with her. His name was Adam. Presley and Adam spent a great deal of time together both at work and outside of work. They spoke on the phone every night. Izzy and others constantly teased Presley that Adam had feelings for her. At first, Presley was adamant that she and Adam were just friends but at some point Presley started imagining what a relationship with Adam would look like. Perhaps they could be more than friends. She had to admit that she was developing feelings for Adam. Did Adam also have feelings for Presley? Presley allowed herself to picture a future with Adam in it. Would he feel the same way?
  
  Around this time, Presley was offered the additional opportunity of finding up and coming stand up comedians for the comedy show she worked for. She was really excited about this new responsibility. It allowed Presley to attend comedy shows and preview new talent. Presley was in her element when she was doing this. At about this time, Presley randomly ran into an old friend of her late mom’s. Susan Clark had grown up with Presley’s late mother. When Presley first arrived in New York City, it was Susan Clark’s husband that had helped Presley secure the job with the comedy show. Presley was aware that there were rumors about inappropriate behavior circulating around Susan’s husband but Presley was hesitant to bring the matter up. Susan was so glad to have run into Presley. She was determined to make Presley a friend even though there was such a big age difference. What evolved between Presley and Susan was really special. This new friendship was just what both Presley and Susan needed. Presley also found herself in the position of finding a new and exciting romantic connection with the most unexpected person.
  
  I really liked Presley’s character and admired the growth she showed throughout the book. Presley’s relationship with Adam proved to be a testament to Presley’s ability to stay true to her convictions and beliefs. I admired her for making her decision and sticking to it as hard as it probably was for her. The unlikely relationship that sprang up between Presley and Susan Clark was unexpected, fun and so special. If it was even possible, Izzy and Presley grew closer and more accepting of one another’s unique situations over the course of the story. They learned to support one another unconditionally and respect their choices. Humor Me was about friendships, ambition, mother/daughter relationships, acceptance and loss. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Humor Me by Cat Shook and recommend it highly.
  
  Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to Humor Me by Cat Shook through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
• 
  Bethany Hanson

  Solid 4.5 ⭐️
  I really liked this book - solid friendships, some romance (but not centered on that), lots of nods to NYC & the comedy scene, and just all the things women deal with in every day life. I thought this book was so realistic on growing up in your 20s, navigating relationships, work, & grief. I was skeptical at first about the relationship between Susan & Presley but I ended up adoring & appreciating their relationship.
  
  Side note - a few books have come out recently & were marketed as a “love letter to New York City.” I never got that from those books, but I did get it from this book with highlighting different areas of town, running into people &/or getting lost in the crowds, & all the different food/restaurant scenes.
  
  Thank you Celadon books for the ARC for our bookclub!
• 
  Anne Wolfe

  Humor Me is an original. Yes, it is a Romcom, but it is also, unexpectedly, so much more. Presley, in her mid-20's, is working as an assistant to a producer of a TV comedy show and trying, unsuccessful, to overcome her deep grief over the loss of her alcoholic mother a year ago. Set in New York City, it is full of views, neighborhoods and dive bar descriptions (You New Yorkers or adjacent can skip past those, but don't.)
  
  Susan is a childhood friend of Presley's mother and has helped Presley land her job through family connections, but now wants to be friends with Presley. Unable to grieve for her mother because of her drinking-caused absence, Presley is cut-off from her locked up emotions.
  Despite all this, the novel is filled with humor. (But also, beware. with "language" and steamy sex scenes).,
  
  Cat Shook will distract you with Adam, Presley's co-worker and crush. She will tease you with Susan's son, Clark. She will beguile you with MeToos and office politics. And you will be jealous of Presley's friendship with her roommate Izzy. Humor Me is a romp, unusual in its plotting, and filled with fun and pain. The ending is perhaps a bit rushed, but will, on reflection, seem just right.
  
  Thanks to Netgalley and Celadon,. a division of Macmillan, for an early read copy.
• 
  Sherwood Smith

  When books have a strong narrative voice, I'll sometimes 'hear' the text, along with the dialogue. This book kept playing into my inner ear in a Brooklyn accent, so strong was the New York vibe.
  
  It's marketed as romance, with stand-up comedy as an element. I nabbed it from NetGalley, saving it for a time when I really needed relaxing reading; I ought to have remembered that stand-up comedy always has more than a spicing of pain at the keelson.
  
  There were times when this book veered more into women's fiction. Not a bad thing. The writing was tight, stylish, aware, and the characters varied, their pain real. But the romance between the leads pretty much took a back seat to the romance with the city. It's a love letter to the people of New York.
• 
  Megan Hawley Steinfeld

  4.5 stars rounded up because I just really enjoyed reading this. Captures the reality of your mid-twenties in a way I could really relate to in a time and situation I couldn’t quite which made it all the more interesting. There is a romance plot that is made so much better because it’s almost secondary to the other-types-of-relationships plots which is really my preference.
• 
  Zelda Kimble

  Thank you to @CeladonBooks for this ARC!
  
  I really enjoyed this book! As someone in their mid 20’s I really resonated with the lead character. The comedy aspect definitely took a backseat to the relationships (platonic and romantic) but I diddnt mind it! There are some truly wonderful human interactions in this book, I love Prestley’s friendship with Susan, for me it was the soul of the story. Terrifically written, phenomenal characterization- I really recommend this book! I devoured it in a single plane ride.
  
  #celadonreads #humormebook
• 
  Haley Sparks

  I haven’t had a 5 star read since January and lately I have been admittedly ANTSY to find another. I’ve gone into so many hyped up books with sky-high expectations after reading raving reviews, only to continue to strike out. Imagine my surprise and delight when I settled into this book and fell in love with it, after not seeing a single peep about it beforehand. So if I am the first peep you may be hearing, let me be loud and clear: READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
  
  There’s SO much to love about this story. It’s cute and fun and witty on the surface, and as you dig deeper, it gets serious and real and emotional-while still managing to maintain its fun and wit and cuteness. It references some of my favorite things, ie: Broad City, Trader Joe’s, Not Ready to Make Nice by the Dixie Chicks and obviously doing mushrooms with your mom’s best friend from growing up. It’s very millennial and I know it’s trendy to hate millennials, but I mean that with the utmost love and devotion. When I first started it, I thought Presley might be an insufferable “not like the other girls” type of MC, but she’s not. I’m so happy I misjudged and experienced her depth, growth, and humor as the story went on. I loved reading about each and every relationship in her life—with Isabelle, with Susan, with her grandparents, with Clark and even with Adam because although it was unfortunately relatable, her ending with him felt refreshing and empowering.
  
  A common thread through my 5-star reads is that they tug at something in me that activates my gratitude for life. While I noted that I loved all the relationships in this (and I really really did—Clark does deserve a shoutout of his own) Presley and Isabelle’s friendship made my heart both ache for how desperately I miss living with my best friend and soar with how (cheesy alert:) grateful I am to be a girl and be alive and have friendships like this in my life in general. Though I can’t relate to much of Presley’s life in NYC seeing as I live in small town Vermont, this part of the story felt like a universal homage to girlhood and sisterhood.
  
  Like I also mentioned, there are so many other good things going on in this book. I don’t have the bandwidth or room to unpack them all, but if you’re looking for an exploration on the complexities of grief, the messiness that comes from your late 20’s (actually, I think much of the messiness in this book can be applicable at any age, but I wouldn’t know past age 29) and a narration from someone who would much rather make a sarcastic joke than go to therapy that hits just a bit too ~close to home~ at times (note to self: do both!!!), you’ll find it here. I so enjoyed the journey of emotions this book took me on and rotated between flying through it and trying to pace myself so it wasn’t over too quick.
  
  Despite my best efforts, it still ended too soon, and I miss it already.
• 
  Sacha

  3 stars
  
  I enjoyed Shook's previous effort and was excited to read this one. While the latest didn't thrill me, a better suited reader will find some gems here.
  
  Presley, the m.c., is an assistant at the Late Night Show. She's a NY transplant (originally from the South), she's experienced with Tinder dates but not really meaningful or long-term romantic relationships, and she's processing complicated feelings over the relatively recent passing of her mother, an alcoholic with whom Presley had a challenging past.
  
  When the novel begins, readers learn that Presley has a solid friend and roommate, so she's not afraid of intimacy; that she's really trying to make something of herself (and others) professionally; and that she is SO into someone who isn't into her. This is not a spoiler. Instead, this is an everyone can see this but you kind of situation, and that particular thread becomes tiresome (at least it did for me) so fast. Unfortunately, this motif overtakes just over the first half of the book. There's also a seemingly random rekindling with her mother's former friend who just so happens to be married to a guy who's on the verge of cancellation, and it JUST SO HAPPENS they have a single, age-appropriate son, and, well, readers know where this is going instantly. For me, all of these events and plot points combined into an unusual situation. On one hand, there's extreme predictability and slow pacing. On the other, there are all of these odd, disconnected details that never come together in a meaningful way. I cannot get my head around some of these choices.
  
  I nearly DNF'd this book multiple times during the first half and had I not had the audio version, I think that would've been the outcome. I'm glad I persisted, but I also wanted a more unified and fulfilling final product overall.
  
  *Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
• 
  Sherry Moyer

  All the stars for this lovely book!
  
  Karaoke as catharsis, stand up comedy as career advancement, friends of the family who meld into more. @catshook_ has written a book I didn’t want to end.
  
  I want to run into Presley at a comedy show and see her face as Clark throws his head back in laughter, see her order white wine with Susan when she’d rather have an old fashioned, see her accept the good and the bad, and let herself be happy.
  
  In a weird way, this gave me a similar vibe to Definitely Better Now by @avarobinson - a woman not trying to overcome her past but learning to live within it. Finding a way to admit she deserves to be happy.
  
  If you’re looking for a romcom, this isn’t for you. It’s got such depth that to pigeonhole it is a mistake. It’s about a woman - coming of age - learning to love herself. It also features a man, Clark, who won’t let her shut him out, patient and kind - my favorite kind of romantic partnership.
  
  Presley is surrounded by the characters in her life: Isabel, her best friend and roommate, Adam, a coworker she has an inconvenient crush on, Patty, her dead mother, Susan, her mother’s best friend and maybe her new friend, Clark, Susan’s unrelentingly charming son, New York City, the place of dreams.
  
  ——
  Presley is living the dream in NYC; a tiny walk up shared with her best friend, a dream job in late night TV, and a friend at work to flirt and banter with.
  
  She’s also dealing with the recent death of her alcoholic mother, the reemergence of her mother’s childhood best friend, and the maleness of her chosen career path.
  
  As she tries to reconcile a difficult childhood with the warmth of a perfect female friendship, Presley lets herself admit she might want - and deserve more.
  
  I loved this book. Top ten of the year, I bet. Immediate pre-order.
  
  Highly recommend the audiobook, too. I love how the narrator captures Presley perfectly.
  
  Thanks to @netgalley, @macmillianaudio for the audiobook and @celadonbooks for the eARC. This will be published July 9, 2024.
• 
  Laura Shipman

  4.5 stars rounded up! While this is a romcom, at its core it is so much more than that. Presley is an assistant at a late night comedy show. She's navigating life in NYC as a woman in her 20's, in love with her co-worker who may or may not feel the same way, while also struggling with the terms of recent death of her mother. An unexpected encounter with her mothers friend Susan (who is also dealing with some big life changes) leads to a heartwarming friendship with Susan (and her handsome, charming son) that both women desperately needed.
  
  I absolutely loved this book! Written as a love letter to New York, it really sets the scene and explores how comedy can be used as a coping mechanism and bring people together. All of the characters were relatable, felt realistic, and I was rooting for them all in their own ways. I particularly loved Presley's friendship with Izzy and how it showed friendships evolving during different phases of life. If you enjoy strong female leads with a character driven story, you will love Humor me! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Jenna Williams

  this book is perfect. i thought i was just in for a nice rom com in the vein of Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld, but oh my god this book is SO much more. it’s the coming of age in your twenties (is there a term for that??), it’s the grief around love and loss and family and friends, it’s just !!!!!!!!!!!!!! this made me feel so many things and i just adored it and i don’t know how to fully articulate it without spoilers. so.
  
  shout out to libro.fm for the alc, love you forever and loved the narration by ferdelle capistrano.
• 
  Sophia Dyer • bookishly.vintage

  Thank you Celadon and Netgalley for advance copies of this book, all opinions are my own.
  
  In 2023 I enjoyed
  If We're Being Honest so I was excited to see Shook had a new installment! She definitely has a way of writing characters - even though the writing can be dry, it feels poignant and I am left feeling like everyone will be okay in the end. This book does not really have a "happily ever after," it is more of a "happy for now."
  
  Humor Me kind of deals with two different types of grief, told through the POV of Presley. The first would be of Presley grieving the death of her mom, an alcoholic with which she had a complicated relationship with. Presley did have some good memories of her mother, but also grappled with how many bad memories she had too, and had a tough time talking about this with anyone. Her grief really reflected in her relationships with others, and she had a lot of internal conflict that influenced her feelings and how she saw others. She is not "healed" by the end of this book, but I would like to think her grief feels a little lighter now.
  
  The second round of grief comes from Susan, the childhood best friend of Presley's mother. They reconnect after being estranged for many years (Susan did not even go to the funeral), and the two of them are such an unlikely pair. Susan is dealing with grief of her marriage, which was jilted due to her husband cheating on her and having the allegations being public knowledge due to his very public career. She is also dealing with the grief of losing her childhood friend, no matter how estranged, and I think she finds a kinship in Presley. Susan struggled to figure out where to go from that event, but through Presley and her kids she is able to find a way to move forward.
  
  There are so many unlikely friendships in this story, but all together they become a sort of Found Family for Presley. She goes through a ton of character development through this story, mainly in how she interacts with her friends. With one person she finds he has been stringing her along as a "backup plan" and she feels like she loses her best friend. Another friend finds love when they weren't looking, so Presley feels herself being moved to "second place" even though she isn't ,loved any less. Another is catching feelings for Presley and is incredibly patient with her, and allows her to take time to figure things out. Then there is Susan, of course, who kind of whittled her way into Presley's life until she is there to stay!
  
  Overall, I really enjoyed the nuance of all the characters and how they all helped Presley out in one way or another. There are a ton of depressing parts throughout this story (you know, between death and infidelity), but there are also comedic moments through Presley's job, and heartfelt moments sprinkled in as well. This is a different type of story than I normally read, and I am grateful to have had a chance to read it. Shook goes out to show that even in your deepest grief you are not alone, and that you never know when you'll find friends that can help you through it. Worth the read!
  Content warnings: grief, infidelity, loss of a loved one, cursing, misogyny, sexual content, alcoholism/alcohol addition, sexual assault, drug use
• 
  Zoe

  Comical, uplifting, and sweet!
  
  Humor Me is a charming, engaging read that takes us to Manhattan and into the life of the assistant on the Late Night Show, Presley Fry, as she meanders through all sorts of highs and lows, from losing her mother, a challenging career, a newly formed relationship with one of her mother’s hometown friends, an unexpected fizzle with her long-time crush, and a blossoming romance with a man she would never have expected to even be on her radar.
  
  The prose is well-turned and light. The characters, including all the supporting characters, are amusing, supportive, and authentic. And the plot is a fun, flirty tale full of tricky situations, tender moments, humorous mishaps, self-discovery, friendship, family, grief, happiness, romance, and the NYC comedy scene.
  
  Overall, Humor Me is another entertaining, refreshing, enjoyable treat by Shook that certainly does a good job of reminding you that life is never dull and boring!
• 
  Ayesha

  Thank you NetGalley, publisher and the author for an eARC.
  
  I am so excited for y’all to read this one. Had me smiling like a fool after I was done reading it. I think author did an amazing job writing different themes simultaneously and making it all work out. I am so glad I signed up to read this book. It’s the perfect summer read. It leaves you with a feeling of fulfilment and need for more at the same time.
  
  please give me 10 more books of Presley and Clark.
• 
  Jaime

  This was a good contemporary read. This book was very well written and had a lot packed into it. I liked a lot of aspects about this book, but there were a lot of times where this book struggled to keep my attention. This isn’t a genre I read often, so I’m thinking as good as this book was maybe it just wasn’t for me.
  
  Thank you Celadon Books for sending me this advanced copy.
• 
  Abby

  Cat Shook’s debut novel, If We’re Being Honest, was a quick favorite for me – but as always, I get apprehensive when a sophomore novel comes out because we all know that specific hurt. But this…this is a perfect second novel and solidifies Cat Shook as a favorite author for me. She is back with new down to earth, loveable characters and a setting that I can only describe as a true love letter to NYC. If you want a story that spotlights solid friendships, a little romance, the NYC comedy/late show scene, and all the things women deal with in life from the metoo movement, work environments, dating apps, and the reality of learning to be an adult in your 20s…THIS is the one. I truly loved the main character Presley and all her attributes, whether positive or negative. Plus, it will remind you that having diverse generational friendships is a must for getting through life – Susan and Presley’s relationship is so sweet as they both grapple with different forms of grief and change and Presley’s roommate Isabelle will make you so sad she’s not a real person outside of the book. If you’re already a fan of Cat Shook, you’ll love this new one and if you’re just now being introduced then you are in for a treat.
• 
  Stephanie

  I felt a little old for this one but I found it witty and enjoyable.
• 
  Beth

  Humor Me is not a laugh-out-loud comedy style read, so if that’s what you’re looking for, I’d suggest going elsewhere. However, if what you seek is a lovely, well-written story of love and life and grief and feeling lost and friendship and family and trying to find direction, and yes a dose of humor, then I definitely recommend this book.
  
  Humor Me is a tale full of life’s complexities and a relatable and sympathetic heroine. It deals with so many serious issues yet manages to remain a relatively light and enjoyable reading experience. I found Presley easy to root for and was pleasantly surprised at the depth I found within these pages. This would make a nice, more substantial summer beach read, but could also easily be appreciated year-round.
  
  Many thanks to Cat Shook, Celadon Books, and Bookish First for the gifted copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
• 
  Hannah | Reading Under Covers

  4.5 rounded up!
  
  Presley has been grinding away as an assistant at the Late Night Show for nearly two years, while finding a home for herself in New York City. While avoiding forming any sort of meaningful romantic connections, she leans on her friend and roommate Isabelle to keep her social life active. When Presley runs into one of her late mother’s friends, their connection has her facing past grievances and has this mid-twenty-something opening herself for all to see.
  
  Huge thanks to Celadon Books for sending me an ARC of this one - out July 9, 2024!
  
  After absolutely loving Cat Shook’s debut novel IF WE’RE BEING HONEST, I was beyond thrilled to not only hear about her next book, but to find out that it would be set where I currently call home - New York!
  
  HUMOR ME is a love letter to the city and its boroughs 🫶but it’s also heavily focused on the importance of friendship and dealing with grief.
  
  It made me laugh and cry - Shook is great at writing imperfect characters that are so multi-faceted it hurts 🥲and she had sooo many references to some of my fave things (Tom Hanks, Nora Ephron films, Lorde, Broad City, The Office, etc etc!!)
  
  I can’t wait for this one to get in the hands of more readers!
  
  tw: alcoholism, death of a parent, finance bros
• 
  Jen Russo

  Humor Me, read by Ferdelle Capistrano is due out July 9th
  
  Presley, daughter of an alcoholic single mother, was essentially raised by her grandparents while also caring for her mother. She thrives on staying busy and not getting too close to anyone. She doesn't share any of the grief she feels about her mother's recent death, even with her best friend and roommate Isabelle. Until a chance encounter with her mother's closest friend from childhood, Susan, starts Presley down a transformative road.
  
  Though I initially felt a friendship between these two women couldn't work, they fit into the places they were each needing someone, and it really worked for me. I loved the steady building of Presley's place in her world - how she cast off what wasn't helping her and began to make peace with her losses.
  
  Thank you to Macmillan audio and NetGalley for the audioARC of this novel.
• 
  Mccall Hardison

  A New York City story about a UGA grad working in Late Night TV— so I’m just predisposed to like it. I especially loved the details like wearing a Boar’s Head tee on a slubby Saturday am.
  
  From Good Material, Summertime Punchline, and now this – we’re in a wave of the rom coms going literal with the comedy bit. Unless the author is genuinely funny those parts can be cringe. The comedy sets in this book are fine! Not hilarious, but didn’t take me out of it.
  
  This book covers some of the #metoo movement in a pretty up-close version that gives it a bit of nuance. But, just know that going in.
  
  Here’s the thing, I wasn’t obsessed with this book while I was reading it but I was sad for it to end. Do with that what you will!
• 
  Stacy40pages

  Humor Me by Cat Shook. Thanks to @celadonbooks and @bookishfirst for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  
  Presley searches for comedy talent in New York City for the Late Night Show. She may just be an assistant but she enjoys her job. When her late mother’s childhood friend, Susan, reaches out, Presley is forced to face her grief.
  
  This was a slower paced story that packed a punch. There’s an underlying feel of grief, as the main character is doing everything she can to avoid working through it. I got a kick out of Susan. Sometimes you are surprised by characters who you think you have figured out from the beginning. If you enjoy deep character studies, especially single women in NYC, this will be your book.
  
  Humor Me comes out 7/9.
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  Suzanne (The Bookish Libra)

  3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
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  Alecia (aleciareadsitall)

  This was such a fun read, with a very “vibes only” feel but I really enjoyed the vibes. This book immerses you in the world of those working in the entertainment tv industry, specifically comedy, and does a great job with entertaining the audience through the character’s anecdotes. The writing was engaging, and although I found the main character her to be annoying after a while, I still enjoyed the various friendships and found family. This was a solid read, and I look forward to more by this author.
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  Emily Ruth Gulka

  Cute & unexpected. The narration was distracting at times but didn’t ruin the story. I love when stories are about all different kinds of relationships, not just always romantic.
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  Shannon

  3.5 rounded up
  
  A heartfelt, coming of age millennial friends to lovers story set in NYC that is both a love letter to the NY stand up comedy scene and an homage to Nora Ephron. Good on audio and perfect for fans of books like You, again by Kate Goldbeck. I liked this more than the author's debut and am excited for what they'll write next. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!