Books that made us laugh in 2017

Our staff share the books that made them laugh this year.


Confessions of a High School Disaster: Chloe Snow’s Diary by Emma Chastain is hands-down one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. It reminded me of the joyous 80s classic, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 ¾, but with all the social media, smart phones, emails and texts you’d expect in a contemporary teen read.

The titular Chloe Snow is a delightful mess in this one reported year of her life. She swings with dizzying speed between elation and despair, self-knowledge and delusion, mature insight and absurd trivia, lust and revulsion. Not only is this debut YA novel hilarious, it’s full of heart as well.’

Leanne Hall, bookseller at Readings Kids


‘Richard Ayoade’s The Grip of Film is currently giving me attacks of giggling. I read his previous book, Ayoade on Ayoade on a long train ride, and had me crying with laughter, much to the dismay of my fellow passengers. For this book, an ‘A to W’ of the movie business, Ayoade adopts a rank persona – that of film fanatic Gordy LaSure, a man who pretty much considers action the only genre worth any consideration in the movie business. This is a pretty offbeat book, but I am loving it, and think any movie buff should read it too.’

Ellen Cregan, bookseller at Readings Doncaster


‘Like many of my colleagues, I adored Emma Chastain’s charming and funny YA novel, Confessions of a High School Disaster. I also thoroughly enjoyed Kevin Kwan’s high-stakes, drama-rich Crazy Rich Asians trilogy. And while there were stacks of brilliantly funny picture books this year, the one I keep coming back to is Triangle from Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen. This is a hilarious cautionary tale for kids (and adult housemates) who love sneaky tricks and the final page is utter perfection.

But probably the book that made me laugh the most all year was Hera Lindsay Bird’s self-titled poetry collection. This came highly, highly recommended to me by colleagues and more than lived up to the hype.’

Bronte Coates, digital content coordinator


‘My favourite picture book published this year was What Happens Next? by Japanese author-illustrator Shinsuke Yoshitake. Following the death of his grandfather, a young boy considers the wild array of possibilities that may be in store for his loved one. It’s comforting and hilarious at once. Also from this year, Yoshitake’s Still Stuck (about a stubborn child who gets into strife while dressing) is also extremely funny.’

Kim Gruschow, children’s and YA buyer at Readings St Kilda


‘Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London is not a new title but I was delighted to learn it was the first novel (of many) to feature Peter Grant, Metropolitan Police Detective Constable/Trainee Wizard. I enjoyed this novel just before I knuckled down to my role as a 2018 judge for the Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction and will definitely rejoin the series as soon as I can. This opening adventure is funny and smart, set in the reality of contemporary London but interlaced with the supernatural.’

Jan Lockwood, human resources manager


‘Emma Chastain’s Confessions of a High School Disaster was one of my most enjoyable reading experiences of the year. Think a female Adrian Mole, set in America, with a lot more texting but the same amounts of angst, intense awkwardness, high drama and hilarity. I loved every second of it, and I laughed out loud many times.’

Nina Kenwood, marketing manager


The Lost Pages had me chuckling continually at the ever escalating absurdity of the imagined rivalry between Max Brod and Franz Kafka. Disappearing off the Face of the Earth was a darkly comic turn that brought to mind an acid fuelled 60s oeuvre, but set in the world of self storage within the suburbs of Brisbane. And Ali Smith’s Winter had me laughing, as well as crying. This Christmas story is entirely contemporary and also timeless.’

Marie Matteson, buyer at Readings Carton


‘There was a time earlier this year where my life got so busy and complicated that my head was full of lists and each day felt like I was navigating a Tetris jigsaw. Jessica Townsend’s Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow arrived in my life right at this time. On the advice of my colleagues, I read it in a single sitting over one drizzly Sunday afternoon. (Given that it is suitable for 9-year-olds, this is not difficult to achieve!) It was a complete and utter joy to be swept up in this magical adventure and transported to another universe. This book is escapism at its best. I only wish my children were still young enough to have it read to them out loud as I did with Harry Potter.’

Chris Gordon, events manager

Cover image for Lost Pages

Lost Pages

Marija Pericic

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