Hey, it’s a new month! No jokes here, but I do have some funny books for you.
Sponsored by In Her Sights by Katie Ruggle
Bounty hunter Molly Pax fought hard for everything she has, turning the bail recovery business she shares with her sisters into an unqualified success. So when their sticky-fingered mother jumps bail and puts the childhood home up as collateral, Molly’s horrified. To make matters worse, every two-bit criminal in the Rockies now sees her family’s misfortune as their next big break. She needs help, stat. Enter rival bounty hunter John Carmondy: six feet of pure trouble, with a cocky grin to match. John’s the most cheerfully, annoyingly gorgeous frenemy Molly’s ever had the pleasure of defeating…and he may be her only hope of making it out of this mess alive.
News and Useful Links
A lot has happened since we last spoke as far as the RITAs are concerned, so I’ll do another bullet point rundown:
- Cherry Adair stepped down as this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Here’s her statement.
- Catherine Bybee, initially a finalist, stepped in it and ended up pulling her book
- Avery Flynn stepped down from the RWA Board of Directors a few days ago, and Seressia Glass was appointed to fill her seat
- Savannah J. Frierson wrote an article on Medium about the question of “relatability” and the conversation that’s been happening
- Bronwen Fleetwood got the rest of the data for her RITAs study (the first part of which I shared last week)
This isn’t strictly romance-related, but this stock photography collection was recently released and I hope they will be available for romance covers!
Apparently, before CopyPasteCris, this wild thing started. I. Am. Wowed.
It’s sort of RITA related, but separate, too: Courtney Milan &co created Romance Sparks Joy, a book club that will start out reading the books of the three authors of color who have RITA finalists. After that, we’ll see!
Deals
If you listen to When In Romance, you know Trisha Brown swears by Phyllis Bourne. Her writing is funny and her romances are great. If you’re looking for a good place to start with her, you can check out Between A Rock and a Hot Mess, which is 3.99.
And of course, I’ll remind you that if you haven’t yet read (or at least purchased) Can’t Escape Love, it’s only 1.99…as is its Reluctant Royals novella cousin Once Ghosted, Twice Shy. Both are amazing and can be read standalone, but are better read as part of the whole collected story.
Recs!
It’s April Fool’s Day, and I figured (while I basically hate everything about pranks and other things related to the holiday) that it would be a good time to share my favorite romances of ridiculousness. These are all cackle-worthy titles that made me giggle and swoon, all at the same time.
Soulless
Gail Carriger
While the Parasol Protectorate series doesn’t technically fall under romance, I know a lot of romance readers who love Alexia and Maccon and the way their relationship unfolds. Gail Carriger writes witty Victorians like nobody else, and the situations Alexia finds herself in are laugh-worthy in themselves.
The Kiss Quotient
Helen Hoang
Have you been avoiding this book because of the hype? Let me tell you: it’s all true. It’s sexy, and it’s also wildly hilarious. Some of it is situational humor that won’t be funny to everyone—I’m a cringer, for example, and can’t watch shows like The Office, but I didn’t feel the need to cover my eyes when I read the interactions between Stella and…well, basically everyone. I had to laugh, though.
A Girl Like Her
Talia Hibbert
It’s been awhile since I’ve touted this book, but it definitely fits in this group. Ruth is a take-no-shit kind of heroine, and the way she tells it like it is to Evan is delightful. Talia Hibbert’s writing style lends itself to making serious situations funny without taking from the seriousness of the book.
An Unnatural Vice
KJ Charles
Because what could be funnier than a journalist on the hunt for the true story of a probably-fake medium?
Shacking Up
Helena Hunting
If you haven’t read Helena Hunting, this is also one of those that falls into the category of situational humor. But I will tell you: there is a menagerie of weird pets involved. You’re welcome.
And of course, Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure, which I was exclaiming about last time, is hilarious.
What’s your favorite funny book?
As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback, book recs, or just want to say hi!