Humor Me

A Novel

By: Cat Shook

Narrated by: Ferdelle Capistrano

For fans of Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld, a hilarious, heartfelt novel about the healing power of female friendship, unexpected love, and stand-up comedy

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 let her gregarious roommate, Isabelle, orchestrate her entire social life. Not completely disillusioned, Presley is enamored with the world of stand-up comedy. The joy she finds in discovering up-and-coming comedians is enough for now.

Presley is still reeling from her mother's death, which still knocks the wind out of her every time she reaches for the phone. Enter Susan Clark, her late mother's childhood best friend. Susan is married to the head of the network where Presley works, and is determined to take Presley under her wing. She’s equally 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 the deepest pain.

A Macmillan Audio production from Celadon Books.

©2024 Cat Shook (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“I devoured Humor Me with the giddy devotion of watching an excellent comedy routine. The main character is my new best friend; her biting wit and endearing warmth linger long after the pitch perfect last page. A brilliant ode to NYC, stand up, and unlikely friendships—because sometimes the laughs that surprise us most ring the truest.”—Avery Carpenter Forrey, author of Social Engagement

"With sparkling prose and sizzling insight, Cat Shook has crafted an unforgettable story in her sophomore novel, Humor Me. From the very first sentence, I fell head-over-heels in love with narrator Presley, a whip-smart and snarky comedy assistant eager for a lucky break of her own, in work and in love alike. Set against the glistening New York City backdrop, Humor Me is a picture-perfect showcase of mid-twenties splendor, of the universal growing pains that come with building a life in an industry that is equal parts exhausting and exhilarating, all told in an unputdownable narrative befitting Presley’s city that never sleeps. In Humor Me, Shook has masterfully written an ode to our second-coming-of-ages, an honest yet hopeful look at the people and moments that shape us most, all while cementing herself as one of the best new voices of our generation."—Becky Chalsen, author of Kismet