I have written a lot of books. I’ve been told they are funny. On some of them, I’ve worked really hard to be funny. And no one has told me that those were funnier than the others. And on some of them, I’ve tried not to be funny …
Still funny.
It’s like I have a baseline funniness that doesn’t really change.
But before you’re picturing heroines lining up to trip in their high heels (though there’s been a little of that), I don’t write rom com. What’s the distinction? I’m not entirely sure. Humor is in the funny bone of the beholder, I guess, but here’s how I understand it: rom com keeps the themes light, bouyant even. And my books have some pretty heavy topics going on in the background of the romance.
But they’re still funny. In fact, I think that’s why I put the humor in there, whether I try to do so or not. This is how I am able to not get weighed down by the heavy stuff. Humor takes some of the sting out of painful things.
And doesn’t humor make the heroes and heroines easier to fall in love with? I fall in love with all of them as I’m writing them, and the funnier they are, the harder I fall. (Although one time I made a hero too funny and people complained that he was annoying. Oops.)
Or maybe I just love to laugh. It feels good. It’s healthy. And if I don’t laugh, I might cry.
So here’s my question. How do you feel as a reader? Do you like humor in your romance? And if so, what kind? Cerebral witty stuff? Slapstick? Farcical? (I’m not very good at this one.) Publishers Weekly called my writing “tongue in cheek,” which made me really happy whether they meant it as a compliment or not. My favorite thing to do is to make a pun on some obscure Old Testament reference, but I don’t get lots of feedback on those. I can’t imagine why.
Anyway, if you are like me and you like some humor in your romance, may I humbly recommend the following books:
- What a Girl Wants by Kristin Billerbeck
- Chocolate Beach by Julie Carobini
- Book Nerds and Boyfriends by Sara Monzon
- Secrets of Sunbeams by Valerie Comer
- Authentically Izzy by Pepper Basham
And I would be delighted to hear your recommendations of good stories with humor layered in. I love to laugh.
Hi, family! My name is Robin Merrill, though I write under a few other pen names. I live in rural Maine with my family and an assortment of barnyard critters. I have written more than fifty books, many of them during my daughter's dance events or my son's cattle shows. When I'm not reading, writing, or driving the minivan, I can often be found frolicking with my small goat herd. I also love gardening, but I'm really bad at it. Visit me at robinmerrill.com.
Hi Robin! This retired Oma enjoys reading stories with humor – example: funny antics of animals / children and puns. Hubby and I enjoy word plays that are funny punny. Not to fond of slapstick humor or humor at someone expense, which creates hurt feelings. I know Valerie Comer in her Farm Fresh series had humor, especially with Pansy the Goat. Humor in romance stories needs to appear natural, not forced or over done. This German American is thankful – German Reunification Day today and my granddaughters 10th Birthday. Beautiful warm sunny fall day in SW Michigan. Best wishes.
I like books with witty banter between the characters. I don’t read much RomCom, as I don’t like RomCom movies. Most of them make me think the stuff humor is off because it’s at the other person’s expense, or just kind of dumb. I know I’m in the minority with it, and that’s fine. It’s also the reason I can’t stand Hallmark movies. Seen one, seen them all, and the books hit me the same way. I readily admit I haven’t read the books you’ve mentioned, and I do have very few RomCom’s in my TBR stack. I’ll eventually get around to them, and they just might change my mind some.
I don’t feel I can write funny even if I try, so I was astonished to find Secrets of Sunbeams in your list! I do try for light moments. I love to laugh, too – Heather Gray nearly always does that for me, as well as Krista Phillips.
Oh how lovely! Thank you for commenting. Yes, goats are the best! And I agree about humor at someone else’s expense. I’m not a fan either. Happy birthday to your granddaughter! Ten is such a great age. :)
Hi Trudy! I agree wholeheartedly about witty banter! And the books I listed aren’t rom com (at least not according to my definition). They’re just plain old funny. :)
Thank you for the recommendations!
And I admit, I have a weakness for goats. :)
I really enjoy humour in books, real life hasboth laughter and tears and I don’t find stories realistic without it. I find Evangeline Kelly’s books have a good use of humour, they aren’t rom coms but they have funny situations and dialogues, I also find Liwen Ho is a very funny writer but she does write more romcoms.
Hi, Robin. I think humor is always good stuff; even in a non-humorous book. I enjoy the cerebral witty stuff and definitely the tongue-in-cheek. What I really enjoy is “situational humor”. Not rom-com, although I like rom-com, but kind of “how did they get into this situation” books. Kit Morgan does that really well. Her books are humorous without being slapstick (slapstick is not even a favorite) or unbelievable. I recently read According to Carly Love by Curtiss Anne Matlock. It is a very serious book, but with touches of Southern humor popped in just when you need it. I think your books do have humor, even when it doesn’t seem like it should be there.
Those are some of my faves! I’ll have to try your books. I’m not sure what kind of humor I like, but I do fall for funny heroes.
Tacos for Two by Betsy St. Amant. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I love (and maybe even need!) humor in my books. Life is too serious, I don’t need my books to be as well! I’m fine with heavier topics as long as there’s some humor to lighten things up along the way.
The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh is a good example of a heavy book with the perfect amount of humor.
Jessie Gussman is an author that infuses all her books with a healthy dose of humor, no matter how serious the topic. She’s probably like you in that she has a baseline funniness that doesn’t change. Her newsletter & Facebook posts are a testament to that as well!
I like humor in books but am not as big a fan of Rom Coms where they try to be funny and all that goes with it.
I like when its more natural and in a CCR (and others) Penny Zellers Love in the Headlines has a lot of humor due to the the hero and Heroines dogs. but its not a rom com. I am not sure of what the different types of humor but I have been know to laugh out loud when reading at the dr’s office. Did that last time with Penny’s book.
I love to read romances that have a little humor in the story. It just seems to make it more “realistic”. Life has humor in it. Plus I love to laugh and be happy.