Rosie Jones has made her name with hilarious, boundary-pushing stand-up, finding humour in subjects others might shy away from. She has also brought that same spirit to children’s fiction with her bestselling Amazing Edie Eckhart books, following the adventures of an 11-year-old girl with cerebral palsy.
Making people laugh is one thing, but what makes a professional comedian laugh herself? Here, Jones shares her five favourite funny books…
A Mind Of My Own by Kathy Burke
“I much prefer reading fiction books (as you will see from the rest of this list!), but I read Kathy Burke’s autobiography in one sitting. I’ve always been such a fan of her work, but A Mind Of My Own really was such a treat to read.
“Every single one of Burke’s anecdotes was hilarious and tangibly raw. I laughed and I cried and I hugged the book when I had finished it. I just wish I had been able to hug the woman herself. Any fan of TV, comedy, London or life in general should read it.”
Gallery, £10.99
Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey
“I read this novel about a newly divorced woman in her twenties a few years ago and it has really stayed with me. Monica Heisey is such a smart, sharp, funny writer, and her characters really felt like people you would come across in the real world.
“I’ve just hit my mid-thirties, and a handful of my pals are breaking up with their partners and divorcing, so the topics explored in the book felt genuine and close to home. It is one of the few books that I have finished, closed the last page, opened up the first page, and immediately started reading all over again.”
Fourth Estate, £9.99
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
“The Wedding People was one of the books I read over the summer this year and I thought it was brilliant. It is a perfect holiday read, and I really felt like I was at the hotel, hanging out with the wedding party.
“Phoebe is such a fantastic, complicated and endearing main character and I found myself rooting for her. The story has magnificent set pieces too – the hen party was a hilarious highlight and the surfing lesson made my heart sing – and for this reason this book will be on my re-reading list for summer 2027. Best served next to a pool.”
Phoenix, £9.99
The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer
“It was hard not to put Bob’s other two fiction books (The Hotel Avocado and The Long Shoe) on this list too, but alas, I only had five spots. I just wish that I could burrow my way into Bob Mortimer’s mind and live in there for ever. He has always been a comedy hero of mine and I love how he has established himself as a proper author of fiction in the past few years, with wonderfully odd stories like this one about a lonely legal assistant caught up in a missing-person mystery.
“I have to be careful as to where I read Bob’s books though because they often lead to me embarrassingly snorting in public. If you haven’t read anything Bob has written yet, please sort that out and buy all three of his novels immediately.”
Gallery, £9.99
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ by Sue Townsend
“In my opinion, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ still is one of the funniest books ever written. I recently picked up a copy from a charity shop and immediately I was transported back to being a kid again. Adrian’s teenage struggles with spots, girls and his chaotic family are just as hilarious as I remembered.
“It takes real skill to make children laugh (adults will laugh at any old crap!) and Sue Townsend perfected this. She was a master, and there’s a reason why this book is a classic, still read by children today.”
Penguin, £9.99
Rosie Jones is a National Year of Reading 2026 ambassador. For further information, visit goallin.org.uk. She is the author of the Edie Eckhart series of books for middle-grade readers and founder of The Rosie Jones Foundation