austen re-creation.

First. Love & Friendship is actually a romantic comedy that came out in theaters in May directed by Whit Stillman. The film got great ratings and features Kate Beckinsale as Lady Susan, love her. Love & Friendship: In Which Jane Austen's Lady Susan Vernon is Entirely Vindicated is the novella written by Whit Stillman which came out a few weeks before the movie. I recommend enjoying the book first as per usual.

The whole premise of the two is that a beautiful widow decides to secure rich husbands for her and her coming of age daughter resulting in things getting complicated and hilarious. Many of you loved Lady Susan from Austen's own novella. You'll love her even more this time around I promise.

what drives you crazy?

My husband has to say this to me on a regular basis. I have been known to be a little ridiculous at times, but comedian Ruby Wax definitely made me feel better about my life with her book Sane New World: A User's Guide to the Normal-Crazy Mind. The idea of this book is to help EVERYONE have the best possible experience on earth, tame your internal critics, and live your life feeling at home in your own mind. Wax is hilarious and such a talented writer, which makes her own issues with depression extremely relatable. But like I said, this is not a book designed solely for people who are depressed, or crazy, or schizing all over the place, Wax is looking to help every level of crazy improve their mindfulness and focus on what's important rather than what's driving you mad.

a lot of funny.

You're Making Me Hate You by Corey Taylor attracted me instantly because I pretty much hate everyone. I like about three people, and tolerate everyone else. I know this is mostly my own fault because I have no patience for anyone else's lives but my own, but I do think people are partially to blame. You're Making Me Hate You is pretty much a rant. And sometimes I am in the mood to just roast everyone, so I get Taylor's purpose. Did you bring your toddler to a restaurant after 7pm? I hate you. And children at the grocery store? Oh my god I definitely hate you. I literally wanted to SMACK (but I didn't) the kids at school when "YOLO" was a thing. And none of this is my fault, or Taylor's. We are just trying to live our lives, yes, the only one we have. One of my favorite parts of the book is Chapter 10 when Taylor blows up his own spot. Because no one is perfect, not even the two of us. His rant on fashion was a little over my head because I just don't look at people long enough to process what they are wearing. Because again, I pretty much hate everyone, but the whole book is super entertaining.

for the every woman.

You may not be able to always tell this from her novels, but Lisa Scottoline is pretty hilarious. You can see for yourself in her latest collection of funny anecdotes that she writes with her daughter titled, Does This Beach Make Me Look Fat? Which any woman who breathes can relate to.

It's summer. And yes, the beach makes me look hella fat. But Lisa and Francesca want me and every other woman out there to have a worry-free time even if our bodies aren't summer ready, because, honestly mine has been like, once. Their stories are soooo so funny, and multigenerational. Francesca being single in her early twenties living in NYC and her mom being, well, a mom. There is a touch of serious here and there, but these ladies definitely aren't trying to kill the mood, so mostly they keep it light, except when it comes to their spaghetti sandwiches.

for a laugh, or seven.

Dave Barry has been writing humorous essays for decades, and they just keep getting better in my opinion. His latest, You Can Date Boys When You're Forty, is filled with lots of new material because there are just so many amazing things to mock these days. Barry does get crude here and there, but when you're making fun of Fifty Shades of Gray, how can you not be a little crass? I appreciate Barry's latest take on the world, and I know his fans will, too.

I do however think he saved the best for last because his last chapter, "How to Become a Professional Author" was probably the most hilarious thing I have ever read. I was LOLing all over the place.

go to baby shower gift.

Happy Friday! I love a good play on words almost as much as I love a good cocktail book. Tim Federle has brought me both with his Hickory Daiquiri Dock: Cocktails with a Nursery Rhyme Twist. Perfect book décor for the nursery when the time comes? I think so. But for now it will be my go to baby shower gift for mom and dad's to be. Why? Because the nursery rhyme parodies are clever, the illustrations are funny, and the cocktail recipes are delicious. Who knew Jägermeister, Goldschlager, and champagne go together? I didn't know a lot of things that I do now. Thanks, Tim.

for fun, probably.

Psychology lecturer and very clever, Ben Ambridge has come out with a book filled with quizzes and experiments to learn more about ourselves, others, and why we do what we do. PSY-Q: Test Yourself with More than 80 Quizzes, Puzzles, and Experiments for Everyday Life is 2015's Psych 101, and if you're interested in finding out if your boyfriend is a psychopath, this is a good place to start. I think that everyone should take the time to complete the Personality Profile at some point in their lives. I mean, how else are you going to find out which personality trait you are. Are you open to experiences, agreeable, an extrovert, overly consciences or neurotic? I mean, I would want to know. I am an extrovert, by the way. One of my favorite parts about the book is The Raw Shark Test. You know, when the doc pulls out a weird ink spotted picture and you have to say out loud what you see. Ambridge has you look at the picture, write down what you see, and then find out what your answer says about you on the next page. Apparently I have daddy issues, but who doesn't? There are a lot of quizzes, so I'm sure you'll find one that suits you. This book is great for a party, couples getting to know each other, any new relationships really. It's fun for regular folks. I mean, if you were a complete psychopath you probably would have killed a butterfly by now. So I'm sure there's nothing to worry about.

short and hysterical.

Funny man/musician/author Todd Snider and I have a few things in common, We are both hilarious, we both sing like angels, and neither of us have met a story we didn't like. He even wrote a book about that last one. I Never Met A Story I Didn't Like: Mostly True Tall Tales by Todd Snider where he uses his gift of storytelling (is there anything this guy can't do?) to share tidbits about his life. Readers are taken behind the scenes into Snider's life as a musician. The drugs, the song writing, the concerts, and the hilariousness. It's honestly impossible to not be entertained, no matter who you are. Those who are familiar with Snider, this book reads like his between song banter. Those who aren't familiar with Snider, I assure you, you do not need to be on drugs to enjoy this read. Unless you want to. I'm not here to judge.

lots of laughs.

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee has created a super relatable and hilarious collection of essays revolving around the mishaps of ordinary life (yes, she's just like you) titled The Amazing Thing About the Way it Goes.

Life IS funny in so many ways. Even when it's disastrous, you either find the funny, or you cry. MchPhee's short essays on the awkward and uncomfortable moments of being a mother, wife, and human are sure to make you look at your own life and realize how amazing (and funny) it actually is. The only complaint I can think of is wanting more.

try to find one page in this book that doesn't describe you.

I love a good parody, and making (good natured) fun of parents who are a bit over the top is just a bonus. Authors Jen Nessel, Lizzy Ratner, and illustrator Sara Pinto have created a hilarious satire titled Goodnight Nanny-Cam based on the beloved children's book (that was never read to me, by the way) Goodnight Moon.

Each page depicts the lives of many modern parents. With their environmentally friendly homes, French flashcards and baby Mozart playing on their iHome docs. Their baby gates taking over their entire house making it look like a prison. A quick jab at the weird names that are so common today. It's super funny, especially if you are one of those parents who are obsessed with Baby Einstein and are determined to make sure that your child is a genius. Okay, maybe it won't be that funny to you, but it will be funny to your parents who undoubtedly think you're insane.

what the hell?

No but really, what the hell Josh Miller and your The Very Hungry Parasite: It's Not What You're Eating, It's What's Eating You bathroom book with all of your frightening information. I find that I enjoy a more calming environment while doing my business, with reading material that doesn't include facts about a brain-eating amoeba that could be swimming around in my pool. But anyways, this "adult bathroom companion" is the absolute perfect gag gift for the clown in your life and definitely not your grandmother. Most of you will get a kick out of the pictures, and the many factoids Miller has clearly taken his time to research. He also believes in zombies, so there's that.