I consider myself a pretty upbeat, positive person, but for some reason that goes out the window when I read—for the most part I prefer my stories dark and twisty, and rarely gravitate to books described as sweet, lighthearted, or funny.
However, for me there’s a sweet spot of books that make me laugh, and that’s a novel with a smart, quirky female main character. I know that interpretation might be a little different for everyone, but for me, her humor is a little darker, dryer, more off-the-beaten-path. Here are a few books that encapsulate this idea, and I’d love to hear what you would add to this list.
Everyone in this Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin. Gilda struggles with anxiety, so when she finds a flyer offering free therapy she goes to check it out. The address takes her to a Catholic church, where they think she is there to apply for a job. Too nervous to tell them otherwise, despite being both gay and an atheist, she accepts the job replacing the church’s late secretary. Gilda is funny, endearing, and sometimes exasperating, yet she’s easy to root for.
Chemistry by Weike Wang. If you’ve experienced that mid-twenties, post-college, what the heck am I doing with my life existential crisis, you might just appreciate Chemistry. The writing is sparse and witty, and Wang tackles real issues with humor and relatability. This book is definitely different, so don’t go in expecting a traditional narrative. However, if you’re in the mood for something a little offbeat and can relate to the subject matter (the quarter life crisis, not necessarily the chemistry), I recommend giving this one a try.
Sourdough by Robin Sloan. If you spent 2020 quarantine baking and you love a smart, quirky female narrator, you’ve got to read Sourdough. I adored this story of Lois, a software engineer who never baked a day in her life, and a sourdough starter she inherited that changed her life. Books like this one are my sweet spot: light but not fluffy, compelling yet just a little zany.
Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong. The underlying thread of the story, Ruth’s father’s battle with Alzheimer’s, is a serious theme, yet I loved the wit and quirkiness that Ruth’s voice brought to the story. I always love a strong female character, but I adore them even more if they’re just a little bit, well, weird. I’m not sure all authors could handle this subject matter in a way that manages to be tender, funny, and heartfelt, but Khong does.
The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal. Brewing beer is the theme that weaves this story together, and it’s just begging to be read with a good craft beer in hand. Brewing is the theme in this story like hockey is the theme in Beartown (although the comparison stops there)—it’s the undercurrent of everything, yet you don’t have to be a fan to truly enjoy the story. The women in this story were so well-written; this one had multiple smart, quirky female characters. I particularly liked loyal, hard-working, no-nonsense “grandma” Edith. If you want a heartwarming story without sacrificing substance, I can’t recommend this enough.
Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren. This is definitely the lightest of the bunch, as it’s a romance. Hazel considers herself “undatable” for Josh, but happily plays the role of his best friend. She tries to cure his recent heartbreak by setting up a number of double dates for them to go on. Of course everyone else can see that the sparks are flying between Josh and Hazel–not them and their dates. This one checked the smart, quirky female protagonist box for me, and I adored Hazel and her antics.
Honorable mentions:
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. Eleanor is definitely smart and quirky, but this novel was dark in a way that I think surprised a lot of people. I absolutely loved it, but proceed with caution.
Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence. This is a memoir, so obviously the “main character” is the author. She definitely checks the “smart and quirky” box though! This book about books made me laugh out loud.
Misery by Stephen King. Okay, clearly this thriller is WAY different from the books above. But the smart, quirky female character in Misery is the villain, Annie Wilkes, and she’s all those things, but throw in absolutely bat-shit crazy as well. She’s more funny-scary than funny-ha-ha but she’s such a memorable villain that I had to mention this one here.
