Don't Make Me Laugh

by Julia Raeside

'A great book, an important book that will start a discussion that needs to be had…my heart was in my mouth' Marian Keyes

'Exhilarating, viscerally thrilling and SO timely - an ambitious dark comedy that really delivers. Hugely smart, with so much emotional depth and resonance' Daisy Buchanan

'More relevant with every day that passes, Don't Make Me Laugh is written with a comedy insider's knowledge and a woman's rage. Sharp, dark and outrageously funny, it's the #MeToo book we've all been waiting for' Marianne Levy

'This is an honest, funny, devastating and timely book' Jenny Colgan

Don't Make Me Laugh balances anger and humour with the deftest of touches. It is a story about power and control and manipulation, about gendered roles in both the workplace and our personal lives, and about how women are set up in competition with each other. And ultimately – satisfyingly – it's a story about fighting back.

Genres: Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published February 13, 2025

About the author

Julia Raeside is a journalist and broadcaster who has written for the Guardian, Times, Observer and The Big Issue among many others. She makes regular contributions to BBC Radio, including review spots on Radio 4’s Front Row and Lauren Laverne’s 6Music show. She lives in London with her husband, kid and cat.

Her first novel, Don't Make Me Laugh, is published in February 2025.

Reviews

[Jo Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy publication day 🥳🎉🎧

Initially a bit of a slow burn, the story quickly creeped up on me and I felt like I was reading a true insider scoop, I genuinely wonder if I was, and I wonder if I know who it was about……….

Ali is a 40 year old radio producer. She’s found herself in a position where she’s just lost her beloved father, her married lover has decided to stay with his wife, and she’s drinking too much too often, in a bid to lively up her career she attends some comedy shows in the hope of recruiting sone talent for her broadcast. When she meets “good guy” Ed the comedian and his androgynous PA she thinks she’s found both the talent and the friendship she craves.

The story takes a dark turn, and glares a shining light into the entertainment circuit and how the so called stars take advantage of their power, more importantly though it sheds a light upon those that we don’t expect to be the bad guys.

Well written, current. Binge worthy!

Great writing, excellent narration!

Huge thanks to W F Howes LTD via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

[Sarah Faichney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, the themes it contains, has been a long time coming and Julia Raeside has booted it out of the park. She has perfectly presented the insidious nature of abuse, in all its apparent nuance. Grainne Murphy captured my feelings precisely when she said (of the book) ‘One of the most accurate depictions I have ever read of the true monsters in stand up; it's not the swaggery lads you need to keep an eye on; it's the “good guys”’ 

‘Don't Make Me Laugh’ is a brilliant, timely piece of work. I hope it reaches a wide readership - of men, especially. Time's up!

[Rita Egan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't Make Me Laugh
By Julia Raeside

This book didn't make me laugh. It deals with difficult issues that are important to address. However, I find the writing style aggravating. The pacing is uneven, and the trains of thought bounce around, making it a frustrating read.

There's a good story in here, and we need these stories so that those who are victims of manipulation and power imbalances can feel seen and understand it's not OK, and those who witness it or are complicit in it feel called out. However, the execution is letting this one down.

Thanks to #Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review purposes, these opinions are written in honesty.

[Bleubelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t laugh once.

[Katy Physick · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 - rounded up to 3 because there was certainly potential here. The few chapters told from Ed's point of view were a great addition, and Rae really captured insidious nature of abuse from a narcissist.

But ultimately, the book was...boring. It took a long time for story to get going, but even then not much really happened. I also struggled to tell who was speaking at times - I think part of that is layout issues due to being an advanced copy, but mostly it was the writing style not being clear and the characters not really having distinct voices.

I found Ali's copying of Ed's collection of personal photos problematic. I can understand wanting to have evidence, but copying photos of other women and uploading them to a shared drive (which it seems Ali did share with some of the other victims) is problematic and morally wrong at best, if not flat out criminal in its own right.

Ultimately, I wanted to like this book. It's the #metoo story for the comedy world. But unfortunately it was just too bland and slow.

[Tilly Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A necessary, funny and empowering read which takes a look at the #metoo movement within the comedy landscape. I thought the audiobook narrator was great, and especially loved the female friendships which were formed, as well as that very satisfying ending!

I’d definitely read more by the author based on this - great character development and important messages shared in a fun way.

[Klee · Rating 4 out of 5]

"That was the day she knew men would be looking, even at her. That they were thinking about bodies under clothes, working out the shape of you, x-raying you as you waited for the bus. Thinking about your holes and what they wanted to put in them. Everyone was checking everyone out and she could see it now, like someone had flicked a switch and revealed the real world to her."

Don’t Make Me Laugh is a fierce, funny, and deeply unsettling novel that cuts straight to the heart of power, control, and the toxic gender dynamics embedded in both our workplaces and personal lives. Julia Raeside expertly balances anger and wit, using the world of stand-up comedy as a backdrop to explore how misogyny and sexual power thrives in plain sight.

At the centre of the story is Ali, a 40-year-old radio producer whose life is spiralling. Grieving her father’s death, at the end of an affair with a married man, and leaning too heavily on alcohol, Ali throws herself into scouting new comedy talent for her radio show. When she meets seemingly charming comedian Ed and his edgy, androgynous PA, she believes she’s found the career boost - and friendship -she desperately needs. But the story quickly takes a darker turn, forcing readers to confront the insidious, unsettling nature of abuse and the crushing challenges survivors face when they dare to speak up.

Raeside’s writing is sharp and uncomfortably real. While the opening is slow to build, the book soon hooks you with its biting observations, layered characters, and satisfying sense of justice. A tough but essential read about monsters who hide in plain sight.

[Sophie Lyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very kindly gifted this Bedford Square Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows Ali, a forty-year-old radio producer. A surprising new friendship with a famous comedian makes her feel alive for the first time in what feels like forever. But it all comes crashing down when Ali finds out things about him she just can’t ignore.
On the whole I enjoyed this one, it started off a bit slow so took a while for me to really get into but once it got to the real meaty part of the story, I was hooked. Small spoiler, it tackles a big issue within the comedy circuit with male comedians using and exploiting their female fans and fellow comedians and what happens when women get together and fight back. I found it hard to warm to Ali as a character and any ‘growth’ she had throughout felt a bit forced. There were some side characters who had much more growth and it would have been nice to have known a bit more about them. The ending also felt a bit rushed, which was a shame - I feel like the first few chapters could have been shorter about and more time put into the last couple instead. Overall though, I did like reading this and would recommend.

[Vicky Thirlaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it is prob wrong as it was a grim subject matter. I think the author was shooting for optimistic/empowering towards the end but didn’t really get that

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow ok so starting Don’t Make Me Laugh I kind of went in blind because I had it downloaded and had listened to a few others since I requested this and therefore I completely forgot the premise of this audiobook and didn’t re-read. So with that being said reading the title I’m thinking this is comedy (forgetting any mention of the abuse in synopsis) I get to the 33% mark and oh my word….. That statement was when this book really took off for me and fully gained some pace…

Ali is a radio producer who ends up going into the stand up comedy field and this is where she meets a guy who seems and appears to be a decent guy. Oh how appearances can be so deceptive and misleading, Ali thankfully is graced by the knowledge from Sid who wasn’t so lucky with the treatment Ed puts upon women particularly misogynistic coercive manipulation leading to full on abusing her and others. So with a little encouragement from Ali they band together and find others in the entertainment industry who have also shared experiences in order to make a difference and not allow this to continue.!!!

This wasn’t a comedy at all what this was though is extremely well written, informative from the point of view it is fiction it’s also very close to reality and what we see and hear all around us therefore shining light on the darkest areas of lives that otherwise people may not really think about. So with that being said this is definitely thought provoking. It was handled with care even though there are various disturbing aspects to this story it is absolutely imperative that it was all done such as it was to really get even a glimmer of potential reality for people!

This is definitely one of those books that I will remember! Really impactful and I couldn’t stop listening even at times when I was cringing and feeling the emotions alongside the characters which again shows for me how well this was written and obviously well narrated by Elizabeth Bower that it managed to have such a huge impact on me! It certainly gave me a few reminders and lightbulb moments of narcissistic behaviours that we sometimes can miss! So Thank You 🙏🏽

Huge gratitude to W.F. Howes Ltd & NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ELC in return for an open honest review. 🙏🏽📚❤️

[Ophelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected a witty, comedic story, but instead, 'Don't Make Me Laugh' unveils a much darker reality. Set within the radio and comedy industry, it follows Ali, a producer whose life takes a sharp turn after being discovered in a hotel room by the wife of the man she's having an affair with. As she distances herself from that failed relationship, she finds herself drawn to comedian Ed—initially charming and funny, yet ultimately revealing a far more disturbing side. The novel dives into a 'Me Too' narrative, peeling back the glossy layers of entertainment to expose its unsettling undercurrents

[Siobhán Tohill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don’t Make Me Laugh is a book which follows radio producer Ali as she encounters a comedian who is a “nice guy” within the world of creepy comics.

It’s not that I don’t believe that stories like this need to be shared and discussed, this just didn’t particularly pack any punches in my opinion. Meandering yet lacking depth, Don’t Make Me Laugh felt a little half-baked for me - maybe I just expected to feel more sympathy for the characters, which was difficult as they weren’t very fleshed out. A “good for her” kind of story, the tale does have a rather satisfying ending, however the build-up fell flat for me. Frankly, I was bored!

Shoutout to Liverpool featuring in the book though, even Bootle got a mention! #represent

2 stars⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Important themes but felt quite scatty - issues were briefly touched on and never properly explored. Finished it but not my cup of tea

[made_for_reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me a minute to get into but by the time I got to the end I was pretty happy with the outcome. The main character and her found friends are definitely my heroes. This is a book that sadly a lot of women would probably relate to on some level and should definitely read it. The ending will give you the satisfaction of knowing that doing nothing isn’t going to make it better and standing up for yourself and others is the best way forward. The spectacular way this ended is nothing short of brilliant and I wish it happened more often than it has!

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️ Blurb -
Don’t Make Me Laugh balances anger and humour with the deftest of touches. It is a story about power and control and manipulation, about gendered roles in both the workplace and our personal lives, and about how women are set up in competition with each other. And ultimately – satisfyingly – it’s a story about fighting back.
🧡 Review -
This was such a brilliant read. I hadn't read anything like it before. I loved how it shows you what can go on behind the comedy scene. The author's writing drew me in from the very first page and I didn't stop reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. The author's writing is brilliant and the attention to detail was spot on. Overall, a brilliant novel that I highly recommend to other readers.
💝 Thank you to Random Things Tours, the author and publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Maddy Peden · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Rachel Bridgeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia brings her knowledge from her careers in both journalism and broadcasting to bear on the story of Ali Lauder, birthday girl, fatherless daughter, bit on the side of a man who doesn't really love her.

But Ali is not a trope, she is clever enough to know she is a person who tries to be the person she believes you want her to be, and whilst she tries to keep her essential self safe inside, she inevitably ends up being hurt, abandoned and feeling far from good enough.

Working for digital radio station, Zone Digital, the book opens with an uncomfortable scene at a stand up comedy show where Ali has been sent by her boss to talk comedian of the moment, Paul Bonatti, into doing the breakfast show.

We have all been there, desperately trying to avoid the audience participation part of the show, willing to laugh at others but not put our most glaring flaws up for use as material by the talent.

It was an incredibly relatable start which puts you in Ali's shoes, her discomfort is palpable and uncomfortable, the hints that not all is as it seems subtle, but picked up on if you are a woman in a world where the majority of power lies in the hands of men.

This is painfully prescient with the stories circulating onlh last week about beloved comic/national treasure , Peter Kay, and previously about 'comedian/broadcaster/self styled guru' Russell Brand ,James Acaster, Louis C.K and too many others to list here. Women are the currency they trade in, use for their punchlines and to validate their status.

The focus is on women in the book, female comedians and the way they 'have' to compromise in order to proceed. Whether that is playing an adjunct role to a male comic, male boss, or being emotionally and sexually available (consent not always sought), these are brightly hilarious and clever women being made to feel like they need to be broken down in order to know their place.

The power play is massively stacked against them.

So you almost breathe a sigh of relief that Ali doesn't snag Paul, makes friends with the fabulous Sid, and meets Ed Catchpole, another comedian on the bill who is more than keen to establish a friendship with her.

She seems to have dodged something subtly hinted at but which pings that instinct in women that has them threading keys through their fingers whilst walking alone, has you checking everyone got in safe after a night out .

Raw, vulnerable but determined to do her best, you fiercely want to take Ali and hide her away from the predatory males that stalk her life. She becomes embroiled in the comedy circuit of London , Ali is certain she can finally make it and be seen as worthy-but is someone else using her to advance their own interests?

How long, if ever, will it take for Ali to realise that self deprecation is a masking technique to get her to let her guard down , and become material for the comic who has sidled into her life?

And how will the casual remarks, red flags pinging and survival instinct need to register before Ali and her her female friends get to the point where they strike back?

AND HOW!!!!

This is an incredible , moving and hilarious novel where the humour paradoxically intensifies the underlying angst of being the only woman in the room. What makes you vulnerable makes you a commodity and up for sale...so how do you turn this around and retain that power to elevate, warn and inform others?

It is a debut novel but never feels like it, this is writer who brings readers into her world and lets you go when she feels the story is finished-it is neither overlong nor brought up short, it is exactly the right length for Ali's tale to be told and my regret is that now I have read it, I can't experience it again for the first time. It was such a privilege to read, and if you like podcasts, Julia is the guest on one of my favourites , Drunk Women Solving Crime

Check it out, it's the reason I am constantly getting the side eye on the daily routes because I am laughing so much!

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Bedford Square and Novel Tours for a copy of Don’t Make Me Laugh in exchange for a review.

Very rooted in real life, this wonderful fictional story follows 40-year-old radio producer Ali Lauder as she infiltrates the London stand-up comedy scene to book some talented names for a new radio show she’s working on.

In a vulnerable place in her life, grieving for her dad, just coming out of an affair with a married man, and drifting apart from her friends with husbands and babies, Ali meets Ed Catchpole – an unassuming, friendly but charming, divorced comedian in his mid-40s. He’s a good guy, not like some of the others Ali hears talk about in the green room that night.

Ali makes friends with Ed, and his assistant Sid, and she becomes drawn into a dependence on Ed’s attention, and Sid’s insight into his life.

As Ali falls further under Ed’s spell, she begins to uncover the truth about many male comedians in the scene, and how women are banding together to speak out amongst each other, sharing their stories to warn and protect each other in secret to avoid putting themselves in danger.

Ali is in no way a perfect person, but she is so relatable. Her combination of addiction to the attention and acceptance coupled with the revulsion she feels, was so genuinely described that she felt very real.

The underlying reality of the story weighs heavily whilst reading this – in not only the comedy scene but any scene where insecure, narcissistic men can hide their insidious and controlling behaviour and have the public glimpses of it be swept under the carpet.

Don’t Make Me Laugh is a combination of depressing, enraging, and uplifting!

This was so well-written, blending dry humour with great characters and Julia’s research from speaking to women about their real experiences of working in and around live comedy and how their keep each other safe. It’s hard to know how much is based in reality, which is a scary thing, but there is a lot of hope by the end of the story.

[Katy Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creeps up on you: dark, disturbing and discussion-worthy.

Taking one industry in its sights, radio producer Ali is trying to find comics for a new show, and is immediately drawn to Ed Catchpole, who is charming, funny (of course) and interested in her. Other possible candidates for the radio are flagged to her as... problematic.

A slow and steady build up gives the reader time to see a snippet of behind the scenes in the comedy industry as Ali and Ed ratchet up their texts and sexual tension, until a bomb lands in Ali's lap and she has to question not just other people but herself.

I feel I have to leave the synopsis there, as I wouldn't want to give away too many details. This did feel ponderous for a while, but as soon as revelations hit, then BAM, definitely wanted to keep on.

The rabbit-hole went deep with this one, with some psychological insights, a lot of upsetting scenarios and all-too-realistic characters that meant this became a book I hope makes it into a lot of hands.

One small issue I had with the writing though - most of the time we are inside Ali's head, but a few scenes rotate and we confusingly are inside multiple points of view successively, which didn't feel right as this was not the trend for most of the book. It made me re-read to work out who I was meant to be 'reading'.

Definitely reminds you that saying nothing is not helping. That there are more forms of harm than merely physical. That many people are hiding problems and trauma.

Ultimately this was a book I won't easily forget. The coda was unexpected but fitting, and the resolution a welcome one.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

[KathVBtn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia Raeside’s debut novel ‘Don’t make me laugh’ is a book that might well change how I view the world. I love love love stand up comedy but had never thought much about the comedians themselves but I will now .

The story’s set in the contemporary stand-up comedy scene, where successful comedians are feted and adored by the audience and can do no wrong. There are always rumours and whispers of dodgy male #MeToo performers who push it too far with women who can’t stand up to them but equally there are a raft of seemingly good guys who are respectful, understand women and that won’t take it too far.

Ali is spending her 40th birthday at a comedy club. Her life is at rock bottom , her dad has died, her partner has gone back to his wife and her radio station boss is an idiot. No one is celebrating her birthday with her so she’s come out alone.

Ali starts talking to comedian Ed Catchpole. He’s a charming mess, open about his flaws and keen to get to know Ali. Their tentative relationship grows, frequent texts and late night chats bringing them closer to each other. As the weeks pass, Ed blows hot and cold , sometimes desperate for Ali’s attention and other times completely standoffish. Ali knows that he has a past and an ex-wife but when she learns more about how Ed really views her and other women, her innocence is shattered and her heart is broken.

The story has a lot of hugely important insights about the entertainment industry as a whole, including cancel culture, misogyny, the struggles for female comedians and the ease with which famous men can be forgiven for significant wrongs.

[amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK TOUR REVIEW
Contemporary Fiction | Paperback
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Don’t Make Me Laugh by Julia Raeside

Ali is a 40 year old radio producer who is going through a bit of a tough time; her father has recently passed away, her affair with a married co-worker has been rumbled, she drinks too much, feels lonely due to her anti social working hours and has a difficult relationship with her mother. She is a prime candidate for the wolf in sheep’s clothing, Ed, an enigmatic and well known comedian. It soon becomes obvious that he’s not a good person, he uses women, strings them along, emotionally abuses them and plays mind games. This is the story of how these women fight back.

I’m surprised that this subject hasn’t been written about before now and also surprised there hasn’t been more exposure of the misogyny in the comedy circuit. There must be something going on, or has gone on in the blokey, beer soaked, late night world of stand up comedy. I spent the whole book trying to work out who the author was writing about but perhaps it’s not one comedian but many. Or perhaps the world of stand up comedy is full of ‘good guys’.

The author is a journalist and a broadcaster and I’d love to listen to some interviews she’s given about this book.

Thanks to @novel.tours for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own 😊

@juliaraesidewriter @bedfordsq.publishers

#dontmakemelaugh #bookreview #booktour #paperback #fiction #bookrecommendations #arc #bookstagram #juliaraeside #comedycircuit #standupcomedy #recentlyread

[Angi Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thoughts

How do you write a story about the devastation one person can cause without sounding like you’re hopping on a bandwagon? Exactly like this.
Because we are still having to say that the messages of MeToo have not been learned and implemented in the many places we had hoped they would, this story has hit places and possibly people at a purely different level.
This time it’s the entertainment industry and I devoured this book in two sittings. I needed to know what happened to the women involved.
The clever way that we think it’s the one person who appears to be decent and things aren’t as they seem, reminded me of Araminta Hall’s One of the Good Guys. Although the scenario is entirely different, this shows that the behaviour is still prevalent.
The anger pulsing throughout this book was palpable and I could feel myself getting angry for the characters. With others, too. But I also found myself chuckling at the dark humour and the perfect observation of how we act and react in these situations.
Another book that should start conversations in the world as it’s highlighting another section of the population that still hasn’t learned. Until the end my heart was in my mouth. Brilliant.
With thanks to Tracy Fenton, the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️s

A powerful debut which delves into big questions about power imbalances, autonomy, complicity, and the spiky politics of male dominated industries where misogyny is rife.

It’s an eye-opening, unsettling read – the compelling writing is addictive, the pages flew by as the story pulls us into the darker side of the comedy circuit. It’s intense and packed with feeling as the lies and manipulations unravel – it feels like a real wake-up call demanding to be heard.

Ali is strikingly brought to life, we feel her struggles, pain and conflicted emotions. By chance she meets Ed and they strike up a friendship. She’s charmed by him and enjoys the attention. The personal becomes professional as parts of their lives become intertwined.

Raeside stunningly portrays how the seemingly “good guy” can fly under the radar. Ed is not at all the person he presents himself to be, his toxic and disturbing nature is hidden scarily well aided by silence and cover ups.

I enjoyed the way Sid, Bethan, Ali and Summer unite, their strength, support and understanding making all the difference. The power of the words , “I believe you,” cannot be underestimated. It was impactful seeing how they channel their traumas into the Scold’s Bridle helping others and fighting to make a change for the good. The solidarity and female empowerment shine through.

Don’t Make Me Laugh raises important issues in a meaningful way. It’s sharp, clever and painfully astute opening up conversations that need to be had. It’s a book I won’t be forgetting any time soon and I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!

With thanks to @Tr4cyF3ntøn and @bedsqpublishers for my place on the Tour.

[Claire Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read a book like this before and I absolutely loved it. My emotions were going from angry to amused to worried and back again as Julia really took me on a journey.

Don’t Make Me Laugh is a fantastically written book about the dark side of the comedy scene, about the power and control men have over women and about women taking a stand. It’s also about the lengths women will go to to feel needed, whether through work or relationships.

We follow Ali Lauder’s story as she grieves the death of her father, gets involved with a married man and then becomes friends with Ed Catchpole, the male comedian everyone knows and loves, and his assistant Sid. Ali, Ed and Sid form a slightly odd friendship that feels like something each of them need, but doesn’t quite work out as planned - because you never know what’s hiding in plain sight!

At the start I had a few ideas of where this book might go, but the second and third twist proved me completely wrong. Although it started off a little slow, I found it hard to put this book down once I’d read through the first few chapters. I loved the ending, but I do wish there had been a bit more to it!

A huge thanks to Novel Tours, Bedford Square Publishers and Julia Raeside for a copy of this book.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Don’t Make Me Laugh’ by Julia Raeside is a rage inducing and mortifyingly realistic tale about Ali, a radio producer who meets charismatic ageing comedian Ed and soon becomes acquainted with the misogyny of the dark underbelly of the entertainment circuit. It’s a novel that’s simultaneously empowering and frustrating, funny and depressing.

Ali is an interesting woman, and we get a deep insight into her inner thoughts - which are very relatable. I also appreciated some of the other female cast - Bethan, Sid and Summer - who were varied and flawed but united by being women in an industry favouring mediocre men. Ed felt more like a caricature and a mechanism for raising important issues than a carefully constructed and well-developed character, but that didn’t really bother me.

I did find that the novel took some effort to wade through as it wasn’t exactly a fun read… but it gets a thought-provoking 3.5 stars and I’m glad I read it!

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Bedford Square Publishers via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[MADEUP bookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a unique story that wasn’t as cheerful as one might assume from the title, in fact it was quite dark once you got into it.

Initially it was quite slow, but set the scene well. Ali is part of the entertainment industry and producing, and I think the slow beginning allows readers who perhaps are less familiar with this world to understand the personalities and roles involved within.

One you get into it, the story is gripping and moves along well, but I would warn that it does tackle some dark subjects, so perhaps check spoiler reviews if you aren’t sure. That being said, this is certainly a book that will encourage some conversations, and personally I think it is one of those that people shy away from because it’s uncomfortable to think of, but is really something we need to shine a light on. The author has tackled it wonderfully, making it engaging to read whilst keeping it raw and realistic without making it overwhelming to read.

The characters were interesting, and I loved a few less seen in the story and would have loved to get to know them better!

Overall a strong story, engaging and memorable, this is very well worth a read.

[Elizabeth Currie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t Make Me Laugh is a book that may change your view on stand-up comedy - and will certainly leave you with much food for thought as it delves into a male-driven world that feels all too familiar.

Ali, a radio producer, finds herself in the orbit of comedian Ed Catchpole as she tries to put together a new show. Seemingly charming and charismatic, Ali falls for his charms - but she soon discovers he has a much darker side.

This is a book that starts off relatively slowly, but as the truth comes to light and we realise just how skilful those who seek to manipulate can be, so it becomes increasingly gripping.

This is a book that will have you inwardly screaming at times - but sadly it feels all too plausible, and it is that that makes it all the more thought provoking. Men may be the enemy - but female relationships can be pretty complex too. It is a book that will spark conversations about gender dynamics, control and coercion - and for that it is to be applauded.

[Penelope Pitstop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some mild spoilers

I’m both radio and comedy adjacent, which are the two worlds in this book, and Julia definitely knows her stuff - it’s reassuringly accurate.

The good guy as narcissistic controlling bully is something that feels very real - so many examples in public life and obviously there’s the temptation to spot little bits of inspiration behind the character.

There are a couple of slightly odd structural choices. I’d have liked Ali to have her own gradual realisation of what’s happening to her, but instead she’s told it, fairly early in the book, and believes it, so the tension is lacking in that respect.

And there are a couple of scenes from Ed’s POV where he’s just a monster - whereas even in internal monologue, I’d expect a narcissist to still be convincing themselves that they’re a good guy.

Loved the campaigning and the denouement.

[Nicola Mackenzie-Smaller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ali, a forty year old radio presenter, is tasked with bagging a comedian for a radio show. The one her boss originally wants is embroiled in some sort of scandal, but Ali meets nice guy Ed, and feels something for him which makes her want to work with him. As she (and we) get to know him better, it seems that maybe Ed is not nice after all.
This book starts off quite slowly, and builds to a denouement which had me cheering. Alive and the right women who know Ed join a collective group called The Scolds Bridle, which takes action at the Edinburgh fringe to expose poor behaviour towards women, which I very much enjoyed. This book had an alarmingly plausible premise, and the way I got drawn in as a reader echoed the way Alice got drawn in by Ed.
Clever- and I’m wondering who might be a real-life Ed!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Patrice Gotting - #prdgreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Thoughts: what an important book this was, I went in expecting a light hearted book with added humour that was easy to get lost in and to start with that’s what I got, I was drawn into Ali’s world whilst the tried to find herself a cohost for a new radio show.

the one she was tasked to enroll isn’t as nice as she was led to believe as she has people whispering in her ear that he has a reputation for making girls feel uncomfortable! – she then finds Ed, and has an instant connection with him, he’s the one she wants for the job, but can she find away to convince her boss that it was his idea?

Before we know it the story gets darker, but in a way so subtle that you almost don’t notice it until you’re right in the thick of it and wanting to help the ones involved get the justice they deserved and help them get their stories out there.

I really feel that this book will stir up a lot of conversations, conversations that need to be had, it shows the underbelly of the entertainment industry whilst also showing the importance of friendship and sticking together.