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This Will Be Funny Someday
A girl walks into a bar… then onto a stage, and up to the mic.
Sixteen-year-old Izzy is used to keeping her thoughts to herself—in school, where her boyfriend does the talking for her, and at home, where it’s impossible to compete with her older siblings and high-powered parents—but when she accidentally walks into a stand-up comedy club and performs, the experience is surprisingly cathartic. After the show, she meets Mo, an aspiring comic who’s everything Izzy’s not: bold, confident, comfortable in her skin. Mo invites Izzy to join her group of friends and introduces her to the Chicago open mic scene.
The only problem? Her new friends are college students—and Izzy tells them she’s one, too. Now Izzy, the dutiful daughter and model student, is sneaking out to perform stand-up with her comedy friends, and she can hardly remember all the lies she’s telling to keep her two lives separate.
Her controlling boyfriend is getting suspicious, and her former best friend knows there’s something going on. But Izzy loves comedy and this newfound freedom. As her two parallel lives collide—in the most hilarious of ways—Izzy must choose to either hide what she really wants and who she really is or, finally, truly stand up for herself.
Sixteen-year-old Izzy is used to keeping her thoughts to herself—in school, where her boyfriend does the talking for her, and at home, where it’s impossible to compete with her older siblings and high-powered parents—but when she accidentally walks into a stand-up comedy club and performs, the experience is surprisingly cathartic. After the show, she meets Mo, an aspiring comic who’s everything Izzy’s not: bold, confident, comfortable in her skin. Mo invites Izzy to join her group of friends and introduces her to the Chicago open mic scene.
The only problem? Her new friends are college students—and Izzy tells them she’s one, too. Now Izzy, the dutiful daughter and model student, is sneaking out to perform stand-up with her comedy friends, and she can hardly remember all the lies she’s telling to keep her two lives separate.
Her controlling boyfriend is getting suspicious, and her former best friend knows there’s something going on. But Izzy loves comedy and this newfound freedom. As her two parallel lives collide—in the most hilarious of ways—Izzy must choose to either hide what she really wants and who she really is or, finally, truly stand up for herself.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 19, 2021
121 people are currently reading
8292 people want to read
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January 27, 2021Hi! I’m Katie, I wrote THIS WILL BE FUNNY SOMEDAY, and I’m excited to share this story with you! It’s got friendship, a little Shakespeare, and lots of jokes.
I want to note for readers that this book depicts an emotionally abusive relationship between the protagonist and her boyfriend. While it’s not the main plot arc, it is present throughout the narrative. This may be distressing for some readers, so please keep your own well-being in mind.
I tried to write about this experience as compassionately and accurately as I could, with as much complexity and nuance as it deserves. I hope I succeeded.
I want to note for readers that this book depicts an emotionally abusive relationship between the protagonist and her boyfriend. While it’s not the main plot arc, it is present throughout the narrative. This may be distressing for some readers, so please keep your own well-being in mind.
I tried to write about this experience as compassionately and accurately as I could, with as much complexity and nuance as it deserves. I hope I succeeded.
February 13, 2021
I love stand-up comedy. They make me laugh even when I don't want to. So to find a book which has stand-up in it? A miracle.
Isabel is so relatable as a character that it hurts. She is the odd one out in her over accomplishing family, she has a controlling boyfriend, she always keeps her thoughts to herself. Being odd one out and always hiding thoughts are seriously two traits that I most relate to. You can even say that they made me like this book. The way she handled her controlling boyfriend in the end is iconic. She is a hero.
Mom sighs and slings her heavy bag over one shoulder. She throws me a smile and a conspiratorial look as she starts toward the entryway. “You’re the calm in the storm.”
Sometimes, I wish I were the storm instead.
I wish same sometimes. If I am quite that doesn't mean I am not struggling with myself
It is obvious yet I will state that the book was very funny. I have perfected my book face at this point but even that couldn't save me from smiling at my screen and people thinking I am a weirdo.
The book made me cry. Maybe I got overly emotional, but if a book makes me cry, I automatically think the book has something.
Though something that striked me as abrupt was the way she changed. Things had been in motion for a long time but the transformation instead of being seamless was like flipping the switch.. One chapter she was all timid and cowering and hiding herself and the next she was a badass who spoke fluent sarcasm and was ready to face every single one of her fears.
So all in all a 4star
Isabel is so relatable as a character that it hurts. She is the odd one out in her over accomplishing family, she has a controlling boyfriend, she always keeps her thoughts to herself. Being odd one out and always hiding thoughts are seriously two traits that I most relate to. You can even say that they made me like this book. The way she handled her controlling boyfriend in the end is iconic. She is a hero.
Mom sighs and slings her heavy bag over one shoulder. She throws me a smile and a conspiratorial look as she starts toward the entryway. “You’re the calm in the storm.”
Sometimes, I wish I were the storm instead.
I wish same sometimes. If I am quite that doesn't mean I am not struggling with myself
It is obvious yet I will state that the book was very funny. I have perfected my book face at this point but even that couldn't save me from smiling at my screen and people thinking I am a weirdo.
The book made me cry. Maybe I got overly emotional, but if a book makes me cry, I automatically think the book has something.
Though something that striked me as abrupt was the way she changed. Things had been in motion for a long time but the transformation instead of being seamless was like flipping the switch.. One chapter she was all timid and cowering and hiding herself and the next she was a badass who spoke fluent sarcasm and was ready to face every single one of her fears.
So all in all a 4star
January 30, 2021
This Will Be Funny Someday is a Young Adult Contemporary novel. It is my first book by this author.
The story takes place in Chicago. The narrator is 16 year old Isabel/Izzy (1st person POV). Isabel is in high school. She has a boyfriend who is a bit controlling. Her parents have busy jobs. So she is left on her own a lot.
I really had no idea what to expect from this book. But I enjoyed it a lot. Isabel was such an intriguing narrator.
The first thing that I found very interesting was that Isabel has hearing issues. She can't hear what people are saying in loud settings. This was something that I have never seen before in a YA book. And I found it fascinating.
The main focus of the book has to do with stand-up comedy clubs. Isabel walks into a comedy show at the beginning of the book. And things take off from there. I adored this part of the story. And thought that it made the book super original and I loved everything to do with comedy.
At that first show Isabel meets Mo and her friends (they are college students). I loved every part of the story that featured Mo and her friends.
The book also focuses on Isabel, her mom and her sister. And their relationships. This was a strong part of the book.
Overall, I loved everything to do with the comedy clubs. And with Mo and her friends. But I absolutely hated Isabel's boyfriend. I really liked how the author managed to put all of these things into one book.
This was such an enjoyable read!
Thanks to edelweiss and Katherine Tegen Books for allowing me to read this book.
The story takes place in Chicago. The narrator is 16 year old Isabel/Izzy (1st person POV). Isabel is in high school. She has a boyfriend who is a bit controlling. Her parents have busy jobs. So she is left on her own a lot.
I really had no idea what to expect from this book. But I enjoyed it a lot. Isabel was such an intriguing narrator.
The first thing that I found very interesting was that Isabel has hearing issues. She can't hear what people are saying in loud settings. This was something that I have never seen before in a YA book. And I found it fascinating.
The main focus of the book has to do with stand-up comedy clubs. Isabel walks into a comedy show at the beginning of the book. And things take off from there. I adored this part of the story. And thought that it made the book super original and I loved everything to do with comedy.
At that first show Isabel meets Mo and her friends (they are college students). I loved every part of the story that featured Mo and her friends.
The book also focuses on Isabel, her mom and her sister. And their relationships. This was a strong part of the book.
Overall, I loved everything to do with the comedy clubs. And with Mo and her friends. But I absolutely hated Isabel's boyfriend. I really liked how the author managed to put all of these things into one book.
This was such an enjoyable read!
Thanks to edelweiss and Katherine Tegen Books for allowing me to read this book.
July 15, 2021
too tired to form like. coherent thoughts and probably won't come back to review more but:
- katie henry's writing style is so conversational and i love the specific brand of self-deprecating humor she uses
- i also really admire how the author can always touch on serious topics - this time predominantly emotionally abusive relationships but also neglectful parents, societal boxes and systemic prejudice, and confronting privilege, with such care yet still carry that humor throughout
- it took place in chicago and name-dropped my uni like three (3) times and every time i was like HEY I KNOW THAT PLACE
- i love the friendship group
- izzy has an auditory processing disorder!
- katie henry's writing style is so conversational and i love the specific brand of self-deprecating humor she uses
- i also really admire how the author can always touch on serious topics - this time predominantly emotionally abusive relationships but also neglectful parents, societal boxes and systemic prejudice, and confronting privilege, with such care yet still carry that humor throughout
- it took place in chicago and name-dropped my uni like three (3) times and every time i was like HEY I KNOW THAT PLACE
- i love the friendship group
- izzy has an auditory processing disorder!
February 18, 2021
I wish this would have been Mo's book.
February 23, 2021
my queen has done it again.
if you haven’t read a katie henry book, you really are missing out. as I say every time I review her works, she has mastered the inner thoughts, turmoils, and developing brain cells of the teenage mind. it’s hard for me to read YA contemporaries and see such authentic characters but henry never misses. her main characters particularly always have so many layers to them. she does not dumb her teenagers down, does not underestimate them, but also is not afraid to show their flaws (and don’t worry, there’s lots of them because.... well teenagers are the worst). the character development and growth that occurs in her books are always amazing to see and izzy is no different.
izzy goes through a lot in this book, specifically with an abusive boyfriend and feelings of being unwanted. but she also is forced to acknowledge your privileges in the world outside her private school life. seeing her grow and realize both her strength and her hubris made me very invested in the story.
although this was probably my least favorite of henry’s books so far I still continue to appreciate her skill as a writer.
if you haven’t read a katie henry book, you really are missing out. as I say every time I review her works, she has mastered the inner thoughts, turmoils, and developing brain cells of the teenage mind. it’s hard for me to read YA contemporaries and see such authentic characters but henry never misses. her main characters particularly always have so many layers to them. she does not dumb her teenagers down, does not underestimate them, but also is not afraid to show their flaws (and don’t worry, there’s lots of them because.... well teenagers are the worst). the character development and growth that occurs in her books are always amazing to see and izzy is no different.
izzy goes through a lot in this book, specifically with an abusive boyfriend and feelings of being unwanted. but she also is forced to acknowledge your privileges in the world outside her private school life. seeing her grow and realize both her strength and her hubris made me very invested in the story.
although this was probably my least favorite of henry’s books so far I still continue to appreciate her skill as a writer.
March 2, 2021
TW: controlling / emotionally abusive boyfriend
Did not expect this to be a banger, HONESTLY. I guess third time is the charm with this author because I did not like her last two books at all??
This Will Be Funny Someday is about a girl named Izzy who sneaks into a club to avoid her overly controlling boyfriend one night. It turns out the club is a comedy club and Izzy accidentally ends up on stage at the mic. Izzy finds she loves the experience and at the club she meets a group of college students who mistake her as one of them and she just keeps up the ruse. Lying to her new friends doesn't sit right with her but she has never felt more herself than when she is practicing, writing jokes, and hanging out with them at various shows. Eventually it gets harder and harder to keep her two lives apart- her former best friend knows there is something going on and her controlling boyfriend is suspicious.
Bitch this made me cry and for what!! I did not ask to feel?? This was supposed to be a hate read that I could make fun of because I hate stand up comedy. But this fucking book is so much more than that. This is a book about a girl finally learning to stand up for herself and I'm weak as HELL. I put this audiobook on last night when I was dyeing my hair so I wasn't paying too much attention but then suddenly I was like oh no I hope I don't fall. The joke is on me!!!
Izzy is a character who I instantly felt for. She's felt ignored and basically unloved by her family, in the shadow of her siblings. She has a boyfriend that she loves but doesn't even realize that he is abusive. She doesn't know how to stand up for herself and through the course of the book, she learns to use her voice. To make people laugh, to tell them off, to be an absolute messy queen.
I still don't like stand up comedy but honestly it wasn't that terrible, I only had second hand cringe a few times and not the whole time. I think because I had already read a book this year (that shall not be named but has "better" in the title and written by a booktuber) that had such an AWFUL stand up "comedian", this was mostly fine.
Seeing Izzy and her boyfriend honestly fucked me up. We see him gaslight her, literally threaten her life "as a joke" and just be an all around controlling piece of shit. The way she just excused it because she didn't see what it really was broke my heart. It's so real and the fact that there are girls and boys and nonbinaries out there right now in such shitty relationships suCKs. Not to mention the actual nasty ass dudes in this book being gross because a girl dare wear a dress. Yes I am going to go fight men with my bare hands thank you.
The friendships in this are what also made it for me. Izzy and Mo were just SO good I'm cri. This is the kind of book where it could have been, oh she falls in love with a cute boy that fixes her life but no she falls in love with something else entirely and it was beautiful. I didn't expect this book to be so feminist either but go off plsss. Almost exact same energy as This Song Will Save Your Life which was another book I enjoyed back in the day.
I still don't like stand up comedy and I would like to not read any more but this slapped in ways it shouldn't.
Did not expect this to be a banger, HONESTLY. I guess third time is the charm with this author because I did not like her last two books at all??
This Will Be Funny Someday is about a girl named Izzy who sneaks into a club to avoid her overly controlling boyfriend one night. It turns out the club is a comedy club and Izzy accidentally ends up on stage at the mic. Izzy finds she loves the experience and at the club she meets a group of college students who mistake her as one of them and she just keeps up the ruse. Lying to her new friends doesn't sit right with her but she has never felt more herself than when she is practicing, writing jokes, and hanging out with them at various shows. Eventually it gets harder and harder to keep her two lives apart- her former best friend knows there is something going on and her controlling boyfriend is suspicious.
Bitch this made me cry and for what!! I did not ask to feel?? This was supposed to be a hate read that I could make fun of because I hate stand up comedy. But this fucking book is so much more than that. This is a book about a girl finally learning to stand up for herself and I'm weak as HELL. I put this audiobook on last night when I was dyeing my hair so I wasn't paying too much attention but then suddenly I was like oh no I hope I don't fall. The joke is on me!!!
Izzy is a character who I instantly felt for. She's felt ignored and basically unloved by her family, in the shadow of her siblings. She has a boyfriend that she loves but doesn't even realize that he is abusive. She doesn't know how to stand up for herself and through the course of the book, she learns to use her voice. To make people laugh, to tell them off, to be an absolute messy queen.
I still don't like stand up comedy but honestly it wasn't that terrible, I only had second hand cringe a few times and not the whole time. I think because I had already read a book this year (that shall not be named but has "better" in the title and written by a booktuber) that had such an AWFUL stand up "comedian", this was mostly fine.
Seeing Izzy and her boyfriend honestly fucked me up. We see him gaslight her, literally threaten her life "as a joke" and just be an all around controlling piece of shit. The way she just excused it because she didn't see what it really was broke my heart. It's so real and the fact that there are girls and boys and nonbinaries out there right now in such shitty relationships suCKs. Not to mention the actual nasty ass dudes in this book being gross because a girl dare wear a dress. Yes I am going to go fight men with my bare hands thank you.
The friendships in this are what also made it for me. Izzy and Mo were just SO good I'm cri. This is the kind of book where it could have been, oh she falls in love with a cute boy that fixes her life but no she falls in love with something else entirely and it was beautiful. I didn't expect this book to be so feminist either but go off plsss. Almost exact same energy as This Song Will Save Your Life which was another book I enjoyed back in the day.
I still don't like stand up comedy and I would like to not read any more but this slapped in ways it shouldn't.
Want to read
June 23, 2020A NEW KATIE HENRY BOOK THIS IS NOT A DRILL IM SO READY
August 12, 2022
Finished this in one day! I related to the main character a lot; a teenage girl who is afraid to speak her mind when she should, because she’s afraid of making people mad at her. That was me (and sometimes still is). It took me long, long time to become “comfortable in my own skin”, as they say.
In young Isabel’s case, doing a comedy set on an open mike night, unexpectedly, has the result of opening her eyes to a whole new world of talent she never knew she possessed.
Red Flags/Trigger Warnings:
Underage drinking; a teen gets high after unknowingly eating weed-laced candy.
There is a disturbing scene of a physically abusive boyfriend, and others of him being verbally abusive.
Frequent f-bombs; would have given it a higher rating if not for that.
In young Isabel’s case, doing a comedy set on an open mike night, unexpectedly, has the result of opening her eyes to a whole new world of talent she never knew she possessed.
Red Flags/Trigger Warnings:
Underage drinking; a teen gets high after unknowingly eating weed-laced candy.
There is a disturbing scene of a physically abusive boyfriend, and others of him being verbally abusive.
Frequent f-bombs; would have given it a higher rating if not for that.
April 27, 2021
4/5
Review Soon
Review Soon
January 11, 2021
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Katie Henry has yet to disappoint me with her unique and entertaining contemporary fiction. It's no secret that I am especially picky about which contemporaries I pick, but this is the author's third hit for me, so she's firmly cemented herself as one of the few contemporary authors on my auto-buy list. This book may have actually been my favorite of hers, as I found the characters really enjoyable and the story fun and inspiring.
Izzy is great. She's so wonderfully flawed as a person, but she is also really awesome. She's got a hearing issue too, which I have not read about before. And she has been in this pretty awful relationship for far too long. She feels like a fifth wheel in her family, and she just seems so lost in general. She wanders (accidentally) into a comedy club where she finds herself taking the stage and actually really enjoying it. While she's there, she meets some comedians who treat her kindly and want to show her the ropes. Of course, they are in college and Izzy lies and pretends she is too. (This is the one thing I don't love about the book- these lies always come back to bite people, why do they do it? Actually, my problem is likely less with the book and more with humanity, but that is a post for another time*.)
As the book evolves, Izzy begins to find her strength as she becomes braver behind the mic. One of my favorite aspects of the book was Izzy coming to terms with what a complete asshat her boyfriend was. Like I want to push this guy in front of a bus. (It's fine because he's fictional; faux-murder is allowed.) She's finding her agency with her current relationships, including her family. But at the same time, she worries about her new friends finding her out, and balancing her real life with her "college comedy" life.
Bottom Line: Ultimately it's a fun, sweet story with a great character who learns quite a few life lessons along the way.
Katie Henry has yet to disappoint me with her unique and entertaining contemporary fiction. It's no secret that I am especially picky about which contemporaries I pick, but this is the author's third hit for me, so she's firmly cemented herself as one of the few contemporary authors on my auto-buy list. This book may have actually been my favorite of hers, as I found the characters really enjoyable and the story fun and inspiring.
Izzy is great. She's so wonderfully flawed as a person, but she is also really awesome. She's got a hearing issue too, which I have not read about before. And she has been in this pretty awful relationship for far too long. She feels like a fifth wheel in her family, and she just seems so lost in general. She wanders (accidentally) into a comedy club where she finds herself taking the stage and actually really enjoying it. While she's there, she meets some comedians who treat her kindly and want to show her the ropes. Of course, they are in college and Izzy lies and pretends she is too. (This is the one thing I don't love about the book- these lies always come back to bite people, why do they do it? Actually, my problem is likely less with the book and more with humanity, but that is a post for another time*.)
As the book evolves, Izzy begins to find her strength as she becomes braver behind the mic. One of my favorite aspects of the book was Izzy coming to terms with what a complete asshat her boyfriend was. Like I want to push this guy in front of a bus. (It's fine because he's fictional; faux-murder is allowed.) She's finding her agency with her current relationships, including her family. But at the same time, she worries about her new friends finding her out, and balancing her real life with her "college comedy" life.
Bottom Line: Ultimately it's a fun, sweet story with a great character who learns quite a few life lessons along the way.
November 1, 2022
This is a book whose blurb is misleading in a big way.
This book is not funny. It's about a girl who learns how to do stand-up comedy as a coping strategy for neglect and an abusive boyfriend. Abusive, controlling, gas-lighting boyfriend --- TRIGGER WARNING --- takes a lot space on the page and a lot of emotional energy to read about.
Was it well written? Yes. But don't buy into the blurb on the back cover. This is 100% about recognizing abusive relationships and finding your voice through the barrage of negative energy, and hopefully getting the hell out.
This book is not funny. It's about a girl who learns how to do stand-up comedy as a coping strategy for neglect and an abusive boyfriend. Abusive, controlling, gas-lighting boyfriend --- TRIGGER WARNING --- takes a lot space on the page and a lot of emotional energy to read about.
Was it well written? Yes. But don't buy into the blurb on the back cover. This is 100% about recognizing abusive relationships and finding your voice through the barrage of negative energy, and hopefully getting the hell out.
July 14, 2021
I liked a lot about this book but unfortunately did not gel well with the main character. Isabel just didn’t seem like a real person at all and it was hard for me to get past this, even in a fiction novel. And I know she has a ton going on with her parents and her boyfriend but it just didn’t seem likely that she would be such a natural at stand up comedy when she had never done it before and was so shy in every other aspect of her life.
Want to read
April 12, 2019We all know my thoughts and feelings on most contemporaries but they are over ruled by my thoughts and feelings about Katie Henry so *offers hand* gimme
April 3, 2021
The audiobook is a great way to experience this book. The stand-up came really to life.
April 17, 2021
I really enjoyed the concept of this book and all the difficult topics it discussed but I didn’t fall in love with the characters as much as I would’ve like to.
February 8, 2021
My first (but definitely not last) mature Young Adult book by author Katie Henry.
I am definitely not the demographic for this book but thoroughly enjoyed the mature and insightful perspective of 16-year-old protagonist Izzy. An abusive relationship, significant insecurity, loneliness even among peers, self-worth and the broader development of relationships as a young adult are some of the issues dealt with in this witty read.
Very happy to have picked this one up.
I am definitely not the demographic for this book but thoroughly enjoyed the mature and insightful perspective of 16-year-old protagonist Izzy. An abusive relationship, significant insecurity, loneliness even among peers, self-worth and the broader development of relationships as a young adult are some of the issues dealt with in this witty read.
Very happy to have picked this one up.
March 22, 2021
This was my first book of Katie Henry's and I'm certain it won't be my last. From the discussions of treatment of people of different genders, races and sexualities in comedy to toxic relationships to complicated family dynamics to sexual harassment, every topic was explored in a nuanced and engaging way. This was an unexpected delight and a read I'd 100% recommend. I loved every minute.
TW: toxic/abusive relationship, sexual harassment.
TW: toxic/abusive relationship, sexual harassment.
July 9, 2024
this was… something.
i still think everyone should read it tho
i still think everyone should read it tho
April 30, 2021
Darkly comic. I was really enthusiastic to read this YA witty novel. It’s about a girl who is being regarded as being endowed with something less than abbreviated piece of nothing and one day she accidentally stumbles upon standup comedy. From mistake it charges to a passion and similarly her life changes from being a girl who endure silently to a comedian who comebacks to bully like never before.
May 28, 2022
CW: controlling/emotionally abusive relationship
Going in, I knew this was going to be a good book. A good friend shouted at the top of her lungs about how good it was and did everything she could to get more people to read it. Not going to lie, I hate that I waited so long to actually read the book because wow. It was excellent.
Izzy has felt like a wallflower her entire life. At home, she’s overshadowed by her siblings and high-powered parents while her boyfriend is eager to talk for her. So, one night when she accidentally walks into a stand-up comedy club and performs, she’s shocked at how good it feels. Afterwards, she meets Mo who introduces her to her friends and the world of stand-up comedy.
First off, I want to note that I did listen to this on audio and the narrator for that was excellent. She did such a good job with voices and showcasing the emotion that needed to be shown. It really made it such a wonderful reading experience.
Right off the bat, I knew I was in trouble and not just because of what my friends had said about it, but Izzy is a character you can instantly feel for. She’s felt ignored and unloved by her family, always a shadow to something else that is going on between them. Her boyfriend is someone that she loves, but doesn’t realize how abusive he is. She doesn’t know how to use her voice, so watching Izzy slowly learn that is magnificent. Seeing her grow, I was so proud of her honestly.
The abusive relationship here was done so well. I was irritated, I was ready to kill him, but I loved how Henry handled it and the advice that Izzy was given throughout the novel about how to deal with it. Knowing how many people are in abusive relationships right now, I feel like this book could help. It’s something that can not only help people in abusive relationships, but people who have loved ones in abusive relationships.
Friendship was another strong highlight. Izzy and Mo had a beautiful friendship. I loved what they had and seeing them together was truly spectacular. I just please give me all the relationships like this.
While this book touch on a heavy subject, it was done well and balanced out nicely with strong friendships and comedy.
Going in, I knew this was going to be a good book. A good friend shouted at the top of her lungs about how good it was and did everything she could to get more people to read it. Not going to lie, I hate that I waited so long to actually read the book because wow. It was excellent.
Izzy has felt like a wallflower her entire life. At home, she’s overshadowed by her siblings and high-powered parents while her boyfriend is eager to talk for her. So, one night when she accidentally walks into a stand-up comedy club and performs, she’s shocked at how good it feels. Afterwards, she meets Mo who introduces her to her friends and the world of stand-up comedy.
First off, I want to note that I did listen to this on audio and the narrator for that was excellent. She did such a good job with voices and showcasing the emotion that needed to be shown. It really made it such a wonderful reading experience.
Right off the bat, I knew I was in trouble and not just because of what my friends had said about it, but Izzy is a character you can instantly feel for. She’s felt ignored and unloved by her family, always a shadow to something else that is going on between them. Her boyfriend is someone that she loves, but doesn’t realize how abusive he is. She doesn’t know how to use her voice, so watching Izzy slowly learn that is magnificent. Seeing her grow, I was so proud of her honestly.
The abusive relationship here was done so well. I was irritated, I was ready to kill him, but I loved how Henry handled it and the advice that Izzy was given throughout the novel about how to deal with it. Knowing how many people are in abusive relationships right now, I feel like this book could help. It’s something that can not only help people in abusive relationships, but people who have loved ones in abusive relationships.
Friendship was another strong highlight. Izzy and Mo had a beautiful friendship. I loved what they had and seeing them together was truly spectacular. I just please give me all the relationships like this.
While this book touch on a heavy subject, it was done well and balanced out nicely with strong friendships and comedy.
April 25, 2021
3.5 stars
June 22, 2022
chill with the plant metaphors
April 28, 2023
Really good plot. Poor execution. It wasn’t funny at all.. I was trying to find it funny but NONE of the jokes even got a chuckle out of me.
October 12, 2023
this was soo good you guys !!
I mean okay objectively speaking it was a cheesy coming of age story with many clichés.
But who cares??!? The first half was full of fun and whimsy and then the emotional damage hits. Protagonists that start out scared and learn to be true to themselves, set boundaries and re-evaluate their relationships ALWAYS get me. And fuck the toxic abusive boyfriend Alex, you can rot in hell!!!
And the parents who force their children into roles without noticing. And the siblings learning to open up to each other... Ah this was everything for me
I mean okay objectively speaking it was a cheesy coming of age story with many clichés.
But who cares??!? The first half was full of fun and whimsy and then the emotional damage hits. Protagonists that start out scared and learn to be true to themselves, set boundaries and re-evaluate their relationships ALWAYS get me. And fuck the toxic abusive boyfriend Alex, you can rot in hell!!!
And the parents who force their children into roles without noticing. And the siblings learning to open up to each other... Ah this was everything for me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2020
*HUGE thank you to Katie Henry for sending me an eARC!* I would argue that the synopsis of this book is a bit misleading. It is more about how the MC is making a transformation during/after an emotionally abusive relationship. The stand-up comedy does serve as a catalyst for the MC to find her voice, but it isn’t the main focus of this story.
That being said, Katie Henry is my favorite YA contemporary author for several reasons:
1. She’s amazing at nuance
2. She always includes a great and diverse group of friends
3. She’s smart and that comes through in her writing
4. She’s freakin’ hilarious
And This Will Be Funny Someday is no exception. I flew through this and ate it up like candy. I personally connected with her first two books a little more (because I very directly relate to their MCs), but this book was still a wonderful read with an excellent character growth story.
That being said, Katie Henry is my favorite YA contemporary author for several reasons:
1. She’s amazing at nuance
2. She always includes a great and diverse group of friends
3. She’s smart and that comes through in her writing
4. She’s freakin’ hilarious
And This Will Be Funny Someday is no exception. I flew through this and ate it up like candy. I personally connected with her first two books a little more (because I very directly relate to their MCs), but this book was still a wonderful read with an excellent character growth story.
December 12, 2020
This Will be Funny Someday by Katie Henry rating: ✰ ✰ ✰.5 /✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Thank you so much to Harper360ya for sending me this arc!
This Will be Funny Someday was a book that I was so incredibly excited to read in 2021 and recieving the arc, I had to pick it up right away! This book made me laugh many times, the comedy element was one of my favourites and I was only left wanting more of Izzy’s jokes and stand up moments. Alongside the light heartedness of the comedy, several important topics were discussed incredibly well and sensitively. Izzy’s controlling boyfriend and the discussion of feminism and what young women experience, resonated with me massively - and I loved how Katie Henry handled such topics. It’s very much a story of understanding and coming to accept that not everybody will like you or the things you aim to achieve - and that’s okay, that’s life. I adored the elements of Izzy just wanting to be heard and seen, and resorting to stand up comedy to achieve that.
With that being said, there were several things in this book that I didn’t like so much. First and foremost, the pacing for the majority of the book seemed pretty off. We were instantly thrusted into Izzy’s life at the comedy club, not seeing her progression as she learned how to perform and rather, we just saw her do it. I would’ve loved to see more of her teachings and experiencing what it was like to first perform something that can seem so daunting. Other than that, I found that her ‘friends’ within the book were being shitty in several scenes, with no justified reason. This caused arguments that could’ve been avoided massively and that is something that I personally just dislike in books.
All in all, I ADORED many elements of this book and definitely recommend it to everyone if you are after a lighthearted YA Contemporary that also discusses hard hitting topics.
Thank you so much to Harper360ya for sending me this arc!
This Will be Funny Someday was a book that I was so incredibly excited to read in 2021 and recieving the arc, I had to pick it up right away! This book made me laugh many times, the comedy element was one of my favourites and I was only left wanting more of Izzy’s jokes and stand up moments. Alongside the light heartedness of the comedy, several important topics were discussed incredibly well and sensitively. Izzy’s controlling boyfriend and the discussion of feminism and what young women experience, resonated with me massively - and I loved how Katie Henry handled such topics. It’s very much a story of understanding and coming to accept that not everybody will like you or the things you aim to achieve - and that’s okay, that’s life. I adored the elements of Izzy just wanting to be heard and seen, and resorting to stand up comedy to achieve that.
With that being said, there were several things in this book that I didn’t like so much. First and foremost, the pacing for the majority of the book seemed pretty off. We were instantly thrusted into Izzy’s life at the comedy club, not seeing her progression as she learned how to perform and rather, we just saw her do it. I would’ve loved to see more of her teachings and experiencing what it was like to first perform something that can seem so daunting. Other than that, I found that her ‘friends’ within the book were being shitty in several scenes, with no justified reason. This caused arguments that could’ve been avoided massively and that is something that I personally just dislike in books.
All in all, I ADORED many elements of this book and definitely recommend it to everyone if you are after a lighthearted YA Contemporary that also discusses hard hitting topics.
April 20, 2021
andddd katie henry has hit it out of the park for the third time! henry’s writing has always felt so profound to me. when i was 16, i read her first book heretics anonymous and rushed to exclaim everywhere that it was my favorite book. that didn’t hold, as i’m indecisive and ruled by the desire to find the next most exciting and emotional thing, but i still remember HA fondly. in fact, my friend and i often quote a scene from it. i still really love how the messages in henry’s books are universal, for lack of a better word. maybe they are not for everyone, but i just feel really seen. henry writes about relatable human experiences; the characters go through some unorthodox situations (that’s what i, public school kid, am calling private catholic school. oh and also standup comedy), but that contrast makes the overarching ideas clearer... to me, at least. henry has always made me think, whether about what religion means to different people, or about what growth really entails. i‘ve come away from her books feeling content and i feel like this will be funny someday was exactly what i needed right now. :)
“shakespeare said that life was a tangled yarn, both good and bad together. and i think it’s true. but i also think life is moments. big moments and little moments, and sometimes, they’re not the ones you thought they would be.”
“shakespeare said that life was a tangled yarn, both good and bad together. and i think it’s true. but i also think life is moments. big moments and little moments, and sometimes, they’re not the ones you thought they would be.”
March 3, 2021
Maybe this just wasn't the right book for me right now, but I found Izzy's passivity very grating. Also, the copy editor should be put on notice because I found 4 errors and I only read to page 100.
May 23, 2025
Sooooo, when library books have "YA" stickers that happens to mean it's a "Young Adult" book right? So how come as a MAMIL I loved it so much?
Was it because of the memories of being young? Maybe.
Maybe because I watched my teenagers trying to find themselves and their place in the world? Probably.
Or just because it's really well written and full of life lessons that I wish every teenage could read to understand they are not the only one going through this stuff? Definitely?
I also have to admit this is the second Katie Henry book I have read, so this one wasn't really a mistake, and I'm totally going to read the others.
Was it because of the memories of being young? Maybe.
Maybe because I watched my teenagers trying to find themselves and their place in the world? Probably.
Or just because it's really well written and full of life lessons that I wish every teenage could read to understand they are not the only one going through this stuff? Definitely?
I also have to admit this is the second Katie Henry book I have read, so this one wasn't really a mistake, and I'm totally going to read the others.
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