Divorce is rarely funny. Trust us, as family lawyers we know!
It is emotional, exhausting and often overwhelming. But in the middle of paperwork, awkward conversations and life changes, there is something incredibly powerful about being able to laugh along the way. Books can be a quiet companion during separation. They let you escape for a while, help you feel less alone, and sometimes say the things you are thinking but are not ready to say out loud.
Funny books in particular have a way of taking the sting out of hard moments. They remind you that other people have survived heartbreak, chaos and reinvention and lived to tell the tale, often with humour and a unique perspective. Whether you are looking for comfort, distraction or a reminder that life after divorce can still be joyful, these books offer all of that and more.
Below is a carefully chosen mix of fiction and nonfiction, featuring well known authors and celebrities who are not afraid to laugh at life’s messier chapters.
9 Hilarious Books To Get You Through Your Divorce
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestselling memoir has become almost synonymous with post-divorce reinvention. While not every chapter is laugh out loud funny, there is a warm, self-aware humour woven throughout that resonates deeply with anyone starting again after a marriage ends. Gilbert writes candidly about the emotional fallout of her divorce, the confusion that follows and the strange freedom that appears once the dust begins to settle.
What makes this book so comforting is its honesty. Gilbert does not pretend healing is neat or quick. Instead, she shares awkward moments, overthinking spirals and the occasional dramatic meltdown, all delivered with wit and intelligence. Her observations about relationships, expectations and self-worth often land with a gentle comedic punch, especially when she reflects on how seriously she once took things that no longer matter.
There is also something quietly funny about the structure of the book itself. One woman eating her way through Italy, meditating in India and finding romance in Bali feels both incredibly indulgent and faintly absurd in the best possible way. It reminds readers that life after divorce does not have to follow a sensible script. You are allowed to explore, to laugh at yourself and to find unexpected joy along the way.
For anyone navigating divorce and wondering who they are without their old life attached, this book feels like a reassuring conversation with a friend who has been there and come out stronger, happier and much wiser.
Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
Bridget Jones has been making readers laugh for decades, and for good reason. Her diary style confessions about dating, self-doubt, friendships and societal pressure are painfully relatable, especially during times of personal upheaval. While Bridget is not technically divorced at the start of the book, her journey through singledom, disappointment and emotional chaos will feel very familiar to anyone coming out of a long-term relationship.
The humour in this book lies in its brutal honesty. Bridget says the things many people think but rarely admit. Her running commentary on weight, wine consumption, disastrous romantic choices and well-meaning but irritating advice from others is both hilarious and comforting. It reminds readers that feeling a bit lost does not mean you are failing. It means you are human.
For someone going through divorce, Bridget Jones’s Diary offers permission to be imperfect. You can have bad days, questionable coping mechanisms and moments of self-pity, and still be completely lovable. The book also celebrates friendship in a way that feels especially important during separation, when your support network often becomes your lifeline.
When it comes to books to get you through your divorce, this is one you can’t miss. Light-hearted, sharp and endlessly quotable, this is the kind of book that makes you laugh out loud and feel seen at the same time.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F by Mark Manson
Mark Manson’s blunt and often hilarious take on self-help is a refreshing antidote to overly earnest advice books. His writing style is irreverent, direct and packed with humour, making it surprisingly comforting during a divorce when patience for clichés is often low.
While not specifically about divorce, this book speaks directly to the emotional reset that separation forces upon you. Manson challenges the idea that we should strive for constant happiness, arguing instead that life is about choosing what truly matters and letting go of everything else. Delivered with swear words, personal anecdotes and sharp observations, it feels less like a lecture and more like a brutally honest chat over coffee.
What makes this book funny is its refusal to sugar coat reality. Manson openly discusses failure, disappointment and personal responsibility in a way that is both confronting and amusing. For someone navigating divorce, this perspective can be liberating. You are allowed to stop caring about appearances, expectations and other people’s opinions for a while.
There is a surprising amount of reassurance hidden beneath the humour. The message is not that nothing matters, but that you get to decide what matters now. During divorce, that shift in mindset can be incredibly empowering.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Cheryl Strayed’s memoir is raw, powerful and unexpectedly funny in places that matter most. After the breakdown of her marriage and the loss of her mother, Strayed embarks on a solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail with no real preparation and plenty of emotional baggage.
While the subject matter is heavy, Strayed’s writing includes moments of dry humour, self-awareness and absurdity that provide much needed lightness. Her descriptions of physical struggle, misguided confidence and internal chaos are often laugh out loud relatable, especially for anyone who has ever thought starting over might somehow be easier if it involved dramatic gestures.
For readers going through divorce, Wild offers reassurance that it is possible to rebuild yourself piece by piece. It acknowledges that healing is uncomfortable and sometimes ridiculous. You will make mistakes. You will question yourself. You will survive anyway.
The humour is subtle but powerful, reminding you that even in grief and change, there is room for perspective and even laughter.
Heartburn by Nora Ephron
Heartburn is one of those books that feels like it was written specifically for people going through a breakup or divorce, even though it never lectures or offers advice. Instead, Nora Ephron does what she does best. She tells the truth, she makes it funny, and she finds humour in situations that would otherwise feel unbearable.
The novel is a semi-autobiographical account of a marriage falling apart after the narrator discovers her husband is having an affair. What could easily have been a bitter or heavy story is transformed by Ephron’s razor-sharp wit and beautifully dry humour. She captures the shock, humiliation and anger of betrayal with honesty, but always with a lightness that makes you feel less alone rather than weighed down.
What makes Heartburn especially comforting during divorce is Ephron’s refusal to portray herself as either a victim or a hero. She is messy, sarcastic, heartbroken and very funny. Her internal commentary on marriage, infidelity, social expectations and the strange things people say when your life is imploding will feel painfully familiar to many readers.
The humour is intelligent and cathartic. It allows you to laugh at moments that once felt devastating, which can be incredibly healing. Heartburn is a reminder that even when a relationship ends badly, you can still reclaim your voice, your dignity and your sense of humour. It is sharp, comforting and deeply validating, especially when you need proof that you will survive this chapter with your wit intact.
The Break Up Bible by Melissa Kantor
This young adult novel follows a group of friends navigating relationships, breakups and the emotional messiness of modern love. It is smart, funny and full of sharp dialogue that feels realistic and comforting.
Kantor captures the absurdity of dating, heartbreak and personal reinvention with warmth and humour. For someone going through divorce, the book offers reassurance that romantic missteps and emotional confusion are part of the process, not signs of failure.
What makes this book particularly enjoyable is its focus on friendship. It highlights how supportive relationships can help you laugh through heartbreak and remind you of who you are outside of a marriage.
Aimed at a young adult audience, it is light, engaging and genuinely funny, and a great reminder that life continues after separation, often in ways you do not expect.
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler’s memoir is a joyful mix of personal stories, life lessons and laugh out loud moments. Her humour is generous, kind and deeply human, which makes this book feel like a warm hug during a difficult time.
While Poehler does touch on personal challenges and change, including her own experiences of separation, the overall tone is uplifting rather than heavy. She focuses on growth, resilience and embracing uncertainty with humour.
This book is particularly comforting during divorce because it normalises change. Poehler talks openly about letting go of expectations and finding strength in unexpected places. Her humour reminds readers that life does not end when one chapter closes.
It is a celebration of creativity, friendship and self-acceptance, all of which are essential during separation. Find a full list of
How to Be Single by Liz Tuccillo
How to Be Single is a funny, honest exploration of relationships and independence. Tuccillo examines what it really means to be single, challenging societal expectations with humour and insight.
For someone adjusting to life after divorce, this book feels reassuring. It reframes singlehood not as something to escape, but as something to understand and even enjoy. The humour is observational and relatable, making it easy to laugh at situations that once felt daunting.
This book gently encourages readers to see independence as an opportunity rather than a punishment, which can be a powerful shift in mindset during divorce.
’Til Death Do We Parent, Raising My Kid with His Dad by Jess Hilarious
Jess Hilarious brings her trademark blunt humour and unfiltered honesty to ’Til Death Do We Parent, a refreshingly real take on co-parenting after a relationship ends. This book is particularly relatable for parents navigating separation or divorce while still having to communicate, compromise and coexist with an ex for the sake of their child.
What makes this book so funny is Jess’s ability to say the quiet parts out loud. She openly talks about the frustration, eye rolling moments and emotional whiplash that can come with raising a child alongside someone you are no longer in a relationship with. Her humour is bold and unapologetic, often finding comedy in situations that many parents would otherwise find exhausting or overwhelming.
Despite the laughs, there is genuine warmth running through the book. Jess is clear that co-parenting is not about being best friends or pretending the past did not happen. It is about showing up for your child, setting boundaries and learning how to work together in a way that prioritises your child’s wellbeing. She shares lessons learned the hard way, moments of growth and plenty of reality checks along the way.
For anyone going through divorce with children, this book offers reassurance that you do not have to have it all figured out. You can be frustrated and still be a great parent. You can laugh at the chaos and still care deeply about doing the right thing. ’Til Death Do We Parent is funny, honest and incredibly validating for parents adjusting to life after separation.
Divorce is one of life’s most challenging transitions, but it does not have to be endured without moments of lightness. Books have a way of keeping us company through the quiet moments, offering laughter when we need it most and reminding us that others have walked this path before. We hope you love this list of hilarious books to get you through your divorce.
Alongside humour and reflection, practical support matters too. Having a family lawyer who understands the emotional weight of separation can make the process feel far less overwhelming.
At Hickman Family Lawyers, Ella Hickman supports clients through separation and divorce with clarity, empathy and calm guidance, helping them move through this chapter with confidence. A free 15-minute consult can be a gentle first step when you are ready.
