'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
'Sharp, dark and outrageously funny,' 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.
Genre: General Fiction
'Exhilarating, viscerally thrilling and SO timely - an ambitious dark comedy that really delivers. Hugely smart, with so much emotional depth and resonance' Daisy Buchanan
'Sharp, dark and outrageously funny,' 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.
Genre: General Fiction
Praise for this book
"Julia Raeside's debut novel was a thrilling, unputdownable read. Vividly drawn characters in a world that feels so real you can smell it. And a story that could have come straight off the front papers. Julia has her finger on the pulse with a book that is not only a dynamic and satisfying read but a manifesto for tackling toxic masculinity within the comedy scene. Five stars from me!" - Sally Abbott
"Exhilarating, viscerally thrilling and SO timely - an ambitious dark comedy that really delivers. Hugely smart, with so much emotional depth and resonance." - Daisy Buchanan
"This is an honest, funny, devastating and timely book." - Jenny Colgan
"Burns with a righteous anger. Hails the power of female friendship. And you'll enjoy guessing the real-life inspirations for the toxic male characters." - Michael Hogan
"A great book, an important book that will start a discussion that needs to be had...my heart was in my mouth." - Marian Keyes
"More relevant with everyday 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 book is by turns gut-wrenching and heart breaking, but at its heart it's a timely, furious call for change. I loved it." - Will Maclean
"This book. So, so good. A compelling read but also a painful one. Every word rings true. Julia Raeside captures so perfectly the mental gymnastics one puts oneself through in a relationship with a narcissist. While it's set in the world of stand-up comedy (and will definitely make you look at some 'comics' differently), Don't Make Me Laugh has a much wider resonance. Should be required reading in school. Put this on your reading list and order a copy for that friend who deserves much better in her love life." - Chrissie Manby
"Funny but pitch-black, fierce but sad, tender but brutal, Don't Make Me Laugh WILL make you laugh, but it will also make you want to punch something. A timely and assured literary heckle." - Beth Morrey
"A gloriously unnerving and compelling read with so many sharp and witty moments." - Justin Myers
"This will undoubtedly be THE debut of 2025. So great to read a novel that does London well, does Edinburgh well and exposes the murky underside of British comedy in such an elegant, continually surprising and compelling way." - Matt Thorne
"Such an important, brilliant book. It kept me on the edge of my seat, laughing and raging in turns with its accurate and relatable telling of abuse and toxic men in the comedy industry. It's going to be recognisable to so many and could easily apply to any industry. Everyone knows the characters in this book, because we've all had dealings with people just like them. It's going to shake things up and also be so helpful to so many people." - Kate Weston
"Priviledged to read an advance copy of Don't make Me Laugh by @juliaraesidewriter. It's a timely, shocking, and important exploration of abuse in the stand-up comedy world. A very absorbing and propulsive read, I steamed through it." - Nussaibah Younis
"Exhilarating, viscerally thrilling and SO timely - an ambitious dark comedy that really delivers. Hugely smart, with so much emotional depth and resonance." - Daisy Buchanan
"This is an honest, funny, devastating and timely book." - Jenny Colgan
"Burns with a righteous anger. Hails the power of female friendship. And you'll enjoy guessing the real-life inspirations for the toxic male characters." - Michael Hogan
"A great book, an important book that will start a discussion that needs to be had...my heart was in my mouth." - Marian Keyes
"More relevant with everyday 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 book is by turns gut-wrenching and heart breaking, but at its heart it's a timely, furious call for change. I loved it." - Will Maclean
"This book. So, so good. A compelling read but also a painful one. Every word rings true. Julia Raeside captures so perfectly the mental gymnastics one puts oneself through in a relationship with a narcissist. While it's set in the world of stand-up comedy (and will definitely make you look at some 'comics' differently), Don't Make Me Laugh has a much wider resonance. Should be required reading in school. Put this on your reading list and order a copy for that friend who deserves much better in her love life." - Chrissie Manby
"Funny but pitch-black, fierce but sad, tender but brutal, Don't Make Me Laugh WILL make you laugh, but it will also make you want to punch something. A timely and assured literary heckle." - Beth Morrey
"A gloriously unnerving and compelling read with so many sharp and witty moments." - Justin Myers
"This will undoubtedly be THE debut of 2025. So great to read a novel that does London well, does Edinburgh well and exposes the murky underside of British comedy in such an elegant, continually surprising and compelling way." - Matt Thorne
"Such an important, brilliant book. It kept me on the edge of my seat, laughing and raging in turns with its accurate and relatable telling of abuse and toxic men in the comedy industry. It's going to be recognisable to so many and could easily apply to any industry. Everyone knows the characters in this book, because we've all had dealings with people just like them. It's going to shake things up and also be so helpful to so many people." - Kate Weston
"Priviledged to read an advance copy of Don't make Me Laugh by @juliaraesidewriter. It's a timely, shocking, and important exploration of abuse in the stand-up comedy world. A very absorbing and propulsive read, I steamed through it." - Nussaibah Younis
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