Top 5 funny books you won't want to miss this summer

When funny people write a memoir or collection of essays, I'm in. These make great reads (and usually great listens as well for audiobook fans). Below, in order of release date, are five highly anticipated books by funny folks set to be released this summer.

Reflections from Hell: Richard Lewis' Guide on How Not to Live by Richard Lewis
May 5
This is a bit of cheat, because the book has already been released (but just barely -- I missed it by a day!). You know Lewis from his decades as a comic and actor, and maybe you remember his hilarious role as himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm. This book is different than others on my list in that it's actually an illustrated look at Lewis' comedy. It's described as "jokes and reflections that are fantastically illustrated by the remarkable art of Carl Titolo." Only available in hardback (my Kindle weeps digital tears at being left out).

Happily Ali After: And Other Fairly True Tales by Ali Wentworth
June 9
I'm looking forward to the new book by actress and funny lady Ali Wentworth. I honestly didn't know who she was until I saw her episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (streaming free on Crackle). She was so naturally funny and had such great rapport with Jerry Seinfeld that I immediately hit Google. I found and loved her first book, Ali in Wonderland (currently just $1.99 for the enhanced Kindle edition), which humor fans might want to snap up while they wait for the new book. FYI, while the enhanced edition has some clips of the author reading the Wonderland book, you might be tempted to go for the audiobook too, as I was. Wentworth's reading is funny, engaging and a great backdrop to folding the laundry or whatever task is too hard to do while balancing a book in hand. Interesting side note: she's married to George Stephanopoulos.

Sick in the Head by Judd Apatow
June 16
Here the writer and director has gathered his conversations/interviews with comedy's top stars from the past 30 years. The book is described as compiling "Apatow’s most memorable and revealing conversations into one hilarious, wide-ranging, and incredibly candid collection that spans not only his career but his entire adult life. Here are the comedy legends who inspired and shaped him, from Mel Brooks to Steve Martin. ... And along the way, something kind of magical happens: What started as a lifetime’s worth of conversations about comedy becomes something else entirely. It becomes an exploration of creativity, ambition, neediness, generosity, spirituality, and the joy that comes from making people laugh." Interesting and different. Added to my wish list!

Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari
June 16
Actor and comedian Aziz Ansari turns his comic musings to romance here. Anyone who's seen his stand-up act (several of his specials are on Netflix if you need a refresher) knows he has a thought or two about dating in the modern world. (You may also remember him as the swag-loving Tom on Parks and Recreation.) The book's description states: "For years, Aziz Ansari has been aiming his comic insight at modern romance, but for Modern Romance, the book, he decided he needed to take things to another level. He teamed up with NYU sociologist Eric Klinenberg and designed a massive research project, including hundreds of interviews and focus groups conducted everywhere from Tokyo to Buenos Aires to Wichita. They analyzed behavioral data and surveys and created their own online research forum on Reddit, which drew thousands of messages. ... The result is unlike any social science or humor book we’ve seen before." Wow, maybe I shouldn't call this book his "comic musings," but rather his comic research. This should satisfy both fans of humor and of social science.

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
Sept. 29
Finally! I've been waiting for more from one of TV's funniest ladies ever since the 2011 release of her first book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? This collection of essays from The Mindy Project star is sure to top best-seller lists, but fortunately they can never sell out of digital copies! Mindy for everyone! The description says: "Kaling shares her ongoing journey to find contentment and excitement in her adult life, whether it’s falling in love at work, seeking new friendships in lonely places, attempting to be the first person in history to lose weight without any behavior modification whatsoever, or most important, believing that you have a place in Hollywood when you’re constantly reminded that no one looks like you."