comedy time travel books

27 Funny Travel Books That Will Have You Howling!

Last Updated on January 11, 2024 by Louisa

I love a good travel book, especially one that makes me laugh. While everyone has different tastes in humor, we can all agree that there is nothing better than a good belly-aching laugh at someone else’s expense.

While there are plenty of travel books that make us laugh out there, some are better than others.

I’ve read a lot of funny travel books over the years, and I’ve carefully curated what I believe at the best ones.

Get your tenor lady ready, these books will have you peeing yourself with laughter!

Affiliate Disclosure : This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through any of these links. 

Quick Answers: 3 Best Funny Travel Books!

Need a book fast but don’t have much time? Here are my top three favorites!

Our Favourites!

#1 Best Highly Acclaimed Novel

Lost Continent by Bill Bryson

• International bestseller
• Hailed as one of the best travel writers of all time
• A hilarious novel about journeying through small-town America

#2 Best Travel Memoir

Not Tonight Josephine by George Mahood

• A hilarious novel about a British man travelling around the backroads of America
• An up-and-coming author with lots of promise
• Well written, easy to read, and a lot of belly-aching laugh moments

#3 Best by a Comedian

How to Survive Family Holidays by Jack Whitehall

• From highly acclaimed stand-up comedian Jack Whitehall
• Part memoir, part advice-giving, with a few comments from mother and father Whitehall
• Hilariously written with a lot of dad jokes

Hilarious Non-Fiction Travel Books

I begin my list with some incredibly funny travel books that are based on real-life situations. Some of the scenarios you get into on your travels are so far-fetched, you can’t possibly make it up. And that’s what these non-fiction travel books demonstrate so well.

So here they are, my favorite funny travel books based on true events.

1. Not  Tonight,  Josephine : A Road Trip Through Small-Town America – George Mahood

I begin my list with my ultimate favorite funny travel book by George Mahood . His debut novel, Not Tonight, Josephine , literally had me in tears of laughter!

Mahmood shares a diary of the time he and his best friend, Mark, bought a banged-up station wagon in New York and decided to road trip across the small towns of America.

The vehicle, which they named Josephine, was unreliable, old, and had bullet holes in the back window. What could go wrong?

It turns out, quite a lot actually, which is what gives this novel its funny edge. But even though Mahmood went through some tricky situations.

There is no doubt that his travels across America were a blast and you really get a feel for how special it was to him.

Honestly, I was sad when the book was over. I also loved his book, Travel with Rachel: In Search of South America , which was his next trip after this one.

It’s more of a light read and can be finished pretty quickly, and I personally found Not Tonight Josephine funnier.

View it on:

2. Whatever You Do, Don’t Run: True Tales Of A Botswana Safari Guide – Peter Allison

This hilarious novel by Peter Allison is a brilliant collection of fascinating stories of hilarious happenings that took place while he was an African safari guide.

Allison has seen it all, confronting the most fearsome of creatures and tough African terrain, but the biggest challenge of being a safari guide is…the people.

These stories are so outrageous that you can’t possibly make them up. It’s surprising how stupid and reckless some people can be, including being asked to be charged by a lion so a tourist can videotape it.

These tales will have you howling with laughter, as well as slapping your forehead saying “I can’t believe these people exist.” We can all empathize with Allison, but in his misery, we find comedy.

3.  All Over The Place: Adventures in Travel, True Love, and Petty Theft – Geraldine DeRuiter

All Over the Place is the hilarious chronicle of Geraldine Deruiter, who after getting laid off from her job, decided to travel the world in search of adventure.

The only problem was, Deruiter wasn’t quite prepared for what was out there. Unable to read maps, has only a vague idea of where Russia is, and is terrified of pigeons. Not the toughest traveler material by any means.

However, from the experience, she learned a great deal and has a hilarious story or two to tell along the way.

She learned that traveling the world with someone you already know and love can make faraway places feel like home.

She learned about lost luggage and lost opportunities, and…well, getting lost in general.

But most importantly, she learned that you should always be yourself, no matter where you are and how silly you look.

4.  Footloose: Twisted Travels Across Asia, From Australia To Azerbaijan – Mark Walters

Footloose is the incredible story of how Mark Walters traveled from Sydney, Australia to Azerbaijan without flying and wearing flip-flops for the whole journey. He also doesn’t own shorts or a towel.

Using buses, train travel, and boats that ventured across three continents, Walters shares the exciting and hilarious tales of his travels. and the people he met.

From coming face-to-face with a risky gauntlet of terrorists and Chinese tanks, and having beers with a naked ex-Soviet officer, to eating hallucinogenics for breakfast in Amsterdam.

Walter’s journey is packed with adventures that are both comical and a little frightening!

5.  In A Sunburned Country – Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson is a well-acclaimed funny travel writer, and choosing which of his funny travel stories should make this list of the funniest travel books of all time is not an easy task.

Especially since Bill Bryson has been hailed as one of the funniest travel writers in history.

His previous novel, A Walk in the Woods which tells the story of his journey around the Appalachian trail had such great success.

I was incredibly excited to read In A Sunburned Country , which takes the reader on a journey through off-the-beaten-track Australia in the eyes of Bill Bryson.

As Bryson talks about his time in Australia, he offers a great introduction to whimsical and cheerful characters.

In a country that has more deadly creatures than any other, Bryson’s comedy style of travel writing will have you longing for a trip to Australia.

6. Queenan Country – Joe Queenan

Joe Queenan is an American humorist who sought to answer one important question: what makes the Brits tick?

When Queenan’s English wife suggested cooking a chicken vindaloo on the 4th July for dinner instead of the traditional BBQ, after 26 years of marriage, he decided he had to find out what is going on in the mind of the Brits.

After taking a solitary pilgrimage to Great Britain to figure out why British people are the way that they are.

He describes all the traits and mannerisms that make British people different from the rest, including detailing all the quirky oddities that are unique to British culture.

Whether you’re reading this funny book as an American or a Brit, you can’t help but laugh at all the stereotypes and characters he meets along the way.

7. Westward Ha! – S.J. Perelman

Westward Ha! describes the misadventures of satirical journalist and former foreign correspondent S.J. Perelman.

In these madcap travel chronicles from Hollywood to China, Singapore, Thailand, India, and Egypt, as well as several cities in Europe, Perelman and his cartoonist companion, Al Hirschfield, tell of their hilarious adventure through former war zones.

Their journey takes them to faraway places, where they learn about other cultures during a time that was a little perilous being just a few years after WWII.

Hailed as one of the best comic writers of his generation, Perelman’s funny travel writing is considered zany, snappy, and with a little bit of self-mocking too.

There are some real belly-aching laughs in this story, which is on the whole lighthearted and enthralling.

8. Sisters Behaving Badly: The laugh-out-loud, feel-good adventure – Maddie Please

After an argument at a Carvery lunch, sisters Kitty and Jenny stop speaking to each other. But when both sisters inherit a rural French farmhouse, they are given an opportunity to right some wrongs.

Only the farmhouse is a mess and the farm animals have terrorized the garden.

This comical book set in France will have you holding your sides with laughter!

As the two sisters repair their relationship, Kitty is determined to enjoy herself with the handsome neighbor, while Jenny finds comfort in the fully stocked wine cellar.

This laugh-out-loud comedy travel book highlights how sometimes it feels good to be bad.

9. Going the Wrong Way – Chris Donaldson

Going the Wrong Way is a coming-of-age, travel book of self-discovery that tells the story of Chris Donaldson’s road trip from his home in Belfast across Europe, Asia, and the Americas on his Moto Guzzi Le Mans motorbike.

Going The Wrong Way takes the reader back to the 70s, during simpler times, before technology and social media. It’s raw, honest, edgy, and packed full of adventure and hilarious experiences.

In it, Donaldson reflects on his journey that took him all the way to the highs of the Andes and lows of the outback, traveling more than 50,000 miles, before returning to Belfast.

This is part humor and part thought-provoking memoir. This is not only a motorcycle adventure book, but also a compelling tale that will leave you with a sense of wanderlust and admiration for the author’s resilience and determination.

Donaldson will have you howling with laughter in some places, and biting your nails in anticipation in others.

His writing style is effortless to read, as though you are reading the mind of a friend, but his knack for storytelling is what really sets him apart as an author.

10. Dishwasher: One Man’s Quest to Wash Dishes in All Fifty States – Pete Jordan

Pete Jordan’s Dishwasher is an amusing travel memoir of his adventures dishwashing his way across America.

Part adventure, part humor, and part journey of self-discovery, “Dishwasher Pete” talks about how he spent 12 years washing dishes from a bagel joint in New Mexico to a Mexican diner in Brooklyn before he gave it all up for love.

The premise is very simple, but it’s hilariously written and Jordan is clearly a very smart and funny guy. If you love a love story like the likes of Nick Hornby and Tom Perotta books, you’ll also love this.

11. Round Ireland with a Fridge – Tony Hawks

After losing a drunken bet, Tony Hawks set out on a hitchhiking journey around Europe with a fridge. 

As you can imagine, the experience of lugging a domestic appliance around the continent would lead to hilarious encounters, including meeting a real prince, a bogus king, and a priest who christened the fridge. 

They had been through a lot together, and as Hawks describes his adventures, you forget that at times he is talking about an inanimate object and not a best friend. 

This novel quickly became an international bestseller, with writing similar to that of Bill Bryson and Dave Barry.

12. That Bear Ate My Pants – Tony James Slater

Contrary to what the title suggests, a bear did not actually eat Tony James Slater’s pants, but it does give you an idea of the hilarious travel stories you’re about to read in this epic travel memoir. 

This part travel memoir, part self-help book, is the journey of Slater as he tries to better himself as he volunteers at an animal refuge in Ecuador. 

From battling a tree with a machete, finding numerous tarantulas (both alive and dead), and helping to sew the head back onto a partially decapitated crocodile, you wouldn’t believe the great stories that Slater has to tell!

13. Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before – Tony Horwitz 

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Confederates in the Attic, Tony Horwitz details his adventure as he retraces the voyages of Captain James Cook. 

In the 18th century, Captain Cook’s voyages were considered the last of the great adventures of the seas. He sailed 150,000 miles from North to South poles, from Oceania to North America, and from Easter Island to Siberia.

He was essentially responsible for drawing the map of the world.

Tony Horwitz was inspired and decided to embark on the same quest. In Blue Latitudes, he vividly recounts tales from Cook’s voyages.

The details from his own adventures, from places such as Tahiti, Savage Island, and the Great Barrier Reef.

After signing on as a crewman aboard a replica of Cook’s vessel, Horwitz has first-hand experience of the life, highs and lows of life on the high seas. 

In this insightful and hilarious novel, Horwitz brings the life and times of Captain Cook to life!

14. Hokkaido Highway Blues – Will Ferguson

Hokkaido Highway Blues is a memoir by Will Ferguson, who hitchhiked the length of Japan following the Cherry Blossom Front.

Along the way, he racks up a hilarious collection of funny travel stories which have you laughing as you read the entire book from start to finish. 

As well as the hilarious situations he gets into along his journey, you also learn a lot about Japanese culture.

Of course, he is largely poking fun at himself, but the cultural differences are what make this one of the top funny travel books of the 21st century.

15. Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure – Sarah Macdonald

Holy Cow is the hilarious account of journalist Sarah Macdonald’s return to India, after swearing an oath never to return after her backpacking trip there in her 20s. 

Now married and forced to live in New Dehli because of her husband’s job, so begins the funny travel stories of her time in India. 

Although these stories are funny, there is a nice balance between memoir and educating the reader about the spirituality and cultural traditions of India.

If you’re ever looking for travel inspiration about the mystical land of India, be sure to add Holy Cow to your reading list.

16. The Full Montezuma – Peter Moore

Peter Moore is one of those travel writers who never disappoints! One of my favorite books by him is The Full Montezuma . It tells the story of a time he traveled around Central America in a budding relationship.

Not the most exotic of destinations to take your new girlfriend, especially after it had just come out of decades of civil war and poverty, disease, and natural disasters were rife.

Since she is only referred to as ‘The Girl Next Door’ you get a good idea of how the journey turned out.

The good news is that six months of backpacking together made for hilarious stories and a truly great insight into what life in Central America is like. But hey, not everyone can endure hurricanes and mosquitos galore! 

For all the highs and all the lows, I’m here for it.

Funny Travel Books Written by Comedians

It would come as no surprise that the funniest travel guide usually comes from those written by comedians.

17. Made in Scotland: My Grand Adventures In a Wee Country – Billy Connolly

A Sunday Times Bestseller, Made In Scotland: My Grand Adventures in a Wee Country is a hilarious novel by Billy Connolly, Scottish comedian, and national treasure, as he journeys around his homeland and reflects on his Scottish roots.

In  Made in Scotland,  Connolly talks about what it means to be Scottish, both now and in the past, and how Scotland has affected his life.

Of course, being written by a professional stand-up comic means it is packed with Billy’s distinctive Scottish humor, but it is more than that. It’s also a heartfelt love letter to the land and people from his home of Scotland.

18. How to Survive Family Holidays – Jack Whitehall

Stand-up comedian and TV personality, Jack Whitehall shares his top secrets on How to Survive Family Holidays .

Part memoir, part Lonely Planet Guide Book, this is a middle-class family’s version of what it’s like to travel the globe as a family, and not tear each other’s throats out.

As you might expect, it also has some comedy anecdotes from Jack about his former family holidays, which are both witty and relatable.

With a few comments thrown in from Mommy and Daddy, this whimsical book is a short but hilarious book on travel that will leave you in stitches.

Best Funny Travel Books of All Time

Not all hilarious travel books are written by comedians and based on true events.

Some of the best travel books of all time simply need a good, imaginative story, and an excellent author behind the pen.

These are my all-time favorite funny travel books.

19. T. Rex Time Machine – Jared Chapman

Of course, I had to include a funny travel guide for children on my list! The T.Rex Time Machine is a hilarious children’s book that tells the story of two hungry dinosaurs that jump into a time machine and transport to the future.

What they see is unbelievable and surreal, as they come to terms with all the wonders of the modern world.

Written by author and illustrator, Jared Chapman, this hilarious novel is packed full of jokes and funny adventures.

His use of bold colors and the adventurous storyline will have your children entertained and giggling throughout.

It will be a book that will stay in your family for generations.

20. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy – Douglas Adams

While The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is not your conventional travel book, after all, it does take place in space, it is a hilarious cult classic novel about traveling and exploring new places.

After a bulldozer turns up at Arthur Dent’s home, he didn’t know it, but shortly after it would be the end of planet Earth, and he would find himself hitchhiking on a spaceship.

Along the way, he meets a variety of comical characters who help him come to terms with his new life of space travel and adventure.

The events in this funny travel book are both random and absurd, but pleasantly enjoyable and will have you laughing your socks off!

It’s a lovable story that was ranked number four on the BBC’s “Big Read” , an event designed to find the Nation’s top books.

21. The Sex Lives of Cannibals – J. Maarten Troost

The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific  is a travelogue by author J. Maarten Troost who describes the two years he and his girlfriend spent living on Tarawa atoll, a remote South Pacific Island nation of Kiribati.

And no, before your mind goes wandering, it’s not really about the sex lives of cannibals…jeez!

It talks about how he and his girlfriend adjusted to everyday life on the remote island and built a life for themselves there.

Complete with some unusual people and bizarre and unfamiliar local customs, the author reminisces on his own American complacency towards America’s history.

He also describes his overwhelming fish-based diet, how he handled the extreme heat and ineffective government, the frequent electrical and water shortages, and many other hilarious idiosyncrasies of living on a small and remote island.

22. The Innocents Abroad – Mark Twain

The Innocents Abroad is a classic funny travel book by highly acclaimed author Mark Twain, famous for writing the Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn novels.

It tells the story of a long excursion between Mark and a group of fellow travelers shortly after the Civil War. The humourous story takes the reader through Paris, Italy, Greece, Egypt, and the Holy Land, during the time of 1869.

During Twain’s life, The Innocents Abroad became his highest-selling book and is hailed as one of the best travel books of all time.

The story is riveting, hilarious, and entertaining, as well as enlightening.

23. Great Railway Bazaar – Paul Theroux

The Great Railway Bazaar is a travelogue by Paul Theroux, who traveled for four months across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia, on the Trans-Siberian Railway. 

Part memoir, part Lonely Planet-style guidebook, this entertaining railway odyssey is a classic piece of travel literature.

As he travels halfway across the world on the trains, he details his observations and hilarious encounters in a comedic style of travel writing. 

While this book is a bit dated compared to the others on this list, it is no doubt a classic funny travel book that would make anyone’s heart fill with joy.

24. Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America – Bill Bryson

Ok, I know I said that I had to choose one of the best Bryson books for this awesome list of the best funny travel books but that was before I remembered The Lost Continent.

With an urge to discover his youth, Bill Bryson embarks on a journey through small towns in America across 38 states. 

As he’s rediscovering America, he paints a perfect picture of his boredom, meetings with strangers, and all the colorful experiences he has. 

Bryson’s humorous books are loved by the whole family and it’s no wonder he’s an international bestseller.

25. Best. State. Ever: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland – Dave Barry

From New York Times bestselling author, Dave Barry, Best State Ever is a brilliantly funny travel book that defends how Florida is the greatest place on Earth – at least, in the eyes of Barry.

Barry tells a story about how there is always something happening in Florida, and how somehow the state has been labeled as a place of subtropical stupidity. But loyal Floridian Barry begs to differ.

As Barry defends his homeland, he shares some of the most hilarious adventures he’s had in Florida.

It’s including going hunting for the legendary Skunk Ape; visiting the psychic capital of the world, Cassadaga, to have his dog’s aura read; enjoying the thrills of alligator wrestling; and what it’s like to visiting a clothing-optional bar in Key West.

Whatever your opinion of Florida is, you can’t deny that Barry has a very appealing case after reading this book.

26. Don’t Go There: From Chernobyl to North Korea – Adam Fletcher

Don’t Go There is an unusual and hilarious travel memoir by Adam Fletcher has he visits ten of the strangest places on Earth.

To understand why people keep telling him “Don’t go there” he embarks on a journey through a blizzard in China carrying only a pack of biscuits; through the radioactive aftermath of Chornobyl.

It is chased by the Croatian police as he tries to visit the world’s newest country, Liberland, and comes face-to-face with two supposedly dead dictators in North Korea…and so much more.

His journey is both fascinating and hilarious, packed with British humor, and a story that is absolutely unforgettable.

27. Last Chance to See – Douglas Adams & Mark Carwardine

Last Chance To See is a 1990 novel by the acclaimed author Douglas Adams and co-author and zoologist Mark Carwardine.

In this novel, Adams and Carwardine take the reader on a journey to various locations that they have traveled to. On their travels, they try to find places where they will encounter endangered species on the brink of extinction.

This funny non-fiction travel book starts in Africa and continues on to Asia and the Northern tip of America.

On the hunt for animals, what they find were troublesome tourists, bureaucracy, and poachers.

While this three-year-long adventure highlights the imposing truth about how we need to work to save endangered species, Adams’s humorous travel writing style is evident throughout as he discusses his adventures with Carwardine.

Like this post? Don’t forget to save it on Pinterest.

Final Words on Best Funny Travel Books

So there you have it, my all-time favorite funny travel books, from classic non-fiction biographies and memoirs to far-fetched make-believe. There’s something for everyone on my list.

If you enjoy travel books that are light-hearted and fun, then you might also like these books set in Hawaii .

Do you have a favorite? Let me know in the comments!

About Louisa Smith

Editor/Founder - Epic Book Society

Louisa is the Founder, Editor, and Head Honcho of Epic Book Society. She was born and raised in the United Kingdom and graduated from the University for the Creative Arts with a degree in Journalism. Louisa began her writing career at the age of 7 when her poetry was published in an anthology of poems to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. Upon graduating university, she spent several years working as a journalist writing about books before transitioning to become a Primary School Teacher. Louisa loves all genres of books, but her favorites are Sci-Fi, Romance, Fantasy, and Young Adult Fiction. Read more Louisa's story here .

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The 35 Best Books About Time Travel

Here's what to read after you finish Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series.

Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Gabaldon first published Outlander —the book that would eventually inspire the television series starring Caitriona Balfe as Claire and Sam Heughan as Jamie —in 1991, and the ninth novel in the series, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone , came out in November 2021.

Ahead of the seventh season of Outlander , now's the perfect time (ha) to dive into time travel books. From time traveling romance to alternate realities to murder mysteries, there's something for everyone here.

The Time Traveler's Wife

Any list about time travel books must begin with The Time Traveler's Wife , right? This bestselling novel tells the love story of Henry DeTamble, a dashing, adventuresome librarian who inadvertently travels through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Plot sound familiar? The book was adapted into a 2009 film starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana, and a 2022 TV show starring Theo James and Rose Leslie .

Read more: 20 of the best Time Travel Films Ever Made

A Murder in Time

Kendra Donovan is a rising star at the FBI, until one disastrous raid when half her team is murdered and a mole in the FBI is uncovered. After she recovers from her wounds, she's determined to find the man responsible for the death of her team—yet upon her arrival in England, she stumbles back in time to 1815. Mistaken for a lady's maid, Kendra is forced to quickly adapt to the period as she figures out how to get back to her own timeline. There are five books in the Kendra Donovan series , so if you love a time travel mystery, don't miss these.

Author Octavia Butler is a queen of science fiction, and Kindred is her bestselling novel about time travel. In it, she tells the story of Dana, a Black woman, who is celebrating her 26th birthday in 1976. Abruptly, she's transported back to Maryland, circa 1815, where she's on a plantation and has to save Rufus, the white son of the plantation owner. It's not just a time travel book, but one that expertly weaves in narratives of enslaved people and explores the Antebellum South.

Faye, Faraway

Diana Gabaldon herself called Faye, Faraway "a lovely, deeply moving story of loss and love and memory made real , " so you know it's going to be good. The plot focuses on Faye, a mother of two, who lost her own mother, Jeanie, when she was just 8 years old. When Faye suddenly finds herself transported back in time, she befriends her mother—but doesn't let on who she really is. Eventually, she has to choose between her past and her future.

The Eyre Affair

In this version of Great Britain circa 1985, time travel is routine. Our protagonist is Thursday Next, a literary detective, who is placed on a case when someone begins kidnapping characters from works of literature and plucks Jane Eyre from the pages of Brontë's novel.

Bonus: The Eyre Affair is the first in a seven book series following Thursday.

The River of No Return: A Novel

Lord Nicholas Davenant is about to die in the Napoleonic Wars in 1812, and wakes up 200 years later. But he longs to return back in time to his love, Julia. When he arrives in modern society, a mysterious organization called the Guild tells him "there is no return," until one day, they summon him to London and he learns it's possible to travel back through time. A spy thriller that's also historical romance that's also time travel... Say less.

One Last Stop

Casey McQuiston's second novel ( following Red, White, and Royal blue, which is going to be a major motion picture this summer ) is a queer time-loop romance set on the Q train in New York City, and it's riveting. August is 23, working at a 24-hour diner, and meets a gorgeous, charming girl on the train: Jane. But she can't seem to meet up with her off the Q train—until they figure out Jane is stuck in time from the 1970s. How did she travel through time? Can August get Jane unstuck? Will they live happily ever after!? The questions abound.

What the Wind Knows

Anne Gallagher grew up hearing her grandfather’s stories of Ireland. When she returns to the country to spread his ashes, she is transported back in time to 1921—and is drawn into the struggle for Irish independence. There, she meets Dr. Thomas Smith, and must decide whether or not she should return to her own timeline or stay in the past. As one reviewer wrote on Amazon, What the Wind Knows is a "spectacular time travel journey filled with love and loss."

The Midnight Library: A Novel

Imagine a library with an infinite number of books—each containing an alternate reality about your life. That's the plot of The Midnight Library , where our protagonist Nora Seed enters different versions of her life. She undoes old breakups, follows her dream of becoming a glaciologist, and so much more—but what happens to her original life?

The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.: A Novel

In this novel from Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland, magic existed—until 1851. A secret government organization, the Department of Diachronic Operations (or D.O.D.O. for short), is dedicated to bringing magic back, and its members will travel through time to change history to do so. As Kirkus Reviews wrote , the novel "blend[s] time travel with Bourne-worthy skulduggery." It's a delight for any fans of science fiction, with a slow burn romance between military intelligence operator Tristan Lyons and linguist Melisande Stokes.

This Is How You Lose the Time War

Cowritten by two beloved and award-winning sci-fi writers, this epistolary romantic novel tells the story of two time-traveling rivals who fall in love. Agents Red and Blue travel back and forth throughout time, trying to alter universes on behalf of their warring empires—and start to leave each other messages. The messages begin taunting but soon turn flirtatious—and when Red's commander discovers her affection for Blue, they soon embark down a timeline they can't change.

The House on the Strand

Set at an ancient Cornish house called Kilmarth, where Daphne du Maurier lived from 1967, The House on the Strand story follows Dick Young, who has been offered use of Kilmarth by an old college friend, Magnus Lane. Magnus, a biophysicist, is developing a drug that enables people to travel back to the 14th century, and Dick reluctantly agrees to be a test subject. The catch: If you touch anyone, you're transported back to the present. As the story goes on, Dick's visits back to the 1300s become more frequent, and his life back in the modern world becomes unstable.

The Kingdoms

It’s 1898 and there’s a man named Joe, who lives in London, which is, in this alternate historical, a part of the French Empire as in this version of the past, Britain lost the Napoleonic Wars. Joe has gotten off a train from Scotland and cannot remember anything about who he is or where he’s from. He soon returns to his work, and after a few years, he is sent to repair a lighthouse in Eilean Mor in the Outer Hebrides. Joe then finds himself a century earlier, on a British boat with a mysterious captain, fighting the French and hoping for a future that is different than the one he came from. If you're into time travel and queer romance and alternate history, this is for you.

The Future of Another Timeline

In 1992, 17-year-old Beth agrees to help hide the dead body of her friend's abusive boyfriend. The murder sets Beth and her friends on "a path of escalating violence and vengeance" to protect other young women. In 2022, Tess decides to use time travel to fight for change around key moments in history. When Tess believes she's found a way to make an edit to history that actually sticks, she encounters a group of time travelers bent on stopping her at any cost. Tess and Beth's lives intertwine, and war breaks out across the timeline.

Shadow of Night

The sequel to A Discovery of Witches , the plot of Shadow of Night picks up right where the story left off: With Matthew, a vampire, and Diana, a witch, traveling back in time to Elizabethan London to search for an enchanted manuscript. You really need to read the first book before reading Shadow of Night , but the series by Deborah Harkness is a swoony magical romance.

And: It's now a TV show! ( Season one is streaming on Amazon Prime Video .)

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

In The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, the same day happens again and again. Each day, Evelyn Hardcastle is murdered at 11:00 p.m at Blackheath. And each day, our protagonist Aiden Bishop wakes up in the body of a different witness—and tries to solve her murder. He only has eight days, and it's a race against time to solve Evelyn's murder and to escape the time loop.

Recursion: A Novel

In 2018 New York City, detective Barry Sutton fails to talk Ann out of jumping off a building. But before Ann falls to her death, she tells him she is suffering from False Memory Syndrome—a new neurological disease where people are afflicted with memories of lives they never lived. The dissonance between their present and these memories drives them to death. This is best read unspoiled, but it's undoubtedly a time travel story you haven't read before.

On the eve of her wedding day, Shay Garrett looks into her grandmother's antique mirror and faints. When she wakes up, she's in the same house—but in the body of her grandmother, Brandy, as a young woman in 1900. And Brandy awakens in Shay's body in the present day in 1978. It's like Freaky Friday , but with time travel to the Victorian era.

Here and Now and Then

Kin Stewart is a time traveler from 2142, stuck in 1990s suburban San Francisco. A rescue team arrives to bring Kin back to his timeline—but 18 years too late. Does Kin stay with his "new" family, and the life he's built for himself in San Francisco, or does he return to his original timeline? He's stuck between two families—and ultimately, this is a time travel tale about fatherhood.

A Knight in Shining Armor

Originally published in 1989, this romance novel features a present-day heroine and a knight from the 16th century who fall in love. Per the book's description: "Abandoned by a cruel fate, lovely Dougless Montgomery lies weeping upon a cold tombstone in an English church. Suddenly, the most extraordinary man appears. It is Nicholas Stafford, Earl of Thornwyck…and according to his tombstone he died in 1564. Drawn to his side by a bond so sudden and compelling it overshadows reason, Dougless knows that Nicholas is nothing less than a miracle: a man who does not seek to change her, who finds her perfect, fascinating, just as she is. What Dougless never imagined was how strong the chains are that tie them to the past…or the grand adventure that lay before them."

Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma , a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram .

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20+ Hilarious Sci-Fi Comedy Books You’ll Love

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In the boundless universe of literature, where science fiction extends to the farthest reaches of imagination, there lies a unique hybrid genre filled with laughter and levity. I’m talking about the humor found in some of the best sci-fi comedy books of all time. These remarkable works offer an interstellar escape from the mundane, fusing the boundless potential of futuristic vistas with humor that echoes through the cosmos. From the legendary antics in Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, to the innovative tales of new classics like Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton, these titles illuminate the creative prowess of writers who envision the universe not only as a place of awe but as a playground of wit.

Funny sci-fi books have a special way of reflecting our own world back at us through the funhouse mirror of the future, alien societies, or technology gone hilariously awry. They offer a critique of our world, wrapped in satire and delivered with a punchline, making us laugh while also making us think. These stories remind us that, even as we hurtle through space on this pale blue dot, humor connects us all, transcending time and space.

As we dive into this list of hilarity and high adventure, let’s buckle up for a journey through time, space, and the infinite jest of the cosmos. Here are the top 22 funniest sci-fi books of all time curated by actual readers (unranked!):

1 Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton

Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton, released in 2019, introduces readers to an apocalyptic Earth through the eyes of S.T., a domesticated crow with a fondness for humanity and junk food. The novel is a refreshing take on the zombie genre, with S.T. and his loyal dog companion embarking on a quest to save the remnants of human civilization. Buxton crafts a world teeming with animal perspectives, offering a hilarious and poignant commentary on humanity’s impact on the planet.

What sets Hollow Kingdom apart as a unique humorous gem is its inventive narration and the sheer absurdity of its premise. S.T.’s observations of the crumbling human world, combined with his attempts to mimic humanity, are both profoundly funny and touching. Buxton uses wit to explore themes of connection, survival, and the beauty of nature reclaiming the world. The humor is embedded in the unique characterizations of animals and their bewildered reactions to the humans’ self-inflicted demise, making Hollow Kingdom a standout in the sci-fi comedy genre for its originality, insight, and the laughter it provokes amidst a tale of apocalypse.

2 Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, first published in 1979, begins as Earth is unceremoniously demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, thrusting the bewildered Arthur Dent into a wild voyage across the universe. Rescued by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the eponymous guidebook for galactic hitchhikers, Arthur embarks on a series of misadventures with an unforgettable cast including Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed ex-President of the Galaxy; Trillian, the only other human survivor; and Marvin, a depressed robot.

Adams’ masterpiece stands out for its brilliant blend of absurdist humor, wit, and satirical commentary on human nature, all set against the backdrop of an infinitely bizarre and imaginative cosmos. The humor arises from the clash between the mundane concerns of its characters and the outlandish realities of the universe, underscored by the guide’s dryly humorous observations. The book’s comedic genius lies in its ability to mock both the sci-fi genre and real-world absurdities, making The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy a timeless classic that continues to entertain and amuse readers with its clever insights and eccentric humor.

3 Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

Good Omens , authored by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, is a masterful concoction of wit, wisdom, and whimsy, released in 1990. This novel spins the tale of an angel, Aziraphale, and a demon , Crowley, who, having grown rather fond of Earth, team up to prevent the apocalypse. The book is a satirical take on the biblical end times, featuring a misplaced Antichrist named Adam, a book of prophecies penned by a witch, and a cast of characters ranging from four bikers of the Apocalypse to a witchfinder army.

What makes Good Omens so humorous is its clever blend of the absurd with the mundane, poking fun at human nature, religious texts, and even the inefficiencies of celestial bureaucracies. Gaiman and Pratchett’s writing is sharp, packed with puns, irony, and a deep understanding of human idiosyncrasies, allowing them to craft a story that’s as thought-provoking as it is laugh-out-loud funny. It’s this ingenious narrative, combined with the authors’ knack for witty dialogue and situational comedy, that cements Good Omens as a pinnacle in the genre of sci-fi comedy books.

4 Redshirts by John Scalzi

Redshirts by John Scalzi, released in 2012, is a clever and biting satire on the classic tropes of space opera TV shows, specifically targeting the cliché of expendable crew members (the eponymous “redshirts”) who often meet untimely ends. The book follows Ensign Andrew Dahl and his peers aboard the Universal Union starship Intrepid , as they quickly realize their roles as minor characters make them prime candidates for the next tragic casualty during away missions. Scalzi’s genius lies in his ability to mirror the absurdity of science fiction plot conveniences, using metafictional elements to explore the fate of these doomed characters with humor and insight.

What makes Redshirts so humorous is its self-awareness. Scalzi takes the familiar and beloved quirks of genre storytelling—predictable plot lines, thin character development for secondary characters, and deus ex machina resolutions—and flips them on their head, inviting the reader to laugh not only at the characters’ predicaments but also at the conventions of the genre itself. The novel is both a parody and a tribute, engaging fans with its witty commentary while offering a heartfelt nod to the narratives that inspire it.

5 The Android’s Dream by John Scalzi

The Android’s Dream by John Scalzi, released in 2006, is a riotous blend of science fiction and comedy that takes readers on a wild ride through interstellar politics, diplomacy, and conspiracy. The story kicks off with a diplomatic incident that could lead to interstellar war: the deliberate emission of a fart during a meeting with an alien species, the Nidu. The incident’s absurdity sets the tone for a novel filled with unexpected twists, where the fate of humanity hinges on finding a rare breed of sheep, titled “The Android’s Dream.”

Scalzi’s novel is infused with his signature wit and a keen sense of the absurd, making it a standout in humorous sci-fi. The humor lies not just in its premise but in its execution, with clever dialogue, satirical takes on politics and society, and the bizarre yet brilliantly constructed plot. Scalzi masterfully balances the comedic elements with a genuinely engaging sci-fi story, making The Android’s Dream a must-read for those who enjoy their science fiction with a side of laughter. Its unique blend of humor, plot, and character has cemented its place as a favorite among fans of the genre.

6 Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi

Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi, released in 2005, is a refreshing take on the alien first-contact story, told through the lens of Hollywood glam and satire. The novel introduces us to Thomas Stein, a successful young Hollywood agent, who is tasked with an unusual client: an alien race called the Yherajk. These benevolent extraterrestrials, made of gaseous matter and smelling like seafood gone bad, want to introduce themselves to humanity. However, aware of their potentially off-putting appearance and odor, they decide to hire Stein to help them achieve a positive public image.

What makes Agent to the Stars so humorous is Scalzi’s adept use of witty dialogue, sharp satire of the entertainment industry, and the absurd yet endearing premise of an alien race trying to navigate the complexities of Hollywood PR. Scalzi crafts a story that is not only a commentary on the superficiality of celebrity culture but also a heartwarming tale of understanding and acceptance. The juxtaposition of an everyday Hollywood agent dealing with the extraordinary task of alien introduction creates a fertile ground for comedy, making Agent to the Stars a standout in the sci-fi comedy genre.

7 Battlestar Suburbia by Chris McCrudden

Battlestar Suburbia , released in 2018, is a comedic gem by Chris McCrudden that spins a tale of farcical futurism where machines have taken over and humans find themselves relegated to the lower rungs of society. The story kicks off with an ordinary man, Fred, and a cleaning robot, Pam, who accidentally become the galaxy’s most wanted and must navigate a world where toasters are in charge and humans are mere afterthoughts. The humor in Battlestar Suburbia stems from its absurd yet sharply observant look at our dependence on technology, flipping the script on who serves whom.

McCrudden crafts a universe brimming with witty puns, hilarious situations, and a deep satirical undercurrent that critiques modern life through the lens of a robot-dominated society. The book’s charm lies in its ability to make readers laugh at the ridiculousness of its characters’ predicaments while subtly nudging them to ponder the trajectory of our tech-saturated world. While it hasn’t been noted for any particular awards, Battlestar Suburbia stands out for its originality and clever humor, making it a notable entry in the sci-fi comedy genre.

8 Will Save the Galaxy for Food by Yahtzee Croshaw

Will Save the Galaxy for Food by Yahtzee Croshaw, released in 2017, is a comedic science fiction novel that takes a satirical look at the life of a down-and-out star pilot in a universe where quantum tunneling has made traditional space travel obsolete. The story follows the protagonist, a pilot who once thrived in the era of interstellar exploration, as he navigates the challenges of unemployment in a future where his skills are no longer in demand. Croshaw crafts a universe filled with absurd situations and characters, including tourists seeking adventure in space and the mishaps that ensue when the protagonist is forced to impersonate a famous hero.

The humor in Will Save the Galaxy for Food stems from Croshaw’s sharp wit and keen sense of irony, poking fun at science fiction tropes and the often-glamorized concept of space exploration. The book excels in its ability to blend a cynical outlook on heroism and fame with laugh-out-loud scenarios, making it a standout in sci-fi comedy. While the novel did not receive any notable awards, its unique blend of humor, adventure, and social commentary has garnered a dedicated fanbase and critical acclaim for its insightful and entertaining take on the genre.

9 To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis, released in 1998, is a delightful blend of science fiction, history, and comedy. The book is part of Willis’s Oxford Time Travel series and stands out for its humorous take on time travel and Victorian England. The story follows Ned Henry and Verity Kindle, two time-traveling historians who are sent back to the 19th century to correct an anomaly that threatens the timeline. Amidst the backdrop of boating on the Thames, Gothic novels, and an overly enthusiastic bulldog, the duo navigates a series of comedic misadventures.

The humor in To Say Nothing of the Dog arises from Willis’s clever use of historical incongruities, slapstick situations, and the absurdities inherent in time travel paradoxes. The witty dialogue and the characters’ anachronistic blunders in Victorian society add layers of comedy, making it a standout in the sci-fi comedy genre.

The novel was highly acclaimed, winning both the Hugo and Locus Awards for Best Science Fiction Novel in 1999. Its blend of meticulous historical research, engaging storytelling, and sharp humor makes it a must-read for fans of the genre.

10 The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut

The Sirens of Titan , released in 1959, is one of Kurt Vonnegut’s early forays into the realms of science fiction and humor. The novel weaves a complex tale of free will, the meaning of life, and the interconnectedness of all things across the solar system. It follows Malachi Constant, the luckiest man in the world, who is led on an interplanetary journey from Earth to Mars, Mercury, and back to Saturn’s moon Titan, where the narrative reaches its climax. Vonnegut’s signature wit and satirical tone are on full display as he explores themes of war, religion, and the absurdity of human existence, making it not just a sci-fi adventure but a profound commentary on the human condition.

What makes The Sirens of Titan so humorous is Vonnegut’s ability to poke fun at societal norms and human nature with sharp, incisive observations, all while crafting a story that is both bizarre and deeply philosophical. His characters are thrust into absurd situations that reflect the absurdity of the real world, highlighting the folly and vanity of mankind’s pursuits.

While The Sirens of Titan did not win any notable awards at the time of its release, its enduring popularity and critical acclaim have cemented its status as a classic in the science fiction genre and one of the best examples of Vonnegut’s unparalleled ability to blend humor with thought-provoking storytelling.

11 Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams, released in 1987, introduces readers to the unconventional world of Dirk Gently, a private detective with an unorthodox approach to solving mysteries . Gently believes in the fundamental interconnectedness of all things, a principle he uses to link seemingly unrelated cases involving a missing cat, a ghost, an electric monk, and time travel. The book is a masterpiece of sci-fi comedy, blending Adams’s signature wit with a complex narrative that satirizes traditional detective fiction and explores themes of artificial intelligence, quantum mechanics, and the absurdities of the human condition.

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency has clever plot twists, eccentric characters, and the absurd logic that Gently employs to connect the dots between the mundane and the mystical. Adams’s sharp, observational comedy and his ability to poke fun at the peculiarities of life make the novel a hilarious, thought-provoking read. While the book did not win any notable awards, its unique blend of mystery, science fiction, and humor has cemented its place as a beloved classic in the genre.

12 Year Zero by Rob Reid

Year Zero by Rob Reid, released in 2012, dives into the uproarious tale of an alien civilization that discovers Earth’s music, deeming it the most beautiful they’ve ever heard, only to realize they’ve been pirating it for years, owing humanity an unfathomable amount of money in royalties. The story follows Nick Carter, a lowly Earth-based entertainment lawyer, who becomes humanity’s unlikely defender against the cosmic legal quagmire that ensues.

What makes Year Zero so hilarious is its satirical commentary of the music industry, copyright laws, and the absurdity of intergalactic legal systems, all wrapped in a narrative that’s as insightful as it is laugh-out-loud funny. Reid’s witty take on the clash between an advanced alien society and our own world’s peculiarities makes for a delightful read that skewers the complexities of copyright law and the universal appeal of music. While Year Zero didn’t snag any notable awards, its inventive plot and sharp humor have secured it a fond place in the hearts of sci-fi comedy enthusiasts.

13 Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente

Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente, released in 2018, is a glittering journey into the absurdity of intergalactic competition, mirroring the extravagance of the Eurovision Song Contest. The novel propels readers into a universe where the fate of Earth hinges on its ability to perform in the Metagalactic Grand Prix—a musical contest designed to foster peace and prove a species’ sentience through the universal language of song.

The humor in Space Opera is as bright and dazzling as its subject matter, with Valente’s prose pirouetting through satire, wit, and a deep love for the quirks of humanity and alien-kind alike. She crafts a narrative that is both a tribute to and a parody of the flamboyant spectacle of Eurovision, filled with outlandish characters, poignant commentary on the human condition, and a storyline that sings with the ludicrous and the sublime. The book’s comedic brilliance lies in its ability to lampoon yet celebrate the excesses of pop culture and the idea that, in the vast, dark theatre of the universe, music might just be the saving grace.

14 Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits by David Wong

Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits by David Wong, released in 2015, catapults readers into a near-future world brimming with technological wonders and bizarre dangers. The story centers on Zoey Ashe, who inherits an empire from her estranged father in the city of Tabula Ra$a, a neon-lit haven for criminals where law is determined by who has the flashiest technology and the most power. As Zoey navigates this wild new world, she finds herself targeted by murderous villains who covet her newfound wealth and status.

What makes the book so humorous is Wong’s signature blend of sharp wit, absurd situations, and vibrant characters. The novel is a satirical take on the excesses of future society, poking fun at the disparity between the ultra-rich and the rest of humanity, all while delivering non-stop action and snappy dialogue. The humor is as cutting as it is laugh-out-loud funny, making Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits a standout for its ability to entertain and provoke thought in equal measure. While it hasn’t been highlighted by major literary awards, its critical acclaim and fan following speak to its impact as a memorable and hilarious contribution to the sci-fi comedy book genre.

15 How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu, released in 2010, is hilariously about the life of a time machine repairman named Charles Yu. Trapped in a time loop within the universe of Minor Universe 31, Yu encounters various versions of himself and grapples with the complexities of time travel, familial relationships, and the essence of his existence. The humor in Yu’s narrative stems from its inventive use of science fiction tropes, self-referential paradoxes, and the existential absurdities that the protagonist faces.

This hilarious time travel book cleverly juxtaposes technical jargon and theoretical physics with the mundane aspects of life, creating a comedic contrast that highlights the absurdity of human concerns in the vastness of the universe. Its witty observations on life, loneliness, and the human condition, wrapped in the guise of a science fiction adventure, make it a humorous and poignant read. While How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe did not clinch any notable awards, its unique blend of humor, heart, and time-travel conundrums has cemented its place as a beloved novel in the sci-fi comedy genre.

16 The Cyberiad by Stanislaw Lem

The Cyberiad by Stanisław Lem, released in 1965, is a seminal collection of humorous science fiction stories centered around the adventures of two brilliant, rival constructors, Trurl and Klapaucius. These inventors roam the universe, creating mind-boggling machines and getting into absurd situations that often parody human folly. The book is celebrated for its inventive use of language, including the creation of elaborate technological and scientific concepts that satirize the human condition, politics, and philosophers through a futuristic lens.

What makes The Cyberiad exceptionally humorous is Lem’s ability to weave complex ideas with a playful mastery of language, presenting deeply philosophical and technical narratives in a light-hearted manner. His stories are filled with ironic twists and puns, showcasing a unique blend of high intellect with whimsical storytelling. Lem uses his robotic characters to explore themes of love, rivalry, ethics, and the nature of creativity itself, all while maintaining a humorous undertone that delights and provokes thought in equal measure.

17 Bill, the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison

Bill, the Galactic Hero , penned by the adept Harry Harrison, first made its appearance in 1965. This seminal work of sci-fi comedy embarks on the riotous journey of Bill, a naive farm boy who, through a series of misadventures and misunderstandings, finds himself conscripted into the Space Troops. Unwittingly becoming a “hero,” Bill navigates the absurdities of military life and interstellar warfare in a universe that’s as bureaucratic as it is nonsensical.

The humor in Harrison’s novel springs from its biting satire of military life and science fiction tropes, poking fun at the glorification of war and the often ludicrous aspects of space opera narratives. Harrison, with a keen wit, dismantles the romanticized image of the space soldier, instead presenting a hilariously bleak view of the galaxy and its incompetent commanders, bizarre aliens, and the all-too-familiar drudgery of serving in a vast, indifferent military machine.

18 Martians, Go Home by Fredric Brown

Martians, Go Home by Fredric Brown, first published in 1955, is a standout piece in the realm of sci-fi comedy that has entertained readers for decades. The novel introduces us to an Earth suddenly besieged by green, incorporeal, and insufferably rude Martians. These extraterrestrial visitors, capable of appearing anywhere at will, take immense pleasure in eavesdropping on private conversations, revealing secrets, and generally causing chaos without a hint of malicious intent. Their sheer presence and the global pandemonium they incite serve as a brilliant satire on privacy, human nature, and society’s foibles.

What makes Martians, Go Home particularly humorous is Brown’s clever use of irony and his portrayal of the Martians as ultimate pranksters, whose antics reflect the absurdities of the human condition. The book’s comedic strength lies in its examination of how humanity would deal with an invasion that’s annoying rather than apocalyptic, turning a classic science fiction trope on its head with wit and irreverence.

19 The Automated Alice by Jeff Noon

The Automated Alice by Jeff Noon, released in 1996, is a whimsical continuation of Lewis Carroll’s famous Alice adventures. This novel finds Alice tumbling down another rabbit hole, this time landing in a bizarre version of Manchester in the 1990s. As she navigates this strange new world, Alice encounters a cast of characters that blend Carroll’s Victorian whimsy with Noon’s cyberpunk sensibilities, including a robotic counterpart named Automated Alice, who serves as her guide.

What makes The Automated Alice so humorous is its clever fusion of the absurdities of Carroll’s universe with modern-day quirks and the addition of Noon’s distinctive cyberpunk flair. The novel plays with language in inventive ways, crafting puns, neologisms, and witty dialogue that pay homage to Carroll’s playful linguistic style while introducing a contemporary twist. The humor arises naturally from the surreal situations Alice finds herself in, as well as from her attempts to apply Victorian sensibilities to the oddities of a technologically advanced society.

20 Emperor Mollusk versus The Sinister Brain by A. Lee Martinez

Emperor Mollusk versus The Sinister Brain by A. Lee Martinez is a rollicking adventure released in 2012, diving into the life of a retired warlord from Neptune, Emperor Mollusk, who is, interestingly, an invertebrate with a vast intellect. The book delves into his misadventures as he faces off against a variety of intergalactic threats, with the primary antagonist being The Sinister Brain, another supremely intelligent being with its own devious plans for domination.

What makes this novel particularly humorous is Martinez’s clever writing, which imbues the narrative with wit, irony, and a constant stream of comedic situations that arise from the absurdity of its characters and their dilemmas. Mollusk, despite being a conqueror, is portrayed with a mix of hubris and reluctant heroism that lends itself to laugh-out-loud moments, especially when juxtaposed with the overly serious or outright bizarre challenges he faces. The humor is enhanced by the imaginative setting and the eccentric supporting cast, all of which contribute to a lively and entertaining read.

21 The Stainless Steel Rat series by Harry Harrison

The Stainless Steel Rat series by Harry Harrison, first introduced in 1961, follows the interstellar adventures of Slippery Jim DiGriz, a charming and cunning con artist with a heart of gold. DiGriz lives in a future where societal norms are turned on their head, and he thrives on outsmarting the law and the criminals alike. The humor in the series stems from Jim’s wit, the absurd situations he finds himself in, and the satirical take on the conventions of both science fiction and society. Harrison’s skillful blend of irony, parody, and clever dialogue ensures that the laughter is as plentiful as the action.

The series is celebrated for its lighthearted approach to the genre, poking fun at the serious tropes of science fiction without losing the pace and excitement of a space opera. While The Stainless Steel Rat hasn’t been spotlighted with notable literary awards, its enduring popularity and influence on the genre speak volumes about its quality and the affection it garners from readers. Harrison’s creation remains a staple for those looking to explore the cosmos with a smile.

22 Noir by Christopher Moore

Noir by Christopher Moore is a comedic take on the noir detective genre, set in the fog-laden, post-WWII landscape of San Francisco in 1947. The novel follows Sammy “Two Toes” Tiffin, a bartender with a penchant for getting into trouble, as he navigates a maze of quirky characters, including a mysterious dame, a group of conspiracy theorists, and an Air Force general with a secret.

What makes Noir one of the funniest sci-fi comedy novels is Moore’s signature wit and mastery of dialogue, weaving together historical absurdities with slapstick and sharp banter that perfectly captures the essence of classic noir with a twist. The humor is both a homage and a parody, playing on the tropes of the genre while injecting it with bizarre scenarios and anachronistic jokes that resonate with contemporary audiences. Released in 2018, Noir stands out for its unique blend of historical fiction, comedy, and mystery, although it doesn’t list any notable awards, its charm lies in Moore’s ability to craft a story that’s as laugh-out-loud funny as it is intriguingly dark.

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Dana lives in East Haven, CT. She works for that Ivy League institution down the street and tries to read as many books as possible in her free time. Audiobooks and print books get equal love. Also, she unapologetically judges books by their covers and makes way too many playlists (c'mon, books need a soundtrack too!). Follow her on Twitter @lucyhenley115 .

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Hear me out, there’s a sub-genre of sci-fi that that has a touch of anything you could ever want: time travel books. The best time travel books come in all packages: adventure, historical fiction, romance, social commentary, mystery, humor, poetry. It really has it all. So, if you can still recite the opening credits of Quantum Leap from memory, this list is for you. Enjoy these must-read time travel books.

Here and Now and Then  by Mike Chen

Kin is a time-traveling agent from the year 2142 who gets stuck in 1990s San Francisco after a botched mission, and his rescue team shows up 18 years too late after he’s already built a life for himself. Here and Now and Then has all those warm and fuzzy sci-fi feels with just the right amount of Doctor Who level angst . Kin dealing with the circumstances of time travel and the consequences it brings about is super compelling and emotional and so, so worthy of a Murray Gold score.

The Future of Another Timeline  by Annalee Newitz

In the world of Another Timeline , time travel has been around since forever in the form of a geologic phenomena known as the “Machines.” Tess belongs to a group called the Daughters of Harriett, determined to make the future better for women by editing the timeline at key moments in history. They run up against the misogynistic group called the Comstockers working towards the opposite goal. There’s time travel, murder, punk rock concerts, nerd references, and an edit war. As Newitz recently said in an extra of their podcast, Our Opinions Are Correct , history is a  “synthesis of good fuckery” and I can’t think of a better phrase to describe this book than that.

An Ocean of Minutes  by Thea Lim

There is a deadly flu pandemic in America. Polly’s boyfriend Frank gets sick and she signs up for a one-way ticket to the future to work off the cost of Frank’s cure. They agree to meet up in the future, but Polly is rerouted to a later time where America is divided and she has no connections and no money. This is a really gorgeously written and heart-wrenching story about time travel, dystopian society, the brutality of survival in an unfamiliar world, and a character study of a normal person dealing with it all.

Kindred  by Octavia Butler

Dana is an African American woman celebrating her birthday in 1976 California when she is pulled through time to Antebellum Maryland. She saves a young white boy named Rufus from drowning and finds herself staring down the barrel of his father’s rifle. She is pulled back to her present just in time to save her life, appearing back in her living room soaked and muddy. She is repeatedly pulled back to the past encountering the same young man.  Over the course of these harrowing episodes, Dana realizes her connection to Rufus and the challenge she is faced with. This is a brilliant, thought-provoking, and intense book that is required reading for so many reasons least of which is time travel.

Alice Payne Arrives  by Kate Heartfield

Alice Payne Arrives is a quick romp through time with some truly amazing female characters. Alice Payne is a half-black queer woman in 1788 England living in her father’s deteriorating mansion. She’s also a notorious masked highway robber and her partner is an inventor. Prudence is a professional time traveler from the 22nd century working fruitlessly to try and change one small event in 1884. The two women cross paths and work together to put Prudence’s plan to end time travel in motion. This novella packs a lot of action and time travel goodness and there’s a sequel called Alice Payne Rides . It also contains one of the realest lines of any of the time travel books I’ve read: “2016’s completely fucked.”

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe  by Charles Yu

Charles Yu is a time machine repairman searching for his missing father, “accompanied by TAMMY, an operating system with low self-esteem, and Ed, a nonexistent but ontologically valid dog.” He receives a book from his future self that could help him locate his father. The book is called How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe and he wrote it. Hi, this book is super cool, fun, clever, and weird in the best ways. It has the highest distinction I can give a sci-fi book and that is warm and fuzzy.

The Psychology of Time Travel  by Kate Mascarenhas

Four female scientists invent time travel in 1967. One of the scientists, Bee,  suffers a mental breakdown just before they’re about to go public with their findings. The other three exile Bee from the project to save face. Fifty years later time travel is a normal part of life and a huge business. It’s regulated by the Conclave, founded by three of the original scientists, which seeks to self govern all aspects of time travel. The Psychology of Time Travel  serves up time travel with a locked-door mystery and the payoff of alternating perspectives and timelines slowly coming together.

The River of No Return  by Bee Ridgeway

At the moment of his death on a Napoleonic battlefield, Lord Nicholas Falcott wakes up in the 21st century. He’s recruited by a time travel agency known as The Guild for training. Julia Percy lives in 1815 England and after the death of her grandfather seeks to find her place in a world where meddling with time is commonplace. There’s a whole lot going on here: romance, betrayal, double-agents, and drawing on emotion to facilitate time jumps, leading to my favorite line: “Though really they were probably both insane. Two grown men dressed up like Mr. Darcy, holding hands behind a tree, trying to pull themselves by the heart strings back to the long ago.”

This is How You Lose the Time War  by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Blue and Red are fighting on opposite sides of an endless time war. They begin to exchange letters on the battlefield, first as a boast, then as an exploration of friendship across enemy lines, and finally as a romance. I have previously described this as “poetic sci-fi realness.” I could be more professional and say that this is an epistolary work of rival agents forming a bond despite their opposition, but like I can’t okay. This book is so intricate and beautiful and the letters are not on paper, they could be in the dregs of a teacup or the rings of a tree, and I’m not crying you’re crying.

All Our Wrong Todays  by Elan Mastai

Tom is a misfit in a utopian world, and he goes back in time and accidentally screws up the future. This mishap leaves him stranded in our 2016, but what we think of as the real world is a dystopian wasteland to Tom. He eventually finds different versions of everything he knows and maybe even his soulmate. Tom has to decide whether to fix the timeline and bring back utopia or live in this new version of the world he’s created. Probably me as a time traveler, tbh.

The Fire Opal Mechanism by Fran Wilde

The Fire Opal Mechanism  is technically a sequel to The Jewel and Her Lapidary , but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. Ania is a librarian at the last university desperately trying to save as many books as she can. All the other universities have fallen to the Pressman, an extremist group bent on destroying all the world’s books and replacing them with a generic, self-updating compendium available to everyone regardless of economic class. Jorit, branded a thief, is on the run just trying to survive long enough to afford passage on a ship away from all these problems. They team up and inadvertently discover time travel, but will it help them fix the present? This is really beautifully written, especially the passages about books: “Touching a book, for Ania, was like touching a person’s fingertips across the years. She could feel a pulse, a passion for the knowledge the book contained.”

The Silver Wind  by Nina Allan

The Silver Wind  is a series of stories linked by the character Martin Newland. Each story is like an alternate universe brought about by time machines and time travel. As Allan describes on her website : “While the overarching theme of this book might properly be found in Martin’s struggle with infinity, its individual chapters deal with those small acts of creative defiance that determine our transcendence of ordinary mortality.” A thoroughly thought-provoking déjà vu experience.

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

Anne Gallagher travels to Ireland to scatter the ashes of her beloved grandfather. She is pulled back in time to the Ireland of 1921 and is mistaken as the long-lost mother of a young boy. She assumes this identity and is drawn into the lives of those around her and the political unrest of the time. It’s a historical romance perfect for fans of Outlander.

The Shining Girls  by Lauren Beukes

What if time travel fell into the hands of a criminal?  The Shining Girls  is the story of serial killer named Harper Curtis who stumbles upon an abandoned house in Depression-era Chicago that allows him to travel in time. He chooses his victims and visits them at different times of their lives before returning for the kill. Kirby survives Harper’s attack and, along with a former homicide reporter, tries to unravel the mystery before anyone else dies. This book is wild, W-I-L-D. There’s a lot of violence, so it might not be for everyone, but it’s such an interesting take on the time travel story.

Version Control  by Dexter Palmer

Set in the near-future, Rebecca works in the customer support department of the dating site where she met her husband Phillip. He is a scientist building a causality violation device (definitely not a time machine!). But Rebecca can’t help but feel that there’s something wrong with the present. So, this is kind of about living with technology and kind of about relationships and overcoming tragedy and also time travel. Intelligent and poignant but make it sci-fi.

How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler  by Ryan North

Starting out with an FAQ guide to your rented time machine, How to Invent Everything humorously goes through the history of well, everything. From how to determine what time period you have landed and are now stuck in to inventing language and electricity it’s a very Hitchhiker’s Guide -ish look at history presented as a guide for creating the things you’ll miss when you’re stranded in an earlier timeline than your own.

Time After Time  by Lisa Grunwald

It’s 1937 and Joe Reynolds is a hard-working railroad man at Grand Central Station. Nora Lansing is an aspiring artist and the last thing she remembers is her train crashing in 1925. They meet at the big clock and Joe walks Nora home, but she disappears in the street. She reappears one year later and meets Joe again. Realizing she’s jumping in time and trapped in Grand Central for mysterious reasons that might have something to do with Manhattanhenge, Nora and Joe try to unravel the mystery before she disappears again. For me this was a time travel books mashup of The Clock meets Kate & Leopold meets Gentleman in Moscow and I was very about it.

TimeKeeper  by Tara Sim

TimeKeeper takes place in an alternate Victorian world where time is controlled by clock towers. Danny is a young clock mechanic enamored with his new apprentice, who turns out to be the Enfield clock spirit, Colton. Bombings at other towers start to occur and broken clocks mean the towns they oversee will be frozen in time. The romance between Danny and Colton is very adorable and the race against literal time is an exciting backdrop. It’s the first in a trilogy.

Bones of the Earth by Michael Swanwick

If you’re a time travel fan then this sentence from the publisher’s summary is sure to get you excited, “World-renowned paleontologist Richard Leyster’s universe changed forever the day a stranger named Griffin walked into his office with a remarkable job offer…and an ice cooler containing the head of a freshly killed Stegosaurus.” Time travel allows a group of scientists to go back and study dinosaurs up close in their natural environment. If you are now humming the Jurassic Park theme, please know, So. Am. I.

Just One Damned Thing After Another (Chronicles of St. Mary’s) by Jodi Taylor

There is so much going on in this whirlwind adventure that if you blink you’ll miss a major plot point.  Just One Damned Thing After Another  is just the first book in a series of the adventures of St. Mary’s Institute of Historical Research as they rattle around through time trying to answer history’s unanswered questions. There are currently 11 books published and forthcoming and a ton of short stories that fill in the blanks between adventures. Taylor also has a spinoff time travel series, The Time Police, with the first book just out called Doing Time .  It follows three hapless new time police recruits as they try to keep the timeline straight.

Looking for more of the best time travel books? Check out these timey-wimey posts:

Time Travel Romances

7 of the Best Alternate Timeline Books

The Lack of Black Characters in Time Travel Romance

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40 Best Time Travel Books To Read Right Now (2024)

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Travel back in time with the best time travel books, including engrossing thrillers, romance, contemporary lit, and mind-bending sci-fi.

Table of Contents

Best Time Travel Books

Books about time travel promise to not only transport you across time periods and space – Doctor Who-style – but also tesser you into new dimensions and around the world. Most readers already know about classics like The Time Traveler’s Wife , A Christmas Carol , and The Time Machine .

For romance time travel, grab In A Holidaze or One Last Stop . For contemporary and new time travel books, Haig’s The Midnight Library and Serle’s In Five Years captivated our hearts and minds.

Recursion re-kindled our love for science fiction, and Ruby Red transported us to 18th-century London. Books like Displacement promise intuitive and raw commentary about generational trauma and racism in graphic novel form.

Below, find the best time travel novels across genres for adults and teens, including history, romance, classics, sci-fi, YA, and thrilling fiction. Get ready to travel in the blink of an eye, and be sure to let us know your favorites in the comments. Let’s get started!

Contemporary & Literary Fiction

If you enjoy contemporary and literary fiction filled with strong main characters, these are some of the best books in the time travel genre. Uncover new releases as well as books on the bestseller lists. Of course, we’ll share a few lesser-known gems too.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

Would your life change if you had one seemingly real dream or premonition? What if some key facts were missing but you had no idea? Can we change the future?

One of the best books about time travel and friendship, don’t skip In Five Years . In fact, we read this New York City-based novel in half a day. Have the tissue box ready.

Dannie nails an important job interview and is hoping to get engaged. Of course, this is all a part of her perfect 5-year plan. Dannie has arranged every minute of her life ever since her brother died in a drunk driving accident.

On the night of Dannie’s “scheduled” engagement, she falls asleep only to have a vision of herself 5 years into the future in the arms of another man. Did she just time travel or could this be a dream? When Dannie arrives back in 2020, her life goes back to normal. …That is until she meets the man from her dream.

We were expecting In Five Years to be a time travel romance story; however, this is a different type of love and one of the best books about strong friendships .

Read In Five Years : Amazon | Goodreads

Before the coffee gets cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Translated by Geoffrey Trousselot | We just love Japanese literature . One of the most debated time travel books among our readers – you’ll either love it or hate it – Before the coffee gets cold takes place at a cafe in Tokyo, Japan.

Along with coffee, this 140-year-old, back-alley cafe lets visitors travel back in time. Four visitors at the cafe are hoping to time travel to see someone for the last (or first) time. The way each patron views the cafe says a lot about them. The details and repetition are everything.

True to the title, visits may only last as long as it takes for the coffee to grow cold. If they don’t finish their coffee in time, there are ghostly consequences.

Before the coffee gets cold asks, who would you want to see one last time, and what issues you would confront?

Along with the many rules of time travel, these visitors are warned that the present will not change. Would you still travel back knowing this? Can something, anything, still change – even within you?

The story has a drop of humor with a beautiful message. We shed a tear or two. Discover even more terrific and thought-provoking Japanese fantasy novels here .

Read Before the coffee gets cold : Amazon | Goodreads

If you are looking for the most inspiring take on time travel in books, Haig’s The Midnight Library is it. This is one of those profound stories that make you think more deeply . TWs for pet death (early on) and suicide ideation.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Imagine if you could see your other possible lives and fix your regrets. Would that path be better? Would these changes make you happier?

Set in Bedford, England, and at a library , Nora answers these questions as she intentionally overdoses on pills. Caught in the Midnight Library – a purgatory of sorts – Nora explores books filled with the ways her life could have turned out. She tries on these alternative lives, pursuing different dreams, marrying different people, and realizing that some parts of her root life were not as they seemed on the surface.

Find hope and simplicity in one of the most authentic and heaviest time travel novels on this list. Haig addresses mental health through a new lens that is both beautiful and moving.

With a team full of avid readers and librarians, discover our top selections featuring more books about books .

Read The Midnight Library : Amazon | Goodreads

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver

Some of the best time travel books are those with alternate realities, including The Two Lives of Lydia Bird . There are content warnings for prescription pill addiction and more.

Set in England, Lydia and Freddie are planning their marriage when the unthinkable happens. Freddie dies in a car accident on the way to Lydia’s birthday dinner. In a matter of seconds, Lydia’s world falls apart. She isn’t sure how she will survive. When Lydia starts taking magical pink sleeping pills, she enters an alternate universe where Freddie is alive and well.

Caught between her dream world and real life, Lydia must decide if she will give in to her addiction – living in a temporary fantasy world – or give it up completely.

While the repetitive and predictable plot drags a bit – slightly hurting the pacing – the overall story shows emotional growth and the nature of healing after loss. And, as Lydia soon learns via her dreams, no love is perfect. Maybe her future was destined to be different anyway, which is reminiscent of Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library .

Read The Two Lives of Lydia Bird Jose Silver : Amazon | Goodreads

The First Fifteen Lives Of Harry August by Claire North

If you are looking for more suspenseful books about time travel and like Groundhog Day , check out The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. However, this is not just one day on repeat; instead, this is a lifetime.

Harry August is repeatedly reborn into the same life, retaining his memories each time. No matter what Harry does or says, when he lands on his deathbed, he always returns back to his childhood, again and again. On the verge of his eleventh death, though, a girl changes the course of his life. He must use his accumulated wisdom to prevent catastrophe.

Read The First Fifteen Lives Of Harry August : Amazon | Goodreads

An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim

When it comes to time travel books, An Ocean of Minutes is one of the most original takes about time travel’s effects on alternate history.

Polly and Frank are deeply in love in 1981 when a pandemic devastates the planet. By the end of 1981, time travel (invented in this alternate reality in 1993) has been made available.

Because of this invention, individuals can sign on to work for the TimeRaiser corporation in order to escape or save their loved ones in the present. Due to a flaw in the technology, though, they can only transport people for 12 years. This prevents them from stopping the pandemic by just 6 months.

When Frank gets ill, Polly signs up, both agreeing they will meet back up in 1993. Now alone in the future, Polly has to learn to navigate a world she has less than zero preparation for. In this world, she is a time refugee, bonded to TimeRaiser without a physical cent to her name.

Lim uses the time travel mechanic to cleverly explore the subject of immigration, forcing the reader to follow Polly blindly into a world they should know, but don’t. This is what makes An Ocean of Minutes one of the most unique time travel novels on this reading list.

Read An Ocean of Minutes : Amazon | Goodreads

Time Travel In Science Fiction

For fantasy and sci-fi lovers, take a quantum leap into fictional worlds, quantum physics, possible futures, black holes, and endless possibilities. See if you can tell the difference between the real world and new dimensions.

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Recursion is one of our all-time favorite time travel books to gift to dads who love sci-fi. Can you tell what we gave our dad for Christmas one year?

In Recursion, no one actually physically time travels – well, sort of. Instead, memories become the time-traveling reality.

Detective Barry Sutton is investigating False Memory Syndrome. Neuroscientist Helena Smith might have the answers he needs. The disease drives people crazy – and to their deaths – by causing them to remember entire lives that aren’t theirs. Or are they!?

All goes to heck when the government gets its hands on this mind-blowing technology. Can Barry and Helena stop this endless loop?

Recursion is also a (2019) Goodreads Best Book for Science Fiction.

Read Recursion : Amazon | Goodreads

This Is How You Lose The War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar 

A Goodreads runner-up for one of the best science fiction novels (of 2019) – and one of the shortest time travel novels on this list – This Is How You Lose The Time War follows two warring time-traveling agents falling in love through a letter exchange.

Red and Blue have nothing in common except that they travel across time and space and are alone. Their growing and forbidden love is punishable by death and their agencies might be onto them.

In a somewhat beautiful yet bizarre story, we watch as Red and Blue slowly fall for each other and confess their love. They engage in playful banter and nicknames. Every shade of red and blue reminds them of each other.

The first half of the novel is a bit abstract. You might wonder what the heck you’ve gotten yourself into. However, once you get your feet planted firmly on the ground of the plot, the story picks up and starts making more sense.

We can’t promise you’ll love or even understand This Is How You Lose The Time War – we aren’t sure we do. However, this is truly one of the most unique sci-fi and LGBTQ+ time travel romance books on this reading list – written by two authors. Also, maybe crack out the dictionary…

Explore even more of the best LGBTQ+ fantasy books to read next.

Read This Is How You Lose The War : Amazon | Goodreads

All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai

A debut novel, All Our Wrong Todays is both a humorous and entertaining time travel book that speaks to how we become who we are.

In 2016, technology perfected the world for Tom Barren. However, we all know that perfection doesn’t equate to happiness. Barren has lost his girlfriend, and he just happens to own a time machine… Now, Barren has to decide if he wants to keep his new, manipulated future or if he just wants to go back home to his depressing but normal life.

Read All Our Wrong Todays : Amazon | Goodreads

Here And Now And Then by Mike Chen

Imagine getting trapped in time and starting over. That’s exactly what happens to IT worker, Kin Stewart, in one of the bestselling science fiction time travel books, Here And Now And Then .

Stewart has two lives since he is a displaced time-traveling agent stuck in San Francisco in the 1990s. He has a family that knows nothing about his past; or, should we say future. When a rescue team arrives to take him back, Stewart has to decide what he is willing to risk for his new family.

Here And Now And Then is a time travel book filled with emotional depth surrounding themes of bonds, identity, and sacrifice. Find even more books set in San Francisco, California (and more!).

Read Here And Now And Then : Amazon | Goodreads

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe is one of the most unusual books about time travel out there.

Our protagonist Charles Yu lives in a world where time travel exists and is readily available to the average person. And yes, he is named after the author, and yes, it is as meta as it sounds; and yes, this is just the beginning of this speculative fiction time travel book.

Charles Yu’s day job is spent repairing time machines for Time Warner Time. But in his free time, he tries to help the people who use time travel to do so safely and to counsel them if things have gone wrong.

It’s no surprise that Charles’ entire life revolves around time travel since his father invented the technology many years ago. And then he disappeared. In fact, Charles is also trying to find out just what happened to his dad, and where – or when – he’s gone.

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe won’t be for everyone, but it’s one of the best time travel books if you want delightfully meta, fantastically non-linear, and very very weird.

Read How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe : Amazon | Goodreads

The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez

For beautiful, lyrical time travel novels about found family and love, The Vanished Birds is a must-read.

Nia Imani exists outside of time and space. She travels in and out of the world through a pocket of time with her space crew. They emerge to trade or sell goods every eight months. But eight months for them is 15 years for everyone else.

She has lived this way for hundreds of years. Though she has her crew, and there are people she shares connections with sporadically throughout their lives, she is lonely. And although she barely ages, she watches friends and lovers grow old and die.

One such person is Kaeda, who meets Nia for the first time when he is 7. The next time he sees her, he has aged 15 years, while she is only months older. She continues to come every 15 years of his life, always looking the same.

Then one day a mysterious, mute boy falls from the sky into Nia’s life. His name is Ahro, and there’s something extra special about him. Something that could revolutionize space travel forever. And now there might be people after Ahro who won’t love him the way Nia does.

If you love a character-driven book with exquisite prose – and a few time warps – this is one of the best time travel books for you.

Read The Vanished Birds : Amazon | Goodreads

Night Watch by Terry Pratchett

Night Watch is one of the most fun and thrilling books about time travel. It’s also a bit ridiculous and very very British.

Why can’t policing just be simple? All Sam Vimes wanted to do was capture and arrest a dangerous murderer. But thanks to those damned wizards and their experiments, he and the killer have both been accidentally thrown back in time thirty years.

And to top it off, the man who would have become a mentor to young Sam Vimes in the past has been killed in the process! How’s Vimes going to get this all sorted out?

The City Watch he’s spent years improving is just a bunch of semi-competent volunteers at this point. He’s got no money, no clothes, and no friends. But at least he’s making enemies fast. Can he catch the killer, stop history from not repeating itself, and get home to his family? Oh, and the city’s about to dissolve into civil war. Typical.

Night Watch is perfect if you prefer your time travel books to be fantasy-based.

P.S. There may be mild spoilers for previous books in the Discworld series, but this can be read as a standalone. And if you only ever read one Discworld novel, this is one of the best there is – and so far the only one of the Discworld books with time travel!

Read Night Watch : Amazon | Goodreads

The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz

The Future of Another Timeline is one of the few time travel books to explore history through a feminist lens.

In 1992, Beth – a high school senior – and her friends Heather, Lizzy, and Soojin attend a riot grrl concert with Heather’s boyfriend Scott. But afterward, one of Scott’s not-so-funny sexist jokes gets out of hand and Lizzy accidentally kills him. Now they’re on the run, and the bodies just keep piling up.

Meanwhile, in 2022, Tess is part of a group of women and non-binary people working together to change history. They have the use of five time devices which only allow them to travel backward and back to the present day – but never forwards.

Beth and Tess come from two wildly different times (1992, and 2022, respectively). But, while Beth is busy making history, Tess is quite literally trying to change it. However, both of them want the same thing: a better world. When their worlds collide, will they be able to save each other – and the world?

The Future of Another Timeline is a time travel fiction celebration of feminism and queerness with lots of sci-fi and punk rock thrown in. This is one of the best time travel novels for those who enjoy stellar women making history .

Read The Future of Another Timeline : Amazon | Goodreads

The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley

The Kingdoms is wildly imaginative and sure to enchant fans of time travel books, alternative history stories, and tales about parallel universes.

In 1898 Joe Tournier steps off a train and suddenly can’t remember anything that comes before that moment. The world he now finds himself in is as foreign to him as it is to us: an alternate history/reality where the UK lost the Battle of Trafalgar and is now a French colony.

In this world, the British are kept as slaves. Napoleon is a popular name for pets, and tartan is outlawed. Since Joe arrives on a train from Glasgow speaking English and wearing tartan, there is some speculation he might be from The Saints, a terrorist group based in Edinburgh fighting for freedom.

But all Joe remembers is the fading image of a woman and the name Madeline. Although he is identified by his owner and brought “home,” Joe is determined to find this Madeline. And his resolve is only strengthened when he receives a postcard signed ‘– M’ and dated 90 years in the past.

Discover even more books about Scottish culture, history, and everyday life.

Read The Kingdoms : Amazon | Goodreads

The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley

The Light Brigade is one of the best time travel stories for anyone who loves character-driven tales or books about war and conflict.

As war wages on Mars, the military has devised the perfect soldier to fight on the frontlines: being made of light. The Light Brigade, as they’re called back home, is made up of soldiers who have undergone a procedure that breaks them down into atoms capable of traveling at the speed of light. They are the perfect soldiers, but broken people.

The book follows one such soldier, Dietz, an eager new recruit who is experiencing battle out of sync with everyone else. Because of this, she – and we – see a different reality of the war than the one presented by the Corporate Corps. As Dietz becomes more and more unstuck in time, she becomes more and more unsure of her own sanity and the role she is playing in this war.

Read The Light Brigade : Amazon | Goodreads

The Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way

You Look Like Death Volume 1 | Now a popular (and excellent) Netflix TV show, The Umbrella Academy is one of the best time travel books of all time.

One day, forty-seven children are suddenly and inexplicably born to women who were not previously pregnant. Eccentric millionaire Reginald Hargreeves goes around the world buying as many of the surviving children as he possibly can. He is able to get seven.

These children, it turns out, all have superpowers (except, it seems, for the unremarkable Number Seven aka Vanya). They become the crime-fighting group: The Umbrella Academy.

Fast forward several years, and Number Five, whose special power is that he can travel in time a few seconds or minutes per go, has mysteriously appeared after Hargreeves dies. And now he brings warning of an apocalypse – one which he insists none of his siblings will survive.

The Umbrella Academy series currently has three volumes, all packed with tales of time travel, parallel worlds, family drama, and lots of epic battles. We’ve absolutely loved this time travel book series so far; we can’t wait to see what Gerard Way does with future installments.

Discover even more great books with music, musicians, and bands.

Read The Umbrella Academy : Amazon | Goodreads

Historical Fiction

Travel back in time to witness wars and history. See what happens if you try to rewrite the future. Many of these historical fiction books with time travel promise to teach you more.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

We have a plethora of Agatha Christie fans amongst our Uncorked Readers , and Turton’s The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evenlyn Hardcastle is inspired by Christie.

Similar to Levithan’s Every Day , each day, Aiden wakes up in a different body from the guests of the Blackheath Manor. Trapped in a time loop, Aiden must solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder to escape. In the process, he navigates the tangled web of secrets, lies, and interconnected lives of the guests. Can he identify the killer and break the cycle?

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is an award-winning historical thriller and one of the best time travel novels if you enjoy Downton Abbey and Groundhog’s Day . Discover even more great books set at hotels, mansions, and more.

Read The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle : Amazon | Goodreads

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Travel back in time to Scotland in one of the most well-known time travel book series (and now TV series) of all time. Outlander is a part of pop culture. A New York Times bestseller and one of the top 10 most loved books according to The Great America Read, get ready to enter Scotland in 1743.

Claire Randall, a former British combat nurse, walks through an ancient circle of stones and is transported into a world of love, death, and war. This is a place of political intrigue, clan conflicts, and romantic entanglements. Claire must navigate the unfamiliar landscape while grappling with her feelings for the dashing Jamie Fraser.

Encounter even more cult-classic books from the ’90s like A Game Of Thrones , which is perfect for fantasy map lovers .

Read Outlander : Amazon | Goodreads

11/22/63: A Novel by Stephen King

Written by bestselling author, Stephen King, 11/22/63 is one of the best award-winning time travel books for historical fiction lovers. Set in 1963 when President Kennedy is shot, 11/22/63 begs the question: what if you could go back in time and change history?

Enter Jake Epping in Lisbon Falls, Maine.  Epping asks his students to write about a time that altered the course of their lives. Inspired by one of those haunting essays, Epping enlists to prevent Kennedy’s assassination.  How is this time travel possible? With the discovery of a time portal in a local diner’s storeroom…

11/22/63 is one of the most thrilling and realistic books about time travel, according to both critics and readers.

Read 11/22/63 : Amazon | Goodreads

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

If you are looking for historical fiction novels about time travel that address slavery and racism, be sure to check out Butler’s Kindred. This is also one of the best books published in the 1970s .

One minute Dana is celebrating her birthday in modern-day California. The next, she finds herself in the Antebellum South on a Pre-Civil War Maryland plantation. Dana is expected to save the plantation owner’s son from drowning. Each time Dana finds herself back in this time period as well as the slave quarters, her stays grow longer and longer as well as more dangerous.

Examine the haunting legacy and trauma of slavery across time. For younger readers, there is also a graphic novel adaptation . Discover more books that will transport you to the South .

Read Kindred : Amazon | Goodreads

What The Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

A bestseller and Goodreads top choice book, if you devour historical Irish fiction, What The Wind Knows will transport you to Ireland in the 1920s.

Anne Gallagher heads to Ireland to spread her grandfather’s ashes. Devastated, her grief pulls her into another time. Ireland is on the verge of entering a war, and Anne embraces a case of mistaken identity. She finds herself pulled into Ireland’s fight for Independence at the risk of losing her future life. She also falls for another main character and doctor, Thomas Smith.

What The Wind Knows is one of the best time travel novels that both romance and fantasy readers can appreciate. Witness connections that transcend time.

Read What The Wind Knows : Amazon | Goodreads

The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes

Known for being one of the best time travel books for thriller lovers, The Shining Girls also has the reputation as the spookiest novel on this reading list.

Kirby Mazrachi is the last shining girl – a girl with a future and so much potential. Harper Curtis is a murderer from the past meant to kill Mazrachi. However, Kirby is not about to easily go out without a fight, leading her on one violent quantum leap through multiple decades.

As Kirby races against time to track down a serial killer and unravel the mysteries of the House, encounter themes of resilience, fate, and the shining spirit that can transcend even the darkest forces.

Read The Shining Girls : Amazon | Goodreads

Time Travel Romance Books

We love a good time-travel romance novel, but we also understand how hard it can be to hold onto love when time is so unstable. From queer love stories set on trains to holiday celebrations, fall in love across time with these books.

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

From bestselling author, Casey McQuiston of Red, White, & Royal Blue – one of our favorite LGBTQ+ books for new adults – don’t miss the most-talked-about book (from 2021), One Last Stop.

Twenty-three-year-old August is quite the cynic and living in New York City. Up until now, August has jumped schools and towns as often as you change a pair of socks. August has also never been in a serious relationship and wants to find “her person.” August’s life suddenly changes, though, when she meets a beautiful and mysterious woman on the train.

Jane looks a little…out of date… and for good reason; she’s from the 1970s and trapped in the train’s energy. August wants nothing more than to help Jane leave the train, but does that mean leaving her too?

A feel-good, older coming-of-age story, laugh out loud and be utterly dazzled as you follow love across time and space. You’ll cozy (and drink) up in the parties and community surrounding August. One Last Stop is one of the all-time best LGBTQ+ time travel books – and perfect if you enjoy books that take place on trains .

Read One Last Stop : Amazon | Goodreads

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

The Time Traveler’s Wife is one the top time travel romance novels – and not just because the story features a librarian . We are so biased.

Henry and Clare have loved each other pretty much forever. Unfortunately, Henry has Chrono-Displacement Disorder, sporadically misplacing him in time. Of course, this time-traveling dilemma makes Clare’s and Henry’s marriage and future together pretty darn interesting.

Grab some Kleenex as they attempt to live normal lives and survive impending devastation. The Time Traveler’s Wife has also been made into a romantic movie classic . Watch even more fantasy movies with romance .

Read The Time Traveler’s Wife : Amazon | Goodreads

In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren

If you are looking for a sweet and sexy holiday rom-com set in Utah, grab In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren.

Mae leaves her family and friend’s Christmas vacation home after drunkenly making out with an old childhood friend. Blame the spiked eggnog. Unfortunately, Mae’s secretly in love with her best friend’s brother, Andrew. On the ride to the airport, Mae wishes for happiness just as a truck hits her parent’s car. 

Mae lands in a time-travel loop where her dreams start coming true.  Is it too good to last?   What happens when she isn’t happy once again? Is she trapped?

For holiday books about time travel, this one is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit if you enjoy movies like Holidates  or  Groundhog’s Day . It’s light with a happy ending – typical of this author duo. We also recommend In A Holidaze if you are looking for Christmas family gathering books – a big request we see here at TUL.

P.S. Did you know that Christina Lauren is a pen name for a writing duo, Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings? Christina Lauren also wrote The Unhoneymooners , which was also hilariously enjoyable and set on an island .

Read In A Holidaze : Amazon | Goodreads

A Knight In Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux

For cozy time travel romance books and a feminist tale set abroad, try A Knight In Shining Armor .

Dougless Montgomery is weeping on top of a tombstone when Nicholas Stafford, Earl of Thornwyck, appears. Although this armor-clad hunk allegedly died in 1564, he stands before her about to embark on a journey to clear his name. Convicted of treason, Montgomery vows to help her soon-to-be lover find his accuser and set the record straight.

Read A Knight In Shining Armor : Amazon | Goodreads

The Night Mark by Tiffany Reisz

Set in South Carolina, if you love lighthouses and beach vibes, you’ll find something enjoyable in the time travel romance, The Night Mark .

After Faye’s husband dies, she cannot move on and recover. Accepting a photographer job in SC, Faye becomes obsessed with the local lighthouse’s myth, The Lady of the Light.

Back in 1921, the lighthouse keeper’s daughter mysteriously drowned. Faye is drawn into a love story that isn’t hers and becomes entangled in a passionate and forbidden love affair.

Read The Night Mark : Amazon | Goodreads

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

Anyone who likes their time travel books to have a magical love story should pick up The Seven Year Slip for their next read. It’s one of our favorite magical realism novels .

When Clementine’s aunt dies, she inherits her fancy New York apartment on the Upper East Side. Although Clementine would really rather have her aunt back and can’t imagine living in her home, she eventually forces herself to move in and inhabit her aunt’s space.

And not long after, she wakes up to discover a strange man in her living room… except it’s not her living room, it’s her aunt’s… from seven years ago. Clementine’s aunt always said her apartment held a touch of magic; sometimes it created time slips that brought two people together when they were at a crossroads.

But what happens when you start to fall for someone stuck seven years in the past? Clementine knows there’s no future together, but she also can’t let go of this link to her aunt.

Like her previous speculative fiction romance, The Dead Romantics , Ashely Poston’s unique time travel tale is full of heartache and grief. However, it will also make you swoon. Basically, this one is a must if you are a fan of time travel romance books.

Read The Seven Year Slip : Amazon | Goodreads

Classic Books

No time travel reading list would be complete without the classics. Below, uncover just a few great time travel novels that started it all.

The End of Eternity by Issac Asimov

The End of Eternity is said to be one of Asimov’s science fiction masterpieces. This is also one of the most spellbinding books about time travel – although some criticize the story for its loopholes.

Harlan is a member of the elite future known as an Eternal. He lives and works in Eternity, which like any good time travel novel, is located separately from time and space.

Harlan makes small changes in the timeline in order to better history. Of course, altering the course of the world is dangerous and comes with repercussions, especially when Harlan falls in love.

Read The End of Eternity : Amazon | Goodreads

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

It goes without saying that Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol is one of the most famous and best time travel books for classic lovers – and a literary canon-worthy Christmas novel.

Ebenezer Scrooge is a greedy, lonely, and cruel man who truly has no Christmas spirit. Haunted by the ghosts of the past, present, and future, Scrooge must find the ultimate redemption before it’s too late. Does he have a heart?

Find even more classic and contemporary ghost books , including a few unique takes on ghosts.

Read A Christmas Carol : Amazon | Goodreads

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Slaughterhouse-Five is a somewhat bizarre time travel book about finding meaning in our sometimes fractured and broken lives. It’s also one of the most popular books published in the ’60s .

Similar to The Time Traveler’s Wife, Billy Pilgrim is “unstuck” in time in Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five. Drafted into World War II, Pilgrim serves as a Chaplain’s assistant until he is captured by the Germans. He survives the bombing at Dresden and ultimately becomes a married optometrist. Things get a little wild…

Suffering from PTSD, Billy claims that he is kidnapped by aliens in a different dimension. Like most time travel novels, the story is out of order and Billy travels to different parts of his life.

Aliens come in all shapes and sizes; have more alien encounters with this reading list .

Read Slaughterhouse-Five : Amazon | Goodreads

A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain

First published in 1889, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is one of the most popular classic and satirical time travel novels that’s set close to our childhood home. Having grown up in CT close to the old Colt factory, this story makes us smile.

Hank Morgan supervises the gun factory and is knocked unconscious. Upon waking, he finds himself in Britain about to be executed by the Knights of King Arthur’s Round Table in Camelot.

Morgan uses his future knowledge to his advantage, making him a powerful and revered wizard, which unfortunately doesn’t quite save him as he hopes. Not to mention that Morgan tries to introduce modern-day conveniences and luxuries to a time period that isn’t quite ready for them.

Read A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court : Amazon | Goodreads

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

The Time Machine is one of the best frontrunner time travel books of all time. Published in 1895, the Time Traveler recalls his exhausting time travel adventures to incredulous believers. He even disappears in front of them.

Blended with fantasy and science fiction over the course of 800,000 years, the Time Traveler battles “bad guys.” He also loses his time machine, debatably falls in love, and meets the underground dwelling Morlocks.

Read The Time Machine : Amazon | Goodreads

Young Adults Books

For young adults and teens – plus adults who appreciate YA – read the best middle-grade and high school time travel books. We’ve included more time travel graphic novels and manga here too.

Displacement by Kiku Hughes

For historical YA graphic novels , Displacement is one of the must-read books about time travel that will teach young readers about generational trauma, racism, politics, and war.

Follow Kiku, who is displaced in time, back to the period of U.S. Japanese incarceration [internment] camps – essentially glorified prisons – during WW2. Kiku begins learning more about her deceased grandmother’s history, which mirrors the horrid actions under former President Donald Trump. How can Kiku help stop the past from repeating itself, and more so, how can we?

In a simplistic but powerful style of storytelling, Hughes’s emotional YA WW2 book is accessible to young readers. Displacement is also one of the shorter and quicker books with time travel on this list. Find even more LGBT+ graphic novels to read – one of our favorite genres.

Read Displacement : Amazon | Goodreads

The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

Changing the past can be pretty tempting. We’ve even seen that The Flash cannot resist. However, altering the course of history can be dangerous…

The first of two YA time travel books, Nix is the daughter of a time traveler. Her dad can sail anywhere on his ship, The Temptation. Her dad has his own temptation, though: to travel back to Honolulu in 1868, the year before her mom dies in childbirth. Nix’s father threatens to possibly erase her life and destroy a relationship with her only friend.

Discover even more great books about maps. Or, travel via armchair with these ship books.

Read The Girl From Everywhere : Amazon | Goodreads

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Translated by Anthea Bell | If you are looking for time travel in books and enjoy YA historical fiction, try Ruby Red , which is the first in the Ruby Red Trilogy.

Gwyneth Shepherd quickly learns that she can easily time travel, unlike her cousin who has been preparing her entire life for the feat. Gwyneth wants to know why such a secret was kept from her. There are so many lies. Gwyneth time travels with the handsome Gideon back and forth between modern-day and 18th-century London to uncover secrets from the past.

Back in our MLIS and library days, Ruby Red was one of our favorite YA time travel books to recommend since so few knew about the series. Just a small warning that this enemies-to-lovers trope is a tad sexist, though. Find books like Ruby Red on our books with red (and more colors) in the title reading list .

Read Ruby Red : Amazon | Goodreads

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

A little creepier for young adult time travel novels, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is all about time loops. We’ve only read the first in this eerie series that mixes manipulated vintage photography with a suspenseful and chilling story.

Jacob discovers a decaying orphanage on a mysterious island off the coast of Wales. Known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, the building isn’t exactly abandoned… Jacob runs into peculiar children who might be more than just ghosts.

If you are looking for Kurt Vonnegut-esque time travel books for teenagers, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is for you. Find even more great adult and YA haunted house books to add to your reading list .

Read Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children : Amazon | Goodreads

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle

One of the most well-known books about time travel for families – made even more popular by Oprah and Mindy Kaling, A Wrinkle In Time , is the first book in The Time Quintet .

Although a time travel book series for elementary and middle-grade students – and also a 1963 Newbery Medal winner – adults will love the lessons and whimsical sci-fi quality of A Wrinkle In Time.

Meg Murray and her brother, Charles Wallace, go on an adventure in time to find and rescue their father. Their dad disappeared while working for the government on a mysterious tesseract project.

Watch this thrilling time travel adventure mixed with a coming-of-age story and a little girl power, too.

Read A Wrinkle in Time : Amazon | Goodreads

Orange by Ichigo Takano

Translated by Lasse Christian Christiansen and Amber Tamosaitis | This YA sci-fi romance manga is one of the most endearing time travel books you’ll ever read.

On the first day of 11th grade, Naho oversleeps for the first time ever. She also receives a letter that claims to be sent from herself 10 years in the future. The letter tells her both of the two big things that will happen to her that day as proof of sender: she will be late, and there will be a new kid in class named Naruse Kakeru from Tokyo who will sit next to her.

Naho is unsure if she trusts the letter, or whether or not she should heed its warnings – especially since it talks about past regrets and trying to undo them.

Orange is an adorable, but heartbreaking time travel manga that teaches us the meaning of friendship, love, regret, and so much more. If you’re looking for the best books about time travel for teens, Orange is the perfect option (and adults will love it too).

Read Orange : Amazon | Goodreads

If you devour the time travel genre, don’t miss these great movies…

If you enjoy books that take you back in time, you might also appreciate these top movies with time loops . Would you be able to fix past mistakes, fall in love, and you know, maybe not die this time? Find out if these protagonists succeed.

Travel Back In Time With These Reading Lists:

• Best ’90s Books
• Iconic ’80s Books
• Best WWII Historical Fiction

Christine Frascarelli

Dagney McKinney

45 Comments

Hi, nice list but just FYI you have one of the novels named incorrectly: it should be All Our Wrong Todays, not All Our Wrongs Today.

Thanks for letting us know! Every year, this list grows, and sometimes we miss a few mistakes.

The Things Are Bad Series by Paul L Giles is the funniest, most insightful time travel books I’ve ever read. It has everything!

Thanks so much for the review and rec!

Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain is an engrossing time travel book that I enjoyed immensely.

Our readers and contributors are big Diane Chamberlain fans. Thanks!

A huge time travel fan. A great list. Another time travel book recommendation: Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montemore. Wonderful story.

Thank you so much for the kind words and recommendation! We’ll have to check it out.

Great list, thanks. I also love seeing all the recommendations in the comments. I would add the Chronos Files series to your list. And, of course, the film ABOUT TIME, which is fantastic!

Thanks so much for the recommendations. We appreciate it!

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Screen Rant

10 best time travel comedies, ranked.

From classics like Back to the Future to underrated gems like Peggy Sue Got Married, time travel has provided a great vehicle for comedy in movies.

• Time travel has been a great vehicle for comedy in movies, allowing stories to take audiences to alternate realities and fantastical settings.
• Movies like About Time, Men in Black 3, and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me use time travel as a trope for comedic effect.
• Back to the Future is considered the greatest time travel comedy ever made, with its well-matched lead duo and cleverly crafted script.

From classics like Back to the Future and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure to underrated gems like Midnight in Paris and Peggy Sue Got Married , time travel has been used as a great vehicle for comedy in movies. Based on the laws of physics as they are understood today, time travel is impossible, so a real-life time machine probably won’t get invented any time soon (and if it was going to be invented at all, they probably would’ve come back here by now). But on the big screen, anything is possible. The magic of the movies has taken audiences to alternate realities, galaxies far, far away, and lawless dystopian societies.

The magic of the movies has also taken audiences back to the distant past, forward into the distant future, and returned to a drastically altered present. Time travel stories have mixed in all kinds of genres. Totally Killer mixes a time travel movie with an ‘80s slasher movie. Time After Time uses the time travel device for a quirky cat-and-mouse thriller about H.G. Wells chasing Jack the Ripper across contemporary San Francisco. And in movies like About Time , Men in Black 3 , and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me , the time travel trope has been played for laughs.

RELATED: 10 Things Movies Always Get Wrong About Time Travel

10 Army Of Darkness

Sam raimi, 1992.

At the end of the gonzo slapstick horror opus that is Evil Dead II , Sam Raimi left his deadite-slaying hero Ash Williams stranded in the Middle Ages. The delayed Evil Dead threequel , Army of Darkness , follows up on this zany cliffhanger as Ash attempts to get back to his own time. Some fans of this gleefully gory franchise were disappointed by the lighter tone of Army of Darkness , but the wacky humor, surreal visuals, and Bruce Campbell’s typically spectacular performance go a long way toward redeeming that lighter tone.

9 Deadpool 2

David leitch, 2018.

After his first solo movie got his origin story out of the way, the Merc with a Mouth took on time-traveling baddie Cable in Deadpool 2 . Cable comes back from a post-apocalyptic future to kill the mutant who murdered his family. Meanwhile, Deadpool, in an attempt to be a better superhero, would rather prevent that dark fate by helping the kid become less toxic. When Deadpool gets his hands on Cable’s time-traveling wristwatch, he dives into some of the most fun time-traveling antics ever put on-screen: he rewrites the movie and kills his own actor, Ryan Reynolds, before he signs on to star in Green Lantern .

8 About Time

Richard curtis, 2013.

Richard Curtis added a time travel element to his usual romcom formula in About Time . Domhnall Gleeson plays Tim Lake, who discovers that the men in his family have the ability to travel through time. He initially uses this ability to win the heart of the love of his life, played by Rachel McAdams, but then he goes down the slippery slope of trying to alter his past to improve his future. Thanks to Curtis’ sincere direction and Gleeson and McAdams’ committed performances (not to mention the great Bill Nighy as Tim’s time-traveling dad), About Time is as heartbreaking as it is hilarious.

7 Men In Black 3

Barry sonnenfeld, 2012.

After the first Men in Black sequel was criticized for rehashing all the best jokes from the first movie, Men in Black 3 pushed the boat out with a brand-new story involving time travel. Agent J (Will Smith) is sent back to prevent the assassination of his partner Agent K – which, in turn, will save the Earth. Josh Brolin gives a pitch-perfect performance as a younger Agent K, beautifully capturing all of Tommy Lee Jones’ gruff mannerisms (and his beloved dynamic with Smith).

6 Midnight In Paris

Woody allen, 2011.

During a trip to the French capital, nostalgic writer Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) gets the chance to meet his literary idols when his late-night walks magically take him back to the 1920s in Midnight in Paris . He gets to rub shoulders with such icons as Ernest Hemingway (played by Corey Stoll in a spot-on impression), Salvador Dalí, and Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Gertrude Stein gives him notes on his debut novel. The story of Midnight in Paris is a dream-come-true scenario for lovers of art and literature , and Wilson plays the starstruck fanboy role to perfection.

5 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

Jay roach, 1999.

After being cryogenically frozen to pursue the quotable Dr. Evil into the ‘90s in the first Austin Powers movie, Austin followed Dr. Evil back to the ‘60s in the sequel, The Spy Who Shagged Me . This is one of the most hilariously self-aware time travel comedies as it excuses its own nonsensical plotting. When Austin questions the paradoxes of time travel, Basil Exposition tells him, “ Don’t worry about those things and just enjoy yourself, ” then turns to the camera and tells the audience, “ That goes for you all, too! ”

4 Peggy Sue Got Married

Francis ford coppola, 1986.

A middle-aged woman on the verge of a messy divorce, played by Kathleen Turner, gets a chance at a redo when she attends her 25-year high school reunion and gets magically transported back to her senior year in Peggy Sue Got Married . She ends up falling in love with her husband Charlie, played by an early-career Nicolas Cage, all over again as she remembers why she married him in the first place. Whereas most time travel movies have a sci-fi bent, Francis Ford Coppola directs Peggy Sue Got Married with the sweet, sentimental magic of a Frank Capra fable .

3 Hot Tub Time Machine

Steve pink, 2010.

Hot Tub Time Machine is a million times better than a movie called Hot Tub Time Machine has any right to be . It revolves around a group of disillusioned middle-aged friends who go to the ski resort they used to frequent as youngsters, get drunk in a hot tub, and wake up to find that they’ve traveled back in time to the ‘80s. The script is jam-packed with self-aware humor and jokes about the characters’ knowledge of the future, and it’s also a surprisingly poignant exploration of aging and regrets and midlife crises and second chances.

2 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

Stephen herek, 1989.

Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter star as the titular high school slackers in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure . Since their rock music will one day save the world, Bill and Ted are given a time machine to help with their history report, so Ted won’t be sent to military school. The movie has a ton of great gags involving historical figures like Genghis Khan and Joan of Arc adjusting to the modern world. Reeves and Winter’s effortless on-screen chemistry makes Bill and Ted endlessly lovable, and their philosophy of “ Be excellent to each other ” is refreshingly wholesome.

1 Back To The Future

Robert zemeckis, 1985.

By far the greatest time travel comedy ever made – the unbeatable masterpiece against which every time travel movie will forever be judged – is Back to the Future . When Marty McFly is accidentally sent back to 1955, he has to ensure his parents get together so he’s not erased from existence while teaming up with the younger version of his friend Doc Brown , the inventor of the time machine, so he’s not stranded in the past. With its well-matched lead duo of Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd and its airtight script full of clever setups and payoffs, Back to the Future is the go-to example of a perfect movie.

MY RIGHT SOCK

21 funny travel books with (serious) lol potential.

Funny Travel Books Everyone Should Read

Traveling is one of the best ways to get out and explore the world. It doesn’t matter if you have company or are heading out solo – travel offers a unique experience that can’t be replicated at home. But while traveling is great, it isn’t always easy. There are long flights, sleepless nights in a new bed and trying food for the first time (to name just a few).

Luckily there’s also laughter!

In this article I’ve compiled 21 outrageously funny travel books about places from around the world. Whether you’re:

•  looking to gift these to someone to make them laugh their head off, or
• want some fun, light reads for yourself during your next vacation

These books will have you laughing until your stomach hurts.

BEST FUNNY TRAVEL BOOKS TO CRACK YOU UP AND INSPIRE YOU

For me, books provide a mental getaway. They give me a chance to venture out and experience stunning, new places vicariously through the stories of others.

And it’s even better when these books tie a solid dose of humor into the story.

I promise, these 21 best funny travel books will 100% crack you up!

1. Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe (1991) – Bill Bryson

In the 1970s, as a college student, Bryson backpacked Europe with a friend. A decade later, he traveled through the continent again to revisit his experiences. Except that he was now craving the comfort of hotel beds, hearty breakfasts, and slower travel, rather than zipping through countries on the cheap.

Neither Here Nor There is one hilarious travelogue about the changes he saw, how he reflected on cultures, people, food, accents, and his personal growth through the years. And he’s remodeled all of this information into a ridiculously funny travel book.

While some of the jokes might feel a bit dated, this is such a great book to get a headstart on your Europe trip.

Get your copy here.

2. turn right at machu pichu (2011) – mark adams.

Adams built a career out of writing for travel and adventure magazines, so it was no surprise that he undertook a hike through the Andes mountains to arrive at Machu Pichu, on the 100th year anniversary of the citadel.

Except that Adams was not quite an adventure traveler himself. The book gets exceedingly funny and real as the writer navigates through the highs and lows of the journey, makes choices he’d never have made otherwise, and after a grueling excursion, he makes pretty interesting discoveries.

The icing on the cake is Adams’s cheery and funny writing style; he’ll put a smile on your face and it’ll stay till the end of the book!

3. A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again (1997) – David Foster Wallace

This is a collection of essays by the late American author, David Foster Wallace, recounting his seven days on a Caribbean cruise ship. The book is filled with details of the extravagant but off-putting lifestyle of the staff and passengers, as well as his own attempts at enjoying himself despite them.

In the book, Wallace writes about his time on the luxury liner, describing it as “an extended moment of expressing through clenched teeth how badly something could be managed”.

His writing is social awkwardness mixed with a sort of desperate need to be polite and patient. It’s weird, funny and at times even a little bit heartwarming.

4. The Innocents Abroad  (1869) – Mark Twain

Twain’s journal of his travels through Europe and the middle-east in 1867 is a well-known classic. It’s the first book he ever wrote, and with it he demonstrated so much promise as a humorist.

This is the trip that made Twain into a world-renowned author, and for good reason. He was only in his early twenties when he wrote it, so the book has an innocence about it. But this also makes for great stories of adventures and all kinds of comical mishaps throughout his journey.

One of the interesting things about this book is its perspective; it was not written at a time when people were so mobile. This might make it a tad obsolete, but Twain’s writing captures the opinion of someone who had never before seen or experienced other cultures.

The travel book is not just funny; it’s especially worth a read for anyone who wants to know what traveling was like back in the day.

5. The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America (1989) – Bill Bryson

Quirky, insightful, and laugh-out-loud funny, The Lost Continent is an unconventional travelogue of small-town USA by bestselling author Bill Bryson. It’s the perfect companion for anyone planning a trip across the pond or around their own neighborhood.

In the book, Bryson talks about some places on American soil he had never visited before. He takes the reader through small American towns in the middle of nowhere, unknown places, hidden gems if you will.

Full of charming observations about American life from one of the world’s most beloved comic minds, The Lost Continent is Bill Bryson at his best.

6. The Sex Lives of Cannibals (2004) – J. Maarten Troost

Troost, the author, more than compensates for the strange title by throwing in punchlines after punchlines in this laugh riot of a book.

Outline:  Troost moved to a remote small island in the Pacific with his girlfriend, and he takes the reader through his journey, the people he meets and the way of life he gets used to.

Is the title what the book is truly about? Is there an investigation into sex lives, cannibals or not? I’ll leave that to your imagination(or as little bait to make you read this book). I’m not a fan of spoilers so I’m definitely not giving away the plot!

Of course there are some parts that are disturbing, but the world abounds with bewildering things that are done in the name of culture. The book draws an interesting contrast between our privileged Western lifestyle and the reclusive, virgin life on a far-out remote island.

What I can tell you is that, while reading this book, I laughed out loud (in public and otherwise) on many occasions and it takes a really good writer to elicit that kind of emotion, ESPECIALLY in public places – I’ve gotten quite a few stares on the bus. This one’s truly one of the funniest travel books to read!

7. Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City (2011) – Guy de Lisle

First of all, this is no ordinary travel chronicle.

It doesn’t drag on for pages upon pages of monologue, beefed up with the hardest words in a thesaurus. It’s actually a simple, breezy comic-strip illustration of life in a mysterious city.

Lisle moved to Jerusalem with his wife and kids, as an Expat spouse. As it happens, Lisle finds himself witnessing curious customs and strange dispositions in the city.

The book is written from the lens of a North American but the writer sure managed to keep the tone light and humorous. It consists of a series of essays, each piece being very different from the next, some about the history of places, others about daily life in Jerusalem. I think that works to its benefit because it allows for an unparalleled perspective on one of the most complex cities in the world.

Lisle writes about an assortment of people he meets—an Arab man selling falafel on Jaffa Street who takes his food very seriously, a controversial rabbi with antiquated views on women, a family of Armenian immigrants who run the best bakery in town.

Guy’s style of writing is insightful, wry, witty and iconic. And thanks to colorful illustrations, you’ll keep turning pages through this one, I’m telling you!

8. The Great Railway Bazaar (1975) – Paul Theroux

What happens when you give a famous travel writer four months, a rail pass, and the key to a small car? The result is this classic book that has made countless readers fall in love with train travel. Theroux packs his pages with colorful descriptions of the characters he meets on his journey across Asia by rail.

His writing is open and honest, and his observations can be both touching and hilarious. The book is filled with legendary train routes like the Orient Express, the Khyber Pass Local, the Delhi Mail from Jaipur, and the Trans-Siberian Express.

Along the way, Theroux describes his interactions with fellow train passengers—the woman from California who takes forever to tell him her life story, the Cambodian who tries to steal his shoes, and the old Russian peasant man he befriends after sacrificing a chicken in his honor. The Great Railway Bazaar is a classic funny travel book that will make you want to pack your bags and start planning your next train journey.

9. Into the Heart of Borneo (1984) – Redmond O’Hanlon

Some of the scariest, funniest and bizarre things happen on this journey into the exotic jungles of Borneo, an Asian island. Naturalist O’Hanlon, accompanied by a friend and three native guides, sets out into the wild to learn about some of the world’s most primitive tribes.

O’Hanlon’s account is filled with funny observations about cultural clashes between modernity and primal nature. It’s written in a clever, fast-paced, and witty tone. It’s also filled with some very surreal, scary, and bizarre events, making this ridiculously funny travel book a hugely rewarding read.

10. Westward Ha! (1948) – by S.J. Perelman

This book is a collection of S. J. Perelman’s humorous travel writing, mostly from his time as a foreign correspondent in pre-war Paris and post-war Italy for “The New Yorker.” In this work, Perelman humorously reports on the absurd nature of certain cultural customs he encounters while traveling to places such as France  and Italy.

What makes this book so funny is Perelman’s witty tone of voice while telling his tales. The way he describes the people and customs he encounters often has a satirical edge to it, but there are moments when you can feel S. J.’s genuine love for these European locations. Part travelogue, part comic – and all funny – Westward Ha! is one of the top funny travel books everyone should read.

11. Vroom with a View (2003) – Peter Moore

This book is about Peter Moore’s experiences on the road, riding through the streets of Italy on a classic Vespa. What’s amazing is that he sets out on this trip to mark a milestone: his 40th birthday. All of us could stand to learn a little something from him, couldn’t we?

Along the way, Moore soaks in the beauty that is Italy. From Florence to Pisa, he gains a deeper appreciation for the country’s culture and history.

The book paints quite a picture of the Italian back roads and bucolic countryside. In addition to being candid, Moore’s narrative is peppered with humorous anecdotes. This is a very funny travel book that will leave you hankering for a road trip of your own.

12. Queenan Country (2004) – Joe Queenan

Joe Queenan pulls off a Bill Bryson and takes a trip around Great Britain to get a peek into the English way of life. Some of the things he shares his views on include football, pubs, class structure, popular slang, and architecture. Married to an English woman for 26 years, Queenan is a self-proclaimed “reluctant Anglophile”, and thus, he sets out on a journey of discovery to find out what exactly makes the uniquely English idiosyncrasies and oddities so fascinating.

Filled with some very interesting and humorous descriptions, anecdotes, and comments, Queenan’s book is an excellent read for anyone who is even mildly intrigued by the UK. Especially if you’re traveling to the island soon, don’t forget to pick this one up!

13. Notes from a Small Island (1995) – Bill Bryson

Yet another Bill Bryson book makes it to this list. Don’t tell me you’re surprised, though? He’s the undisputed king of the travel humor genre!

After living in Britain for 20 years, Bryson makes a farewell journey across the length and breadth of the country. He visits the smallest towns and the busiest cities. The entire book is packaged with umpteen jokes which are very “Bill Bryson”. He’ll make you burst into peels of laughter, sometimes snicker a tad, and he’ll often make you think really hard about how culturally diverse people can be even within the same coordinates.

Especially having spent time in London and having noticed some  typical English habits  that stand out, the book had tons of little nuggets that made me go, “Oh this is too accurate!”

So if you’re from Britain, or if the island holds a special place in your heart, make sure you read this awesome, side-splitting travelogue!

14. Holidays in Hell (1988) – P.J. O’Rourke

Holidays in Hell is a humorous take on the various countries that P.J. O’Rourke visited as a foreign correspondent, all of which were underdeveloped or had suffered through some sort of crisis (mainly war). The book follows his journey along with two other journalists as they explore these countries, interviewing locals and getting themselves into various sorts of fiascos.

This book is great for travel lovers and people who like both comedy and history, as it provides a lot of interesting facts about several countries that readers may not know at first glance. Holidays in Hell gives you the chance to step into someone else’s shoes (or sandals) while they explore these other cultures – and then laugh at their misfortunes.

15. Killing Yourself to Live (2005) – Chuck Klosterman

Chuck Klosterman’s book is not just about dying. It’s also about living. And sex, of course. And The Doors.

Looking to find an answer to the question, “Why are we living?”, Klosterman sets out on the road In a rented Ford Taurus, to visit the death sites of several of his musical heroes, including Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain. Along the way, he meets various people who help shape his thoughts about death, like a mortician, a pilot who crashed his plane, and a woman who lost her husband in the September 11 attacks. Klosterman also visits Graceland and spends time with an Elvis impersonator.

The writing is straightforward, witty, and bold. While this was never marketed as a travel book, Klosterman’s travelogue offers a fresh and unexpected perspective to anyone seeking to fuel their wanderlust. Not to mention, it has funny anecdotes aplenty.

16. A Walk In The Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (1998) – Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods is an extremely funny book about his hiking trip along the Appalachian Trail. After spending 20 years abroad, he attempts to reconnect with his homeland by hiking the famous trail.

There are wild encounters with everything from bears to blisters. A Walk in the Woods is a book about staying alive, but it is also about friendship. It’s also about heroes and their follies. It’s a story of Bryson taking on a challenge most people wouldn’t dare attempt. And it ends up being more than that: it’s an epic journey into the heart of America.

The best part about the book is the way Bill Bryson tells a story. His dry humor and attention to detail make this book hard to put down.

A Walk in the Woods has been a New York Times Best Seller book and has sold millions of copies worldwide. It’s one of those travel books that deserve every accolade they get.

17. Out of Sheer Rage: Wrestling with D. H. Lawrence (1997) – Geoff Dyer

Here is a book about a writer who wants to write about another writer. Dyer is trying to write a biography on D.H. Lawrence. However, the book is really about Dyer’s struggles with writing. He is a master procrastinator, and so he embarks on (not very well planned) travels to “research” on Lawrence. But he’s really just postponing work.

The book is divided into three parts, each about one of the places Dyer visits while trying to write the Lawrence biography. Through all this dilly-dallying, Dyer ends up spending time in Cornwall, then heading off to Australia, and then ending up in Mexico – still trying to work on the D.H. Lawrence assignment but walking away from it.

Again, not marketed as a travel book but Dyer’s writing makes it one. He has an excellent way of describing landscapes and people so they come alive.

Dyer is a gifted writer and Out of Sheer Rage is one of the funniest travel books ever. A total “genre bender”, you won’t be able to cast the book into a category, but you sure as hell will be snickering the whole time you’re reading it.

18. Are You Experienced? (1997) – William Sutcliffe

This is a novel with one of those done-to-death plots.. you know, your archetypal British private school educated prick who takes a gap year and goes on a trip to India to “find himself”. Except that this one is actually quite different.

Dave joins his friend’s girlfriend, Liz, on a visit to India, only, he is secretly in love with her. All’s well until the trip begins, and Dave ends up spending three harrowing months in the country. While Liz seeks spiritual enlightenment, Dave is more preoccupied with catching dysentery, bickering about the unfamiliarity, and breaking his scruples by cheating on his best friend.

There are times when this book is so ridiculous that you can’t stop laughing out loud. It’s also a great insight into the Indian culture – especially from a 90s lens.

Dry humor, a bit of a love story, a first-world sense of entitlement that plays out in hilarious ways, and an insider’s view on one of the most captivating countries in the world – This is a must-read for any travel lover!

19. Last Chance to See (1990) – Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine

Last Chance to See is a book by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine about their travels through various countries to spot endangered species for the last time before they go extinct (as the title suggests).

As the author of the best-selling series “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, Douglas Adams has already established that he can write humorously about anything, and his wit is still stronger when writing about technology and science. Mark Carwardine, on the other hand, has traveled to over 100 countries for various zoological documentaries.

The two perfectly complement each other while writing this book, with Douglas Adams’ satirical narration intertwining with Carwardine’s serious personal experience.

The book reads like a memoir (and there is actually an additional chapter at the end, explaining what has happened to the animals since). It is packed with hysterical humor but also deep insight into the human influence on the planet and other life on it.

20. Round Ireland with a Fridge (1998) – Tony Hawks

Funny travel stories are a dime a dozen. But you don’t often chance upon a travelogue where the writer is also transporting a fridge with them. This is exactly what Tony Hawks did when he set out to circumnavigate the island of Ireland. Hawks wanted to prove a point (based on a drunken bet) that you can do anything if you put your mind to it, and honestly, he does make a solid case.

The fridge seems like a character in the book, as Hawks writes about it as if it was a person. Case in point: he is often joined by his sidekick, “Fridge”, at pubs, bars, in the streets, at parties, even while hitchhiking. Wherever he goes, the fridge always seems to turn heads and spawn conversation topics.

I think the novelty (and wackadoodle-ness) of the plot redounds to the wild popularity of this book. But it’s also Hawk’s witty, frank storytelling and his self-deprecating sense of humor that makes this such a great travel read. He paints a very vivid picture of Irish life and culture, which helps the reader get a good feel of what it’s like there.

The book is a laugh riot from start to finish – a mandatory read in any funny travel books list.

21. The Wrong Way Home (1999) – Peter Moore

In 1994, Peter Moore decided to travel from London to his homeland, Sydney, overland. It didn’t work out like that. The route he chose was one riddled with all kinds of terrifying adventures.

Moore wanted to take the ol’ hippy trail and travel on a shoestring budget. Of course he doesn’t do enough research and so his journey takes him to such places as Albania, Iran, Afghanistan, and China, instead.

Result: An uproariously funny travel book about things going wrong (as they often do).

Along the way, Moore almost runs out of funds, gets beaten up by a gang of Chinese thugs, befriends a man in Afghanistan who claims to have shot a Russian soldier, and finds himself at the center of a hostage situation in Albania.

Moore’s misadventures and his way of describing them will have readers in stitches. The Wrong Way Home has all the right things that go into making a brilliant travel humor read.

Have you read any of the recommendations above? Which funny travel books have you read that cracked you up? Any you’d like to recommend?

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10 Comments . Leave new

so much excellent info on here, : D.

I’ve seen or heard of the movies for a few of that’s and had no idea there were books too. I’m sure the books are much better though.

This seems like a great list, I need a new travel book in my life, especially right now when I can’t leave the country! I have only seen the movie “Wild”, maybe I should read the book too!

Looks like a fantastic list. I am adding the last two to my wishlist. Thanks for sharing.

I’d definitely buy those two Bill Bryson books, especially being a Dutch immigrant in the UK I’d be interested in reading his stories on Britain 🙂 But The Sex Lives of Cannibals sounds interesting too and your non-spoiler review intrigued me! Thanks for these great tips.

Such a mix of books, but your description of Wild by Cheryl Strayed really struck a chord with me… Will definitely check it out now!

Thanks so much for sharing! Some great suggestions. We get too caught up in YouTube travel vlogs and online blogs that we forget about incredible travel books.

Thanks for the list, I’ve added the first one and the one about penguin to my wishlist! I only read The Beach by Garland and didn’t like it at all, very boring and definitely not must-read. A big chunk of it is just a guy gallucinating weird things under drugs… Wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

I’m an avid reader, or so I thought! I’ve only read one book on your list, Wild, and heard of John Steinbeck but the others are all foreign to me. It looks like I have some new books to add to my list! What is your favourite?

I usually read historical novels, but there are some books here that really caught my eye – The first from Bill Bryson, and the one about Jerusalem! Thanks for sharing this great list 🙂

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The Best Time Travel Comedies, Ranked

The best time-travel comedies hold a special place in the hearts of movie enthusiasts, delivering captivating stories and hilarity in equal measure. These cinematic gems transport viewers through time, exploring the complicated nature of human relationships, life choices, and alternate realities, all while delivering a hearty dose of humor. As the popularity of this genre continues to grow, audiences can expect even more delightful and thought-provoking time travel comedy movies. 

The genius of comedy time-travel movies lies in their ability to delight audiences while simultaneously delving into the intricacies of human existence. Filmmakers have the exceptional ability to intertwine complex theories with relatable life experiences, resulting in comedy time-travel movies that examine the intricacies of married life, friendship, or personal growth. Ultimately, it is this expert combination of raw emotions and laughter that distinguishes these films within the world of cinema. 

Among the collection of best time-travel movies, a few stand out as quintessential examples. Back to the Future , for instance, has become a classic for its witty writing, memorable characters, and the unforgettable DeLorean time machine. Groundhog Day masterfully showcases the comedic genius of Bill Murray in a film that explores the existential implications of living the same day over and over again. Moreover, Back to the Future Part II ingeniously expands upon the original film's concept, offering an exhilarating glimpse into a futuristic world filled with hoverboards and self-tying shoes. 

These notable movies are just a fraction of the incredible lineup of comedy time-travel movies available to moviegoers.  From past to future, the legacy of the best time-travel comedy movies will persist, as they continue to enthrall viewers with delightful narratives and relatable themes. With their ability to provoke laughter, inspire deep reflections, and challenge preconceived notions of reality, these films have found their way into cinematic history. 

Back to the Future

Marty McFly's life takes an unexpected turn when he accidentally activates his eccentric inventor friend Doc Brown's latest creation - a DeLorean outfitted with a flux capacitor allowing for temporal displacement. As Marty races against time to correct the course of history, audiences are treated to a thrilling and hilarious ride through the intertwining timelines of 1985 and 1955, sparking a pop culture phenomenon that would endure for decades. The charming chemistry between Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, combined with Robert Zemeckis' masterful direction, makes this film an enduring classic in the realm of comedies.

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Groundhog Day

Phil Connors, a grumpy and self-absorbed weatherman played by Bill Murray, finds himself caught in an inexplicable time loop, forced to relive the same day - Groundhog Day - over and over again. This brilliantly constructed comedy, directed by Harold Ramis , explores the themes of personal growth and redemption as Phil gradually learns to appreciate the small moments in life and become a better person. Groundhog Day 's unique blend of humor, romance, and subtle philosophic undertones has consistently resonated with audiences since its release, earning it a place among the best comedies of all time .

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Back to the Future Part II

The second installment in the beloved trilogy picks up immediately where the first left off, with Marty McFly and Doc Brown embarking on an adventure to the distant future of 2015 to prevent a catastrophe involving Marty's future children. Director Robert Zemeckis deftly weaves together multiple timelines, exploring not only the future but also revisiting iconic moments from the original film to create a complex but highly entertaining narrative. With clever storytelling, memorable set pieces, and engaging performances by its leads, this sequel stands as a worthy continuation of the journey initiated in the first film.

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Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

High school slackers Bill and Ted, played by Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves, receive a timely intervention from Rufus (George Carlin), a time-traveling guide from the future who sets them on a journey through history to collect notable figures for their final report. This comedic romp through time showcases the endearing friendship between the dimwitted duo as they face challenges that could alter the course of human existence. The film's blend of absurd humor, catchy catchphrases, and historical cameos has garnered a cult following, earning it a place in the annals of comedy history.

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When young Alan Parrish discovers a mysterious board game, he unwittingly unleashes a dangerous world filled with wild animals and treacherous traps that force him to navigate his way back to reality. Years later, two unsuspecting children come across the same game and inadvertently release Alan, now played by Robin Williams, from his jungle imprisonment. A perfect blend of humor, adventure, and heart-pounding action, this film's legacy has continued to endure, spawning sequels and inspiring new generations of viewers.

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Back to the Future Part III

In the final chapter of the iconic trilogy, Marty McFly finds himself once more traversing the fabric of time as he travels back to the Wild West of 1885 to rescue his imperiled friend Doc Brown. The film masterfully showcases the chemistry between its leads while blending humor, romance, and action through its exploration of the untamed frontier and the challenges of reconciling past, present, and future. This fitting conclusion to the series continues to delight fans and solidifies the trilogy's status as one of the greatest time-bending adventures in cinematic history.

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This biting satire delves into a dystopian future where simple-mindedness prevails, and societal decline is rampant, making for a both humorous and cautionary tale. Director Mike Judge tells the story of average Joe Bauers, played by Luke Wilson, who awakens from a suspended-animation experiment to find himself in an absurd world governed by idiocy, armed only with his moderate intelligence and the knowledge of a time long past. Among a sea of mindless entertainment, the film stands as a thought-provoking comedy that hits closer to home than one might expect.

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Hot Tub Time Machine

A drunken night in a ski resort hot tub sends four friends - played by John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, and Clark Duke - back in time to the glory days of their youth in the 1980s, where they are presented with an opportunity to correct past mistakes or completely rewrite history. Laden with raunchy humor, fun nods to '80s pop culture, and memorable performances from its ensemble cast, this irreverent comedy has earned its place among fan-favorite films that toy with the concept of altering one's own past.

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Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

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13 Going on 30

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Time Bandits

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The Muppet Christmas Carol

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The Family Man

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With the aid of a magical universal remote control that allows him to manipulate time, workaholic architect Michael Newman, played by Adam Sandler, discovers the bittersweet consequences of fast-forwarding through life's most significant moments. The film skillfully balances its comedic elements with a more somber look at the importance of cherishing the time spent with loved ones - a theme that resonates with viewers even after the credits roll. Click showcases Sandler's versatility as an actor while offering a thought-provoking take on the common desire to control aspects of one's life.

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Director Richard Curtis weaves a poignant and heartwarming tale of love, family, and the power of time as Tim, played by Domhnall Gleeson, discovers he has the ability to travel back in time and alter his life's course - a gift passed down through generations of men in his family. Alongside Rachel McAdams, who gives a captivating performance as Tim's love interest, the film explores the possibilities and pitfalls of manipulating time to achieve happiness while maintaining a balance of humor and sentimentality. About Time resonates with audiences for its tender storytelling and memorable performances, solidifying its place among cherished romantic comedies.

• # 54 of 134 on The 100+ Best Movies For Date Night
• # 107 of 469 on The 400+ Best Chick Flicks Ever
• # 25 of 58 on Romantic Movies Your Girlfriend Forces You To Watch

Meet the Robinsons

This animated adventure follows young inventor Lewis as he embarks on a thrilling journey into the future, where he encounters the eccentric and lovable Robinson family. As Lewis unravels the mystery of his own destiny amid a backdrop of colorful characters and imaginative inventions, the film delivers a heartfelt message about family and the power of perseverance. With its inviting blend of humor, adventure, and emotional depth, Meet the Robinsons has become a beloved classic in the realm of animated time-travel tales.

• # 104 of 447 on The 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
• # 63 of 139 on The Best Movies Of 2007
• # 129 of 200 on The 195+ Greatest Adventure Movies

Futurama: Bender's Big Score

In this feature-length continuation of the cult TV series , the Planet Express crew faces an evil alien conspiracy, which involves the use of time travel to alter history for nefarious purposes. The fan-favorite character, Bender the robot, is at the center of the story as he carries out a series of increasingly bizarre time-traveling missions. Combining the show's signature blend of biting satire, rapid-fire gags, and endearing character moments, Bender's Big Score provides fans with a satisfying and hilarious addition to the Futurama canon.

Kate & Leopold

In this charming romantic comedy, Hugh Jackman plays a 19th-century Duke who is accidentally transported to modern-day New York City, where he falls for a jaded marketing executive played by Meg Ryan. As the two navigate their vastly different worlds, they find that time may not be as much of an obstacle to love as they initially thought. The film's enchanting blend of humor, romance, and period-piece charm makes it a unique and engaging entry in the genre of time-traveling romances.

• # 545 of 772 on The Most Rewatchable Movies
• # 96 of 113 on The Best Movies Of 2001
• # 197 of 469 on The 400+ Best Chick Flicks Ever

Flight of the Navigator

In this thrilling family adventure, a young boy named David awakens after a mysterious disappearance to find himself eight years in the future, still the same age and with no memory of the time that has passed. As he forms a bond with an alien spaceship and its AI pilot, David embarks on a journey through space and time to unravel the mystery of his lost years. Blending humor, wonder, and engaging storytelling, Flight of the Navigator remains a cherished favorite among fans of family-friendly time-travel tales.

• # 76 of 178 on The 150+ Best Movies With Aliens
• # 195 of 279 on 'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime
• # 145 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked

Midnight in Paris

Woody Allen's enchanting tale follows disillusioned writer Gil Pender, played by Owen Wilson, as he stumbles upon a magical portal that transports him to the golden age of 1920s Paris, where he meets and mingles with literary and artistic icons of the era. This captivating journey through time serves not only as a love letter to the City of Lights but also as a thoughtful reflection on nostalgia and the allure of the past. Beautifully shot, expertly written, and featuring a stellar ensemble cast, Midnight in Paris remains one of Allen's most beloved and critically acclaimed films.

• # 703 of 772 on The Most Rewatchable Movies
• # 663 of 702 on The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
• # 14 of 70 on Great Quirky Movies for Grown-Ups

Peggy Sue Got Married

This quirky comedy-drama follows the life of Peggy Sue, played by Kathleen Turner, who faints during her high school reunion and wakes up in her teenage years with adult knowledge of her future life. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the film combines a nostalgic affection for the 1960s with the heavy burden of regret and second chances. Turner's captivating performance, alongside a young Nicolas Cage, makes Peggy Sue Got Married a memorable and touching exploration of the human propensity to revisit the past.

• # 232 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 214 of 675 on The Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
• # 122 of 233 on The Best '80s Comedy Movies, Ranked

A Kid in King Arthur's Court

When a baseball game turns into a fantastical adventure, modern-day teenager Calvin Fuller is transported back in time to Camelot, where he uses his 20th-century knowledge to help King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table save their kingdom. Amidst jousting tournaments and medieval misadventures, Calvin discovers his inner hero and learns valuable life lessons. A Kid in King Arthur's Court offers a whimsical and exciting twist on the classic fish-out-of-water story that has delighted audiences for decades.

• # 4 of 50 on 50 Movies That Contained Future Stars
• # 15 of 17 on '90s Movies Where Kids Get To Be In Charge
• # 19 of 20 on 20 Movies Where A Magic Portal Hides Another World

Bill & Ted Face the Music

In this long-awaited third installment of the popular franchise, the lovable duo - once again portrayed by Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter - have failed to live up to their prophesied destiny of uniting the world through their music, and are faced with a warning from the future that they must create an all-important song to save humanity. The film successfully evokes the spirit of the original movies, blending nostalgic charm with a fresh perspective that resonates with both devoted fans and newcomers alike. The return of Bill and Ted's unique friendship, hilarious antics, and endearing optimism solidifies this film as a worthy addition to the beloved series.

• # 513 of 702 on The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
• # 139 of 156 on The Best Ensemble Movies Of All Time
• # 79 of 89 on The Most Rewatchable Comedy Movies
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Lists that rank the best, most hilarious films that will make you laugh so hard, you'll wake up the whole neighborhood.

15 Best Funny Travel Books That Will Crack You Up!

• March 23, 2021
• Travel Planning & Tips

What's covered in this post

Collection Of The Best Funny Travel Books You Have To Read

Awful air travel activity book, andy robbins, would you rather book for kids: the book of silly scenarios, challenging choices, and hilarious situations the whole family will love, sunny panda, missions accomplished: and some funny business along the way, tim jenkins, the sex lives of cannibals, j. maarten troost, a walk in the woods: rediscovering america on the appalachian trail, bill bryson, neither here nor there: travels in europe, bill bryson, last chance to see, douglas adams & mark carwardine, the 100-year-old man who climbed out the window and disappeared, jonas jonasson, the ultimate hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy, douglas adams, hokkaido highway blues, will ferguson, the wrong way home, peter moore, the great railway bazaar: by train through asia, paul theroux, lonely planet signspotting: absurd & amusing signs from around the world, doug lansky, the travel book: a journey through every country in the world, lonely planet, round ireland with a fridge, tony hawks, final thoughts about funny travel books.

One of the best things to do besides actually travelling is to read travel books, especially funny travel books! 

They bring you around the world, let you experience a trip through someone else’s eyes and makes you laugh. 

On long flights or layovers or at the departure lounge, reading not only helps to while away the time, it exposes you to new cultures in the comfort of an armchair. 

And of course, it is not restricted to just travellers, but to anyone who wants to learn more about our world, the casual readers and just about anyone in between. 

We specifically love reading those that are satirical in nature, admire writers who are not afraid of poking fun at themselves. 

These books bring about optimism and joy and thus, we are rounding up the funniest travel books for your reading pleasure! 

So in no particular order, please find below, *drum roll*, a collection of our favourite travel humour. 

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Instead of filling up books with just words, this cute book by Andy Robbins comes with word puzzles, connect the dots and colouring pages! 

That is a whole lot of fun to keep you occupied as you wait for your flight or when you can’t sleep next to the snoring passenger beside you. 

No matter what activity you choose to do in this book, you are guaranteed a hilarious time! 

Do you want a ton of laughs together with your family? Look no further as this book is filled with lots of ‘would you rather’ questions plus surprising situations to play out. 

This will be great for game nights, hanging out with friends at the bar or any party! 

Have the kids read out the different scenarios and let them discuss and debate. It makes for an excellent educational tool! 

Tim Jenkins the author has traversed the world extensively and during his time on the road, collected hundreds of travel stories that deserves to be retold. 

And hence Missions Accomplished was born, filled with amusing short stories (50 to be exact). 

If you are like him, a travelling professional, you will find familiarity in his stories. 

Even if you are not, you will find great insight to what life is like on the road in the most hysterical ways! 

This one made the list as it has one of those funny book names. Just kidding.

The master of self irony, Maarten Troost is an underrated writer who should rank up there with Bryson for the best funny travel books. 

Join his adventures as he spends 2 years in Kiribati with his girlfriend, the place he describes as ‘end of the world’, where the food is unpalatable and the place is sprinkled with Hepatitis A, B and C. 

Strap in for a wild ride in this oldie goldie. 

This is a number on best seller for good reason: it will tickle all your funny bones and more. 

Follow Bill Bryson, the acclaimed travel writer known for his wit, on his walk on the Appalachian Trail. 

In this classic, he recounts his journey, complete with stories of hilarious characters, his walking buddy Stephen Klatz, and and a couple of bears.

While the humour is top notch, it almost serves just like a travel guide too.

Be warned, you might not be able to put this down once you start reading! 

Another classic by Bill Bryson, as he attempts to retrace his backpacking journey through Europe during the seventies twenty years later.

Imaginative writing and dry humour combines to make this one of the most important items you should pack in your bags. 

Bill reminds us that despite all the gloom and doom surrounding us, there is warmth and sunshine elsewhere. 

He is a brave traveler and his descriptions are on point. 

Make this top of your list my friends.

A New York Times bestseller, Douglas Adams teams up with zoologist Mark Carwardine to go in search of exotic and endangered animals around the world. 

The writing is on point and filled with marvelous and exciting adventures. These guys are seriously funny, but at the same time, they delivered a strong message about the plight of the animals. 

Although this book was written over 25 years ago, the details are more relevant than ever today. 

Don’t miss out this eye opener!

What happens when a man turns 100 years old and decides he doesn’t give a damn about the celebration? 

He goes out the window and heads for an adventure for the ages. 

This book combines what the protagonist Allan experiences in the present along with the stories he encounters in his youth. 

Perfectly written and creativeness rolled into one. There’s really no reason to miss this one. 

Take note this is part 1 of The Hundred year Old Man series. 

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that another book by Douglas Adams makes it to the list. He is a travel writing genius.

5 different books that brings you on a roller coaster ride, as Arthur Dent goes on a quest to bypass the intergalactic bypass. 

So many people have heard of this story, since it was remade into movies, video games and a TV series, but there doesn’t seem to be many who have actually read the series.

Be prepared to be thrilled and entertained thoroughly on this journey! 

Based on Will’s adventure hitchhiking across Japan, this is one of the funniest and eye opening look at the Land of the Rising Sun. 

Will is an excellent observer, and combined with his free wheeling style of writing, this is an original that must make it to your book shelves. 

While he may come across to some as disrespectful, you will need to read the entire book to really understand his method and in the process, learn more about the Japanese culture than anything else you can find. 

Written by the Australian travel writer Peter Moore, The Wrong Way Home expertly marries dry humour with travel entertainment. 

We love it for how he is able to capture different cultures and human behaviour in a rather strange but light way.

Follow him as he journeys through the Middle East, passing Europe and finding his way back home. 

This is one of those books that you cannot wait to finish as you want to know the ending! 

Although this book has been published since over 30 years ago, it doesn’t fail to entertain even the most modern traveller.

Paul takes us through an odyssey of train travel where he recounts his adventures; experience the great Orient Express through his eyes. 

We consider him to be one of the best travel writers out there, and this classic is where you should get started to understand his works. 

Surely at one point in time you have seen an amusing sign somewhere?

We sure did, and this Lonely Planet production is a great compilation of the funniest ones in the world!

We can’t imagine coming across these signs on our travels, since we as tourists often have to rely on them to get around. 

No matter which is your favourite sign, this book is sure to keep you laughing out loud!

We got to warn you though, this is not for you if you are easily offended!

Sorry folks, this is not a funny book. But it is an amazing one that we felt had to be shared with our readers. 

Lonely Planet produces high quality content, and this is no exception.

Filled with beautiful photos of all the countries in the world (according to the United Nations), this pictorial is essential to all travellers who wants to know more about world travel. 

It is mind blowing, and the pictures themselves are worth the price tag. 

Helmed by the hilarious British comedian Tony Hawks, not the skateboarder, this book is an unbelievable tale of how he hitchhiked across Ireland, with a fridge! 

You are guaranteed laughs at every flip of the book, as Tony bumbles across the Emerald Isle, encountering all sorts of curious characters. 

One of the sentences that left a deep impression was this: “One guy, seeing that I was hungry, insisted on buying me a huge lunch and when I thanked him for his kindness, he simply said, ‘Pass it on.'”

While the book might tickle you to no end, the lessons you learn from it are priceless too. 

There are literally more than a million books out there, and sometimes it is hard to decide which ones to start with. 

Hopefully in this short article, we have introduced to you a diverse selection of funny travel books to take you on your imaginary journeys. 

As we read and discover more, we will definitely add to this list, so come back here once in a while to check it out, or better yet, sign up for our newsletter (down below and get a free ebook!) where we update you on what’s going on with our site. 

Although there are only 15 books here, we are confident they will keep you screaming with joy! 

What are your favourite funny travel books? And who are your favourite travel writers? Leave a comment down below!

Also don’t forget to use the free 1 month Kindle trial  or 1 month Prime Trial if you prefer to read digital copies of these funny travel books!

For more travel inspiration, make sure to read these other articles: 

• 19 Travel Bucket List places
• 50 Family Trip Quotes
• Travel packing checklist
• List of 21 free things you can do in any city
• Travel Destinations Guide

Be sure to pin this article on Pinterest and share it on your social media! 

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