The Best Books of 2023: Humour & Puzzle Books

There has certainly been no shortage of subjects ripe for satire this year and the books below do a brilliant job of using humour to highlight the shortcomings of those in power and the strange insanity of modern life. From whip-smart political sallies courtesy of Private Eye, Matt and Have I Got News For You to delicious parodies of Prince Harry's Spare and old-fashioned kids crafting books, here are humour books that engage the brain as well as the funny bone. 












Whether it's the ribald wit of Viz or the cosy comedy of Giles and Fred Basset, the best cartoon and comic strip books of 2023 marry dynamic artwork and perfectly chosen text to side-splitting effect. 









As a nation, we do love our pets and this year brought us more irresistible publishing revolving around the quirks and eccentricities of cats and dogs - not to mention their owners - as well as a charmingly funny yoga guide featuring a highly memorable bird. 







Get ready to chuckle despite yourself with the latest addition to the bestselling Dad Jokes series delivering heaps more so-bad-they're-good gags, and Geoff Tibballs and Gemma Correll flexing their one-liner and punning skills. Elsewhere, Kate Moore curates another glorious collection of unpublished letters to The Daily Telegraph and Nicole Tersigni divines what the great artistic masters had to say about parenting.













One of the year's true publishing phenomenons, G.T. Karber's Murdle hit on the genius concept of murder mystery puzzles and proved a tremendous word-of-mouth bestseller (volume two is already out, with a third instalment due next year). Meanwhile, televisual treats such as The Traitors, Pointless and Countdown translated perfectly into challenging and addictive quiz and game books, and beautifully designed volumes connected to the Ordnance Survey and The British Museum provided intellectual brainteasers for seriously classy quizzers.