Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Engaging, funny tale of teen stand-up comic hits big issues.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
THIS WILL BE FUNNY SOMEDAY tells the story of 16-year-old Isabel, the quiet one. It's not that she doesn't have anything to say, it's more that she feels she can't get a word in edgewise. Not with her outgoing, always talking over each other family, and certainly not with her controlling, quick-tempered boyfriend Alex, who's always making Isabel doubt herself. One afternoon she stumbles into an open-mic stand-up event thinking the club was a restaurant, and before she can overthink it, she finds herself onstage and finally has a chance to be, do, and say whatever she wants. Isabel finds this freedom exhilarating, but to keep doing it she has to build a web of lies. She becomes more and more entangled in the lies even as the web starts unraveling around her, but she's also finding her voice and learning that she has the inner strength to make that voice heard.
Is It Any Good?
This absorbing and funny story that, amid all the witty banter and comedy routines, manages to explore some serious issues in depth, realistically, and with sensitivity. Through Isabel's experience,This Will Be Funny Someday takes on emotional and psychological abuse, beauty myths, sexism, harrassment, stereotyping, privilege, friendship, truth, and honesty. It takes all these topics and more seriously without being heavy-handed about any of them. A lot of the action takes place in the unusual and intriguing world of stand-up comedy, and readers will gain an appreciation for how hard it is, and how much hard work goes into it.
Sometimes it's frustrating to see Isabel make the same mistake again, even when she knows it's a mistake, and there are some minor inconsistencies in the characters and plot, especially some things that get glossed over or dropped for too long. But she's easy to root for, and teens will relate to her frustrations waiting for life to start and finding a world where she belongs. Hopefully it will also encourage them to keep looking for their own voices, and the courage to make them heard.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the strong language in This Will Be Funny Someday. How much is too much? Is it realistic? Is reading it different from hearing it in movies, videos, games, and other media?
Isabel's friends from the stand-up scene are a diverse group. Why is diversity important in the media? Do you learn from characters who are different from you? Do you like it when you read about people like you, or see them on the screen?
Do you know someone like Alex, or have you been in a relationship with someone like him? Do you know someone who has? What happened? How can you help someone in Isabel's position, or where can you get help for yourself?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Katherine Tegen Books
- Publication date : January 19, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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