Don’t Make Me Laugh

‘Julia’s compelling novel peels back the sparkling skin of the comedy industry, exposing a cesspit of sinister clowns. It stirs up a crucial conversation about abuse, power and fame, lingering in the uncomfortable grey areas, and capturing a heady atmosphere of confusion and control. Yet Ali’s story is darkly funny, with moments of real catharsis and hope. You’ll be left questioning what lies behind the public persona of every famous funny man’ Rachael Healy

‘Certain men should feel nervous Julia has articulated the unspeakable in this recognisable and remarkable read.’ Siobhan McSweeney

‘Gripping, brilliantly plotted and so depressingly relatable. I loved it.’ Lucy Porter

‘So tense and gripping it flourishes into a proper thriller. It’s wonderful. It’s furious. It’s true. And all gorgeously written with bright clever flashes and insights, it should be seen and heard.’ Russell T Davies

‘Exhilarating, viscerally thrilling and SO timely – an ambitious dark comedy that really delivers. Hugely smart, with so much emotional depth and resonance.’ Daisy Buchanan

‘More relevant with everyday that passes, Don’t Make Me Laugh is written with a comedy insider’s knowledge and a woman’s rage. Sharp, dark and outrageously funny, it’s the #MeToo book we’ve all been waiting for.’ Marianne Levy

‘This is an honest, funny, devastating and timely book.’ Jenny Colgan

‘Such an important, brilliant book. It kept me on the edge of my seat, laughing and raging in turns with its accurate and relatable telling of abuse and toxic men in the comedy industry. It’s going to be recognisable to so many and could easily apply to any industry. Everyone knows the characters in this book, because we’ve all had dealings with people just like them. It’s going to shake things up and also be so helpful to so many people.’ Kate Weston

‘Written with rage, wit, heart and soul. This novel is f*cking ace.’ Sarah Phelps

‘Don’t Make Me Laugh is a brilliant, important book. Very, very occasionally a ‘brilliant, important’ book is also gripping, relatable and FUNNY. DMML is all of those. And more. Smart, visceral, compelling, poignant – all the very best things. i loved it.’ Liz Lewin

‘A gloriously unnerving and compelling read with so many sharp and witty moments.’ Justin Myers

‘This will undoubtedly be THE debut of 2025. So great to read a novel that does London well, does Edinburgh well and exposes the murky underside of British comedy in such an elegant, continually surprising and compelling way.’ Matt Thorne

‘Funny but pitch-black, fierce but sad, tender but brutal, Don’t Make Me Laugh WILL make you laugh, but it will also make you want to punch something. A timely and assured literary heckle.’ Beth Morrey

‘This book. So, so good. A compelling read but also a painful one. Every word rings true. Julia Raeside captures so perfectly the mental gymnastics one puts oneself through in a relationship with a narcissist. While it’s set in the world of stand-up comedy (and will definitely make you look at some ‘comics’ differently), Don’t Make Me Laugh has a much wider resonance. Should be required reading in school. Put this on your reading list and order a copy for that friend who deserves much better in her love life.’ Chrissie Manby

‘It’s so very good. Grimly funny, gripping and filled with affection for comedy and comedians while confronting the darker side some of us would prefer to ignore.’ Tara Flynn

‘Such an entertaining, funny and remarkably accurate read. I was GLUED to it, skipped off to bed early to read and now I’m so sad I’ve finished it.’ Wendy Wason

‘This is a brilliant debut by a brilliant woman. It is clever, funny, insightful and angry and it has captured both the complexities of MeToo in comedy and how much still needs to change perfectly.’ Rosamund Urwin

‘One of the most accurate depictions I have ever read of the true monsters in stand up; it’s not the swaggery lads you need to keep an eye on; it’s the ‘good guys’.’ Gráinne Maguire

‘Priviledged to read an advance copy of Don’t make Me Laugh by @juliaraesidewriter. It’s a timely, shocking, and important exploration of abuse in the stand-up comedy world. A very absorbing and propulsive read, I steamed through it.’ Nussaibah Younis

‘Julia Raeside’s debut novel was a thrilling, unputdownable read. Vividly drawn characters in a world that feels so real you can smell it. And a story that could have come straight off the front papers. Julia has her finger on the pulse with a book that is not only a dynamic and satisfying read but a manifesto for tackling toxic masculinity within the comedy scene. Five stars from me!’ Sally Abbott

‘Burns with a righteous anger. Hails the power of female friendship. And you’ll enjoy guessing the real-life inspirations for the toxic male characters.’ Michael Hogan

‘This book is by turns gut-wrenching and heart breaking, but at its heart it’s a timely, furious call for change. I loved it.’ Will Maclean (author of The Apparition Phase)

‘Set in the stand up comedy world, it is a powerful portrayal of how the projection of who you might be on stage can lead to manipulating those who might fall for who you seem to, how this potency can be used to manipulate and, through self interest and ego, destroy others. Having spent much of my working life in the stand up world, it was often an uncomfortable read. It is also a good education in the techniques and tricks that surround our worlds and so often poison them. This is a disconcerting and wise book.’ Robin Ince

‘This is fantastic – a sharp, funny, sometimes painful story about terrible egos and narcissism in the world of stand-up. I devoured it furiously. It’s fiction, if that’s not clear… #notallcomedians’ *Jenny Landreth *