No Funny Business by Amanda Aksel: Olivia has a plan work the law grind by day and build up a name 
for herself in the stand up comedy scene by night. All she has to do is really establish herself in the comedy circuit and she can say bye bye to the boring law job that her father made her follow. But it would seem breaking into the funny business is no laughing matter and after getting to boot from her day job Olivia has no choice but aim big for a spot on one of L.A’s famous late night TV shows. The only way for her to get to this audition is to join comedy veteran Nick Leto on a cross country road tour, her only condition being absolutely no funny business! But somewhere between the smokey dive bars, ratty model rooms and Nick helping her improve on her craft something begins to change between the two of them…just maybe being stuck with Nick in a Jeep going cross country won’t be so bad after all as long as Nick doesn’t get between Olivia and her funny business.
This was the first time that I have read a book with both main characters being comedians and let me just tell you this adds a whole new layer of play-fullness to the over all story. I really enjoyed this book and the amount of humour that was laced throughout the novel which largely helped keep this a light easy read. Also how can you not just love a good road trip?
Olivia was a great lead female character, I just loved getting to follow her as she jumped off the cliff into a whole new world of possibly. I really enjoyed getting to see her find footing in the comedy world and refining her talents with the help of Nick. I loved that she was so determined to achieve her dreams and overcome her fears all while working through her emotions attached to her father. As for our hilarious hero Nick, well it was pretty hard not to like this guy with all his witty jokes and supportive words. I really enjoyed getting to see their relationship grow the more they got to know each other and the more they opened up to each other.
I will say the majority of this book was focused on Olivia and her personal journey with a touch of romance, but those cute moments that we do get were just the sweetest. I absolutely loved the actual road tripping bits, I mean who doesn’t just love carpool karaoke? At the heart of this book was a story of finding yourself and falling into the unknown to find your true happiness when you least expect too. No Funny Business is definitely worth checking out!
Book Info:
Publication: July 12, 2022 | Berkley Books |
Two down-on-their-luck comedians embark on a road tour and find more than a few good laughs on the way.
Olivia Vincent dreams of stand-up comedy stardom. Bustling around a busy Manhattan office by day and hustling from club to club by night, she can’t catch a break. Work is falling through the cracks, and after ditching a major client to make a performance, Olivia gets the boot.
Determined to pursue her dreams, she snags an audition in Los Angeles for a coveted spot on late-night TV. But the only way to get there is to join Nick Leto, a seasoned stand-up, on a cross-country road tour. She agrees on one condition—no funny business.
Icky comedy condos, tiny smoking nightclubs, and Nick’s incessant classic rock radio are a far cry from life on the Upper East Side. Reality sets in, and Olivia wonders if she can hack it in showbiz or if she’s just a hack. As Nick helps Olivia improve her act along the way, sparks begin to fly and ignite what they thought was an impossible flame. Maybe being stuck with Nick in a Jeep isn’t so bad. As long as it doesn’t get in the way of Olivia’s actual funny business.
