Oh My Goth: Jokes for When You Feel Dead Inside

by Andrew Shaffer (Compiler)

Even the most jaded of Hot Topic clerks will crack a smile at this morbidly funny joke book compiled by New York Times bestselling humorist and low-key goth Andrew Shaffer.

This illustrated collection is perfect for Halloween—or anytime, really, since true goths know that every day is Halloween.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Horror

96 pages, Paperback

Published May 22, 2023

About the author

Andrew Shaffer is the New York Times bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including the Obama Biden Mysteries. He is also the writer and illustrator of the children's book, "Mothman's Merry Cryptid Christmas." He lives with his wife, novelist Meg Shaffer, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Reviews

[Dez the Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10/10. This book is ghostly hilarious!

This is a short little joke book that is goth/death/ghost focused and had me dying with laughter from page 1…see what I did there? Ehhhh?? Ehhhhhhh?? 😅😂

Perfect gift to give the dark humor lover in your life, or just read to tuck away some hilarious nuggets for later. I’ll DEFINITELY be keeping some of these in my back pocket….muah haha haaaa. 😈

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh My Goth:Jokes for When You Feel Dead Inside
By Andrew Shaffer

This is a joke book that should have been longer. That's my only complaint. I enjoyed it and wished for more. It had jokes that made me moan, giggle, laugh, smile, and ones I wanted to remember.

My two favorite jokes:
Q: Where do goths sleep when they go home for the holidays?
A: In despair bedroom.

Only one country singer wears more black than Johnny Cash:
Goth Brooks.

Do I hear moans? (Hand cupping ear) Good! The goth is working!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this fun book!

[Bon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy release day!

Thanks to Netgalley, who had this as Read Now. It'll be out on May 23rd. There isn't really a way to thoroughly review this sort of book, but I'll try my best!

This really was just one of those under a hundred pages joke compilations you find in bathrooms, but cleverly themed with goth jokes. I chortled, I told them to my friends, I was never grossly offended. There are a few jokes referencing dead animals, and many referencing death, as to be expected. Beyond that I found them pretty amusing. The art and included images were very on-theme, and the one next to the joke about the full moon made me laugh just to look at it.

It's an extremely quick read if you need some giggles.

[greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

not gonna lie, when i saw this on netgalley available to read, i immediately downloaded it just because of the title.

some jokes worked better for me than the others, but the illustrations were immaculate and so cute! i also didn’t expect to see one of my favourite characters, Edward Scissorhands, in it. 👀 if you’re like me and you love everything black and sarcastic, this book is perfect for you. it was such a quick and fun read, although i would’ve 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 it if the book was much longer. i felt like it ended so abruptly, i needed more. 😂

in any case, i still recommend checking this out if you want a book that’s entertaining and which you can finish in one sitting!

[Polly Batchelor · Rating 3 out of 5]

"What has four legs, a tail and flies? A dead rat."

I love the dark side to humour and this book didn't disappoint. We got some classics, dad humour (who doesn't love dad jokes) and some new ones that I will definitely use in the future. I would have enjoyed more if it was longer and I felt it suddenly ended, but it is a fun one to know how would you end a joke book, to make sure it wasn't too long or too short. I think this book will defiantly work better with illustrations, we got some examples of illustrations I can't wait to see the published book to see all of them. I enjoy very dark humour and I personally would have enjoyed it more if some jokes were even darker.
It is a perfect gift for someone who enjoy the darker side.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley for an honest review.

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Q: Why won't Trent Reznor get into Heaven? A: Jesus hates nine inch nails."

This one is dark, silly and stupid cute! Definitely a fun little read 🖤

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 stars! This book is exactly what it claims to be, which is a joke book. The issue is that there's nothing very inventive or, although I hate to say it, very funny about it. If you're a fan of dad humor and need a few middle school caliber of jokes, this is a fun resource. But it lacks any significant depth or intellect to its jokes.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Dirty Dayna · Rating 3 out of 5]

for me the book is okay. its falling flat i think because the title sounds amazing. Inside are little dad jokes on illustrated pages. a few make you chuckle like:
where do goths sleep when they go home for the holidays
- in despair bedroom

and others are a bit too "dad joke" for me
what did the goth say to the pillsbury doughboy
-nice tan dude


each page is one joke so the book feels long but really its probably 6 pages typed but its spread out for each joke to show artistic creativity (IMO)

again the book is okay. would make a fun little coffee or bathroom book

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

ᴅᴀʀᴋ ʜᴜᴍᴏʀ | ꜰᴀꜱᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅ | ɢᴏᴏᴅ ɢɪꜰᴛ
 
From the author of 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢, the perfectly spooky Christmas tale, comes this amazing little joke book.
 
On each illustrated page is a wonderfully dark little joke. It would be the perfect gift for anyone you know who enjoys the darker side of humor!
 
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!!

ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: May 22, 2023

[Mugdha Mahajan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh My Goth: Jokes for When You Feel Dead Inside by Andrew Shaffer falls short in delivering the morbidly funny humor it promises. The jokes lack cleverness and wit, leaving readers wanting more. Disappointing execution overall.

[Aubrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an elder emo, I enjoyed this book. The jokes were dad jokes for elder emos, and I was very here for it. It was the right length for something like this. Much longer and I may have lost interest, so this was great.

[Leonie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I saw this book on NetGalley and requested it because it sounded fun, but I found most of the jokes pretty bad.


[I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]

[Sarah Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't make me feel any less dead inside :)

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a non goth, I really liked this book. There were a few jokes that I actually found funny (in a dark humor sort of way), which I was not expecting. It was not what I expected at all, but I still really liked it. It definitely could have been longer, but was still really cool.
Thank you to NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hilarious mish-mash of goth jokes. The memories of being an 80's and 90's kid was a pleasant step back in time! Two jokes stuck with me and I find freaking hilarious!! I'm going to get a copy for my bestie when it releases.

Thank you #NetGalley for sending #OhMyGoth by Andrew Shaffer!

[Wendy Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh My Goth promised a fun, hilarious, somewhat spooky compilation of darkly humorous jokes fit for the goth heart inside of all of us, and I couldn't have been more excited to pick it up and give it a read when I saw it on NetGalley. Some of these jokes had me practically rolling in my future grave I was laughing so hard, and some of them had me rolling my eyes like any good, horribly executed dad joke should, and all around, it was a fun time. It was a faster read than I expected and had fewer jokes than I wish I could have tossed out to my nephews and niece to make them laugh, but all in all, despite there being a few that didn't hit the mark as well for me, it was a strong compilation of jokes, and I've collected at least a few that I can pull out to make friends and family smile going forward. Plus the little illustrations throughout really added something to a few of the jokes and were so well done!

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is great. I personally loved the goth humor. Some of the jokes are a bit cringey (Think dad jokes but goth!). I even shared a couple of jokes with one of my preteen sons, and we were able to enjoy some laughs together. My main complaint is that I wish the book was a bit longer.

[María · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up!

I was expecting a bit more, not gonna lie. It's a funny book, especially if you've ever been/are a goth and like to make fun of yourself. Some jokes are so old and used that have lost their meaning, and I think that was the issue for me. Maybe more new ones (though I know it's hard to come up with them) would have helped the book.

Other than that, it felt very short. Sure, it's a jokes book, it can't be 500+ pages, but still you could read it within 10 minutes. Granted there's going to be illustrations in the final version.

For me, this book would have worked better as a comic book type of thing. Instead of just random illustrations and pictures, maybe hire an illustration and give it cohesion. Just like Sarah Andersen does. That would've been so much fun, to picture each and every joke (or, at least, the majority of them).

Overall, a good read in between books to oxygenate your brain and one that will make you laugh!

Thanks to NetGallery for the e-arc.

[whatthe_didijustread · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Q: Why won’t Trent Reznor get into Heaven?
A: Jesus hates nine-inch nails."

Oh My Goth by Andrew Shaffer is compilation of jokes for the Wednesday Addams in your life.

The chance that you've already heard most of these jokes is strong so be prepared to chuckle, snort, or roll your eyes like your wise cracking uncle just thought he made the best joke but you've already heard it a hundred times.

While these jokes are corny as hell, the novelty of it is amazing and the illustrations are a great touch. This is a quick read coming in at 96 pages, perfect for when you need to let a little light into your black heart.

Obviously if you like jokes I would recommend this one but I also think it'd make a great gift for that little black cloud in your life--A perfect coffin table book, you might say.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author & publisher for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Amelia Harrell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am excited to see the illustrations in the full version of the book, those that were provided were very visually appealing and would be fun to flip through. This would be a good joke gift to a friend or family member who is goth. I don't think many of the "jokes" in here were actually jokes, but more like kind of cheesy quips about being goth (like "I am so goth, the dark is scared of me"). I did exhale sharply through my nose for a few (such as " Q: What happens if you don't pay your exorcist? A: You get repossessed"), but I have the sense of humor of a twelve year old and the material seems to be targeted to a slightly older audience.

[I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review]

[Kenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.

I was intrigued by the title and decided to give it a try. I thought this book would be funny just based off the title, but most of the jokes were corny, but the 2 I did find funny I immediately had to tell the joke to someone else to experience. I might have enjoyed this more when I was younger

I was surprised to see illustrations and those were really good.

If you want something “light” and short to break up your reads I’d try this if you like dad jokes

Overall it was just ok for me so I rated it 2 stars

[Jessica Gleason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

***

Releasing on World Goth Day, bravo! This one was hard to resist and felt like something I needed in my life.

I'm happy (but, not like too happy, more a morose goth kind of happy) to report that it did not disappoint. Some of these had me smirking, but don't tell anyone. I don't want to lose me street cred.

Though, the CrossFit joke was over my head. In a turn of events that surprises no one, I'm not familiar with CrossFit at all. Are there CrossFit goths out there?

[Lindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC complimentary from netgalley and 8th Circle Press in exchange for an honest review. The book may have been complimentary, but this review is all mine.

This book is fully of silly quips. Most of the jokes fall into the territory of a goth dad joke, but some of them are downright hilarious! I highlighted a few that I really enjoyed. I hope to use them at a party one day. If you're into horror, or were a goth kid, and have a few minutes to spare, I recommend picking this one up. You'll laugh at at least one of the jokes!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It’s difficult to review the advanced digital copy—thanks to the publisher and Netgalley—because it contains the text but only 3 examples of the fully illustrated pages. The jokes are mostly pretty good and include references to goth pop culture stables like The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, and a certain country megastar who, in the fevered imagination of fans, is apparently an icon of both goths and the LGBTQ+ community (is that redundant?). I imagine that nostalgic Elder Goths will purchase this book on the strength of the visual design.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had fun reading these jokes last night. Some of them I have already encountered and some I just read. It's pretty good however I'm not so sure if our emo and goth friends would appreciate it. Most likely those who have a good sense of humor.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. #OhMyGoth #NetGalley #AndrewShaffer

[The Headless Horror · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful, dark little book to warm an old goth heart! The cover art is really beautiful, and immediately sparked my interest. The jokes were corny, some I've heard and some I haven't, but this is clearly meant to be on the lighter side. This book would be great to sit on someone's desk at work, or living room as part of decor. I think any person who identifies as goth or goth-adjacent would appreciate this- even kids! I gave 4 stars simply because I wanted the book to be a little longer, or perhaps even some illustrated humorous pictures at the end would have been cool. In any event, I enjoyed this one! Thanks NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC!

[Rachel Dalton (relisedreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

A very quick read of one liners for your favorite goth. Most of these got at least a chuckle from me, but some of the music related ones felt very dated or specifically aimed at a ‘90s goth kid rather than a goth kid that regularly still shops at Hot Topic. Overall, very cute for a gag gift!

Thanks Netgalley and Astoria for providing this ARC to me!

[Memorymaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, that cover already cracks me up. The jokes range from real groaners, to ones that genuinely made me laugh, to sick and twisted. I thoroughly enjoyed them all!

As a former goth that still has goth tendencies, I could appreciate this little collection of jokes. Well done.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My Goth, this was hilarious! I now want to track down and collect everything this man has ever compiled…

If you have a goth soul and a dark and twisty sense of humor, this is the joke book for you.

I received a free ARC of this book through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A darkly humorous quick and easy read. Full of fun jokes and gothic humor. The artwork is unique and helps convey the gothic theme.