It’s been a while since I read a comedy fiction book that literally made me laugh out loud, but Nick Spalding’s Bricking It absolutely broke that dull streak. Full of bizarre, over-the-top British humor and an unforgettable cast of ridiculous characters (special mention goes to Pat the Cow), this book honestly felt like having a story told to me by a stand-up comedian. The tone is casual, fast-paced, and delightfully unhinged from beginning to end.

The story begins when siblings Hayley and Danny Daley unexpectedly inherit a run-down Victorian house from their late grandmother – a property they had no idea even existed. Their initial plan is simple: sell it and pocket the cash. But when they realize that renovating it first could bring in way more money, they decide to give it a go. What seems like a smart investment quickly turns into an endless stream of problems, surprises, and utter disasters. Basically, everything that could go wrong does go wrong, and spectacularly so.

This definitely isn’t a book where realism is the priority, and honestly, it doesn’t need to be. The plot is filled with wild scenarios and hilariously improbable events, which only add to the charm. It’s very much in line with classic dry English humor (think The Inbetweeners try to fix up a house), but with more chaos, more structural failure, and a whole lot more cow-based comedy. Beyond the renovation madness, the siblings also uncover a few completely unexpected (and borderline traumatic) details about their grandmother’s past – with videographic evidence –  that had me cackling. I won’t spoil anything, but trust me, it’s dark, twisted, and absurd in the best way.

I listened to this one as an audiobook on Kindle Unlimited, and I think that added even more to the experience. Hayley and Danny alternate as narrators, and the voice actor for Danny, in particular, absolutely sent me. He puts on exaggerated, ridiculous voices for various characters (especially for Hayley and the workers on site) and it just brought the whole thing to life in such an animated way. His comedic timing made even the silliest lines hit perfectly.

As with most British humor, be warned: it does get a bit risqué in parts. There are plenty of crude jokes, awkward scenarios, and some colorful language. It’s definitely not a book for kids or your prudish great-aunt, but if you have a grown-up sense of humor and can handle some cheeky banter, you’ll be perfectly fine.

I hadn’t heard of Nick Spalding before coming across this one, but I’m really glad I gave it a shot. I’ll definitely be looking into more of his work. I was having kind of a rough week and needed something to take my mind off things, and this was exactly what I needed. Taking breaks through the week to listen to a few chapters while playing video games helped me unwind and laugh in a way I hadn’t in a while. It’s genuinely one of the funniest books I’ve ever read, and I don’t say that lightly. Again, I actually audibly laughed out loud, multiple times. If you’re feeling stressed or just want a solid reason to smile, this book is the perfect escape into total, glorious chaos. Highly recommend!