The Phallus in Nature

by Philip Eliot | Jun 28, 2026 | Humor & Entertainment | 0 comments

An Amazon #1 Absurdist Comedy from the bestselling author of Words on Candy Hearts”This book had me laughing out loud from start to finish. The characters are brilliantly quirky and feel so real, each with their own hilarious quirks and heart. The absurd humor is perfectly balanced with moments of genuine warmth, making it more than just a comedy — it’s a story about friendship, found family, and embracing life’s chaos. Augusta Reilly’s sharp wit and unique setting in Moab create a wildly entertaining and unforgettable read.” – Drew, Netgalley Reviewer”This book is without a doubt one of the funniest books I have read in years, or maybe ever.” – Olivia L., Netgalley Reviewer”Phallus in Nature is easily the most hilarious reading experience I have ever embarked on . . . Reilly is a comic mastermind and I found myself highlighting something that made me LOL on every other page.” – Bakedbookie”This had me laughing out loud, marveling at the incisive skewering of different cultural groups, and really invested in the outcome for the characters. Who dreamed Moab Utah in summer could muster such excitement? I’d compare this to The Wedding People in terms of so many disparate characters, all at crucial turning points in their lives, being thrust together and learning from each other in uproariously funny and heartwarming ways.” – Maria M, Librarian”I can confidently say this is the hardest I’ve laughed while reading a book.” – Miriam D., Netgalley Reviewer”If you have even a hint of a funny bone that needs tickling and love the absurd, give this a read.” – Blake B., Netgalley ReviewerWelcome to Moab, Utah. Home to two national parks, nine varieties of scorpions, and over three hundred search and rescue missions a year, Moab is more than just a great place to suffer a death that will become family folklore – it’s the perfect setting for the tragicomedy that is Matthew Gorman’s life.Matthew thought his plan was foolproof: use his meager inheritance to build a ‘tiny’ duplex in Moab’s desert outskirts, live and study on one side, rent out the other to tourists, then sit back and watch the money roll in. But when Moab’s oppressive summer heat kicks in, his lodgers – and his fiancé – abandon him for cooler climes. Broke and friendless, he rents out the right half of the duplex to Piper Lawless, the happy-go-lucky author of the bestselling photo collection of all time, The Phallus in Nature. With the pathologically friendly penis aficionada now an inextricable part of his existence, Matthew’s life becomes entangled with those of his eccentric Tinytown neighbors, including Mormon-turned-hippie, Mahatma Randy, and seven-foot-tall Bruno Axworthy, the reptile dealer who falls madly in love with Piper and imagines Matthew to be his romantic rival. Meanwhile, across the country, Piper’s conservative parents and pretentious brother are having problems of their own – problems that can only be solved by dipping into Piper’s deep pockets. Unbeknownst to Piper – and each other – they are all headed to Moab for a disastrous family reunion. Will Piper and Matthew ever find a way to navigate the never-ending sideshow of neighbors and family that is taking over their lives?