The #1 New York Times bestselling (mostly true) memoir from the hilarious author of Furiously Happy.“Gaspingly funny and wonderfully inappropriate.”—O, The Oprah MagazineWhen Jenny Lawson was little, all she ever wanted was to fit in. That dream was cut short by her fantastically unbalanced father and a morbidly eccentric childhood. It did, however, open up an opportunity for Lawson to find the … open up an opportunity for Lawson to find the humor in the strange shame-spiral that is her life, and we are all the better for it.
In the irreverent Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, Lawson’s long-suffering husband and sweet daughter help her uncover the surprising discovery that the most terribly human moments—the ones we want to pretend never happened—are the very same moments that make us the people we are today. For every intellectual misfit who thought they were the only ones to think the things that Lawson dares to say out loud, this is a poignant and hysterical look at the dark, disturbing, yet wonderful moments of our lives.
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I read this several years ago but noticed it immediately as I quickly scanned down a list the fact that I was instantly laughing out loud at several things I remember from the book is why I stopped to write this review. If after 5 or6 years the glimpse of the cover can have me laughing. ….
I laughed out loud! Well-written and funny
Hilarious!
Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir
by Jenny Lawson
Narration by Author
I laughed and laughed and giggled then got tearful then started all over! I loved all her crazy stories! I really needed this book right now! Recommend everyone listen to this book. She brings the book a special spark with her terrific narration. This is the second book I have listened to from her and can’t get enough! Love her!
My first Jenny Lawson read was Furiously Happy a few years ago and I absolutely loved it. I even hunted down a signed first edition copy for my collection. I was constantly cracking up with my husband giving me sidelong WTH looks in bed.
This time rather than read I decided to give Let’s Pretend This Never Happened a listen and Jenny’s narration did not disappoint. I will say I didn’t find myself as absorbed or affected as I was with Furiously Happy but I don’t know if it was the book itself or the change in platform.
I can always count on Jenny for a good laugh and a distraction from whatever crap may be going on in my life. If you don’t mind a lot of swearing and a little macabre, then you should definitely give her a try.
Very, very funny. I read some parts aloud to my husband so he could share the fun.
This book and author changed my life, for the better. It helped me open a door to myself I didn’t even know was locked.
Very funny! This was a really enjoyable read, highly recommend.
I laughed out loud so much, I think it is time for a second read
Jenny Made me see things in her life that have resembled things in mine. This book made me laugh so much. Was a very fun read.
At first I enjoyed it. It is unusual and takes a little time to adjust to it but, a little over half way through I decided I really didn’t care and lost my desire to finish it.
Jenny has a fabulously quirky sense of humour. The book is packed with plenty of wildlife, alive, taxidermied, and otherwise.
The book starts off with a bang in the author’s childhood, with her ending up inside a dead deer carcass. Other adventures of her youth included catching armadillos for her dad to race and inseminating a cow.
If gross is a problem for you, this book might not be the best choice. I’m all for grossness, though, and fully agree with her variation on the five-second rule – if it’s dry toast it’s extended to a week and a half. At least, right?
Her quirkiness shines in a disclaimer for a chapter where she mentioned using drugs, as she warns young readers that “drugs will kill you and make your boobies fall off.” The book also presents a lot of hilarious dialogue between her and her more logical-minded husband.
Thrown in along with the humorous bits are mentions of her experiences with mental illness, including anorexia, PTSD, and generalized anxiety disorder. She didn’t go into much detail, and she could easily have left those bits out, but I thought it was a good way of showing that someone can be funny and still face mental illness. She also shared the difficulties she faced trying to get pregnant.
The book follows her life somewhat chronologically, and moves in and out of various adventures like acid-washed vests, a sex concussion, finger cancer, a dead squirrel in the wall, and the beginning of her taxidermy collection with a wild boar’s head from an estate sale. There are assorted joking threats between her and her husband, including post-it notes she left him saying, “If you leave wet towels on the ground again I will stab you.”
There are photos interspersed throughout the book, and I couldn’t stop laughing at a picture of a very large metal chicken standing outside the front door to her house with the caption “knock knock, motherfucker.” Needless to say, her husband was not impressed.
The final chapter is an add-on written at the end of her book tour. She writes: “Will you sign my chicken?” I have officially been asked this 364 times. It never gets old.”
If quirky makes you laugh, this book is definitely for you. If you’re worried that you’re not “normal” enough, this book will set your mind at ease, because Jenny’s got you beat.
Jenny Lawson is able to tell the story of her growing up with humor and heart. I have read this book 5 times already and when I need to laugh this is my go to book.
Good book, light reading!! Funny!!!
This book had me laughing out loud, reading parts out loud to my husband. It does contain a lot of language that could be offensive if the reader is sensitive to that.
Clearly written by a crazy person, and probably pretty factual and serious for the most part, it is also laugh out loud, snort milk through your nose and tears running down cheeks funny. A genuine and unique talent, her stories will give you a deeper appreciation of some of life’s difficulties one may have to deal with, while remaining light-hearted and human. A bit coarse, crude or obscene at points; not for the easily offended. But hugely enjoyable and a quick, easy read.
I loved this book! The characters and events are real, from the author’s personal life and experiences, originally shared on her blog. She has a great way of telling a story, and I felt like I was reading it with her voice. There’s a lot of chaos, a bit of craziness, and a ton of laugh out loud funny! I have a friend who listened to the book (vs. reading it) and she didn’t care for it as much. As for me, I wish I could turn the crazy in my life into hysterically funny retells like Jenny has done. Also, I will never look at one of those 6 ft. tall painted metal roosters again without thinking, “Knock, knock, #%*}%#*!” (Read the book to see what I mean!)
Did not find book funny stopped readin after 60 pages
Nearly all the words you’ve given to choose from to describe this story are applicable. This really shouldn’t be possible but the story is so outlandishly probably true that nearly all the words “fit”. I was not fond of the socially unacceptable language, but had to overlook it because it was so real and the story was so vividly told. I absolutely loved this book (minus a few words) and am looking forward to reading more of this author’s work.
Pee your pants funny!!! I want Jenny as a best friend!