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Let's Pretend This Never Happened
by Lawson, Jenny
Jenny Lawson writes about her life with the kind of unfiltered honesty that makes you laugh until you ache, even when she is describing the most painful moments of her childhood. Growing up in rural Texas with a taxidermist father who treated roadkill like high art, Lawson learned early on that normal is a relative term. This memoir is a collection of essays that jump between bizarre family anecdotes and the very real, often difficult struggle of living with mental illness. The pacing is frantic and unpredictable, mirroring the way her brain works. You should pick this up if you appreciate memoirs that refuse to polish away the ugly or awkward parts of being human. It is perfect for anyone who wants to feel understood in their own weirdness and prefers their humor served with a side of genuine vulnerability.
10 Books similar to 'Let's Pretend This Never Happened'
If this book felt like finding a long-lost friend, you will likely connect with the other titles on this list. We selected these because they share that rare ability to pivot from gut-busting absurdity to profound emotional truth without missing a beat. Whether they are dissecting dysfunctional family histories or the daily grind of social anxiety, these authors excel at turning personal trauma into sharp, relatable comedy. If you enjoyed the way Lawson uses humor as a survival mechanism, these memoirs will offer you that same sense of comfort, hilarity, and messy, beautiful humanity.
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by Tina Fey
Like Jenny Lawson, Tina Fey masters the art of self-deprecating humor and anecdotal storytelling to navigate the absurdities of life and career. Both books offer a hilarious, behind-the-scenes look at the authors' lives with a sharp, witty perspective that makes readers feel like they are chatting with a funny friend.
by Allie Brosh
This book is the spiritual sibling to Lawson's work, blending crude but expressive illustrations with profound, honest insights into mental health and the awkwardness of being human. Fans of Lawson's specific brand of chaotic, vulnerable, and laugh-out-loud funny memoir will find an instant kindred spirit in Brosh.
by Jenny Lawson
Since readers love Lawson's unique voice, her follow-up memoir is the most logical next step, continuing her exploration of mental illness through a lens of absurd, irreverent humor. It maintains the same chaotic energy and emotional vulnerability that made 'Let's Pretend This Never Happened' a success.
David Sedaris is a master of the humorous essay collection, and his ability to find comedy in the mundane and the eccentric mirrors Lawson's style perfectly. Both authors excel at dissecting their own bizarre family histories and social anxieties with a dry, observational wit.
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Sedaris continues to refine his blend of dark humor and poignant reflection, perfectly capturing the same emotional resonance found in Lawson's writing. Readers who appreciated how Lawson balanced heavy topics like mental health with levity will find a similar, mature balance in these essays.
by Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling shares Lawson's talent for turning personal insecurities into relatable, comedic gold. Her conversational writing style and focus on navigating adulthood with a slightly skewed perspective will appeal to anyone who enjoyed the candid nature of Lawson's memoir.
by Allie Brosh
This collection continues the deeply personal, illustrated storytelling style that fans of Lawson adore, diving into the complexities of loss and the absurdity of life. It provides the same mix of gut-wrenching honesty and side-splitting humor that characterizes the best of the genre.
by Kiese Laymon
While heavier in tone, Laymon's memoir shares the intense, unflinching honesty and deep introspection found in Lawson's work. Readers who enjoyed the 'realness' and the way Lawson dissected her upbringing will appreciate this powerful and beautifully written exploration of identity and family.
Samantha Irby writes with a raw, unfiltered, and deeply funny voice that feels like a natural evolution for fans of Jenny Lawson's style. Her essays on the awkwardness of adulthood, health issues, and social anxiety are both hilarious and deeply relatable.
Lockwood’s memoir about growing up with a married Catholic priest for a father is as eccentric, funny, and bizarre as anything Jenny Lawson has written. The book’s focus on a highly specific, dysfunctional family dynamic provides the same 'you can't make this stuff up' entertainment value.
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