Jenny Lawson - born and raised in Texas - is a journalist, blogger, author, and humorist who suffers from mental illness, attention deficit disorder, clinical depression, anxiety attacks, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune problems, and more. This makes Lawson's life challenging, but her medication - as well as her husband and daughter - help Jenny cope.

Jenny tries to see the 'funny' in life, and shares her observations with her readers.

I'll give some examples of Jenny's anecdotes, to provide a feel for her humor.

Jenny tells a story about constantly losing a shoe, because one foot is slightly larger than the other. So Jenny walked out of a shoe in a hotel elevator, waited for the elevator to return.....and no shoe! Turns out someone reported it to security. Jenny vowed to stop losing a shoe, but proceeded to do it again and again. Thus Jenny once had to pretend wearing one shoe was an Avant-garde fashion choice, once lost a shoe in a public toilet, once lost a shoe in a storm drain, and so on. (I'd advise fashionable sneakers. 😃)

***

Jenny writes about being so uncomfortable at parties that she gets verbal diarrhea and makes terrible small talk, like comparing dog poop and human poop. Ick!!

*****

After repeatedly mentioning genitals in a chapter about a cockchafer maggot, Jenny looked to Twitter for gender-neutral words for private parts. Hundreds of responses poured in, some of Jenny's favorites being niblets, no-no zone, Area 51, the south 40, the Department of the Interior, my hoopty, my chamber of secrets, my bidness, fandanglies, and the good china.

*****

In a chapter about editing her books - which Jenny does with a gallery of professionals - Jenny acknowledges that the process is awful and painful and hilarious and mortifying...but not boring. For fun, Jenny describes conversations she had about her books with a variety of editors.

Some examples:

◙ Jenny confuses the pirates Blackbeard and Bluebeard because they have the same last name. Editor: I don't think "Beard" was their last name.

◙ Jenny: Let's change "butt" to "buttonhole." Editor: Are you sure you want to do that? Jenny: Oops, that was autocorrect. I meant let's change "butt" to "butthole."

◙ Jenny: Can I just leave a poop emoticon to say sorry for being shitty at words. Editor: The poop image is an "emoji." An emoticon is a typographical display of facial representation using text only. Jenny: Jesus, I can't even use poop correctly.

*****

Jenny has a knack for fun animal names. Her dog is called Dorothy Barker; her suggested monikers for a neighborhood owl are Owl Roker and Owlexander Hamilton; a yard rat is dubbed Boo Ratley; and a squirrel who steals peanut butter crackers is named Squirrelly Temple.

*****

Jenny also tells stories about her husband Victor, her daughter Hailey, and her parents and grandparents. Much of this is amusing, though stories about pulling off chicken heads, eating goats roasted in ground pits, and snacking on gerbil jerky can be stomach-churning.

*****

In a serious vein, Jenny excoriates her insurance company, which avoids paying for her medication and treatments....a phenomenon that's probably familiar to much of the general public.

Jenny also talks about contracting tuberculosis because she takes immunosuppressant drugs for her rheumatoid arthritis; getting panic attacks; having childhood anxiety attacks that were so frequent her mother had to change jobs to work in her school; having regular suicidal thoughts; and experiencing extended periods of depression. Jenny goes on to describe the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) she received to relieve her psychiatric symptoms - treatments that are extensive and painful, but which helped.

Jenny's books do good by helping others who suffer from mental illness. Jenny writes about being on a book tour and meeting wonderful people who dealt with some of the same issues she had. Many folks shakily told her that it was the first time they'd left their house in weeks. Jenny was proud to be able to talk to each person, though it was VERY draining for HER, because she gets anxious being around people. A difficult conundrum indeed.

I like Jenny's humor, and there are some REALLY amusing chapters in the book. However, many sections feel forced, like the author was trying too hard to be funny.

Still, the book demonstrates that mentally ill individuals can have good times and enjoy life, which is a lesson worth learning.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Jenny Lawson), and the publisher (Henry Holt and Company) for a copy of the book.

Yet another wonderful book by The Bloggess, Jenny Lawson. Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, I adore Jenny Lawson. She has a way to really connect with hardcore introverts like myself. Her stories are much more dramatic (and hilarious) than any I could tell and yet they are super relatable. Jenny's writing is like David Sedaris in that she's sharing her real life experiences in a series of short stories. They are sometimes totally outrageous (just ask her how she got banned from the hardware store) and sometimes they are a little on the sad side.. From her lens there is humor to be found, even in the hardest moments. Like her other books, I belly laughed on more than one occasion while trying to read quietly in bed.

This book does have some somber moments where she talks about her illnesses, anxiety and some of the harder moments of her life, but even those stories have a distilled message that says "I see you. It's okay, just keep going. Oh, and it's totally okay to laugh about it."

I highly recommend pre-ordering this book and picking up all of her previous books if you have the opportunity.

This is the second Jenny Lawson book that I have read. I enjoyed it somewhat less than Furiously Happy, which caught my fancy with extended taxidermy passages. There is much less taxidermy here (but don’t worry, there are still references to a taxidermy prairie dog dressed as danaerys targaryan, road kill hats and alligators)—and it feels a little less like a narrative and a lot more like trawling an online blog. Given who the author is, this suits just fine! But it didn’t quite work entirely smoothly throughout. There are moving chapters. There are funny chapters. There is an extended and completely not funny chapter about bizarrely sexual ideas to pitch to Shark Tank. It’s a mixed bag.

I adore the cover. Omar Rayyan’s art has long been one of my favorite things that exist. I highly recommend reading Lawson’s note about the cover at the end of the book, because it feels not only appropriate to <i>this</i> book, but to 2020 as a year and concept as well.

A small side note about my reading experience with this book: I have depression and severe anxiety, but sometimes I forget—not in a way that means I am happy or carefree, but more in a way where I lose interest and the ability to focus on anything at all and I am not sad, just bored and unable to concentrate long enough to read or watch television or pay attention to my life. So, on a related note, I was sitting in my bed reading this book, caught up in one of the depression chapters and thinking about how my own depression has never really left me stuck in bed when I abruptly realized it was 4 in the afternoon, I hadn’t showered or left the bed since around 8 am the previous morning and I had slept in yesterday’s clothes. It was a mild shock and an eye opener that did actually inspire me to get up and face the remainder of the day from my desk instead of my bed. (I think this nightmare garbage year has done me no favors when it comes to routine)

Reading one of Jenny's books is like sitting down with an old friend you haven't talked to in years. She tells stories that make you laugh, make you hurt and humble you. I love Jenny's honesty in her writing. She doesn't hold back the details that make you cringe... in both good and bad ways. Broken is the book we need this year. It addresses difficult subjects with humor and gives me hope for the future.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co and Jenny Lawson for giving me this eARC of “Broken: In the Best Possible Way” in exchange for an honest review (via NetGalley).

Wow, this book.

This is Jenny Lawson’s third series of essays and I don’t think I have laughed and cried harder while reading a book of essays (sometimes doing both in the same essay). Lawson discusses weird moments in her life, being a magpie, family relationships, and mental health with a perfect blend of humor and poignancy. Reading this book feels like meeting up with an old friend. You settle with your coffee (or vodka) and hear her words as if they were spoken directly to you. She weaves in how our lives can still be beautiful, light, and funny even when we are at our darkest and teaches you the importance of fully embracing the weird moments that remind you that you’re alive.

I tore through the first half of this book and then forced myself to slow down because I knew that I would be so sad when it was over (and yes, I am sad that I finished it). I received this book as an ARC in exchange for a review, but I will 100% be purchasing this book for myself and to give to friends and family once it’s published this coming April.

“Broken: In the Best Possible Way” comes out April 6th, 2021

CW: essays on depression, anxiety, chronic illness, and dementia

Jenny Lawson is hands down always a must read for me. She’s so honest and open and real. “Broken” is well worth the wait. At times heartbreaking and others absolutely hilarious, Lawson always knows what kind of chord to strike. A massive thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this title. It was an honor to read and I’ll be suggesting it at our library.

Jenny Lawson is always a delight. Like her previous two memoirs, this one bounces back and forth between hysterical and poignant (hysterically poignant?). Her open letter to her insurance company over the mess of American healthcare NEEDS to be shouted from the rooftops.

SHOUTED.

And while we're shouting her open letter, we should all sit back and reflect on how her three memoirs are helping to take the stigma out of mental illness and other "invisible" diseases. Jenny Lawson is right there with Allie Brosh in walking people through how living with these illnesses actually works (or really, doesn't work). She helps bring a hopeful glimmer to others suffering, letting them know that despite how awful they feel, they are not alone.

I cannot adequately express how much I love Jenny Lawson’s stories. You know who would be able to? Jenny Lawson.
This is another collection of stories of the wild and sometimes difficult life that Jenny lives. Hilarious stories about awkward social situations and losing shoes WHILE wearing them, perfectly interspersed with raw and powerful and heartbreaking stories of mental illness and what it can (and does) do to its owners.
Jenny approaches these tough subjects with a sense of humor which might stand out to me so much because I do the same. It’s hard to live with anxiety and I only have a fraction of what Jenny describes and yet still I feel a connection because while it is super annoying to panic about going into a store bc *there are people in there*, it also gives me something to laugh about later. Jenny has the ultimate *laugh about it later* stories that had me laughing so hard I was crying and then so introspective and curious that it was like I was reading a completely different book.
Overall I guess I just want to say, “YES. Read this and laugh and cry and enjoy it and even learn from it because this book has everything. Including more taxidermied animals.”

I do love Jenny Lawson’s writing. It’s hilarious and heartbreaking. Often at the same time. Even though I’m a frequent reader of her blog, there was plenty here that was new or an expanded upon story from the blog. My only slight quibble is that the name should have been Borken in the Best Possible Way. Search for borken on her blog for the whole story.

I've been a Jenny Lawson fan for years and am grateful for the opportunity to read and review her forthcoming book, Broken. It was a great mix of humor and introspection. I relate to almost everything she writes about concerning anxiety and depression and reading her raw, honest advice puts so much into perspective. I would recommend this book to anyone suffering from anxiety and/or depression and also anyone who loves someone with these afflictions or just wants to laugh and feel things again after a crazy year.

Quite possibly the most hilarious book I’ve ever read. I usually don’t read comedy but Jenny Lawson is outstanding and I’m so glad I picked this one up.!

OMG, I love Jenny Lawson and I want to become her best friend but I'm afraid we're both much too introverted for that so I will settle for admiring her from afar and marveling at the way she makes me both laugh and cry in the same paragraph. Sometimes I'm laughing so hard I'm crying. Other times I'm crying because how does she understand so completely what is going on in my head? How does she make anxiety and depression feel so understood? How does she make you sympathize and empathize with mental illness that plagues so many of us? Her perspective is so fresh and descriptive, it's as if she's crawled in my own head. I thank her for being her brave self and for allowing us all into her life (and Victor's and Hailey's), for allowing us all to share in her broken humanity. All the stars and all the hollas for Jenny Lawson!!!


*And thank you to NetGalley forthe e-copy of this fantastic work of art!*

I haven't laughed so hard in ages. I'm already a fan, so reading the book was like getting to spend extra time with my imaginary friend. Highly recommended for people who appreciate quirky writers.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I typically love Jenny Lawson. Her first book especially made me laugh until it hurt with her family tales and random tangents. I also love how she can be so honest and raw about her own chronic illnesses.

I wish she had chosen one of those things for this book and stuck with it.

While there were certain sections that were riveting, funny, and honest, other parts felt like she was trying to be all things to all readers. It’s as if she was worried we wouldn’t like her if she didn’t play new versions of her greatest hits.

Maybe it’s that I’ve changed and don’t enjoy her madcap thoughts on life as much now. Or maybe she has changed and that’s why she doesn’t capture the humor as effortlessly anymore.

Whatever the case, I wish I had enjoyed this book more than I did.

Jenny Lawson is one of my favorite writers. Her books never fail to make me laugh out loud, sometimes to the point of tears.
Her works also bring me comfort and make me feel less alone - I'm not the only one living with mental health issues.

I was SO excited to receive an ARC of Broken from NetGalley. Jenny Lawson is one of my favorite authors/bloggers, and I couldn't wait to get started reading Broken. It was SO FANTASTIC. I laughed so hard I cried practically every chapter. Her chairs about anxiety and depression are incredibly well written and I was all "girl, same." We aren't alone out here. Every other chapter was just hysterical! I seriously laughed my way through the book and was sad only when it ended. A MUST READ! Put this on your list to get for everyone you know (ok, mostly those over 18 for swears and private talk).

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I was so excited to get my hands on this one! I have enjoyed Jenny Lawsons writing for years and when this became available, I had to get a copy! I always appreciate Jenny's honesty, especially around her mental health, so many people deal with these struggles and hide them. Jenny has shared her experiences, both the good and bad, along with how her family copes with these dynamics. There were so many moments during this read that made me laugh out loud and a few that made me sad for her. Overall, as always with her books and blog, I highly recommend to everyone!

One story line I greatly appreciated was her documentation of her experience with a a new treatment plan. She was advised to keep a diary to be able to recall the change she may experience. I love how she shared how it felt, how her brain changed and how it impacted her day to day life, all for the better.

Oh my goodness but Jenny Lawson has the most amazing way of telling a story... Whether you're reading her deeply personal thoughts on her struggles with physical and mental illness, her righteous indignation at the behavior in of insurance companies, or the hysterical interactions between her and her long-suffering husband Victor you can't help but be drawn to this woman... She is a brilliant storyteller, and manages to capture the pathos of whatever she's talking about in a way that is so distinctly her own that it makes everything she writes a marvel to read. I laughed so hard reading so many of the stories that I literally started crying and couldn't catch my breath. Then on the flip side I would read her depictions of depression and anxiety and my heart would start to pound with the tension in the room. This one offered a lot more introspection than her previous collections, but I found the balance between dark and light in this to still make for a very enjoyable - even if occasionally difficult (in the best possible way) - read. It's another phenomenal collection and not one to be missed!

As always, Jenny makes me laugh until tears stream down my face. I can not read her books in public. I read half of this one out loud to my husband. She also gets pretty serious about depression and auto-immune issues in this book. I appreciate that.

I love Jenny Lawson. I am pretty sure I screamed when I found out that she was coming out with a new book; and I know I screamed when I got the email with my digital review copy. Compared to her other books I would say Broken sits between Let's Pretend This Never Happened and Furiously Happy on the funny and serious topic scale. Broken is written in Lawson's classic "blog post" like chapters where we tend to have a couple of light hearted chapters bookended with serious discussions of mental health. Broken specifically does touch on mental health with a bit more discussions on Lawson's chronic pain and more physical ailments. There was a particularly scathing letter to her insurance company and an essay titled "I Feel it in My Bones" that really hit home for me. As with all Lawson books, I was stoping every chapter to fold over laughing and on the other chapters stop to curl up in a ball and cry.