Why This Book?

Though not a cult memoir in the traditional sense, Jenny Lawson’s Let’s Pretend This Never Happened is a wildly honest, darkly funny account of growing up in an eccentric, chaotic, and sometimes deeply dysfunctional environment. What makes it resonate for survivors is not its setting, but its tone — Lawson validates the absurdity and pain of survival through humor, reminding readers that laughter and trauma often walk hand in hand. For anyone who’s felt strange, out of place, or shaped by a past they can’t quite explain, this book is an offering of solidarity.

Who It’s For

• Survivors of chaotic or dysfunctional upbringings (even if not formally cultic)
• Readers who use humor as a survival skill
• Anyone who needs to feel seen without needing to be “serious” to be understood

Big Takeaways

• Trauma doesn’t always come from the textbook version of abuse — sometimes it’s hidden in the absurd, the unspoken, or the deeply weird.
• Humor can be a tool of survival, not avoidance.
• You don’t need to tidy your past to be worthy of love, healing, or laughter.

How It Can Help

This book reminds readers that healing doesn’t have to look perfect, polished, or even linear. For those who feel they “shouldn’t” still be affected by their past, or who struggle to name their experience as trauma, Lawson offers validation through irreverence — and the kind of comfort that comes from not taking pain too seriously while still honoring its impact.

Additional Notes or Warnings

• Contains vivid and humorous descriptions of childhood dysfunction, anxiety, and mental health struggles.
• While the tone is light, some readers may find parts triggering depending on their history. Approach gently if sensitive to family-related trauma.