Here’s to another Page One book! I purchased Furiously Happy for my sister last Christmas. She asked for it and I did not investigate or anything. When Broken by Jenny Lawson showed up at my door, it was pretty much the same thing. I recognized Jenny as the author, but didn’t think much more.

Generally, when I read nonfiction, I prefer to learn something or improve myself. This book was nothing but delightful. It served no purpose other than to make me laugh.

The Book

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Furiously Happy and Let’s Pretend This Never Happened comes a deeply relatable book filled with humor and honesty about depression and anxiety.

As Jenny Lawson’s hundreds of thousands of fans know, she suffers from depression. In Broken, Jenny brings readers along on her mental and physical health journey, offering heartbreaking and hilarious anecdotes along the way.

With people experiencing anxiety and depression now more than ever, Jenny humanizes what we all face in an all-too-real way, reassuring us that we’re not alone and making us laugh while doing it. From the business ideas that she wants to pitch to Shark Tank to the reason why Jenny can never go back to the post office, Broken leaves nothing to the imagination in the most satisfying way. And of course, Jenny’s long-suffering husband Victor―the Ricky to Jenny’s Lucille Ball―is present throughout.

A treat for Jenny Lawson’s already existing fans, and destined to convert new ones, Broken is a beacon of hope and a wellspring of laughter when we all need it most.

My Thoughts

I hadn’t ever read a Jenny Lawson book before Broken. I had no idea what to expect. I have put my faith in the wizards at Page One and just trust that I will enjoy the book that arrives at my door.

This book was PURELY DELIGHTFUL. Jenny Lawson can write. I can’t even tell you how many times I actually laughed out loud while reading this book. There was one point where I was laughing so hard that I was crying. That never happens. (Don’t worry, I’ll share some of my favorite passages below).

Once thing that I thought I would hate was the stream of consciousness of the book. She can ramble and there are more run-on sentences than I can count. However, I ended up really appreciating the book for that. It didn’t read like someone’s life story that was funned through hundreds of editors. It felt like a real person who was sharing her story and her journey and it was so relatable.

I’ve already investigated Jenny Lawson’s other books, and can’t wait to get my hands on a few more. I would highly recommend Broken by Jenny Lawson to anyone who is looking for a lighthearted book guaranteed to make you smile (at the very least).

Favorite Quotes & Passages

This first quote is in a chapter where Jenny shares all of the faux pas that she has voiced while at a party or in a social setting. Things that have actually come out of her mouth.

Someone gave me a poster that says, “Let her sleep for when she wakes she will move mountains,” and I think it’s a nice sentiment because it encourages people to not wake me up, but I already can’t sleep because tomorrow I have to go to the bank and I can’t turn off my brain and now I’m finding out that I HAVE TO MOVE MOUNTAINS? I’m probably only sleeping late because I was up all night worrying about mountain relocation, Maybe the mountains need to stay where they are. Why is this my problem? F*ck this. I just scratched out the part about moving landmasses and left “Let her sleep” standing. Because I don’t throw babies out with the bathwater. In fact, I don’t throw babies at all. Or move mountains.

Broken by Jenny Lawson, Page 36

This next one is in a chapter called “These Truisms Leave Out a Lot of the Truth,” where she adds details and the truth to all of those quotes that we love to hate that we love.

THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER… It’s tough to get into and it will cut you if you don’t use the right knife. Also, it’s slimier than expected but sometimes you get jewelry. Unless this truism means that you are the pearl and the world is the oyster that you live in? Which would kind of make sense because pearls are technically just natural irritants and that’s a pretty good description of human beings in the world.

Broken by Jenny Lawson, Page 69

From one of her more serious and personal chapters…

And when I struggle with the little things that seem so small and unimportant, I remind myself that it’s okay to struggle and to allow myself to find my own speed. Small things can be important. Words, decisions, pauses, compassion, lost watches, short stories…there are whole worlds in these small things. And I live in these world. And (sometimes) I’m glad I do.

Broken by Jenny Lawson, Page 187

There were a few more quotes that really moved me, but you should just take my word for it and buy Broken by Jenny Lawson for yourself. You won’t regret it.

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