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In her New York Times bestselling memoir, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened—A Mostly True Memoir (2012), Jenny Lawson explores why the moments we want to forget about are the ones that truly define us. Receiving various award nominations, critics praise its blend of humor and humanity. Lawson, an Internet blogger, journalist and social media influencer runs a popular blog where she writes about life’s absurdities and gives hope to those who feel alone in their struggles. In 2011 The Huffington Post named her as one of their “Greatest Person of the Day” for doing charity work and outreach with people who felt like they were all alone in this world. Let’s Pretend This Never Happened is her debut book written by Jenny Lawson which was published on September 18th 2012 by William Morrow Paperbacks.

Lawson challenges us to remember our most embarrassing moments. We want to forget these experiences because they make us feel bad about ourselves. However, Lawson believes we shouldn’t forget them because they help define who we are and shape us into the people we become today. She shares her own embarrassing moments with us so that we can relate and realize that those times don’t have to be something shameful or embarrassing about yourself. They’re just part of being human, and it’s okay if you’ve experienced them too.

Lawson begins her story with memories of growing up in West Texas. She had a crazy father and a long-suffering mother, but one event that stands out is when her father brought home the corpse of a raccoon and turned it into a puppet. This was horrifying for Lawson, but she still remembers it fondly because it made childhood special.

Lawson’s mother believed that whatever doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. She took this to the extreme by bathing her children in radon-poisoned well water, which Lawson questioned at the time. However, she now sees how it made her strong and is grateful for it.

Lawson meets Victor in college. At first, she can’t believe he’s her type. He is a quiet and wealthy Young Republican who is her complete opposite. However, after spending time with him, she realizes that he may be the kindest man she has ever met. Eventually, they fall in love and get married.

Lawson introduces Victor to her family, and it doesn’t go as planned. Her father surprises Victor with a live bobcat before showing him his taxidermy collection. Although the collection terrifies Victor, he tries to fit in by understanding Lawson’s family.

Victor and Lawson are married, so they travel around the country for Victor’s job. They also go home to West Texas often, but Lawson realizes that it is not her home anymore. There are too many Starbucks everywhere, and there isn’t much open space left in the town. Also, she has outgrown West Texas; now she sees it as a place where she grew up rather than somewhere she could live again.

The Lawsons live in West Texas. They move away but return to have their first child, Hailey. She has a blood clotting disorder, so it’s not an easy pregnancy for them. However, they’re thankful that she was born healthy and will never forget the overwhelming feeling of love they had when she was born.

Now that Lawson is settled into family life, she decides it is time to tackle other problems in her life. Suffering from severe social anxiety, she doesn’t have many friends. Now that she is home all day looking after Hailey, she wonders if it is possible to make friends online. She decides to seek out other stay-at-home mothers who understand what she’s going through and are willing to help her overcome the issues related with being a stay at home mom.