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I was first introduced to Jenny Lawson’s work via her memoir Furiously Happy. A few paragraphs in and I was hooked. It was only a matter of time before I dove into her other offerings. Broken (in the Best Possible Way) was next. Based on my first exposure to Ms. Lawson, I expected a book full of ridiculousness, serious anecdotes about mental health struggles, and hilariously uplifting stories. Did I find that? Read my Broken in the Best Possible Way book review to find out! (Yes, I did, but you should read further anyway.)
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What is Broken in the Best Possible Way About?
Broken (in the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson is a hilarious and poignant memoir that explores her struggles with mental illness and physical health issues. Through a collection of essays, Lawson dives into her experiences with depression, anxiety, and autoimmune disorders, blending raw honesty with her signature irreverent humor.
The book calls to anyone who feels “broken” and reminds readers that it’s okay to be imperfect. Lawson shares deeply personal anecdotes, including stories about her mental AND physical medical adventures. Her candid humor through her struggles suggest – “Hey, if I can make it through this, you can too!” Ultimately, Broken (in the Best Possible Way) is about embracing your flaws, finding joy in unexpected places, and laughing through the turmoil in life.
Now onto the rating! Broken by Jenny Lawson:
My innovative system for rating humor books is explained here
Wholesomeness Score: 2/5
Sorry Jenny. Broken does not rank high on my personal, somewhat arbitrary wholesomeness scale. Lots of colorful language and content. Lawson’s writing is candid and unfiltered, which means there’s frequent use of strong language and discussions of sensitive topics, including mental health struggles, chronic illness, therapy and sexual organs of her pets.
While these topics are approached with humor and compassion, some essays include dark humor that might not appeal to all readers. Her playful yet explicit tone may not be ideal for those seeking a more PG-rated read.
Hilarity Score: 5/5
While not particularly wholesome, Broken is particularly hilarious. As found in other Jenny Lawson offerings, her unfiltered stream of consciousness style of storytelling is peppered with jokes and self-deprecating quips. Even her more serious stories inject funny jabs and quips.
She often includes her husband Victor into the stories as a “sane cop” to her “insane cop” (good cop/bad cop?) Example:
“I told Victor that we had to leave immediately, because I had accidentally kicked someone who was pooping.” – Jenny Lawson, Broken
Below is an example of her “stream of consciousness” style of rambling. Her frequent ramblings like these invites SO many questions for the reader. Most of those questions remain unanswered. Which make them even more hilarious.
Jenny Lawson Broken Funny Chapter Titles
You only need to scan a few of Jenny Lawson’s chapter titles to get a feel for the humor infused into her work. Here are some of my favorites from Broken:
- Six Times I’ve Lost My Shoes While Wearing Them: A List That Shouldn’t Exist
- Awkwarding Brings Us Together
- That Time I Got Haunted by Lizards with Bike Horns
- INTROVERTS UNITE! (But Sweet Baby Jesus, Not in Real Life)
- The Eight Billionth Argument I Had with Victor This Week
- No One Wants Your Handwritten “Good for One Free Massage” Coupons, Darryl
- And That’s Why I Can Never Go Back to the Post Office Again
Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 5/5
Broken was awesome! The content more directly addressed mental health struggles than Furiously Happy, although both books contain plenty of frank discussion about depression and anxiety. Jenny managed to mix seriously dark topics with hope and hilarity.
Things I liked:
- “An Open Letter to My Health Insurance Company” — this should be required reading for…well…everyone
- hilarious stream of consciousness rambling
- despite some heavy and dark topics, Jenny manages to convey hope and positivity in her messages
Things I didn’t like:
- kind of wanted another taxidermized animal mascot on the book cover
Other Jenny Lawson Books I’ve Reviewed:
Conclusion: Jenny Lawson Broken in the Best Possible Way
Never expect clean, G-rated content from Ms. Lawson. Always expect filter-free fun. This book is great for any fan of humor, memoirs and essays. It should especially resonate with readers looking for a hopeful perspective from an author who battles anxiety, depression and a host of physical ailments. Her message is that, yes, we may be “Broken”, but those broken pieces represent a more authentic and beautiful version of ourselves vs the polished facade some try to maintain.
Scott Johnson is a Midwestern humorist, author of Essays Out of Left Field, and the mind behind scottjohnsonauthor.com. He’s also a husband, dad of three, and Data Systems Administrator (whatever that is). Scott is on a mission to find and read all the funny books. He shares his thoughts on those books, author life, and other delightful randomness with his readers on his website.
