A RECIPE FOR CRYING AND LAUGHING AT THE SAME TIME
582731
I reach for this book whenever anyone close to me is grief striken.  It is special and unique and should also be shared with those who are trying to cheer up someone not ready to cheer up. We all need to be able to laugh and cry at the same time. This is a healing broth.
3566611
A  Beautiful combination of  grief, love, and  laughter.
4221238
Hilarious and heartbreaking all tied into one.
783604
I expected to laugh more reading this book. But, let's be honest, even funny can be sad in light of Lots Of Cancer. Hyper-organized Daisy, needs to plan for the future,not her future, because she has Lots of Cancer, but her husband's.  She starts making lists of all of Jack's quirks and even searches outs potential new wives with her brassy, slutty best friend, Kayleigh. Along the way, Lots of Cancer catches up with Daisy and her lists and her relationships.

Oakley does a fantastic job with her character development and dialogue. The relationships in the book are gut-wrenching real. There is one person, a neighbor, that appears at first then fades away.

So read this book, then go hug your spouse, your mother and your best friend. (in that order)
1776671
Just the right combination of funny and heart wrenching to make you laugh and cry and keep turning the pages until you've finished it on one sitting.
4256971
It's not very often that I write a book review, but once I read "I Just Want To Be Alone," I KNEW I had to share it with my friends. Jen Mann of the famous blog, People I Want To Punch In The Throat, has put together a stellar sequel to "I Just Want To Pee Alone," which is a collection of humorous essays written by some of today's most talented writers. The stories shared by these comedic ladies focus on the funny side of marriage and a woman's desire for time away from the chaos of family life.

  This book is an easy, fast read with well-executed chapters that flow seamlessly into one another with a lot of laughter in-between. The essays touch on everything from early romance with a man in ill-fitting clothing to a husband who fears he is the bed wetter in the family. I laughed out loud over one woman's adventure in a mattress store (with her boyfriend's mother!) and another who disguised beans in her bean-hating husband's food for YEARS before getting caught.

  There were plenty of "Oh No She Didn't!" moments in the book as well (potty pre-nups and a husband who tends to his wife's hemorrhoids) and one misguided, eager-to-please husband who accidentally stinks out his very pregnant wife.numerous times. I also found myself nodding in agreement to relatable stories on weight gain and skinny husbands (the less WE eat, the more THEY lose).

  Although "I Just Want To Be Alone" is steeped in comedy, there are several poignant moments in some of the essays (a mother's letter to her son;  a couple's marriage put to the test during a European vacation) that bring a nice contrast to the overall humorous tone of the book.

  Despite poking fun at the kinks and quirks in their marriages, the underlying theme in the author's essays is a deep appreciation for their spouses. Jen herself sums it up nicely in her story:

  "We might not be the most traditionally romantic couple, but our relation- ship works for us. We've built the foundation of our marriage on relentless teasing of one another, constant griping, and the knowledge that no one else could possibly stand us, so we'd better make this work."

  If you're looking for hilarity, poignancy and fun, "I Just want To Be Alone" is the book for you. Do yourself a favor ladies and share this one with your husbands.--------Marcia Kester Doyle @ Menopausal Mother
552666
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA -Gasp-Gasp-Gasp-Tears of Agony Hysterics.  Laughing to myself for days.
3588978
This book can help you distress from any number of stressful life events- from jerk guys to stress of writing your grad school thesis. This has provided me with smiles and calm when I have needed it this past week- plus the art is adorable and sims of the sayings are HILARIOUS. Good when you need a break from life.
1289608
I was clinically depressed when I read Jenny Lawsons Lets Pretend This Never Happened. (Not because of the book, obviously; because there weren't enough chemicals in my brain or something.) I was also unmedicated.

I was skipping several of my college classes a week, eating mostly garlic bread, and sleeping for about twelve hours a day. Incidentally, I was also reading a lot of books, because this involved lying on the couch for hours at a time but still managed to feel vaguely productive.

Im not trying to say that Lets Pretend This Never Happened magically cured my depression, painted rainbow unicorns behind my eyelids and made me run a marathon. It didnt. But it did manage to break through the haze and make me laugh quite a lot, something I cannot say of much during that period of my life (including Parks and Recreation, bad horror movies, and most of my friends).

Lets Pretend This Never Happened grew from Lawsons popular blog The Bloggess in which she details her adventures as a mother, writer, and accidental taxidermy enthusiast. The narrative essays in her memoir read like a conversation with a friend. Only a really funny friend whos funnier than your real friends. How your conversations would go if you were friends with cool people, like Tina Fey or Anna Kendrick or Jon Stewart or something.

Lawson is willing to share the most ridiculous moments of her life, and they are brimming with glee and frankness. I originally wanted to include an extensive list of some of my favorites here, but I think it's better for Jenny to tell you about most of them herself. Just a tiny taste: she writes about one of her family's turkeys following her to school and making her husband buy her a taxidermied boars head she names James Garfield. Trust me, these are only scratching the surface.

One of the most impressive things that Lawson accomplishes is using her humor to negotiate intimate human tragedy. She opens the chapter about her miscarriages with, Okay, get prepared, because this chapter is kind of depressing and is about dead babies. I know. Ew. When she talks about her anxiety, she details the embarrassing and jarring things she has said at parties, such as I was stabbed in the face by a serial killer. (Note: She wasn't actually stabbed by a serial killer in the face.)

It is obvious that humor is the lens through which Lawson feels comfortable talking about these topics, and instead of depersonalizing her, it manages to do the opposite. Instead of seeing Lawson as either an inhuman joke machine or a vat of depressing anecdotes, she is just a person, and one that we can deeply identify with at that. This is what kept her on the periphery of my subconscious long after I finished the book.

I laughed aloud more times while reading Lets Pretend This Never Happened than I did during David Sedariss Me Talk Pretty One Day, Tina Feys Bossypants, and Mindy Kalings Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? combined. And I love those books.
1474309
If the current political situation makes you want to cry, get temporary relief with this hysterical spoof.  The character's names alone are worth the read!  And the story, spot on.  Thanks for the chuckles, Ric.
1989887
Love this book! I've ordered about 5 or more to give as gifts after receiving it from my sister and will probably buy more. A book that makes you tear up and then laugh within seconds is one that hits the heart, in my opinion.
2147032
I loved this book.  At times it was laugh out loud funny, and at times it was a genuine tearjerker.  I lost my mother a couple of months ago, and this book was a good place to escape for a few hours.  The "bedroom scenes" between Levi and Faith were tastefully handled. This is the first time I have read this author, and I am definitely going to read more by her.
3221314
I was laughing then crying, then laughing again. If it were not for all the repeat words of the auto-reader I would not have found a single problem with this book. I will be checking out her other books.
88022
This book was so funny it had me laughing so hard I was in tears. I had people ask me what the heck are you reading.
I look forward to reading Jim's next book. I mean what's not to like a guys standing on top of a wedding cake with a hotdog. Thanks for the laughs Jim.
3656197
This was a very special gift for a dear friend.  We laughed so hard we cried when reading it!
4507782
This book cracked me up.  I read this in one sitting, and nearly fell off the couch, laughing.  The "poetry" is absolutely atrocious, but the book is so funny the "poetic" curses are forgivable.  I bought this kit as a joke, and found the helpful booklet to be amazing Stress Therapy.
I didn't really need to poke anyone in the eye--the book relieves your stress with humorous scenarios of revenge, listed in a convenient format which enables quick-reference for various situations that may arise.  Feeling Stressed?  Yeah, me too.  The doll isn't really necessary, but it makes a great statement.  Have this delivered to your workplace and open it at your desk, during lunch!
The author conveniently provides instructions for making your own "Voodoo" doll, in-case one isn't enough.
707127
I bought this book on a whim and I am so glad I did. There were several times where I literally howled with laughter and there were also a few tears, but must of all there were heartfelt smiles.

So do your best a favor and gift it the gift of joy and laughter by readingng this amazing story.