I have tried numerous different ways to start this review, hitting that backspace key and starting again. So let’s just start it here. The newest release from Jenny Lawson, also known as The Bloggess, is How to Be Okay When Nothing is Okay: Tips and Tricks That Kept Me Alive, Happy, and Creative in Spite of Myself. Yes, that’s a mouthful of a title. But this book has so much to offer, jam-packed under its cute little cover.
For those unfamiliar with Lawson’s writing, she is known for her dark humor and personal struggle with depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. Her previous books are all NYT bestsellers she’s award-winning. Yet the reason I love her writing isn’t any of that. I love her books because she doesn’t sugar-coat mental illness. She tells it as she experiences it and shares both her victories and hard times, through a lens of humor.
In this latest offering How to Be Okay When Nothing is Okay, Lawson has compiled a toolkit of mini-essays. The book can be read straight through or as needed based on the section of the book. She has segments on reframing, being brave, overcoming sadness, making things easier, perseverance, and celebrating victories. Chapters such as “Open This Page When You Doubt Yourself” and “But How Do I Start?” are self-explanatory and easy to turn to when you seek direction. Others like “But Did You Fart at a Queen?”, “Buy Wine for Babies,” and “Wash Your Brain More Than You Wash Your Bra” might need a little more exploration. Her book is designed especially for those who also have their own struggles with mental health and ADHD. Yet, I also gleaned wisdom from her experiences regarding my own creative blocks and focus struggles. I gained insight to better understand loved ones who may go through similar feelings while trying to overcoming mental health challenges. I highly recommend checking out this book and gifting it to a loved one.
Trigger warning: If you are easily offended, this is not the book for you. Lawson uses crude language in her writing, though it’s not meant to shock. It’s simply how she expresses herself. I find that the substance in her mini essays is worth it, no matter the language, but since this varies so far from what I typically review, I felt the warning was necessary.
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