I’m not sure where time went, but the book I’ve been working on for years actually comes out in a few weeks. (Holy crap.) Preorders can make such a difference in whether or not a book is successful and so as a special thank you for everyone orders it before pub date, I have a little surprise for you that my incredible Random House Penguin team put together. If you click here to tell us that you preordered then you will get to see all of the drawings I made in the book and then you can print them or color them or post them on a wall or use them to set tiny bonfires.
And you’ll also get to read a few little missives from the book, including one called MURDER POTATOES and another about the time I tried to liberate a human head who was an in-real-life friend of mine. Sort of.
It will ask you for an email address but I promise you won’t get any emails unless you click the box that says that you want to get emails. And also there’s a place where you’re supposed to give the receipt number from your book order but I was like, “Anyone who needs this book is probably unlikely to have saved that number because honestly…I don’t even know where my own receipt is from when I ordered my copy. Can we just have people say ‘I totally promise I ordered a book – or maybe several because my memory is bad – but I’m not organized enough to prove it’ and my publisher was like, “For your people? Totally.”
Also, I was recently telling my sister that I had a meeting with the publisher and she was like, “You’re having a meeting with a random house penguin? That is awesome.” And to be fair, it’s actually Penguin Life which is part of Penguin Random House but I’m going to keep saying “random house penguin” because that does sound awesome.
Now please preorder and go read the sneak peek and tell me what you think? I hope you like it.
You don’t want a random house penguin. They are loud and always smell of slightly rotted fish.
I added your book to my Amazon cart (not an actual cart, but it’s like, never mind). It’s in there now with 900 unscented poo bags, as my spouse in the house is very sensitive to scents. She’d rather not have MY two scents. And she’s always snorting the poo bags. Smart purchases by me! Seems Home Ec wasn’t a total waste of time.
Will pre-orders be signed? All your other books I have are signed. I want my daughter, when I die, to understand how important you were to my mental health AND my sense of humor.
(I’m signing all the preorders from Nowhere Bookshop, and I also signed a lot that are going out to other bookshops but I don’t know exactly which ones. ~ Jenny)
I don’t think I’ve encountered someone so kind, so thoughtful, and so very giving. Jenny, I am so happy I found your writing so many (idunno how many, actually) years ago! You make the world a better place!
I preordered a couple months ago from Barnes and Noble. Can’t wait!!!
Hi! I preordered a while ago and my Amazon account shows me I already bought it – I’m Canadian so does that mean I don’t get the goodies?? Or am I missing something? Pretty please may I see the extras?! 🙂
(You totally get the goodies! Actually anyone from anywhere can download it. I don’t know why it says a US mailing address is needed in the fine print because you don’t give an address. I suspect that’s language for if they were giving away physical things. ~ Jenny)
I preordered my copy from Nowhere Bookshop! I am REALLY looking forward to this book! SQUEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
If we’re Strangelings, will we get it as part of our subscription? I’d love to get it but I know I’ll forget to skip a month if I preorder separately…
(Great question! No, it’s not a part of the subscription because I never pick an author twice and we did Broken 5 years ago, so please preorder! 🙂 ~ Jenny)
I preordered so fast after your first announcement that it was available, my trackpad was smoking. Most things I let sit for a bit to make sure I really want it. Any books from you totally skip that process.
I pre-ordered, but don’t see step 2 on the page to provide my email and receipt. I see another Canadian above mentioned the same thing. I’d order the book even without the colouring pages, but would love to get them if I can.
(That’s weird. I know that they said Canadians could do it and there’s even links for Canadian book sellers. You don’t see the form that asks for your email and zip code? Try refreshing it. ~ Jenny)
I pre-ordered from Nowhere cause I wanted your lovely signature (I’m Canadian). The link doesn’t seem to get me anywhere but a page that wants me to buy another book 😁. While I’d love a 3rd book (I purchased one for my daughter as well), my bank account disagrees lol (exchange rate and all). I’m guessing there’s a glitch 🤔
(That’s so strange. I don’t know why it would show up for Canadians. Asking my publisher now. I’ll keep you posted! Love! ~ Jenny)
Thank you!
Oh my gosh! Did you see the video of the penguins picking rocks that the school kids painted for them? The penguins would then take them to their mates for a gift! And the one penguin couple rubbed their heads together. ❤️❤️❤️ So, yeah, I’m all in for random house penguins, especially if I can paint them rocks. I wonder, can you train a penguin to use a doggie pee pad or a litter box?
I love you so much, Jenny. Thank you for you!
Lagrandesoeur (because sometimes WordPress is an asshole and forgets I’ve logged in 200 times and it’s me!)
THIS WAS SPAM. Now it’s deleted. ~ Jenny 🙂
I actually saved my receipt and found the order number. Thank you to the Random House Penguin for the preview!
I’ve already seen your book touted in at least four different places! And they raved. I am going to wait until it comes out then toddle down to my local independent bookstore-in Palm Springs-to give them the business. This book may be your most popular!
(Wait…really?? ~ Jenny)
I’ve tried to register but like someone else noted, it shows ‘step 1 – buy’ and then ‘step 3 – enjoy’. I assume there’s supposed to be a ‘Step 2 – show us your receipt’?
(I’m guessing you’re outside of the US? I don’t know why but there’s a bug so they’re trying to fix it with a workaround. ~ Jenny)
I cant wait for your new book! I just asked my daughters to get me one for Mother’s Day!
Also, I want you and your readers to check out a podcaster that I found “ Confessions of a Neighborhood Gossip”. She is def your cup of tea, and HILARIOUS!
I preordered last AUGUST and yes, I do have my order # handy since Amazon keeps all that for me, but it’s cool that you don’t make people remember that!
I so love that cover art
Yay, Jenny!
I 100% pre-ordered. I haven’t clicked for the drawings and preview yet, and now that I’ve rushed to tell you that I’ve pre-ordered, I’ll probably be drawn into reading everyone else’s comments and completely forget to go back to your email.
I assume THIS kind of brain power is what qualifies me as one of YOUR PEOPLE.
I can’t wait to get my hands on your latest!
Congratulations and Much Success!
Love, Susan
Murder Potatoes was the name of Samwise Gamgee’s Punk Band.
ps – I also adore this community. Each and everyone of you bring me joy. Except that spam guy at #14. They do not bring me joy.
Pre ordered from my sweet local bookstore, Mosaic Books, in Kelowna, BC, Canada. Can’t wait for this book!
Here’s the scene. At work, running a simulator behind the scenes for sailors to practice docking. My colleague is 70+ weathered boat captain. I’m reading. I snort. And snort again. Then I choke on my ragweed triggered snot plug. Then I cough. A lot. Then I pee myself.
Thank the clouds and birds that I’m wearing black and love four minutes away!
(Oh, I love this. ~ Jenny)
I love, love, love your books, but I’m waiting for paperback version because hardcovers are too difficult for me with my disabilities to hold comfortably. But I’ll definitely preorder your paperback version when there’s a publication date!
I’m so happy you’re publishing a book on this topic with your tips and tricks for how you navigate your challenges, it will be huge for me and my family and friends who struggle with health and mental health and neurodiversity challenges.
I love the Random Penguin Press books, they have the best books!
I really want a random house penguin! But if they’re random I guess you don’t choose one, it chooses you? I have a great bathtub it can hang out in. And I’ll bet my cats would leave it alone. My miniature dachshund might bark her fool head off at it, though. Also one of the bedrooms gets ridiculously cold in the winter, so perfect for a random house penguin.
I didn’t preorder, but I do plan on purchasing it. Hope you’re tummy feels better.😍
but I totally read that as a house penguin that was random.
I think we would random house penguins a thing. Like house hippos. Why should Canadians have all the whimsical house creatures?
I’m also a Canadian who didn’t see Step 2.
Switched to a US location with my VPN and then I could see it.
But it wouldn’t let me enter a CDN postal code 🙁
So I entered my pre-order info and then my go-to zip-code 90210 😉
And it let me see the extras!
I’ve pre-ordered, read and loved what you’ve shared so far, and enjoyed your artwork, especially the captions. Can’t wait to see the rest. So glad you are sharing this with us. I personally caption all of the statues I see, then laugh at what they’re saying. People look at you a little strangely, but that makes it even funnier. Keep creating!
I just read Murder Potatoes. You are hilarious and wonderful and RIGHT. Thank you.
Awww, so sweet! I pre-ordered with Nowhere because, of course, I did but then weeks later you announced you will be in my neck of the woods and, of course, I could not let that go so please tell your Random House Penguin that, as expected from your people, I have accidentally on-purpose pre-ordered twice. Worth it.
Okay, supposedly you can see everything even if you’re outside of the US now, so let me know if you still can’t. 🙂 ~ Jenny
Hi Jenny, I’m in Canada and I still can’t see Step 2.
Looking forward to your book anyway though!
(Can you try this link and see if it works? https://sites.prh.com/howtobeokaypreorder ~ Jenny)
I almost ordered the book when I read this blog post. But then some little random house penguin in my brain told me to search the book title in my email, and I already purchased it in November! Can’t wait to read it!
I pre-ordered from Nowhere and can’t wait! 🙂
My order number for your book from Amazon is 112 8037959 4339450. The damn page went away by the time I could copy it. I really did pre order from Amazon. Love ya, Jenny!
THANK YOU Jenny, that link (https://sites.prh.com/howtobeokaypreorder) works for me (a Canadian) – I am so freakin excited!!! Off to read and colour now, toodaloo!
THANK YOU Jenny, that link (https://sites.prh.com/howtobeokaypreorder) works for me (a Canadian) – I am so freakin excited!!! Off to read and colour now, toodaloo!
@Anonymous
March 14, 2026 at 7:07 pm
Great news you f… fraudster! Go f…. yourself and pls. this forum for really nice human beings, which you clearly are not! Thanks!
Can you ask them to renew the offer for pre-ordering the trade paperback when that comes out?
I’m a little weird about wanting all my books to be the same size.
I was told there would be murder potatoes. Will there be an option for murder potato pancakes?
This is my manager’s final day (he’s retiring) and after 22 wonderful years of grousing in his office, and laughing at the absurdities of the workplace and barely managing to not get caught making snide comments during department meetings, I REALLY needed that bit about jobs sometimes being a fit for the work and sometimes for the people and sometimes they WERE a fit but then they’re not a fit at all and that’s okay. Something to keep in mind in the days ahead.
Thanks for this, genuinely one of my favorite topics to think about. I’ve been going down a rabbit hole lately researching how AI image models interpret visual instructions — specifically how much context they actually understand versus pattern-match. Been testing Uni-1 a lot recently, it’s the first model I’ve seen that does structured reasoning before generation. The difference in complex scene accuracy is pretty striking. Feels relevant to exactly what you’re talking about here.
I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to your book! I have a son that has anxiety and clinical depression. Your books have helped me to understand more and helped us find some laughter in all of this. I work for a school and I recommend your books to every parent I see that is struggling to understand their child’s anxiety. The humor helps in the dark places while your honesty gives those that don’t have the words a way to help others understand, even though everyone’s experience is different. Thank you!!