Is 'Let That Shit Go' Based On A True Story?

I read 'Let That Shit Go' cover to cover, and while it feels intensely personal, it's not a straight-up memoir. The author channels raw, relatable emotions—anger, regret, that clawing need for closure—but layers it with fictional elements to make the themes universal. The protagonist's messy breakup mirrors real-life toxic relationships, but specific events (like the absurdly dramatic Thanksgiving scene) are clearly exaggerated for impact. What makes it resonate is how it borrows from truth without being bound by it. If you want something more autobiographical, check out 'Educated' by Tara Westover—now that's a true story that'll gut you.

'Let That Shit Go' nails the balance between ‘this could be me’ and ‘thank god it’s not.’ The car crash of a marriage in Chapter 7? Too perfectly tragic to be real—it’s a narrative grenade. But the emotional beats? Those are lifted from life. The way the protagonist replays old arguments in her head verbatim is textbook anxiety, something the author confirmed she struggles with.

Key scenes borrow from reality but twist it. The ex’s cameo at the yoga studio mirrors real-life awkward encounters, but the ensuing fistfight is Hollywood nonsense. For a no-bullshit true story about moving on, grab 'The Year of Magical Thinking' by Joan Didion. It’s grief without the glitter.

Digging into 'Let That Shit Go,' I analyzed its narrative structure and interviewed fans who swore it was based on real events. The truth? It’s a hybrid. The author has admitted in interviews that certain scenes—like the protagonist’s job loss and subsequent spiral—draw from her own layoff experience during the 2008 recession. But the central relationship drama is composite storytelling, blending traits from multiple people.

The therapy sessions in the book mirror real cognitive behavioral techniques, which suggests consultation with professionals. The chaotic family dynamics, though, are pure fiction amped up for tension. For a genuinely autobiographical take on letting go, try Cheryl Strayed’s 'Wild.'

What’s clever is how the book tricks readers into seeing their own truths. The specificity of the protagonist’s flaws—her obsessive list-making, her hoarding of grudges—feels ripped from someone’s diary. That’s the magic of fiction: it can be truer than fact.