What do you think?
Rate this book
SHiTTY GRiT
You might think she’s got grit, or you might think she’s full of shit. Either way, you’ll think something. And that, my friend? That’s a win!
This once-homeless, uneducated teen mum stumbled into a life in prison – but not in the way bias may lead you to believe...
Packed with raw, unfiltered humour to make you snort-laugh and cringe at the same time, this isn’t your typical motivational, feel-good, or self-help blah. It’s a no-holds-barred, mostly true, darkly hilarious story about a woman who lives by the I’d rather regret something I’ve done than regret something I haven’t.
If you’re still reading, you can probably handle the truth and likely the occasional C-bomb. However, if you are a prude, a judgmental type, a know-it-all, a troll, or dislike the author… you can f*ck off!
This once-homeless, uneducated teen mum stumbled into a life in prison – but not in the way bias may lead you to believe...
Packed with raw, unfiltered humour to make you snort-laugh and cringe at the same time, this isn’t your typical motivational, feel-good, or self-help blah. It’s a no-holds-barred, mostly true, darkly hilarious story about a woman who lives by the I’d rather regret something I’ve done than regret something I haven’t.
If you’re still reading, you can probably handle the truth and likely the occasional C-bomb. However, if you are a prude, a judgmental type, a know-it-all, a troll, or dislike the author… you can f*ck off!
242 pages, Paperback
Published April 2, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 31, 2025
Shitty Grit is an uncut romp through a life full of adventures and discovery. It is a gutsy coming of age recollection of stories that each contain positive life reflections. The overriding themes of resilience and believing in yourself along with the importance of true friends and family make this book a must read.
March 30, 2025
It made me laugh, it made me cry and at times I thought “oh I might even be sick”.
I am in total awe at what experiences life has thrown your way.
This is a book I’m sure many readers will see you really have true Gr!t.
I am in total awe at what experiences life has thrown your way.
This is a book I’m sure many readers will see you really have true Gr!t.
March 30, 2025
What a wild ride! A laugh out loud, no-holds barred rollercoaster firmly establishing Claire as a bonafide 'crazy woman' with a huge heart, big brain and driving ambition that would challenge Verstappen!
April 1, 2025
Laugh out loud hilarious and a great fun read. Inspiring on how to take every opportunity and never doubt yourself.
March 31, 2025
Hilarious, Unfiltered, and Completely Addictive!
This book is an absolute riot—sharp, witty, and packed with laugh-out-loud moments that had me hooked from page one. The author has a brilliant way of capturing life’s most awkward, absurd, and ridiculous situations, and turning them into pure comedic gold.
The pacing is perfect, with each chapter pulling me in deeper, making it impossible to put down. Just when I thought things couldn’t get funnier, they did—again and again. It’s the kind of book that keeps you grinning long after you’ve finished.
If you love clever, unfiltered humour and a story that refuses to take itself too seriously, this is a must-read!!!
This book is an absolute riot—sharp, witty, and packed with laugh-out-loud moments that had me hooked from page one. The author has a brilliant way of capturing life’s most awkward, absurd, and ridiculous situations, and turning them into pure comedic gold.
The pacing is perfect, with each chapter pulling me in deeper, making it impossible to put down. Just when I thought things couldn’t get funnier, they did—again and again. It’s the kind of book that keeps you grinning long after you’ve finished.
If you love clever, unfiltered humour and a story that refuses to take itself too seriously, this is a must-read!!!
April 7, 2025
A delightful, decadent read from start to finish. I didn't expect myself to laugh as soon as I did, but within a couple of pages I was snorting (and cringing back from the page) right along with the poor Claire of the moment!
Claire writes with a wry, witty voice which perfectly toes the line between self-reflection and self-deprecation; she applies crystal-clear clarity to exactly where she might've made a poor decision (or ten) in her past, all while still perfectly capturing the mentality of her younger self at the time. You feel so immersed in her story it's like it's playing out in front of you. And, laughter aside, it's Claire's tongue-in-cheek humour and raw, brutally honest storytelling which also makes perfect space for the serious moments to hit as hard as they do. After she treats her life and her mistakes with so much levity, when they come, it's hard for you not to feel the wounds right along with her too.
Frankly, any person of any persuasion could find something to love in Shitty Grit. But as a reader in my 20s, the book also served as a perfect reminder that we don't all have every step figured out by this stage – and we don't need to! Life can throw curveballs and take you through the most unpredictable turns any moment, and the right path will sort itself out in time, even if it decides to get you into trouble a million times along the way. There was something very reassuring about all the laughter – the perfect reminder that all the sh*t and grit is just a part of being human.
Claire writes with a wry, witty voice which perfectly toes the line between self-reflection and self-deprecation; she applies crystal-clear clarity to exactly where she might've made a poor decision (or ten) in her past, all while still perfectly capturing the mentality of her younger self at the time. You feel so immersed in her story it's like it's playing out in front of you. And, laughter aside, it's Claire's tongue-in-cheek humour and raw, brutally honest storytelling which also makes perfect space for the serious moments to hit as hard as they do. After she treats her life and her mistakes with so much levity, when they come, it's hard for you not to feel the wounds right along with her too.
Frankly, any person of any persuasion could find something to love in Shitty Grit. But as a reader in my 20s, the book also served as a perfect reminder that we don't all have every step figured out by this stage – and we don't need to! Life can throw curveballs and take you through the most unpredictable turns any moment, and the right path will sort itself out in time, even if it decides to get you into trouble a million times along the way. There was something very reassuring about all the laughter – the perfect reminder that all the sh*t and grit is just a part of being human.
July 2, 2026
A very telling, tell all. I think the push to be inspirational became a little overbearing and tiring at some points but for the most part this was a funny, insightful and interesting read, I would be lying if I said I could guess what was gonna happen next in almost any part of this book. Hope she’s happy, still don’t like the prison system tho.
March 24, 2025
Claire Parkinson's memoir "SH!TTY GRiT" delivers a refreshingly authentic account of life's challenges that had me completely engrossed from the first page to the last. What makes this book particularly compelling is knowing that every laugh-out-loud moment and candid revelation comes from Claire's actual experiences rather than fictional invention.
The author's no-holds-barred approach to storytelling creates an immediate connection with readers. Her willingness to share both the messy and triumphant aspects of her journey feels like confiding in a brutally honest friend who isn't afraid to expose life's absurdities and difficulties.
The humor throughout the book serves as both entertainment and a powerful tool for addressing more serious themes. Claire masterfully balances comedic elements with genuine vulnerability, making even the most challenging circumstances relatable and, at times, unexpectedly funny.
"Shy Grit" stands out in the memoir genre for its refusal to sanitize or glamorize real-life experiences. Instead, it embraces the chaos, making it a brilliant reminder that authentic stories often resonate more deeply than polished narratives.
For readers seeking a memoir that combines unfiltered honesty with genuine humor, "Shity Grit" delivers an unforgettable reading experience that's as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
The author's no-holds-barred approach to storytelling creates an immediate connection with readers. Her willingness to share both the messy and triumphant aspects of her journey feels like confiding in a brutally honest friend who isn't afraid to expose life's absurdities and difficulties.
The humor throughout the book serves as both entertainment and a powerful tool for addressing more serious themes. Claire masterfully balances comedic elements with genuine vulnerability, making even the most challenging circumstances relatable and, at times, unexpectedly funny.
"Shy Grit" stands out in the memoir genre for its refusal to sanitize or glamorize real-life experiences. Instead, it embraces the chaos, making it a brilliant reminder that authentic stories often resonate more deeply than polished narratives.
For readers seeking a memoir that combines unfiltered honesty with genuine humor, "Shity Grit" delivers an unforgettable reading experience that's as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews