Let's Pretend This Never Happened (Dear Dumb Diary #1)

Published in 2004, Let's Pretend This Never Happened serves as the inaugural entry in the Dear Dumb Diary series, written and illustrated by Jim Benton. The book was developed as a humorous look into the life of middle schooler Jamie Kelly, utilizing a diary format that incorporates Benton's signature cartoon style. Benton, an experienced illustrator, aimed to capture the melodramatic and often irrational sensibilities of adolescence, creating a character whose exaggerated perspective on school social hierarchies resonated strongly with middle-grade readers.

The series emerged during a period of rising popularity for illustrated juvenile fiction that prioritized comedy and relatable social awkwardness. Benton's design choice to intersperse text with spontaneous, doodle-like illustrations was instrumental in the book's success, making it accessible to reluctant readers and cementing its status as a staple of early 2000s school libraries. Critically and commercially well-received, the title helped establish a long-running franchise that eventually expanded to include dozens of volumes and a television adaptation.