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emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Alcohol
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Car accident, Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, Medical content, Abortion
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Devestatingly beautiful portray of grief and holding onto culture. Having just lost my grandmother to cancer this book hit home and put into words what I had been feeling
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Racism, Abortion, Death of parent
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
An incredible memoir. Well-written, well-paced, and meaningful without being preachy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Mental illness, Racism, Xenophobia, Excrement, Car accident
Minor: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Abandonment
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Credibility & Research: 8/10
Zauner isn’t here to present a peer-reviewed thesis—she’s giving you raw, lived experience, seasoned with grief and fermented in memory. And honestly, that works. Her emotional truth rings loudly and consistently, even if she doesn’t exactly go out of her way to pull in a spectrum of outside perspectives. It’s very much her story, centered unapologetically around her loss and cultural reckoning, which sometimes left me wanting just a little more context or dimension. Still, what she brings to the table feels grounded, honest, and undeniably hers.
Zauner isn’t here to present a peer-reviewed thesis—she’s giving you raw, lived experience, seasoned with grief and fermented in memory. And honestly, that works. Her emotional truth rings loudly and consistently, even if she doesn’t exactly go out of her way to pull in a spectrum of outside perspectives. It’s very much her story, centered unapologetically around her loss and cultural reckoning, which sometimes left me wanting just a little more context or dimension. Still, what she brings to the table feels grounded, honest, and undeniably hers.
Authenticity & Uniqueness: 9/10
Plenty of memoirs tackle identity and grief, but Zauner manages to carve out her own lane with the intimacy and intensity of her voice. Her food-centric lens is what sets this apart—it’s not just metaphorical, it’s visceral. When she writes about cooking as a means of resurrection and resistance, it hits hard. There’s a tender abrasiveness in her tone that felt personal and punchy in all the right ways. She doesn’t fake wisdom or polish her pain for the sake of palatability, and that gives the book a unique texture I didn’t find in other grief memoirs.
Plenty of memoirs tackle identity and grief, but Zauner manages to carve out her own lane with the intimacy and intensity of her voice. Her food-centric lens is what sets this apart—it’s not just metaphorical, it’s visceral. When she writes about cooking as a means of resurrection and resistance, it hits hard. There’s a tender abrasiveness in her tone that felt personal and punchy in all the right ways. She doesn’t fake wisdom or polish her pain for the sake of palatability, and that gives the book a unique texture I didn’t find in other grief memoirs.
Writing Style: 8/10
Zauner’s prose is a little indie-film poetic at times—equal parts delicate and dramatic—but overall, it’s effective. She writes like someone who really wants you to feel every pang in her gut and every tear in her jjigae. And mostly, I did. That said, the structure veered into choppy territory here and there, like she couldn’t quite decide whether this was a greatest hits reel or a slow-burning narrative. Still, the voice is clear and engaging, and when she’s on, she’s on—especially when she leans into food writing like it’s sacred scripture.
Zauner’s prose is a little indie-film poetic at times—equal parts delicate and dramatic—but overall, it’s effective. She writes like someone who really wants you to feel every pang in her gut and every tear in her jjigae. And mostly, I did. That said, the structure veered into choppy territory here and there, like she couldn’t quite decide whether this was a greatest hits reel or a slow-burning narrative. Still, the voice is clear and engaging, and when she’s on, she’s on—especially when she leans into food writing like it’s sacred scripture.
Personal Impact: 9/10
This book didn’t just touch a nerve—it played a whole damn concerto on it. I found myself thinking about my own cultural lineage, grief rituals, and the emotional power of food long after I’d closed the last page. It’s not trying to give you life lessons on a silver platter, but the impact is real. I didn’t just read it—I felt it, in the gut, in the throat, in the middle of a late-night fridge raid for kimchi. It’s the kind of book that lingers like the smell of garlic and sesame oil in your clothes.
This book didn’t just touch a nerve—it played a whole damn concerto on it. I found myself thinking about my own cultural lineage, grief rituals, and the emotional power of food long after I’d closed the last page. It’s not trying to give you life lessons on a silver platter, but the impact is real. I didn’t just read it—I felt it, in the gut, in the throat, in the middle of a late-night fridge raid for kimchi. It’s the kind of book that lingers like the smell of garlic and sesame oil in your clothes.
Intrigue: 8/10
Zauner’s emotional storytelling had me invested, but not addicted. There were definitely chapters I devoured and others I chewed through a little slower. When she was focused on her mother, food, and identity, the book sang. When she veered into her indie-band backstory or tour-life anecdotes, I found myself glancing at the page numbers. Still, even during the less sizzling parts, there was enough emotional tension simmering beneath the surface to keep me turning pages.
Zauner’s emotional storytelling had me invested, but not addicted. There were definitely chapters I devoured and others I chewed through a little slower. When she was focused on her mother, food, and identity, the book sang. When she veered into her indie-band backstory or tour-life anecdotes, I found myself glancing at the page numbers. Still, even during the less sizzling parts, there was enough emotional tension simmering beneath the surface to keep me turning pages.
Logic & Informativeness: 7/10
Let’s be real—this book isn’t here to teach. It’s here to make you cry in public and rethink your relationship with dried anchovies. While the emotional arc is coherent and thoughtfully layered, it’s not always super informative or tightly argued. If you’re looking for rigorous insight into Korean-American culture or a masterclass in grief theory, look elsewhere. But if you want a memoir that pulses with feeling and mostly holds together? You’ll get that here—just don’t expect any footnotes.
Let’s be real—this book isn’t here to teach. It’s here to make you cry in public and rethink your relationship with dried anchovies. While the emotional arc is coherent and thoughtfully layered, it’s not always super informative or tightly argued. If you’re looking for rigorous insight into Korean-American culture or a masterclass in grief theory, look elsewhere. But if you want a memoir that pulses with feeling and mostly holds together? You’ll get that here—just don’t expect any footnotes.
Enjoyment: 8.5/10
I enjoyed the emotional masochism of this book far more than I should’ve. It was cathartic, intimate, and occasionally exhausting—but in that satisfying, post-sob, face-puffy kind of way. There were a few indulgent sections where I felt like I was stuck in a grief loop with no exit, but even then, the rawness kept me tethered. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just not to anyone looking for a light, breezy read. This is a book you feel—messy, flavorful, and best consumed with a side of tissues and pickled radish.
I enjoyed the emotional masochism of this book far more than I should’ve. It was cathartic, intimate, and occasionally exhausting—but in that satisfying, post-sob, face-puffy kind of way. There were a few indulgent sections where I felt like I was stuck in a grief loop with no exit, but even then, the rawness kept me tethered. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just not to anyone looking for a light, breezy read. This is a book you feel—messy, flavorful, and best consumed with a side of tissues and pickled radish.
Final Verdict: A soulful, often gutting memoir that balances emotional heft with poetic flair, even if it doesn’t always serve up its story in the most structured way. Bring snacks and waterproof mascara.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Racism, Terminal illness
Minor: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Cultural appropriation
This memoir is emotionally heavy and deeply focused on the themes of anticipatory grief, caregiving, and navigating bicultural identity. The descriptions of illness and emotional unraveling are potent, and while not gratuitous, they may be difficult for those processing recent loss. Food is a recurring symbol and comfort mechanism, and cultural identity is explored through both celebration and alienation.
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Very heartfelt and touching. I related to a lot of the commentary on being mixed and growing up with an immigrant parent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing, Abortion
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Infidelity, Car accident
reflective
medium-paced
It’s so hard to write a review on a memoir because this is someone’s actual lived experience. I can’t rate the plot and characters and worldbuilding because it’s real. Instead, I’m reviewing the way the author told the story and conveyed her emotions.
And I will say, Michelle Zauner did an excellent job at articulating her experiences and navigating a sea of complicated, messy emotions. Her mom wasn’t perfect, toxic at times to the point where others have called it abusive, but she was also her mom, and losing her was heartbreaking. I think Zauner did a good job at conveying the messiness of it all as she goes through the grief cycle and chronicles the memories she had.
The descriptions of the food should have been mouth watering if I wasn’t a vegetarian lol. But it did make me want to visit Korea regardless!
My one critique is that I think the memoir was paced too quickly. We see snippets of childhood and then snippets of the hospital and then the funeral. Perhaps that was the point, that life is gone too soon. Or perhaps it wasn’t. I’m not sure, but I would have liked to savor some of those chapters more.
Overall though an excellent read!
And I will say, Michelle Zauner did an excellent job at articulating her experiences and navigating a sea of complicated, messy emotions. Her mom wasn’t perfect, toxic at times to the point where others have called it abusive, but she was also her mom, and losing her was heartbreaking. I think Zauner did a good job at conveying the messiness of it all as she goes through the grief cycle and chronicles the memories she had.
The descriptions of the food should have been mouth watering if I wasn’t a vegetarian lol. But it did make me want to visit Korea regardless!
My one critique is that I think the memoir was paced too quickly. We see snippets of childhood and then snippets of the hospital and then the funeral. Perhaps that was the point, that life is gone too soon. Or perhaps it wasn’t. I’m not sure, but I would have liked to savor some of those chapters more.
Overall though an excellent read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Mental illness, Abortion
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Zauner has a unique way of relating real life experiences to the art of making Korean dishes. It’s what kept me reading. Her food descriptions were good enough to make me hungry. Touching on the topics of grief, loss, mommy (and daddy) issues, generational trauma, identity, and culture while still managing to keep the book feeling light and an easy read isn’t something most can do, but she did. I like how she was able to touch on her issues with her mom growing up and how that came full circle with how she learned to grieve her mother. Her being able to understand the cultural lessons her mom was trying to teach her as a kid and seeing how they pertain to her life as an adult after her mom passes and finally being able to get a sense of who she is…just brilliant.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, Excrement, Abortion, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Alcohol