sourcucumbers 's review for:

5.0
emotional reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Though I've seen others say that Ocean Vuong's writing is pretentious, I find his prose comforting. I love the way he strings together sentences and describes small details so intimately. It really feels like I am there watching the characters with my own eyes. 

I say that this book is a love letter to every queer southeast asian person who has had a complicated realtionship with belonging in a country that ceases to be our own and a family history that is fragmented. It was really hard for me to read through this book, but that is because it feels like I am seeing my own story told to the public. If you're queer and southeast asian, please read through all the trigger warnings before reading.

I don't think I can reread this book, just because each page was just me crying profusely, but it has easily become one of my favorite books. I can't wait to read more of Ocean's work.