Written as a collection of letters, addressed to his illiterate mother, Little Dog shares his memories, feelings and experiences of growing up as an immigrant in America. Knowing that she'll never read his letters Little Dog doesn't censor himself. The good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, the heartwrenching and the heartwarming. It's all laid out, in sublimely written prose.

Little Dog tells us the stories of his childhood, spent mostly with his mother and grandmother. We also see what life was like for his mother and grandmother in Vietnam, as he recalls the stories his grandmother told him. We see him as a teenager, falling in love and coming to terms with his sexuality. We see him making friends, losing friends, and trying to find his place in the world.

Ocean Vuong tackles some big issues in a relatively short book. The themes of belonging, homosexuality, poverty, drug abuse and addiction, mental illness, and death are all explored. The book is at once tender and brutal; showing us a beautiful yet biting look at life. It never shies away from the harsh moments of Little Dog's life (of which there are plenty), but there are many life-affirming moments too.

The book feels like a memoir. It's filled with memories and streams of consciousness. The characters feel real and raw. It's a story that feels like it's based on real life. Sometimes I read memoirs and they read like a fiction. But On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is a fiction that feels so personal and intimate that I often forgot that it wasn't a true story. (Although if you read about Ocean Vuong there's certainly parallels to be drawn between his life and Little Dog's.)

If you want a book that will make you feel all the feelings, or if you love beautiful, flowery writing, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous will be right up your alley.