Growing up as the few Indian American kids in white suburbia, Gupta learned that to assimilate to whiteness is to perfect the "American Dream Project." However, as Gupta expands her interests into areas not traditionally considered "successful" by her parents—especially by her US-raised father—she learns the cost of contorting oneself to fit the model minority myth.

TCUE is a profoundly moving and deeply vulnerable memoir detailing Gupta's struggles with familial acceptance, patriarchal violence, and mental health. I was distraught listening to Gupta recount her childhood and the emotional abuse & manipulations she went through. I appreciate Gupta's courage in sharing her hurt and confusion in TCUE when addressing her mother in the second person throughout the book. At times, I was so troubled by how Gupta's parents treated her that I shook in anger.

Reading TCUE is a cathartic journey, as the exploration of hidden misogyny from family elders and the discussions of conditional love struck a chord with me, reminiscent of my own complicated family dynamics. For fans of ON EARTH WE'RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS (Ocean Vuong), WHAT MY BONES KNOW (Stephanie Foo), and HOW TO SAY BABYLON (Safiya Sinclair), don't miss this severely underhyped gem. And please check TW before picking TCUE up