I’m Laughing Because I’m Crying
by Youngmi Mayer
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Looking for a spoiler-free take on I’m Laughing Because I’m Crying?
Here’s what it’s about, why it cracked me open, and why I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.
What It's About
This memoir doesn’t follow a straight line—and that’s the point. In a voice that’s raw and unfiltered, Youngmi Mayer explores what it means to survive cycles of trauma, to parent while still healing yourself, and to live in the tension between Korean American identity and personal freedom.
It’s not tidy. It’s not always resolved. It’s brutally honest.
My Take
Raw, brave, and unforgettable.
This isn’t a polished memoir with clean arcs—it’s messy in the most honest, exposed, and deeply human way. Mayer invites you into a world shaped by pain, resilience, family, and culture—without apology.
She writes like she’s still figuring it out as she goes, and somehow that makes every moment hit harder. There’s a kind of beauty in the brokenness here—humor that feels like defiance, vulnerability that feels like power.
I finished it feeling like I’d learned more than I expected, and I loved every sharp, tangled bit of it.
Would I Recommend It?
Yes—especially for readers who appreciate memoirs that speak plainly and unapologetically about trauma, identity, and the imperfect process of healing.
📌 Read it if you liked:
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Biting the Hand by Julia Lee (review coming soon)
Memoirs that live in the uncomfortable truth, not the easy resolution
Where to Read It:
Buy on Amazon • Join the conversation in the My Asian Era book club on Fable
