A review by paperbackpotables
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

If I could rate this book as 10/5 stars, I would. This book was beyond perfect. I savored each page, each word. The beauty of this work is without measure. I cried, multiple times. I smiled, I cringed, I was uncomfortable, I was horrified, I was elated. I felt what the author felt, understood a life I would never live on a level I’d never known existed. You can tell the author is a poet with the beauty of these words, but it was much more than just beautiful writing. There was pain, real pain, behind this book. But also joy and love and truth. It was raw, and emotional, and unlike anything I’ve ever read. I can’t recommend this book enough. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Grief, Car accident, and Cultural appropriation