While On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is marketed as prose writing, Ocean Vuong’s deeply descriptive language and purposeful syntax makes me feel more like I’m reading a poem. This novel is Vuong’s memoir, reflecting on his life as a first-generation Vietnamese immigrant and experiences with abuse and addiction. While deeply painful, the stories have effective language and humor that connects them to the reader. Vuong does an excellent job at accurately depicting the struggles that immigrants, especially war survivors, undergo with attempting to remain afloat in the United States. Struggles, that often, are translated on to their children through emotional and physical abuse. Additionally, although his mother has escaped the war in Vietnam, Vuong is faced with a battle of his own in the US: the drug war. Through grief, loss, pain, and ultimately growth, Ocean Vuong reflects on his experience growing up in America and grappling with sexuality, masculinity, and addiction. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an emotional, impactful read.