I have to start off by saying I rarely read autobiographies. Too many egos get in the way. However this storyline intrigues me. I am so glad I picked it up.

Besides being female and growing up in Ohio (Zaria landed in Ohio from Mumbai), we come from truly different walks of life. I learned a lot about Indian culture and tenacity through quick wit and a mouth that does not always suit up. That is part of the charm.

This book was a quick read as each page made me look forward to what happens next.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy.

I’ve only seen a couple clips of Zarna’s standup but I remember enjoying it. I really like reading memoirs because you learn so much about someone and then you feel this special bond as their career grows. I will definitely keep an eye out for Zarna.

Zarna’s story is unique and I think her outlook on life is something we could all learn from.

I loved the pictures that were included!

Thank you to NetGalley, Zarna Garg, and Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the opportunity to read This American Woman. I have written this review coluntarily and honestly.

This was a funny and moving memoir. Zarna has taken an extremely difficult upbringing (feel like that is quite an understatement) and has made a beautiful life. I am now going to look up Zarna's special because she is so entertaining in writing! Highly recommend reading this one.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved this memoir. I have never laughed so hard in my life. She is such a funny woman. I read this in one sitting. I would definitely recommend this book.

This American Woman is an honest point of view as told through the lens of Zarna Garg. This book will keep readers on their toes for sure.

It's very hard to be an Indian American and not have heard of Zarna Garg. With her witty, sarcastic yet realistic humor and her constant pineapple-cutting, Zarna is truly an incredible woman. This American Woman is her memoir, where she shares her background, her roots, and the journey that led her to where she is today.

As an Indian woman in my mid-forties, I could completely relate to some of Zarna’s experiences in India as well as in the US. Once again, she proves that everything we see on social media is just the tip of the iceberg. Her story, from being a child yearning for her parents’ affection, to losing them both literally and emotionally, to surviving as a homeless 14-year-old, and later carrying those traumas into adulthood in America with all the visa issues is both emotional and inspiring. Her zeal to be an independent woman, a good wife and a perfect stay at mom will definitely resonate with a lot of women.

Knowing the pain she carried and her determination to succeed despite her insecurities makes me admire her even more. I'm so glad she wrote this memoir, it will no doubt inspire others and prove that age is never a barrier when it comes to following your passion. Written with a witty humor interspersed with the realities of life this book would be interesting as an audiobook, which I am planning to listen later on for sure.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine for inviting me to read this book.

Zarna Garg’s memoir is a joy to read. Becoming a stand up comic later in life, she finally found her calling. Turning her life story into a hilarious read, she takes her mid-life crisis to a whole new level🙂 After surviving the streets of Mumbai, stand-up comedy is easy. Garg lets us know that it’s never too late to find your destiny! Thank you to Ballentine Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed Zarna’s truly unique story and perspective. There’s a laugh on every page, in spite of plenty of very serious topics. If you enjoy her standup, you’ll love this book. Also just great for people who want to expand their horizons and get a window into the life of an incredible woman.

As a preface, I don't read a lot of nonfiction and even a subset of those that I've read have been memoirs so this was a new genre for me to dive into, but I found myself DRAWN into Zarna's story. I was crying, I was laughing, and I felt I was right there along with Zarna as she shared her life story.

I had known of Zarna prior to reading this book, seeing some clips on Tik Tok and knowing about some of the work she's doing in the comedy world, but didn't know very much about her background or her life before. This book opened my eyes into the person behind the comedian: the mother, daughter, sister, wife, etc that grew into the stand up comic that we see today.

The book, itself, was written in a way that flowed, and showed her own comedic personality in every page. I really felt like it was a story of her life rather than just a list of facts and I learned so much about Zarna. At times, I found her portrayal of India to be overly critical but as an Indian American, I also recognize that we all have a complicated and different relationship with our homeland.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and sped through my read. It's even got me thinking about other memoirs by comedians that have been suggested to me in the past and I might actually pick them up now. I typically feel it's a bit strange to "rate" a memoir, but this one was easy to love and I gave it 4.5/5 stars. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

If you've seen even a small clip of Garg's standup, you know that she plumbs her own life for her act but does it with style and consideration for others. This memoir tells her story, a story of resilience and determination. It's poignant, it's funny, it's a testament to going after what you want. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read and I'm looking forward to seeing more performance by Garg.

Wonderful memoir! I saw Zarna on tv in a comedy special. She was so funny. I was thrilled to see this book come out and couldn’t wait to read it. It certainly lived up to my expectations. Thanks Zarna for sharing your stories. I’m just starting to listen to your podcast and enjoying that as well.

Zarna is an inspiration for anyone who want to live their life their way. I was astonished by how brave and bold Zarna is, not only in every day living but in pursuing her dreams. I love that she came from a well to do family but when her father told her she had to get married she went on her own but unfortunately she came back and told her father that she would marry someone her father wanted, but a miracle happen and she came to America instead.
Zarna is what all Americans dream about doing, pursuing a career she loves, but in the meantime she had many hurtles to master before she found her way. I love that Zarna went looking for her own husband and found him. I like that she raise her children not only to be the best but to also realize that they can't be to sheltered from the world and it seems like her idea about education turn out pretty good.
I found Zarna's writing funny, honest and engaging, and I could see and feel what she went through as she pursued her goal and made it happen. I found that reading about the people in Zarna's life, were people she could count on and who care a great deal about her no matter what she wanted to pursue and it was nice getting to know them and how they always had her back.

I want thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of a book about a woman who pursed the American dream and got it.

When I received an ARC copy of this book, I really didn’t know who Zarna was, but I said yes because I LOVE memoirs!

Fast-forward to the last week or so and I have been seeing her everywhere! I’ve been watching her videos and I love her humor. And reading her memoir and everything she has gone through to get to where she is has made me even more of a fan. This memoir will make you laugh and at the same time tug at your heartstrings.

Zarna has truly become an inspiration for me.

I wish I had Zarna Garg for a mother!
She is a force to be reckoned with - Zarna throws her whole self into supporting her family, pushing them forward, but always has her loved one's best interests at heart.
I had not heard of Zarna Garg before reading her memoir, but I was immediately captivated by her life story. I don't usually read a book, especially non-fiction, in one or two sittings, but Zarna's humorous and heart warming narrative kept me wanting to read more.

This was a wonderful memoir. Now that I have finished this book, I am following Zarna; but, prior to receiving an email from Amy Jackson at Penguin Random House with a widget for this book in late January, I had not yet heard of her.

Zarna tells her story in a satisfying, linear way, with manageable chapters and wonderful photographs in the book to illustrate various parts of her life and family. I really wish I would have had access to an audiobook version of this, particularly if Zarna reads it herself. I think hearing her voice tell this story would have hit different and been even better.

This story was compelling and heartwarming and uplifting. I cried a couple of times but in a very good way. I feel like I know Zarna Garg and she and I would be very good friends. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys celebrity memoirs, anyone who has ever struggled, and anyone who has been a mother.

I knew nothing about Zaria Garg when I started the book. In fact I don’t even remember how the book came to be on my TBR shelf. But I am so glad I took a chance on the book. It was a very uplifting read and ultimately a funny one. I loved the first part of the book when Zarna lived in India. Her life as a young Indian girl was so different from mine in the U.S and was amazing to read about. I only wish she had included more about her getting started as a comedian. Now I plan to watch her specials and upcoming movie.

I never know how to rate an autobiography/memoir type story because I feel bad rating how someone lived their lives. But I was sent this book as a read now and didn’t know who this person was, but I enjoyed the story and actually found her story about her personal life more enjoyable than reading about her comedy career. All in all it was a good read and I’d recommend 😊

I had never heard of Zarna Garg, but the description sounded interesting and I love a good memoir. The story of Zarna’s life is both heartbreaking and hilarious, from a kid in India who just didn’t fit in to tiger-mom in America who just didn’t fit in. Through it all, she used her wit and determination to make it past one challenge after another.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I knew of Zarna Garg and watched some of her comedy before. She definitely captures what it’s like to be an Indian in her comedy and much of that is reflected in her memoir too. Her sense of humor is readily apparent in her writing style so it made for an easy read. And the pictures really made this memoir even better.

My two complaints are that (1) she makes certain statements about life and expectations in India that are more of a reflection of her childhood than Indian norms, but non-Indian readers may make assumptions about India and Indians as a result. Is is Zarna’s responsibility to educate those readers about all of the nuances of being Indian? Not at all, but I do wish it was a little clearer in her writing that her statements are facts about her life - not everyone’s life - in India. And (2) the book provides a fair amount of detail about her early life and I wish she shared a little bit more about raising her kids and her path to becoming a comedian. Yes, I know there was a decent amount about the kids’ socks and private schools, and the various careers she pursued on the way to comedy. But I wanted more about her interactions with her kids and how she used that to develop her short videos on social media. It’s what I think really catapulted her fame within the Indian community on IG and TikTok.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I’m never really sure how to review a biography, autobiography or memoir. Do I base the review on their writing style? Their life? How the book made me feel?
This was certainly a fun read. Can’t even lie I had never heard of her before, but the cover called me in. It was interesting to learn of her upbringing and culture. It was fun to watch her come into her own. And at some point soon, I will definitely have to check out one Zarna’s comedy specials.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this for my honest review