After finishing this amazing book, I couldn't resist looking up Zarna Garg so I could watch some of her comedy. I ran across a clip of her on Seth Meyer's show, where she is describing working with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler but (not having grown up on SNL) she didn't know who Steve Martin was. Well, that's kind of how I feel right now - because Garg and I don't travel in the same social media circles, I had no idea she was a Very Big Deal. Even though she has only been in comedy for less than ten years, her resume is impressive: millions of social media followers, billions of views of her standup, comedy specials on Prime, a family podcast, numerous talk show appearances, and now, this book.

In This American Woman, Garg talks about her life, from growing up in Mumbai, leaving her parents after refusing an arranged marriage, marrying her husband, caring for her three children. After her husband lost his job in the fallout of the COVID epidemic, she tried several entrepreneurial ventures, all of which failed miserably. It wasn't until her eldest daughter Zoya suggested she try standup comedy that something clicked.

I was expecting a lot of laugh-out-loud moments in this book, but it wasn't that. Yes, there were plenty of laughs, but her story is also a warm and sometimes heartbreaking one. She never goes for the cheap punch line, but her comedy hits home because we can recognize it as authentic. She talks quite a bit about the differences between Indian and American life ("I never watched SNL - in India, Saturdays are for studying"). She doesn't take herself too seriously, but at the same time, she is willing to expose herself and her life to us in a way that many comics don't - or can't - do.

You can bet that Zarna Garg is on my radar now. Many thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for allowing me to read this wonderful book in exchange for my honest review.

While most people know her as a standup comedian-and an excellent one-this book is a memoir of ALL she went through to get where she is! It’s really well written and a pleasure to read.

I was unfamiliar with Zarna until I heard Amy Poehler mention her on a new podcast (after which I immediately downloaded Zarna’s memoir!). This is an entertaining, funny, and touching read. I loved getting to know Zarna and recommend this to anyone in the mood for a diverting and inspiring read.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

This was so good! Zarna Garg’s journey from would-be child bride to stand-up comedian is full of energy and ambition. I didn’t know much about her before this, but now I want to watch her comedy. I think this book would be fantastic on audio so you could hear her tell it herself - I'll definitely be doing so after publication day.

Before I decided to read an advance copy of this book, I watched Zarna's comedy special, and I knew I wanted to know more about her. I found her memoir a fascinating read. I enjoyed learning about the cultural differences of life in India versus the United States and with life for Indian Americans. I particularly liked her insights into the American public and private school systems. She does a wonderful job bringing to life both her family in India and the family she created in the United States. Her perseverance in dealing with the many obstacles in her life is admirable. In the book, she managed to tell her readers about the difficulties in her life in a way that diffused them by adding humor. I also liked the quotes before each new chapter. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and flew through it. Despite some of the challenging things in her life, she made the book very entertaining. I highly recommend it.

I usually stick with fiction, but there was something about this book that called to me. I am so glad I listened to my inner voice because this was the most intriguing book I have read this year.

I had never heard of Zarna Garg, but I love books set in other countries, especially those set in India. But this book was so much more than being about the life of a comedian. It was the story of a late-in-life daughter who could not grasp the fact that she was unique. I think that her father had some mental issues going on, which led to Zarna leaving home at a very young age. But you must read this book to understand what life was like, what the culture was like (If you are not from India, of course), what it was like to maybe be married off at 14.

Zarna's trip to her comedic career was remarkable. This strong and powerful woman may have come a little later in life to knowing what would fulfill her, but once she knew, she ran into it headfirst and flourished.

I laughed, and I laughed a lot reading this memoir but I also cried for all the crap Zarna had to put up with. Yes, I realize it's a different culture from the one I grew up with, so I can only look at it through my American eyes. But still, I had to cry when I read of what she went through living some of her life on the streets.

I am now going to have to Google this funny woman and see what all the hubbub is all about. If it is more comical than some of the things I read in this book, then I might have to stock up on Depends!

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Ballantine Books, the author, and NetGalley.
Expected publication date is April 29th.

I had a brief introduction to Zarna Garg when she would appear on my FYP page on Tik Tok. I thought the clips I saw of her were hilarious. This memoir is of Zarna’s life growing up in India, her family dynamics and then her life in America. I thought it was moving, insightful and times funny. I highly recommend this memoir to anyone. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advanced reader copy!

Do you know who Zarna Garg is? If not, she is someone worth learning about. Born in India, Garg was a stay-at-home mom for sixteen years before she tried her hand at standup comedy in her 40s. It didn't take long for Garg to gain notoriety for her hilarious routines, which include stories about her family and Indian culture. Following the success with her first TV special on Prime and a podcast featuring her husband and three children, Garg has now written This American Woman: A One-In-A-Billion Memoir. It's both heartfelt and incredibly funny.

Zarna Garg, born into an affluent family in Mumbai, was outspoken and had an independent nature from a young age. After her three older siblings were married, her father decided it was time for fourteen-year-old Zarna to marry and he began interviewing suitable, wealthy young men. As this was unacceptable to Zarna, she fled to Akron, Ohio, to live with her sister. This captivating memoir details her life in America, including her education, meeting her husband, starting a family, and their eventual encouragement to pursue stand-up comedy.

This was such an enjoyable book. Since reading it, I've been watching tons of Garg's comedy clips and interviews online. She is a fresh and welcome addition to the comedy scene. Her timing is impeccable. She's smart as a whip and undoubtedly an inspiration to women. Her follow-up TV special, Practical People Win, hits Hulu in 2025 with a sitcom in development. Zarna Garg seems unstoppable.

4.5 stars.

I had not heard of Zarna Garg until Amy Poehler had her on her podcast the other day and I was like, wait, I have a book in my queue by her... and it clicked. She's hilarious, insightful and has a helluva story to tell. The book is poignant and ambitious. I think if she gets on the right circuit, she'll explode in a big way.

This memoir was truly a great read! I gained a real insight into Indian culture. It is a real male dominated society. Zarna’s father insisted she had to be married off so she took a chance and fled to America. Her sister lived there and was eager to help Zarna. Zarna is such a delightful character, a deep kindness within her. But she has a loud mouth with mostly no filter and says what she means. Her husband was amazing too, often scared what she would do next but there was a great love between them. It is not surprising that she became a famous stand-up comedienne . She prized her family above anything and it paid off. I laughed, cried and could not wait to see what came next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review posted to StoryGraph and Goodreads on 3/28/25. Review will be posted to Amazon on release date.

I’ll be honest when I saw this book I really didn’t know much about Zarna Garg but the book blurb intrigued me. I’m so glad that I gave this a read. This is a voice-y book in the best way possible. I felt like I was sitting down having drinks with a friend. Garg achieved a balance of being funny but also vulnerable. It would be easy to try to make the harder moments of her life this small blip in the book but Garg takes her time allowing us to sit with a younger version of her who is scared and trying her best to survive. I loved getting to go on this journey with her and I can safely say I will be tuning into her comedy specials from here on out.

Why have a not heard of Zarna before? After all, she's opened up for headliners like Tiny Fey and Amy Poehler. Upon embracing her goal to become a comedian and finally achieving success, she says 'I had so much outrageous shit to say, and people wanted to pay me to say it!' The book starts out with her success then goes all the way back to the arduous and funny journey that Zarna took to get there. Escaping an arranged marriage in India that her father set up, she arrives in the US on a student visa and takes every odd job imaginable to keep pursuing her dreams. You get really great insight here into Indian culture and how women not married by their 20s are considered old maids! It's a story of resilience, and perseverance, with humor sprinkled throughout. She learned a lot from her father who made his business from nothing by taking risks, because 'that was where real money was made.' This is an inspirational funny story that show a slice of culture that many Americans may not have been exposed to before. A great ride!

I've been following Zarna Garg since I heard her story on the South Asian Trailblazers podcast, so when an opportunity came up to read her upcoming memoir, This American Woman, in its pre-release format, I jumped at the chance.

Zarna's book was EXCELLENT and I can't recommend it enough. There are so many layers to Zarna's story, and she tells them perfectly with the right balance of humor/humour and humility. From Zarna's early and complicated childhood growing up in India to her difficult transition to the U.S., and ultimately her 'now' as a celebrated comedian in America, this book has it all — grit, resilience, perseverance, and sacrifice, all intertwined with the complexities of family dynamics.

Zarna's book is a must-read for 2025!
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I loved, loved, loved this book! I admit I had not heard of Zarna Garg before. I had not watched her comedy special, her movie, or listened to her podcasts, but I will definitely seek them out now. What a touching, heartbreaking, and hilarious story of a girl from a wealthy family in Mumbai who ends up on the streets and "couch surfing" among friends, to a dedicated immigrant student in America, to a wife/mother, and then popular comedian. I was completely enthralled. Her story is filled with Indian culture and history, but the real story is of a determined young girl who becomes a determined successful woman. I laughed and I cried. So inspirational! I could not put this book down and read it in less than 24 hours. Garg's writing style is approachable and funny and filled with anecdotes and commentary that will appeal to anyone. The biggest surprise is how relatable her story is to anyone. It's a story of resilience, and it's a story that could have been set anywhere. As an American, I actually know little about Indian culture, rituals, and family life, so it was a bonus for me to learn so much and then to see American culture through the eyes of someone whose background is so different from mine. Her take on American education, sports, marriage, and more is fantastic! This would be a great book club book. Highly recommended!!

Having watched a few clips of Zarna's standup comedy, I was interested to read her take on life. She is not considered a normal candidate for stand up in US but she has made it so it is commendable without a doubt. Zarna has faced a lot in life to come to this stage and her path was slightly different. I enjoyed reading her journey which involved some hardships and challenges.

“This American Woman is such a fun and inspiring read. Zarna Garg’s story is hilarious at times, but what really stood out to me was her honesty and bravery in sharing her journey. From escaping an arranged marriage to building a new life in America, she brings so much heart and humor to every chapter. It’s a really good memoir, and I’d definitely recommend it!”

This American Woman by Zarna Garg

One of the most entertaining books out there, this five star memoir by comedienne Zarna Garg will have you laughing all the way from start to finish. Zarna did not have an easy childhood growing up in Mumbai India, but she certainly turned lemons into lemonade.

Zarna was determined not to be married off at age fourteen, so off she went using her smarts to stay alive. After ending up in America, Zarna turned her circumstances around to only suit herself. This book is hard to put down, so plan head for time to read it. I’m recommending it to everyone I know and am also following Zarna and her family on Podcasts and Instagram.

When I was sent this book, I thought "who the heck is Zarna Garg?". However, the cover of the book made me smile so I dove into reading. What a great book! I loved that this was written as a life story, learning all about her early years in India and the hardships she endured. Reading how someone assimilates to American culture, yet maintains their culture is always interesting to me (as is learning about any author's culture). I loved her description of her relationship with her husband and now, having seen Zarna's Instagram account, I adore the entire family! The tenacity she had to break into comedy, and now movies, was inspiring. This is a well written, laugh out loud funny book and I am now a Zarna Garg fan!

I have to admit that I was unfamiliar with Zarna Garg's work before reading this book, but I'm a fan now! Often, while reading, I thought that her life story sounded like something right out of a movie (and she did - in fact - try to make it into a series of movies), but knowing these were real situations she had found herself in was all the more special.

Zarna, through all the ups and downs of her life, manages to stay determined and funny and warm as a person. The memoir will make you laugh and break your heart alike. I'm really glad she's sharing so much of what made her the person she is today with her audience. It takes guts to be so open and Zarna definitely doesn't lack in bravery.

Fazit: 4.5 stars! Absolutely adored this!

4.5 stars rounded down for a book that is an eye opener. Zarna Garg has written an autobiography that is at times, sad, appalling, inspiring and informative. She explains how she grew up in a well off Indian family in Mumbai, India. But then when she was 14 years old, her world changed overnight. Her father informed her that she had to get married to a man that he would choose for her. She refused and he ejected her from his house. India is evidently a male dominated society and her father could do this without consequences. Marriage at age 14 in India is common.
A relevant quote: "In Indian terms, once I hit age twenty, I flipped at exactly midnight from being a precocious child bride to being an over educated nuisance spinster."
By contrast, in the US marriage at age 14 is illegal in almost all states. In the 1 or 2 states that allow it, no child can be forced to marry someone they don't want to marry. When I talked about this subject with my wife she mentioned that there have been newspaper articles about immigrant families from the Middle East or South Asia, who have become entangled with the courts because of trying to force an underage child into a forced marriage.
Zarna lived on the street and sometimes at friends/relatives houses for a year and a half before she gave up and came home to her father. But then fate intervened as a US student visa that she had applied for several months prior was finally approved. With the help of a sibling, she secretly flew to the US.
Once in the US, she was able to extend her stay long enough to get a law degree and meet and marry someone of her own choosing. One more quote: "Indians don't marry for love. We marry for security. If you end up with love, that's a happy surprise. Like a little prize in a cereal box. But Americans demand-nay, worship--"love marriages," which is what Indians call non-arranged marriages."
Then she decides to expand her horizons again at age 40 and becomes a stand up comic. I have watched her on YouTube and she is funny. I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about Indian society and how people live there.
This book was a fast read and has some laugh out loud lines. I recommend it to anyone who likes books with humor.
Some thoughts on those who read this review and think that I believe that the US is a perfect society. It is not and has many flaws, some of which are terrible, including for instance, invading another country on a flimsy excuse of weapons of mass destruction, later proven to be a lie.
#ThisAmericanWoman #NetGalley
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.