I loved this book and I think the scene where her first child, her daughter, is applying to preschool is set up so vividly and it has the wittiest of phrases that had me laughing out loud and showing that part of the book to many of my friends to show them just how funny it was. Zarna Garg is an incredible performer and hilarious and this book did not disappoint. I had not realised that her husband had lost his job during covid and that Zarna was busking in trains telling jokes with a face mask just to support her family. She's incredibly resilient and brilliant and funny.

I had never heard of Zarna Garg before reading her memoir, This American Woman: A One-in-a-Billion Memoir. But she has opened for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, recorded her own comedy special, and gained followers on social media. And none of it would have been possible without the difficulties she faced in her childhood.

A teenage runaway from India who ended up escaping an arranged marriage by moving to Ohio with her sister, Garg always wanted to be herself - whether that meant going to law school, marrying for love, or fighting to get her kids the best possible education. Garg looks back on these times in her life with humor, and while the book did make me chuckle, there was a chapter that was so sweet, it made me cry.

Between each chapter are bite-sized life lessons that Garg has learned and is now passing on to her readers.

I may have never heard of Garg before reading this book, but you can bet that I'll be following her on social media and looking to see if she's got any comedy shows near me. This book would be a great one for book clubs to discuss, and it would make a great gift for the strong and funny women in your life.

This American Woman is published by Ballantine Books. I received a free e-ARC to review.

This memoir made me laugh out loud, shed tears, and look at our American ways in a different light.
Zarna grew up in a wealthy family in Mumbai, where her father ruled the roost.
The author introduced me to the customs that wealthy Indians followed - I never realized that Indian weddings were 3 days long!
She was especially close to her older brother, Suresh, who became somewhat of a father figure. The family was close until Zarna's Suresh's wife said the he was single-handedly supporting the family. Their father disowned him and his wife, and child. Zarna thought it would blow ove in a few days, but she didn't realize that she would not see her brother for 4 yrs.
When Zarna was 8 yrs old, she and her mother went to Akron, Ohio to visit her older sister. I had to laugh when she described the habits of Americans - who, when there was nothing to do, got into their big cars and ran "errands" or went somewhere to buy things. Her first experience at Chuck E Cheese had me laughing.
Zara lost her mother when she was young and her father arranged a marriage to a wealthy man when she was 14. She ran away from home until her friends could not have her stay with them. Eventually, she got through school and managed to get a law degree, marry a man of her choosing and lived in NYC. The book is sprinkled with photos of her family giving it a unique touch. She describes her break into comedy, and where she is today.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and am glad that I did learn about this creative, intelligent and very funny woman.

I saw Zarna Garg as the opener for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler and immediately requested Zarna’s book on NetGalley as I walked out of the theatre. Her stand up was hilarious but her book was even better. She alternates between being so funny and telling such emotional stories. I wasn’t expecting to be as moved as I was by her story and upbringing. My only complaint is that I wish it went more in depth in her life as a parent and more recent years. I’d love to see that as material for her second book. Overall, this is a really incredible story of resiliency and reinvention with a lot of emotions along the way. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Zarna is an American treasure, so wise and funny! The story of her young life is heartbreaking, but not tragic. Her relationship with her husband and family is so much fun to read about. There are many laugh out loud funny parts of the memoir. The section on the NYC private school is biting and hilarious. Can't wait for her next comedy special.

I wasn't familiar with Zarna Garg before her memoir, but now I'm a huge fan. In what could be a traumatic tale or poverty porn, Garg tells her story in an enthralling and humorous way. I flew through this book in two days thanks to Garg's engaging voice. Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advance copy for review.

Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I enjoy memoirs and this one was light even though some of the subjects were serious and heavy. The author decided to become a comedian in middle age after immigrating from India to escape being married at 15 years old. It sounds like her life is very good but she recalls growing up in India, losing her mother, being set up in an arranged marriage by her father, and then escaping to the US to live with her sister for a more "normal" life. She was always a bit different from other Indian women and had a vision for herself whether it was to go to college, find a husband or try her hand at comedy. Her book is filled with good humor and all the courageous things she did to create a good life. I also listened to the audiobook to experience the author reading her own words. I highly recommend it!

📖: This American Woman: A One-In-A-Billion Memoir by Zarna Garg

I am floored by the woman that Zarna Aunty is. Her voice comes through so strongly throughout the book, making me root for her from the very first page.
I spent a good amount of time laughing and crying.

* Sunita ji, Suresh ji and Deepak ji deserve the world and more.
* Zarna Aunty, when our paths cross I owe you a hug.
* Zarna Aunty’s husband, MIL and kids are literally what dreams are made of (minus the bleaching lol iykyk)

This American Woman, has heart and so much spirit. Get your copy today and come back so we can talk about how amazing Zarna Garg is.

I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC 🫶🏽

This book is a wild ride. Zarna’s life is a rollercoaster of all the emotions you feel. Her escape from India was brave, meeting her husband was cute and funny (marriage ad is a bonus) and her journey to success is inspiring. I wish there were more i sights in the kids growing up. Last couple of chapters felt a little boring.

“The world is full of people looking for the next thing. Be the person who celebrates the thing they have.”

Zarna Garg is a force to be reckoned with. She is brash, bold, smart as a whip and is not afraid to pursue her passions (of which she has many!). Sometimes she doesn’t know what that might be but she plows head first into whatever she believes it might be.
Zarna started out her life as an outspoken girl from Mumbai and grew to a strong, powerful New York City woman. She was born into an affluent family in Mumbai but refused to agree to an arranged marriage at the young age of 14. She was disowned by her father following her mother’s death. She lived on the street while attending high school, begging her friends for food and a place to stay. Once she was granted a Visa, she moved to Ohio with her older sister. She then attended college and law school.
This memoir will make you laugh out loud and cry at other times. Zarna has such a dry sense of humor which audiences all over are loving. She began performing at the Comedy Cellar in NYC in October 2021. Three months later she had performed 76 shows within three months. She worked on her craft by watching other comedians, notably Kevin Hart. From him she learned that there is something powerful about giving another human being your complete attention.
Along the way, Zarna tried her hand at so many ventures- docent at a Jewish museum, lawyer, Indian matchmaker, screenwriter, lawyer, stay at home mom.
While I was unfamiliar with Zarna before reading her inspiring memoir, she certainly made me a fan with her life story. What a life she has led, beginning her comedy career in her 40’s. I am looking forward to seeing her on the Hulu comedy special.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Published on April 29, 2025.

This book was great!! The author is so funny. How she relates to her family and life in general is great. From such an awful beginning she accomplished a lot. She kept her sense of humor through it all.

I really enjoyed this book.

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this advanced reader copy. This is my honest opinion.

She's a comedienne.

She's also a beloved sister, fierce mother, loving wife.

As much as the memoir is about her rise in the comedy circuit, it's about her relationships that simultaneously grounds and uplifts her. Her hardships in the economic sector as well as in the familial one may not be one that all her readers experience. But the emotions associated with the highs and lows will be ones readers can appreciate.

Her trajectory in a field that has embraced so many shapes, colors and heritages is an inspiring one. Even more so when she did so as a middle aged woman, unapologetically short and plump.

And, the thoughtful, heartfelt recognition she provided at the end is one often overlooked.

"“Time may pass, and distance may separate us, but nothing will ever break the bond between siblings.”

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#ThisAmericanWoman #NetGalley

Wow - I may be the only one, but I didn't know who Zarna Garg was when I selected this book. Now I am a super fan! This book is amazing. It is hilarious but also really sad and heartfelt. Zarna grew up in India both in a privileged and very sad way, that went from her growing up with servants to being homeless and starving. She escaped an arranged marriage, and moved to the US as a teenager. She really brings out an emotional truth with her stories. But also laugh out loud relatable stories, like her description of her children's New York private school. I am now following Zarna and will watch and read everything she does!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I have to be honest. I had never heard of Zarna Garg before seeing this book available to request from NetGalley. But, being a fan of pop culture biographies and memoirs, I requested this book. I’ve also been seeing a lot of this book on various recommended reading lists.

This American Woman is a fascinating tale of Zarna’s path through life. She was an unusual Indian child in that she fought for her independence, talked back to people, and was called American because she read the newspaper daily. As is the custom in some parts of the world Zarna was due to marry someone of her father’s choosing, and she was like, “No way!” So she ran away and lived on the streets for two years, which was a fascinating yet incredibly harrowing story to listen to.

Garg eventually made her way to the United States on a student visa, eventually living with her sister, who lived in Cleveland. She met and fell in love and got married, and the couple had three children. Zarna shared stories about raising her children that made me laugh out loud a few times. Eventually, at the urging of one of her kids, she tries her hand at stand-up comedy and turns out to be a hit.

This American Woman is ideal for readers who enjoy candid and humorous autobiographies about overcoming personal obstacles to chase one’s dreams. Her life story is fascinating! Now I’m off to search for some of her work that can be found online.

Memoirs are not usually a favorite genre for me but this one was one that held my interest. Growing up in a wealthy home in Mumbai India, Zarna was the only child of the second wife of a successful businessman who already had children. Zarna’s father was all consumed with his work and her mother was exhausted raising her ready made family and being the dutiful wife. Both parents had little time for this young girl that couldn’t stop talking. When Zarna was ten years old her mother died. By the age of fourteen Zarna’s father begins to make marriage arrangements. Not one to be told when and whom to marry, Zarna runs away living with friends or on the streets. When she had exhausted her friends’ hospitality, Zarna eventually decides to go back home but her father never spoke to her again. Zarna always had the love and protection of her siblings and finds her way to Ohio where her brother and his wife have been living. It was interesting to see how Zarna navigated the cultures of the American world and the Indian world. She is a well educated woman who has a law degree. She readily admits that she isn’t very good at being a lawyer. She marries an Indian man who doesn’t expect or want her to be the traditional Indian woman. This is a story filled with love, humor, resilience, self discovery and finding your own way no matter the circumstances that get you there. I’ll definitely be recommending this one to friends and family. This ARC was provided by Random House Publisher - Ballantine Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had no idea who Zarna was and I'm glad I didn't. Maybe it would have colored my opinion of this book, maybe not. But I had a great time with this. I don't usually read memoirs so there were times when I rolled my eyes but overall a fun read

Thanks to @randomhouse for the gifted e-ARC and to @prhaudio for the ALC!

I cannot say I was a Zarna fan before receiving this book. I had seen a few reels come across my feed on Instagram (I’m too old for TikTok. lol) but I didn’t know anything about her. However I really enjoyed her memoir.

Zarna has a unique story. Although she was born into a wealthy Indian family, she experienced homelessness as a teen because she refused the arranged marriage her father brokered. Eventually she was able to flee to America on a student visa, supported by her older sister who lived in Ohio. She found her own husband via the internet before online dating was a thing. And she set out to raise the perfect American children. But it wasn’t until her daughter told her to try comedy that she finally found her niche.

I love memoirs because I love to listen to people tell their stories. Getting inside someone else’s head and seeing what life is like for them is one of my favorite reasons to read. Zarna opened my eyes not only to Indian culture but also New York Upper East Side life. And her inside information on what it’s like to work in comedy was new to me as well.

I enjoyed both the ebook and the audiobook of this one. The ebook has lots of pictures of the author and her family. But the audiobook contains bonus essays read by the author’s husband and children! So whichever way you go you’ll get some treats.

Whether you’re a long-time fan or not, check out this memoir today and enjoy Zaria’s unique style.

“This American Woman” by Zarna Garg
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓

My husband and I went to see Tina Fey and Amy Poehler a few months ago and we were blown away by their opening act, @zarnagarg . I had tears of laughter streaming down my face within the first 3 minutes of her set and I knew I would be immediately doing a deep dive on her once I got home. To my surprise, I already had the ARC of her memoir without realizing who she was. After reading it, I am even more in love with her. Her book is equal parts heart wrenching and hilarious. She has had an intense, traumatic life, but she remains her most authentic self through it all and that’s why everyone loves her. I cannot recommend this book and all of her specials, shows, online content enough. She’s the real deal!

Zarna Garg has written an astonishing life story.
A funny, engaging and relatable read. Garg wrote a fascinating memoir.
From spilling all the chai on her wild ride from escaping an arranged marriage and homelessness in India to carving her own path in America and launching a dazzling second act in midlife.
This American Woman is an energetic story of fighting for your right to determine your own destiny and triumphing beyond what you ever dreamed was possible

I rarely give 5 stars,but this book really deserves it. I also rarely read memoirs, and indeed, I didn't even realize when I got this book on NetGalley that I have been watching Zarna online for years.
What a life she has led.
Her beginnings in life as the daughter of a rich man's second wife, she was very loved by her half siblings, who protected her from the frequent wrath of her unreasonable father. Her mother died when she was 10, and when she was 14, her father began looking for a husband for her. This is not unusual, apparently, even today.
Zarna ran away and lived a rough existence for 2 years until she finally got a student visa and came to live with her sister in Cleveland.
In this funny but sometimes sad memoir, we learn how Zarna dealt with life. The chapter on her wedding is sometimes unbelievable, but she did marry for love. We learn about her children and her life in Manhattan.
The humor that she brings to her life and now her stand-up comedy.
I enjoyed her journey as a girl, wife, mother, and finally, a successful stand-up comedian. A fortune teller predicted she would be a success if she talked and talked, and she does she is.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. These are my honest opinions. Read the book and go watch some Zarna videos.