⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner — A Grief Memoir That Will Break and Heal You

Genre: Memoir
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 out of 5)
Tone: Poignant, reflective, culturally rich
Themes: Grief, Korean identity, food, family, loss, mother-daughter relationships

🥢 Spoiler Warning

While this is a memoir (so the events are public), I do discuss detailed moments from Michelle Zauner’s life. If you’d rather experience her story for yourself first, go grab a box of tissues and come back later.

🛒 “H Mart is where your people gather.”

That’s how this book starts. Michelle Zauner is standing in the middle of H Mart, a popular Korean grocery store chain in the U.S., surrounded by ingredients that once made up the language of love between her and her late mother. And in that moment, she feels like she’s lost everything.

This is one of the most emotional books I’ve ever read. As an Asian American, so much of Michelle’s story felt like she was reaching through the page and pulling me into her grief, her memories, and her kitchen. My own father passed from cancer, and like Michelle’s family, mine rallied around us during that time. This memoir was deeply personal for me—and I know I’m not the only one who will feel that way.

📚 The Plot (Yes, Memoirs Have One Too)

Michelle Zauner—best known as the lead singer of the indie rock band Japanese Breakfast—shares the story of losing her Korean mother to cancer and the identity crisis that followed. But this isn’t just a book about grief. It’s a love letter to food, to culture, to messy family dynamics, and ultimately, to the strength that comes from heartbreak.

Michelle was born to a Korean mother (Chongmi) and an American father, growing up in Oregon but spending summers in Korea. Her relationship with her mother was complicated—strict, sometimes cold, always demanding. But it was full of love, mostly spoken through banchan and bubbling pots of kimchi jjigae. Their bond was never tidy, but it was real.

At 15, Michelle asks for a guitar. Her mom gives her one, skeptically. When she begins performing at small venues years later, her mom bluntly says she hopes she’s "done with music." Classic Asian mom energy, but it stings. Still, Michelle’s love for her mom—and need for her approval—never fades.

When her mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Michelle puts her life on hold and returns home to care for her. After two failed rounds of chemo, her mother refuses more treatment. The family makes one last trip to Korea, but it’s cut short when Chongmi becomes bedridden. In a desperate attempt to give her mom a final joyful moment, Michelle proposes to her boyfriend, Peter, so her mom can see her walk down the aisle.

Her mom does make it to the wedding. But the joy is brief.

💔 Death, Distance, and the Aftermath

Michelle’s mom dies soon after, and Michelle is left navigating not only the sharp, raw grief of losing her, but also the distance that grows between her and her father. They try a trip to Vietnam to reconnect, but it ends in more tension. Less than a year later, her father moves to Thailand to be with another woman. It’s a betrayal Michelle can’t quite forgive.

But amidst all this pain, Michelle finds a way to reconnect with her mother—through food.

🍜 Rebuilding Through Korean Cooking

She starts watching Maangchi on YouTube (if you know, you know) and teaches herself how to make the dishes her mom once prepared with such care. Galbi jjim, doenjang jjigae, jjajangmyeon... these aren’t just meals—they’re memories, and a way to reclaim the heritage she feels slipping away.

And while she’s making kimchi, she’s also making music.

Michelle pours her grief into the album Psychopomp, which launched her musical career to new heights. Touring the world, she eventually ends up in Seoul—the city her mother was born in. There, surrounded by extended Korean family, Michelle finally feels like she’s closing a loop. That her mother, in some way, is still with her.

📝 Final Thoughts

Crying in H Mart is not just a memoir. It’s an experience—deeply sensory, beautifully written, and quietly devastating. Zauner’s storytelling is honest in a way that’s hard to look away from. You don’t just read about her grief—you feel it. You carry it.

I cried multiple times while reading this book. Sometimes because of the loss itself, but other times because of the love tucked between each line—messy, imperfect, but so real.

It’s rare to find a book that’s this emotionally resonant while also being so culturally specific and universally human. If you’ve ever lost someone you love, or if you’ve ever struggled to hold on to a piece of your culture, this book will speak directly to you.

🛍 Buy the Book

📚 Amazon

✨ If You Loved Crying in H Mart, Try These:

Know My Name by Chanel Miller – A memoir that’s just as emotionally powerful and beautifully written.
Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong – A sharp, lyrical exploration of Asian American identity.
Goodbye, Again by Jonny Sun – Gentle essays on grief, rest, and the small joys of life.

Have you read Crying in H Mart?
I’d love to hear your thoughts—did you find yourself Googling recipes too? Did it hit close to home? Let me know in the comments or message me directly. This one’s going to stick with me for a long time. 💔🥢

Search This Blog

My SPOILER ALERT Book Reviews!