Oh My Mother! A Memoir in Nine Adventures

Mother-daughter relationships are the crux of many a memoir—and in the case of debut author Wang, many an adventure too. A former executive editor at Refinery29, she presents nine generally lighthearted stories, exploring her experiences as an often embarrassed yet inevitably fascinated Chinese American daughter and her complex, stylish, and insistently original mother, Qing Li. Wang’s essays follow her and her mother as they journey across the globe and through life’s milestones, from awkward timeshare vacations during Wang’s sensitive teenage years to farcical adventures exploring Europe, Asia, and even the Las Vegas strip. Wang’s voice as both a writer and narrator is consistently delightful, easily pulling listeners into each excruciating anecdote and sweet coming-of-age insight. And yet, in the end, one cannot but wish for more—not from Wang but from Qing Li, a charismatic woman whose eclectic worldview is presented in bursts and flashes and who remains enigmatic to the last page.