How can you survive the loss of a loved one? How can you reconcile your love with the complex relationship you had? And how can you hold onto your identity now that they’re gone? We all experience grief at one point or another, and if that time has already come in your life, Michelle Zauner’s story of losing her mother is both heart-breaking and healing. Zauner is the musician behind the indie band Japanese Breakfast, and her writing is as vulnerable and considered here as it is on her records. Her relationship with her mother and their shared Korean heritage is explored through the meals they ate together, and it’s refreshing to read about food as a source of comfort, enjoyment and memory instead of fear, restriction and punishment. Whether you come to the book for the food writing, relatable passages about grief or you’re just hoping for a great read, it’s definitely worth the hype. MG

Picador