Super Short Summary

In On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, Little Dog grows up in a working-class neighborhood of Hartford, Connecticut, raised by his mother, Rose, and his grandmother, Lan, who immigrated from Vietnam. At age 28, he writes a letter to his illiterate mother to examine the loss, trauma, and love that have shaped their lives. Throughout the novel, Little Dog faces hardships including bullying, familial abuse, and challenging relationships, ultimately seeking to make sense of his identity and the fleeting nature of beauty and life. The book includes sensitive topics such as substance use, domestic violence, and the impact of trauma.