Lieu's memoir tells her family's story of arriving in America as Vietnamese Refugees shortly before Susan was born. Lieu's parents both worked in and owned nail salons and brought over several members of her mother's family to work in the salons. While the family had very little disposable income, there was a focus on appearances, which led Susan's mother to opt for plastic surgery, a choice that cost her life. Lieu was only about 11 years old when her mother passed, and had to grow up very quickly. While she maintained relationships with her father and siblings, they were strained at times, as everyone wanted Susan to just move on after her mother's death, something that a grieving tween cannot easily do on her own. Additionally, a rift formed between her father and her mother's side of the family, and so Susan was no longer able to communicate with the people who knew her mother best. She spends her life asking questions about her mother's life and death, and not receiving many answers. Weaving together a coming-of-age story and an inquiry into the life of her mother, Lieu's memoir is interesting, emotional, and heartfelt. Lieu pieces together her mother's story slowly.