What We Are Reading

Zarna Garg’s memoir, This American Woman: One in a Billion, is more than just a story—it’s a love letter to resilience, identity, and the hilarity of being unapologetically yourself in a world that often expects you to shrink.

With the sharp wit that made her a viral comedy powerhouse and the raw honesty of someone who’s lived every beat of her narrative, Zarna takes us from her childhood in India to her journey as an immigrant mother trying to build a life in America—without losing herself in the process.

Her voice is unmistakably Desi, yet universally human. She speaks to every daughter who's felt torn between tradition and independence, every mother trying to raise her kids in a culture foreign from her own, and every woman who’s ever tried to carve out a space for her voice in a room that didn’t invite her in.

What makes this memoir hit home for us at Our Motel Stories is Zarna’s deep commitment to truth. She doesn’t sugarcoat the loneliness, the fear, or the deeply unfunny moments—but somehow, she still makes you laugh through them. Her humor isn’t just entertainment—it’s survival. It’s the way immigrant women have always made space for themselves in a world that didn’t always offer one.

This book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of storytelling to break stereotypes and bridge cultures. Zarna’s journey reminds us that one voice—when it’s authentic and brave—isn’t just one in a billion. It can echo through generations.