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Ocean Vuong’s latest novel, The Emperor of Gladness, is an eloquent work of literary fiction that has already proven itself to be a standout novel of our time.
Set in suburban Connecticut circa 2009, the book follows Hai, a 20-year-old drug addict, whose life is saved by an elderly Lithuanian refugee named Grazina. After becoming Grazina’s caretaker, Hai grapples with his own coming of age as he learns how family can be lost, found and created for oneself.
The Emperor of Gladness explores the human experience through prolific writing and exceptional storytelling. Vuong examines ideas such as poverty, loss and addiction with refreshing humanity. The book is simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking, making it a great novel for those who enjoy a range of emotions in their reading.
Vuong’s work is paced beautifully, and the unparalleled writing ability that originally put him on the map as a poet is on full display in The Emperor of Gladness. The characters are relatable, and their stories are compelling, which gives the text a deep feeling of connection.
“Maybe love wasn’t something you found, Hai thought, but something you stayed still long enough to receive.” — Ocean Vuong, The Emperor Of Gladness.
After being gifted the novel for Christmas, I worked through the 416 pages of text in a week and truly didn’t want the story to end. I recommend this book to people who enjoy finding beauty in the mundane, deeply human stories and creating peace in sorrow.
The Emperor of Gladness was published by Penguin Press in May 2025. Ocean Vuong is a 37-year-old Vietnamese author and poet from Ho Chi Minh City. Vuong currently splits his time between Northampton, Massachusetts, and New York City. Vuong teaches creative writing at NYU. Other notable works by Vuong include: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, Night Sky With Exit Wounds (poetry collection), and Time Is A Mother (poetry collection).
