Walk Like a Girl: A Memoir

This stirring debut from fashion designer Gurung turns a sharp eye toward questions of femininity, sexuality, and self-expression. Gurung begins with his childhood in Nepal and India, where he endured a cruel parade of adolescent bullying and abuse for his overtly feminine interests and found solace in the support of his mother. In his 20s, after getting his start as a designer in New Delhi, Gurung moved to New York City, where he ascended the ranks of the fashion industry but faced persistent racism and homophobia. In unflinching, straightforward prose, Gurung writes of the crises of confidence that afflicted him, the joys of dressing the likes of Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, and of the relationships—with his family, his peers, and ultimately, himself—that gave him strength. This is more than just a juicy fashion industry tell-all (though it is that, with plenty of Anna Wintour name-drops): in the intimate tone of a trusted friend, Gurung takes readers inside his creative process and offers sage counsel to those struggling with their own self-expression. Vulnerable, candid, and subtly defiant, this is a must-read for aspiring creatives of all stripes. Agent: Mollie Glick, CAA. (May)