I really ran the gamut of emotions on this one. I have enjoyed seeing Constance Wu on screens in the past few years, and I think she's publicly shared some struggles she's encountered in the industry, which is always refreshing. She's super open and authentic about her experiences, but I found the structure a bit confusing and unfocused and the introspection...inconsistent. There was one sentence that especailly rankled me about texts and how they are "catered to social handicaps. And without that, there's no magic. How do you find intimacy without magic?" That just gave me an icky feeling, as someone with an anxiety disorder and several other mental illnesses, lol. But overall, I think many readers are going to find value in this, as I did despite my fluctuating feelings.

CW: sexual harassment, sexual assault, racism, fatphobia

Another good memoir from a celebrity that I think is underrated. I appreciated reading about Constance’s life growing up and her background, and how that has informed her life now. I love her in every role, and even more so now!

I think this book has better appeal as an audio book than as a book experience, Wu's story falls a little flat when shes not the one telling it.

This was a hard one. Purely on craft, I didn't think it was very well written, and that meant that some of the stories that I very much wanted to engage in and with were not connecting for me.

This is not quite a memoir but more a collection of autobiographical essays by Constance Wu, an actress best known for her roles in Fresh Off the Boat and Crazy Rich Asians. And I say not a memoir because the essays are told in totally haphazard order - not chronological nor in any kind of thematic order, but just jumping all over the place.

But my bigger issue with this book is that I found Wu almost insufferably annoying. I went in with a neutral to positive impression of her, but I just couldn’t take her overdramatic attitude, or her simultaneous over-confidence and utter lack of confidence.

I got an ARC of the e-book from Netgalley/the publisher, but since I didn’t get to it before pub date, I paired it with the audiobook from the library. And I think this might be the rare memoir/essay collection that is actually worse on audio. Usually after listening to a memoir, I can’t help but feel more sympathetic to the author because I feel like they have been talking to me for the last few hours. But not with this one - she certainly is animated, but for the most part it feels very theatrical and performance-y rather than genuine, and just annoyed me. The one essay on her bad experiences on Fresh Off the Boat was an exception, it was quite interesting, sad, and moving.

i watched a few of constance’s interviews to pub this book before reading it and was blown away by her passion, vulnerability, and wisdom, and the book was no different. at first, i was put off by its casual tone and language but grew to appreciate it for its warmth and authenticity—it truly sounds like her, as if she’s sharing her experiences with you one-on-one. some essays were better than others, with the FOTB one taking the cake, but they all present without apology or shame the various experiences that have shaped her into the person she is today.

Thank you to Netgalley, Scribner, and Libro FM for providing me with both a physical and audio galley of Constance Wu’s memoir, Making a Scene. Although I received both versions, I ended up listening to the audio book, narrated by the author.

Actress Constance Wu shares memories of her childhood growing up in Virginia, her early twenties waiting tables and studying acting in New York, and her successful acting career.

Wu gained heaps of negative press when she spoke out about her unhappiness with the renewal of her hit sitcom Fresh Off the Boat. She was seen as ungrateful and a bit of a diva. Wu addresses this incident and gives her side of the story, which is quite compelling and heartbreaking. She also explains the frustration when so many people assume that the character she plays, Jessica Huang, is similar to Wu’s own mother. Wu makes it very clear that her mother bears very little similarities to Jessica, and that the very question is perpetuating stereotypes of Asian mothers.

Although Wu shares bit of her Hollywood career, a bulk of the book involves her childhood, including fond memories of her teenage job working at a bakery and her early love of performing in community theater. She had a fairly ordinary and quiet childhood. I’m only four years older than Wu and many of her stories of growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, especially with regard to technology, rang true to my experience. Wu speaks of her pre-fame years with mostly fondness. She also shares her challenging relationship with her younger sister, which I’m sure many people would find relatable.

I’m a fan of Wu as an actor, but I think I enjoyed this more for being a memoir about a woman from my generation. I found Wu to be very relatable and down to earth, definitely different from how the media has been portraying her.

This wasn't as good as I wanted it to be but I commend Wu for being very honest about her life. I think there were some things that I wasn't expecting because she's an Asian-American woman who I thought I kind of knew but that is my own cognitive bias/issue - and this book will have readers reexamining some of their own biases. Or perhaps it was her lack of reflection on some of her interesting choices in life that made them feel unexpected and a bit jarring. I guess when I listen to memoirs and bad decisions are brought up that there is usually reflection involved as well. Wu reads the essays and at one point you can really hear the pain in her voice. Worth a listen.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was pleasantly surprised to find this was a celebrity memoir authored by an actor who can also write. Ms. Wu's experience with sexual assault was so relatable and I acutely understood the torment she felt being falsely accused of plagiarism. But after that, I just wasn't a fan.

It wasn't the writing that bothered me, but the content. There was no overarching theme that tied her stories together and I inwardly rolled my eyes at her frequent emotional manipulation and melodrama.

You have to go into the book not already pre-judging Constance by the twitter incident or anything that came out of it. You have to go into it with an open heart and mind to really take in her story. But this book is an honest and gripping portrayal of Constance's life and the struggles not spoken about often enough within the Asian America community.

As a child, Constance Wu was told she was too emotional, too reactive, too much. But then she discovered community theatre, where she learned her emotions were not a weakness but a superpower. In these essays, Wu describes her journey to fame, as well as the sexism and racism that stood in her way and the difficulties of finding her voice in the public eye.

This is written clearly in Constance Wu's voice, so I imagine the audiobook is fantastic! I really appreciate how thoughtfully and openly Wu approached her writing. She tackles some difficult and nuanced topics with grace. It felt like it was missing a few pieces of her story, but still an insightful book whether or not you've kept up with her work.

Constance Wu is an Asian American actress who came to fame as Jessica Huang on the show Fresh Off the Boat. After going off on Twitter about her show being renewed (disappointed because she had to cancel other projects she had been working on,) the backlash was swift and severe. Constance took a step back and tried to figure out how to move forward, dealing with shame and depression from a very public "canceling." This book of essays, on everything from her childhood, how her parents met, being a struggling actor in debt, to becoming famous, is an exploration of who she really is and an apology to the Asian American community. It is a reminder that people are nuanced and fallible, and Wu comes across as sensitive and down to earth.

I feel like I need to preface this review with the statement that I don't know much about Constance Wu. I'm very conflicted about this book. While at times I did enjoy this memoir, I'm not certain that I like Constance Wu more than I did before I read it. It is truly brutally honest, she comes across as a very damaged individual, but she is self aware enough to know that she is kind of too much. This memoir is different in others in that it is told in more essay like entries instead of chronological order, which I appreciated. I did enjoy some of the essays, I found some would drag out however or lacked much substance, which is often the case in celebrity memoirs. While it was interesting to read the point of view of a successful person of color who made history with some of her roles, I just didn't connect as much as I wanted to with her in this book. Would probably be more enjoyable if you are a Wu super fan.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this memior. The opinions above are my own.

A really great look at the "other side" of a career and a life that has obviously been misunderstood. Constance Wu is a great writer, and my heart breaks for all she's gone through. But I'm glad she wrote this book.

I know Constance Wu from Fresh Off the Boat, and Crazy Rich Asians and I have always found her so fascinating in interviews. Her memoir is written in short story format (which is not really my preferred reading genre) and I think raw and powerful is the best way to describe these stories. Wu doesn't back away from some intense stories about sexual assault, depression, and public harassment as a female (non-white) celebrity. As with most short story books, there is a lot of variation between the stories both in tone and quality and I personally didn't feel like they all tied together (but again this is not my genre).

I love reading memoirs because I get to know the author on a personal level. Even the people that I didn’t know prior to reading their memoir have new perspective I hadn’t thought of.

I thought I knew Constance Wu somewhat based on what I read about her online. She was Jessica Wang, Rachel Chu, and a celebrity who got cancelled by netizens to me; what more is there?

This book opened my eyes about Constance Wu. This book made me realize I’m full of prejudices. She’s more than characters she play, and she’s more than small social media outbursts.

I thoroughly enjoyed and loved her writing style. Chaotic, out of order, going with wherever yours feelings take you - just my cup of tea 💚

I hate that countless people misunderstood her without being in her shoes. I feel ashamed that I was one of them. I am glad I was able to hear her story and know what she had to go through.

This book had me feeling all sorts of way. One of them is my admiration for Constance Wu - I can’t wait to see her more on screens!

Thank you for Netgalley and Scribner Books for giving me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed Constance Wu's performance on "Crazy, Rich Asians" and "Hustlers," but i really didn't know much about her. I loved her memoir! It was very engaging and I read it fairly quickly because she started intriguing me so much.

I loved her writing style and I was never bored reading her book (which can sometimes happen to me with memoirs).

Introduction

Constance's role is just called Girl. That's her “name.” 🤦🏻‍♀️

Lucky Bucks

This one broke my heart. First loves and all of that.

Montana Gold

An incredibly moving love story. With bread. My love.

Snap and Whistle

No one can love you or hurt you like a sister. It’s one, the other or both.

Impeach the President

Mean girls will always be mean girls. Do not want.

Of Course She Did

Oh hell no. Reminds me of when my Lyft driver complimented my English. I was born here, asshole.

Exploring an Orange

Drama school would stress me tf out. Introvert here. I get there are introverted actors. I’m just saying.

Also accents make us who we are. You cannot tell someone they speak wrong.

Welcome to Jurassic Park

There’s a fine line between representation and stereotyping.

I admit I’ve never been interested in watching Fresh Off the Boat because of the accents.

But what am I scared of? I have various family members that speak accented English. This is nothing to be embarrassed about. They speak at least two languages. Why isn’t this praised?

Betty and Syd

Haven’t we all dated a much older person that was too “cool” to be around anything worth being around? I hate this for Constance.

Making a Scene

This broke my heart. So many women are raped. I almost said sexually assaulted but let’s call rape what is is. Rape.

It’s not always violent. A lot of times it’s with a trusted friend or partner.

No means no.

Little Cassandra

I’m also short. I felt this in my bones.

Poor Shark

Be wary of men. That’s all I got, folks.

Real Love

Omg baby bunnies. I’m dead.

You Do What I Say

As someone who wasn't familiar with Constance until the release of Crazy Rich Asians, I admit I'm one of those that thought she was wrong for leaving Fresh Off the Boat. This just goes to show you don't know anything that goes on in anyone's lives. Let's cut celebrities a little slack.

And to the asshole producer that sexually assaulted her, fuck you, dude. And everyone like you. This makes me think he "gave" her the role over more seasoned actresses just so he could groom her. I'm disgusted.

The Utmost Sincerity

Artsy. Dressed in black. Dating Jewish men. Is Constance me? I feel attacked.

Dressing Wounds

George is a fuckboi.

An Apology

I could've done without that one.

Being Alone in Cars

I cannot even imagine asking strangers for help when I'm alone in my car.

I hate Delilah.

Unfinished Mansions

As someone whose mom is also significantly more beautiful than her, I felt this. I don't think I'm ugly. My mom is just extremely good looking. It is what it is.

Some people will judge this story, but if you're desperate enough to leave a place to marry someone you don't really know just to find a better life, I find that brave.

Not every Asian mom is a tiger mom. Mine isn't.

constance wu can write. she can do many things and i admire her for all of them, but she sure can write. the media scrutiny put upon women, nonwhite women especially will always break my heart

Pub date: 10/4/22
Genre: memoir
Thank you to Scribner for an e-ARC and Libro.fm for an ALC!
Trigger warnings: sexual abuse/harassment, suicide

Constance Wu has starred in a hit TV show (Fresh Off the Boat) and multiple hit movies (Crazy Rich Asians and Hustlers), but her road to stardom hasn't always been smooth. Her memoir is written in essay form and is not organized chronologically, so it's a little different than some memoirs. Personally, I enjoyed the way it was organized, since I could pick up the book and read a story or two at my leisure. Halfway through, I switched to the audiobook narrated by Constance herself, and I really loved her audio performance. You could feel her emotion as she described the abuse from an FOTB producer and how her complaints about FOTB on Twitter led to massive online criticism. I enjoyed her discussion of her career, her family, her pet bunny, and motherhood.

I recommend listening to this one if you enjoy celebrity memoirs!