Reviews
We're Going to Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, and True by Gabrielle Union
bookishpuzzler's review against another edition
5.0
In this book there are stories like those about having a yeast infection, reading Judy Blume books, and breakup advice that will make you laugh. There are also stories that will make you think.; these stories cover a variety of important and relevant issues like colorism, racism, rape,
PTSD, diversity in Hollywood, and breast cancer awareness.
One of the most powerful stories is, And Gabrielle Union As The Stepmother. She talks about the fear, sadness, and anger she felt when her stepsons walked down the block at night to play basketball at a neighbors house in an open carry state. Even during daylight hours they can't walk their dog down their block in peace. "They are the boys I adore. And people don't value their very breath."
I have seen a lot of Gabrielle's work. I thought she was a good actress. After reading this book I wish I knew her and could be friends with her.
PTSD, diversity in Hollywood, and breast cancer awareness.
One of the most powerful stories is, And Gabrielle Union As The Stepmother. She talks about the fear, sadness, and anger she felt when her stepsons walked down the block at night to play basketball at a neighbors house in an open carry state. Even during daylight hours they can't walk their dog down their block in peace. "They are the boys I adore. And people don't value their very breath."
I have seen a lot of Gabrielle's work. I thought she was a good actress. After reading this book I wish I knew her and could be friends with her.
doc_erinnicole's review against another edition
medium-paced
1.75
It’s rare for me to walk away from a memoir liking the person less but that is absolutely what happened here. For the first 20% or so the text made me feel hella uneasy and I couldn’t figure out why. But then I talked to my homies about it and the issue became clear: the audience for this book is clearly White people. Union talks at length about being the only Black girl in a White neighborhood and while her experiences are obviously valid, her analysis of those experiences is quite superficial (same goes for her conversation on colorism). At some point it clicked for me that Union was writing to all the mean White people she grew up with and not the Black girls who may have suffered through the same experiences.
This was reiterated again with her redundant use of the n-word (oftentimes when explaining the same incident repeatedly). It is so shitty to be called that—I get it— but it felt more like an “f you” to the people who said it to her without a thought about how reading that over and over again may bring up vicarious trauma for Black readers. There is a way to talk about racism with respect to others who may have experienced it (see also: most Black writers 😂) but Union doesn’t have the chops for that….
Other random thoughts:
-she never talks about how or why she got into acting. This is such a strange choice for a person who only got to write a book…because she’s an actor?
-she gives some of the worst break up advice I’ve ever read. But through her shitty advice you get an understanding why she’s been really bad at relationships 😬
-at one point she says “we” have bought into the myth of assimilation…this made me looking around + in my Nene voice be like “now how did I get into this?”. Speak for yourself sistren, me and mine have always known that assimilation was a lie. Leave me out of it.
This book is a very strong no for me.
This was reiterated again with her redundant use of the n-word (oftentimes when explaining the same incident repeatedly). It is so shitty to be called that—I get it— but it felt more like an “f you” to the people who said it to her without a thought about how reading that over and over again may bring up vicarious trauma for Black readers. There is a way to talk about racism with respect to others who may have experienced it (see also: most Black writers 😂) but Union doesn’t have the chops for that….
Other random thoughts:
-she never talks about how or why she got into acting. This is such a strange choice for a person who only got to write a book…because she’s an actor?
-she gives some of the worst break up advice I’ve ever read. But through her shitty advice you get an understanding why she’s been really bad at relationships 😬
-at one point she says “we” have bought into the myth of assimilation…this made me looking around + in my Nene voice be like “now how did I get into this?”. Speak for yourself sistren, me and mine have always known that assimilation was a lie. Leave me out of it.
This book is a very strong no for me.
michelle_my_belle's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Drug use, Infertility, Medical content, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Racism, Cursing, Homophobia, Rape, Alcohol, Bullying, Cancer, and Gun violence
nanbeauty22's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
rachels_booknook's review
4.0
“A powerful collection of essays about gender, sexuality, race, beauty, Hollywood, and what it means to be a modern woman.”
It seems appropriate to share my review of Gabrielle Union’s first book of essays, We’re Going to Need More Wine, today, on Juneteenth. In her essays, Gabrielle Union talks a lot about racism – that she’s experienced and that she needs to keep the dangers of racism at the front of her mind at all times, both for her sake, and for her children.
I listened to the audiobook and it was definitely enhanced by listening to Gabrielle Union tell her own stories. Usually I prefer a straight memoir, but I will say that the essay format allowed her to go deeper on certain topics and pivotal experiences from her life.
Gabrielle Union was extremely honest about some very difficult events, writing extensively about her experience with sexual assault and racism, and other topics like her failed first marriage and some of the challenges of fame – especially as a Black actress in Hollywood. I do think there was at least one chapter – about her tips for breakups and divorce – that I could have lived without, as it just felt out of place.
I loved that she writes about some of favourites of her movies, such as Bring it On and 10 Things I Hate About You, as well as her time on Friends, touching on more recent criticism of the all-white cast. However, what I also found thought-provoking, is that she makes it clear that she has taken on a lot of other roles that aren’t as well known, that have all-Black casts. She says “a lot of people appreciate these films, but because there aren’t any white people in them, they get marginalized and put on a separate shelf.” I found the stories about the black Hollywood community to be especially interesting to read.
I look forward to reading her second book, You Got Anything Stronger?