Ahhhh…I finally got to Gab's (or Nicki’s? 😉) Union’s book of essays “We’re Going to Need More Wine.” I wanted to read this since it came out and a sequel has since been published. I did enjoy this book a lot! Union was a great narrator, I LOL’ed many times and I loved the timeline from when she was a kid, her teen years, her rise in Hollywood, to even her marriage to Dwayne Wade. I probably first saw Union on an episode of “7th Heaven,” so I’ve been following her for years! What I appreciated about her essays was the raw honesty. It wasn’t boilerplate. She, well, spilled tea, kept it real about her mistakes, her tries, mishaps, and that as well of her friends, family, boyfriends, and first husband. She’s lived a full life! Her essays also touched on not just personal yet universal topics but societal issues that concern race, gender, age, sexual violence, and especially for BIPOC individuals, the impact and influence of colorism, texturism, and featurism. As not just a fan of hers for years but a fellow BIPOC, there was something very “at home” about reading (okay, listening to) Union’s work. It was well-written but real. She wasn’t trying to be a writer here. It’s great storytelling.

I loved this book- especially listening on audio. It was like Gabrielle Union was speaking to me about her life, her struggles. I enjoy reading more and understanding what actors go through other than just their movies. It felt just like a boozy conversation with a friend. It isn't fluffy but it is a real exploration of race, violence, and sexuality. It is truly a life book