Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great memoir and I loved all of Jon’s insights and experiences. This book was delightful and provided such profound emotions in me. This was such a great book and Jon is an incredible person and tells amazing stories.

I adore John Chu's work, and he has gotten even more prominence (how is that even possible?) after Wicked made its blockbuster debut. Learning more about his life was fascinating.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

Jon M. Chu got noticed because of his directorial work on Crazy Rich Asians, but it was not his first movie. He started making movies as a teen, including putting together the family videos to music.
As a first generation Chinese American, helping his parents in their restaurant in Silicon Valley in the 80's and 90's, Jon was lucky to rub elbows with those high in the tech world. From his childhood to today, Jon tried to show readers how he made his way into the difficult world of making movies.

Though I did find much of the book interesting, the author spent too much time in the middle of the book showing how his family life would play out as a movie. Viewfinder was about being seen in the world where being different was not an asset, but Jon had a lot of advantages that many just did not get. From getting cutting edge computers, to software, and editing equipment, Chu was handed a step up. The author did fall into the trap of trying to explain too much about the circumstances for which he came to be, as he gave his family background more pages than need be. I would give this book 3 1/2 stars if the rating system would allow, but bumped it up to 4 because of the readability and relatability of the memoir.

Overall, Viewfinder does a good job of giving an Asian perspective of racism in America and how the author is still dealing with it. Readers who like Wicked or Crazy Rich Asians might enjoy reading more about how director Jon M. Chu got his start in the business.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to review this book was entirely my own.

I love a memoir and this one was fascinating. Bonus points for it being the director of one of my all time favorite movies, Crazy Rich Asians. This was a great one!

Thank you #randomhouse and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

As far as celebrity memoirs go, I truly enjoyed this one! There's great energy to the writing, which will surprise no one who has ever seen a Jon Chu movie. It was a great read prior to seeing WICKED. I really enjoyed getting to know the director's past and how he came to see the world, and I also rewatched CRAZY RICH ASIANS after reading to see it (especially Rachel's story) with new eyes. Will definitely recommend this one to film buffs and screenwriting students!

I picked this up on a whim having only watched "Crazy Rich Asians" before and not really knowing anything else about him, but I read this in 2 sittings being so swept into the highs and lows of his life, and, like life, having no idea what craziness was about to occur next. I think this was written very well where I never noticed how much I read until something made me look up from it, however, I think the little vignettes of advice became part of that distraction and could've been better folded into the overall story

This is such an inspirational story Chu does such a great job of showing the many facets of tradition, grit, luck, hard work and dreams. It is such a great book and perfect for those that want a life that they can only dream of.

My rule is that I don’t give memoirs a star rating because memoirs are so personal to the author, a rating would feel like I’m reviewing their life…but I guess Netgalley absolutely needs me to input a star rating. I love Chu’s work and also that his is such a thoughtful and prominent director - I love the represenation factor of him as Chinese man doing good work in Hollywood. I was SO excited for this memoir and it did not disappoint. I loved all the little behind-the-scenes snippets. I think the editing / ghostwriting could have been tighter; less run-on rambly chapters and more succinct, to the point. Felt like some stream-of-consciousness paragraphs were longer than necessary. I do appreciate how much time Chu gives to describing this lack of identity he felt in his early days and his slow reclamation back to himself and his roots. I wish there were more BTS info for WICKED. I was sad to have had to wait 76% into the book to read about the game changer CRAZY RICH ASIANS. I loved that movie and also saw it absolutely groundbreaking for Asian Americans in media despite the lack of Southeast and South Asians. I’m still waiting for CRA2!!!! I love hearing about Chu growing up in the Bay - his dad’s restaurant is less than a mile away from my old church. The chapter dedicated to his parents’ story was a lot for a memoir that’s supposed to be centered on him - I understand why it’s important to highlight their stories but I also thought the memoir could have done without.

I had heard of director Jon M. Chu when I got this book, but I had saved it to read in Nonfiction November. Imagine my complete surprise to find that Chu is not only the director of one of my favorite movie rom com's of all time, Crazy Rich Asians, but he is also the director of the highly anticipated Wicked movie adaptations that come out in a week. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Chu's younger life and career. He is very interesting- this is an immigrant story, a director's life, and a story about how one man's drive to find his voice making movies and how that opened up many doors for new actors, dancers, and brought the public back to the movies for musical adaptations.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review. If you like Wicked, go read this book about it's visionary director.

I wasn't sure about this pick. I love Jon Chu as a director but wasn't 100% sure this bio would be interesting. I'm so glad I read it! I laughed with delight more than once about how excited he was to create movies from such a young age. You can clearly see if close knit family's impact on his work and the way he views himself and the world around him. I love that he talked about how much of an impact Steve Jobs had on him and the creation of Pixar. The whole book feels like that scene from the Wizard of Oz when you get to see the man behind the curtain.
* Thank you Netgalley and the publishing house for this ARC.*

Jon Chu, the director of Crazy Rich Asians, chronicles his career in the film industry.

This was such a great memoir. I enjoyed the story telling he gave about his parents and their meeting. I loved his growth and understanding the impact of representation in film and Hollywood. I thank directors like him who bring Asian Americans to front and center.

Like many people, I was first introduced to Jon M. Chu through his 2018 film, Crazy Rich Asians, and then 2021’s In the Heights. It’s clear that I’m familiar with Chu’s work, but I was less familiar with his life story.

Viewfinder, his newly released memoir, does a great job of showing who he is and how his life experiences have influenced his work. It follows a fairly typical memoir structure, starting with his childhood and progressing to present day, detailing how he first fell in love with film, growing up in Palo Alto. I was surprised to learn how much tech giants like Steve Jobs have influenced his perspective and outlook, as well as how much he cares about musicals (Which makes this Wicked fan feel very good about the upcoming film). This isn’t a salacious memoir, but he’s very honest about his successes and failures, and that level of candor is refreshing to read.

The structure of the memoir reminded me a lot of Simu Liu’s We Were Dreamers, as Chu dedicates a portion of his memoir to his parents’ story and how essential their journey was to his own. This was a really great read, and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for an “entertainment” memoir with a lot of depth and reflection.

Viewfinder is out now. Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jon Chu’s first popular movie was Crazy Rich Asians but his dream was to meet Stephen Spielberg, and later he cultivated a friendship with Steve Jobs. Jon was a mix of many influences. He could dance and choreograph his own films and best of all, he could direct. After Wicked came In the Heights. He said that people on the streets would shout at him to go back where he came from and his sister was spit on while crossing the street. What a shameful way to acknowledge his talent. This book is a memoir of growing up Asian, cultivating his diverse skills and bringing other Asians into the industry. Recommended!!

I loved this memoir! One of my favorite memoirs that I have read recently. I really loved hearing John's story. I had heard of him going in but didn’t know much about his story at all. The first half is a beautiful retelling and introspection. While I still enjoyed the second half it didn’t grab me as much as the first half and there were a few parts I wish he would have dug into a little more. But I think this is a great read if you are looking for a celebrity memoir from a director. Overall, this is a 4.5 rounded up to a 5 for me.

I've been hearing of Jon M. Chu, particularly after Crazy Rich Asians, but he's somehow a director who flies under the radar. So getting to know more about his path to Hollywood and the struggles he's faced not just at work but with his identity really is inspiring. Not just him, but his family is also a great example of what a dream, hard work, familial support, and a little bit of luck can achieve.

The behind-the-scenes peeks we get at the highs and lows of getting a movie made and how the industry pigeonholes people into money-making slots is also fascinating, so there's something for everyone.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the inspiring read!

*thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an eARC in exchange for my review*

I think Jon Chu is a modern hero. I am so moved by his storytelling and his desire to empower others to tell their stories too. His memoir reads like a movie, which is no surprise. I was swept away with the tales of his childhood in Silicon Valley and his uphill climb through film school. But his story only gets more inspiring and challenging as it keeps progressing. (Though he might disagree if he heard me say so. Self-important he is not.)

Upon seeing Crazy Rich Asians, Chu’s groundbreaking 2018 film, my life was forever changed. Sitting with my husband in a Wisconsin movie theater where I was likely (and still am typically) the only Asian present, seeing someone that looked like me on the big screen that voiced feelings like my own was an experience that unlocked parts of me that I had previously shut away. And while Crazy Rich Asians is just one chapter in Chu’s life, it’s the one that has impacted mine the most.

Reading about how he wanted his viewers to feel during the film confirmed that—even though most of my friends saw the film as just a charming romcom—there was something deeper and bigger at the film’s core. The reason why I weep every time I watch it. A message about straddling two worlds and two value systems and not having to choose, but making a new way. A way that honors and empowers. A way that puts us in the driver’s seat for whatever happens next.

The whole of Chu’s story, as he presents it, builds up to the idea that our gift is to embrace all the parts of ourselves—especially the parts that we think are too messy or vulnerable or even too pointed to share—and use all of those parts to frame our own unique perspective on life and the world around us.

Chu presents a unique Asian American story, and it inspires me to climb into the driver’s seat and tell my own unique Asian American story. While I’m certainly not on my way to becoming a filmmaker, I have my own voice and way of seeing the world. And I hope that the way I voice my own perspective will someday move someone the way Chu has moved me.

This was an enjoyable read! I loved getting an insight into Chu's background and lived experiences. Some of my favorite parts were reading Chu's first experience creating a "movie" and how that passion and journey led to his experience creating some of the movies that I have watched and loved within my own home. I am grateful to have read this, but nothing really struck me as exceptionally profound. I would recommend this to other lovers of memoirs!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the arc!<3

“But in my experience, creativity isn’t a light with an on/off switch. It’s a fire that needs constant feeding.” (my favorite quote)

I had no idea what to expect from this book, honestly, I had not even heard of Jon M. Chu (not hip with the Hollywood scene), nor do I know much, if anything as to what goes into directing a movie. Given these two things, one would probably reckon this book would not be for me, but SURPRISE it was. I do however love all art forms as a passionate artist, and was intrigued to see what it would be like as I loved "Crazy Rich Asians" the movie Jon directed.

Jon's heartfelt story of his family and growing up in the Silicon Valley as an Asian American and coming into his identity and creativity, his interesting and winding journey full or twists and turns in the film industry as one of today's huge directors, and his knack for engaging storytelling, lead me to giving a 5 star review.

I learned a lot by reading this book which I also love and appreciate in any book. The more obvious of what it takes to direct a movie and the personal identity barriers Jon faced to get where he is today; and to see his ideals come to fruition of having accurate Asian and miniority representation on the big screen, thanks in part ot his tenacious work ethic and drive to reach his goals despite a lot of setbacks along the way.

The pace of this book was perfect, every time I picked it up I was instantly enraptured back into Jon's life and truly CARED about Jon.......which can't be said for all memoirs.

I now will be looking for Jon Chu's name and see all his upcoming movies, he created a fan in me.

(I was given this copy as an Advanced Reader through NetGalley, all opinions are my own)

This is a very readable autobiography. It was informative and creative without being too dry. There were a few parts that were a little repetitive that I skimmed over a bit, but for the most part I enjoyed reading it. I was interested in the descriptions of how he "tells the story" when he's making a movie. There was meat to the story, too, not just an 'all about me' bio. This delves into Asian American hate crimes and trying to figure out his own existence. I am glad to read about using your fame to help others, especially in an underrepresented group of people. There are good human beings in the world!!

I’m not usually much of a fan of celebrity memoirs, but Jon M. Chu’s memoir Viewfinder is one that I’ve been looking forward to since it was announced. Seeing that “Crazy Rich Asians” was (and still is) one of my favorite movies, plus we share a similar background in that we both came from Chinese immigrant families and grew up/lived/went to school/worked in Southern California, I was really interested in learning more about Chu’s journey (outside of what I was able to glean through interviews during the CRA promos) and his experiences breaking into an industry that has traditionally been less than welcoming to Asians. Much of what Chu talks about in the book resonated with me deeply, especially his struggle reconciling the two sides of his identity – Asian and American – and the various successes as well as failures that contributed to the person he chose to become: one who learns to embrace both sides of his identity, in both life and work.

Of course, being a fan of CRA, my favorite part of the memoir was the chapter where Chu goes into detail about his experiences making the movie. Even though I already knew a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff related to the movie (of course I don’t call myself a “fan” for nothing, lol), what I didn’t know was how much the movie reflected Chu’s personal journey as a Chinese American trying to come to terms with his cultural identity. As such, there were many details that he added from his own life as well as from the lives of his family members that weren’t in the book – as a purist, I’m usually wary about adaptations that stray too far from the book, but in this case, the many personal touches that Chu added to the movie version worked wonderfully (to the point that – and you won’t hear me say this often – this was one of those extremely rare cases where the movie was actually better than the book). What I found most interesting in reading this memoir is that many of my favorite scenes from the movie (“favorite” because those scenes resonated with me the most) were actually the ones that Chu added from his personal background: for example, the scene where the family gathers together to make dumplings (which he based on his own family’s gatherings and dumpling-making lessons led by his late maternal grandmother); the climactic mahjong showdown scene between Rachel and Eleanor (which was especially fun to read about knowing how the game is played and seeing how my understanding of the symbolism behind that scene aligned with Chu’s intention for it); and the kitchen scene where Nick first introduces Rachel to his mother (the significance of that scene is that Chu indirectly pays homage to his family’s restaurant, Chef Chu’s, which has been a Silicon Valley mainstay for more than 50 years – though the bit about the MSG appearance in that scene and both Michelle Yeoh’s as well as Chu’s father’s reaction to it was hilarious). There were also some CRA “fun facts” that Chu revealed in his memoir that I had no idea about (for example, Chu’s daughter Willow – who was a newborn at the time -- has a “blink-and-you’ll miss it” cameo in the movie, as does CRA author Kevin Kwan’s family). Reading all this behind-the-scenes stuff made me want to go re-watch the movie again, this time as someone with more “inside knowledge” that will undoubtedly enhance the experience even further for me.

I wanted to close this review with two quotes from Chu’s memoir that resonated most with me, precisely because they reflect my own struggles as an Asian American constantly trying to reconcile the two sides of my cultural identity.

The first quote is from the chapter about CRA, where Chu talks about the significance of Rachel’s journey in the movie – he refers specifically to the scene on the staircase where Eleanor (played to wonderful effect by one of my longtime idols Michelle Yeoh) tells Rachel (a role which Constance Wu also embodied perfectly): “You will never be enough.” Chu explains how this one line of dialogue (and the brilliant way Michelle Yeoh delivered it) had the powerful effect of causing all the Asian Americans on set (including himself) to go silent because of how deeply it cuts to the core of the Asian American experience, in a way that those who’ve never had to navigate those two worlds will never understand. He writes: “Eleanor’s line and Rachel’s reaction expressed what I hadn’t been willing to express before and had rarely seen expressed by anybody else. When you grow up the way I did – torn between Asia and America, trying to shed what you are, trying to be what you’re not – the world can make you feel worthless. You’re not Asian enough. You’re not American enough. You’re not smart enough. You’re not talented enough. If you’re an Asian man, you’re not attractive enough. And then, louder than all the rest: You don’t belong here. You hear that one all the time. Everywhere.” I cried when I read this part because of how succinctly it expresses my own lifelong identity struggle.

The second quote comes later in that same chapter, when Chu talks candidly about some of the criticisms that CRA received – specifically the one where people complained that CRA simplified the complexities of the Asian culture and in presenting the insular world of wealthy Asians, it reflected an “outsider’s version of Asian life” and therefore was inauthentic (notably, the movie was slammed in many of the overseas Asian territories that screened it). Chu explains that the CRA story is about an Asian American going to Asia for the first time and we are seeing the world through her “newcomer” eyes – the movie was not meant to provide a comprehensive view of Asian culture, but rather an “Asia 101” type of glimpse into one aspect of the culture, with the hope that the opportunity to explore the “deeper layers – the true change that comes from broader awareness” can become more accessible in the future. Hearing this particular complaint gave Chu insight into what his parents went through with their restaurant, which endured similar criticisms throughout its existence. This prompted Chu to have a heartfelt conversation with his father, of which he writes: “’This is how you grew up,’ my dad told me. ‘Respecting two worlds because we are of two worlds. People who aren’t of those two worlds can’t see that’s what we’re trying to resolve.’ To make a life in this country, they had needed to find a way to integrate Asia and America….After so many years of trying to be like Spielberg and Lucas, I came into my own as a filmmaker only once I started trying to be like my parents – when I started thinking of myself as an ambassador, treating my position between two cultures as something to cherish, not something to hide or resent. They showed me how to tell stories that would open the door for other stories.”

This was an insightful memoir, one that I enjoyed not just because of the resonance from a cultural perspective, but also because of Chu’s unflinching honesty when recounting his successes and failures (whether in life or work). Chu’s passion, enthusiasm, and love for filmmaking truly shines through in this memoir -- the way he recounted his movie-making experiences as well as his encounters with various famous people (Steven Spielberg, Steve Jobs, etc.) gave me serious “kid in a candy shop” vibes; this, combined with Chu’s self-deprecating humor (which was on full display throughout the book), made his memoir a lot of fun to read.

Received ARC from Random House via NetGalley

**Note: The quotes above are from the final published copy of the book, which I ended up reading instead of the ARC version. Also, Chu and his co-writer Jeremy McCarter did an interview with Ariana Grande (hosted by bookstore Book Passage) where they provide additional insights about the memoir and their experience writing it – I would recommend watching that interview if you have access to it, as it definitely enhances the reading experience!