An American Story: Everyone’s Invited

by Wilmer Valderrama

The remarkable true story of a young immigrant from Venezuela who had a dream to change the world, a talent for entertaining, and a determined spirit to build a new life, taking as many as possible with him on the journey. An American Story is the stirring memoir by actor, producer, and activist Wilmer Valderrama, delving into his upbringing in Venezuela where he was raised by two hard working parents as they navigated their family through a rapidly changing country and the rise of Hugo Chavez. With the economy crashing around them and their livelihood disappearing, the family decides to flee the country. Suddenly, the young boy who had loved riding his horse and dreaming of being Zorro from his favorite black and white tv show had to grow up quickly, journeying as a teenager from a tiny little pueblo in Venezuela to the big city of Los Angeles. After being cast in a school theatre production, Valderrama immediately knew he had found his calling, and began thinking of ways to help support his struggling family. To do this, he would attempt the find work in Hollywood as an unproven Latino actor. Following countless auditions and frequent criticisms of his accent, he created the personality that would eventually land him the role as Fez on the hit series That 70s Show which catapulted him to stardom. Over the coming years, he would create the smash show, Yo Mamma , delight kids through Handy Manny , voice the lead character in Disney’s Encanto , and so much more, culminating in his joining the cast of the hit show NCIS in 2016. It was through service to others and his first USO trip, however, where Valderrama found his expanded calling, entertaining and encouraging U.S. troops around the world. Suddenly, he wanted to do as much of this as he could, dedicating his time and efforts to giving back to the country he calls home. He was recently named USO Global Ambassador in support of the organization’s 80th anniversary. He has traveled with the USO a multitude of times having participated in almost 50 tours domestically and internationally. Through his work, Valderrama hopes to demonstrate his love and gratitude for the country that changed his life. An American Story weaves Valderrama’s personal stories with those of the remarkable people he’s met along his philanthropic journey. This isn’t just Valderrama’s story, though. It’s a view of America through an immigrant’s eyes, in both its stunning unmatched wonders and all of its native challenges. It is the profound and gripping story of someone who found the way and is now inviting as many as possible to join him on the adventure.

Genres: Memoir, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Biography, Autobiography, Biography Memoir, Adult

256 pages, Hardcover

Published September 17, 2024

Reviews

[Alexa · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 star for pedophiles! Rot in piss 🫶

[paige (ptsungirl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I could see farther, and dream deeply with confidence, because I stood on the shoulders of giants."

[Bethany · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn’t read but automatic 1 star for pedophiles

[Becky Gallego · Rating 2 out of 5]

Imagine not enough people patting you on the back so you write a book telling everyone how many good things you do. No need to imagine, just read this book. 🤣

[Kaitlyn Ries · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclosure I listened to the audiobook! But as someone who watched Handy Manny, NCIS, and that’ 70s show, I was super interested in hearing his story. Honestly was really disappointed overall. The book comes off as a job interview meets awards acceptance speech. There’s undertones of ego glorification. It’s very disorganized and jumps around topics and timelines, which makes it confusing. Words and phrases are very repetitive. Just meh.

[Becky Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

WV is so much more than the characters Fez from „That 70‘s show, and Nick in NCIS.

[Georgiacyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I will say that the author has been in far more productions than I realized. I was also not aware of his service in organizations such as the USO, which is commendable. That said, the amount of name dropping was almost unbearable. And, of course, he is “best friends” with everybody he meets. Yet, despite all this name dropping, he never mentions some of the people that he has most famously associated with, such as Mandy Moore, Lindsay Lohan, and Demi Lovato. Beyond that, his sense of self importance and the influence that he believes he has had on the Latino community is far greater than the reality of it. The fact that he thinks that people recognizing and being happy to see Fez means that he has had some deep and permanent impact on their lives and development as people is simply absurd. The fact that he thinks the show “Yo Mamma“ had such deep societal meaning and value… again, absurd. I was shocked at his reaction to being called lucky and that this was the subject of an entire chapter of the book. Of course he’s lucky. Does he seriously not think so? Does he really think that he is that much more talented and that much harder of a worker than everybody else? What about his good fortune of being born into a family that supported every hope and dream he could possibly express? What about the fact that there are tons of people out there that are truly gifted and work their tails off but just never get the right break? Of course luck factors in. The political rant in the final chapters- just no. In the end, I wonder if this book was truly written as a campaign/advertisement to help him get Zorro made.

[Tara Cignarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

An American Story by Wilmer Valderrama (everyone’s invited)
Audio
Writing: A-
Info/Fact: A-
Narration: A (Read by the author)
Best Aspect: Enjoyable stories about his personal life and acting life. Lots of heartwarming emotions about his fight for equal rights.
Worst Aspect: None- except the reality of how not everyone is invited here anymore.
Recommend: Yes.

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An American Story is a memoir by Wilmer Valderrama, detailing his journey from Venezuela to Hollywood, where he found success as an actor. Despite facing challenges and criticisms, he landed the role of Fez on That 70s Show, leading to further success in television and film. Valderrama's story also highlights his commitment to giving back, especially through his work with the USO and support for American troops. The book offers a unique perspective on America through the eyes of an immigrant, showcasing both the opportunities and obstacles he encountered along the way.

As an immigrant who came to the United States in search of new opportunities, I can deeply connect with Wilmer's story. I am always fascinated by the journeys of individuals who have traveled from afar to build a new life in a foreign land.

Growing up with siblings and limited resources, my move to the US opened up new possibilities for me. Despite the challenges, I was able to work towards completing my college degree while juggling various responsibilities. The proudest moment for me was when I finally became a US citizen after a decade of dedicated service to my community and adopted country. Being married to military personnel, I continue to serve in my own capacity.

Wilmer's story is truly inspiring and deserves to be shared widely. It is remarkable how involved he has been in his community, yet his contributions often go unnoticed. It is unfortunate how the media tends to focus on negative events rather than highlighting the positive impact individuals like Wilmer have on society.

I found this memoir to be a moving and poignant read, particularly as someone who understands the challenges of starting over in a new country without fluency in the language, as was my own experience. The mention of the 9/11 events struck a chord with me, as I vividly remember where I was on that fateful day and how it affected us all in different ways.

I highly recommend this compelling memoir to anyone who appreciates stories of resilience, hard work, and the enduring spirit of individuals who refuse to take their opportunities for granted. It is a truly memorable read that will stay with you long after you have finished it.

Thank you, Harper Select for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Noreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wilmer narrated his own memoir and I was totally mesmerized throughout. I knew nothing of his story, other than his role as FES on That 70’s Show. He has an amazing life story and it was told with so much heart. He has a deep love for our country and a beautiful message that we all should embrace. I’m really looking forward to his next role, but no reveal here! I’ll miss hearing his beautiful voice….Maybe I’ll listen to it again. It’s that good.

[Barbara Biasiotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

[Glenda Nelms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you seen That 70s show, Disney TV children's show Handy Manny or NCIS?

Activist and actor Wilmer Valderrama spotlights his journey from Venezuela to Hollywood. Valderrama was Fez in That 70s Show, now he’s Special Agent Nick Torres on NCIS. Offers an unique perspective on America through the eyes of
an immigrant. He narrates the audiobook himself. The physical book was released in both English and Spanish. Valderrama’s story is heartwarming, impactful and inspiring. He lived in Venezuela until he was 13 years old. Wilmer faced numerous challenges that had to be overcomed. He talks about struggles with English as a second language, rise to fame, his family and giving back to his community. The book deeply moved me. One of the best nonfiction audiobooks of 2024. Thank you Wilmer for sharing your story and your activism.



#wilmervalderrama #immigrantsmakeamericagreat #immigrantswelcome

[Kelly Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

200 pages of telling the audience his IMDb credits because no one knows anything he did besides fez.

He’s actually such a dumb writer because he was acting like he was so profound, but he was just saying a bunch of bologna.

Why does every memoir have to have a random chapter about where that person was during 9/11? Does the agent require it to sell?

It was a quick and easy read, and I definitely wouldn’t recommend it unless you just want a vague outline of his career + some name drops

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An American Story: Everyone’s Invited

I Picked Up This Book Because: Celebrity memoirs are my jam.

Media Type: Audiobook
Source: BC Public Library
Dates Read: 9/10/25 - 9/12/25
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Narrator(s): Wilmar Valderrama


The Story:

I love a memoir of someone my age (though he’s a few years older) who has lived such a different life than I have. The immigrant experience is something I have not even tangentially experienced, and it was so eye opening. Living in prosperity in another country then coming to the United States with nothing and not even the language has to be so scary, and you have to be so tough to do that, especially with children and as the children. His experience in Hollywood has been really interesting too. I also appreciated the way he spoke about his wife and daughter. This is a man clearly in love with the life he has created. It did get confusing sometimes as the story was not told linearly but it’s not too jumbled.

The Random Thoughts:

There is a reflection of 9/11 in the book that I read very close to 9/11, and it opened up a lot of personal questions and moments of reflection for myself. It’s amazing how we can be in different places (physically and emotionally) and experience the same things with the same reactions.

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Celebrity memoir audiobooks narrated by the author are one of my guilty pleasures. I enjoyed hearing the beginning of his story when he was talking about his early life in Venezuela and moving to the US. The rest of the story just felt like one long pretentious Imdb list of all of the shows that he worked on and the famous people he has met. Spoiler, there are a lot and he remains "close friends" with most of them. I ended up speeding up the audio just to finish it, hoping it it would get better, but it didn't.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo goood!!! I loved him in That 70s Show and NCIS. It's so great to hear his story of how he got where he is. Such an inspirational and hard-working guy.

[Martin Maenza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harper Select provided an early galley for review.

I have always found Valderrama to be a likeable celebrity, from his very first role to those that came later afterwards for the past two and half decades. That likeability factor was enough to draw me to this memoir to learn more about his life story.

Though born in America, his is very much an immigrant story which he conveys in a very relatable and approachable manner. Despite the barriers of language, he and his family worked hard to fit in when they returned and to do whatever they could to make ends meet. It is from that need that Wilmer's drive to become an actor emerged.

Having grown up in the same small town as one of That 70's Show co-creators - Mark Brazill (he being just three years older than me), I was very interested in hearing about the audition process and Wilmer's time on the show. I was also pleased that he touched upon a few details regarding the follow-up That 90's Show from a few years ago. In between, he ran through many projects on which he worked (many with which I was not familiar).

Fans will definitely be interested in reading his story.

[Borce · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read learning about Wilmer's youth, acting career, and activism. A big message he wants to get across to his readers is the belief and attainment of the American dream for immigrants. It was insightful to read how challenging it was going to school as a kid not knowing English and how he made a conscious decision to not let kids teasing him get him down for too long. Instead, he committed to learning the language (but not without making a fantastic comment about how some English speaking Americans have absolutely no empathy towards immigrants who are learning the language - I can just imagine if the shoe were on the other foot people going to another country not speaking the language would hope for some grace from its native language citizens).

Wilmer is a big believer of unity and coming together, that there is a place for everyone no matter where they're from.

[Nicole Largent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. He has done so much more than the few things I knew. To hear the stories of how he has helped so many people through his support of our troops and others was inspiring. Glad I read this one!

[Gina Trail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! Heartfelt! Captivating! Moving! Wilmer is a true activist!

[Sara Beth Lyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.85⭐️ I learned A LOT about Wilmer and how hard he worked to succeed in the entertainment industry. His book shows what hard work and determination can do for you. I appreciated his descriptions of his family’s struggles throughout the years and how they navigated being an immigrant family.

His career has had so much success that I was not aware of and his characters are so incredibly diverse! Also, his love of the United States cannot be denied and is quite inspiring!

However, there was some repetition and the timeline was not consistent which made it a bit difficult to follow along at times. Also, at times, it felt a bit overly self congratulatory and while I definitely believe in believing in yourself and celebrating your accomplishments, this bit felt a little overly self congratulatory the top at times.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Valderrama writes as though sitting and catting with the reader about his life experiences. I only have seen him in “NCIS” and really enjoy “Nick Torres”. This has given me an expanded perspective about the man and humanitarian behind the character, as well as the tremendous reminder to stay true to your heart, follow your instincts, and go for what you want. He is yet another example of someone coming from financial and other struggles to never give up and to succeed beyond what he might have hoped for and who at the same time remembers where he comes from, appreciates his family and friends, gives back through countless humanitarian ventures, and remains stoked about his career choice. Thank you, Mr. Valderrama, for sharing your story with all of us!

[Frances Gonzalez-Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a great book to read I listened to the audio with it and it was such a TREAT!). The book read as if you were sitting at a coffee shop having a conversation with Wilmer Valderrama himself. The start of the book was heartbreaking and as you continued reading, you came to appreciate how he overcame challenges, his accomplishments, his vulnerability, and his raw truths.

Great read!

Ps- Fez is still my favorite character! 🤣

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not at all what I expected. I just assumed Wilmer was born and raised in LA and became an actor because it was something kids can do there. Nothing could be further from the truth. I won't spoil it for those who also don't know his story but he had his struggles. He doesn't address some of the controversies regarding his dating life but maybe that's for the next book.

[Silke Vee Visconti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, honorable. Although not known personally, feel like we all are proud to have watched you grow into the amazing man you stand as today .. this is a feel good success story .. the American Story ..

[Theresa Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really had no idea all that he is involved in so that was very interesting for me. I just knew him as Fes and Nick Torres on NCIS but he has quite a resume and also runs a production company. He has toured with the USO and he is an activist for Latino causes. I was quite impressed.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great story about his life and hard work. Hearing him tell the story is so impactful! His positive attitude is inspiring!

[Amber’s Book Nook · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting, but wasn’t my favorite this book took me a lot longer to read than I thought it would

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely read autobiographies or biographies. I've heard pieces of his story, but reading more of his story was fascinating. I couldn't put the book down.

[Valerie Wallis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always loved him but now I love him even more!!!