We've Decided to Go in a Different Direction: Essays

by Tess Sanchez, Max Greenfield (foreword)

A funny and heartfelt essay collection about working in Hollywood, starting over, defining your identity, and the relatable messiness that ensues from unforeseen circumstances.

Wife to a well-known actor, the mother of two, a sister, daughter, and general meddler, Tess Sanchez’s life was like a #1-rated sitcom. But the loss of her career as a highly successful casting executive equaled series cancellation. Now, with humor and insight, Sanchez examines the aftermath of a major shift that forever changed the course of her life, and the resilience that came from reframing loss into possibility.

“We’ve decided to go in a different direction” was a phrase Sanchez rattled off to countless agents, actors, producers, and many more. But in the fall of 2020, the tables turned as she was on the receiving end of that phrase, when she lost the long-held job she adored. She quickly discovered how much that career defined her identity, from her personal relationships to her own perception of herself. In the midst of facing this upheaval, her father was diagnosed with a devastating illness and suddenly, Sanchez had to learn what it means to parent her parents.

Moving, witty, and fun, We've Decided to Go in a Different Direction offers you both welcome comedy and empowering strength when it comes to tackling life’s challenges.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Essays, Audiobook, Biography Memoir, Short Stories, Biography

256 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2025

About the author

Tess Sanchez has spent twenty years in the entertainment industry as a casting director. We've Decided to Go in a Different Direction is her debut book. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband, actor Max Greenfield, and their two children.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published April 1, 2025.

3 stars

Essays from a former casting director, wife and mother about life in Hollywood as she was finding her dream career and meeting/marrying her husband (“New Girl’s” Max Greenfield, I didn’t know who he was but I know the show was popular) and motherhood, plus dealing with the illness and loss of a parent. Then she loses dream career and things change drastically.

Sanchez is looking back on all this from a place of privilege so readers have to be OK with that when reading about her issues. That said, lots of women will be able to relate to many of the issues she covers and it’s a fairly good book.

[Susan Tunis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tess is a very likeable, relatable woman with an interesting career. My interest was piqued from the beginning and never really flagged. Enjoy!

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

The life of a woman who becomes a Hollywood Casting director. It's mildly funny. By the end I was thinking that Hollywood should be paying a lot more in taxes, though.

[Lauryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️ This book was a fun and emotional behind the scenes look of a casting director who lost her job during the pandemic and is trying to figure out how to be all sides of herself in a post job world. Her story felt very relatable, and I liked how she “cast” the characters in her world. I got to see her at the LA book festival and was struck by how bubbly and comfortable she was on stage even though most of her life she’s been just off stage giving notes (her words). I also loved references to my favorite TV producer director and his wife which are just coded enough to be a IYKYK. And loved the intro from her hubby, Max Greenfield. In addition to everything else, this book is a sweet love story between those two!

[Alex Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started my career in casting, so I was drawn-in immediately. Though i latched onto the career specifics (and LOVED her tendency to “cast” the real players of her life with actors/actresses… a fun literary device as well as a quirk I also have) — so much of what was relatable boiled down to finding purpose in the wake of loss/tragedy/transition. Beautiful book. FUN, aspirational backdrop. The read felt like talking to a girlfriend. I hope Britney takes her up on her offer to become BFFs.

[Helen Nowacki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad I read this novel. Although few of us can relate to being a casting executive, many of us do know what it is like to be a daughter, sister, spouse, mother, and friend…and employee. I found the novel’s tempo steady and Sanchez’s writing and story engaging; making me laugh often and at times shed some tears. All in all, an enjoyable read well-worth the time.

[Simon Auld · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this in a goodreads giveaway, and I'm so glad I did! Tess Sanchez has a great voice; her essays were poignant, funny, and made for a great read. I would recommend this to anyone who has an interest in Hollywood or womanhood.

[Alison]

DNF! It’s 2025 I can’t be bothered to read books where I’m continuously laboring to move past each page. Onto the next!

[Gab Louderback · Rating 4 out of 5]

I preordered a few weeks ago when Tess was a guest on the Ladygang podcast. I read it while reading a fictjon book as a palette cleanser from dragons

I found this to be so relatable as someone who puts so much of my self worth into my career!

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of essays is both moving and witty, exploring themes of career upheaval, identity, and resilience. The author reflects on a pivotal two-year period in her life, marked by unexpected setbacks. She candidly shares the shock of losing a career, her struggle to redefine her sense of self beyond her work, and the unexpected humor that arose from this challenging time. The author skillfully reflects on life’s most difficult moments, finding humor in them, which is both refreshing and relatable. The collection doesn’t shy away from life’s messiness, allowing readers to feel seen and understood in their own journeys.

The unique writing voices blend, creating a book that feels like a casual conversation among close friends. The essays vary in style and tone, providing a mix of personal reflections and lighthearted observations. Some pieces focus on the author’s personal journeys of self-exploration and reinvention, as well as the complexities of relationships and the idea of embarking on new professional paths. Yet, interspersed among the reflective essays are comedic pieces that humorously tackle life’s oddities, both big and small. Whether you’re navigating a difficult breakup, considering a career change, or seeking inspiration, this book serves as a reminder that embracing the unknown is perfectly okay.

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was amusing and well written, but I kept waiting for the content or angle that would elevate it or make it unique. Tess Sanchez has led a memorable life in the sense that every single human being lives a memorable life - we all of us love deeply, some of us raise children who are both confounding and lovable, we lose pets who crack our hearts in half, we deal with our parents in their twilight years, sometimes we lose our jobs, we get knocked on our asses during global pandemics, we have insane coworkers and, if we're lucky, a few ride-or-die friends who carry us through it all. What we DON'T have is the level of privilege here that Sanchez never, not in a single place that I can remember, really acknowledges that shelters her from how deeply some of these things can cut people who don't have extravagant safety nets to fall back on.

This is amusing and heartfelt, and there are parts of it that resonate universally, but there are definitely parts of it that don't.

[Annalise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review in return for an ARC of these essays.

We've Decided to Go in a Different Direction reads more like a memoir than it does a series of essays. There's nothing wrong with that, but perhaps it could have been reorganized to reflect this. It felt a bit disjointed in a lot of ways and I think some sort of narrative structure or sectioning rather than chapter numbers would have helped.

I think this will be primarily relevant to those in Hollywood and adjacent industries, especially the first half, which is pretty heavy on the ins and outs of the business and not necessarily in a captivating way for the general public.

Tess Sanchez is pretty funny and I enjoyed a lot of these essays; I'm interested to hear some tidbits from the audiobook as I think, if done tastefully, it could be quite successful.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of We've Decided to Go in a Different Direction: Essays, a memoir by former Fox casting director Tess Sanchez, in return for an honest review (thank you, Gallery Books and Simon&Schuster).

Based on the foreword from Sanchez's husband, actor Max Greenfield, I expected more of a straightforward behind-the-scenes perspective of working in Hollywood. Sanchez discusses the one-two punch of having her contract terminated during the pandemic. Still, the collection of essays here ranges from poignant (dealing with her father's Alzheimer's and her relationship with Greenfield, one that nearly ended before he entered rehab). Many of the anecdotes are hilarious, such as the one about the OB-GYN who delivered her daughter wanting to get a selfie with Greenfield minutes after the baby's birth.

Sanchez now needs to write her next book.

[Franchesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this book not knowing anything about Tess Sanchez, or who she even was, but as a fan of Max Greenfield, from his role as Schmidt on New Girl and other parts he has played in various other things. I learned quite a lot about him as a person from this book, and got some bits of enjoyment and a chuckle here and there as their relationship was detailed (somewhat) from start to present, with some funny anecdotes included. For the most part, I didn't think this book was very funny. There were more times that I felt like cringing or crying rather than laughing. Overall, it's not a bad read, just not really my style, especially when it came to the humor aspect.

This review is of an ARE I won in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher, via Edelweiss, for an advance copy for honest review.

Tess Sanchez seems like a whirlwind that people would want to be friends with. Her story of climbing the ladder in Hollywood is so interesting, and her stories about her career in casting are fascinating, but when things came crashing down for her, as they did for so many people in the pandemic, is where this really gets to be relatable. The feeling of upheaval and floundering that came with major losses and changes for the author is something that readers will relate to, and the author's passion and humor come through.

[Date With A Thriller · Rating 4 out of 5]

So funny story…I actually listened to this one on accident! 😅 I had downloaded what I thought was another book, which was a thriller, and instead it turned out to be this memoir! So needless to say, I went into this completely blind!! To my surprise, I did actually enjoy it! 🙌

This is Tess Sanchez’s collection of essays about her life in Hollywood as a casting director, wife to actor Max Greenfield, and a mother. It was definitely an interesting read! 👏

Thank you to Simon Maverick Audio for the opportunity to listen to the ALC (even if it was on accident 😅) in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

[yumihcho42 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light to read. Almost gave up halfway but the second half is better and packed with more authentic life takeaways - also exactly what I’d want to hear from someone older (maybe just 10 years older my age). Tess talked about her life in an authentic manner and unpacked a lot of her inner monologues. Only thing I felt a bit off about was the constant references to pop culture characters / actresses but I assumed that came from her life as a casting director.

The part about her dad’s disease was heartfelt.

[Sara Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the short chapters about events in Tess's life. Although I had a completely different life, I found it relatable and comforting to see that others go through similar emotions. Always trying to identify who we are, we often think it has something to do with what we do for a living. It is nice to know that we are completed more by our relationships (not just romantic) then by anything else.

[Mikaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways for an early copy of this book!

I love the way that Tess writes. It is very personal and is more like you are having a conversation with her instead of reading her words. This covers so many different aspects from her life, from a loss of a parent, to loosing a job, to finding love, I love her take on all the aspects of the situations in her life. I do recommend this to someone who is just looking for a no stress read with personal stories to connect to.

[Mw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tess Sanchez (Max Greenfield’s wife) writes about landing her dream job and making her way up to casting VP at a major studio…then the aftermath after getting fired. I enjoyed the book! Clear and good writing, fun stories, and lots of personal reflection and details.

While not the deepest book (and we could use another with even more detail on casting and Hollywood behind the scenes), it was a good read!

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Tess was so honest about her life - and her husband's! She didn't hesitate to include some incredibly embarrassing situations. Points to Max for letting her include personal details about his battle with addiction and their journey to becoming a couple. It was fascinating to learn how casting directors work and what the Hollywood social scene is actually like. Incredibly, I was able to meet a relative of Max's and passed my copy of the book on to her!

[Cari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was a Booklist review - so glad my editor assigned it, or I might not have found it. Sanchez was a casting director who lost her job during COVID. She had to find her way back to herself and redefine herself as a person. I loved her voice. I both laughed and cried at her story.

[M. Roxy T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall the book as a whole was a really pleasant read, for the most part. It has a nice flow even with it being a collection of essays, which I enjoyed a lot. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because of the essay about the trip to the Dude Ranch in Montana. I thought that essay could have been better…. thought out. Was still a really great read.

[Michael Delgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this book from a Goodreads giveaway. My honest review..
This was a very easy read, even though Tess has lived her adult life working in the Hollywood entertainment industry I found her life story extremely relatable. Sure there were some rather funny parts, but for the most part I was able to relate to a lot of her trials and tribulations. Very good well written book.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mistakenly assumed that there would be Hollywood/celebrity anecdotes and there were zero. This book was personal for Tess and her family and I loved it. We’re obviously fulfilling these roles in different ways, but I could wholeheartedly relate to her struggles with the dad/husband being seen as the one who works and what it means to be a mom.

[Chrissi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this! Tess Sanchez’s writing style is very Mindy Kaling-esque and she had a good story to tell. I would be fascinated to know more about her casting days in the early 00s. I’m sure she has the dirt haha. And I’ve been a fan of her hubby since Veronica Mars so reading about their love story was very enjoyable. I related very much about having to re-discover who you are after the metaphorical rug gets pulled out from under you. Good Hollywood read.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really tried to like this one, but I don't think I am anywhere near the target audience. The "casting" of her friends and relatives (think Reese Witherspoon or in the style of this celeb or other) largely went over my head and just annoyed the living hell out of me. Maybe if I watched more TV or movies, I would have caught the jokes if that is how they were intended. I just couldn't like it.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure why this was in my Libby holds but it was a pleasant, short read. It was interesting to get some insight into casting direction but I enjoyed her essays about her personal life more. It made me laugh out loud (the disaster during dropping off the kids at camp) and made me cry (their time in Mexico once her dad had passed).

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Audio)book #63 of 2025 - this was just okay and I doubt will be very memorable. It couldn’t decide if it was essays (as its titles) or a memoir - it definitely read more like a memoir, which I prefer. I think I would have liked more of the earlier part of her life and career. Overall it was just okay.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well. I'm not super into trigger warnings, but one sentence in Chapter 15 flattened me. Like, on the floor sobbing. I wasn't prepared! (You never are.)

Up until that point it was a light diversion of a listen. My personality isn't anything like Tess's, but she sounds like she'd be fun to hang out with.