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Never Say Die
In this stunning and compulsively readable memoir, the Oscar-winning star of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Goonies, and Everything Everywhere All at Once, Ke Huy Quan, tells the story of his journey from Vietnamese refugee to 80s child star to the most inspiring comeback in Hollywood history.
Ke Huy Quan’s Hollywood adventure began when he was twelve years old, a mere five years after his family escaped Communist Northern Vietnam and settled down to a relatively peaceful life in L.A.’s Chinatown. After attending an open call audition on a whim, he was unexpectedly swept up in the wild world of filmmaking: learning to swim from Harrison Ford on the set of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, receiving trucks full of toys from Steven Spielberg and George Lucas for his birthday, meeting Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker, and making lifelong friends on the set of The Goonies.
A star of two of the most beloved movies of the ‘80s, there appeared to be no limit to Ke’s rise. But just a few years later, the roles had dried up and it seemed like Hollywood no longer had a place for him. He eventually left acting to work odd jobs behind the scenes for directors like Wong Kar Wai. His confidence was badly shaken, but his love of performing never abated. It wasn’t until decades later, when he was 49 years old, that he stepped back in front of the camera to star in a strange little indie film called Everything Everywhere All at Once, which surprised everyone with its incredible box-office and awards season success. To call Ke’s Oscar-winning performance a triumphant return would be an understatement.
In this moving, inspirational memoir, Ke paints a vivid self-portrait, telling both heart-wrenching and funny stories of his early rise, slow fall from the spotlight, the resilience that kept him going through his darkest times, and his eventual resurrection on one of the biggest stages in Hollywood. Never Say Die is the story of Ke’s extraordinary life, a love letter to the movies and people that shaped him, and a powerful testament to never giving up on your dreams.
Ke Huy Quan’s Hollywood adventure began when he was twelve years old, a mere five years after his family escaped Communist Northern Vietnam and settled down to a relatively peaceful life in L.A.’s Chinatown. After attending an open call audition on a whim, he was unexpectedly swept up in the wild world of filmmaking: learning to swim from Harrison Ford on the set of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, receiving trucks full of toys from Steven Spielberg and George Lucas for his birthday, meeting Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker, and making lifelong friends on the set of The Goonies.
A star of two of the most beloved movies of the ‘80s, there appeared to be no limit to Ke’s rise. But just a few years later, the roles had dried up and it seemed like Hollywood no longer had a place for him. He eventually left acting to work odd jobs behind the scenes for directors like Wong Kar Wai. His confidence was badly shaken, but his love of performing never abated. It wasn’t until decades later, when he was 49 years old, that he stepped back in front of the camera to star in a strange little indie film called Everything Everywhere All at Once, which surprised everyone with its incredible box-office and awards season success. To call Ke’s Oscar-winning performance a triumphant return would be an understatement.
In this moving, inspirational memoir, Ke paints a vivid self-portrait, telling both heart-wrenching and funny stories of his early rise, slow fall from the spotlight, the resilience that kept him going through his darkest times, and his eventual resurrection on one of the biggest stages in Hollywood. Never Say Die is the story of Ke’s extraordinary life, a love letter to the movies and people that shaped him, and a powerful testament to never giving up on your dreams.
Audible Audio
First published September 15, 2026
About the author
Ke Huy Quan
1 book34 followersKe Huy Quan is an Oscar-winning actor who immigrated to the United States as a child and grew up in Los Angeles. Discovered at an open casting call with no acting experience, he was cast at age 12 as Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, followed by his role as Data in the beloved adventure classic, Goonies.
As opportunities became limited, he stepped away from acting to study at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, graduating in 1999, and later worked behind the scenes as an action choreographer and assistant director. After more than two decades away from acting, he returned to the screen in Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s Academy Award–winning Everything Everywhere All At Once, earning widespread acclaim along with the Academy Award, Golden Globe, and SAG Award for Best Supporting Actor.
He has since appeared in Season 2 of the Disney+ series Loki, starred in Universal’s Love Hurts, and voiced Gary De’ Snake in Disney's animated film Zootopia 2. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Echo.
source: Amazon
As opportunities became limited, he stepped away from acting to study at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, graduating in 1999, and later worked behind the scenes as an action choreographer and assistant director. After more than two decades away from acting, he returned to the screen in Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s Academy Award–winning Everything Everywhere All At Once, earning widespread acclaim along with the Academy Award, Golden Globe, and SAG Award for Best Supporting Actor.
He has since appeared in Season 2 of the Disney+ series Loki, starred in Universal’s Love Hurts, and voiced Gary De’ Snake in Disney's animated film Zootopia 2. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Echo.
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
May 31, 2026
Finished with tears in my eyes.
Immediately after finishing, I rewatched Ke Huy Quan’s Golden Globe and Oscar speeches.
“I remember saying, “For so many years, I was afraid I had nothing more to offer.”
What a storied life of someone who was once forgotten in the industry , but never from our hearts, playing pivotal roles in Indiana Jones and The Goonies.
While I wished there were more descriptions - Quan watched a private showing at Michael Jackson’s house (what really happened in that house?), what famous actor (and how dare he) try to minimize him at SAG awards? Regardless, I enjoyed this quick memoir of a fabled Chinese actor who escaped on a refugee boat during the fall of Saigon.
Being a refugee is by far the most important part of this story, as he mentions in the first line of his memoir:
“you have to understand that no one puts those children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land”
Quan proves, we all have a history, and there are a certain type of people that refuse to believe in basic humanity.
“For years I wondered how things would be if I had a different beginning. One without that label—refugee. The shame it carried. At times, I wished I could erase it entirely. But I understood what that would mean. To erase that part of my story would be to erase my parents’ sacrifices—the very things that gave me a chance at life.”
I would have loved some pictures of his life at the end, but I think Quan still wants to preserve what life he has lived in many ways. Regardless, I’m happy I read this memoir.
Thank you Grand Central for the advanced copy!
Immediately after finishing, I rewatched Ke Huy Quan’s Golden Globe and Oscar speeches.
“I remember saying, “For so many years, I was afraid I had nothing more to offer.”
What a storied life of someone who was once forgotten in the industry , but never from our hearts, playing pivotal roles in Indiana Jones and The Goonies.
While I wished there were more descriptions - Quan watched a private showing at Michael Jackson’s house (what really happened in that house?), what famous actor (and how dare he) try to minimize him at SAG awards? Regardless, I enjoyed this quick memoir of a fabled Chinese actor who escaped on a refugee boat during the fall of Saigon.
Being a refugee is by far the most important part of this story, as he mentions in the first line of his memoir:
“you have to understand that no one puts those children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land”
Quan proves, we all have a history, and there are a certain type of people that refuse to believe in basic humanity.
“For years I wondered how things would be if I had a different beginning. One without that label—refugee. The shame it carried. At times, I wished I could erase it entirely. But I understood what that would mean. To erase that part of my story would be to erase my parents’ sacrifices—the very things that gave me a chance at life.”
I would have loved some pictures of his life at the end, but I think Quan still wants to preserve what life he has lived in many ways. Regardless, I’m happy I read this memoir.
Thank you Grand Central for the advanced copy!
2026
May 20, 2026ANHPI TBR
Memoir March TBR
Non-fiction November TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing
Memoir March TBR
Non-fiction November TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing
July 14, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing, for an e-arc of this book. I don't have enough good things to say about Ke's memoir. I ran out of things to say while finishing the epilogue. In the past, I've read memoirs from social media influencers, celebrities, disability activists, writers, and other creatives—none of those books top Ke's.
What makes "Never Say Die" so unique is the fact that it's written like a biopic. He begins with his childhood and youth years; every chapter is dated and has a location. It feels like you are reading a script of his biopic. You can imagine every scene, emotion, and feeling he had in your head. He wrote each of the chapters in a way that makes them less like sob stories and more like chapters or arcs of his story. Like the hero's journey.
As an asian american reader who has followed his work for a long time, I loved how he touched on family, traditions, culture, and food. Part of an Asian's story is always strict, hardworking, and always at their best. Ke writes about those aspects in ways that young adults won't understand til they are much older. He made every chapter a lesson to learn from or a bridge to cross.
I also enjoyed how he discussed the ups and downs (aka the rejection in the industry. As a fellow creative, I know how hard it is, especially as an Asian creative, to get anywhere. He made his story one worth living for. Yeah, it was tough and really sad, but many good things came out of those tragedies, and I loved that he touched on those moments without feeling too influential or social media influencery.
To conclude this review, I think the book was the perfect length. Most memoirs are under 300 pages. Concise and to the point.
What makes "Never Say Die" so unique is the fact that it's written like a biopic. He begins with his childhood and youth years; every chapter is dated and has a location. It feels like you are reading a script of his biopic. You can imagine every scene, emotion, and feeling he had in your head. He wrote each of the chapters in a way that makes them less like sob stories and more like chapters or arcs of his story. Like the hero's journey.
As an asian american reader who has followed his work for a long time, I loved how he touched on family, traditions, culture, and food. Part of an Asian's story is always strict, hardworking, and always at their best. Ke writes about those aspects in ways that young adults won't understand til they are much older. He made every chapter a lesson to learn from or a bridge to cross.
I also enjoyed how he discussed the ups and downs (aka the rejection in the industry. As a fellow creative, I know how hard it is, especially as an Asian creative, to get anywhere. He made his story one worth living for. Yeah, it was tough and really sad, but many good things came out of those tragedies, and I loved that he touched on those moments without feeling too influential or social media influencery.
To conclude this review, I think the book was the perfect length. Most memoirs are under 300 pages. Concise and to the point.
July 10, 2026
Thank you Net Galley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC.
I wanted to read this book partly because of nostalgia, since I remember watching him in two of the greatest movies of my childhood. What I didn’t expect was to read such an honest, open story about struggle and self doubt and resilience.
It read like a roller coaster, ups and downs, grief and happiness. I felt drawn in, I wanted to read how it ended even though I knew. I wanted to experience it through his side of the story and that’s what I got. I got to understand that Oscar win from a different angle and with more meaning after learning about his life.
“Keep your dreams alive”, I’m happy he did.
I wanted to read this book partly because of nostalgia, since I remember watching him in two of the greatest movies of my childhood. What I didn’t expect was to read such an honest, open story about struggle and self doubt and resilience.
It read like a roller coaster, ups and downs, grief and happiness. I felt drawn in, I wanted to read how it ended even though I knew. I wanted to experience it through his side of the story and that’s what I got. I got to understand that Oscar win from a different angle and with more meaning after learning about his life.
“Keep your dreams alive”, I’m happy he did.
September 1, 2026
Prior to reading Never Say Die, I don’t think I’ve ever had tears fall all the way through a book before. Seriously, every time I picked it up, I was fighting tears. Not because it’s so sad the entire time, but it just made me feel so much. There are so many movies he’s in that I just connected with. Everything everywhere all at once is one of my favorite movies of all time.
I’m so grateful to have received an early copy of Ke Huy Quan’s memoir. His story is emotional impactful, and I think really important. Even after all he’s been through He is still such a bright light.
If sunshine was a person, it would be Ke.
I’m so grateful to have received an early copy of Ke Huy Quan’s memoir. His story is emotional impactful, and I think really important. Even after all he’s been through He is still such a bright light.
If sunshine was a person, it would be Ke.
September 16, 2026
I loved this memoir. I was crying I was smiling I need to buy all of his movies. An absolute must read.
August 18, 2026
What a beautiful, moving memoir. Actually in tears at the end of this.
June 6, 2026
When I heard that Ke Huy Quan was releasing a memoir, it instantly became one of my most anticipated releases for 2026. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is one of my all time favorite movies, and that is due in large part to Ke Huy Quan's role as Short Round in the movie.
I love the relationship between Short Round and Indy. Like this:
Anyway, all that to say that I couldn't wait to read a book about his career. I was most interested in the segments where he talked about Indiana Jones, but his career as a whole was very interesting to read about.
The Indiana Jones sections were great. I loved learning that one of my favorite scenes of the entire movie was ad-libbed AND was also the scene that Spielberg used to test the chemistry between Quan and Harrison Ford. Quan's description of the poker scene was hilarious and I loved it. It made me want to watch the movie again.
I've never seen The Goonies or Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close but it was still interesting to read about his role in those movies as well. I really admired Quan's persistence, including his fairly long break from acting, and then to come back onto the scene and win an Academy Award! Very inspiring. I also like learning more about his family and culture as well. I didn't know much about him at all to begin with, so I found learning about his past and everything he overcame to come to America. Some celebrity memoirs come off as braggy or have a superior sounding tone, but I found Quan's to read very humbly. I got the impression he is truly grateful for each and every opportunity he received.
My only complaint (and it’s a minor one) is that I wish the memoir had included some pictures at the end. I would have loved to see those! The memoir was still fantastic without them but it still would have been fun to get some photos as well.
I found the memoir to be well-written, charming and insightful. I really enjoyed it!
Thank you Grand Central Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I love the relationship between Short Round and Indy. Like this:
Anyway, all that to say that I couldn't wait to read a book about his career. I was most interested in the segments where he talked about Indiana Jones, but his career as a whole was very interesting to read about.
The Indiana Jones sections were great. I loved learning that one of my favorite scenes of the entire movie was ad-libbed AND was also the scene that Spielberg used to test the chemistry between Quan and Harrison Ford. Quan's description of the poker scene was hilarious and I loved it. It made me want to watch the movie again.
I've never seen The Goonies or Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close but it was still interesting to read about his role in those movies as well. I really admired Quan's persistence, including his fairly long break from acting, and then to come back onto the scene and win an Academy Award! Very inspiring. I also like learning more about his family and culture as well. I didn't know much about him at all to begin with, so I found learning about his past and everything he overcame to come to America. Some celebrity memoirs come off as braggy or have a superior sounding tone, but I found Quan's to read very humbly. I got the impression he is truly grateful for each and every opportunity he received.
My only complaint (and it’s a minor one) is that I wish the memoir had included some pictures at the end. I would have loved to see those! The memoir was still fantastic without them but it still would have been fun to get some photos as well.
I found the memoir to be well-written, charming and insightful. I really enjoyed it!
Thank you Grand Central Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Read
September 17, 2026Listened to the audiobook version read by Ke Huy Quan.
You'd have to be made of stone not to be moved by Ke Huy Quan's story, which begins with spending almost half a year in prison with his dad for trying to escape Vietnam, arriving in Hong Kong as one of the Boat People, finally making it to LA, and stumbling into as big an acting career as a child actor can get, only to watch it fizzle as quickly as it appeared... and figuring out what you do from there.
I wanted more dirt on shooting BREATHING FIRE, or the years he spent as a stunt coordinator on films with Cory Yuen, but he does touch on it a little, and I was surprised to learn he worked for Wong Kar Wai for a year.
The man won an Oscar in his first role in decades! So of course it's going to end on a heart-rending high.
You'd have to be made of stone not to be moved by Ke Huy Quan's story, which begins with spending almost half a year in prison with his dad for trying to escape Vietnam, arriving in Hong Kong as one of the Boat People, finally making it to LA, and stumbling into as big an acting career as a child actor can get, only to watch it fizzle as quickly as it appeared... and figuring out what you do from there.
I wanted more dirt on shooting BREATHING FIRE, or the years he spent as a stunt coordinator on films with Cory Yuen, but he does touch on it a little, and I was surprised to learn he worked for Wong Kar Wai for a year.
The man won an Oscar in his first role in decades! So of course it's going to end on a heart-rending high.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 9/15/2026. If you’ve ever watched interviews with him or followed his Instagram, then you should feel very much at-home reading Ke Huy Quan’s memoir, Never Say Die. Why? Because he is just as sweet and straight-forward and abso-bloody-lutely delighted to be talking to YOU as you would think - even if it is done at the distance of a book page. Really and truly, reading this is like sitting down to hear a comfortable friend’s life-story - finding out little things you didn’t know, wondering at the shadows you never knew existed, absorbing the underlying gratitude of it all. For many of us in a certain age range, this could not possibly be more true. While I did not myself see Goonies until I was older, I was absolutely besotted with Indiana Jones throughout my childhood thanks to a Harrison-Ford-Smitten aunt so I claim a halfway childhood kinship here. Reading Quan’s words about the first serendipitous audition and just the warmth he encountered from everyone involved with Temple of Doom makes the little happy glow start in your chest.
Of course, we can’t deny the gap between Temple/Goonies and when Quan burst back into public consciousness (and our hearts) with Everything Everywhere All At Once. It’s a sad but true fact that we don’t always consider actors as people, subjected to the whims of casting calls and trends. Nor do we often stop to wonder what happened to a child actor. Especially one who kept his nose clean, so to speak, and never ended up in tabloids. Quan doesn’t ignore it either. He offers up his story with all of the highs and lows intact. It would have been so easy to keep the book strictly to uplifting bits. Start with his escape from Vietnam and his family’s time as a refuge, his meteoric rise to child stardom… then just kind of waft away to the big hit that came to him just shy of his 50th birthday. Quan refuses to do that, though. In his simple, honest way, he delves into the quiet years and the hard years. How parts dried up because no one was casting anyone who looked like him. How his father’s sudden illness impacted the family. How his own need to control and keep things together almost kept him from taking risks for things (and people) he loved.
If nothing else stays with you when you close this book, it is that - Ke Huy Quan’s sweet, humble, talented, grateful self-realization is as important as any movie role or memory… and it is something that he 100% believes we all can do and deserve. I don’t know how he manages to straighten my spine and give me a hopeful glow but, dang it, he did. We are all so much more than one role or one title or one characteristic. We are everything.
All at once even.
Of course, we can’t deny the gap between Temple/Goonies and when Quan burst back into public consciousness (and our hearts) with Everything Everywhere All At Once. It’s a sad but true fact that we don’t always consider actors as people, subjected to the whims of casting calls and trends. Nor do we often stop to wonder what happened to a child actor. Especially one who kept his nose clean, so to speak, and never ended up in tabloids. Quan doesn’t ignore it either. He offers up his story with all of the highs and lows intact. It would have been so easy to keep the book strictly to uplifting bits. Start with his escape from Vietnam and his family’s time as a refuge, his meteoric rise to child stardom… then just kind of waft away to the big hit that came to him just shy of his 50th birthday. Quan refuses to do that, though. In his simple, honest way, he delves into the quiet years and the hard years. How parts dried up because no one was casting anyone who looked like him. How his father’s sudden illness impacted the family. How his own need to control and keep things together almost kept him from taking risks for things (and people) he loved.
If nothing else stays with you when you close this book, it is that - Ke Huy Quan’s sweet, humble, talented, grateful self-realization is as important as any movie role or memory… and it is something that he 100% believes we all can do and deserve. I don’t know how he manages to straighten my spine and give me a hopeful glow but, dang it, he did. We are all so much more than one role or one title or one characteristic. We are everything.
All at once even.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC | Touching and inviting | When someone who has been famous for a long time decides or agrees to write a book about themselves, there's often a temptation to make it an autobiography, including everything. Ke Huy Quan has taken the other path here, a memoir, and it's a good choice. Memoirs tell just part of a person's story, whether that's a specific incident or a theme over years, but it remains focused. As a result, there's much we don't learn about him here, and that's just fine. This is a story of his experiences as a refugee, an immigrant, an American, and all of those things within the family and within the film industry. The writing style is a bit simplistic, which just indicates that it didn't include a ghostwriter. This makes the book particularly readable and helps bridge any distance between the author and the reader. I was too young when I saw Temple of Doom, and was scared by it. For some reason I didn't see The Goonies until I was a teen, and I was more focused on whether Jeff Cohen was okay after the fat jokes. But when Everything Everywhere All at Once was released, I saw it in the theater--something I can't really afford to do--on my birthday, and it knocked me flat. I have never cared about awards season (to put my feelings kindly), but that year it mattered to me so much that he win as much as he could. As a side note, I planned to see Love Hurts in the theater, but was warned that included a scene where someone gets impaled in the eye, which ended that plan. We all have our Things, that's mine. This book presents him as the person he always seemed to be, and makes me glad to have rooted so hard for him. The book takes no time to be unkind to anyone, he keeps moving forward and surrounding himself with the people he loves.
Advance Reader's Copy provided free of charge by the publisher, which did not impact my review.
Advance Reader's Copy provided free of charge by the publisher, which did not impact my review.
June 3, 2026
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the advanced reader copy!
It is such a rare balance to hold the intense sorrows of life and also its magic, heartbreak and nostalgia, disappointments and breakthroughs, fears both small and immense, and hold it all with such gentleness. There is so much to love about Never Say Die, but I think my favorite thing is its kindness. Ke Huy Quan looks at his life with such deep tenderness, both his present day self and the boy who went through more than any child should go through, and every phase in between. I just loved this memoir so much, and can't recommend it enough.
It is such a rare balance to hold the intense sorrows of life and also its magic, heartbreak and nostalgia, disappointments and breakthroughs, fears both small and immense, and hold it all with such gentleness. There is so much to love about Never Say Die, but I think my favorite thing is its kindness. Ke Huy Quan looks at his life with such deep tenderness, both his present day self and the boy who went through more than any child should go through, and every phase in between. I just loved this memoir so much, and can't recommend it enough.
September 19, 2026
Incredible memoir. I binged this in one day! Ke Huy Quan is such a great storyteller. Highly recommend the audiobook. I love the way he wrote and took us through his life journey. I laughed, I smiled, I shed many tears throughout this book. He is the definition of inspiring and you can hear the genuine emotion through his words. Five stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 19, 2026
4.72★: HOW CAN ANYONE NOT LOVE THIS GUY?! Never Say Die is Ke Huy Quan’s memoir about fleeing Vietnam as a child, becoming an unlikely 1980s movie star in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies, and navigating the personal upheaval behind that ascent. It recounts the long period when acting roles disappeared, his persistence through disappointment and work behind the camera, and his return to acting in Everything Everywhere All at Once, which culminated in an Academy Award. Ultimately, the book is a resilience story and a tribute to the films, family, and collaborators that shaped Quan’s life.
HUMAN DEPTH - 4.65★: Ke comes across as warm, reflective, earnest, optimistic, and privately sensitive. We get strong access to his shame, fear of failure, career anxiety, gratitude toward his family, love of filmmaking, and evolving definition of success. Keeping his struggles quiet because he did not want to be viewed as a failure was especially revealing, and HUMAN.
CANDOR / REVELATION - 4.70★: He is pretty hard on himself, including about choices involving his dad and his early girlfriend, and is open about fears, insecurities, and how much of his success was effort versus luck. He gives relatively little detail about his marriage and leaves one uncomfortable encounter with a “well-known” actor unnamed because the lesson mattered more to him than the identity. That restraint felt reasonable rather than evasive. Celebrity memoirists are both rewarded and punished for what they reveal; I do not need every private detail to consider someone candid.
His description of Harrison Ford as having a soft side was also a little different from Carrie Fisher’s version, although maybe Harrison just had a soft spot for kids. 😂
SPECIFICITY / DETAIL - 4.80★: Ke has a GREAT memory. The boat ride was vivid down to the smell, he remembered what he wore to his first auditions, and his description of what the elephant actually felt like while filming Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was exactly the kind of weirdly specific detail that makes a memoir come alive for me.
CONTEXT / LEARNING / FRESHNESS - 4.75★: I knew basically nothing about Ke’s life beforehand, including the size of his family or his improbable route into acting. His story really is the American Dream, but one with a pretty significant price attached.
I loved learning that it was actually his brother David who went to the open casting call for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and that his mother thought Hollywood’s red carpet was lucky. Those family and behind-the-scenes stories made this much more interesting than a standard “here’s how I got famous” memoir.
NARRATIVE MOMENTUM - 4.25★: The long period when his acting career stalled was sad and frustrating to hear about rather than badly paced. My attention occasionally wandered, but the story itself was told well, and knowing things eventually improved gave that section some natural forward pull. With 256 pages (7.3 audio hours) covering ~49 years, it moves through a LOT of life efficiently.
STRUCTURAL COHERENCE / FOCUS / CLOSURE - 5.00★: CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, AS MEMOIRS SHOULD BE! 😂 It was clearly anchored, easy to follow, and focused on the important periods without unnecessary timeline gymnastics.
VOICE / STORYTELLING - 5.00★: His literal voice is so distinctive that you can practically picture him talking, and as a child of the ’80s, hearing him narrate was VERY nostalgic. It was especially fun when he repeated memorable movie lines, but the bigger strength was his emotional range: he could move from excitement to sadness in a way that I could actually FEEL. His own narration materially improved the memoir.
REFLECTION / INSIGHT - 4.55★: Ke has clearly spent time thinking about failure, perseverance, luck, identity, and what achievement means to him. I especially loved hearing how much he still misses his dad and the idea that, by capturing him in this story, his dad is now not entirely gone.
READER / LISTENER RESPONSE - 4.75★: HOW CAN YOU NOT ROOT FOR THIS GUY?! He had my empathy throughout, and the memoir made me think about the allure of celebrity and how different a public life can look from the uncertainty happening behind it.
FOR FUTURE ME: A long, low-event period in someone’s life does not automatically equal a slow memoir. Ke’s career drought still worked because it was told efficiently and retained enough forward pull to make re-entry easy.
Published two days ago on 9/15/26, this book currently has a 4.78-star average by 158 GR peeps.
HUMAN DEPTH - 4.65★: Ke comes across as warm, reflective, earnest, optimistic, and privately sensitive. We get strong access to his shame, fear of failure, career anxiety, gratitude toward his family, love of filmmaking, and evolving definition of success. Keeping his struggles quiet because he did not want to be viewed as a failure was especially revealing, and HUMAN.
CANDOR / REVELATION - 4.70★: He is pretty hard on himself, including about choices involving his dad and his early girlfriend, and is open about fears, insecurities, and how much of his success was effort versus luck. He gives relatively little detail about his marriage and leaves one uncomfortable encounter with a “well-known” actor unnamed because the lesson mattered more to him than the identity. That restraint felt reasonable rather than evasive. Celebrity memoirists are both rewarded and punished for what they reveal; I do not need every private detail to consider someone candid.
His description of Harrison Ford as having a soft side was also a little different from Carrie Fisher’s version, although maybe Harrison just had a soft spot for kids. 😂
SPECIFICITY / DETAIL - 4.80★: Ke has a GREAT memory. The boat ride was vivid down to the smell, he remembered what he wore to his first auditions, and his description of what the elephant actually felt like while filming Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was exactly the kind of weirdly specific detail that makes a memoir come alive for me.
CONTEXT / LEARNING / FRESHNESS - 4.75★: I knew basically nothing about Ke’s life beforehand, including the size of his family or his improbable route into acting. His story really is the American Dream, but one with a pretty significant price attached.
I loved learning that it was actually his brother David who went to the open casting call for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and that his mother thought Hollywood’s red carpet was lucky. Those family and behind-the-scenes stories made this much more interesting than a standard “here’s how I got famous” memoir.
NARRATIVE MOMENTUM - 4.25★: The long period when his acting career stalled was sad and frustrating to hear about rather than badly paced. My attention occasionally wandered, but the story itself was told well, and knowing things eventually improved gave that section some natural forward pull. With 256 pages (7.3 audio hours) covering ~49 years, it moves through a LOT of life efficiently.
STRUCTURAL COHERENCE / FOCUS / CLOSURE - 5.00★: CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, AS MEMOIRS SHOULD BE! 😂 It was clearly anchored, easy to follow, and focused on the important periods without unnecessary timeline gymnastics.
VOICE / STORYTELLING - 5.00★: His literal voice is so distinctive that you can practically picture him talking, and as a child of the ’80s, hearing him narrate was VERY nostalgic. It was especially fun when he repeated memorable movie lines, but the bigger strength was his emotional range: he could move from excitement to sadness in a way that I could actually FEEL. His own narration materially improved the memoir.
REFLECTION / INSIGHT - 4.55★: Ke has clearly spent time thinking about failure, perseverance, luck, identity, and what achievement means to him. I especially loved hearing how much he still misses his dad and the idea that, by capturing him in this story, his dad is now not entirely gone.
READER / LISTENER RESPONSE - 4.75★: HOW CAN YOU NOT ROOT FOR THIS GUY?! He had my empathy throughout, and the memoir made me think about the allure of celebrity and how different a public life can look from the uncertainty happening behind it.
FOR FUTURE ME: A long, low-event period in someone’s life does not automatically equal a slow memoir. Ke’s career drought still worked because it was told efficiently and retained enough forward pull to make re-entry easy.
Published two days ago on 9/15/26, this book currently has a 4.78-star average by 158 GR peeps.
September 14, 2026
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for this book! All thoughts are my own.
Ke Huy Quan writes his life’s story with amazing detail and a vulnerability that pulled on my heartstrings. I sincerely got so emotional while reading. I never knew what a difficult journey he went through as a kid or the lengths that his parents went through to give their kids a better life. Sometimes it is easy to see celebrities as these larger-than-life figures, but Ke shows just how human he is.
His drive to continue acting is motivating and inspiring. Getting the role for some huge hits like Indiana Jones and The Goonies literally sounds like a movie. Out of so many people, they picked him to be a huge star. Out of so many different kids, he had the natural talent. Watching movie magic happen right infront of him sounded so surreal. The set, the different cameras, the props, the locations, and basically everything that brings a movie to life sounded so structured with its schedule but also so cool to see it bring the movie to life. The Goonies is such a classic, seeing what it was like for him behind the scenes makes it all the more magical.
Seeing Hollywood change the way they hold auditions, “discover” people, and even make movies was such an eye-opening aspect of this book. What I really appreciate is how honest he was about the bleak side of it all. Ke was always reached out to for opportunities that when the phones stopped ringing, I could literally feel the silence sinking into the pit of his stomach. Never hearing about opportunities and getting constant rejections can really take a toll on one’s mind. It can make you wonder if your dream is attainable.
The American Dream is such a beautifully explored topic. While he’s working on finding his footing in Hollywood, his parents also have dreams of their own. There was a really emotional moment between him and his parents concerning a business his dad wanted to open. It felt very sentimental because I think we forget that our parents have dreams of their own. Especially immigrant parents who come here for a better life for their kids and themselves. They want to make something that they and their kids can be proud of.
I also really felt connected to him at one point. He pivoted to other interests of his outside of (but still relevant to) acting and I am glad he did. I did something similar with my own life. Taking different routes can help you refocus on yourself and bring opportunities that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.
His journey in Everything, Everywhere All At Once was so heartwarming to read! He did so much work to break his characters down and alot of moments that made audiences emotional also made him emotional. You can feel the hard work and dedication that was put into the movie from him, the directors, the actors, and everyone else. Even though EEAAO has already been out for years, I found myself rooting for him during his doubts while shooting.
When I saw Never Say Die by Ke Huy Quan, I just knew I wanted to read his book. I have mentioned before that I don’t read much nonfiction (working on it!) or memoirs, let alone review them. It feels odd to do so. I can’t remember the exact video for the life of me, but I think I remember a booktuber saying they look for well-written clarity, structure, authenticity, and more in memoirs. So I tried to focus on those aspects as well.
This was such an amazing memoir. I took a lot of lessons from Ke’s book. It inspired me to think of achievements, challenges, and failures differently.
Ke Huy Quan writes his life’s story with amazing detail and a vulnerability that pulled on my heartstrings. I sincerely got so emotional while reading. I never knew what a difficult journey he went through as a kid or the lengths that his parents went through to give their kids a better life. Sometimes it is easy to see celebrities as these larger-than-life figures, but Ke shows just how human he is.
His drive to continue acting is motivating and inspiring. Getting the role for some huge hits like Indiana Jones and The Goonies literally sounds like a movie. Out of so many people, they picked him to be a huge star. Out of so many different kids, he had the natural talent. Watching movie magic happen right infront of him sounded so surreal. The set, the different cameras, the props, the locations, and basically everything that brings a movie to life sounded so structured with its schedule but also so cool to see it bring the movie to life. The Goonies is such a classic, seeing what it was like for him behind the scenes makes it all the more magical.
Seeing Hollywood change the way they hold auditions, “discover” people, and even make movies was such an eye-opening aspect of this book. What I really appreciate is how honest he was about the bleak side of it all. Ke was always reached out to for opportunities that when the phones stopped ringing, I could literally feel the silence sinking into the pit of his stomach. Never hearing about opportunities and getting constant rejections can really take a toll on one’s mind. It can make you wonder if your dream is attainable.
The American Dream is such a beautifully explored topic. While he’s working on finding his footing in Hollywood, his parents also have dreams of their own. There was a really emotional moment between him and his parents concerning a business his dad wanted to open. It felt very sentimental because I think we forget that our parents have dreams of their own. Especially immigrant parents who come here for a better life for their kids and themselves. They want to make something that they and their kids can be proud of.
I also really felt connected to him at one point. He pivoted to other interests of his outside of (but still relevant to) acting and I am glad he did. I did something similar with my own life. Taking different routes can help you refocus on yourself and bring opportunities that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.
His journey in Everything, Everywhere All At Once was so heartwarming to read! He did so much work to break his characters down and alot of moments that made audiences emotional also made him emotional. You can feel the hard work and dedication that was put into the movie from him, the directors, the actors, and everyone else. Even though EEAAO has already been out for years, I found myself rooting for him during his doubts while shooting.
When I saw Never Say Die by Ke Huy Quan, I just knew I wanted to read his book. I have mentioned before that I don’t read much nonfiction (working on it!) or memoirs, let alone review them. It feels odd to do so. I can’t remember the exact video for the life of me, but I think I remember a booktuber saying they look for well-written clarity, structure, authenticity, and more in memoirs. So I tried to focus on those aspects as well.
This was such an amazing memoir. I took a lot of lessons from Ke’s book. It inspired me to think of achievements, challenges, and failures differently.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I knew Ke Huy Quan as Data from The Goonies: bright-eyed, funny, and seemingly at home in the joyful chaos of childhood adventure. I had no idea that behind that cheerful child-star image was a boy who had already endured imprisonment, separation, and a perilous escape from Vietnam.
One moment, he was a happy child growing up in a large, middle-class family in Saigon. The next, at just six years old - when most children are starting first grade - he was imprisoned twice.
Because of their Chinese heritage, Ke’s family was no longer welcome in Vietnam, and escape became an urgent necessity. As his parents worked to get the family out, Ke and his siblings were separated multiple times. Despite the dangers, and with the unwavering determination of his father, Ke and his siblings were eventually reunited with their mother and brother in Los Angeles, in the city’s Chinatown.
But that escape came at a cost - to the family and to Ke. Still a child, he had to adapt to circumstances that had changed almost overnight. And then, almost unbelievably, Ke’s life took another dramatic turn.
In 1983, at just twelve years old, Ke accompanied his younger brother to an open casting call in Los Angeles. He had no acting experience and no idea that this ordinary day would change the course of his life. While waiting for his brother, Ke was asked to audition himself. That unexpected opportunity led to his role as Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
Imagine that for a moment: this little boy, who had already experienced things most adults could never imagine, suddenly found himself on a movie set with Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg. Then came The Goonies, where he played the unforgettable Data. Just like that, Ke Huy Quan became a child star.
And what a ride it was.
The stories from this part of the memoir made me smile because you can almost see the wonder of it all through young Ke’s eyes. He worked with some of Hollywood’s biggest names, received birthday surprises from Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, formed lifelong friendships on The Goonies, and experienced a childhood that seemed almost impossible considering where his story had begun.
But this is where Never Say Die becomes much more than a nostalgic Hollywood memoir.
Because the success didn’t last.
The roles eventually stopped coming. Hollywood offered very few opportunities for Asian actors, and the little boy who had once been so excited to step onto a movie set found himself struggling to find a place in the industry. Eventually, Ke stepped away from acting. He went to film school, and after he graduated, began working behind the scenes as an action choreographer and assistant director. For years, he remained connected to movies.- but not in the way he had once dreamed.
Then, decades later, everything changed again.
At forty-nine, Ke Huy Quan returned to acting in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Now grown-up Ke Huy Quan, no longer the adorable child from Indiana Jones or The Goonies, but a remarkably talented actor who had never stopped believing that he belonged on the screen.
His comeback culminated in an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, along with Golden Globe and SAG Award wins.
Which brings me back to those acceptance speeches.
Before I say another word about this memoir, take it from me: go online and watch Ke Huy Quan’s Golden Globe and Oscar acceptance speeches. You will need tissues.
After reading Never Say Die, those speeches hit differently.
You know what came before. You know about the little boy who left Vietnam, the refugee camp, the family sacrifices, and the child who became a Hollywood star only to watch the opportunities disappear. You know about the man who kept working behind the scenes while wondering whether he would ever act again.
And then you watch him standing on that stage, holding an Oscar. It is impossible not to feel the weight of everything that came before that moment.
Never Say Die is ultimately a story about perseverance, but it is also a story about hope - especially the kind of hope that survives when there is no reason to believe your dream will come true. Sometimes, the dream you thought you had lost is simply waiting for the right moment to find you again.
Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
One moment, he was a happy child growing up in a large, middle-class family in Saigon. The next, at just six years old - when most children are starting first grade - he was imprisoned twice.
Because of their Chinese heritage, Ke’s family was no longer welcome in Vietnam, and escape became an urgent necessity. As his parents worked to get the family out, Ke and his siblings were separated multiple times. Despite the dangers, and with the unwavering determination of his father, Ke and his siblings were eventually reunited with their mother and brother in Los Angeles, in the city’s Chinatown.
But that escape came at a cost - to the family and to Ke. Still a child, he had to adapt to circumstances that had changed almost overnight. And then, almost unbelievably, Ke’s life took another dramatic turn.
In 1983, at just twelve years old, Ke accompanied his younger brother to an open casting call in Los Angeles. He had no acting experience and no idea that this ordinary day would change the course of his life. While waiting for his brother, Ke was asked to audition himself. That unexpected opportunity led to his role as Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
Imagine that for a moment: this little boy, who had already experienced things most adults could never imagine, suddenly found himself on a movie set with Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg. Then came The Goonies, where he played the unforgettable Data. Just like that, Ke Huy Quan became a child star.
And what a ride it was.
The stories from this part of the memoir made me smile because you can almost see the wonder of it all through young Ke’s eyes. He worked with some of Hollywood’s biggest names, received birthday surprises from Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, formed lifelong friendships on The Goonies, and experienced a childhood that seemed almost impossible considering where his story had begun.
But this is where Never Say Die becomes much more than a nostalgic Hollywood memoir.
Because the success didn’t last.
The roles eventually stopped coming. Hollywood offered very few opportunities for Asian actors, and the little boy who had once been so excited to step onto a movie set found himself struggling to find a place in the industry. Eventually, Ke stepped away from acting. He went to film school, and after he graduated, began working behind the scenes as an action choreographer and assistant director. For years, he remained connected to movies.- but not in the way he had once dreamed.
Then, decades later, everything changed again.
At forty-nine, Ke Huy Quan returned to acting in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Now grown-up Ke Huy Quan, no longer the adorable child from Indiana Jones or The Goonies, but a remarkably talented actor who had never stopped believing that he belonged on the screen.
His comeback culminated in an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, along with Golden Globe and SAG Award wins.
Which brings me back to those acceptance speeches.
Before I say another word about this memoir, take it from me: go online and watch Ke Huy Quan’s Golden Globe and Oscar acceptance speeches. You will need tissues.
After reading Never Say Die, those speeches hit differently.
You know what came before. You know about the little boy who left Vietnam, the refugee camp, the family sacrifices, and the child who became a Hollywood star only to watch the opportunities disappear. You know about the man who kept working behind the scenes while wondering whether he would ever act again.
And then you watch him standing on that stage, holding an Oscar. It is impossible not to feel the weight of everything that came before that moment.
Never Say Die is ultimately a story about perseverance, but it is also a story about hope - especially the kind of hope that survives when there is no reason to believe your dream will come true. Sometimes, the dream you thought you had lost is simply waiting for the right moment to find you again.
Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
These days I'm not really a celebrity memoir kind of a person. With everything going on I find more often than not if a celebrity comes out with an autobiography I just don't...care. But I absolutely ADORE Ke Huy Quan and would read a 5,000 page hate letter about everything he disliked about me personally if he published it. And rate it 5 stars. So just know when I say I don't care about celebrities, I NEVER mean Ke Huy Quan!!!
Of course I was one of the people who rediscovered this actor with the explosive popularity of Everything Everywhere All at Once, his Be Kind monologue is one of my absolute favorite scenes. Honestly every scene in that movie is my favorite scene. BUT ANYWAYS. I was familiar with his work as a child actor, even if those movies aren't really my personal favorites. This is where everybody drags me in the comments for not liking The Temple of Doom or The Goonies, HOW could I not like The Goonies?! Idk, they're fine movies, they're just not what I'm personally reaching for if I decide to watch a movie ok I'm SORRY. Encino Man however... 👀 (Yes, I know I'm a sentient garbage can that's been cursed with life.) Anyways, a short story long for this paragraph is I'm honestly so happy for Ke Huy Quan and that he's acting again like he always wanted to. You deserve the world, Ke! Also don't be shy, DM me the name of the actor who dissed you at the SAG Awards, I will fist fight them myself.
I'd say about the first idk, 30% of this book I cried through every chapter. I had absolutely no knowledge of Ke's life as a child and the hardships he endured. Being jailed for trying to flee Vietnam, TWICE. Finally leaving and being trapped on the ship for a month because Hong Kong didn't want to take in more refugees. The way his own auntie treated him, it actually broke my heart. And the stuff about Ke's dad was so sad as well. I know I'm giving a lot away right now but there's a massive difference between me relaying what I read and the way Ke describes these events, trust me.
This was such a good read, Ke is a total sweetie pie and you can feel the joy and enthusiasm he felt while filming certain projects. I found myself hootin & hollerin during the good times, and filled with despair during the bad times. Even if I found the writing to be a bit simplistic in certain areas, I can't deny the emotion was always, ALWAYS there. (No shade btw, have y'all read my reviews before, the award for most basic ass review writer goes to ME.) My only question is Ke is very open and honest about his life & experiences and then just casually drops that Michael Jackson invited him over for a sleepover & private screening of The Temple of Doom at the end of a chapter and then never talks about it again? Maybe there were additional details that were edited out but I just found the lack of details in just that one story kind of odd.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance DRC and provide a review, all opinions are my own.
Of course I was one of the people who rediscovered this actor with the explosive popularity of Everything Everywhere All at Once, his Be Kind monologue is one of my absolute favorite scenes. Honestly every scene in that movie is my favorite scene. BUT ANYWAYS. I was familiar with his work as a child actor, even if those movies aren't really my personal favorites. This is where everybody drags me in the comments for not liking The Temple of Doom or The Goonies, HOW could I not like The Goonies?! Idk, they're fine movies, they're just not what I'm personally reaching for if I decide to watch a movie ok I'm SORRY. Encino Man however... 👀 (Yes, I know I'm a sentient garbage can that's been cursed with life.) Anyways, a short story long for this paragraph is I'm honestly so happy for Ke Huy Quan and that he's acting again like he always wanted to. You deserve the world, Ke! Also don't be shy, DM me the name of the actor who dissed you at the SAG Awards, I will fist fight them myself.
I'd say about the first idk, 30% of this book I cried through every chapter. I had absolutely no knowledge of Ke's life as a child and the hardships he endured. Being jailed for trying to flee Vietnam, TWICE. Finally leaving and being trapped on the ship for a month because Hong Kong didn't want to take in more refugees. The way his own auntie treated him, it actually broke my heart. And the stuff about Ke's dad was so sad as well. I know I'm giving a lot away right now but there's a massive difference between me relaying what I read and the way Ke describes these events, trust me.
This was such a good read, Ke is a total sweetie pie and you can feel the joy and enthusiasm he felt while filming certain projects. I found myself hootin & hollerin during the good times, and filled with despair during the bad times. Even if I found the writing to be a bit simplistic in certain areas, I can't deny the emotion was always, ALWAYS there. (No shade btw, have y'all read my reviews before, the award for most basic ass review writer goes to ME.) My only question is Ke is very open and honest about his life & experiences and then just casually drops that Michael Jackson invited him over for a sleepover & private screening of The Temple of Doom at the end of a chapter and then never talks about it again? Maybe there were additional details that were edited out but I just found the lack of details in just that one story kind of odd.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance DRC and provide a review, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley & Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!
Ke Huy Quan’s Never Say Die is a joyful memoir about how it actually feels to live a feel-good story.
When Everything Everywhere All At Once threw Ke Huy Quan back into the public eye after decades away, his childlike enthusiasm felt transformative. With unassuming earnestness, he reframed the awards circuit as a site for grace instead of platitudes. Each time he won, it felt like everybody did, but there’s no denying that the restrictive shape of acceptance speeches painted a Hollywood veneer over a deeper narrative.
As such, I was eager to see what Never Say Die might add to Quan’s public-facing persona. After finishing this brisk little memoir, I can say that there’s very little new information, but thankfully, that seems to be the point. This is the story of a refugee who wanted to find a home as much as it’s a celebration of all the people who helped him build one. The book is notable in its thematic simplicity, and Quan’s gratitude sweeps complexity away as contrivance.
Lest that sound like a critique, it’s more that Quan is just too honest for convoluted interiority. He writes extensively about loneliness, and it resonates precisely because he never overworks it—he refuses to make it dramatically fulfilling, instead allowing readers to sit with the understanding that it just really hurt. It was painful to watch his peers have successful careers while his atrophied. It was humiliating to go back to high school when he couldn’t find work. For the author, however, pain is not the point. He’s happy to be where he is, and he would rather honor his family than wallow in the past or coast on nostalgia. That alone makes Never Say Die feel really special. For example, when he spends pages championing Echo, his wife, it’s with the understanding that any difficulty they’ve faced pales in comparison to the privilege of spending a life together.
For the film buffs who just want to know more behind-the-scenes info about Temple of Doom, The Goonies, or EEAAO, it’s hard to say if this book has what you’re looking for. Quan shares memories for the impression they left on him—what they mean is more important than what happened—so we get snapshots of compassion from Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford, and The Daniels, but the day-to-day details seem almost irrelevant. The feelings are everything.
And by the end of Never Say Die, I think most readers will be convinced that feelings are everything. Ke Huy Quan articulates the importance of feeling community in a way that few authors do—by defining his life through the contrast between loneliness and homecoming. It is good to be alive and loved, and Ke Huy Quan wants readers to recognize the profundity of such a simple truth.
Ke Huy Quan’s Never Say Die is a joyful memoir about how it actually feels to live a feel-good story.
When Everything Everywhere All At Once threw Ke Huy Quan back into the public eye after decades away, his childlike enthusiasm felt transformative. With unassuming earnestness, he reframed the awards circuit as a site for grace instead of platitudes. Each time he won, it felt like everybody did, but there’s no denying that the restrictive shape of acceptance speeches painted a Hollywood veneer over a deeper narrative.
As such, I was eager to see what Never Say Die might add to Quan’s public-facing persona. After finishing this brisk little memoir, I can say that there’s very little new information, but thankfully, that seems to be the point. This is the story of a refugee who wanted to find a home as much as it’s a celebration of all the people who helped him build one. The book is notable in its thematic simplicity, and Quan’s gratitude sweeps complexity away as contrivance.
Lest that sound like a critique, it’s more that Quan is just too honest for convoluted interiority. He writes extensively about loneliness, and it resonates precisely because he never overworks it—he refuses to make it dramatically fulfilling, instead allowing readers to sit with the understanding that it just really hurt. It was painful to watch his peers have successful careers while his atrophied. It was humiliating to go back to high school when he couldn’t find work. For the author, however, pain is not the point. He’s happy to be where he is, and he would rather honor his family than wallow in the past or coast on nostalgia. That alone makes Never Say Die feel really special. For example, when he spends pages championing Echo, his wife, it’s with the understanding that any difficulty they’ve faced pales in comparison to the privilege of spending a life together.
For the film buffs who just want to know more behind-the-scenes info about Temple of Doom, The Goonies, or EEAAO, it’s hard to say if this book has what you’re looking for. Quan shares memories for the impression they left on him—what they mean is more important than what happened—so we get snapshots of compassion from Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford, and The Daniels, but the day-to-day details seem almost irrelevant. The feelings are everything.
And by the end of Never Say Die, I think most readers will be convinced that feelings are everything. Ke Huy Quan articulates the importance of feeling community in a way that few authors do—by defining his life through the contrast between loneliness and homecoming. It is good to be alive and loved, and Ke Huy Quan wants readers to recognize the profundity of such a simple truth.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy.
This an enjoyable and interesting story. I’ve always been a fan of Ke Huy Quan, so I was excited to pick this one up.
It was a very quick read, though I found myself wishing it had gone into more detail. There were several parts of his life that felt glossed over, and I would have loved a deeper look into those experiences. That being said, he talked about some really interesting situations that I was excited and really interested to learn.
I didn't know much about what happened in Vietnam after the war, and I found that part of this memoir especially eye-opening. I had no idea people were not allowed to leave, and reading about everything the refugees endured was heartbreaking. It's hard to believe someone so young experienced such unimaginable hardships.
One theme that really stood out was the shame he carried from being labeled a "refugee." It added another layer to his story.
I especially enjoyed reading about his time filming Indiana Jones and The Goonies. As a young immigrant, he had no idea who Harrison Ford or Steven Spielberg were, so he simply treated them like any other adults. Hearing him describe them as kind, patient, and welcoming made me smile.
After his success as a child actor, he struggled to find work and openly discusses the loneliness and uncertainty that came with a fading career. Because he had started acting so young and was surrounded by incredible role models, he always expected acting to be his lifelong career. When that didn't happen, he wasn't sure what direction his life should take.
Even after winning an Oscar two decades later, he admits he worried that he had reached the highest point of his career and that it could all disappear (again).
I loved that one day he simply felt the desire to act again, and that led him to the perfect role in Everything Everywhere All at Once. His comeback was as much about timing as it was talent and maturity.
Throughout the memoir, he comes across as incredibly humble while still taking pride in everything he has accomplished. Even in his writing, you can sense that he is holding back some emotions, especially during periods when he was clearly struggling with depression.
Overall, this was a fantastic story and like most memoirs, I just wanted more.
My favorite quote:
[Talking to Jamie Lee Curtis at the Oscars]
"Where are we?" she asked
I glanced around. "We're at the Oscars."
She laughed. "No, Ke. Where are we sitting?"
"Front row."
She nodded, satisfied. "Damn right we are."
This an enjoyable and interesting story. I’ve always been a fan of Ke Huy Quan, so I was excited to pick this one up.
It was a very quick read, though I found myself wishing it had gone into more detail. There were several parts of his life that felt glossed over, and I would have loved a deeper look into those experiences. That being said, he talked about some really interesting situations that I was excited and really interested to learn.
I didn't know much about what happened in Vietnam after the war, and I found that part of this memoir especially eye-opening. I had no idea people were not allowed to leave, and reading about everything the refugees endured was heartbreaking. It's hard to believe someone so young experienced such unimaginable hardships.
One theme that really stood out was the shame he carried from being labeled a "refugee." It added another layer to his story.
I especially enjoyed reading about his time filming Indiana Jones and The Goonies. As a young immigrant, he had no idea who Harrison Ford or Steven Spielberg were, so he simply treated them like any other adults. Hearing him describe them as kind, patient, and welcoming made me smile.
After his success as a child actor, he struggled to find work and openly discusses the loneliness and uncertainty that came with a fading career. Because he had started acting so young and was surrounded by incredible role models, he always expected acting to be his lifelong career. When that didn't happen, he wasn't sure what direction his life should take.
Even after winning an Oscar two decades later, he admits he worried that he had reached the highest point of his career and that it could all disappear (again).
I loved that one day he simply felt the desire to act again, and that led him to the perfect role in Everything Everywhere All at Once. His comeback was as much about timing as it was talent and maturity.
Throughout the memoir, he comes across as incredibly humble while still taking pride in everything he has accomplished. Even in his writing, you can sense that he is holding back some emotions, especially during periods when he was clearly struggling with depression.
Overall, this was a fantastic story and like most memoirs, I just wanted more.
My favorite quote:
[Talking to Jamie Lee Curtis at the Oscars]
"Where are we?" she asked
I glanced around. "We're at the Oscars."
She laughed. "No, Ke. Where are we sitting?"
"Front row."
She nodded, satisfied. "Damn right we are."
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Firstly, I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC!
Ke Huy Quan is one of those names that everyone is heard of. Even if you haven't seen his movies or shows, I'm sure you have heard the "booty traps" line from 'The Goonies' or his "Hey, Dr. Jones, no time for love" from 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.' Needless to say he is an icon that has changed the lives of many Asians growing up with very limited representation.
The structure of this memoir, while not necessarily unique, guides you through his life from his childhood in Vietnam, his experience as a refugee in Hong Kong, his life as a child star, to present day. Each chapter is broken down into moments of his life that can be boiled down to two themes, the need to belong and family. Ke Huy Quan's emphasis on these two very human needs demonstrates an understanding of his own humanity and the instinct to survive. The amount that he undergone from such a young age is something most people will never understand or be able to relate to; however, his desire to belong at school or in the industry makes him feel human (not just an actor talking about his experiences). Each vignette from his life pulls your further into memories of his life but also your own. You can remember moments where you felt like no one truly understands you or a moment where it feels like everyone is looking at you or a moment where you just simply don't belong for one reason or another. These are experiences that tie humanity together and Ke Huy Quan explains this extraordinarily throughout his life story.
This is a book that I will be thinking about for awhile. I remember watching his best-actor oscar win and sobbing along with everyone else. Between his and Michelle Yeoh's wins that year for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' I had never felt prouder to be Asian. Representation matters on the screen and it matters within books.
Now that I'm done yapping about this amazing book, I will go and rewatch 'Everything Everywhere All at Once,' thanks.
Ke Huy Quan is one of those names that everyone is heard of. Even if you haven't seen his movies or shows, I'm sure you have heard the "booty traps" line from 'The Goonies' or his "Hey, Dr. Jones, no time for love" from 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.' Needless to say he is an icon that has changed the lives of many Asians growing up with very limited representation.
The structure of this memoir, while not necessarily unique, guides you through his life from his childhood in Vietnam, his experience as a refugee in Hong Kong, his life as a child star, to present day. Each chapter is broken down into moments of his life that can be boiled down to two themes, the need to belong and family. Ke Huy Quan's emphasis on these two very human needs demonstrates an understanding of his own humanity and the instinct to survive. The amount that he undergone from such a young age is something most people will never understand or be able to relate to; however, his desire to belong at school or in the industry makes him feel human (not just an actor talking about his experiences). Each vignette from his life pulls your further into memories of his life but also your own. You can remember moments where you felt like no one truly understands you or a moment where it feels like everyone is looking at you or a moment where you just simply don't belong for one reason or another. These are experiences that tie humanity together and Ke Huy Quan explains this extraordinarily throughout his life story.
This is a book that I will be thinking about for awhile. I remember watching his best-actor oscar win and sobbing along with everyone else. Between his and Michelle Yeoh's wins that year for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' I had never felt prouder to be Asian. Representation matters on the screen and it matters within books.
Now that I'm done yapping about this amazing book, I will go and rewatch 'Everything Everywhere All at Once,' thanks.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
[NetGalley eARC] “Never Say Die” feels like a story that belongs in the cinema, but instead it’s the incredible, utterly remarkable story of Ke Huy Quan— and his story isn’t even finished yet.
Ke Huy Quan was born only a child when he and his family spent time in prison in Vietnam. Quan’s story (from a refugee child landing in the US, to the pain of assimilating to a new country and language, to accidentally landing an enormous role in the Temple of Doom, to finding his path forwards afterwards) is one of perseverance, staying true to one’s passions and instincts. Of family reverence and respect and of handling circumstances outside of our control with grace.
Quan seemingly had a childhood of dreams, working alongside Steven Spielberg and Harrisford Ford, and being an iconic Goonie, but this is his first time truly revealing the anxieties behind the scenes and beyond as a young adult.
There’s something truly healing in Quan’s words. His path was absolutely unconventional, but he lets you in on his sufferings as well as his momentous celebrations. Quan spelled out his story so neatly and with such care. It was simply written, but I could hear it in Quan’s voice exactly. I wish he wrote more in depth into his difficulties; there is a sense of palatability and distance in his words and story. But I also understand why he may not have made that choice, as an act of self-preservation and care as his story will reach a global audience.
There were full-circle moments in Quan’s story that makes the heart feel so full and grateful. His story brings hope: hope that there is such a thing as goodness in the world, and that good things can happen despite tragic and uncertain circumstances. Sometimes life is painful and random; sometimes it’s delightful and a gift. I’m glad we have Quan’s words and selfies in our world, and that we can continue to see his energy and goodness on the screen.
Ke Huy Quan was born only a child when he and his family spent time in prison in Vietnam. Quan’s story (from a refugee child landing in the US, to the pain of assimilating to a new country and language, to accidentally landing an enormous role in the Temple of Doom, to finding his path forwards afterwards) is one of perseverance, staying true to one’s passions and instincts. Of family reverence and respect and of handling circumstances outside of our control with grace.
Quan seemingly had a childhood of dreams, working alongside Steven Spielberg and Harrisford Ford, and being an iconic Goonie, but this is his first time truly revealing the anxieties behind the scenes and beyond as a young adult.
There’s something truly healing in Quan’s words. His path was absolutely unconventional, but he lets you in on his sufferings as well as his momentous celebrations. Quan spelled out his story so neatly and with such care. It was simply written, but I could hear it in Quan’s voice exactly. I wish he wrote more in depth into his difficulties; there is a sense of palatability and distance in his words and story. But I also understand why he may not have made that choice, as an act of self-preservation and care as his story will reach a global audience.
There were full-circle moments in Quan’s story that makes the heart feel so full and grateful. His story brings hope: hope that there is such a thing as goodness in the world, and that good things can happen despite tragic and uncertain circumstances. Sometimes life is painful and random; sometimes it’s delightful and a gift. I’m glad we have Quan’s words and selfies in our world, and that we can continue to see his energy and goodness on the screen.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have been eager to read this memoir ever since it was announced. I've been a Goonies fan ever since my dad introduced me to the film on laser disc (am I old?), and I've loosely followed Ke's career ever since. When I heard he was going to star in Everything, Everywhere All At Once, I was thrilled. He put in a career best performance, and an acceptance speech for the ages. All of those things culminated in making myself (and the rest of the world) very excited to hear his story in his own words. A big thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central publishing for access to this e-ARC!
This read in a way, like a screenplay. Each chapter started with a centering of time and place. I like linear narratives, so this was grounding for me. It also tied nicely into his love of, and career in, movies. I flew through his story, and it left me wanting to know where life is taking Ke next! The title, as well, was a nice touch. It evoked the nostalgia of his earlier career, and his conviction to keep pushing forward and never give up!
If there was one thing I was missing, it was some emotional depth. Ke talked a lot about how he kept pain inside and it was hard for him to open up. I felt that in his words - there was a lot of telling, and not a lot of showing or feeling, in how he recounted his life. Those feelings came out more in the last few chapters, when he was discussing his historic awards-season run for Everything, Everywhere All at Once. I just wish there had been more of that connection with his audience, and with his inner vulnerability throughout.
I'm grateful that Key Huy Quan decided to write a memoir. His life, his story, his vulnerabilities, his triumphs, and his journey, are all things worth documenting and celebrating. I'll be grabbing a copy when it publishes in September to add to my personal collection.
This read in a way, like a screenplay. Each chapter started with a centering of time and place. I like linear narratives, so this was grounding for me. It also tied nicely into his love of, and career in, movies. I flew through his story, and it left me wanting to know where life is taking Ke next! The title, as well, was a nice touch. It evoked the nostalgia of his earlier career, and his conviction to keep pushing forward and never give up!
If there was one thing I was missing, it was some emotional depth. Ke talked a lot about how he kept pain inside and it was hard for him to open up. I felt that in his words - there was a lot of telling, and not a lot of showing or feeling, in how he recounted his life. Those feelings came out more in the last few chapters, when he was discussing his historic awards-season run for Everything, Everywhere All at Once. I just wish there had been more of that connection with his audience, and with his inner vulnerability throughout.
I'm grateful that Key Huy Quan decided to write a memoir. His life, his story, his vulnerabilities, his triumphs, and his journey, are all things worth documenting and celebrating. I'll be grabbing a copy when it publishes in September to add to my personal collection.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don’t watch movies, so I hadn’t heard of Ke Huy Quan, but I love a great memoir and the hype around this one drew me in. If you do watch movies, you probably know Ke from Indiana Jones, The Goonies, or Everything Everywhere All At Once. He’s had a few other parts, but from his self-told tale, these seem to be Ke’s defining roles.
Never Say Die is a great read. I am continually amazed by humanity, and Never Say Die reminded me how privileged my upbringing was and how far people can come. Ke’s family spent multiple stints in jail as political prisoners during his childhood. As Chinese in Vietnam, their lives were endangered. As a result, they made the challenging decision to escape Vietnam as refugees. Ke shares a bit about his journey aboard the refugee ship Huey Fong, which tried to enter Hong Kong amid much fanfare.
Skipping a lot, Ke’s family (11 of them!) eventually makes it to Los Angeles and through pure happenstance, despite not having a firm grasp on the English language, Ke is swept up in a major Hollywood blockbuster and taken under the wing of Steven Spielberg. Wild.
And despite that seemingly miraculous success, Ke eventually falls to some real lows. I loved his honesty and vulnerability as Ke shares about the years of his life when he couldn’t land a commercial, let alone a full feature film. Ke shares every self doubt, depression moment, and what it was like to be surrounded by people who believed in him when he didn’t believe in himself.
Ke is an incredibly relatable person, even though the highs and lows of his life are not. This makes Never Say Die an inspiring and heartwarming read. It is so easy to root for Ke.
I really enjoyed this memoir and I am sure it will be a big book this fall. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Never Say Die is a great read. I am continually amazed by humanity, and Never Say Die reminded me how privileged my upbringing was and how far people can come. Ke’s family spent multiple stints in jail as political prisoners during his childhood. As Chinese in Vietnam, their lives were endangered. As a result, they made the challenging decision to escape Vietnam as refugees. Ke shares a bit about his journey aboard the refugee ship Huey Fong, which tried to enter Hong Kong amid much fanfare.
Skipping a lot, Ke’s family (11 of them!) eventually makes it to Los Angeles and through pure happenstance, despite not having a firm grasp on the English language, Ke is swept up in a major Hollywood blockbuster and taken under the wing of Steven Spielberg. Wild.
And despite that seemingly miraculous success, Ke eventually falls to some real lows. I loved his honesty and vulnerability as Ke shares about the years of his life when he couldn’t land a commercial, let alone a full feature film. Ke shares every self doubt, depression moment, and what it was like to be surrounded by people who believed in him when he didn’t believe in himself.
Ke is an incredibly relatable person, even though the highs and lows of his life are not. This makes Never Say Die an inspiring and heartwarming read. It is so easy to root for Ke.
I really enjoyed this memoir and I am sure it will be a big book this fall. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When I saw the cover of this memoir, I was so excited! As a Gen Xer, two of my most beloved movies were Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies. I had always wondered why I hadn’t seen Ke Huy Quan in anything since a small cameo in Encino Man — up until another brief cameo in Finding O’hana a few years ago and then, of course, the amazing Everything Everywhere All At Once. My little brother and I would run around the house yelling lines from Temple of Doom, and especially the lines from Short Round, who was our tiny but mighty hero in that film.
Ke has an incredible story, and this memoir delves into his early life, as well as later career struggles as an actor. As a child, he was one of the Vietnamese refugees seeking asylum in the United States. I knew of that fact already, but not the entire story behind it — be prepared to cry. He tells his story of how his family, including either other siblings, mother, and father escaped Vietnam and came to the US in 1979. The family had gotten split up, and Ke and his father and some of his sisters ended up for a year in a Hong Kong refugee camp before finally immigrating to the US.
The book discusses his immigration to the United States, how he was discovered by a casting team that just happened to be at his Saturday ESL (English as Second Language) class, his relationship with Steven Spielberg as well as Harrison Ford, and his later challenges in his career, especially when Asian American actors were not chosen for many roles. I both laughed and cried reading this book, and would excitedly relate anecdotes to my husband about behind the scenes stories during filming, and his life’s accomplishments.
Thank you to Ke Huy Quan and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy.
Ke has an incredible story, and this memoir delves into his early life, as well as later career struggles as an actor. As a child, he was one of the Vietnamese refugees seeking asylum in the United States. I knew of that fact already, but not the entire story behind it — be prepared to cry. He tells his story of how his family, including either other siblings, mother, and father escaped Vietnam and came to the US in 1979. The family had gotten split up, and Ke and his father and some of his sisters ended up for a year in a Hong Kong refugee camp before finally immigrating to the US.
The book discusses his immigration to the United States, how he was discovered by a casting team that just happened to be at his Saturday ESL (English as Second Language) class, his relationship with Steven Spielberg as well as Harrison Ford, and his later challenges in his career, especially when Asian American actors were not chosen for many roles. I both laughed and cried reading this book, and would excitedly relate anecdotes to my husband about behind the scenes stories during filming, and his life’s accomplishments.
Thank you to Ke Huy Quan and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Net Galley, Ke Huy Quan, and Grand Central Publishing for the arc of Never Say Die, one of my highly anticipated books of 2026.
When I heard that Ke Huy Quan was writing a memoir, I was beyond excited and knew I had to read it. When it popped up on NetGalley, I don’t think I’ve ever requested a book so quickly. Then came the approval email, and I devoured the entire book in a single day.
The Goonies is one of my all-time favorite movies and such a huge part of my childhood. I’ve even had the joy of sharing it with my own children. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is another childhood favorite, and both films introduced audiences to the incredibly talented Ke Huy Quan. I absolutely loved reading the chapters where he vividly recounts his experiences playing Data and Short Round.
Learning about his life story and the challenges he faced at such a young age gave me an even greater appreciation for his resilience and determination. I’m not typically a memoir reader, but this book genuinely changed my perspective on the genre. There was something so inspiring about experiencing someone else’s journey—especially someone who played such an important role in some of my favorite childhood films.
Getting a behind-the-scenes look at the realities of acting was fascinating, and hearing it from Ke’s perspective made it even more meaningful. His story is a powerful reminder to hold on to your dreams, persevere through setbacks, and never give up, no matter what life throws your way.
Do yourself a favor and add this one to your TBR—you won’t be disappointed.
“Keep your dreams alive.” — Ke Huy Quan
When I heard that Ke Huy Quan was writing a memoir, I was beyond excited and knew I had to read it. When it popped up on NetGalley, I don’t think I’ve ever requested a book so quickly. Then came the approval email, and I devoured the entire book in a single day.
The Goonies is one of my all-time favorite movies and such a huge part of my childhood. I’ve even had the joy of sharing it with my own children. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is another childhood favorite, and both films introduced audiences to the incredibly talented Ke Huy Quan. I absolutely loved reading the chapters where he vividly recounts his experiences playing Data and Short Round.
Learning about his life story and the challenges he faced at such a young age gave me an even greater appreciation for his resilience and determination. I’m not typically a memoir reader, but this book genuinely changed my perspective on the genre. There was something so inspiring about experiencing someone else’s journey—especially someone who played such an important role in some of my favorite childhood films.
Getting a behind-the-scenes look at the realities of acting was fascinating, and hearing it from Ke’s perspective made it even more meaningful. His story is a powerful reminder to hold on to your dreams, persevere through setbacks, and never give up, no matter what life throws your way.
Do yourself a favor and add this one to your TBR—you won’t be disappointed.
“Keep your dreams alive.” — Ke Huy Quan
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I've been a fan of Ke Huy Quan for so long, so I was excited to read his memoir, but I wasn't prepared for how emotional and inspiring it would be. From the very first chapter, I felt completely invested in his story.
What struck me most is how humble and genuine Ke is. Even when he's talking about working with Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas, there's a sense of wonder and gratitude that never feels forced. The behind-the-scenes stories from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies were a lot of fun, but it was the chapters about the years when acting opportunities disappeared that really stayed with me.
My heart broke for him at times. Knowing how talented he is and seeing how hard he has worked, it was frustrating to read about the barriers he faced in Hollywood. At the same time, his determination, resilience, and refusal to completely give up on his dream made his eventual comeback feel even sweeter.
This is one of those memoirs that reminds you that life doesn't always follow the timeline you expect. Sometimes the biggest victories come after years of setbacks and disappointment. Ke Huy Quan's story is inspiring, heartfelt, and deeply human. I finished the book with an even greater appreciation for him—not just as an actor, but as a person.
Many thanks to Edelweiss+ and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a digital ARC prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
What struck me most is how humble and genuine Ke is. Even when he's talking about working with Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas, there's a sense of wonder and gratitude that never feels forced. The behind-the-scenes stories from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies were a lot of fun, but it was the chapters about the years when acting opportunities disappeared that really stayed with me.
My heart broke for him at times. Knowing how talented he is and seeing how hard he has worked, it was frustrating to read about the barriers he faced in Hollywood. At the same time, his determination, resilience, and refusal to completely give up on his dream made his eventual comeback feel even sweeter.
This is one of those memoirs that reminds you that life doesn't always follow the timeline you expect. Sometimes the biggest victories come after years of setbacks and disappointment. Ke Huy Quan's story is inspiring, heartfelt, and deeply human. I finished the book with an even greater appreciation for him—not just as an actor, but as a person.
Many thanks to Edelweiss+ and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a digital ARC prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley & Grand Central Publishing for approving me for the ARC of Never Say Die.
Let me start by saying I didn’t know much about Ke Huy Quan other than him playing in Indiana Jones & The Goonies. And I’ll admit that was my initial reason for requesting this book.
And after reading his memoir. Quan is so much more than those characters he played when he was a kid. In this book he takes us on an emotional rollercoaster of the ups and downs of his life. We start off by taking a deep dive into his childhood & how he and his family hurdled every obstacle to make a better life for themselves.
If that devotion to getting his family back as a whole had stalled by just a few days. His career could’ve been so different. Truly once in a lifetime. Right time, right place. And it kicked off his career from there.
Quan takes us through all the highs and lows he faced during the early years, and even up until he started acting again later in life. Imposter syndrome early on. To questioning himself and his talent later. I respect his passion for chasing his dream. His work ethic. I hate that he questioned his worth on occasions. Loved that his hard work has paid off. His story is truly inspiring. I’m a bit ashamed I haven’t watched more of his work. But, I will make it a priority moving forward. I look forward to purchasing a physical copy of this book in September.
Highly recommend picking this up regardless of which genre you prefer. Easy 5 star read.
Let me start by saying I didn’t know much about Ke Huy Quan other than him playing in Indiana Jones & The Goonies. And I’ll admit that was my initial reason for requesting this book.
And after reading his memoir. Quan is so much more than those characters he played when he was a kid. In this book he takes us on an emotional rollercoaster of the ups and downs of his life. We start off by taking a deep dive into his childhood & how he and his family hurdled every obstacle to make a better life for themselves.
If that devotion to getting his family back as a whole had stalled by just a few days. His career could’ve been so different. Truly once in a lifetime. Right time, right place. And it kicked off his career from there.
Quan takes us through all the highs and lows he faced during the early years, and even up until he started acting again later in life. Imposter syndrome early on. To questioning himself and his talent later. I respect his passion for chasing his dream. His work ethic. I hate that he questioned his worth on occasions. Loved that his hard work has paid off. His story is truly inspiring. I’m a bit ashamed I haven’t watched more of his work. But, I will make it a priority moving forward. I look forward to purchasing a physical copy of this book in September.
Highly recommend picking this up regardless of which genre you prefer. Easy 5 star read.
September 20, 2026
Ke Huy Quan was one of those actors from my childhood that I’ll never forget. He was one of only a handful of Asian actors I recall seeing in the 80’s when I was growing up. I didn’t have the language for “representation” at that age, but I knew his presence in the “Goonies” mattered. His memoir is honest, candid, painful, uplifting, and deeply moving. He has lived a uniquely interesting life filled with highs and lows and everything in between.
He was just 7 years old when he spent three weeks in a Vietnamese jail with his father. At eight, he fled with his family to a refugee camp in Hong Kong before eventually settling in the United States. By twelve, he was a Hollywood movie star, working with Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg. For a time, he was living the dream.
And then, little by little, it disappeared. The roles dried up. The phone stopped ringing. It’s an all too familiar story for Hollywood child actors.
I think what resonates is how his story holds both extremes. Both the exhilaration of being on top of the world and the loneliness of feeling invisible and forgotten.
His story serves as a reminder of how quickly life can change, and how little we really know about what is still ahead of us. Stay present. Take the chance. Be willing to risk disappointment. Keep believing in the life you want. And don’t assume the story is over just because one part of it ended.
He was just 7 years old when he spent three weeks in a Vietnamese jail with his father. At eight, he fled with his family to a refugee camp in Hong Kong before eventually settling in the United States. By twelve, he was a Hollywood movie star, working with Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg. For a time, he was living the dream.
And then, little by little, it disappeared. The roles dried up. The phone stopped ringing. It’s an all too familiar story for Hollywood child actors.
I think what resonates is how his story holds both extremes. Both the exhilaration of being on top of the world and the loneliness of feeling invisible and forgotten.
His story serves as a reminder of how quickly life can change, and how little we really know about what is still ahead of us. Stay present. Take the chance. Be willing to risk disappointment. Keep believing in the life you want. And don’t assume the story is over just because one part of it ended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was so excited to read this memoir that I sat down and read it in a single sitting. I could not put it down, and I genuinely couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
Never Say Die is raw, honest, heartbreaking, and incredibly inspiring. Ke Huy Quan doesn't shy away from the difficult parts of his story: his young life as a refugee, his career, the uncertainty, disappointment, rejection, and years of wondering whether the dream he had once chased was ever going to come back around. But what makes this memoir so powerful is the resilience underneath all of it.
Knowing his story already doesn't make reading it any less affecting. If anything, seeing the long road that led him back to acting makes his eventual success feel even more extraordinary. There is so much humility and gratitude in these pages, and it made me appreciate not just his career, but the person behind it.
I honestly wasn't sure I could have more respect for Ke Huy Quan than I already did. I was wrong. This memoir made me admire him even more and not just for what he accomplished, but for the grace, perseverance, and sheer determination it took to get there. A beautiful reminder that sometimes the dream isn't dead. Sometimes it's just waiting for you to find your way back to it.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Ke Huy Quan, and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Never Say Die is raw, honest, heartbreaking, and incredibly inspiring. Ke Huy Quan doesn't shy away from the difficult parts of his story: his young life as a refugee, his career, the uncertainty, disappointment, rejection, and years of wondering whether the dream he had once chased was ever going to come back around. But what makes this memoir so powerful is the resilience underneath all of it.
Knowing his story already doesn't make reading it any less affecting. If anything, seeing the long road that led him back to acting makes his eventual success feel even more extraordinary. There is so much humility and gratitude in these pages, and it made me appreciate not just his career, but the person behind it.
I honestly wasn't sure I could have more respect for Ke Huy Quan than I already did. I was wrong. This memoir made me admire him even more and not just for what he accomplished, but for the grace, perseverance, and sheer determination it took to get there. A beautiful reminder that sometimes the dream isn't dead. Sometimes it's just waiting for you to find your way back to it.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Ke Huy Quan, and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i was delighted to get the chance to read the memoir of actor Ke Huy Quan. In his book "Never Say Die' he writes about being a refugee fleeing with his family from Viet Nam and the long journey it took to finally get to the USA. His family eventually reunited in Los Angeles. Soon after tagging along with an older brother for an acting job he lands a job from Stephen Speilberg working with Harrison Ford in the movie Temple of Doom as Short Round. Soon after he lands another acting job in Goonies another huge hit .Through the rest of his childhood he get a couple roles but not as many as he hoped. over the next few decades he writes of his career being next to nothing. He finds other ways to earn money. Then then chance for an independent film Everything everywhere all at once' he had to wait months before he got the role. after filming most to film only to have the world shut down due Covid he had to wait months before filming the last couple days. the movie a huge hit and won Ke Huy Quan many acting awards including an Oscar for his role in the movie. It was nice reading Ke Huy Quan's memoir. I was so happy for him to win that Oscar and watch his acting career take off. good for him!
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