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

A “funny, relatable, honest” (Mindy Kaling, actress and New York Times bestselling author) essay collection about navigating a career change in Hollywood, rediscovering your identity, and overcoming the relatable messiness that ensues from unforeseen circumstances.

Tess Shanchez, wife of well-known actor Max Greenfield, the mother of two, and former Hollywood casting director, lived a life that felt like a hit sitcom—until an unexpected career loss changed everything. Now, in this “truly funny and heartfelt read” (Judd Apatow, director and New York Times bestselling author), Sanchez examines the aftermath of a major shift that forever changed the course of her life, and how losing her Hollywood career led to a journey of resilience, reinvention, and rediscovering her identity.

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

Moving, witty, and fun, We’ve Decided to Go in a Different Direction offers both welcome comedy and empowering strength in a relatable and inspiring story about overcoming life’s challenges.

© 2025 Simon & Schuster Audio (Audiobook): 9781668110034

Release date

Audiobook: 1 April 2025