Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview
  • We Were Dreamers

  • An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story
  • By: Simu Liu
  • Narrated by: Simu Liu
  • Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (213 ratings)

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

We Were Dreamers

By: Simu Liu
Narrated by: Simu Liu
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

The star of Marvel’s first Asian superhero film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, tells his own origin story of being a Chinese immigrant, his battles with cultural stereotypes and his own identity, becoming a TV star and landing the role of a lifetime.

In this honest, inspiring and relatable memoir, Simu Liu chronicles his family's journey from China to the bright lights of Hollywood with wit and humour.

As a child, Simu's parents left him in the care of his grandparents, bringing him to Canada when he was four. However, Simu soon senses that his new guardians lack the gentle touch of his grandparents, resulting in harsh words and hurt feelings between him and his parents, who find their son emotionally distant and difficult to relate to.

Although they are related by blood, they are separated by culture, language and values.

As Simu grows up, he plays the part of the pious child flawlessly—he gets straight A's, performs exceptionally in national math competitions and makes his parents proud. However, as time passes, he grows increasingly disillusioned with the path that has been laid out for him.

Less than a year out of university, he is fired from his first job and hits rock bottom. He develops a determination centred around creating his own path. This leads him to not only succeeding as an actor but also opens the door to reconciling with his parents.

We Were Dreamers is a story about growing up between cultures, finding your family and becoming the master of your own extraordinary circumstance.

©2022 Simu Liu (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

You Can't Be Serious cover art
Happy People Are Annoying cover art
Tough cover art
No Job for a Man cover art
I'm Glad My Mom Died cover art
Unprotected cover art
Just Between Us cover art
I'll Never Change My Name cover art
How to American cover art
Magic Time cover art
If You Would Have Told Me cover art
Top Billin' cover art
Fearlessly Different cover art
Between the World and Me cover art
The Meaning of Mariah Carey cover art
Pillow Talk cover art

What listeners say about We Were Dreamers

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    184
  • 4 Stars
    23
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    180
  • 4 Stars
    15
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    165
  • 4 Stars
    27
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story and insights

I was recommended this book by an Asian colleague. I loved it, but i also found it to be a great insight into the lives of second generation immigrants, that i just hadn’t imagined. Truly superb.
My only gripe, the sad moments felt very staged when the narrator’s voice starts breaking. Maybe it wasn’t and that was genuine emotion, in which case it’s for me to wonder why the display of emotion makes me uncomfortable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

genuinely great and honest book

The honesty of this book makes it such a fresh listen, genuinely would recommend this book to anyone and everyone

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Simu Rocks

Loved the book . The immigrant story resonates in particular his struggles with his parents. It helps to remind us we are not alone in these struggles and both the generational and cultural differences can split immigrant families causing strife, misunderstanding and heartache. Simu has shown has there can be forgiveness and new beginnings at any age and it’s never to late to mend those relationships. I’ve had to watch Shang-Chi again ! Looking forward to seeing more of Simu on the screen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Add this to your listening list

To listen to an author narrate his own story in the way Simu Liu did, brought this book to life in a way I’ve never experienced before. His heartwarming account of growing up with his grandparents, transitioning to his new life in Canada and working his way up to becoming a Marvel superhero is a story I didn’t think I would be interested in at first. Oh how I was proven wrong! I feel like everyone can relate to his story in one form or another and I congratulate him on how well written and relevant his story is. I would highly recommend listening to the Audible version and immersing yourself in Simu’s journey. I look forward to seeing how the rest of his story unfolds.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So powerful

I’d recommend this book to anyone. It was so good, and really quite moving. I knew Simu Liu from ShangChi but it was the synopsis of the book that intrigued me. It was a pretty random purchase but oh I’m so glad to have read it.

Absolutely loved it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing!

The best audiobook I have listend to so far this year! I laughed and cried and really enjoyed listening to Simu telling his story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspirational and Heartfelt

This book was emotional, inspirational and heartfelt. Definitely recommend to all!
Thank you Simu xo

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely incredible

One of the best memoirs that I have read, such an interesting insight into Simu's journey from China to Canada, including his complex relationship with his parents.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Do not underestimate this memoir. Masterpiece

This memoir hit me in many diffrence ways and was inspiring as F. Every one should read it. it's is not to be underestimated. Simu is totally honest and there were a lot of times were I fell in tears. Thanks for writing this book. It will be inspirational journey to us all Simu

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

How honest he is

A very honest insight into a man and family that prove life happens to us all, but there is nothing wrong with being you

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!